Role of the newspaper
One of the roles of a newspaper is to be a mirror for the community. Last week, The Banks County News mirrored something that was unflattering to some people in the community.
The story and editorial last week about the events following the funeral of a local teen who died in a traffic incident set off a wave of discussion in Banks County. In the debate, some condemned the newspaper for reporting and commenting about the situation.
For those who have not followed the issue, the essential facts are these: A popular Banks teen, Tyler Bush, was killed when he stepped out of a jeep and tried to run along side of it while moving at 30-35 mph. It was the third tragic death of a teen in the community from traffic incidents in the last 18 months. A few hours after his funeral, several dozen friends gathered in a field at his home on Sims Bridge Road. Along the public road in front of the house, a vehicle — or several vehicles — were “laying drags,” apparently in “tribute” to the boy. A woman driving down the road saw a car she said was “fishtailing.” She stopped, confronted the crowd and called 911. She later filed a lengthy account of the incident with the sheriff’s department, which we published verbatim last week.
We also published an editorial that argued that slinging a car around on a public road — laying drags, illegal drag racing, doing donuts, spinning-out, whatever — was not the appropriate way to honor a teen who had just died in a tragic automotive incident. Furthermore, we said that the community’s cultural mentality that approved of such a response was very troubling.
I authorized the story being published and wrote the editorial. I knew that there would be some in the community who would not like it.
But it was the right thing to do and many of the comments posted on our website illustrated, perhaps unwittingly, the point we were attempting to make — that using a vehicle as an emotional response to a tragedy was evidence of a deeper cultural problem in the community.
We stand behind that view. Consider the following comments posted to our website:
--“… the people laying the drag were grown up not children... the children were in the pasture while the grown ups laid drags There was nothing wrong with what happen….around here people care and we show it and we express our feelings the country way not the city way…The gentlemen who were driving the cars were grown men and they were this childs friends they did what they felt like doing…”
--“These teenagers & adults were friends and family of Tyler and they were dealing with his death in a matter that is not always common but was related to Tyler as they all knew him. … The fast cars, large trucks and mud seemed to be his heart and soul. They sent him out the best way they thought he would like to go.”
--“MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! You are in the county now. And yes, we do thing a little differently out here! If you don't like it, I can give you directions to Atlanta.”
--“The sad thing is that we've become so overpopulated in North Georgia - that country people can't grieve the way we want - we have nosey city folks telling us that is the "right" way to grieve or celebrate a life.”
--“I believe that if Tyler could say something here he would tell us that the burn out was a perfect tribute to him. I am not saying it was the safest thing to do.”
Amazing. While these are a minority of comments posted, they reflect something very wrong in our culture. What is truly appalling isn’t the response of teenagers. Teens will often respond irrationally in emotional situations.
But it’s very troubling that so many adults see no problem with people doing dangerous activities in cars on public roads as an emotional outlet to a tragedy.
And that was the point of our editorial last week; too many adults in the community have modeled behavior that condones immature automotive hijinks as being “normal” and acceptable.
It isn’t. Those who think laying drags on a public road is an appropriate response to a teenager’s death are mistaken. And those who attempt to deflect criticism by suggesting it is normal, or just “the country way” are also wrong. I’ve lived all my life in the country and laying drags isn’t a normal way of expressing grief.
All automotive deaths are tragic, none more so than when a child is involved. Nobody, lest of all this newspaper, minimizes that, or the pain the family and friends feel.
But to stand by silent would be to accept it as “normal.” We won’t do that. It’s wrong. It’s immature. It’s dangerous. It sends the wrong message to the young people of Banks County. It should not have happened.
Adults in Banks County need to send a message to their youth that horseplay and cars are deadly.
Keeping other young people alive, not slinging cars around, would be the best way to remember Tyler Bush.
For those who have not followed the issue, the essential facts are these: A popular Banks teen, Tyler Bush, was killed when he stepped out of a jeep and tried to run along side of it while moving at 30-35 mph. It was the third tragic death of a teen in the community from traffic incidents in the last 18 months. A few hours after his funeral, several dozen friends gathered in a field at his home on Sims Bridge Road. Along the public road in front of the house, a vehicle — or several vehicles — were “laying drags,” apparently in “tribute” to the boy. A woman driving down the road saw a car she said was “fishtailing.” She stopped, confronted the crowd and called 911. She later filed a lengthy account of the incident with the sheriff’s department, which we published verbatim last week.
