Getting Across the Street at Downtown Wheeling Corner
Safe Crossing
Pedestrians are happy to see that a missing “walk” light has been replaced with a new and improved model at the southwest corner of 16th and Chapline streets in downtown Wheeling. It’s a busy intersection where pedestrians need all the help they can get in crossing the roadway safely.
A Wheeling woman who crosses that intersection frequently was dismayed, however, when she used the new “walk” light for the first time last week and had to move quickly to avoid being hit by a vehicle that ran the red light and turned into her path.
Signs of the Times
In recent weeks, the Ohio Valley has been drawing attention on social media, though not always in a positive way. A photo taken near Cameron two weeks ago showing a handmade sign tacked to a horse pasture fence — reading “No Blacks or Mexicans Allowed On This Property” — drew more than 56,000 shares on Facebook after being shared by a Bridgeport, W.Va., resident. Another one posted Friday depicted a decal on a car at a work site in Barnesville reading “The only black thing you can trust is COAL.”
Comments on these posts condemn their message, but others also post the same sentiments expressed in similar ways elsewhere.
Sweets Among the Salt
After a special meeting was called Wednesday evening to discuss a rescinded bid for repairs to John Marshall’s Monarch Stadium, the Marshall County Board of Education stayed at their desks for another 15 minutes for a small surprise party, celebrating board member Dwayne Miller and Superintendent Jeffrey Crook’s birthdays, which had occurred within days of one another over the week. Board vice-president John Miller had purchased a small cake which was distributed among the board members as they ribbed one another over their age. Miller turned 50 Wednesday. Crook did not disclose his age.
Consistency at Entrance
To City-County Building
Security at the City-County Building in downtown Wheeling is a bit inconsistent.
Most of the guards at the metal detector inside the building’s Chapline Street entrance allow familiar faces to pass through with basically no scrutiny. Even when the metal detector beeps, they just let the person continue on their way.
One particular guard is exactly the opposite, however. This guard makes sure each and every person who passes through the metal detector empties his or her pockets. Then, if anything causes a beep, the guard makes the person go back through to remove more material until the machine stops beeping.
The only thing the public should really expect, aside from safety, with these security measures is consistency. What if one of the relaxed guards allowed someone to pass through with a loaded gun?
Three-Hour Meeting
Wheeling leaders probably could have earned some extra cash for the city by selling refreshments during the three-hour development committee meeting on Thursday.
A city official said after the session that leaders waited for several issues to accumulate before scheduling a meeting. Perhaps, scheduling multiple shorter meetings in the future could work better.
COMMENTS