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Show 8 Sun Advocate, Price, Utah Thursday, September 29, 1994 Opinion Editorial... Wake up, Carbon County that death had claimed the victim. Leaning a little toward the drivers door in a car alongside the highway, head to one side Life is something most of us take for with eyes closed, sat a young black man. If granted each night when we fall in bed not for the blood on his bare chest and and especially when we rise to greet a new abdomen, Id have sworn the handsome youth was taking a nap. day. I While Lynnda snapped photos, Chief Saturusual last later than stayed up Lee wake-uand call a without Barry and reserve officer Wendy day, slept then bellyached my way out of bed. Id Conde performed their duties along with planned to go into work early. But since I Officer Mark Watkins. The trio repredidnt wake up on time, I knew Id suffer sented the Wellington City Police Department. Also present were Mike Mayer, the consequences later. In a rather foul mood, I eventually Carbon County Sheriffs Office, and Gormade it to work sans makeup, coiffured don Bennett, Utah Highway Patrol. Chief hair and decent shoes. Funny how Ill Deputy Mike Martinez performed medical examiner services at the scene. Everyh always remember I was wearing one completed their jobs in a most professweats and thongs. head. What if hed turned the gun on the officers instead of himself? It could have been another tragic incident like the one that claimed the life of a highway patrol trooper last year on When information came back on some of the IDs, the young man apparently had no serious criminal record. He wasnt wanted somewhere else for another crime, as far as preliminary checks revealed. He wasnt an escaped convict from another state and the car tested clean, both at the scene and in a later investigation. To me, the unfortunate, unnecessary demise of this unknown young person was a wake-ucall in many ways. I wouldnt personally live any other place than Carbon County, Utah. But we y are not immune to violence, whether it be internal or external. Crimes can happen just as easily, and do happen, in rural Utah as well as in Salt Lake, New York or LA. Not everyone is out for a scenic drive on Sunday afternoon. People do drive down the roads, our roads, with loaded guns in their possession. They carry weapons that can be used on people near them as well as themselves and as in this case, for no apparent reason. When the morticians removed the youth from the car and placed his body in a bag for transport, I said a little prayer. For somewhere, this kid has a mother. Some man, somewhere, is his father. Even if they arent living, he had parents By ANN KAY MARSING Staff writer p knee-lengt- Shortly after 3 p.m., Lynnda Johnson and I were on our way to an accident with personal injuries on State Road 6. I went to observe how to cover an accident, since doing so really isnt part of my regular duties at the Sun Advocate. I was relieved that even though five people in two vehicles were involved, no one had been killed. I felt respect for the law enforcement agencies as they worked together along with Rescue 3 personnel, ambulance crews and a local towing service Who was he? Where did he come from? efficiently, calmly. What was routine to them was all new to me. Where was he going? Why did he do it? We had only been back at the paper a There were no suitcases or extra clomere 15 minutes when another call came thing, only the jeans, shirt and tennis over the scanner. The broadcast indicated shoes he wore. He had no drivers license, there may be a possible fatality from a but possessed four different identification cards with the same name and Social Secgunshot wound. While heading toward Wellington, we had no idea urity number. The kid also had no money, what we would find at the scene. not so much as pocket change. We parked, crossed the highway and Also discovered were an unopened pack walked toward investigating officers. But of cigarettes, a lighter and a receipt from a here, I did not observe rescue personnel at Las Vegas pawn shop, where he had purwork. I didnt know it then, but there was chased the lethal weapon found in his left no one to rescue. a hand Before we arrived, ambulance and handgun with a full clip. Rescue 5 crews had already determined Thoughts of all kinds raced through my er semi-automat- to teach who engage become in criminal activities? Emily Keller, 15 Price It's the parents' responsibility. If they teach their kids right while they're young, they won't have a problem when they're teenagers. Parents need to set examples and be role models for their kids. Brenna Lopan, 15 Spring Glen think parents should teach their kids because they brought them into this world. They are responsible fortheiractions. also think peers play a big role in how kids are brought up in society. I Kirk 15 VanLinden, Kenilworth think the media's job to quit promoting so it's once. Maybe theres a sister or brother, possibly even a wife or girlfriend. And there could even be a child wondering when daddy is coming home. A wake-u- p call? Youd better believe it. Publicly, socially, you name it its time to wake up and really smell the coffee. ic kids to productive members of society, not those big-cit- d .25-calib- is it p sional manner. Standing by the highway, I could not take my eyes off the victims face. As new information came over the police radio, very little was learned about a kid who had chosen to take his own life rather than pull over and take a possible ticket for speeding. In a car that was still at a Hertz rental agency in Los Angeles, according to agency records, a kid sat dead not asleep, but dead due to his own hand. self-inflicte- Whose job much violence. It's making reality too plain - kids have to spice it up. If the media changes, then kids are going to follow. Brett Jeanselme, 15 Jailing repeat juvenile offenders Wellington work load some day and see just how plined society in which they live? Screw many more clients than time they have. it and party on, dude! And just what are they responsible for? Just what do we expect from these to officers hired he probation How much juvenile carnage do we parents? Starting earlier in life seems to the rehabilitation or be be an obvious answer, but sometimes process have to experience before Utah lawmak- - Par to officer an law ofthe enforce s the court that is not even good enough. ers do something about the problem? on punishment, I realize this editorial asks a lot of The