Dear editor,
I was saddened to read the front page of Wednesday’s Register with the accident on Oregon Road and U.S. 169.
Don Hillbrant has done wonderful things around Allen County and I would like to see that intersection accident-free, with some safety upgrades in the near future.
From my own experience, I believe that intersection is one of the most dangerous in Allen County and not just since the new hospital was built.
Seven or eight years ago, I left my Iola home for a drive to the Kansas City airport in the dark of early morning. When I was traveling east on Oregon Road, in my opinion, the stop sign was not big enough or reflective enough. I slammed on my brakes at the last second and skidded right through the stop sign and all the way across 169. I can’t tell you how that woke me up to be much, much more observant at that intersection and others around Allen County.
I used to be a big city person and I was accustomed to heavy traffic and bright lights everywhere. On that earning morning at 5 a.m. the small stop sign and its less than adequate reflective ability certainly did not catch my attention, as it should have.
I would recommend a much larger sign with extra reflectors around it and most of all, I think there should be some kind of a white light to light up the intersection.
I also remember coming back from Chanute in the dark and wanted to turn left on Oregon Road. I had a car behind me and there were cars coming toward me going south and at the same time I had a difficult time locating the exact place to turn left. Because of the oncoming traffic, I had to slow way down until I could make the turn safely. All the while I was very concerned about the car behind me and if he was going to adequately slow down, until going around me.
I have felt for a long time that intersection was an accident waiting to happen.
I have the same opinion of the intersection of the highway going north from Old 169, and then taking the little jig-jog and driving up a short distance where that road intersects with Highway 58. That location also needs a double post large reflective stop sign with several reflectors around it. I would also suggest a definite need for a white light at that T intersection.
Just because some intersections have worked in the past, doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have their safety evaluated for the future.
Paul F. Sorenson,
Iola, Kan.
Dear editor,
I am making a request as a volunteer with the Salvation Army for area residents to donate either to a Red Kettle or by using the envelope that was enclosed in Tuesday’s Iola Register.
All funds received are used to assist families that live in Allen County. These gifts are our main source of funding.
Donations received the last two years have been considerably less than the years before. When there is less money, there are fewer people we can help.
Asking for assistance can be difficult for some. For me, telling someone I don’t have the funds to help them is also difficult.
A big thank you to the Kiwanis for the help in organizing and finding volunteers to ring the bell for the kettle. They are a blessing.
Janet Wilson,
Salvation Army,
Iola, Kan.
