Letters To The Editor

EDITOR’S NOTE

Seventh-grade language arts students at Lakes Middle School wrote letters to the editor about issues that concern them directly. Here are some of those letters, provided by teacher Leslie Odenthal.

Sprinklers a hazard for soccer players

I play soccer for the U-13 girls Sting team. I would like to thank the city for having the Hotshot tournament here in Coeur d’Alene. I also would like to address a safety problem: The soccer fields need to get rid of the sprinkler heads. I know what it feels like to hit one or fall on it. It could hurt me or anyone else. Having the sprinklers stick out of the ground so someone can hit them is dangerous. I know because I have scars from it. I think that the sprinkler should be buried deeper in the ground so no one hits them. Sunshine Smith Coeur d’Alene

Dangerous intersection needs a stoplight

I think the intersection at Government Way and Kathleen is dangerous.

One reason is when there are kids walking across the street, the drivers just drive right past them instead of stopping. Another reason is people don’t stop all of the way, and the person who has the right of way has to wait. Another reason is that people don’t take their turn on going through the intersection.

I suggest that we should put a stop light in the intersection. Samantha Hackney Coeur d’Alene

Keep beach free of litter; pick up your trash

I think we have a real problem with trash on our beaches in Coeur d’Alene. People should pick up after themselves. Just think, you could be swimming and come up from under water and choke on trash.

Imagine yourself or children running on the beach, and they trip over trash such as paper, cups, napkins and paper plates. This isn’t the only trash they leave down on the beach. They also leave cigarette butts. I would like our beaches to be cleaner for the children or adults who swim and play on the lake’s shore.

I feel that people should take responsibility for their actions and not litter. Callie Bardesis Coeur d’Alene

At least try to stop your dog from barking

Don’t you just hate it when you’re sitting in peace and quiet, and someone’s dog starts to bark and it doesn’t stop for what seems like forever? That seems like a problem for everyone, everywhere. It seems that some people are irresponsible or inattentive to their animal.

They could put the dog in a spot where it won’t be able to see the people on the street or anything else that would make them bark. Or even give them something that would occupy them so they won’t bark. As a last resort you could put a bark collar on them.

To fix this problem would take little effort and make a big difference. It’s nearly impossible to keep your dog from barking all the time, but I think just a little effort would make all the difference to the people who are looking for peace and quiet in their neighborhood. Alex Fong Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene needs another mall

I think we need a new mall in Coeur d’Alene. Two malls have been built in Spokane within two years. So what’s the problem with building one in Coeur d’Alene?

The Silver Lake Mall doesn’t have enough variety for teenagers. The Spokane Valley Mall has a Zumiez, a Local 77 and an American Eagle (my favorite stores). I only visit one store in the Silver Lake Mall: The Shred Shed. Silver Lake Mall has lots of good stores, but they are for other people’s interests, mainly adults interests.

Malls are mainly for teenagers. So if you make more stores for teenagers, more teenagers will come. Bryan Smidt Coeur d’Alene

Legalize skateboarding on Sherman

I think Coeur d’Alene should legalize skateboarding on Sherman. Because otherwise when I’m skateboarding I’m out in the middle of the road, and I’m close to being hit by a car. There are also rocks all over the road and I wreck on them. The public does not care when we do skate on the sidewalk.

If you’re a skater and believe the way I do, then please help me out by writing a letter to the mayor or the city so we don’t have to skate in the middle of the road. Thank you for your support. Trevor Davis Coeur d’Alene

Speeding drivers a threat to pedestrians

I think people drive way too fast on my street. I live on Harrison Avenue and people have sped up to try to hit me without a reason. I think the police should put signs on my street to slow them down. Our neighborhood takes license plate numbers when people are going too fast.

Drivers don’t stop for school buses and almost hit my brother and his friends. The drivers are teens or immature adults.

Maybe the police could set up traps to stop this. Austin Walker Coeur d’Alene

More sidewalks needed to keep walkers safe

I feel that we should have sidewalks on every block. My first reason is that people in cars might run over someone who is walking in the street. My second reason is that people don’t like walking in the streets. (I’m one of those people.) My third reason is that people in cars get mad that people are walking in the street, and the people in the cars have to go around.

I think we should make more sidewalks so kids could be safe. Kristina L. Andrews Coeur d’Alene

Skateboard park needs to be enlarged

I am a skater, and I think a new skate park would inspire lots of new kids to learn to skate. When kids are skating they are having fun and staying out of trouble. I believe the skate park in Coeur d’Alene needs to be larger or there needs to be a new one built. I think this because there is not enough room and collisions often occur. There are also not enough places to put new obstacles. I think a good solution is to enlarge the skate park or build a new, bigger one in Coeur d’Alene. Justin Russell Coeur d’Alene