Our teens are drinking and using drugs at parties that are not
chaperoned every weekend all over the Valley. These parties get out of hand
very quickly and are a danger to our kids’ lives.
At a recent party, in which 40 to 50 kids were attending, a
neighbor called the police. It took the police an hour to arrive. After arriving, only
two parents were called by the police. The surrounding area was not searched
for kids that could have needed help, escaped to other unauthorized
hiding areas or would drive after drinking.
I will ask the age-old question, “Do you know where your kids
are?” I didn’t. My daughter was supposed to be at a relative’s watching
videos and spending the night. I can’t tell you what a horror it is to have the
police call you and tell you that your child has been transported as a
medical emergency to the hospital unconscious from
drinking too much. Stop for a moment and think how you
would feel. The drive from North Bend to Overlake Hospital is
long, not knowing whether your child is still alive.
After this experience, a group of parents, together with the help
of Linda Elliot of Parent Party Patrol, are forming a Snoqualmie Valley
chapter of the Parent Party Patrol. We want Snoqualmie Valley, the police,
the Valley’s schools and other parents to know that we are trying to do
something about these problems. We need our schools to re-write
their policies to ensure the kids know it is not
OK to drink, take drugs and party if they plan to participate in school
activities. Student council boards can be formed to help these issues be known to
the other kids and to apply community work to offenders. The police
need to follow through on their procedures of calling the parents to come and
get their kids from these parties.
Their excuse for not following through at this recent party was
twofold. 1) They were too busy. It was my understanding that there were
four police that came to the house. 2) Most parents don’t really care. As a
caring, loving parent, I take offense to that. I find it hard to believe that most
parents don’t care that their kids are drinking and
driving, and you as a parent should take offense as well.
We as parents cannot escape our responsibilities either. We need
to know where our youth are and what they are doing. The Parent Party
Patrol is now being formed and is on the move to create a better
environment for the youth of the Snoqualmie Valley. We need the community’s
support to make the Valley a better and safer place for our children.
Darla Kohlruss
North Bend
