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I feel your pain with the traffic light situation. Try going to work at 5:30 am and having to stop for both the light at Pensacola and the one at Burger King just because its on a timer. No traffic anywhere on the side roads. That makes about as much sense as the state of our roads through town again. I know we are in the middle of construction, but why couldn't they do the patching smoothly just as easily as they could make it like a wash board? Where has logic and common sense gone? Sure would like to see some again!
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The traffic light at Pensacola is ridiculous. If you are coming from town and want to turn left toward East Yancey it only stays green long enough for one car to go a second car goes thru under yellow. I've seen it backed up almost to the stop sign on Main. Ridiculous.
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I have just gotten off the phone with DOT of Asheville that controls traffic lights settings in Burnsville. I am not sure ,but is anyone else a little disturbed with the traffic light at the end of Jack's Creek.?
Here is the number if anyone else feels led to express their concern in waiting to long and wasting gas .This light just doesn't work the way other traffic lights in the county work. (1 828-298-0094) I was told the traffic light inspector might not be able to do anything about it!! I was also told it may take several days before a representative can get out to check on it.
If you have been upset at waiting so long, and probably have run the red ligh, when you looked and no one was around. You just wanted to get on your way to work or the gas station ,, if so ...please give these folks a call.
Don't say I am impatient because I am not, I am just frustrated over a light that keeps me sitting , when no traffic is coming either way ,for several, several minutes. I know it is nice to stop and pray or be still, for a little while , I can do that in less time then it takes for the light to change. The people behind me or in front are creeping forwards or impatient to get going.
I have noticed if it is cloudy out the light works better then if the sun is bright. If the sun is bright you might as well sit on top of your vehicle and get a tan, you'll have time to burn before that light decides to turn!!
According to the Journal newspaper The Burnsville Little Theatre was given dates for 2013 season at the Parkway Playhouse that they thought were unreasonable. One of the dates was the last week in march and the Parkway Playhouse being an unheated building they declined the offer. If you remember we had a snowstorm that week and their decision proved to be the correct one. The article said They still hope to find a location for their productions. We hope so.
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I am also wondering why we have not hear of any plays that Burnsville Little Theater will be doing. I am sure The Parkway Playhouse building is large for them to Share with BLT. The Burnsville Little Theater have done some wonderful plays and I hope that we will be seeing more of them. Come on everyone and let's work together so everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy the plays.
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Is the Burnsville Little Theater non-existent now? I haven't heard much about the group lately. All I see is Parkway Playhouse. The Playhouse does some good plays, but the Little Theater seemed to choose better plays and they gave the money to one of several good causes, such as The Humane Society, Family Violence Coalition, and other worthy causes. If I remember correctly, the Little Theater came first, using the Playhouse for their plays. Later, the Little theater performed at the old American Legion Building, the inn at Celo, the auditorium at Mayland, and other places. I don't know how long it's been since we saw a play that the Little Theater did at the Playhouse. Is the Playhouse being stingy about sharing? Thanks for letting me speak my piece.
Good morning! As a volunteer at the Yancey Humane Society, I would like to explain what to do about a missing pet. In my opinion, the people of Yancey County are not taking full advantage of YHS services. Always call the shelter(YHS) as soon as you realize your pet is missing. If we are closed call back during business hours which I will list at the end of this paragraph. Here is what I think a lot of you do not realize......if your pet is not at the shelter, we will put all your pertinent information in our Lost Dog or Lost Cat books, and call you if your pet is brought to us. Also, remember, your pet needs a voice! An I.D. Tag, Rabies tag, or microchip can all help us reunite you with your pet. An I.D.tag alone can help a regular citizen locate you if they find your animal. We also have a tag engraving machine at the shelter and can make a tag for a very reasonable fee. YHS is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 5 pm, and on Saturday from noon to 4 pm. Our phone number is 828-682-9510. And don't forget we are having a rabies clinic on Saturday, May 4th. The fee is $6. Thank you, Barb Bain
I'd like to make a comment about the person who felt the need to cut the head off of a deer that had been hit by a car and leave the remaining body in the road. Obviously this person is a lousy hunter if the only way they can get "horns" is to cut them off a dead body. But why leave the body to endanger other people?
