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Crossing guards control Talent `zoo' photo by Bob Pennell Few sidewalks and lots of traffic make the area near Talent Elementary School dangerous for pedestrians. Former Talent Mayor Frank Falsarella, right, mans a crossing as a volunteer. By Wendy Siporen of the Mail Tribune TALENT -- Two schools, 17 bus routes, 1,100 students and a main thoroughfare through town add up to quite a mess five mornings a week at the corner of Wagner Creek and Foss roads. Despite a worsening traffic problem at the elementary and middle schools this year, Talent Elementary School principal Jeff Fagan says safety has greatly improved, thanks to the work of former mayor Frank Falsarella and the police department. "As I have watched kids come to school ... there are places and occasions that kids have come close to being hit," said Fagan. ``We haven't had any accidents, thankfully." There was one minor bus accident last year when a car tried to pass a bus turning left onto Foss Road. Falsarella and fellow police volunteers Tony Marin and Conway Perry and crossing guard helpers Betty Welburn and Arnold Hirt stop traffic to allow students to cross and buses to make a difficult left turn from Wagner Creek Road onto Foss Road to get to the middle school. The official uniforms help get drivers' attention, said Fagan. "It was a zoo out there. There was no control there at all," said Falsarella. "It's going really good. We've slowed them down a bit. ... People are obeying the speed limit." A sidewalk project along Main Street and Wagner Creek Road should improve the situation even further. It goes to bid this month and construction should begin in January. When that's done, the elementary school will be able to start an official crossing guard program, complete with uniforms and student and adult volunteers. An earlier attempt to start a crossing guard program had to be scrapped because there wasn't a safe place for people to stand. When they're not helping out as crossing guards, the three police community service volunteers also monitor handicapped parking around town, look for city code violations and perform house checks. "They are sort of extra eyes and ears," said Talent Police Chief C.W. Smith. "We're a small community, but still we don't get to a lot of things. The Community Service Volunteers have been a wonderful asset." Since two of the volunteers have been promoted to reserve officers, the program is in need of new blood. Any U.S. citizen over 21 may apply, whether a Talent resident or not. A background check will be conducted. To apply, call Falsarella at 944-0243 or contact the police department at 535-1253. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA