With school coming to a close at the end of this week work has begun in earnest on the building. A crew has been repairing the roof over the middle school and another crew is working on expanding and completely overhauling/ revamping and adding to the culinary arts space. The other big summer project is gutting the science room area and rebuilding it up and adding new equipment. The bond passed by the public two years ago finances these projects.
Director, Office of Emergency Management & Public Information
Crosswalk enforcement events, conducted by the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office in conjunction with the Safe Routes to Schools Program on May 15 and 17, saw an alarming number of violations. The two-day pedestrian safety enforcement operation focused on motorists who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians at crosswalks.
The crosswalk detail on May 15, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of Fifth Street and First Avenue West in the School Zone, resulted in 11 traffic stops. There were also several more violators that were not stopped due to deputies already having vehicles pulled over.
“This was a very eye-opening operation,” said Chief Deputy Will Sandstrom. “At one point, Deputy Zallar was able to stop just one out of three vehicles that all went through without stopping while pedestrians were at or in the crosswalk. On two occasions, all three law enforcement officers had vehicles stopped at the same time. These results, combined with the fact that our sheriff was recently rear-ended by a car going 30 mph while stopped at a crosswalk for children and a school patrol crossing, tells us we have a problem here in Cook County.”
No citations were issued; however, all could have been cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Law enforcement personnel that took part in the operation included Deputies Joe Zallar, Mike Running, and Chief Deputy Will Sandstrom. Pedestrian crossers included Peter James from Great Expectations Charter School and Alison McIntyre, Cook County’s director of Public Health & Human Services. There were no injuries during the operations.
To raise awareness, and help eradicate the problem, all Cook County sheriff ’s deputies will now be required to complete one hour of crosswalk enforcement each shift they work.
“With the summer months upon us, our streets are only going to get busier,” said Sandstrom. “The problem is not just in school zones. Crossings at scenic destinations along the highway, like those at Temperance River, in the Cascade area and others, along with downtown Grand Marais, can be exceptionally busy. Drivers need follow the law, be alert and yield to pedestrians. In Minnesota, any corner and any intersection, whether it’s marked or unmarked is a crosswalk, and pedestrians have the right of way. We want to prevent tragedies before they happen.”
The same operation performed in Grand Portage in front of the Oshki Ogimaag Charter School on May 17 yielded two traffic stops.
Pedestrian safety is a two-way street
Tips for Pedestrians:
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street Clearly show you intend to cross
Remove headphones and stay off cell phones while crossing
Tips for Motorists:
Remember that every corner is a crosswalk – stop for crossing pedestrians
Scan the road for pedestrians, especially before turning
Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
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