KILGOROUND

BILL WOODALL

BUILDINGS area being remodeled. The sidewalks have been surveyed. Streetscaping plans have been drawn.

And now the city wants your opinion.

If you want to talk about what the downtown should look like, come downtown Monday night, meet at the old Kwik Kopy building on Main Street, and be prepared to opine.

+++

MY FRIEND Roy Knox thinks of television pretty much the same way I do. Discussing the pope’s visit to the U.S., roy offered this: “...I was happy to see Pope Benedict XVI come to our country and visit and pray with President Bush... I hope the President and the pope were praying for better television programming.

+++

GASOLINE is pushing $4 a gallon. When folks start having to choose between gasoline and food, they’re going to start looking for a cheapear way to get around. I get 42 miles per gallon on my motorcycle. Many get much better than that. A friend who commutes from Lindale to Tyler gets about 60 miles per gallon on hers. They are efficient (and downright fun) transportation.

And yet, two motorcyclists have been killed here this week because motorists do not pay attention. That guy driving the pickup or the family sedan simply does not take it seriously when they see one headlight coming at them. Or maybe their mind has wandered and a motorcycle doesn’t grab their attention. Whatever it is, it must change.

There will be motorcycles on the road next week than there are this week. And there will be more the week after, because gasoline is pushing toward $4 per gallon. Your vehicle may be bigger and you may be protected by seat belts and airbags. But that guy getting 50 miles per gallon and coming your direction is not protected.

Wake up people! That’s not merely a car you’re driving, it’s a deadly weapon; please stop pointing that deadly weapon at motorcyclists.

As a motorcyclist, it is incumbent on me to recognize that there is no such thing as a truly watchful motorist. I must wear protective clothing and I must be alert.

But you, driving your deadly weapon, have to remember where you are and what you’re doing. Put your phone down. Adjust your mirror. Obey traffic signals. Pay attention.

+++

CELEBRATING birthdays today (Sunday) are Bennett Sherow, Mike Knighton, John Dobbs, Jennifer Dobbs, Ashton Faulkner.

BLOWING out birthday candles Monday Bob Hodges, Christin Barrilleaux, Richard Fuhrman, Stacie Bell, Penny Hendrix, Leon Bell, Meagen Dean, Mitzi Mignon Perez, Andrew Ector, Nita Woodcock, James Woods, Robert Talley, John Perry, Mary Ann Gibson, Nancy McShan, Bronco David Williams, Natalie Gunn.