Dear Editor,

School events such as football games help create fond memories and give teens a socially active experience.

So why make sporting events dangerous for them to attend? During football games at Pelham High School, it gets so crowded that cars have to park along the side of the road in front of the school.

Unfortunately a hill that goes into the woods lies directly across the street from the school, leaving the potential for cars parked along the road to end up in the ditch. Also the road is very dark at night, and for people walking along the side of the road to their cars after games it is very dangerous.

The best solution to these safety issues related to overflow parking caused by school events is for Shelby County to put a guardrail at the top of the hill and a sidewalk along Bearden Road.

Recently the community has been speaking out about Bearden Road due to a 14-year-old boy being hit by a car.

The impact crushed a small portion of his skull; he had to be airlifted to Children’s Hospital and was in the PICU for almost a week. The community is outraged that the city is not doing something to protect their children.

However, Bearden Road is actually County Road 105, so shouldn’t the county be doing something about this problem?

A guardrail would keep the cars further away from the edge of the hill and help keep them from sliding down.

This would be a tremendous benefit all around because it would protect the students’ cars from getting damaged, prevent the city from having to send a tow truck, and keep the flow of cars moving smoothly during the occasion. It would be an easy and efficient fix to a big problem.

The sidewalk would also add to the community by giving it a place for people to be able to walk and jog. If the county does not add the safety measures more accidents will occur and more teenagers will be at risk. While the boy is fully recovering the next accident may be more serious.

Kelly Haberstroh

Pelham