I agree about the sign, but of course the owners would take down the old Hilltop sign for the new Bootleg one. Being its still the same owners for both restuarants, maybe you could ask them if they still have the old Hilltop sign and would be willing to sell it?
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In response to our newest addition to restaurant choices in Burnsville I have one thing I want to get off my chest. I will admit that I tend to be very passionate when it comes to history of the area I live in. I feel that some of our most interesting history was not that long ago and maybe more of a memory shared by most residents then history. Which brings me to my point, I can only assume that the owners of the new bar/restaurant called Bootleg took down the old Hilltop sign I must say this broke my heart. As a fairly young (26) resident of Yancey County I remember when Hilltop was owned by Helen and Pollard’s was alongside the Hilltop. So it really bothered me when such a huge part of down town Burnsville history was so easily replaced. I know that progress must be part of life but did they at least keep the sign or is it gone completely. Am I alone in my feelings?
Editor's Note: This comment is about the landmark sign, not about a private business.
Why does French Broad make it so hard to vote on the board of directors? All of the normal companies let you vote online or by telephone. With French Broad you have to find a member going to the meeting and they can only vote 5 proxies. They sure go through a lot of trouble trying to make it look like they care. Do you think the Public Service Commission will fix this?
I just wanted to thank the city of spruce pine for cutting the water off to work on a line and not letting anyone know about it. I am an employee of the brian center. We had elderly people in the showers when the water was turned off and had no way of rinsing them. The kitchen had no water to wash pots and pans and utensils. If we had only known 30 minutes ahead of time we could have caught some water in pots and sinks until water was restored. The cna's could have postponed showers until water was restored. Way to go. Great job. We need to work on our communication skills a little.
I've read your comments carefully several times and can only come to one conclusion. You need to leave 15 minutes earlier. I was born, reared, and have lived here for 69 years and have seen several changes that are not always for the best. Drivers have become rude, inconsiderate, and seem to think the road only belongs to them. Thank goodness for the person that let drivers turn so they could get on their way. You may be wanting someone to let you do it one day. Stay off cell phones, watch the road, be polite to other drivers, for if there should be a accident the person in such a hurry, because they are late, may be charged in the accident. If you have an appointment, day care time, and you know all the driving situations that you have commented on use your brain not emotions and deal with the situations. The rest of us do.
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Regarding Yancey County drivers. I see at least one or two drivers going 25 mph, from Micaville to Mtn Heritage, holding up a line of traffic, people just trying to get to their destination on time. I do pay attention to the 45 mph speed limit in the construction zone, and the 35 mph city speed limit. I also see people hold up traffic to let other drivers make turns. A few days ago I saw a small truck stop at the light at 197 N and 19 E the light turned green, the truck sat there until three or four vehicles turned right from 197 N. It will be nice when the new road is finished. Will the slow pokes, with not a care in the world, stay in the right lane?
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Something I've noticed over the years in Yancey County. Nobody seems to be able to drive the posted speed limit. Your either going well over it or well under it. I dont get it? To the folks who like to drive 25 mph(no exaggeration)on US19 where there is no passing and a 55 mph speed limit, please wait until after rush hour. Obviously you dont have to be to work, or daycare, or an appointment. Your just toodling along without a care in the world and dont even notice or care about the 20 cars lined up behind you. You are a menace to other drivers and a danger on the road. You should be pulled over and ticketed. On another subject, do you like it when cars and trucks fly by your house revving their engines and squealing their tires? Probably not, so be respectful and dont do it to others. Its not cool, your not impressing anybody, and your girlfreind thinks your an idiot, so stop! If everybody treated each other with just a little bit of respect, this would be a different world.
teachers are underpaid and over worked, and each student was given a chance to sign up for the talent show. i am concerned that, with everything going on, this is your biggest worry.
