Ontario Empoblog
Ontario Emperor Blog("yup, its random!")
This blog has been superseded by the mrontemp blog
Home
Archives
October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007
The Breast Cancer Site
Fund free mammograms at no cost to yourself by clicking on the link, then on the pink button.
Hall of Shame (NoteUnworthy Blog Posts)
- OEMR - Religion of Peace, or Religion of Pieces? 29 Mar 2006
- Freemasonry is Jewish, or so they say (or don't) 20 Feb 2006
- KFI - More Hypocritical Talk Radio 09 Feb 2006
- Robertson Links Clark's Stroke, God's Wrath 06 Jan 2006
- Betty Cooper is Weary of the Universe 28 Oct 2005
- Michael Brown and Bennett Landreneau Wildfire 15 Sep 2005
- US Route 20 26 Aug 2005
- Marketing Free Doesn't Pay 18 Jul 2005
- What is Kevin Poulsen Saying Today? (The Great Firewall of China, And Yahoo! "Censorship" in the Good Ol' USA) 25 Jun 2005
- Dichotomizing the Heuristics 15 Apr 2005
- Activists Can't Sing 21 Mar 2005
- Commercial Spokeswoman Identified 8 Feb 2005
- Angels Owner Announces Official Name Change 4 Jan 2005
- Beverage Department Image Transformation Initiative, Breasts, Tammy Faye Bakker, Jessica Hahn, and Jerry Falwell 30 Dec 2004
- Sorry Elton John, I'm Endorsing Boy George for UN Secretary General 7 Dec 2004
- Check 12 Nov 2004
- Tankkks in Westwood 12 Nov 2004
- Christopher Nance Update (with a reference to Michael Burton) 23 Sep 2004
- Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe Down Under 3 Sep 2004
- A Saga, Chronologically 31 Aug 2004
- They Weren't Terrorists...They Weren't Desert Casino-Bound Musicians...They Were Girlie Men! 23 Jul 2004
- This is what he said. This is what Ludo Cremers said. 8 Apr 2004
- Forget cute animated characters, I'm taking my family to see blood and gore! 8 Apr 2004
- Binky the Doormat 30 Jan 2004
- Untitled (Day Grocer) 31 Oct 2003
Other Blogs (sorted regionally)
Ontario Emperor Selected del.icio.us Tags
;
Who Links Here
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Snohomish Responds to the Post-Brett Karch Characterization of Their Town
Remember how I said that there could be more to this story than meets the eye? Well, the mayor of Snohomish and the superintendent of schools have responded to the negative picture of the citizens of Snohomish.
DRAFT 12/21/06
Op-Ed Submission to the Post-Intelligencer
By Randy Hamlin, Mayor of Snohomish and Dr. William Mester, Superintendent
of Schools for the Snohomish School District
We read with great interest the article in the Seattle P-I about the threats made
against Brett Karch, a student and JROTC member whose leg was severely
injured when a ceremonial cannon exploded near him during a Snohomish High
School football game. As a result of an ongoing investigation, criminal charges
have been forwarded to their prosecutor by the City of Everett against one of the
two individuals who apparently placed threats against Brett while he was
hospitalized in Everett.
Like many of the P-I’s readers, we are both saddened and angry about this
incident. It appears that Brett Karch has been victimized by one or two
individuals who displayed an inhuman lack of compassion and a wildly misplaced
sense of values. We were shocked to read that an injured high school student
would be threatened—while still in his hospital bed—by one or more adults more
concerned about maintaining the tradition of this cannon’s use during football
games than they are about his well-being and recovery.
The P-I story and its blog site resulted in generating nearly 400 emails sent to the
City of Snohomish. Many of these email messages understandably expressed
outrage at the idea of a student being threatened by adults who wanted to ensure
the continuance of this football game tradition. We were dismayed, however, in
seeing that many of these emails also asserted that such behavior by these
individuals may somehow represent the values of our community.
We would encourage the P-I’s readers to not judge an entire community by the
actions of a very few. Snohomish is a town of 9,000 people and the school
district area that feeds our single high school contains 30,000 people. In fact, the
Snohomish community and school district have reached out to support Brett
Karch and his family.
In the two weeks of hospital confinement Brett received regular visits from
teachers, school and district administrators and students representing JROTC
and student body. Several hundred get well cards were sent to Brett from the
high school students; the football team sent Brett an autographed football to
express their support. In November, JROTC students went to Brett’s house to
bring his recliner from home to the school so he could attend the JROTC annual
ball. He was also warmly greeted by his high school peers at the annual
Veterans’ Day Assembly, where he was honored for his service to JROTC and
Snohomish High School. Additionally, significant assistance to the Karch family
has been coordinated through a local community church. Unfortunately, it
appears one or two people have tarnished this reputation by their behavior.
Most people of our community were unaware of what was happening because
the City of Everett police have investigated quietly as is the normal course in
such criminal matters. We anticipate now that information is being released, our
community will continue to reach out to Brett and his family during his recovery.
We encourage Brett Karch and his family not to be intimidated by anyone who
would expect anything less than honesty in this matter. We also urge swift and
just outcomes for any individuals found guilty of making threats against this
young man. These are the values that we believe truly represent the vast
majority of our community.
From the Ontario Empoblog (Latest OVVA news here)
Comments:
I've commented extensively on my blog at http://www.3lakeswa.org/blog/
Thanks for the sympathy towards us poor Snohomians who had nothing to do with this.
Thanks for the sympathy towards us poor Snohomians who had nothing to do with this.
The Mayor and School Superintendant have not actually "responded" to the media coverage in general to the situation. The response is on a city website, and further more there are contradictory/conflicting statements being made.
If the Mayor or School Superintendant truly are in the "know" of what is going on, why have they not gone to the Seattle Post Intelligencer and made a statement? The Hospital states that Karch had very few visitors, while the "response" says that Karch has had many visitors.
I would call not having any of your friends show up to a Birthday pary ample evidence that there is a "Community" issue going on, and that it is not just a "few" people who are making the threats.
I am not judging the community as a whole, I am howver viewing the lacklust response by the city and school district with suspicion.
I am a Seattle Native. I have friends and family living in Snohomish, and they are reacting the same way.
Post a Comment
If the Mayor or School Superintendant truly are in the "know" of what is going on, why have they not gone to the Seattle Post Intelligencer and made a statement? The Hospital states that Karch had very few visitors, while the "response" says that Karch has had many visitors.
I would call not having any of your friends show up to a Birthday pary ample evidence that there is a "Community" issue going on, and that it is not just a "few" people who are making the threats.
I am not judging the community as a whole, I am howver viewing the lacklust response by the city and school district with suspicion.
I am a Seattle Native. I have friends and family living in Snohomish, and they are reacting the same way.
posted by 
: Sunday, December 24, 2006 10:20:00 AM
: Sunday, December 24, 2006 10:20:00 AMLinks to this post: