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Show 2THE GREEN SHEET Thursday, November 26, 1987 Too Many People Have Died . . . From the Sixties hit, impair physical abilities. "Blow in in the Wind:" "How many deaths will it take 'til they know that too many people have died ... ." So where does the respon- sibility lie? The tragic and senseless death of a young Murray police officer is one more agonizing shred of proof that something must be done to remove the drunk driver from the road. Jack Elmer and Robert Hall were, ironically, investigating an accident allegedly involving DUI when they were hit by a truck in the last hour of a dark, rainy Nov. 13. The driver of the truck has been charged with automobile homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while intoxicated. Hall is recovering from physical injuries and is suffering extreme mental anguish. Elmer, the first y Murray policemen ever to give his life, was buried last week as his widow and two young children struggled to find a way to put their shattered lives back together. SADD (Parents and Students Against Drunk Driving) whereby young people and their parents make a contract that the youth won't drive and the parent won't "make a scene" when the youngster calls home for a ride also seem to be paying off. Unfortunately; it was a juvenile that was involved in the accident that Hall and Elmer were investigating when the tragedy occurred. If I had an answer, I'd patent it and retire. Ultimately, of course, it lies with every person who operates an automobile. But many are not getting the message. They simply don't care that they endanger lives and property. When sober, many give lip service to common sense, but that all The labors of officers like Robert changes when the effects of alcohol Hall also pay off, though they didn't r ' Must Motorist Observing Speed Limit Be Subjected To This? I write these words in anger. Angry because when I drive I do not like to honked at continuously for 312 n Diodes ana then given a obscene gesture as a coup d'etat. This was my experience on that beautiful new concrete road called 4800 South Street. Yes, I like the street. No, I did not like either the honking or the gesture I know exactly why that driver was honking and why he was angry at me. He, too, was in a hurry to get home. I was in his way and driving at an entirely unacceptable rate of speed the speed limit. But let me tell you if he reads such and him words as this, I drive at that speed on 4800 South for five good reasons, each one good enough to stand on well-know- . - - its own. 1) I live on 4800 South and there is a speed sign right on my property. It says 30 miles an hour. I can read; maybe he can't. 2) I drive at 30 miles an hour on that stretch of road because once I was given a speeding ticket within two blocks of my own front door. I thought that sign didn't mean what it said at least for me and anyway, A city make that an entire what did it matter for four short blocks? state mourns. It "mattered" a nice healthy fine, a mark on my driver 1 license and the need to repeat the driver's test when It's a tragedy that should not have my license expires. happened. But it's one that's sure to 3) I drive 30 miles an hour because I was in an be repeated again and again. The accident about three blocks from my home when the circumstances will change, but the 1 driver coming at me didn't believe those signs were cause remains intact. Drinking and meant to be obeyed. By the time he knew he was driving. coming far too fast, I was forced to swerve into Mash's Robert Hall's assignment with the take over. prevent Murray's tragedy. the entire right side of my car, and Murray police department is to I guess the bottom line is that we hedge, scratching Some efforts have been made to his truck, had crashed into the left rear fender with he, remove the drinking driver from the have to keep trying. As citizens, hold those who serve drinks responroad. Murray and most other Jaw sible. That might seem unfair, but educators, parents, friends, law enenforcement agencies statewide -- it's at least a step in the forcement officers, bartenders and right direchave an agressive program designas motorists. tion. It's an effort to keep the drinkespecially ed to remove impaired drivers from Jack Elmer died, as have many driver off the street by whatever ing the roadways before they cause an means we can. There's some others, senselessly. The Don Blair accident. Studio went up in flame earlier this evidence that it's helping. But they can't be everywhere. year just a few blocks from where While their efforts are sure to save it is better than Jack Elmer performed his last serCertainly some lives, others will continue to be vice to his city. Another "victim" of wringing our hands and adlost so long as people overestimate DUI. mitting we can't do a thing their ability to operate an about it. ". . . too many people have died." Much heat and misinformation, and very little light automobile after consuming Must it all be in vain? You must or intellection, have been generated in recent letters substances that alter the mind and The efforts of MADD, PADD and decide. and pamphleteering in opposition to the 90009400 South "Skier Connect" road in Sandy City. Some of the misinformation indicated that homes would be condemned to accommodate the road, and that the i money to construct the road would be taken from education funds. Both suggestions are false the facts are otherwise: The 'Skier Connect" road, in one form or another, has been in he plans of Sandy City, Salt Lake County and Is . Dear Editor: Utah Dept. of Transportation planning bodies for over Debbie Wright, a citizen of Murray, made medical 10 years. About two years ago, as part of Sandy City's history recently, when after a passionate pleas, she involvement community developmentVitizen became the recipient u! c donble lung transplant. "It's nobody's business what I drink, planning process (a process highlighted with Debbie is only the second person in u.v. 