From the streets of Manteca . .  .

On Sunday afternoon, one of two men who get around town in wheelchairs that they typically pilot backwards while using one foot for power was crossing mid-block in the 500 block of East Yosemite Avenue. 

That made it difficult for him to see very far down the street for eastbound traffic especially since he popped out between two parked vehicles. He reached the center turn lane with no problem. Although he was still moving toward the south side of the street, an eastbound pickup truck didn’t stop. Instead he swerved toward the curb leaving just under three wheelchair lengths between his truck and the man crossing as he passed. 

The car behind the truck started slowing down at the same time the truck accelerated to get around the wheelchair.

Two days prior, an elderly lady was using a  walker to cross Commerce Avenue at East Yosemite Avenue. She started crossing on the walk sign. She had just cleared the curb lane when a driver rolled through the red light to make a right turn, passing behind her by about four feet.

It would be nice if drivers cut pedestrians slack especially those in wheelchairs and walkers.

Pumpkin wasn’t

by chocolate

shop downtown

More than a few people ended up snooping around Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in downtown Manteca early Saturday morning looking for the final $100 Bulletin pumpkin.

Three of the four clues sent them on a wild goose chase. One caller wanting to know where the pumpkin was hidden said she thought it was around the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory believing “wild horses” referenced the nearby Iron Horse Deli and that “Brown Mountain Road” was a reference to the chocolate store itself. The third clue “down on the corner” fit into their line of thinking.

They thought the fourth clue — “Walter” — referenced someone in the vicinity. It actually referenced Walter Woodward. “Wild horses” was a reference to the Mustangs, the mascot of the school named in Woodard’s honor.  “Brown Mountain Road” as a play on Tannehill Drive that borders the campus while “down on the corner” was intended to direct pumpkin searchers to the Walter Woodward School monument sign on the corner on Tannehill Drive and Buena Vista Drive.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com