THORNHILL— A: group of local parents who have been in fear of their children’s safety recently banded together to de- mand some action, and it appears that they’re going to get it with the full cooperation of the Ter- race District Highways Office. The block bounded by Clark, Paquette and Century Streets in Thornhill contains three schools:. Thornhill Primary, Elementary and Junior Secon- dary. During the hours when school is assembling and letting ‘out the area is a maelstrom of vehicular traffic weaving around childen riding bicycles and walk- ing. Near the end of the 1987-88 school year, nine-year-old Michael Mitchell died after he struck a pothole and lost contro! of his bicycle, falling beneath the wheels of a passing schoolbus.. _ ’ Laurie Mitchell, Michael’s mother, and Deborah Dimitrov, whose son has been struck by a vehicle in the same area, ap- - peared before the board of School District 88 Sept. 13 to ask the board to support their proposals to improve the situa- tion. Mitchell said that on a recent morning they counted 300 . vehicles, including school buses, logging - trucks and concrete trucks, passing the intersection of Old Lakelse Lake Rd. (at the bottom of the hill) and Clark St. She indicated the group has ask- ed the highways district office to establish crosswalks where Old Lakelse Lake Rd. intersects both Clark and Paquette and also to disallow passing on the road from the hill past the hazardous area, From the board, she re- quested funding for crossing guards at both intersections. " Dimitrov noted that the worst time is yet to come: winter, when there is frequently snow and ice on the roads and the visibility is often cut to white-out conditions by strong winds in the area. “Sidewalks are non-existent, and children have to walk on the road. It’s a miracle we haven’t lost someone at one of those corners,” she said, Dimitrov concluded by inviting trustees to — walk the area during periods of highest activity and examine the situation first-hand. The parents also requested that school buses be re-routed to reduce traffic congestion in front of the school. Dimitrov said later that the bus company PPPIPPPPPIPPP PPP PP -fHOWCAN YOU? ? OWNA ? NEW TRUCK? FOR ? 113.°° per month?? phone ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? _ ? > MR. LEASE > 2. TOLL FREE ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1-604-520-3055 We will also pay for travel expenses for you on any deal PP PPP PPP P IPP IPP TIT but she noted that the extra time involved for drivers could create a slight additional expense for the school district. . _ Board chairman - Val Napoleon responded by saying the board takes parental con- Secretary- cerns. seriously. treasurer Barry Piersdorff re- quested that the group submit their recommendations in writing. The school district received the written proposal later in the week. The district director for the Terrace Ministry of Highways © office, Peter Wightman, said in a subsequent interview that his office has had a consultation with the parents and principals of the schools involved and set priorities for solving the prob- lems. , When schoo! lets out in Thornhill there are numerous kids, bicycles, dogs, cars, trucks and schoolbuses moving about at random. The lack of traffic control, absence of sidewalks ~ and narrow road shoulders are al! problems that may be corrected before winter strikes and conditions get more dangerous. GROCERY PICKUP From Safeway © 1:30 & 5:00 p.m, daily ©. 6:30 p.m. Thursdays & Fridays onty 549° Free to Seniors... onty through Chime & Safeway. No Vehicle? Do you have problems with picking up prescriptions, groceries, appliances or anything else? For.all your moving and delivery needs, phone for experienced and speedy service. , . ‘Transit Information 635-6617 . Terrace Review — Wednesday, September 28, 1988 23 7 . - Vorried Thornhill parents get action __ “It's a miracle we haven’t lost someone at one © of those corners.’’ Deborah Dimitrov . Those that are classified as normal road maintenance, he said, can be addressed right away, and crews could begin grading, pot hole repairs and drainage changes immediately. Ministry personnel were also out doing traffic counts. The other changes will require an application from the local of- fice to Victoria for extra fund- ing, he said, but added that the - process normally goes quickly. Those changes include widening the shoulders on Clark and Pa- quette so that children don’t. have to walk on the roadway and straightening Clark where it approaches Old Lakelse Lake Rd. to improve visibility. Returning officer named Terrace resident Elaine Johnson has been approved by a - resolution of the board of School District 88 to serve as returning officer for the election of trustees coming in November. Trustees whose terms of office expire this year are Edna: Cooper, Lavern Hislop and Frances Sabine from Terrace, ~- Delbert Morgan of Kitwanga, and ‘board Chair Val Napoloen . of Hazelton. W hatever you wear re, Wee clean with 2a Richards Cleaners Men's or Ladies’ cotton blend _ dress or business shirts expertly laundered Drop off point at Thornhill Market -Best, most Reliable and Cleanest Service around -Only DRIVE—THRU in town 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.-Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m,-3:99 p.m.-Saturday KIDDIE CORNER FROM THE POST OFFICE Terrace Regional Transit System _ City of Terrace Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Perrace is celebrating the opening of the Skeena Cellulose sawmill. To add to the fun BC Transit is offering free rides all day long. Join us on the bus ... Come to the open house at Skeena Cellulose on Thursday, September 29th.