About the Guards: When we know, you'll knowIt's rare that a newspaper publishes a story telling readers there is no story, but sometimes it's tempting.The local coffee shops are again buzzing with word that our local National Guard unit will soon be deployed to Iraq.Back in January, our news office received official notice that the First Battalion, 125th Artillery , is on alert for possible activation in summer 2006.That much is true. And as far as we know, that’s still the official word.You may remember these same guardsmen returned in the spring of 2004 from a six-month deployment in England, where they worked as security officers.They weren’t in the trenches of Baghdad, but their presence in England meant they weren’t here at home. For the parents, wives and children they left behind for six months — not to mention employers getting by without them — the deployment was a big deal.And will be a big deal and a big news story if it happens again.The troops were training in Fort Ripley over the weekend, and apparently they learned it’s no longer a matter of "if" they’ll be deployed to Iraq, but "when."The Star Herald office has it on pretty good authority that there's some truth to that statement, but don't look to these pages for a story — at least for a while.In typical U.S. military style, neither the local National Guard office nor the Minneapolis public affairs office of the National Guard could or would speak on the record about the specifics of possible activation.They politely told me they'd release a statement as soon as something was certain.This is understandable, but it's frustrating from the perspective of a news office, where people turn to confirm or squelch coffee shop rumors.It might be irresponsible to print this at all, but it can't hurt to let readers know we're not ignoring the story.When we get official word, so will you.Meanwhile, the rumors can serve as reminders to enjoy our guardsmen while they’re home.