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Show A Mother Writes an Open Letter... CITIZENS OF SPRINGVILLE: Our nation has just been shocked by a freak disaster which could have been prevented the death of'Kathy Fiscus. Efforts were made before Kathy's death to get the open well holes closed to prevent such an accident, and since her death, Salt Lake City officials are taking steps to, close wells and other holes of a hazardous hazard-ous nature in and around Salt Lake City. The cost for recovering recover-ing Kathy's lifeless body was far more expensive than the capping of all well holes in the vicinity would have 6een. A neighbor of mine asked: 'Why would people permit wells to be left open like that?" I answered, "for the same reason the citizens of Springville leave our Hobble Creek unguarded to claim the lives of our children." People ask that same question about us each time another life is lost in Hobble Creek. Only last week a friend from out of town said to me: "Well I see your city is finally getting around to fencing your creek." I answered: "There has been some opposition. It isn't sure." Before I could say more she exclaimed: "Don't tell me there is anyone in Springville crazy enough to oppose it after all the children who have been drowned in it!" It couldn't be the cost that prevents it one mill tax on S . . our property for a period of five years. The amount is so small even the poorest of us could hardly miss it. If your property is assessed at 1,000, your tax would be $1.00 per year for 5 years a total of $5.00 for the fence. If our entire community cannot afford $15,000 to fence our creek, when we know lives are being claimed by it and with the increasing in-creasing population an even greater great-er chance of more lives being lost how can we ever hope to raise $400,000 for more power and water, wa-ter, no matter how good the proj-eca proj-eca might be? And what about the thousands of dollars that are to be spent on new churches in our community? Haven't our churches always taught that family life is important above all else? Only last Wednesday, April 13, an editorial In the Deseret News said: "How much better bet-ter we could serve our children chil-dren if we would just use our rights of petition and force community officials to free areas of danger." That has just been done here in Springville Spring-ville and yet we get no action. Instead, now we are asked to vote on the project. Have not our officials thought of the possibility of a lawsuit? Cities have been sued when one has tripped on (Continued on Page Two) A Mother Writes An Open Letter... (Continued from Page One) a sidewalk. Surely they can be sued by parents of a child drowned in the waters of such a treacherous stream as Hobble Hob-ble Creek, possibly costing us a great deal more than the fencing would cost. Think of the anxiety and worry of parents living near the creek. Last week our city police officers sent out their yearly warning to parents. I DON'T LIVE NEAR THE CREEK. It is worry enough for me knowing that my children cross it going and coming from school, and knowing that three of our schools are built on its brink. When the fire siren rings, do you accept it as a fire or do you wonder if another child is in the creek? It costs each of us something some-thing each time the fire department depart-ment is called out. As an interested mother, I called the Herald office suggesting that they print an article urging people to come out and vote for the fencing fenc-ing project. I was told that if I would like to write something myself, my-self, they would print it. As you have been told, the fence would be a neat, chain-link fencing like they use around parks that children cannot get the toes of their shoes through. Steel posts set in concrete would be used, and a steel gate on each block, making it accessible when necessary. Springville is known far and wide for its art, civic pride, beautiful homes, wide, well - kept streets, excellent drinking water, contractors, and its DROWNINGS OF CHILDREN IN HOBBLE CREEK! Let us rid ourselves of this one black eye. If you haven't children of your own, think of the future generation of Springville. Let us all come out on April 26th, and VOTE FOR THE FENCING OF HOBBLE CREEK! Let us be known as the city who made itself as safe as possible for its children. Sincerely, A MOTHER. |