A near-miss with an Orrick FFA bus has heightened the urgency of reducing speed near the Vassmer trap shooting range.

Michael Vassmer recently returned to the Ray County Commission seeking an update on his earlier request for a 25-mph speed limit near the range at 31003 West 112th Street. He learned the reduction had received approval from Sheriff Gary Blackwell.

Vassmer explained Orrick FFA had begun traveling to the range on Tuesday nights for shooting practice. As the team’s bus was pulling out of the property, he said a vehicle came over the hill at a high rate of speed and nearly struck the side of the bus.

The FFA coach later called Vassmer about the incident, saying he “wasn’t very happy.”

“I thought, ‘You know what? Thursday’s coming up. I’m off, and I’ll just go see what you all have planned because I hadn’t heard anything,’” stated Vassmer.

Commissioners told Vassmer, Blackwell had approved the 25-mph speed limit, resolving his immediate question about whether the requested reduct…