As a former Marshalltown resident and Marshall County law enforcement officer, I was extremely pleased to see that Marshall County is taking the lead, on what will undoubtedly be an unpopular move with the citizens, that being the banning of both hands-held cell phone use and text messaging, while operating a motor vehicle n the public highways and streets within Marshall County. Hand-held cell phones pose enough of a threat, but there is no excuse for text messaging while operating a motor vehicle. People do not realize that it only takes a few seconds to be distracted from the road and you can be in a serious or fatal accident, and no phone call or text message is worth that price. And like the drunk driver, it is usually an innocent individual that ends up getting seriously hurt, or worse yet, killed. I applaud the courage of the Marshalltown City Council and the Marshall County Board of Supervisors for being willing to discuss an seriously consider this bold, but long overdue action.