Ah, summer is almost here. It is time to release ourselves into the great outdoors.
The students, free from the confines of an educational environment, are undoubtedly enjoying that time off.
Unfotunately, some are taking far too much advantage of their free time. Just ask anyone at the Morton Police Department.
The last day of school for District 709 was May 26.
“We’ve been hoppin’ ever since,” said police department deputy chief Craig Hilliard.
“Riddle me this — How many days until the first day of school,” he asked while glancing at his calendar.
One look at the arrest log and some might assume students have lost interest in pools and videogames:
• May 28 — Two juveniles were arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol. Windows were shot out at a local business. Antennas were being torn off of cars. There were also two reports of criminal trespassing. Two juveniles were arrested for trespassing in one instance. Oh, don’t forget a report of bike theft.
May 29 — One juvenile is arrested for domestic battery, two were arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol and one more was arrested for illegal transportation of alcohol.
May 30 — It was a calm day in the juvenile realm. Only one report of criminal damage to property was recorded.
May 31 — Two reports made for criminal trespassing, one of them involving state property.
June 1 — One juvenile is arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol and possession of drug paraphernalia. Another is arrested for paraphernalia possession and possession of cannabis. There was one report of disorderly conduct and two more reports of criminal damage to property.
That was all that was available on the police log when I visited the department last week. According to Morton Police Chief Nick Graff, there are plenty more to come.
This is out of character for this time of the year in Morton. Typically, it is near the end of summer when children and teenagers become bored and do things they probably should avoid. Instead, local youngsters decided to unleash their irresponsible fury early this year.
Who or what can we blame for this?
Personally, I think it comes down to nutritional restrictions imposed on school districts to eliminate sugar and caffeine from lunchtime diets. When school ends, children and teens are snorting Pixy Stix and binge drinking energy drinks. By the time bedtime rolls around, these kids are flying high, bouncing off walls and trampling the playground at Jefferson School.
