BE THOUGHTFUL, SLOW DOWN: Fireworks and speeding are dangers

A little safety and courtesy please.

Please allow me to address two serious issues that we deal with every summer in the 26 years that I have lived here.

First, I would like to piggyback on the two articles on fireworks in the Press on 6-29. I just want to give a little more context. In these articles two key words were used: prohibited and illegal. Last time I checked those who ignored these two words were breaking the law. In the area I live, there are hundreds of you who chose to break the law and put us at serious fire risk. It seems like each year it just gets worse. We are so overdue for a major wildfire. I have seen so many close calls including the hill in front of my house that caught fire due to negligent illegal firework use. The frustrating thing is that this is not a one-day issue on the Fourth of July, but rather the week before and week after. Fire aside, please think of the veterans with PTSD, the wild animals and pets. This year I have elected to take my dog out of town camping to spare him the misery that he has endured the past six years. I never thought that I would identify 70% of my neighbors as law breakers, and to no surprise most of them are from out of state.

Second, I walk my dogs each morning on Lower, E. Hayden Lake Road. The speed limit is 25 mph. I am constantly put at risk by inconsiderate drivers who speed and give me little to no space to walk along the shoulder of the road. Please slow down and give walkers some space. I get up at 5 a.m. to not be a nuisance to you, but still deal with close calls. And by the way, again most of the offenders are from out of state.

Lastly, I beg law enforcement to please run patrols to address the above issues as they will not go away by themselves. I know you are stretched thin, but please make us a priority occasionally.

BRAD RUDOLPH

Hayden Lake