Letter to the Editor: Pool a safer option

(Edited for length election letters 250 words.)

This past June, while swimming at Riverfront Park, I saved a boy who was about 8 years old. It was windy and rough day, with strong current.

My friend and I swam to the dock, and noticed a kid was having a hard time. I dove in, swam to him and pulled him on my back and swam him to shore.

Three days later at the new boat dock there were tons of teenagers jumping off the dock. I jumped off and swam out in the river. On our way back the current was strong and the waves came over us. My friend panicked. He held on my back again and I swam him in.

One day in August a bunch of us found a cliff to jump off. My friend went in to check the water depth and he thought is was safe. When I dove in, it was too shallow. I dove in and hit the rocks on the bottom. I split my head open, shattered my nose, and had scrapes down my body and feet.

My main goal is to have people realize that the river is not always safe—especially if you are not a strong swimmer. I was on swim team for about three years and it helped me to be a strong swimmer.

We need a pool because it would be a safer place to hang out. If we had a new pool we could go there and be safe. Vote yes for the pool.

Damion Morris

TDW Sophomore, Class of 2016

The Dalles