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In response to the disgruntled grandmother. Do you realize that teachers are with your grandchildren 7 hrs. a day 35 hrs. a week. . They do give each child fair time, even though they have around 22 students to deal with. You sound very selfish for saying what you did toward what to me seemed like a grand time for the students and everyone else attending this fund raiser,. It wasn’t about the teachers, students and attending public. It was a fund raiser. As for their routine it was clean and very well executed. Anything else is in the mind of the accuser. Very thankful grandmother of Yancey Co. Schools
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As the grandparent of students at Burnsville Elementary School, I am appalled at the lack of concern on the part of teachers who cared more about their little dance routine than to spend time encouraging their students to participate in the "Talent Show" which was held on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at the school. My grandson did not get to participate in the "Talent Show" because his teacher had to prepare for the teachers' dance (no time for the kids, huh?). Since when do the teachers' need for attention outweigh that of showcasing the talents of the students? It gives me a very uneasy feeling about this attitude because there were so many students there that seemed to be disappointed that they did not get to participate. And the dance........well, thank you Burnsville Elementary School for introducing the students to the what appeared to be a "scene from a bar." Is this really the example you want to set before our students? A CONCERNED GRANDPARENT
I find it disheartening how little people actually know about EMS in Yancey County. I deal with them pretty much on a daily basis. These "routine" transports that they are fussing over? EMS doesn't have the option to refuse. They get a call, they respond. So while your "nursing homes" are sending out patients who don't need to sent to the hospital (because they do not have proper staffing to know this), the county is out of luck. But for a fact that has not been noted here, when EMS is out of county one of two things happen: the dispatcher contacts a neighboring county and requests a truck to standby at the county line or Yancey County Rescue Squad is paged out to be on standby at their building with an Advanced Life Support certified person. This means someone who is EMT-I or Paramedic level. These are the volunteers who serve you. The fire departments and rescue are the people who normally are there first, who choose to help EMS when they need it, and are aided by Mission Hospitals. So, please, before you continue to gripe about how Mission is the devil, how our trucks are always out on "routine" calls, or how our commissioners need to work for free, find out what is really going on. In all honesty, if it wasn't for one of your commissioners and their personal sacrifice, volunteer service, and training in all departments of the county, Yancey County could be in a much worse situation.
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Unicoi county TN.borders Yancey county on the north.Population 18,235 they have 2 major hospitals fighting to try to put A hospital in that county.Yancey county N.C. population 17,630 I find this very interesting...........
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I have no idea how much the commissioners make but since I wouldn't put up with what they do for a million dollars, I think they're well worth it.
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after seeing on the news this week, Obama cutting his salary to help with the nations budget,
it gave me a thought. all five of the elected commissioners have full time jobs along with their
their elected positions, and they get paid a monthly salary for being a commissioner. It may not
be very much pay, but why dont they cut their salaries or even better, why dont they do their
elected jobs for free?
three run their own businesses, one is employeed by missions hospital and one is employed
by the state of north carolina. if they are so very concerned about the financial well being of
Yancey county, they should cut their own pay, sounds like a good deal to me. how about you
other taxpayers?
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Mission controls our EMS Service, along with everything else in Western North Carolina. Did you see yesterday's Asheville Citizen--they now have Care Partners too. Mission Hospital has a monopoly on health care services in WNC. They've raised the costs on everything from heart tests (they own Asheville Cardio) to sleep studies (they bought the sleep center). They reap millions while our insurance rates go up because of their higher than normal charges. Just compare hospital and insurance rates to Charlotte. Its unfair that we have no choice but to use Mission and their outlandish rates. If we would put free enterprise back in health care in WNC things would change.