We also published an editorial that argued that slinging a car around on a public road — laying drags, illegal drag racing, doing donuts, spinning-out, whatever — was not the appropriate way to honor a teen who had just died in a tragic automotive incident. Furthermore, we said that the community’s cultural mentality that approved of such a response was very troubling.
I authorized the story being published and wrote the editorial. I knew that there would be some in the community who would not like it.
But it was the right thing to do and many of the comments posted on our website illustrated, perhaps unwittingly, the point we were attempting to make — that using a vehicle as an emotional response to a tragedy was evidence of a deeper cultural problem in the community.
We stand behind that view. Consider the following comments posted to our website:
--“… the people laying the drag were grown up not children... the children were in the pasture while the grown ups laid drags There was nothing wrong with what happen….around here people care and we show it and we express our feelings the country way not the city way…The gentlemen who were driving the cars were grown men and they were this childs friends they did what they felt like doing…”
--“These teenagers & adults were friends and family of Tyler and they were dealing with his death in a matter that is not always common but was related to Tyler as they all knew him. … The fast cars, large trucks and mud seemed to be his heart and soul. They sent him out the best way they thought he would like to go.”
--“MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! You are in the county now. And yes, we do thing a little differently out here! If you don't like it, I can give you directions to Atlanta.”
--“The sad thing is that we've become so overpopulated in North Georgia - that country people can't grieve the way we want - we have nosey city folks telling us that is the "right" way to grieve or celebrate a life.”
--“I believe that if Tyler could say something here he would tell us that the burn out was a perfect tribute to him. I am not saying it was the safest thing to do.”
Amazing. While these are a minority of comments posted, they reflect something very wrong in our culture. What is truly appalling isn’t the response of teenagers. Teens will often respond irrationally in emotional situations.
But it’s very troubling that so many adults see no problem with people doing dangerous activities in cars on public roads as an emotional outlet to a tragedy.
And that was the point of our editorial last week; too many adults in the community have modeled behavior that condones immature automotive hijinks as being “normal” and acceptable.
It isn’t. Those who think laying drags on a public road is an appropriate response to a teenager’s death are mistaken. And those who attempt to deflect criticism by suggesting it is normal, or just “the country way” are also wrong. I’ve lived all my life in the country and laying drags isn’t a normal way of expressing grief.
All automotive deaths are tragic, none more so than when a child is involved. Nobody, lest of all this newspaper, minimizes that, or the pain the family and friends feel.
But to stand by silent would be to accept it as “normal.” We won’t do that. It’s wrong. It’s immature. It’s dangerous. It sends the wrong message to the young people of Banks County. It should not have happened.
Adults in Banks County need to send a message to their youth that horseplay and cars are deadly.
Keeping other young people alive, not slinging cars around, would be the best way to remember Tyler Bush.
All people that are arrested even the one caught in an act or considered innocent until proven guilty or does that just apply to the people with most influence?
Please parents teach your child the value of life instead of being flat out STUPID.
comments on the original articles, it seems to me that
the main issue was the fact that the woman, whatever her
name was, got out of her car, confronted a grieving mother,
cursed, and made a general pest of herself, when she should
have simply called 911 and let the sheriff handle it from
there. I don't think the issue was that people were
"drag racing", the issue was the way she handled herself
and that was the reason people were so angry at her.
Until she's offered a job as a traffic controller,
perhaps it would be better if she allowed the sheriff's
office to do their jobs and for her to mind her own business.
She had no authority to get out of her car in the first place,
and she certainly had no authority to curse a grieving
mother. It was clear that she was just a busy body trying
to make a name for herself. I've seen so many like her and
each time I do, I wonder at their very nerve and self-
rightous attitude. Lady if you're reading this, can you
honestly say that you have one single friend in this
world. I feel sorry for you, but then I figure this is
how you fill your time - minding other people's business.
What a way to live!!!
Who are any of you to judge, isnt that GODS place not man???
Who are you to tell anyone how to act?
How to feel?
