Letters to the Editor: Sharon Kennedy deserved better

Sharon Kennedy deserved better

As a result of the trial last week of Kai Hopewell for the terrible, gruesome death of Sharon M. Kennedy back in November 2021, we learned that it is OK to drive 35 mph in a 25 mph district in downtown Sault Ste. Marie. We learned one is allowed to play with one's cellphone while driving. We discovered that a driver may legally hit and kill a pedestrian who is walking in a crosswalk in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

In Kai Hopewell's May 4-5 trial for misdemeanor moving violation resulting in death, we learned that when Sharon M. Kennedy was hit in the crosswalk, traffic in the oncoming lane had already stopped for her. Police reported that her head made a deep indentation in the hood of Kai's Jeep and that she was flung 60 feet by the impact of his Jeep with her body. From the physician who received her dead body at the hospital, we learned that nearly every bone in her body was broken between her head and knees.

Sharon, who served for decades as the register of deeds and tax equalization officer for Chippewa County, was active in the community, physically vigorous, and was looking forward to retirement, a new relationship, travel, and many more years with her two daughters, Lola and Caroline. What was the jury thinking when they decided that Kai was not guilty of clearly established driving violations causing Sharon's death? Perhaps they thought "he is a young man with his whole life ahead of him, and Sharon is an old lady. She should have been more careful." Yes, this is ageism.

Shame on you, Sault Ste. Marie.

Leslie Ann Dobbertin

Portland, Oregon (formerly of Sault Ste. Marie)

RIP, Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

You are gone into the night.

But you appeared early in my life.

As a boy’s Christmas Gift, Summertime Dream.

The 8-track tape in duly dark packaging,

The balladeer’s music that spoke of another time.

“When the mill shuts down, you can see what chivalry means.”

Over and over I listened.

Took in the lessons Gordon offered.

Of his house that would never fall down.

“If you pity the stranger stands at the gate.”

But the ship that went dark.

That was the one.

On howling Lake Superior night.

The hope of the lighthouse at Whitefish Point gone out.

The trusting ship’s cook, always.

The best humanity has to offer.

Feeding the crew. Caring for all. Facing his demise with dignity. Unfair fate.

From Stephen Crane’s “Open Boat” to Gordon Lightfoot’s oreboat wallowing in the troughs.

“Fellas, it’s been good to know you.”

And when my hometown was too cloying for this young man.

The Coast Guard allowed me my escape.

Lightfoot’s shipwreck song won out over Springsteen’s New Jersey tales.

When duty stations were offered after bootcamp, it was to Sault Ste Marie, Michigan I went. To an icebreaking Coast Guard tug USCGC Katmai Bay.

My salad days. On the Great Lakes. Introduced to others — Stan Rogers, Frederick Stonehouse, Farley Mowat and other Canadian and Michigan singers and writers. Started down the road by Gordon Lightfoot.

At Christmastime.

A gift.

Steven W. Lindsey

Keene, N.H.

This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Letters to the Editor: Sharon Kennedy deserved better