This is Pastor Tim’s article which appeared in the Evening Leader on Tuesday, Jan 10, 2023
New Year’s Day was on a Sunday this year. On that day, my friend, Adam Milner, contacted me to ask if I wanted to run with him. We scheduled to meet at my house at 7:00 that morning so we could get in a few miles before I had to be back for church. I decided it was a new year, time for a new course. I plotted out a run from my house out to the new bridge leading to the school. From my house, across the bridge, around the school and back to my house is 4.5 miles, and it was a beautiful run.
To all of you who have been involved in the planning, funding, and building of that bridge, take a bow. It is a nice thing for all of the travelers out on 33 to see because it sets our community apart. I am so glad it was put in for how beautiful it is.
But that bridge has a practical intention too. Many of us have driven down route 66 there by Kroger and witnessed kids walking across that bridge to get to school. That was clearly not a permanent solution. Someone was going to get hurt out there. Now there is a safe way for the community of St. Marys to get across 33 out to the school complex.
The access point to the bridge from the city side is off McKinnley Street. Most of you probably knew this, but I wasn’t sure so I had to go look. If you go out 66 from town, McKinnley street is the road with the stoplight in front of Kroger. Turn to the east (or right if you are like me), you will pass St Marys Chrysler, the Murotech building, and then the access point. It has a row of street lamps that run along the trail that leads back to the bridge.
If you haven’t walked across the bridge yet, I encourage you to go check it out. It is a great path for any of you looking for somewhere to get in a few steps in. It would be great for bike riding too. Early on that Sunday morning on New Year’s Day, there wasn’t much happening back at the school. Not sure I would recommend being over there during school hours, especially in the morning. But it made for a really wonderful place to enjoy the outside without having to worry too much about cars.
I know, many of you miss the old school building. I know that because every school building I ever attended has been torn down. Even the building at Ohio Northern where most of my classes were held has been demolished. I understand the ache of not having those familiar ties. But the new school and that new bridge are a part of what the current generation will connect too, and they will feel the same way about this new school as many of you do about the old one. We want that building and all of the structures around it to communicate that this community cares about our kids. It isn’t perfect, but nothing ever is.
My only point to this article is to thank all of those involved with the bridge. It is a much needed and appreciated part of our community and will be for many years to come. As all of you are well aware, we don’t take the opportunity to thank those involved in these projects, and, having been involved in my own fair share of community projects like this through the years, I know that sometimes you can feel somewhat unappreciated.
So if you happen to know anyone who was involved in the design or construction of the bridge, please let them know that for whatever it is worth, the pastor from Wayne Street really appreciates the great job they did. And to all of us who were involved in funding the project, know that your investment will mean good things for the community for generations to come.