'T-'I care not what others think -States editorial in 19850, the Sandy approbation in a KSL-T- V to undergo such a transplant and the first Cystic How many laws they choose to write City committee, Transportation composed of citizens Fibrosis to So it. have is far she To drink is my inalienable right". patient making and transportation professionals, was planning excellent progress and the prognosis for survival is and immediately set out to define Sandy organized Her is And so he drank till late that night. good. family extremely proud of her courage City's most pressing transportation needs. It was and determination. Then tried to drive with all his might -recognized by the committee, as it had been by the Nov. On Debbie will celebrate her 27the 29, Sunday, Stepped on the gas and let it go -city, county and state planning groups before, that Down the highway to and fro . . . birthday. It is a birthday she did not expect to and South Salt Lake Valley was in serious need Sandy I for that reason would like to experience and of east-we- st traffic corridors, especially from to the He took the curve at 50 miles cncour.ige everyone to help make her birthday very mountains and canyons, to carry commuters and And tried to drive, with a drunken smile. special by sending her a birthday card. Your caring tourists. As a result, the committee established as its thoughtfulness will be most appreciated by Debbie The flashing lights impressed him not number one priority the completion of a connector and her family. We'll never know just what he thought. road from 9000 South and 700 East to 9400 South at This is the address to which you can mail your card: about 1200 East, dubbed the "Skier Connect" road. And then he hit a friend of mine. Such a road would provide commuters and tourists a Mrs. Debbie Wright be hard to find) (A finer direct route from to the canyons, thereby He took a life and left the scene. University of Mississippi Medical Center Division of Was he plain scared or just that mean? Organ Transplants Jackson, Mississippi 39219 The funeral was sad and tears were shed. Sincerely Two small souls and the wife he'd wed Maria Van Dcr Heydcn Were left behind to seek a new life Murray In a strange dimension of toil and strife. The Green Sheet welcomes contributions to both If there's one lesson we could learn "Letters to the Editor" and "As I See It." "Letters" DUI's are a great concern should be confined to a length of 250 words or less and We must unite with forces strong not contain libelous comments. They must be signed, To stop this waste and right this but the writer's name will be withheld for adequate wrong Yes, Magna residents are genuinely concerned about cause. on 8400 West. The history of this street indeed safety We welcome lengthier correspondence for possible And so I plead with all of you: shows that this issue needs to be addressed. Citizens in use as "As I See It" commentaries. Primary con"It IS our business and we may sue Magna have pressured state and county agencies for sideration will be given to those submitted by people Those who drink and try to drive to make improvements all along this street. We years with expertise in the topic about which they write. A When consumption reaches four or five". are still in need of semaphores at busy intersections brief description of that expertise should accompany and completion of the intermitent sidewalk systems the submission. McMillan LaVar throughout the community. Mayor All submissions are subject to editing for space and Traffic deaths in any community are an emotional Murray clarity. They may be addressed to: The Green Sheet, issue, especially when our youth are involved. P.O. Box 7187, Murray, Utah 84107. Something does need to be done. This community needs to continue its united efforts to get the needed changes made on 8400 West. However, the fixing of blame for deaths in our community cries for fairness. No single user of this highway is responsible. The truckers are not responsible as many media reports have hinted. Pedestrians are not responsible, nor is any other individual, group or user. on-dut- - Miele Ifa - I" AW I See Iff of my car. I was lucky the damage was no greater, but that good ole 30 mile law would have given us both time to have averted the whole thing. 4) I drive 30 miles an hour because I see cars occasionally getting tickets for exceeding that speed. However, those tickets are not being given during the evening rush hour, and I's sorry to say that I never see stretch at that time. a police car on that eight-bloc- k 5) I keep to the 30 mile limit because there are kids, people, dogs, cats and ducks in this residential neighborhood and, while none of the above should be on the street, sometimes they are, and that's why the street is posted at the 30 mile limit. Either the speed limit should be enforced, and cars kept to that limit, 24 hours of the day, or they should be removed so that honking and rude gestures could be eliminated. The new 4800 South is a beautiful ribbon of concrete, but even as I write these words, sitting at my window facing the street, about 6 p.m., the cars are racing by continuously . . . and not one is keeping to the 30 miles set by the law. My question. Is there a different speed limit for different times of the day or am I expecting the impossible? With that terrific strip of road, winding its way from State Street to the Diagonal, a lot of cars have found a quick route "home". Let's make it a safe "home" for those of us living there, too. --Ethel Bradford False Information Being Given About Sandy's 'Skier Connect' Letters - Send Good Wishes Poem Shared ed gud eliminating confusion and enhancing access to ihe resorts of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Maps distributed