I watched Tyler grow up, He was a wonderful gentleman, he had a loving spirit, if he didnt we wouldnt be upset the way we are,
Ever one makes it sound like Tyler went out on that Sunday to get into a ACCIDENT (the deffinincition of that is something that you dont plan on happening) and breaking his momma's heart that is the last thing he would have ever done.
He was a teenage boy out with friend having a good time....This isnt anything any of us have never done before,he was having one last day of summer fun and died that is it thats the story we have no more Tyler.
So I never get to go to my moms and her tell me something Tyler has done, like winning a cattle show with his grandfather (Gene Hart), Or about where Tyler and Rita went on vacation, or where she seen him that week... I will never get to see him down at Bankscrossing going thru a drive thru with his buddys, or seeing him in his muddy truck and thinking I remember the days when I was foot loose and fancy free... do you remember.....
This is what Im gonna miss.
And all of you that want to keep telling us what we did wrong, My Mama always said
"You need to sweep under your on back steps before you come sweeping under mine"
I have a education a collage one at that i have traveled the world thanks to my father... and can you figure out when reading my comments that my point is leave the teenagers alone that were there that day they didnt do anything wrong it was a grown up......
you judge me as ignorant.....then read this you who judge another do not define that person but you define yourself
I guess your just as ignorant as I
I have two teenage boys that I could not imagine losing to a "fun day" gone wrong. While there are so many uncontrollable reasons you can lose a child, there are things we can control. Educating our young drivers and arming them with practices to remain safe should not be a "country" or "city" way of life.
Although I did not know any of the three who have died in the last 18 months, my heart dropped each time I heard; I cannot imagine the pain those families must be going through, and driving across Ashley's road memorial still brings tears to my eyes. What would be harder to take is another life hurt or lost senselessly in an activity meant to honor Tyler on a public road. Could the family and friends not organize an event in his name at a local mudbog or the Atlanta Dragway? To host an event in his name for an activity he so loved in a safer place would also be an outlet to grieve...but safely, to help prevent another mother from losing her child.
Maybe the concerned citizen did not conduct herself in the most appropriate manner...but when people believe they are suddenly in an unsafe situation, they do not always act calmly. However, had she behaved in that manner and stopped another type of reckless or potentially dangerous situation that everyone deems as dangerous, she would be hailed a hero today. I personally think she did the right thing by stopping the unsafe practices, but cannot speak to how she did it...sometimes adrenalin kicks in and you do what has to be done right then.
The division on whether the lady should have stuck her nose in or not, whether the family and friends should have gathered to engage in this particular tribute or not, or whether the paper should have printed the story or not are all overshadowing the fact that Banks County has lost three beautiful lives in the last 18 months while teens were engaging in unsafe driving practices. The school cannot be held solely responsible for teaching and exemplifying good driving practices for our teens. Parents and other adults are also responsible to model safe driving. I hope the community can put aside the country/city differences and come together on preventing future losses.
We've grown up with a drag strip in our backyard; a drag strip at which at least one of our family members, friends, if not our own selves have raced. Cars and trucks are a part of who we are in Banks County, everyone knows a little something about them.
When a soldier dies in battle, we honor him/her by shooting guns...does that also reveal a deep-rooted, troubling mentality of the armed forces? No. And to suggest such a thing is ridiculous.
I go to school in Gainesville, and the way things are done there are very different. When my friend Evan King died, also at 17, we honored him by painting the rock and numerous other things. There, that is a time honored tradition.
In banks county, we do not have as many creative outlets to honor and remember someone by. Our traditions are our small town, country ways. To criticize the way we, as his friends and family, see fit to honor Tyler is rude and distasteful.
Did you know him?
Do you even know banks county?
Maybe we value different things.
Maybe you see us as ignorant.
Maybe you just think we do not know any better because we are "small town".
Well let me educate you: I attend Gainesville High School, have a 3.8 GPA, and plan on attending either Sarah Lawrence or Agnes Scott. Ignorance is not something I succumb to. I am proud to be a part of this "small town" community, I am proud of who we are and what we stand for.
We lost someone we loved, can't you just let us be?
Mike Buffington
Publisher
audacity to tell someone else that they've "insulted the
community"! I believe that I speak for many others when
I say that you not only insulted this community but
EMBARRASSED us all when you allowed Ms. Schmid's view to be
printed on the front page of the local paper. The sad
thing is, had you and your team of "reporters" appropriately reseached Ms. Schmid's story, this article, nor the 2 last
week would've been necessary. Unfortunately, you failed to
do that! Here's a thought, next week
find another topic to inaccurately report
because some of us are trying to grieve the loss of Tyler.
