Comments

caps wrote on May 5, 2009 9:33 PM:

" It's interesting how many posters are crying out for punishment. This happened at a school where education should be the foremost response. It's called a teachable opportunity and the educators there should make the most of it. Beating up and bullying the kids who did it is exactly what they did to the moose. Judging by most reactions, it seems the community taught them the behavior. Those supervisors/teachers supposedly protecting them should be officially admonished though. They're trained and adults. Consequences for their negligence are warranted. "




Pamela wrote on May 3, 2009 6:19 AM:

" Someone else said this situation was a poster child for cruelty. It was that and more. I for one did not appreciate the way the school spokespersons made insulting and unsatisfactory statements to the public such as insisting the animal committed suicide. Statements such as that make a mockery of the whole community. Perhaps we can look forward to school board election time, and a chance to make some needed changes. "




to stormin wrote on Apr 30, 2009 11:46 AM:

" Ummmm...yeahhhhh...sure...that's it...there's 'special treatment' from the Troopers and such for a particular middle school. Yup. It's a big conspiracy....(oh! and I like the part about the moose being 'murdered'! HA HA HAAAA!) "




storminn wrote on Apr 30, 2009 11:08 AM:

" So once again the Valley's favorite college prep school gets away with murder...ok a little extreme but the point being, if this occurred at Houston Middle, Palmer Middle, Su-Valley or any of the other schools would it be brushed away so easily..I do not condemn these children nor take the boys will be boys outlook but would rather question the adults and school district who is responsible for the safety of all who are on school property. Everyone should be asking who is watching our children at our schools and who is responsible for their safety. "




to bob wrote on Apr 26, 2009 1:20 PM:

" Interesting. So basically, you know better than the troopers and fish & wildlife and you weren't even there. Heck, I think you should do the public a service and let us know who you are so we can save taxpayer's millions of dollars on investigators, etc. From now on, the government can just 'call bob' and get all the answers. Wow. You're amazing. "




bob wrote on Apr 26, 2009 12:23 AM:

" Blame everyone you want but the facts indicate that two boys caused the young, starving moose to run repeatedly into the fence which caused it's death. The wildlife biologist and troopers call this 'winter kill'. I don't agree, but they have the badge and the final word. And, like it or not, public stoning and flogging hasn't been legal for 200 years, so give the this a rest and let the school discipline the boys "




ali 8th grade cms student wrote on Apr 25, 2009 8:54 PM:

" Unbelievable
Dorbbins
one lqst thing
Moose have right of way
These are just a couple of people on here who got the whole thing I have been trying to say, the two of my peers that did this need more than just suspended, juvenile hall would be a good place since it is illegal my schools principle is okay, but she should let US (the students) tell the story. I would gladly give anyone the actual incident. But u don’t need the names. Please Im begging you people stop saying thing that could hurt my peers. "




WHOOPS wrote on Apr 24, 2009 7:04 PM:

" HA HA!!!! All you blathering, stupid morons who couldn't wait to scream for vindication now look like the fools you are! The troopers just released the report and (what do ya know?)...turns out the real events were A LOT different than what the scandal-happy media were quick to report! Uh-oh....looks like the dumb were just exposed. But along with being dumb comes arrogance and stubborness....I doubt any of you will have the fortitude to admit you were wrong... "




dvm wrote on Apr 24, 2009 4:32 PM:

" Megan Peters is an uncompassionate idiot. The moose killed itself because of the childrens' actions. They are responsible for the animal's death. It's typically the case that Peters "whitewashes" cases of animal abuse. She should be fired. "




unbelieveable wrote on Apr 24, 2009 4:29 PM:

" To one lqst thing: Did you ever stop to think that the reason the troopers did not file a report is because this story has been blown way out of proprotion and there is nothing to report? You people are a bunch of drama queens. The act was minor harassment of a moose coupled with unusual circumstances resulting in the death of a moose. The kids are not monsters, and most of the students are honorable and responsible individuals. Because two kids stupidly harassed a moose does not make the entire student body junenile delinquents. "




inwasilla wrote on Apr 24, 2009 2:48 PM:

" Wow....didn't know there were so many high and mighty people living in the Valley. I sure do not see wings sprouting on your backs. "




Uncle Jed wrote on Apr 24, 2009 2:31 PM:

" Looks like we got ourselves some moose huggers out there. I Bet that calf is nice and tender. Maybee Mad Moose disease caused this suicide. "




drobbins wrote on Apr 24, 2009 1:48 PM:

" It has been shown that kids/people who tease or injure animals are one more step down the road to doing the same to children or other people. Kids need to learn right and wrong and teasing or brutalizing animals is just wrong.