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In the paper recently our EMS director says "we are lucky to be associated with a local hospital for EMS service." Really? Why is he providing the "ONLY"options for EMS service? Doesn't he work for the hospital? Shouldn't that be the job of our county manager and commissioners to seek options for our EMS service? Don't be fooled tax-payers of Yancey County! The hospital is making money hand over fist with their contract with Yancey County. Not only do they have an $800,000 contract with the tax-payers of Yancey County to paying for equipment and salaries, they also bill the patient for every ambulance trip. Riding an ambulance to the hospital is not free. They must be making hundred-of-thousands of dollars on these billings alone. What a win, win situation for them. The county should dump them and provide our own "EMERGENCY Medical Service." Private companies like Mission (profit or non-profit) can provide "ROUTINE" ambulance service for rest homes, nursing homes and non-ambulatory people. Doing this would free up the tax-payer paid EMS ambulances so they are not "tied up" on routine transports. As a bonus, if we ran our own EMS, maybe it would turn an profit and commissioners could cut our taxes. It seems like commons sense to me! But when you get money involved common sense goes out the window.
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how do the commissioners think they going to fund an extra ambulance for the citizens of yancey county? the ones that pay their taxes can't afford to make up the difference for the ones that don't. where do the commissioners think the money comes from to fund such expenses in the county? how do the rest of us go about getting the commissioners to cut our taxes?
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This is in response to a ad previously posted regarding EMS Services. whoever posted this is absolutely right! I was in asheville recently and noticed several ambulances that said medic on the side of them, It might be worth checking into! Does anyone know how to contact them?
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In my opinion county tax-payers are getting hosed by the current EMS agreement and now this hospital wants us to pay EVEN MORE. We are already paying through the nose for EMERGENCY medical services but more times than not (by their own admission) our ambulances are busy on "routine" transports. This is not fair to the tax-payers and is the very reason why most counties run their own EMS service. Nursing homes, retirement homes and hospitals should be responsible for transporting their residents and patients to and from appointments and other non-emergency trips to the hospital, not our EMS ambulances. Most of us take our own family members to doctors appointments and to the hospital for non life threatening things, we wouldn't want to tie up a life-saving ambulance.
In most areas, private ambulances companies are used for routine transports. They are less expensive and in a non-emergency transport, there is no loss of service to the customer. This is also good for the economy. I know it is convenient to have someone else handle equipment purchases (ambulances being expensive) and personnel issues but if there wasn't a financial benefit to the them, they wouldn't do it. We should discontinue from this EMS agreement as soon as possible and run our own EMS service. But it will be hard and will probably never happen! We are associated with a huge corporate monster with ABSOLUTELY no competition. Most local folks are born in their hospital, we have children in their hospital, we go to them or (one of their owned associates) for all of our medical care throughout our entire life, we ride in their ambulances and we eventually die in their hospital. Last but not least, we have numerous family member employed by them. Think about what this means to you.
I am so happy and proud that you wrote how God helped you from addiction. I just want to say thank you for sharing that. With God nothing is impossible. I have seen the same thing happen with my husband and God turned his life around and took the drugs for him. Keep faith that God is listening and there are people praying for that kid that is on drugs. I'm glad that I got to see this posting it has blessed me today.
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Just wanted to thank the young man who shared his story of drug addiction. I think that if more people would look at these addicts as Jesus would then there maybe more help out there. I tried to give up on my son, I tried to hate him, I tried to pretend he was just away and would be back soon. BUT my GOD of mercy gave me the hope and the faith to continue on. First step was to totally give him to GOD and not keep trying to fix his problems. His problems were way more than a skinned knee that I could put a bandaid on and make it all better. When I LET GO AND LET GOD things started to change. I know without GOD I would not have made it. There were nights that I woke up from a dead sleep and hit my knees and starting praying that GOD would not let him leave this world in this shape.
To the person who asked what we can do? Well we need to reach out and ask our government to close down the Smoke shops that are just fronts for the Bath Salts. I know that it is very hard now to get prescription Medication mainly because doctors are becoming more aware that this problem is epidemic levels in our rural communities. Most important we need to PRAY and ASK GOD to intervene in this it is my personal belief that these drugs are nothing but demons who take over our loved ones. I know I prayed day and night that GOD would bind up these demons in my son and cast them into the lake of fire where they belong. I hope to anyone out there that needs help that they will seek it. There are so many young babies being born addicted and being sent to live with someone other than their parents therefore their life cycle has forever been changed. I will PRAY without ceasing and know that My GOD is able. Thank you again the mother with faith of a mustard seed.
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To the mother of the boy involved with drugs: This has reached epidemic proportions in this area. Eventually it is going to get where no company will even look at this area to locate in, if wedon't do something. Tell us..what can we do?
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I just wanted to give my opinion concerning the post from the mother who believed that she might shelter her child from drugs and alcohol in our small town. Drugs are everywhere I started drinking alcohol at age nine and by age eleven was doing cocaine ,L.S.D. different kinds of pills, weed pretty much any thing that would get me high. I was a Heavy user of L.S.D. "ACID" my drug of choice for about four and a half years along with all the other drugs I mentioned. I tried to stop, people tried to help all to no avail, A lot of people said they were going to Pray for me, along with my Precious Grandma who never gave up, many times I remember coming home High she never quarreled at me I would get into bed and she would begin to Pray and thank the LORD for bringing me home safe again and then ask the LORD to Save me before I would leave home again. Then One Night The Holy Ghost Convicted my heart and I Realized I WAS LOST! I confessed My Sins And Ask the Lord To Forgive Me And Save My Soul, Immediately I Felt Different. The next morning when I woke up for the first time in many years the desire to get high first thing wasn't there. After all the years of doing all those drugs there was no withdrawal symptoms of any kind, the desire I had all those years as an addict was gone. That has been thirty two and one half years, have I ever been tempted sure but GODS Grace is sufficient A Very Present Help In Time Of Need. " I hope I have not included to much personal information that might prevent this from being posted" Please never give up on your child I don't feel you are that kind of person. If you are a born again child of God and you feel you have done all you can Keep the faith, Trust In The LORD. Also ask all the people who are Born Again Christians to Pray for your Child that God will Save His Soul. If he accepts Christ as his Savior His life will be changed and when GOD Cleans you up He does it Right. I Know This To BE True Because He Certainly Took Me A Drug Addict And Changed My Life. I will be Praying for your son I don't know his name but the Lord does. And that's what matters. I realize there will be many who read this will just laugh it off or feel it has no place on the opinion page that's certainly your right. But this a response to a Mother who has a Son In desperate need of help, and this is the only place or person who cleaned me up and will do the same for your Son. And change the life of all who Accepts Him As Their Savior.
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I just wanted to tell a story of a boy whose mother brought him to this small town so that he could grow up without the influence of drugs and alcohol. Well to her sorrow this small town is where her son became an addict. The shock of this small town having a drug problem among its young people goes to show that drugs are every where and no family is immune to the darkness of addiction. This journey we have traveled has been like a horror film which I truly wish we did not have to star in. At first he experimented with the gateway drug known as weed. Harmless right to all of the baby boomers from the 60's well while under the influence of this drug he tried crack cocaine which sent him into a spiral of horrific darkness. When this drug became to expensive for a young teenager working for minimum wage he was introduced to what the street calls 30's (oxycotin). Well this drug addiction of course sent him into the legal system for crimes that comes along with the life of a drug addict. After several stays in our county jail. He went to Rehab I was so excited and relieved that he was seeking help for his addiction at the age of 24. While in Rehab he was put on medication for Bipolar disorder and other mental illness issues. Finally I saw my son coming back to us after 6 or 7 years of darkness. He spent 90 days in this facility. When he came back to this little mountain town he was on medicine that was helping him cope with his issues of addiction and mental illness. Unfortunately