I almost feel as if this newspaper isn't worthy of a response.
Were there events which occurred that day which were illegal, dangerous, and wrong? Did some people act immature? From all accounts I have heard yes, there were and at least one act was performed that broke the law. Even these comments which you have chose to quote admit that. With this said, the question which is raised concerns the role of a newspaper. As a news outlet, is it your role to put a spin on a story and report it one way, or is it your job to report both sides of a story and let the readers interpret what happened and form their own opinions?
I believe much of the outrage related to this stories printing is simply due to bad reporting. Most of the comments to last weeks story weren't anger at the event being reported on, instead they were anger that only one side of the story was reported. You should seriously have considered how one sided a letter to the editor would be before making it your front page story.
Sure, you have the right, nay the obligation, to write editorials which have been spun to highlight social issues but the reporting of events on the front page of a paper should be reserved for recording all the facts of a story. Much of the controversy and negative feelings toward the Banks County News which have spawned as a result of this story would have been avoided had the opinion of anyone in that field received near the amount of attention given to Ms. Schmid's police report. Instead, outrage has been fueled by irresponsibly reporting the events as recounted by one woman, who obviously has disagreements with other people who also witnessed the unfolding of the event.
The root of the outrage isn't that an unflattering event was reported. Instead, the anger from most Banks Countians is that the newspaper immaturely jumped on a story which would knowingly cause controversy with out receiving each side. Next time save everyone a little anguish and try to do what the media should do-report a story and not an opinion.
Respectfully,
Mark
The police report is not considered to be fact. It is indeed a legal document but nothing attests to the accuracy of such document. The police report records the account of a witness, who may or may not have known the happenings of the entire event and who may not have even reported them accurately had she been there to watch it all unfold.
Everyone views the world a little differently and therefore views what happens in the world differently. Within the bounds of the law, we are all entitled to this right. However, as Banks County's primary source for news the paper should report on varying viewpoints and not just one.
People were not riled up because the story received front page coverage. People are riled up because Ms. Schmidd's story received front page coverage and not both sides of the controversial issue.
You have earlier ceded that you were aware the article would cause a disturbance amongst Banks County citizens. You knew it would be controversial, yet still decided to immaturely resort to one sided reporting because it would generate interest.
I personally have no interest in the particular matter at hand. I didn't know the Bush family, Tyler, or any of the other teens which Banks County has recently lost. Because of this some people may tell me to get my nose out of their business and let them handle you. However, as I see this particular issue of the Banks County News' reporting, it is an issue which affects every citizen of Banks County. Everyone, including Ms. Schmidd and the Bush family, deserve fair and accurate reporting. This article is clear evidence we aren't receiving it.
I think many of the posts which were made last week by the supporters of the Bush family were attempting to make this point. However, they were unable to separate their emotions associated with the lost of a loved one and the insulting reporting enough to accurately communicate their message. Instead, you allowed them to play into your ploy and to angrily post flame after flame on the blog response until you had enough ammunition to attempt and finish them off this week then you closed comments.
But to stand by silent would be to accept it as “normal.” I won’t do that. It’s wrong. It’s immature. It’s dangerous. It sends the wrong message to the citizens of Banks County. It should not have happened.
Possibly the story was reported accurately but we will never know because we only got one side of it.
And by the way, I am not shooting the messenger for delivering a bad message. The intentions of your message are great and commendable. I think your strong stance despite public backlash demonstrates a large degree of character. As I said before, I simply feel that you were aware the article would be controversial yet still failed to give both sides equal treatment.
Of course I wouldn't expect you to interview one of the teens in the field, but maybe you could interview one of the adults that were there? Ms. Schmidd's police report stated that some of the people in the pasture indicated they were over the age of twenty-one. As the posts made in this blog and the blogs of the other two articles have shown, I am certain that you would have uncovered information that you didn't know at press time had you interviewed one of the adults present.
If you consulted the police department on the events which happened it is certainly not evident in the article. All that is displayed there is the police report, not any testimony of the officer which responded to the scene.
