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Milton Skateboarding Law Carries Special Significance for One Father Save Email Print
Posted: 9:56 PM Jul 2, 2008
Last Updated: 10:08 PM Jul 2, 2008
Reporter: Carrie Cline
Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com

A | A | A

MILTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Kickturn, heelflip and grind! If you know skateboarding, you know these daredevil tricks.

As challenging as they are, those tricks aren't appreciated when they're taking place on the city picnic tables or park benches. It's enough to force one city to take drastic measures to restrict the high flying antics.

"I don't mind the skateboarding," Bill Kelley said. "I just don't like where they're doing it."

And where they're doing it is at April Dawn Park. It's named for Bill Kelley's daughter who died when she was just 11 years old.

"She had many birth defects and didn't make it," Bill Kelley said. "This park means a lot to me."

The signs of skateboarding abuse in this park are everywhere.

So the Milton town council took a harsh stand this week. A first offense skateboard violation has now increased more than 300% from $5 to $50. A second offense could result in the skateboard being impounded for thirty days.

"No, I don't think it's too harsh. The parents will learn," Frances Hickman said while enjoying an afternoon at the park with her grandchildren. She's seen the skateboarders and thinks the tough penalties are long overdue.

Bill is just protecting his daughter's legacy while offering a place for other children to enjoy. He agrees the skateboarders need a place too. Those plans for a skate park are underway for the future.

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Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 3, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Come on, yes get them off the park, but where do they go , in the streets, along with the dealers, come on, give them some where to skate, it is in the future, get real, another words forget kids, no skate park, just what we need more on the streets, please help the kids go somewhere to skate ,please ,do not put them out in the streets to get ahold of drugs, we do not need any more of that...if we all get together, maybe we can get help from some Businesse, donation maybe.

Posted by: booger on Jul 3, 2008 at 09:01 AM
That guy sounds like a bitter jerk to me. I guess roller skates are a product of the Devil? How about bikes? If a kid rides a tricycle in the park, will you fine them too? Where's an 8 year old supposed to get $50? Stop buying ice cream from the ice cream truck for the summer? What if they can't pay? You going to send out a search warrant for little Bobby? I guess just let the kids learn to make a meth lab. That's all Milton is good for anyways.

Posted by: booger on Jul 3, 2008 at 08:44 AM
I guess walking the streets and cooking meth are better for kids than riding skateboards....

Posted by: Joe on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I understand the father of the 11yr old and agree that these skaters shouldnt go through the park. Being a father and a former skater myself there not really much for these kids to do around here and i think the skate park is an excellent idea but fining these kids is not right cause 9 times out of 10 the parents of these kids are going to be payin these fines and with the economy who needs another thing to pay for.

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