by Snowbird Resort now direct skiers coming from downtown Salt Lake to travel on routes which skirt around Sandy, one of the reasons being the confusion and congestion encountered by skiers attempting to find the resorts traveling through Sandy on existing routes. By any measure, the "Skier Connect" road would traffic flow in Sandy dramatically improve cast-we- st City and South Salt Lake Valley, enhance the safety and reduce the travel time of a large Sandy commuter alleviate what has been labeled by Utah Eopulation, as the worst intersection in the state, 9400 South and 700 East, and provide an inviting access for tourists from the freeway to the recreational opportunities of Little Cottonwood Canyon. The State Legislature, in its last session, allocated $1.5 million from the transportation budget (not the education budget) to construct the road. And contrary to assertions, not one house will be condemned to achieve this. Salt Lake County and the state, as well as Sandy City and its residents, will benefit from the "Skier Connect" road, and we look forward with enthusiasm to its early completion. The Sandy City Transportation Committee 15 Residents Bear Responsibility For Safety On Roadways There's A Whole Going On As . I In Lot Of Living Nursing Homes See If a story about a nursing home hits the news it's an incident of neglect or abuse or some other horror story. It seems a vast number of the general public think of nursing homes as a place people are put to get rid of them or to hide them or a place for All too often when old folks to go and die. Well, I think, and I know many others think, it's about time we had a story printed that tells of the good and positive things going ou iuMiie nursing homes. There's a whole lot of living going on. What about all the cases of people placed in nursing homes that are expected to die of one cause or another. They are considered "terminal." Three years later they are still not only alive but living an active life. What about the case of the terminal patient admitted to a nursing home who not only doesn't die but in a matter of a few months is discharged to live independently once again? I've seen this happen more often than once. Some people have no family or lamily that for one reason or another cannot deal with an elderly relative. These people need somewhere to go and someone to care for them. Nursing homes provide this need and we as the caregivers become the "family." The pay is not high in a nursing home and it's really not an easy job or the kind of job many people would choose. It takes a special person to do the wo'!: i a nurses aide. There are recreational activities going on every day for any and all to engage in. This includes inside the facility and out. Our residents go to the zoo, fair, baseball games, circus, movies and out to dinner, and van rides are one of the favorite outings. Inside we have dances, bingo, current events, exercise groups, balloon volley ball, the list goes on and on. We strive to make the life of our "family" of the highest quality possible. Remember, not all nursing homes are guilty of neglect or abuse and nursing homes should be judged on their own merits. Remember also that nursing homes are open to the public and the public is invited and welcome to come in and not only see what we are all about but encouraged to become a part by volunteering time and talents. There are a lot of people in need of a visit, a smile, a story or letter read, a listening ear, a hand to hold, a friend! Anyone who has ever taken the time to visit and spend some time finds out just how rewarding it can be to volunteer. The people in nursing homes are wonder- ful, loving people who have a lot to give. After all, they were once young and productive citizens of your community and you never know, you may be taking their place some day. Next time you read or hear a story of remember "there's a whole lot of living nursing homes ' going on." Debbie Holling Debbie Holling is the administrator of Rosewood Terrace Care Center. sing-a-long- s, A recently published list of deaths on 8400 West going back to Jan. 13, 1984 clearly shows that the causes of these tragic deaths is greatly varied and that no single cause is common. The real cause and responsibility may lie with us, the residents of Magna. We at least need to accept some responsibility. Our community is growing. With that comes growing responsibility. Magna is no longer the rural town it once was. It is fast becoming a bustling suburb and this brings with it an increase in population, in traffic and especially the number of school age children. With this growth comes the duty of becoming responsible citizens. We need to be aware .of this increased traffic, aware of the many more children walking to and from schools, aware of the school zones and all of the other potential hazards in our streets and neighborhoods. The biggest responsibility we have is education. Education of our young people about the hazard of all streets, about using crosswalks with crossing guards and about cutting across 8400 West as many do every day. We need to emphasize good driving practices. Banning trucks from 8400 West is not an answer. Civic and church groups everywhere need to work with, parents to educate everyone to take it upon themselves to be responsible for their own actions and not point fingers. .Accidents happen. This is an unfortunate part of life. V I See If We are pursuing every avenue available to obtain needed improvements throughout Magna to minimize the potential for any accidents. The support of the community is essential in this, and will be productive. We call upon all users of the public road system to be wise users, to be educators and to be responsible. Jim Meeks Chairman, Public Safety Magna Area Council W9VB&JVE Obey posted speed limits. a pumic service message from this newspaper ana ine uian Hignway Patrol. |