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