Crockett to the rescue

It looked as though my concept of a Burma Bridge from Bethel Outdoor Adventure and Campground out to Hastings Island was headed for oblivion. The planning process in town had forced us to consider all questions, including that of ADA compliance. Wheelchair accessibility, in other words. The Maine Human Rights Commission at first rendered an opinion that the bridge would indeed have to comply, with wide walkways, applicable slopes, and resting places. Such engineering would have made this simple concept so complicated that it would have leaped skyward in cost, and put it beyond our reach.

Then in rode Jarrod Crockett, our Representative! Like his namesake of old, he was standing tall, had all six guns firing, had a true aim, and hit the mark smack bang in the middle (well, I may have mixed my metaphors here, but you get the point). Turns out that Jarrod, with his legal background and his legislative appointments, is uniquely positioned to help out. The commission looked again, reconsidered, took more information about design and intent – and came back with the green light!

So, if Bethel ever has access to a Nature Trail on the island which sits in its midst, if the Pathway is ever extended in this way by over a mile, and if the goats have an easier path out to their summer grazing, it will be because our representative, Jarrod Crockett, took his job seriously, applied himself with intelligent energy, and saw it through to the end. Thank you Representative Crockett!

Jeff Parsons

Bethel