More Crossing Guards Wanted on Menifee Road

Whanda Madrid, a Menifee 24/7 reader, submitted the following e-mail to me regarding how to get more crossing guards on Menifee Rd...

Steve,

I wanted to know what I can or the community can do to get more crossing guards or crossing walks. I live in the Shadow Ridge Community across from Abbey Lane and we need a crossing guard on Menifee Rd and 1st Star Court and Menifee Rd. and Holland. The two new Shadow Ridge developments have increased the ratio of kids in Menifee. A lot of the kids in that community need to cross the street from the left side to the right towards Wheatfield Park. The traffic on Menifee Rd is horrible and cars are speeding and rushing to get their kids to school in the morning.

As a result, I see kids waiting and waiting to cross so they can walk or ride their bike to school. Especially, at the stop sign on Holland and Menifee Rd, people stop real quickly and keep going without letting the kids cross. This is so dangerous and someone's kid is going to get HIT. People really need to slow down, get off their cell phones, and let the kids pass. It's really ridiculous...

I spoke with Mrs. Hanke the principle at Callie Kirkpatrick Elementary about getting more crossing guards. She stated that it's difficult because Menifee is not a city and it took her several years to get a 2nd crossing guard near the school. She stated that contacting Jeff Stone would be the way to go. I was wondering if anybody else had any information or contacts to get this passed, immediately.

I hoping we as a community can work together to get at least two more crossing guards and a cross walk sooner than later. Menifee is a rapidly growing community with lots of precious kids wondering around and we need to step up to the plate and protect our kids. I have two boys ages 5 and 8 and I'm too scared to let them walk or ride their bike to school because of this hazard.

Regards,
Whanda Madrid, BSHA

Ultimately, it's the parents responsibility of getting their kids to school safely and on time. If you're frightened for your kids safety, don't wait for the County to do something.

As for getting more crossing guards, it'll probably have to be a team of volunteers. But someone has to be willing to organize this team. I'm sure the County and the school district would love nothing more than to have folks in the community willing to volunteer themselves. The question is "who" wants to organize this, and get this sanctioned by the County or school district.

The State of California has the "Adopt a Highway" program, where businesses can adopt a stretch of highway, and clean up the litter. In return, they get a sign posted on the highway with their name and logo on it. Why not also have, "Adopt a Corner", where businesses can designate an employee to act as a crossing guard, and in exchange also get their name and logo posted on a sign.

There is supposedly another Menifee MAC meeting coming up, but I don't have the specifics on the date yet. This is Menifee's official means of talking to Supervisor Stone. You should bring it up at the meeting.

Stone also has a Menifee field office, and you can contact his assistants there.

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