Tolerate this and you will have much worse things to deal with later. I have to ask what the rate of bullying is there. In the past it was often ignored. I'll betcha there is a big problem under the surface. Ask the kids promising confidentially. "




VJH wrote on Apr 24, 2009 1:32 PM:

" Is the video on YouTube yet? "




one lqst thing wrote on Apr 24, 2009 1:17 PM:

" What is striking is that no-one with authority of any kind has uneqivocably condemned this. They have all made excuses. The state trooper did not even file a report.His spokesperson said"The moose killed itself"The principal has called the students "honorable students who do the right thing.."..huh????In my schooll district there is a code of conduct..you violate it and you are out for 3 months..zero tolerance. No one is going to hurt the students there..people are just venting. The principal has hurt them more by showing that you can be a bully and there are no serious consequences. "




Moose have right of way wrote on Apr 24, 2009 1:09 PM:

" Using School district mentality -
“The moose killed itself,” she said.
sadly it compares to a member of English royalty harassed and her resulting death. It wasn't the tormentors fault. Where was the supervision? "




mr. 1911 wrote on Apr 24, 2009 12:25 PM:

" Take the boys hunting, show by example the proper use of game animals & give them a chance to experience wildlife in it's habitat.
There is a place for moose and it's next to the mashed potatoes. "




biglake wrote on Apr 24, 2009 11:53 AM:

" Suspension is a joke. This matter has to do with wildlife. These kids should have their hunting and fishing privileges suspended until they can learn respect for the wildlife. "




Moose first wrote on Apr 24, 2009 11:38 AM:

" Moose do not commit suicide. Something was done to this moose in the alleged three minutes that these kids were alone with it to cause it to panic. Questions - how many students were watching this? How many faculty were looking out the window? If the students at Colony are "honorable, make wise decisions, and do the right thing", then why didn't they leave the moose alone? Makes me glad my kids don't go to this school. "




concerned parent wrote on Apr 24, 2009 11:35 AM:

" The Mat-Su school system needs a lot of improvement concerning its' disciplinary actions. What these children did is tragic and inhumane, but what does a suspension do for anybody? It is a mere vacation and a burden on society to give school suspensions to children who may not have parents at home during day to watch over them to make sure they are not causing any more harm. When is the school system going to wake up and find other alternatives to out-of-school suspensions? "




Prospector Pete wrote on Apr 24, 2009 11:08 AM:

" The grief counselors should be called. "




Fed-up in Palmer wrote on Apr 24, 2009 11:08 AM:

" Enough already!!!!
Would you people just stuff it!
This place is turnin' so green it's sickening.
GET A LIFE! "




You People are IDIOTS wrote on Apr 24, 2009 11:03 AM:

" This has been blown way out of proportion. Anyone who is threatening this school or its children needs to be locked away, no if's, and's or but's. Wanting to take a childs life becuase of a moose incident is completely idiotic. Wanting to expel a child for the rest of the school year is idiotic. Acting as if these 2 kids are evil & have been hurting or are going to hurt other kids is idiotic. They scared a moose by throwing small schoolground gravel at it, yes it was wrong-now let it go! "




Kat wrote on Apr 24, 2009 10:25 AM:

" SUSPEND? Sure...put them on fricken vacation! Where's the criminal charges for animal cruelty? Animals do not committ SUICIDE!! It is in their nature to act in a manner towards SURVIVAL when in trouble, not death! Too bad the moose was too young to know that it should fight back when cornered. I wished it had...but not to the extent of a loss of life. Just kick the kids a few times and hurt em a little bit! "




john wrote on Apr 24, 2009 9:34 AM:

" i just want to know whos freezer the moose is in "




Jay wrote on Apr 24, 2009 8:26 AM:

" To say that a moose calf killed itself. How ridiculous. Just goes to show what is being taught at Colony, and other schools to the students. Here in a nutshell is the major lesson: "do whatever you want, when you want, no matter the consequence, we will show you how to explain it, and you'll never have to learn how to take responsibility for your actions."
Now, its not just too many bear or wolves that are a danger to moose populations, it's the moose themselves that commit suicide, oh and kids that have no responsiblity for themselves "




