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RUSTIC AUTUMN: Trees of the Wellsville Mountains bear the colors of the season. / Photo by Ted Pease

Today's word on journalism

October 10, 2008

Editor's Note:

Today's offering from E.B. White, one of my heroes, is not strictly about writing or journalism, although it could be taken that way. It does, however, describe the life of both the writer and the teacher --at least, on a good day when the bag o' rocks we all carry isn't too heavy.

On these days, writers whoop when words, thoughts and intent come together right; and teachers glow like the little flickering light bulbs that sometimes appear above that kid in the fourth row. This morning I found this glowworm in my email: "You may be interested to find that your class has made me think a little bit about working for the newspaper. It sounds like a fun job! but that would require knowing what was going on in the world, not one of my strengths (but I’m sure you already noticed that. haha). . . I prefer the logical to the illogical anyway, thus I'm an engineer. Your class has really caused me to question most everything in the news. I think you are succeeding in your task of teaching us to think about ‘How we know what we think we know?'"

Hmmm. Even as NPR reports a new 200-point slide in the Dow during a single newsbreak, and nations crumble and slide into the sea, it's going to be a good day. Once I get this sent, I think I'll take the dogs up the mountain.

Good advice

"I get up every morning determined both to change the world and to have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning the day difficult."

--E.B. White (1899-1985), wise man and writer, who knew when to take a walk with the dogs (Thanks to alert WORDster Louise Montgomery)

Speak up! Comment on the WORD at

http://tedsword.
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Feedback and suggestions --printable and otherwise --always welcome. "There are no false opinions."

Teenage girl convinces Hyde Park council to move speed limit sign

By Brittny Goodsell Jones

September 29, 2008 | HYDE PARK -- Because of a girl without a license, residents can drive a bit safer.

A 25 mph speed limit sign in front of the post office will be moved to the east side of the road after resident Jessica Beddingfield, 15, complained to the city council Wednesday about its location. Beddingfield said the sign was too far off the side of the road for drivers to notice the change from 35 mph. She also said the sign was hard to see because of trees about 50 feet in front of it.

"People think they should go 35 instead of 25," Beddingfield said as she addressed council members. "That's too dangerous to cross the street at Cedar Ridge Elementary."

Her dad is a police officer, she said, and even he didn't know the speed limit was 25 mph on Hyde Park Lane.

Councilman Brent Kelly thought it was 35 mph as well.

Mayor Dave Kooyman said he will follow through and make sure the sign is changed.

"I had two calls this week on the same thing," Kooyman said.

The sign was put in earlier this year. Kooyman said residents can expect the speed limit sign to be moved by the end of next week.

Beddingfield also said the sign looks smaller than other speed limit signs around the city.

Kooyman said anything is possible but he thinks the size is standard since all signs come from the state.

Council members also announced the ordering of new signs to help control unauthorized ATV use at the fairly new Lions Park at 100 N. and between 500 and 700 North. Kooyman said he has seen too many motorbikes and four-wheelers given free rein over the upper trail slope.

"It makes me sick after all the work we did," Kooyman said.

ATV's are creating ruts in the slope. The ruts end up holding water and eventually ruin the shape of the slope. Until the five signs arrive, Kooyman said he has beefed up the patrol there to make sure people know about the new rule. The council also discussed putting in a fence on the new above the slope to discourage ATV riders from riding to the top of the slop and onto the trail.

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