Cars must share road
Most of us have seen people riding bicycles who weave on and off sidewalks, in and out of traffic, daytime or night, seemingly without a care in the world. Their bike doesn’t have a light nor reflectors, they’re wearing dark clothing to match the backpack and it’s a minor miracle they don’t end up on the side of the road after being struck by a vehicle that, quite literally, couldn’t see them until it was too late.
Frank Mason wasn’t that kind of cyclist. An 82-year-old man in great shape with years of experience, he took appropriate safety precautions – like wearing a helmet, along with bright yellow and red clothing – as he was cruising along Airport Road near Andrews on the morning of Aug. 12. But all that wasn’t enough, as a driver didn’t see Mason and sideswiped his bike just west of Webb Creek Road.
Six days later, Mason was gone, leaving behind a devastated family, friends and community. He will be missed by many, all who today are asking the same question: “Why did this happen?”
While there will never be a good answer to that tragic question, there is a somber way to remember Mason. BikeFriendlyAtlanta came to the accident site in Andrews on Monday to place a “Ghost Bike,” a bicycle that has been painted white with the victim’s name and date of the accident as a reminder that someone on a bicycle lost their life there.
Statistics show the No. 1 cause of auto accidents in the United States today is distracted driving, which includes things like using a cell phone, eating or interacting with passengers, which leads to reduced reaction times and increased crashes. Other significant causes include speeding, drunk or drugged driving, drowsy driving and unsafe or reckless driving – all of which are preventable.
A vehicle weighing more than two tons isn’t just a nice form of transportation – in the wrong hands, it can be a weapon of mass destruction. Drivers must put down their devices and start paying closer attention when they’re behind the wheel or more innocent people will be taking early trips to the funeral home.
Most schools back in class
The first day of the 2025-26 school year was on Aug. 25, and it was nice to see the smiling faces of local students seeing their favorite teachers and classmates again. We remind drivers to be especially aware of young’uns during the morning drop-off and afternoon pickup times at campuses across Cherokee and surrounding counties.
There are often challenges during the opening week of classes. For example, Nantahala School in neighboring Macon County dismissed at 11:30 a.m. Friday. After originally saying on social media that the closing was “due to unforeseen circumstances,” officials quickly clarified that Nantahala School dismissed early due to a strong chemical smell “out of an abundance of caution,” which is exactly what parents would expect.
Contrast that with what happened in Cherokee County, where Ranger Elementary School was closed for the first two days of class Aug. 25-26.
“Ranger Elementary will be CLOSED on Monday, August 25th, 2025 due to a facility issue that requires immediate attention,” officials posted online. No other information was forthcoming. Phone calls trying to find out weren’t returned.
Saying “thank you for your understanding as we work to resolve this matter quickly and safely” doesn’t mean a thing without full transparency. The Cherokee Scout has heard from multiple sources that Ranger and at least one other school had an issue with mold; if that’s the case, why not come speak it right out – especially so any student or faculty member with potential allergies can be made aware of it and get tested?
Unless, of course, you don’t want the public to know that information, an attitude that may be even more detrimental to local schools than the mold itself.
– Publisher David Brown