Nostalgia wrote on Apr 24, 2009 7:39 AM:

" Everyone is freaking out over this and yet leaving metal traps in the woods that kill anything that comes along; moose, fox, squirrel, dog, cat, child is ok. Interesting. "




blake wrote on Apr 24, 2009 7:14 AM:

" Wow you people are blowing this way out of proportion yea sure the (2) kids that did should be punished but its there fault not anyone else's and you people who are going phyco about having an investigation STOP you guy are going nuts "




Is this for real wrote on Apr 24, 2009 7:05 AM:

" These boys don't care about a suspension! Of course to the staff they are just boys being boys, but many people who go on to do serious crimes against people as adults start out as fire starters and animal abusers as children. According to admin, they are just misguided often times - the aw shucks, they're just kids syndrome. Too bad. There is a time and a place for corporal punishment in our fragile "oh gosh no their precious psyche could be bruised" culture. An appropriate spanking could go a long way. I know, I'm unenlightened. "




Marty wrote on Apr 24, 2009 4:44 AM:

" I don't understand why the school needs additional staff for security of these kids and teachers. If they think taunting and terrorizing are so much fun what's wrong with them having some of the same pleasure as this poor animal. Maybe giving them the same feeling of being trapped, helpless and terrorized might help them understand a little better how THEIR actions hurt. "




Concerned Resident wrote on Apr 24, 2009 4:24 AM:

" Excuse me for caring about safeguarding the other children at the school, and the community. Apparently the school personnel cannot notice a moose in a yard, or get 13 year old boys to listen to them. Something seems so awry that a mere suspension, and a few words, will not likely remedy it. I also care about giving the boys the right level of consequence now so that they don't end up in prison in a few years for worse violent crimes against people, and statistics show this kind of thing does happen. "




Lack of supervision wrote on Apr 23, 2009 10:50 PM:

" Anyone else would of been cited for harassment. Something smells here at Colony "




Colony mom wrote on Apr 23, 2009 10:49 PM:

" And since it has been mentioned by quite a few, to show who these boys are, so we can see who they are and torment them and so on....and so on....and so on. I would like to see what a lot of the insane people who made vicious comments look like. I would like to know who you are so I can turn the other way when I see you, which is nicer than what you want to do the two boys. "




Concerned Fascist wrote on Apr 23, 2009 10:17 PM:

" Because I pay taxes, I demand to know every little detail about who these children are, where they live, what brand of toilet paper they use, etc. (Why?)

I'm now going to spout off continuosly about how these children need pyschiatric evaluation (I'm an expert in the field.)

I can tell from these news articles that everything about this school, these kids, the parents, etc is evil! Oh, and I want a full investigation of where the rocks came from! If they're from a quarry, then whoever owns that quarry is also evil!

...what a nut! "




Colony mom wrote on Apr 23, 2009 10:15 PM:

" I do think security is warranted after someone said they wanted to wipe out a few of them in the parking lot. I take it at face value. I want my kids safe. The actions of these two kids in no way defines who people in the valley are, or who the other school children are. I know one of the kids who did it and his family life is not good. To want to harm innocent 11,12,13,14, and 15 year olds for the actions of these two is horrible. "




mad dog syndrom wrote on Apr 23, 2009 9:41 PM:

" Where did these kids come from? Unless they just moved here from L.A. yesterday, they should know (and their parents should have taught them) a few facts about life & wildlife.
I can only wish there had been an angry mama moose in the background. A little bit of her snot blown around their heads and backs might possibly teach them a little respect for life in general, be it human or wildlife. I wouldn't want to see any kid injured, but a few hefty kicks might teach them a lesson!! Punish them to fullest extent!!! "




Hello wrote on Apr 23, 2009 9:32 PM:

" PETA, where are you? "




jp to wyoming wrote on Apr 23, 2009 8:30 PM:

" great post, i'm still laughing.

i've been trying to get a moose to commit suicide in front of the barrell of my rifle for a couple of seasons now, i guess i should quit hunting, and carry a back pack and they'll come to me! lol "




Jack wrote on Apr 23, 2009 8:09 PM:

" I would be proud of this- taunt a moose and make it in the paper!! National news too! They didn't make the best choice, but you guys are wayyy over reacting with what you are posting! "




to Concerned Citizen wrote on Apr 23, 2009 7:21 PM:

