ALT I’m standing with a yellow “Minden Matters” sign that reads “Save the Minden ER. Save our hospital. #mindenmatters” in front of the Minden Hospital Emergency sign and a temporary sign that reads “EMERGENCY DEPT CLOSED JUNE 1 2023 VISIT HALIBURTON HOSPITAL 7199 GELERT ROAD”

ALT Meeting with dozens of local residents outside. Many have yellow “Minden Matters” shirts on and are holding signs that read “WARNING: MINDEN EMERGENCY CLOSING JUNE 1”

ALT The crowd of about two dozen Minden activists and I are posing for a photo outside. Many are wearing yellow shirts and holding “WARNING: MINDEN EMERGENCY CLOSING JUNE 1 2023” signs.

ALT A local activist is sitting on a bench and showing me on a map how far they’ll have to travel to access emergency care. Handwritten on the map is “It isn’t just 20 minutes.” Next to them there is another activist holding a sign saying “WARNING: MINDEN EMERGENCY CLOSING JUNE 1 2023”