Teachers in Raymond Worry About Proposed Nearby Gun Range

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By Chris Earl

Story Created: Nov 23, 2009 at 6:01 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 23, 2009 at 10:51 PM CST

Ever tried to keep the attention of a 5- or 6-year-old... All day?

"Every moment of every hour," said Nancy Bolick, a kindergarten teacher at St. Joseph's Elementary School in Raymond, east of Waterloo. "We're always trying to keep them on task."

St. Joseph's Elementary School in Raymond is a bit unique. It serves only kindergarten, first grade and second grade students.

Teachers tell us they are worried and point to the proximity of the proposed range.

"A quarter of a mile," said first-grade teacher Stephanie Peters, when asked about the distance of the proposed range. "That's way too close. Bullets can travel two miles but -- when we are taking care of these little kids, that's too much of a chance."

Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors chair Frank Magsamen said he thinks the safety issues have been addressed but admitted the noise concerns are still there and that it's for the Black Hawk County Sheriff, Tony Thompson, to work with people in Raymond.

"I think he's more than willing to plan on how they could utilize that facility with minimal impact," said Magsamen. He pointed to the possibility of using the range outside of school months.

Bolick says she has been reassured about the safety and even the noise. Yet she still isn't sold on the idea.

"As a parent and grandparent, I would not want my children to get used to that gunfire going on next door."

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