CITY BEAT: VIEW OF MAIN AND WOOD STREETS INTERSECTION NOT GOOD AT TIMES

     • MY OFFICE windows on the fourth floor of the Millikin Court Building face the west so, when I look out, I have an expansive view looking west.
     There are a lot of sights and sounds that attract my attention at different times during the day when I’m talking on the phone or walking to another part of the office — and glance out the windows.
     What really attracts my attention is hearing the sound of a siren and knowing that, usually, an ambulance is heading east on West Wood Street and will soon be at the intersection of Main and Wood.
     That’s highly visible when I’m looking out the windows.

     AS YOU KNOW, the Macon County Office Building is located on the southwest corner of the intersection and blocks the views of eastbound Wood Street vehicles and southbound Main Street traffic — and some of that Main Street traffic is moving at a fast speed!
     So, when I hear the siren from the ambulance, I always glance up to make sure the Main Street drivers stop (especially when they have the green light) and I’ve seen some close calls — and even an ambulance hit by a car a few years ago!
     That incident resulted in the ambulance being knocked on its side.

     I’M ALWAYS relieved when the ambulance makes it through the intersection safely.
     One recent Sunday afternoon, I was at the newspaper office catching up on some writing when I heard a loud noise outside, like a crash from not too far away!
     When I got over to the window, to my shock, I saw two cars heavily damaged in the intersection, three police cars and an ambulance on its way!
     From the sound of the cars colliding and the damage to both vehicles, I knew someone(s) had to be hurt, or possibly killed, in that accident.

     ACCORDING to the police report, “Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Dodge Sedan was southbound on Main with a red light at E. Wood. A 2014 Toyota Camry had been westbound on Wood approaching Main with a yellow light.
     “The preliminary investigation revealed the driver of the 2006 Dodge Sedan disobeyed the traffic control signal at Wood and collided with the 2014 Camry.
     “The 72-year-old driver of the 2014 Camry was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries.
     “The 21-year-old driver of the 2016 Dodge Sedan declined medical treatment at the scene.
     “There was no indication that either driver was under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating compounds.”
     Be careful! I was just interrupted by an ambulance siren when I was writing the last paragraph and glanced out the window in time to see an amulance approaching South Main Street from West Wood Street, and saw a car speed through the intersection in front of the ambulance — while I held my breath!!!

     • SQUIRRELS — Bob Sampson and I have known each other for a long time — all the way back to when he was a staff member at the Herald & Review and I was the young editor of this newspaper. (I should mention Bob was also younger back then.)
     Bob has been active with vintage base ball (base ball is two words) for many years and has written reports of the games for the Ground Squirrels — now the Long Squirrels after merging with the Long Nine.
     The Long Squirrel Vintage Base Ball Club is now entering its 34th year on the field. It is an educational program of the Macon County Conservation District. Bob has a story about last Saturday’s game on page 10.
     Back in the early years of the team I went out to BeautifulTrobaughField to shoot some photos of a game.
     While I was shooting photos, team members were walking through a pasture to the home field, I was jumping here and there in the tall weeds to get in front of them to shoot the photos.
As you probably know, every team member has a nickname that somewhat describes their personality.
     Bob Sampson’s nickname was/is “Droopy Drawers”.
     They decided to give me a nickname based on my photo performance that day.
     They called me “Weed Hopper”!
     Years later, Bob served as Macon County Board Chairman during some of the time that I was mayor.
     The other day, when I was looking through some old photos while writing another story, I came across one of Bob and I signing a document related to the Macon County Animal Shelter which the city and county worked together on for a positive outcome.
     I thought of our nicknames and also thought that, maybe, the caption under that photo should have read “Droopy Drawers (right) and Weed Hopper sign an important document for the Macon County Animal Shelter.” (smile)
     Maybe we should give public officials nicknames today like…never mind.

     • MORE CARNEGIE — Decatur Tribune Reader Bob Price sent me the following email of interest: “Hi Paul. After reading the great article about the Decatur Carnegie Library, I searched and found a locator website- https://www.carnegie.org/our-work/article/find-a-carnegie-library-near-you/
     “I enjoyed it and share it with you and the Tribune readers.”

     • KITE FLYING — The recent “Scrapbook” article on the Hi-Flier Kite Co. in Decatur, that was published in the April 1st edition of the Tribune, generated a lot of comments from readers.
One of those readers, Scott E. Smith, sent me an email which read in part: “I don’t believe that your article mentioned it, but the Decatur Park District had annual kite contests for kids in grade school to compete in… My sister, Sheila Smith, won for the Prettiest Kite (2nd Place) and, my brother, Jimmy Smith, won the Smallest Kite in 1957.
     “My brother went from Jimmy Smith to Jim Smith and he won the Largest Kite in 1962. And, I won the Smallest Kite.”
     Thank you, Scott, for the info.

     • I JOIN Brian Byers on WSOY’s Byers & Co. most Thursday mornings at 7:00.

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