Last week’s editorial asked a simple question: Are there safety measures that can improve the intersection of Highways 156 and 140? This question was the result of a recent fatal accident.

Shortly after the paper was published, City Manager Dustin Stambaugh contacted the Kansas Department of Transportation and requested LED stop signs at that intersection.

While KDOT did not greenlight Stambaugh’s request, it did agree to the following improvements:

• Install a stop bar roughly 20 feet from the through lane of traffic on K-156.

• Replace the two “stop ahead” signs with florescent yellow “stop ahead” signs and place yellow reflective panels on the posts.

• Install red reflective panels to the posts of the existing 48-inch stop sign.

We applaud the speedy efforts of our city manager to help improve the safety of this intersection for all residents and visitors. We are also grateful KDOT sees the need for improvements. While we would always take more, we are definitely grateful for the work they agreed to do.

This is a shining example of the important role a newspaper plays in its community. Yes, a newspaper serves to witness and document history, but a paper can also actively engage in the community — primarily on the editorial page.

The purpose of our editorial page is not to be harsh, but rather to ask probing questions about what is best for our community. It is rewarding when city leadership acts on our questions and change happens.

One last point that is essential — while I, as the publisher, write the editorial (our editorials are signed), I want to be sure to give credit where it is due. After photographing the accident, reporter Alan Rusch suggested the topic as an editorial. I have heard from several readers and community leaders about this intersection who have lamented the lack of improvements over many years. We are thankful that improvements are happening now, and continue to look for ways the I-R can meaningfully contribute to the positive growth of Ellsworth County.

Karen Bonar Publisher