Light-up McIntosh December 15
Light-up McIntosh will begin at the Civic Center at 6:30 p.m. The event will host Santa Clause and an area choir from six local churches will sing.
12.21.06 -- EDITORIAL: After dark in McIntosh
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Last week, I was standing in the Civic Center parking lot when someone lobbed a rock through Howard Walkup's truck. We couldn't tell who, in part because the street lamp he was parked under worked only intermittenly.
Tonight, while I was shopping at the grocery store, a man was run down underneath another street lamp that was completely out. You can't tell from the photos I posted in the story because I used a tripod and a slow setting, but that part of the road is pretty dark without that light.
I stood there tonight watching people who didn't even live in McIntosh jump into the road to help direct traffic around the accident scene. I couldn't help thinking about the CRA -- or some of the ideas brought about by it. Maybe not the dubbing it all blighted. But I was thinking about the other parts that included fixing up the sidewalks, throwing down a crosswalk or two and installing some historic-style street lamps.
Shoot, after this last week, I'd settle for the street lamps we already had -- as long as they worked.
I follow council issues pretty closely, and I try pretty hard to get those out there in a way that allows most people to understand what's happening with their government. Maybe I succeed. Maybe I fail.
But I want to make this point crystal clear, before anyone motions to repeal or push forward another tree or historic ordinance, will someone please make sure that the street lamps in McIntosh work?
posted by Cher @ 10:20 PM,
15 Comments:
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At December 22, 2006 12:07 AM ,
said...
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Very unfortunate event this evening. I cannot imagine being in the shoes of the one who accidently hit this man. However, I am not sure it was b/c of street lights of the lack there of. Regardless, I think that they need to be fixed. And maybe, again, another example that McIntosh needs to move forward and pay some attention to things of immediate need, rather than other things that can come later.
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At December 22, 2006 9:09 AM ,
Sheila Winters said...
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I've heard that years ago the council rejected a stop light in McIntosh. I agree the lights are an issue, but believe we should have a stop light and a cross walk. The traffic on 441 sometimes goes very fast...often big trucks barrel through here blasting on their horns for everyone to get out of the way. I'm so sorry someone was critically injured and feel terrible for the person that hit him. A cross walk can be created with a button to push for pedestrians to stop traffic. In my opinion, that is what is needed.
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At December 22, 2006 10:26 AM ,
said...
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where do you suggest that we put this cross walk?
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At December 22, 2006 10:37 AM ,
said...
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I think that I remember a former town councilman pushing for an inventory of street lights. The town pays for them, whether they work or not. The power company will furnish a map of where the lights are located - all we need to do is tell them they dont work, they will fix them PDQ.
I guess that tennis courts and historic districts are more important... -
At December 22, 2006 10:56 AM ,
Cher said...
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I like Sheila's suggestion. To one of the anons - I don't know where it should go.
The lights haven't come up recently -- meaning not since I've been covering meetings. I can't recall it in the minutes I've read from the past, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. Maybe it's time for council to pick up that torch and make light a priority, again. -
At December 23, 2006 9:58 AM ,
Sheila Winters said...
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I don't know where a light and crosswalk should go either...perhaps someone has already done such a study or DOT would know. I would suspect that near the grocery store...Ave F and 441? Maybe it wouldn't even help. I just know the trucks in particular do not obey the speed limit and there is going to be a real tragedy at some point.
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At December 23, 2006 10:39 AM ,
said...
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Names aren't necessary, but is anyone aware of the present condition of the gentleman injured in the accident? And, does he have family here? I'm thinking Christmas alone in the hospital is a pretty desperate situation to be in. Perhaps we as a community could pitch in to make it a little less so.
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At December 23, 2006 10:57 AM ,
Cher said...
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Yes, I would like to know, as well.
I have called the FHP to the point of annoyance to find out updates. I have to wait 7 working days for a report (with the holiday will be even longer.) The McIntosh contact I followed up with was uncooperative.
I called around to the hospitals this morning, and he is currently in the surgical intensive care unit at Shands at UF. I still don't know if he has family around or not and what they know, so I can't post a name. -
At December 23, 2006 11:16 AM ,
Sheila Winters said...
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Cher,
If you are able to get any information that you can share, I know you will let us know. I agree...as a community we might be able to help this gentleman. -
At December 23, 2006 6:24 PM ,
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If this guy is in the SICU I would bet that he is intubated and knocked out. You might want to wait for a while. I believe that he has an xwife in micanopy and a son in ocala.
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At December 29, 2006 10:02 AM ,
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Anyone know how this guy is?
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At January 04, 2007 9:12 PM ,
fisherwife said...
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A stoplight has been tried and proved more hazardous than helpful.
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At January 05, 2007 11:28 AM ,
Sheila Winters said...
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Was there a stop light in McIntosh at one time? I've only been here 10 years or so so didn't know. Where was it and what hazards were caused? Didn't it slow the traffic? I was thinking that a crosswalk with one of those buttons to push for pedestrians to cross would be a good idea. I really worry when I see families on bicycles, golf carts, baby carriages, etc., crossing the street. I have trouble crossing sometimes when I walk to work (rarely) because trucks come from the Gainesville side down over that hill absolutely barreling their way through town. I'd love to hear more about the history of the stop light verus no stop light.
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At January 05, 2007 10:23 PM ,
fisherwife said...
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I do not have facts that I can lay out but have been told that the stoplight caused accidents because drivers failed to stop. I'm sure that information is somewhere, just not sure how to go about finding it.
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At January 05, 2007 11:48 PM ,
Cher said...
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I know it would peave off people commuting between Gainesville and Ocala to have to stop in McIntosh for a light.
But they stop other places on the highway. The yellow flasher serves us as little more than a landmark, "Turn left at the flasher, right past the McIntosh Grocery..." I'd agree with Sheila. I'd be interested in knowing more about the potential of having a crosswalk of some kind.
Also -- I appreciate that the lights where Phil Douglas was hit on U.S. 441 were fixed. Although, I noticed the lamp across from the Antique Deli on U.S. 441 is still out. But we're making progress! Does anyone know how Douglas is, by the way?
Editor
Editor and Publisher:
I'm Cher From McIntosh, FL I'm a graduate student at the University of Florida working on a master's degree in Mass Communication. While I was finishing my undergrad degree in journalism last year, I reported on McIntosh, Fla. for an in-depth reporting class. I figured that the reporting and the public record files should go somewhere people can access them. Reporters don't report to keep the information they find to themselves. Some of that reporting is included here in a forum that allows response. McIntosh suffers because with no news coverage, the local government and the rumor mill have too much potential to run rampant over residents. I moved to McIntosh in the fall of 1999. My profile
About This Blog
The primary purpose of this blog is to accurately reflect what happens in town public meetings and dispel rumors. I record the meetings and make them available for download. One of the goals of this blog is to offer residents a place to voice opinions. The comments, views and opinions expressed there are not necessarily those of the editor.