I wish the story ended here and we could say we lived happily ever after; but this was just another sequel to our horror film. The rehab only gave him two weeks worth of medicine and told him to contact mental health in our home town for follow up care. Well mental health has been cut so much that my son could not get into the Mental health here in this small mountain town for an appointment for 6 weeks after he was released from Rehab. So he ran out of medicine which he had been taking for 90 days. Some of this medicine is not medicine you can just stop abruptly so the next sequel begins. He started spiraling out of control. He realized in rehab and while in jail that breaking the law to feed his addiction was not the way to go so in his addict mind he started using Bath Salts. I was so shocked to find out that my son was using this drug that caused death and alerted moods; but the most shocking was to find out you could buy this over the counter at these stores called smoke shops. WHAT???? So in case you are wondering why I am sharing my story it is because our young people are killing themselves and forever changing their minds. Some people who use Bath Salts never recover and come back to the way they were before using. So parents wake up and keep your young adults under your radar and know where they are going and who they are hanging out with. When have got to stop turning our heads and having the mind set that our young people are sowing their wild oats. It is way more than this our young people are making choices that are forever changing their lives. Well the story does not have a happy ever after ending it has an ending of a family forever changed and a son who is rebuilding his life one day at a time. He has come a long way but he will forever be an addict. The little boy who was brought to this small mountain town to live a happy healthy life drug and alcohol free; now lives life one day at a time and his family trying to pick up the pieces one day at a time. Please pray for our young people and never say it will not happen to my family and that addicts are scums of the earth and need to get a life and quit using. Because take it from a mother who knows this is far from the truth. I myself used to looked down on addicts and had the mind set that addicts needed to get a life. If you feel the need to comment on my story then do so but remember judge not that you not be judged. Thank you from a mother whose heart has been shattered but now knows the power of prayer and faith of a mustard seed.
I would just like to thank Yancey Hospice for the special care they provided to my family during the loss of our beloved father. They made it possible for us to care for him in his home which is where he wanted to be. They supported us during the most difficult days of our lives. They were here whenever we needed them and only a phone call away. They are angels and will always be a respected part of our family.
It is with deep sorrow that I read of the death of a very good friend, Gwen Thomas. She was full of life when we were working at OMC. She was a joker pulling tricks on friends and great to talk to. Her work with the Burnsville Rescue Squad was her true calling. She loved serving victims of accidents of all kinds. The last we met, she was having kidney dialysis in Spruce Pine. It was then that I learned of her serious illnesses. I will miss her smiling face and her love for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She knew that she would be joining him at anytime. Rick Krause, Dalton, Georgia
On behalf of Clearmont Elementary School, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for the outpouring of support for our kindergarten student, Morgan Warren, and her family. As you may recall, Morgan won our Holiday Essay contest before the Winter Break, which articulated her wish for her little brother to have a tomb rock (tombstone).
On Thursday, December 20th, the story appeared on the WKYK website, and the phone began ringing at Clearmont, with members of the school community calling to see how they could help with the purchase of the tombstone. Beginning the next day, we began our break early due to snow, but that didn’t stop the outpouring of kindness. The story ran in The Yancey County Times Journal and The Yancey County News in the following days, and the faculty, staff, and I received numerous calls from people all over the county, some that didn’t even know the family, but were touched by the story and wanted to help.
I spoke with Dawn Warren, Morgan’s mother, and she said, “You just don’t know what this means to us. I can’t begin to tell you have much we appreciate the caring people in Yancey County.” Dennis Wilson, owner of Yancey Memorials, is to be commended for setting up the tombstone fund and taking the time to speak with all of the people that were interested in donating. According to Dennis, as of today, the family has chosen the tombstone, and it has been completely paid for by the compassionate, generous members of our county.
Sincerely,
Angie Anglin, Principal
Clearmont Elementary School
I have noticed at the town square,that most people don't use turn signals to let oncoming traffic know you are continuing on main street.How hard would it be to signal people waiting to come onto the square that you are turning?
