Girls’ basketball takes on City Council, gets victory
The family, friends, and coaches of Reyna Chavez engage the Colton City Council about traffic safety along Rancho Avenue.
Ms. Candice Tapia speaks before the the City Council in regards to traffic safety on Rancho Ave.
Colton, CA—In the wake of the auto accident that severely injured Colton basketball player Reyna Chavez on Jan. 24, the team, its coaches, and families went to last night’s Colton City Council meeting with the intent to speak their mind about public safety.
Three people spoke on behalf of the community in regards to the unsafe crossing at Rancho Avenue and W E Street: Ms. Norma Barraza, Mr. Edward Reyna, and Ms. Candice Tapia.
Tapia, an English teacher at Colton High and a girls’ basketball coach, spoke about the need for a petition to get the city to resolve this safety issue. She explained how, at the urging of the girls’ basketball players, they put together a petition for the stop sign.
“We made a petition, we put it together right before one of our games and it spread like wildfire,” said Tapia. “The girls started sharing it, teachers started sharing it, the community on Facebook started sharing it.”
Over 2,500 people signed the petition.
Chavez’ father, Edward, explained that he has resided in a home near that crosswalk for years. “I’ve been there since 1997,” he said, “and I’ve seen a lot of accidents.”
He requested that any new signage be installed in honor of his daughter.
After the public comment, the City Council shared their thoughts and explained their plans for the intersection and Rancho Ave. in general. According to Mayor Frank J. Navarro, the city is already in the process of asking for construction bids to install a flashing stop sign at the crosswalk/intersection.
“The City of Colton is just as passionate about the safety of our children,” Navarro said.
This is one part of an ongoing construction project that will improve the safety along North Rancho. “We are going to attend to those issues,” said City Engineer Brian Dickinson.
Mayor Navarro and Councilman Ernest Cisneros had lots of praise for the girls’ basketball team and the adults serving as role models. “I appreciate everyone coming out tonight, putting together a petition, and doing your civic duty,” said Councilman Cisneros.
Score this as another victory for the Lady Yellowjackets’ basketball team, who right before the City Council meeting, won their Skyline League Tournament game against crosstown rival Bloomington High 56-24.
Recently, the CHS Publications Department experienced a major theft as over $20,000 in photography equipment was stolen from our studio over Spring Break. This included all cameras. Any amount you donate will help rebuild our program. Thank you!
Emmanuel Ramos is a freshman at Colton High School. He currently writes for the Pepper Bough.
