We live on Cherry Grove Road outside of Dowagiac, and until SMC came along, it was a road that rarely saw a plow or a grader.  While the road now enjoys a high standard of care and maintenance, it also sees a lot more traffic with students driving to and from the college.

It appears the time has come to remind SMC students that being late for class or meeting your friends before class isn’t worth your life.  Students routinely go past our home at astounding rates of speed.

Perhaps they should stop in front of our house and study the stone memorial marker under the scarlet maple tree, placed there by the family of one such student who lost his life, right there at that tree, one fateful afternoon about 10 years ago.  There were two cars involved in that incident, and the perpetrator luckily, although perhaps unfairly, walked away unscathed.

We have observed students speeding up Cherry Grove Road between Beeson and the college, apparently without a thought to either their safety or anyone else’s.  It’s a nice straight, flat stretch of road where visibility is 100 percent without obstruction.

We’re not talking about going 60 in a 55.  It’s more like 80 or 90.  And it’s not just reckless guys; it’s girls, too.

With the coalition of tribal police with the sheriff’s department deputies, there should be enough officers available to set up regular traffic patrols on both Daily and Cherry Grove Roads with the goal of reminding these kids there are speed limits set to provide for everyone’s safety.

Lois Karasek

Dowagiac