I'll grant you and the many concerned parents who have responded to these articles this: If the facts you reported are indeed accurate of the events happening, then there is an issue which needs to be addressed. However, I just don't think the readers of the BCN received the full details of that day. I feel like the events may have occurred differently than was portrayed in the article published.
I'll even give you that the issue of unsafe driving and how our culture promotes that to our teens needs to be addressed. Just once again, I don't think the facts of this particular day highlight that concern the way it is made to appear by this series of articles.
We are continuing to look into what is happening in Banks County regarding teens and automobiles and if there may be other related problems. I've received a lot of calls from people who paint a very distrubing picture about that issue in the county. I do appreciate your concerns and feedback. We do sometimes make mistakes; but on balance, I think the article was accurate.
Who exactly performed the illegal stunts? How many times? What were the possible responses of the adults there? How did the adults respond? Consider the answers to these questions and maybe that day wasn't as bad as portrayed, maybe the adults present could do nothing to stop the man who apparently drove off. But the newspaper doesn't report that as the case because they didn't ask the adults there or for that matter, anyone who witnessed it all.
My question is this: Were there any drag racing, drags laid, burnouts, whatevers after Ms. Schmidd appeared on the scene? All she reports seeing is the black marks shown in the picture, smoke, and almost being hit by a car coming around a curve. With those facts, how could Ms. Schmidd have been in a position to report that teens were drag racing? How can she refute the idea of one car being driven by one man as I earlier stated that some posts have indicated happened? She didn't see the event in its entirety but her word is taken as truth to what happened. That, to me, is not just seems wrong.
You make a good point that her version of the events was the one published. That's because she filed the only police report. Shouldn't law enforcement been the ones asking the questions you raise here? If they had, we would have been glad to quote from those as well. We did quote the sheriff who said the cars from the road had left when deputies got there. My reporters were not at the scene at the time this happened, so like virtually all such incidents, we depend on law enforcement records as the primary source of information.
Regardless of the exact details, it's very apparent that a car, or several cars, were being or had been slung around on a public road in someone's warped idea of a tribute to a young man who himself had just died from a tragic automotive incident. I don't believe I'm the only person who finds that very, very strange and symptomatic of a much deeper community problem.
Mike did you know that Tyler only missed 2 days of church in his life...
did you know that him and his grand-father showed championship cattle.....
did you know that his cousins who were younger then him looked up to him.....
did you know that he made may mother smile everytime she seen him........
Did you even bother to ask someone who Tyler was or what he was all about.......
And why was the woman that got out cussing Rita and everyone else there allowed the front page..........
where is Tylers front page......
And where do you get off writing that Rita had bad judgedment...
me personally if I had just burried my child i dont think judgement would be the first thing on my mind.....and if some women got out of her car and started cussing me I can just about tell you she would have got her a** beat that is about all the judgement you would get from me if this had been me
But I will tell you this much Im very pissed at you and at Jennifer Schmid you have both put a Drag Mark on the day we were celebrating Tylers Life....
I didnt cry when I found out Tyler was in a accident, I didnt cry till I seen him laying there , but when I did Gene Hart looked me straight in the eyes and told me no more crying we are gonna celebrate Tylers 17 years and Ive not cried since.....
Did you know Tyler Liked Ketchup Sandwiches???
Why dont you find out about the person who we were celebrating and write about him??????
I think you miss the bigger picture here. No, I didn't know all those things about Tyler and I doubt either Mr. Buffington or Ms. Schmidd did either. I understand that many people, including you, view this series of articles as insensitive to the families and that has upset those people. However, my argument with Mr. Buffington is about more than just these articles, it revolves around a great journalistic moral than sensitivity. My argument is accuracy. If journalists were completely sensitive to every touchy situation and every family they would never be able to report anything because every story and situation is sure to offend someone. The problem with Mr. Buffington's decision to publish this story isn't that it was offensive, it is that it was offensive because of it was one sided.
Your addition of describing Tyler and explaining his history, likes, styles, and other aspects only makes Mr. Buffington's attempted point more vivid. You rightfully humanize Tyler which clearly makes the alleged events of that day even more ridiculous.
In my opinion your passion is noble but you should consider separating your emotions from your words prior to posting- they are appearing quite immature and unintelligent. Argue your points but argue with integrity and tact. That is just hard to do when emotions are involved.
