Sierra Wave: Local News for Mammoth Lakes, Bishop, and the Eastern Sierra - Teen Drinking Targeted By Local Government

Teen Drinking Targeted By Local Government

Written by Tom Woods

Tuesday, 03 June 2008

Government agencies in Inyo County have joined together to curb underage drinking and parties on public lands like the Buttermilks or along the Owens River. The Bishop Police, Inyo County Sheriff’s department, and county health officials have teamed up with the land managers at BLM, the forest service and DWP to make sure that teens act responsibly on public lands.

From unprotected sex, drunk driving, and drug use to trashing a campsite after a party, to potentially starting a forest fire, representatives from this newly formed task force held a press conference at the Buttermilk Road Monday to get their message out.

Karen Kong, with Inyo County Health and Human Services showed photos of a party that land managers had to clean up after this weekend. Besides the still hot embers from burnt pallets, Kong said that over 500 beer cans were cleaned up.

The reason for the joint effort is that each agency has to deal with the effects of underage partying on public lands. Land managers like BLM, the Forest Service, and DWP are concerned with protecting the land from damaged associated with underage drinking. Forest Supervisor Jim Upchurch explained that he’d rather his staff spent time on forest restoration work rather than cleaning up trash after a party.

The health department has to deal with the un-planned pregnancies and health issues and other spill over effects from underage drinking.

Drinking and driving and the accidents that can follow as a result are the realm of law enforcement agencies. Bishop Police Chief Kathleen Sheehan explained that her own mother died in a car accident after drinking too much at a party, leaving three kids without their mother. She stressed common sense and thinking ahead to avoid tragedy before it occurs.

Inyo Sheriff Bill Lutze explained that with graduation coming up, Officers would be out in force over the next two week to curb the expected parties.

Public meetings to discuss what to do about underage drinking are scheduled for June 24 7:00 at the Home Ec. building at the Fairgrounds in Bishop and at Statham Hall in Lone Pine July first, also at 7:00 in the evening.

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We've all been there.... said:

In regards to the recent concerns about underage drinking in the Owens Valley, I have to ask the question, "What else is there for these kids to do?" As a product of the area I have been to all of the local party spots drinking before it was legal, so have my parents before me. Lucky for me I got bored and realized that there had to be something more productive to do with my time. And that's what seems to be missing in all of the recent discussions. Our community needs to give these kids healthy alternatives to fill their Friday and Saturday night agendas. If you don't give them something better to do, you're NEVER going to stop them from the only fun they know. Why don't we have a community center with a place to hang out, music, dances, movies, games, organized trips and other activities for our teens? Give them a safe and fun alternative and you're more likely to deter them from drinking and driving as well as trashing the local environment. Simply tell them not to drink and then that's all they will want to do. This isn't brain surgery. We've all been there.

June 30, 2008

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