A Concerned Parent emailed me to report a dangerous situation at Arnold Magnet Academy.

"Hi Mike,"

Hi.

"My children go to Arnold Magnet Academy, and out in front of the school is a sidewalk (on school property) that is used frequently by the kids who walk, and many who wait on their rides out front.

"The problem is, a dead tree is breaking to pieces all over the sidewalk, and the administrators just kick the limbs to the side. The tree has two or three more dead limbs that could break at any moment, and are of good size.

"This WILL injure a child if they are standing near or underneath this tree when this happens."

She wasn't kidding. Near the intersection of 51st Street and Woodruff Road, a sidewalk cuts diagonally across school property going toward the main entrance. Two pines -- one alive and one as dead as Elvis -- stand nearby. The dead one is already dropping limbs onto the walkway, and you can see evidence that they've just been dragged to the side.

I saw one and maybe two limbs that were at least partially snapped and hanging straight down. People in the tree-cutting business call such limbs "widow-makers." While I'm sure there are no married men attending Arnold, you get the point.

I called Myles Caggins, the school district's chief operations and facilities officer, and described the situation. He said he'd get that tree taken down ASAP.

"Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Mike," he said.

The thanks go to our Concerned Parent and our other Concerned Readers who keep an eye on things. We couldn't do this without them.

Update

Unusually Alert Readers will recall late in May, on Memorial Day in fact, we reported on the sad condition of the handicapped walking trail at Cooper Creek Park. The railings were decrepit and the asphalt surface was so rough and uneven that walking on it could be treacherous, especially for someone who is physically challenged.

If you're in a wheelchair or scooter, it'd rattle the fillings out of your teeth.

Columbus Councilor Pops Barnes, whose district includes the park, saw the column and told me he was going to get something done about it.

Well, now it's Veterans Day, so I thought I'd revisit it.

A good bit of work has been done. A lot of nice, fresh pressure-treated lumber has replaced old rotting boards on a long section of the railing. And some places on the path appear to have been patched and others look like they've been marked for future patching.

That's a good start, and the work that's been done has been done well. But too much of the path is still very rough, bumpy and uneven. It's still an uncomfortable walk, even if you're not handicapped.

Am I wrong, or doesn't the city have some LOST infrastructure funds under the municipal mattress?

With apologies to Robert and his Rules of Order, Madam Mayor and Councilors, I'd like to make a motion that we get off some of that money and give our handicapped citizens a nice, comfortable place to enjoy one of the city's nicest amenities.

Can I get a second?

-- Seen something that needs work? Contact me at 706-571-8570 or mowen@ledger-enquirer.com.