If there are 100 different versions of the story how did you decide which one to report? Maybe next time consider publishing more photos which support your story? After all, pictures are worth a thousand words. Why did I have to poke and prod around the discussion forum to get to reveal some of these supporting details? A much more convincing and less controversial article could have been printed had the details been accurate and reported.
The questions you made mention of are by no means outside the scope of the story. You wouldn't have had to wonder what those people were lined up to see had you asked one of them.
And give me a break about her being the only one filing a police report so she is the only one whose story got published. That is ludicrous. By that token there should never be a story published in any Main Street News paper on an event before a police report is filed. Ridiculous.
Yes, the sheriff's deputies should have been the one asking those questions, but since they didn't maybe your reporters could have conducted some investigative reporting(seeing as to that is something your known for) and discovered the answers themselves. Asking questions shouldn't be considered foreign to reporters.
I understand that your reporters can't be at the scene of every story as it unfolds. For me to expect that is ridiculous, so I know they can't attest to the validity of other cars being lined up waiting there turn. I just wonder how the sheriff would know that those cars had even been there to leave if they weren't there when his deputies arrived.
In regards to your last little paragraph, it is just wrong to report a story "regardless of the details." I agree that there is a teen driving problem in Banks County. I am in a position in the county where I interact with teens on a regular basis, many of these teens were good friends with Tyler and Cody. Ashley was only a few years behind me in school and I can recall seeing her around school and watching her play basketball. Their deaths have been rather senseless and something needs to happen which will stop another death. Your story, however, isn't going to have that kind of power.
There is a community problem, but this story isn't necessarily symptomatic of its origin. The details here do make all the difference. You are potentially using the actions of one man to define the culture of a community. Without better, more hardcore evidence that the event was larger than the actions of one 40 year old man who the other adults had no means of controlling, your story lacks the necessary reporting to convince critical minds that this type of event is the cause of three precious lives being cut short. But please keep on trying to solve this problem; just use better journalism by giving equal attention the individual sides of each story and then stepping back to let people figure out what it really means. Of course you should keep writing your editorials and people should realize that editorials are simply the opinions of a person and how they view current events not necessarily the facts of a story. If people don't get that is it their own fault. But if people only get editorials out of what is suppose to be news reporting, that is the newspapers fault. My intentions here haven't been to personally attack you, Ms. Schmidd, your reporters, the BCSO, and definitely not to attack the Bush and Hart families. Instead, I have hoped to display that maybe all the facts weren't presented and we probably shouldn't quite looking for the cause of Banks County's reckless teen driving. Mike, report and report accurately so we can get to the real bottom of the issues.
You and your news paper have made Tylers mom sound bad and she isnt she is a wonderful person who has helped many children, she has help them deal with school, home life, and even when there boyfriend and girlfriend have broke there hearts.....She should be praised for what she has done in our school system for our children not condemed for grieving her child.....
One question "What or how would you act if you just buried your child and some nosey women came up to you and started to cuss at you what would you do?
What would you do if you had a pasture full of children dealing with the death of there friend your child????
These children were safe and a good 20 foot away from the fence in there pickup trucks not paying real attention to what was going on in the road, and Rita was strong for them no morning like she could have not hiding somewhere taking care of herself but taking care of Tylers friends and helping them through a hard time not thinking about herself she was thinking of others she always thinks of others
You should of been at the funeral home if you want to really know how great of a person she is she was so strong and so sad at the same time but that side of the story will never be told because no one will as Rita how she feels
Just put yourself in her place and ask yourself would you want this to happen to you would you want the death of your child and the way his life was celebrated plastered all over the front page.....
why dont you give Tyler a tribute and tell everyone how wonderful he was instead of telling everyone how bad our teenagers are...
when it wasnt teenagers acting dumb
this would stop all the bs if you would give Tyler and Rita a front page like you did ms schmid
car she called to report. it was a 40 year old man. If you
would ask any of the people there they can give you a name
i could but i don't want it in the paper.
But I think comparing our tradition of painting the rock to the people who broke the law by drag racing on a public street is way off base.
The parents of the teenagers in the pasture told them, by their actions, that it was okay to drag race on public streets. I do not believe that is the proper way to handle the situation. However, it is not my place to tell anyone how to raise their children. It is my place, however, to be concerned that people are drag racing on public roads.
