Ban the train whistles

Editor: I am a fairly new resident of Hanford ... 2 1/2 years, prior to that I lived in Selma. Both communities have the dire same problem... the ear-splitting whistles or horns blasting away at all hours of the day and night.

Upon reading the trains Web site, it states they have their trains remit those god-awful sounds to warn people away from the tracks and that six or seven people a year are killed anyway. These few people are by and large either drunk, or trying to beat the train to the crossing, in my opinion.

On further review on my part I have noticed that most, not all, engineers pull that whistle cord to the point it becomes torture especially if you happen to be close to an intersection in Hanford, which many businesses are -- and just walking to your car, the shrill sounds made by the train whistle almost break your eardrums. Now that's sad.

Now, if I were the mayor of Hanford for a day, I would complain to the city council to have the City of Hanford put out-of-bounds for any kind of excessive noise and that includes train whistles or horns -- none allowed within the city limits, nor at the crossing at the Kings Country Golf Club.

Hal Donathan

Hanford