Letter to the editor: Concerns about youth football
I am disappointed with the Youth Football Program run in our community by the Parents Association. It seems they are recruiting kids in different ways each year.
At $120 per player, plus equipment rental fees, I thought my son should wait until he was in third grade to play. I assumed that there would be information letting us all know about football the first week of school. On Aug. 9, I drove by the junior high and saw some very small players practicing.
I asked another parent, whose son was practicing, when football started. She said her son had been called back from the year prior and that football had started Aug. 1, but she had heard the team needed more players.
That started a week of me leaving phone messages resulting in no callbacks, inconsistent information and no straight answers. While waiting to find out if we could sign up late and pay a late fee, we were told there would be a 23-player maximum and a 15-player maximum.
I am now told they settled on a 16-player maximum.
After being asked my son’s weight, (47 pounds), I was told the team was full. I was given these reasons: signing up too late, team maximum met (which one?), jerseys already ordered (I offered to pay additional fees), the coach already has his hands full (although the coach said he wanted more players).
It seems the spots on the team were being “reserved” for bigger players and it was a case of “who you know.” I have been told that several other families were given more of a run around than we were. My child is very disappointed. Not only did I tell him he could play in third grade, but a lot of his friends are playing.
I do not understand why, at a combined fee of approximately $170, that as many children whose parents are willing to pay that amount are not given the chance to be a part of the team? I do not think my son would have been the very best player, only a team player.
I hope in years to come more information will be given out about sign up and that larger teams are put together to give everyone a chance.
At this age, football is about learning, not all competition.
Shana Jones,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: Slow down in school zones
I would like to blow off a little steam regarding an issue that should be a concern to all Tonganoxie citizens. However, it seems as if people do not care. I’m referring to the speed limits and the lack of obeying them.
My family and I moved to Tonganoxie five years ago. One reason — the children matter! My children are very important to me. They have to cross 24-40 highway every day to get to and from school. They go to the crosswalk where there is a crossing guard. There needs to be a police officer present, and they need to be ready to take action.
The speed limit through there is only 30 mph and during school hours it is 20 mph. I can not count how many times I have seen people blow through that crosswalk — with the crossing guard in the middle of the road holding a stop sign. It scares me to think of what could happen. People are in such a hurry that they can’t stop for a couple seconds to let our children cross the street to get to school. This is wrong. I don’t understand why it doesn’t bother more people.
I complained last year several times to the police. They responded by telling me they try to have an officer out there when they can. I feel they need to make it more of a priority. Even if they would start enforcing the speed limit through there on a regular basis, throughout the day, then maybe people would start slowing down.
I understand the police are busy and don’t always have the time, but when it comes to our children’s safety, I would pray that they would make time. Something really needs to be done about speeding through the school zones, before an innocent child pays with their life.
Chimane Reno,
Tonganoxie.