If you have taken on the role of social reformer, maybe you should look at counties across America. I promise you every single one will have things unique to them that outsiders will deem "strange".
Meaning, you obviously did not grow up around here. (Banks County, not Jefferson)
This is a subject you should never have touched, and it makes clear what kind of person you are. Big fish in a small pond...
Believe what you may and so will I.
Consider me a lost cause Mike.
You may have the last word if you like, as I have been told that is your forte...
I admire your passion and do not consider you a "lost cause." I hope you go to college and get a degree in journalism and come back home to work for this newspaper. After you go out to cover a few auto wrecks and see EMTs pull the sheet over dead teenagers, then we will continue this discussion.
Once again you have missed the mark on this article. There was one person that done one stupid thing. You and the Schmid lady turned that into honoring Tyler. That was not honoring Tyler, which one grown man was doing something stupid. However, the people who were gathered in the pasture, on private property, were honoring Tyler. They were passing out t-shirts and stickers. That is how they were honoring Tyler.
Also, where was your retraction on the picture of the car you plastered on the front page to make it look like that was the car "laying the drags". That car had nothing to do with the events of the day.
I completely agree with Mark, this is one side of a two sided story. Unfortunately, you will never give the Bush/Hart family the opportunity to tell their side of the story.
This is a grieving family that is trying to pick up the pieces of their hearts and each week since Tyler's death you and your so called reporting continue to grind those pieces of their hearts into the ground.
In my opinion, which I'm certain does not matter to you; you and the Schmid women are a disgrace to not only this community but to the human race as well. The lack of compassion the two of you have shown the Bush/Hart family is disgusting. Neither they nor Tyler deserved the garbage you have printed in this paper over the past two weeks.
When you JUDGE another
You dont define them
You define yourself
So I guess you are just as dumb and stupid as the rest of us huh?
I appreciate the fact that this lady was brave enough to face the people and state her believes as to what she felt they were doing wrong. I wasn't there and don't know what manner she used in portraying the tribute but I am a mother of a child at BCMS and am extememly concerned that Rita Bush is a "counselor" there when based on this story, she definitely is having a very hard time emotionally. I am deeply saddened at the loss of Tyler and Cody. I extend my sympathy to both families. I hope that it is a very long time before our county faces another loss like this and I hope our adults and teenagers learn from mistakes made.
Jennifer Schmid, hows that 15 minutes of fame going. (sorry but I'm human and just could not resist).
Ms. Schmid did what she thought was right - she may not have handled the situation correctly..so yes that is her fault but does the rest of us handle unnerving situations the right way?? Absolutely not.
I have a student who is at BCMS and I do not have the right to decide if Rita is capable of handling her job-that is for the administration to monitor. I have BCHS student also who is there everyday dealing with the loss of these students.
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone. I believe too many stones have been cast in this situation. What everyone needs to do is get off your high-horses and just hush. Parents take responsibility for your actions, Ms. Schmid, county officials and officers do the same. May these children rest in peace, may God bless these families and friends who are hurting at the loss of THEIR loved one.
Our children are reading all these comments and seeing how adults act...what are we teaching them???
The Lord shall judge his people. He alone has that right not any of us.
So that we can get the other side of the story printed in the newspaper, just let me know where to go and who I need to talk too.... since you obviously refuse to get the truth behind all of this.....
Or is it all this publicty you and Ms.Schmids are enjoying...
Is this the reason you refuse to do your job and get the truth behind the whole story not just Ms. Schmids and yours
Ill be waiting for your reply......
Probably not there is no telling what you have to do to get that
Quit laying the blame for what a grown person was doing on our teenagers we have some of the best teenagers in our county they were taught respect so why dont you respect them and know that they were celebrating a friends life they were in a pasture not in the road laying drags...thats my point
Since you enjoy repeating yourself, I will say this and maybe you can get it through YOUR thick head: I am not blaming the teenagers for something that an adult did. I am not trying to say that a teen was behind the wheel.
What I am saying is that the ADULT who was cutting doughnuts was doing something illegal...I don't care if the ADULT was doing it to honor Tyler's memory or not. That point is moot to me.
