ANDERSON, Ind. —
A memorial picnic was held in Town Center Park Wednesday honoring those who go to work and never return home.
It’s a reality that struck the city of Anderson last year when city street crew worker Dale Jones was struck by a car and killed while cleaning up debris from Scatterfield Road near Indiana 32.
More than 50 people gathered in the park for the memorial picnic, which included 80 yellow balloons representing the 80 workers across the country who die each week while at work.
Anderson Fire Chief Dave Clendenen said his firefighters face workplace dangers regularly.
“There’s close calls all the time.”
“You don’t know what you’re going into,” firefighter Dave Cravens said of the risky profession.
Tobi Jones, Dale Jones’ wife, said she can do little else but pray for police and firefighters while they are at work, but she can help keep street workers safe.
“I have complete control over their safety,” she said.
Drivers can slow down and move over when they see road workers to help keep them safe.
“The night my husband passed away, there was one lady who was late to work,” she said.
In honor of Dale Jones’ dedication to the city, Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon has renamed Baxter Road.
It has become Dale Keith Jones Road.
The road leads to the office where city street workers operate.
Jones said she hopes to honor workers each year.
Rep. Scott Reske, D-Pendleton, started to cry as he addressed the crowd.
“There’s dignity in work,” he said.
He thought it was fitting that Anderson is noted for the strength of its workforce and took the time to recognize those who lose their lives while at work.
Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, said legislators have written several laws to keep state troopers and highway construction workers safe, but hadn’t addressed local road workers and police until recently.
Senate Bill 93, she said, orders drivers to move over and slow down for local police and local street crews.
“I wish we didn’t have to legislate common sense,” she said.
Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com
Local News
Related Photos
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Tobi Jones, center, fights back the tears after being presented a street sign by the Street Department with her late husband's name on it. The city is re-naming Baxter Road, Dale Keith Jones Road. With Tobi are her children Joann, 8, and Dallas, 16, and her late husband's step mother Pam Jones and father Merle Jones. THB photo/John P. Cleary
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Tobi Jones talks to Rev. Jamey Moore at the end of the program at the worker's memorial picnic Wednesday at Town Center Park. THB photo/John P. Cleary
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City honors those who never came home
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