Editor:
I have a very strong opinion about high school grad camp-outs and I am look forward to the town meeting.
The focus has been on these terrible teenagers and how they are going to be held accountable for their actions. I hope that there will also be a discussion around how the adults involved could do things differently. I empathize with the frustration of the residence that live around the lake and I can’t help but ask myself how would I feel if I were them, I would hate it.
I am not impressed how social media/Facebook was used to deal with the issues, I get that they have a Facebook group for the residence as that is the quickest way to communicate but many chose to then post it publicly on their own pages, which was unnecessary. We preach the 24 hour rule but don’t abide by it? Posting pictures of the kids was also unnecessary and for the man who took it upon himself to block the kids in and not let them leave and try to intimidate them, what was he thinking?
An adult was asked by a couple of the kids to please call the police because one of the kids had been drinking and got in their car to drive and they wanted them stopped. He refused and said he never saw them drinking so he wouldn’t phone. Again what was he thinking? These kids turned to him as an adult for help and (I was told) he refused them help. His actions are appalling!
Don’t get me wrong I hate the parties and I am not in support of them but I am also not in support of how this situation was handled. There were more designated drivers at that party than there were drinkers and that needs to be acknowledged. I have great respect for Gregg Gaylord and thankfully he is heading up this meeting. I feel like if it was left up to the Chimney Lake residents it would be a good old fashion lynching.
Chris Bunce
Williams Lake