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Show Page 12 The Ogden Valley News Volume XXIX Issue XI September 15, 2022 School Bus Safety: Let’s All Do Our 20 Years Ago: Senior from Eden Ranked th Part to Keep Students Safe 8 in Nation for 1600 Meter Race was taught by my parents to never walk behind Compiled by Shanna Francis With the eighth fastest nation in the 800-meter race. Cross County is According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), statistics show that loading and unloading is the most dangerous time for a school bus driver and for students. On average, 33 school-age children die in school bus-related crashes each year. In addition, half of all school-age pedestrians killed in school bus-related crashes are 5 to 7 years of age, indicating that our youngest students are at the highest risk to be injured or killed when loading or unloading from a school bus. They are usually smaller and harder to see, and more impulsive and inexperienced in regard to dealing with vehicular traffic. Students have been sitting quietly, attentive for most of the day and are ready to move once the school bell rings, dismissing them from class. If neither driver or students are paying attention while the youth are loading or unloading in a school bus zone, the combination can be deadly. Recently, Valley bus drivers have noticed an uptick in the number of drivers who are either not paying attention or are just plain acting irresponsibly. Almost on a daily basis, these bus drivers are finding people who are flying by buses, even while the buses are stopped with their lights flashing and “stop sign” out, as is the case while students are loading or unloading. Many drivers, hoping to save a minute or so, will often speed up to pass the bus when the yellow stop lights begin flashing, warning drivers they are preparing to stop. On a Valley Facebook page, Sarah Klimek Karmer posted, “School is back in session. Remember, you cannot pass a bus when they have their flashers and stop sign out. Our bus had three cars pass it yesterday and again today [while the flashing lights were on]. This person thought it was smart to pass the bus.” These incidents were reported to the sheriff’s office. Bus driver Robert Coleman reported a frightening experience about a week ago while driving his school bus in Liberty. He has students who ride his bus who have to cross the street in front of the bus. After stopping to pick up the students, a car came plowing through, not even slowing down or looking up. Coleman commented that he feared for the kids’ lives. In this incident, he laid on his horn, which stopped the kids from crossing into the road, but the car didn’t even seem to notice and continued on after illegally passing the bus. Truly, loading and unloading a bus safely can be a matter of life and death. How can parents help lower the risks? Remind your child (or children) to concentrate and pay attention when loading and unloading, and to watch for drivers who aren’t paying attention. From my earliest recollections as a child, I the back of a horse, and to stay at least 10 feet away from them. It was drilled into me and my siblings that if you surprise a horse, especially by walking up to it from behind, it could very well do a rear kick—injuring or even killing you. The same can be said of a school bus. Teach your children to always walk at least 10 feet in front of the bus, and never walk behind it. Ten feet is easy to measure for a child—let them know it’s about five giant steps. Also, remind them to quickly take five giant steps away from the bus immediately after disembarking. If a child drops something, they should tell the bus driver to let them know. A student should NEVER try to pick up the dropped item if it’s within this 10-feet radius of the bus. Also, students should NEVER run to catch a bus. There are also safety rules for getting on the bus. NHTSA instructs: 1. If students have to cross the road to get onto the school bus: • They should stay on the side of the road, away from traffic, until the bus stops and the driver signals to cross. • When the driver signals that it is safe to cross, students should still first check for traffic before crossing. Many youth are killed or injured by motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus, so both students and the bus driver must check for traffic in both directions—left-rightleft—before the student should cautiously move to cross a road. • As students cross in front of the bus, they should watch and make eye contact with the driver. This will let the student know that the driver sees them. 2. Students should board the bus using the handrail. 3. Students should move toward the rear of a bus quickly, without crowding or pushing. If the bus isn’t filled to capacity, students would be wise to sit in the middle of the bus—the safest place to be should an accident occur. 4. Students should sit down quickly once embarked. Let’s all do are part to keep our kids safe. Foremost, as a driver, always follow the law by slowing down then stopping when you see the yellow or red flashing lights of a bus. NEVER pass a school bus while its lights are flashing. As a parent, review bus safety rules with your children. As a student, stay alert when getting on and off a school bus. Accidents can happen when you least expect them. Never assume the driver of a car or truck, or even the school bus sees you. Do your part to ensure they do before crossing roads and climbing on or off a bus. Now Enrolling SCHEDULE YOUR TOUR TODAY We believe in Catholic Education, so should you 1. We educate the whole Person 2. Academic Excellence 3. 10:1 Student to Teacher Ratio 4. Safe and secure campus 5. Extra-curricular inclusivity! All students make the team. We are excited to share our campus with you. time in the nation in the 1600-meter race (4 min. 08 sec.), the very name of Steve Shepherd strikes fear in the hearts of his competitors. If you have ever seen him run, you know exactly what I am referring to. He is only the second athlete in Utah to ever run the 1600meter race with such an Steve Shepherd impressive time. He holds several records at Snowcrest Jr. High, where he began his incredible climb to the top. He still holds the Jr. High, Weber School District record in the 1600-meter race. He qualified and ran in the High School Outdoor National Championships as a sophomore and a junior. Both years when he participated in the State Competition, he took one First-Place, four Second-Place, and one EighthPlace win. He also holds the High School, Weber School District record in the 800-meter race. Not only does he run outdoor track, but indoor as well, where he is ranked ninth in the also one of his passions, where he took Allstate this past year. This remarkable success would not be so without his hard work and dedication. This past summer, Steve ran over 500 miles to keep his body in peak condition for the following season. He travels nationwide to participate in invitational races, and most often comes home with a shining medal, which he adds to his astounding collection. He has been named “Most Valuable Participant” two years in a row at the city-county meet, where he took first in all three events in which he participated and holds the record in the 800-meter race... and he still has one year of high school to go! Not only is Steve an outstanding runner, but he also takes his education seriously. He manages to maintain a high GPA, while exerting all he has into his daily workouts. He currently holds the 800-meter and the 1600-meter record at Weber High School. With his senior year still ahead of him, he will have many more opportunities to excel as an athlete. Steve is the son of Randy and Steffnie Shepherd of Eden. Save Our Canyons: 50 Years of Advocacy Fifty years ago, a few hikers, climbers, scientists, mothers, and fathers united together and formed Save Our Canyons. These people—Gale Dick, Alexis Kelner, and so many others knew that while the mountains and canyons of the Wasatch took eons to be created, the political changes and policies that ruin them can happen as quickly as one legislative session. They knew that protecting these mountains would require an equally tireless group, one as committed to preserving the Wasatch as the developers are committed to bulldozing them. Fifty years later, we’re still at it. Still committed and still relentless. Still a passionate group of mothers and fathers, climbers and hikers, mountain bikers and picnickers, skiers and snowboarders working to protect the Wasatch Mountains. The Beginning - Salt Lake City was officially incorporated in 1851, after which Brigham Young turned over authority to city government. One of the new City Council’s first acts was to put in place watershed protections: “Be it ordained by the City Council of Great Salt Lake City, no person or persons shall be allowed to build cow yards or deposit any filthy substance in or near any of the streams through this city so as to affect the waters thereof.” That ordinance, building on three years of established water management practices, began a legacy lasting over 170 years of careful, responsible watershed protection by Salt Lake City. While Salt Lake City was founded and relied upon the Wasatch Mountains for water; this area was not immune to the pressures of mining, logging, and grazing. When more pioneers came into the valley, they needed resources so they went to the Wasatch Mountains for trees, mining, and grazing. The Canyons Today - The Wasatch Mountains are the cornerstone of the community, and an essential part of our history. Currently, our watersheds, the critical habitat for over 1,200 species of flora and fauna, and • Skid Loader Work • Grading • Sprinkler Installation • Walking Trails • Concrete Prep & Tear out the pristine wild lands are in danger of being developed. The Wasatch is facing serious threats ranging from the world’s longest gondola, a 600+-acre mining proposal in Parley’s Canyon, land management directives rather than codes, impacts to headwater areas of the Central Wasatch due to wetland destruction, and tree removal for ski area expansion, and uniformed theories about wildfires driven by limited data. Hope for Tomorrow - Clearly, our watershed and recreational heritage are in danger. Wilderness is fast disappearing. Development of some kind is planned for almost every canyon along the Wasatch Front and Back. With the increasing demand for canyon use by both local and out-of-state residents, overintensive development leading to irreparable damage to some of Utah’s most valuable assets becomes a real possibility. As in the 19 th century mining boom, instant wealth has blinded some developers to the wants and needs of future generations. Often, little consideration has been given for those who live in the many communities along the Wasatch Front and Back. Highdensity recreation facilities, multiple dwellings, traffic jams, and pollution are rapidly increasing in the name of “progress.” The Wasatch Mountains are what connects us all together. It’s why so many of you are passionate, dedicated, and loyal to helping protect the areas we all love. And let there be no doubt what can be achieved when we come together as a community passionate about protecting the Wasatch Mountains! To join Save Our Canyons, scan our QR code and help us protect the irreplaceable; or, visit saveourcanyons.org, email us at info@ saveourcanyons.org, or call 801-363-7283. Note: This article, which first ran in Save Our Canyons spring 2022 newsletter, is being reprinted by permission of Save Our Canyons. • Rock Belgard Patios & Steps • Lawns ~ Gardens • Xeriscaping Yards & Strips • Final Grades • BMX & Mountain Bike Tracks Call 801-644-8845 for free estimate. Easy Living Construction, licensed and insured. ~TWIN RIVERS RANCH~ HUNTSVILLE, UT BEEF All-natural grass-fed beef available for purchase in half or whole. Ready for process September - November 2022. Cut & Wrapped at Bingham’s Meats in Morgan, Utah or Sunnyfield Farms in Eden, Utah. Call for price and availability. www.stjosephutah.org 801-394-1515 801-710-4953 801-710-4952 |