" The Frontiersman has a Spectrum space available for people with strong opinions about local news stories. Of course it may not be your cup of tea as it requires you to sign your name.

bert verrall "




TRB wrote on Apr 23, 2009 6:43 PM:

" This sounds to me like the Fish & Game Troopers ought to be involved.This was plain torture and pain for the young calf,these so called kids need to pay dearly for what they did and their parents should be held responsible also. "




Wyoming wrote on Apr 23, 2009 6:29 PM:

" What we now have moose commiting suicide? WOW call National Geographic there maybe more moose out there ready to just commit suicide. Tha moose killed itself....give me a break. The moose was scared by the stiudents who chased it into a wall...this does not sound like the moose killed itself. "




Concerned Citizen wrote on Apr 23, 2009 5:28 PM:

" The moose killed itself." Now that is really a vile thing to say. The moose was reportedly a young animal, it panicked after being abused, it was reportedly taunted, hazed, and had rocks thrown at it. If these conditions had not existed, it would not have died. This is obvious to any thinking human being. I find it insulting to be told something so wrong. I demand a complete investigation of the school, and the homelife of the boys. "




Concerned Citizen wrote on Apr 23, 2009 5:22 PM:

" Let us not forget these are legal minors, and still basically children. They may want to be honorable, and often succeed. But, to make a blanket statement that they have attained wisdom, and do the right thing is preposterous and overly hopeful. Even old people have difficulty attaining wisdom. The school must properly supervise and control these children. The school failed utterly in this regard. This is what matters - and pretty words do not wash that away! "




More like its... wrote on Apr 23, 2009 5:22 PM:

" the district took the perpetrators out for their own protection. "




TYPICAL wrote on Apr 23, 2009 5:17 PM:

" Just 18 more classdays to become Colony High School freshmen and start preparing for their college careers---they could care less. The district needs to get another spokesperson besides this Esary...not just this but the WHS bomb threat. Troxel needs to go. "




Concerned Citizen wrote on Apr 23, 2009 5:16 PM:

" Some comments regarding the offending students by some people writing to the Frontiersman were more along the lines of a poor choice of words. Security precautions are a good measure, but I doubt any adult would harm a child particularly after commenting on a traceable public forum. What those boys did to the moose was cowardly, criminal, and utterly shameful. However, the school has seriously erred, along with the children, by failing to supervise and control them, and failing release clear information. Something stinks at Colony MIddle School. Blaming the public for feeling outraged is a red herring. "




Concerned Citizen wrote on Apr 23, 2009 5:03 PM:

" The students who "taunted and hazed" and tormented and tortured the baby moose to the point it panicked and in trying to escape caused its own tragic death - committed a crime in Alaska according to Criminal Law 11.61.140 Cruelty to Animals. It "prohibits cruelty in the second degree which is knowingly inflicting severe and prolonged physical pain or suffering on an animal." Those who did this to the animal must have proper consequences. The public also deserves the facts and details. Our tax dollars paid for this, and we deserve to know all the facts the law allows. "




Concerned Citizen wrote on Apr 23, 2009 4:55 PM:

" I am offended to hear the students involved in the moose's uncalled for torment and death were merely suspended. They ought to be suspended for the safety and security of all the children at Colony Middle School, and they ought not be allowed to graduate. Further, they committed a crime, and need to have this on their permanent school records, and records with the law enforcement authorities. Their home life needs full investigation by social services, and they need psychiatric care, and they ought to do community service. "




LRC wrote on Apr 23, 2009 4:52 PM:

" Suspending the students really won't teach them anything. They are more than likely enjoying their time off. The kids should be taught a lesson by making them cut up the meat by using a hand saw no mechanical machines, wrap it and then go give it to those familiies in need for food. By the time they are done packing, cutting & wrapping the moose meat by hand. If they didn't learn a lesson at least they will be sore from all the work. "




Concerned Citizen wrote on Apr 23, 2009 4:51 PM:

" I am not convinced by the school's actions whatsoever. They don't need security to keep students safe from the public! This is misleading and insulting. They need security to keep the students safe from students such as those who were merely "suspended" for an undisclosed period. Rumor has it they were suspended for five days each. Nothing short of total expulsion from the school will bring safety to the other students. And, apparently the staff and faculty are unable to supervise the students, or control them properly so this is another reason for enhanced security. "