Please slow down

Dear Editor,

I have a request for all drivers of Mountain Home: Please slow down Monday - Friday at the intersection of American Legion and 10th (Maverick corner). This morning at 7:30 a.m., I was walking with a student who was going to East Elementary, and he was telling me about how much he likes his new music teacher. I told him I would walk with him across American Legion, so we could finish our visit. We were crossing on the crosswalk, headed toward East, when an SUV turned the corner without stopping. I jumped between the child and the SUV with my arms spread wide screaming "STOP! STOP!" It stopped about 1 - 2 feet from me. Had I not been there, I am certain the child would have been hit. He and I then continued to cross, and crossed North 10th to Carl Miller Park, without incident.

That intersection is the main crossing for East Elementary, Bennett Mountain High School, Hacker Middle School, Mountain Home High School and is also a route to Mountain Home Junior High. There is no turning signal at that light, like the light on 18th Street, even though it is one of the busiest intersections in Mountain Home. Students of every age and height cross at that intersection. Even though daylight savings is in effect, children are still crossing the streeet when it is quite dark to go to eat breakfast at those different schools.

For those of you that know me, I am hard to miss seeing on my walks...I'm almost 6 feet tall, I wear a big, screaming orange BSU stadium jacket and may or may not be wearing a BSU Santa hat as well. Since the driver this morning didn't notice me on the crosswalk, he or she certainly wouldn't have noticed a little boy in a dark coat, jeans, snow boots and a hat, who was half as tall as me. I beg of all early morning drivers: slow down, look at all crosswalks to see if students are on them, and if you are looking at your phone while driving, stop looking.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Kenda Schroeder, Hacker Middle School Teacher