Every 15 Minutes was powerful and effective
THUMBS UP: For this week’s powerful Every 15 Minutes program that demonstrated the dangers of drinking and driving to high school students in a graphic and unforgettable way. On Tuesday, SBHS students were confronted with the twisted remains of a staged car wreck and the Grim Reaper pulled a student out of class every 15 minutes to symbolize how often a person dies in an alcohol-related crash in this country. On Wednesday, there was a mock funeral for the students who died. The program obviously had an effect on students, many of whom were moved to tears during the funeral. The program pulls no punches when confronting the epidemic of teen drinking and driving. It shouldn’t. We urge everyone who has a young person in their lives to talk to them. Warn them about the dangers of drinking and driving. We’ve seen far too many lives lost in such a senseless way.
THUMBS DOWN: To San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill who has yet to decide what he is going to do with Sheriff’s Deputy David Hackman. Hackman is being sued in Southern California for allegedly dragging a man down some stairs and cracking his skull at a Anaheim Angels playoff game against the Boston Red Sox last year. Since the scuffle, the Red Sox have won the World Series, the Big Three were traded away and the Giants started the new season without Barry Bonds, but Hill has not decided what to do with Hackman, who has been on medical leave for more than a year. It’s time to make a choice with the deputy who is still on the public payroll but not patrolling the streets.
THUMBS UP: For San Benito High School administrators and students who are spreading the message about the importance of next week’s STAR tests to the student body. The school has been notified that it could become a Program Improvement School if it doesn’t raise test scores this year. Over time, that could mean reduced funding, school administrators being fired and the state taking control of the school. The problem is while the results are very important for the school, the tests have little bearing on the students’ scholastic future so they don’t take them seriously. Now administrators and students are working hard to change that perception as well as improve how they prepare for and deliver the test.
THUMBS DOWN: For San Juan Bautista Mayor Arturo Medina and Councilman Charles Geiger, who have failed, so far, to give a detailed explanation as to why they fired former City Manager Larry Cain. The council members who fired Cain said it was because of communication problems and sloppy work, but did not name specific incidences to back up their assertions. Cain said it was personal. As a result of the firing, there is a recall attempt against the two men, and San Juan residents have an important choice to make. Geiger and Medina should give residents the full story so they can make that decision with all the facts.
