Greencastle Mayor Ben Thomas Jr.
So, I get pleasure from studying, researching and writing about historical past, particularly the native stuff. I particularly benefit from the native seniors who lived it. I actually loved studying Sharon Baumbaugh’s current Echo Pilot articles relating to native roads. Extra in only a minute.
Do you’ve gotten time to hitch me with some scorching tea or espresso because it’s one other c-c-cold Sunday afternoon in G-A? The household room is sweet and heat with the fireside working simply effective. The playoffs are at the moment within the NFL. What’s going to Brady do? That was fairly a sports activities circus yesterday relating to his retirement with a query mark?
Do you know these previous vans with huge plows on the entrance needed to have two operators? The driving force drove whereas the passenger would manually elevate the entrance plow up and down. There have been no hydraulics again then. In rural areas farmers had been those who would open the roads. In spite of everything, they needed to get their milk and merchandise to market. Residents would hand-shovel the roads for vehicular entry. I clearly keep in mind circa 1964 when our public faculty bus was taking us residence within the afternoon throughout a heavy winter storm. The north-south again roads had been drifting closely. The bus slid right into a slight embankment close to Upton and we had been caught. The scholars who lived on near-by farms received off the bus and walked residence. We waited about half-hour after which got here the farmers on their open cab tractors. All of us received a journey residence through the tractors’ fender wells. Mother was glad to see us. No huge deal. May you think about at the moment!
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OK … so what do you see once you’re driving or strolling just about wherever? Do you ever see distracted drivers? Oh my! I observe it on a regular basis. I suppose it’s the previous cop in me. Once I first started patrolling over 40 years in the past, right here’s what was distracting drivers: Wanting down on the AM radio to see what station it was on; selecting up a dropped cigarette; altering an eight-track or cassette tape. The largest one was a DUI (drunk) driver. Particularly on weekends, the taverns could be packed till 2 a.m. Marylanders would come to Greencastle when their taverns closed at 1 a.m. The outcomes wouldn’t be good. Take a look at the guide Greencastle-Antrim Revisited, web page 110, and also you’ll see a black and white image of a 1938 Cadillac straddling the previous 5 arch stone bridge simply west of Greencastle over the Conococheague Creek. I’m wondering what distracted that driver.
Then the cell telephones got here alongside. Greencastle Police received these “bag telephones” within the early Nineteen Nineties. The coverage was don’t drive and speak. We needed to pull over to make a fast cellphone name as you had restricted free minutes. Oh, how occasions have modified. Thirty-six states have hand-held mobile phone use restriction or prohibition legal guidelines. Pennsylvania solely has a texting whereas driving prohibition until the cellphone is bodily built-in with the car. In different phrases, it’s very tough for police to implement.
I’m certain bus drivers see this loads as they’re elevated of their driver’s positions trying down on motorists. Greencastle Police lately cited a driver who traveled via Heart Sq. with out stopping for a college bus with lights activated.
About 3,200 fatalities happen yearly in the USA from distracted driving. Many minor accidents involving car injury and accidents happen. Annual prices for medical remedy, car repairs/replacements, and break day work was round $463 billion. All of us pay for this via our insurance coverage premiums. Teenage drivers expertise increased percentages of mobile phone use. Dad and mom and grandparents, speak to your teenage drivers about mobile phone use. Put the cellphone away whereas driving. The decision or textual content can actually wait. That transient dialogue might save a life. With the federal funding in infrastructure, Pennsylvania will obtain $11.3 billion for freeway apportioned packages and $1.6 billion for bridge alternative and repairs. It’s my hope that our Pa. legislators will enact a lot stricter, enforceable legal guidelines relating to the usage of hand-held communications units as a result of site visitors security begins with the driving force.
So have you learnt Joel Wenger? Antrim Township, Sen. Judy Ward and Pa. state Rep. Paul Schemel lately acknowledged Mr. Wenger for his 42 years of service on the Antrim Township Planning Fee. He’s been farming all of his life and continues doing so at the moment. Thanks, Joel, on your a few years of service and for selling the significance of agriculture. It’s due to Joel and plenty of like him that we’re blessed. Keep secure and heat.
