Big effort may have put a damper on big party

For thousands of Central Oregon teenagers, Memorial Day means a wild party weekend at Lake Billy Chinook. Thanks in part to TAPS (Think Again ParentS), this past holiday the usual “camping” party was a lot more subdued.

In past years as many as 2,500 high school and college students have gathered at the lake. Law enforcement wrote hundreds of citations including many for underage drinking and possession of drugs. One year, there was a sexual assault. Also, bonfires and reckless driving damaged the area.

“It was a lot quieter than it was in the past three years,” said Jefferson County Under Sheriff Jim Adkins.

This past Memorial Day, Adkins estimates 100 to 150 young people showed up. His department wrote seven citations for minors in possession of alcohol.

Law enforcement said it wasn’t only the poor weather that helped reduce the crowd. The big presence of law enforcement this year helped scare off the partiers and so did the awareness efforts of TAPS. The organization generated publicity in The Nugget as well as the Redmond Spokesman and the Bend Bulletin. TAPS’ message encouraged parents to “ask hard questions” about where their kids were going that holiday.

Adkins agrees parents need to “get active in your kids life” whether the youths welcome the questions or not.

Oregon Liquor Control Commission Inspector Larry Brown said all the publicity got people in both Deschutes and Jefferson counties talking. Instead of last year’s two pickup loads full of alcohol, he confiscated two kegs and a few six-packs.

“For the parents, it’s a good education for them to know what questions to ask,” said Brown. He said some parents might have thought it was simply a camp-out, not realizing the extent of the alcohol and drug abuse that have traditionally gone on at “The Cove” area at Lake Billy Chinook.

“This is a fine example of how law enforcement and the community can work together,” said TAPS board member Al Boyette.

Boyette said TAPS efforts also raised awareness for parents who had not questioned their kids about the huge party in a remote area where “alcohol flows.”

“Law enforcement did good, TAPS did good and the kids did good,” said Boyette.

Brown said one reason for TAPS’ success is that it is made up of members from the local community including parents and kids. He said a group with local roots gets people’s attention more than a national or government organization.

Brown pointed out even though there was a “substantial reduction” in attendance at the annual party, law enforcement will continue to manage the area on Memorial Day.

“We’ll be out there again next year,” said Brown.