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nder-represent-
<br />ture of Rachel
<br />
<br />rant in the deci-
<br />.cone from the
<br />i1 the more true
<br />are well repre-
<br />~cmbers, Otsego
<br />low that Mary
<br />
<br />vice. His candi-
<br />fiver Education.
<br />of the people in
<br />
<br />4 members have
<br />· make decisions.
<br />practice, it is not
<br /> in its wisdom
<br />~ and south, and
<br />,~ better plan had
<br />
<br />~ds to be repre-
<br /> accept the posi-
<br />herman needs to
<br />
<br />and didn't hana ou~ one
<br />brochure.
<br /> Her winning s~rategy was
<br />not announcing her with-
<br />drawal in time to get her
<br />name off the ballot.
<br /> For who among the 4,518
<br />voters could resist that last
<br />name of Swanson? Or maybe
<br />people like the first name of
<br />Mary Jo.
<br /> Or just maybe her initials
<br />MJ are appealing.
<br />Now, I happen to know
<br />Mary Jo Swanson, who is a
<br />
<br /> Now, one coma raum~auzu
<br /> all these votes by saying some
<br /> voted to send her a message,
<br /> but not 4,518.
<br /> One has to conclude, oh so
<br /> reluctantly, that many who
<br /> voted just didn't realize she
<br /> had withdrawn her name as a
<br /> candidate.
<br /> As an editor, we probably
<br /> should have written a story
<br /> and a big headline on page -
<br /> one the week before the dec-
<br /> tion: "Mary Jo Swanson is not
<br />· a candidate for the school
<br />
<br />Commissioner Mike Johnson.
<br />A name like Johnson has to
<br />be good for a fifl~ term.
<br /> Now had her name been
<br />Rachel Swanson, she would
<br />have had a better chance at
<br />defeating a Johnson.
<br /> Now, if all that is logical,
<br />how do you explain that Mary
<br />McDevitt Kraljic led the
<br />school board ticket with 4,867
<br />votes?
<br /> Or better yet, how did P. at
<br /> Adkins, son of the well=known
<br />
<br />Mary Jo Swanson won even
<br />though shewithdrew her nam~
<br />
<br />former Sen. Betty Adkins,
<br />ever lose to a person by the
<br />name of Mark Ourada?~ ·
<br /> And speaking of names,'
<br />were you surprised that aguy
<br />named Charlie Finck picked
<br />up 6,134 votes?
<br />
<br />Letters to the Editor
<br />Re-examine traffic' light system in Elk River
<br /> its crossing, and all local traf- you are stopped at a t~affic I do not condone peoPle dri-
<br />
<br />ring through red lights. But I ·
<br />do not condone a-traffic sys-
<br />tem where the main artery
<br />(Highway 10) has light
<br />changes that last less than a
<br />minute. What is happening is
<br />the same thing that happened
<br />with prohibition. Those who
<br />thought the law was silly
<br />ignored the law. Laws (includ-
<br />ing traffic lights) need to be
<br />reasonable to be respected.
<br />The current setup of traffic
<br />lights in Elk River needs to be
<br />re-examined. -- Maynard
<br />Oss, Elk River
<br />
<br /> Two recent editions of your
<br />newspaper have emphasized
<br />the amount of ticketing by the
<br />police of people driving
<br />through red lights. We have
<br />been paying special attention
<br />to the traffic light situation
<br />and can report the following:
<br /> 1) On Monday morning of
<br />this week I was the first vehi-
<br />cle going east on Highway 10
<br />stopped for the traffic light.
<br />There was a train going east
<br />to west. The light remained
<br />red for the entire time the
<br />train was using the crossing.
<br />Only aider the train completed
<br />
<br />tic was out of the intersection
<br />did the light permit Highway
<br />10 traffic to proceed. Two vehi-
<br />des at my lei~ "ran the light"
<br />while waiting for the light to
<br />change.
<br /> 2) Last Thursday I was the
<br />third vehicle westbound
<br />stopped for the traffic light on
<br />Highway 10 and Proctor
<br />Avenue. The light changed to
<br />green and I entered the inter-
<br />section on yellow. Two cars
<br />behind me entered the inter-
<br />section on red. What is the
<br />normal driving response when
<br />
<br />light and it turns green? You
<br />watch for other cars or pedes-
<br />trians that might be crossing
<br />against red. You certainly are
<br />not watching the light, expect-
<br />ing another change within 15
<br />to 20 seconds.
<br /> 3) Last Friday I was the
<br />fourth westbound vehicle
<br />stopped .at Highway 10 and
<br />Jackson Avenue. The light
<br />changed green. The car ahead
<br />of me entered the intersection
<br />on yellow. I had to jam on my
<br />brakes. That green light last-
<br />ed much less than 30 seconds.
<br />
<br />Elk River mUst act now to ensure safety for residents
<br />
<br />way. There will. always be
<br />pedestrians and vehicles. But
<br />unlike Highw,ay 10.,.,Highway
<br />
<br /> from ~ a long-standing resident established as a danger zone
<br />S of Elk River and a friend of the for our residents and the
<br /> Twaddle family, I find it neces- unsuspecting traveler. Tragic
<br /> sary to speak out on beh_nlf of losses of a mother and then a
<br />[~_~ . safety in put c0. ~nunu~ty:~It's:~ .young~,teen ,within a: mogth;
<br /> · ~ ..... ~,,~,,¥~,:~~bld~but,very,sertous new~ o~ti~kls .new. light-on th~
<br /> ,~,':.,~,:~a ^~,l~, ~ffitk River's growing p. ail!.t, be for eh~n~e;: '"~ : ~'
<br /> [~:~.~U~blU~:=~ ~Jl [~ll~~' ' ........ '- ' ~
<br /> , , ~ it in our schools or on our Much like Highway 10,
<br />oe removea irom roads. And although Highway Highway 169 divides our
<br />priate and not in 169 has longbeen regarded as town. We have residents and
<br />subjected to- the the main artery north, it now stores on each side of the high-
<br />,md rely on caring- suffers from new problems.
<br />sums needed to with the added attractions of
<br /> ,, ~. ~ ~ ~ ~ cshouping and dining, sur-
<br />
<br /> co-exist and avoid unneces- apparatus both south and
<br /> sary loss of life, I urge the city north of area in question,
<br /> engineers, the City Council drawing
<br /> and MnDOT to consider the immediate attention to all
<br /> followi ....... ..~ :,travelers of speed ~limits,
<br />' '*,Rec0m~nded'-'~' ,;;~HangeS[~,rnefglng ~traffic,-~,,pedestrmns
<br />sh0.uld involve the ,highway~,~,LT~ ~_.:,. i ~
<br /> co'~rid°~ of 169, between Ron's .business area.
<br /> Foods and Menards. Increase law enforcement
<br /> · Suggested reduction of on all violations.
<br /> speed limits (35-40 mph). There have been many tears
<br /> · Installation of suitable from your residents and time
<br /> highway illumination lamps is needed to recover. Yet Elk
<br /> throughout area in question. River must act now to ensure
<br /> *, .........at~ ...... ~ ~,~,-,;. ~fotv fc~r both our residents
<br />
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