RESERVOIR MAY WARN SWIMMERS; DROWNING VICTIM'S MOTHER URGES SIGNS.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer Warning signs reading ``Swim at your own risk'' may soon be in place at Littlerock Reservoir following a mother's plea after the death of her son. In an effort to avoid future deaths, Becky Swaim and about a dozen family members and friends addressed state Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, and U.S. Forest Service Supervisor Mike Wickman on Friday requesting that officials place a memorial to her son and others who had died at the popular summertime hangout hang·out n. Slang A frequently visited place. Noun 1. hangout - a frequently visited place haunt, stamping ground, resort, repair to honor them and serve as a warning to other swimmers. ``It was a compromise,'' Swaim said. ``We had hoped for something a little more personal or touching. Something really visible.'' Family members and friends had planned to have a historical marker In the United States, a historical marker is a plaque erected at historically significant locations, facilities, or buildings. These markers are usually near roads driven by vehicles, and their presence is often indicated by traffic signs. placed at the beach along with the names of those who have died. She wanted the marker to honor them and also warn others of the dangers associated with swimming at the reservoir. While officials said that a memorial may not be appropriate, forestry officials are looking into the possibility of placing warning signs at the reservoir that has claimed two lives this year. ``A monument is not in the picture for us,'' Wickman said. ``We could be setting a precedent. You don't want to modify it every time someone passes away.'' Wickman added that the only monument allowed on public lands are of historical significance or of historical events. Swaim's son, Brian, drowned June 16 while swimming with friends. The 17-year-old had been swimming about 3:30 p.m. when he became tired and headed back to shore. He called for help before he went under, but no one could reach him in time and he disappeared into the murky water. A firefighter who leaped into the water from a hovering hov·er intr.v. hov·ered, hov·er·ing, hov·ers 1. To remain floating, suspended, or fluttering in the air: gulls hovering over the waves. 2. helicopter pulled Swaim to shore 20 minutes later. He was airlifted to Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Brian Swaim had just completed his junior year at Antelope Valley High School Antelope Valley High School is located in Lancaster, California and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. It was founded in 1912[1]. It is located in the Mojave Desert. , where he played volleyball volleyball, outdoor or indoor ball and net game played on a level court. An upright net, 3 ft (or 1 m) high, the top of which stands 8 ft (2.43 m) from the ground for men, 7 ft 4 1/8 in (2. and sang in the choir. When the dam was refurbished in 1995, officials said they discussed installing a designated water play area. ``It was discussed in the planning stages,'' said Palmdale Water District General Manager Dennis LaMoreaux, ``but was eliminated because health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract didn't want to encourage water play in drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. .'' Saul Villeda, 17, Brian Swaim's best friend and classmate at Antelope Valley High School, also attended Friday's meeting and asked for more education in schools on the dangers at the reservoir. ``Brian and I would always go up there (to the reservoir) all the time,'' Villeda said. ``We would always think that if something happens that a ranger Ranger Any of a series of unmanned probes launched from 1961 to 1965 by NASA. The project was NASA's earliest attempt to explore the Moon's surface. Ranger 4 (1962) became the first U.S. spacecraft to hit the Moon, crash-landing on its surface as planned. would come and save the day. But now I know better. ``I want to inform people that prior deaths have occurred there,'' Villeda added. ``I want people to think twice about this incident before swimming again.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Becky Swaim displays a photo of her son, Brian, who drowned in June while swimming at Littlerock Reservoir. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
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