Dozens of city and county residents have sent in photos and inquired about the tobacco and alcohol paraphernalia in the area next to the memorial in honor of the teens who lost their lives in a tragic accident that took place earlier this month. Concerns about the presence of alcoholic cans and bottles as well as the tire marks in the area have left many with concerns that a tragedy could happen again.
Regarding the increased amount of litter in the area, Darren Fishel, the Road and Bridge Administrator of Saline County, addressed the presence of paraphernalia at the site of the memorial for two teens who tragically lost their lives in a car crash. He stated, "Efforts would be made to remove any trash, including beer cans, bottles, car parts, vape pens, and tobacco products. This cleanup initiative aims to maintain the integrity of the area and ensure a respectful environment for those paying their respects to the deceased." Additionally, Fishel mentioned plans to contact the victims' families to discuss how best to handle the memorial moving forward.
The Saline County Sheriff's Department was asked: "Is the sheriff's department patrolling more in that area to prevent racing and/or drinking?" Undersheriff Melander stated, "The deputy assigned to that area of the county will randomly drive by during their patrol shift as time allows – day and night. If we receive a call regarding parked cars or a traffic hazard, we will respond – just like to any other complaints we receive in the county. As a safety measure, the county has placed no parking signs on each side of the roadway. There is no safe place to park along that stretch of road; therefore, deputies can now issue citations for parking in a no-parking area."
