Briefly: Oct. 11

Talk about it

Highway 1 reopens

Highway 1 south of Ely has reopened and motorists are now able to drive through the work zone. Traffic will be controlled by a flag person and motorists should expect delays.

Over two-thirds of the five-mile stretch has been paved with the first layer of asphalt, but the remaining 1.5-mile section is still gravel. The paving is scheduled to be completed in November.

Click it or ticket

Two Harbors Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Silver Bay Police Department are all part of a two-week effort to encourage seat belt usage. Motorists without seatbelts can be ticketed by officers and their chances of serious injury in an accident are much higher.

“One excuse we hear is ‘belts aren’t comfortable.’ Well, neither are hospital beds,” Two Harbors Police Chief Kevin Ruberg said.

The extra seat belt enforcements will be effective Oct. 12-26. Forty-three percent of motorists killed last year in accidents were not buckled and 41 percent of those deaths were young adults aged 16-29.

“The last thing we care to do is write seat belt tickets,” says Two Harbors Assistant Police Chief Rick Hogenson. “We are encouraging (motorists to be) true enforcers of the law and speak up to remind others to belt up.”

Tags: lake county, briefs