circumstances relating to the Another complicated question that pointed questions and I also realize that two boys who shot each other to death in Salt Lake last week have mo baffled and needs to be addressed in my mind is all the answers are not known. First of all, not all kids are bad kids. about Social Services' responsibility with frustrated. But on the other hand, there are kids As we sit back in our easy chairs, we juvenile law offenders? Down deep, I would like to know who are bad period. These numbers inshould ask ourselves what is happening troubled kids who around us that would allow two juve- - what Social Services' role is in trans-nile- s clude the hard-coranti-socihave some inherent misfits into probthe opportunity, the mood, the forming society productive lems most will that citizens. never of likely change. hate, the thought killing each other, I find it hard to publicly There are times when kids need to be It doesn't take long to conjure up in support a my mind several agencies and institu- - system (not the people) that seems to locked up to protect society from them and to protect them from each other and tions with possible blame, which is the promote teenage dependency on govern ment This then work on change. Not welfare. is a welfare first phase of finding solutions. Right? public of that First of all come the police agencies, piece candy Judge Scott Johnansen, 7th District encourages, through a lots of Juvenile with benefits Are thev doing their job? rewards, lifestyle Court, recently stated there for some 400 are Well, they must have been doing nothing, juveniles that commit alWhat 80 better most for to teens start way percent of all the felony level somethingbecauseoneofthedeadjuvelife on in Utah. own? acts Get their niles had been arrested over 50 times, pregnant and juvenile move into a These the hard-corare The other's rap sheet started when he free, completely furnished repeat ofI Receive fender food who should kids be 0 free behind barred was years old. stamps figure police must apartment. and all doors. These with who have been little the kids are incentive officers being doing their job; money, very to lot 50 of still two a ask arrested Just but the are and Ilowabout thecourtsandjudges?As change. times, running three generation families that are now the streets, now with loaded weapons. I considered thejustice system, I thought cornpjacently dependent on the program. When talking about only 400 plus there might be some room for improve- hard-cor- e I low about the parents? What blame problem kids and a few others ment. But I am glad it is the judges who S10U they take for their on that brink in Utah, we are teetering are making decisions whether kids are not around the streets with a talking that many cells. But they running capable of change or whether juveniles ioa(jecj weapon and having the disposi-shoul- d will be cells just the same serving the be thrown into detention centers. tion to use it To actually point the purpose of getting dangerous criminals As my mind jumps from one entity to 0f death at someone and pull the off the street. another trying to figure out what s wrong, weap0n And jail time does work. It may be a trigger. I can see that part of the Lustration we ajj know of parents or negative atmosphere in which to offer j judges experience can be blamed onto famiijeg that no matter what they did, rehabilitation services, but jails do get another facet of our government. The who just wouldn't cut the some of the bad off the streets. ad a one that builds and funds jail space. We need to understand that it has grade. A child who lacked the discipline always been a minority of lawbreakers There are simply not enough cells to that would keep him or her out of committing the vast majority of crimes. criminal offenders. There- - ble. The sad commentary is that age is beThese frustrated kids have a fore, some are being excused from their with a slap on the wrist and a tality where they think that everything coming less and less of a factor. We need to start addressing this check with their friendly probation offic- - in this life is good. Or in other words, er. nothing is bad. They know that they are issue and lock up the appropriate crimWhat about probation officers? going to die some day, so they live it up. inal offenders before vigilante efforts in law enforcement become appealing to One should probably check out their What about authority from the disci the public once more. We also need to change our social welfare program. And soon. It seems to be a greenhouse for fostering negative attitudes such as receiving something for nothing, believing work is not always best, thinking the more dependents the more welfare, etc. There are no simple answers for why two kids would be able to go out on the street, in broad daylight, and shoot each other. And really, blame cannot placed on any one individual or agency. This is a problem of a free society where free Ithinkit'stheparentsand the peers because they both have a big influence over your life and what you do. A kid chooses his or her own path. He or she has to take responsibility forhim-sel- f By KEVIN ASHBY SurTAdvocafe publisher wi-she- s or herself. -- e al -- vice-vers- a. e, ld ggg trou-incarcerate- men-actio- A 7 listened to the news, noticed one flaw, Nothing was said about rural Utah. It makes me sad, and its almost a crime, How much were ignored, time after time. listened some more, and was almost aghast, We were even forgotten in the weather forecast. know that the stations are in Salt Lake City, But theyre very narrow minded, and thats a pity. hope youll forgive me for being so blunt, But their only concern is the Wasatch Front. believe that Ive heard all their sports slogans, Their entire state is from Springville to Logan. The remainder of the state doesnt have much say, Most of the time they wish wed go away. Although most of the time we are neglected, They know where we are when taxes are collected. The taxes we pay are to their advantage, What we get back is a small percentage. We should get together before its too late, And in due time form our own state. With a lot of hard work it can be done, Well make rural Utah state fifty-on- e. John R. Jensen I s I I I I I ns If For you want to know about Carbon County... read the Subscription Information please call i m ,i M 637-073- 2 Does Your Heart Good. American Heart thinking produces many solutions and usually a slow democracy. Let's get busy. - J Association ' ' .if --r SJJ 1JF |