I truly suggest that the next time that you “editorialize” something that you get your facts straight. First of all, there was only one child transported to the hospital not two. Secondly, I never called you a “bad, cruel father” since I do not know you. And lastly, your comment about “colorful” e-mails eludes readers to conclude that I used profanity in our communication. Also not true.
I was not embarrassed about my son’s name in the paper. I found your lack of tactfulness very crude and unnecessary especially since you do not know one thing about my son or any of the kids involved in this incident or other under-aged drinking incidents. Instead of chastising the kids for making stupid mistakes, you should publish the names of the parents where those drinking incidents took place.
Our family took this matter very seriously and for you to once again assume incorrectly about the motives of my communication, just proves what a complete idiot you are (and you can quote me on that)!
If you ever need to editorialize this matter again and feel the need to refer to me, have the guts to put my name down since I am not “embarrassed” about what I said to you in the e-mails and stand behind every one of my statements.
— Isabelle Roman-Barrio, Lincoln County
Editor’s note: Mrs. Roman-Barrio is correct. Only one participant at the teen drinking party in The Hamptons in Huntersville on July 27, 2010 was transported to the hospital by ambulance tobe treated for possible alcohol poisoning. A second teen was taken to the hospital by his father to be treated.
As a reminder of the issue in question, following is the entire item as it appeared in the July 30, 2010 edition of the Lake Norman Citizen. Out of deferrence to the teenagers, their names have been deleted:
... On July 27, HPD broke up another teen drinking party, but this time with more serious implications. (Capt. Michael) Kee says fire and MEDIC were called to an address in The Hamptons for a possible alcohol poisoning. When HPD arrived, there were several intoxicated teens, and one required transport by MEDIC to the hospital. Kee says another teen was taken from the scene to the hospital by his father for possible alcohol poisoning. ...
“Unfortunately, we see a lot of this here,” says Kee in reference to drinking parties by underage kids, and adds that the memories of a Huntersville teen who died after a night of heavy drinking at a friend’s home in 2004 are still quite fresh. In December of that year, Michael Duni Jr., 16, was found unresponsive the morning after a sleepover at the home of a teen-aged friend, Ryan Pittsonberger. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead from alcohol poisoning.
“We’ve all seen the tragic outcomes that happen with these parties,” says Kee.
