Dear Class of 2006:
Greetings to the seniors and fellow students of Chippewa County. Those of you about to graduate are looking back with fond memories of friends and good times, but are also looking ahead to a new exciting and more independent future. This milestone means getting greater privileges, but it also means getting greater responsibilities.
Rewards and celebrations are an expected response to your achievements. For those of you not yet age 21, however, getting together with friends where alcohol is served and consumed is a reality that carries heavy consequences.
An obvious consequence is going to jail, if arrested, getting substantial fines and quite possibly, jail if found guilty as a repeat offender. Last, but not least, are sanctions to your drivers license. Your "of age" friends can also face criminal charges for their role in contributing to you getting alcohol.
Other consequences can be the irreversible risk of an injury or death in a vehicle accident, injury or death from alcohol poisoning, an unwanted and/or unplanned physical or sexual assault, legal impoundment of any vehicle involved, no matter who it belongs to, and the public embarrassment of seeing your name in the local newspaper. All of these things have happened in Chippewa County to people just like you.
As this school year comes to a close, your family and community applaud your achievements, but we also ask for your help. Please be a responsible person for your own sake. Please be a responsible person for your friends. One drink is too much; one drink is never enough. No drinking. Period. We ask you do whatever is necessary to stop the risks.
Let's work together to make 2006 a truly memorable one for all.
Brian Peppler
Prosecuting Attorney
Jeff Moran
Chippewa County Sheriff
Chief Louis Murray
Sault Ste. Marie Police
Chief Fred Paquin
Sault Tribe Police
Chief Kurt Perron
Bay Mills Police
Lt. Gregg Tamlyn
Post Commander MSP 93
Chief Joe Micolo
Kinross Township Police