I do care that the ADULT was doing something illegal in front of impressionable teens whos' friend just died in a car accident. If anything, I believe that the ADULT cutting the doughnuts did something offensive to Tyler's memory and it should have been offensive to the teens in the field. They just buried a friend and here is someone cutting doughnuts in the middle of the road which could have hurt someone else.
However, I did not know Tyler, I do not know the teens. That is just my opinion, which I have a right to express.
So Mr. Buffington I challenge you to use your journalistic skills and to interview some of the individuals that were at the tribute and report your findings in the paper. For what you reported and what I have uncovered are completely different stories.
His journalistic ability has no room for debate. He and the MainStreeNews family of papers seems to be well respected in the journalistic community. He personally received an award just recently for his investigative reporting which exposed former DA Tim Madison's crooked ways.
He is good at what he does for the most part, he just sometimes drops the ball but lets not succumb to what he wants to portray Banks County to be. Let's be respectful, mature, and hopefully constructive.
I am saying this because I know Mike never would and because this reporting lacks the merit Mike is capable of, I do believe he is a good guy with good intentions.
Question TWO? How do they know the person was forty years old laying drags if they were just in the pasture.
The whole point here is THERE WERE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES THAT DAY... No Tyler's family didn't deserve what this has created but maybe what is happening with this article just might save One teen's life if some people will just realize the whole issue and quit taking it as a personal attack on the Hart and Bush family.
All of you need to leave this Family alone.
Its a Damn shame were cant start to heal the broken heart we have because the BCN and others cant just shut the hell up about it....
And yes I cussed so what be glad im not face to face with either mike buffington or Jennifer Schmid cause it wouldnt be nice.....
Like I said many times before LEAVE RITA AND THE FAMILY ALONE LET THEM HEAL.....
And to all you people who want to judge.... remember the BCN could do this to you so dont be so quick to back them up you never know.....
YOU WHO JUDGE ANOTHER
YOU DONT DEFINE THAT PERSON
YOU DEFINE YOURSELF
All you have managed to accomplish is to show everyone the massive chip you're carrying on your shoulder.
There isn't a person who has posted to this blog who doesn't feel for Tyler's family and friends, made even more so because of the senseless, tragic nature of his death. In fact, that is a central point of the debate - too many teens everywhere die needlessly in automobile crashes. Adrenaline, hormones and inexperience are a dangerous combination, especially when coupled with teens' belief that they are ten feet tall and bulletproof. Add gasoline to the above formula and the mix becomes especially deadly (I won't even mention adding alcohol.)
Our young people are our most valuable resource, and we all have a responsibility to protect and preserve that resource for the future. If feelings get hurt or feathers get ruffled in the process, so be it. One kid dying is too many.
May God grant his peace to Tyler's family and friends.
indicted for selling firearms and lying on paper work
where he purchased more firearms that was sold to a
convicted felon. 9 counts, I do believe. The first
sentence of this article is "One of the roles of this
newspaper is to be a mirror for the community."
Well, Mike what happened with this story? Oh yeah, it
was on page 8 tucked away in a little article. I believe
that was your answer to that question in a previous statement.
I think the people in the community of either county
would rather hear about a convicted felon running around
with firearms, than one man laying drags on a public road
and you bashing a family on the front page of your
newspaper!!!
I guess it all depends on who you are, who you know or in
this case who works for you!!!
My prayers go out to the Bush/Hart family.
RIP Tyler.
THE TEENAGERS WERE NOT ON THE ROAD AND THEY WERE NOT LAYING DRAGS THEY WERE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF A DEAR FRIEND SO QUIT LAYING WHAT WAS DONE ON THE ROAD ON THE TEENAGERS IT WAS A PERSON OVER THE AGE OF 21 LAYING DRAGS NOT OUR TEENAGERS
YOU GOT THAT NOT OUR TEENAGERS!!!!!!!!!!!
The best thing to do is let the story die. Tyler was a great kid, as Rita is a great mother.
reason being, he has family that works for Mainstreet
News!! If it had been anybody else it would have made the
front page and there would have been comments made.
I have lived in Jackson County my entire life and these
articles about Tyler are not the first one sided articles
that has been printed, let alone on the front page. This
newspaper doesn't always report fairly. If people in these
counties are using this paper for accurate information....maybe
they shouldn't be.
concerned about teen drivers!! I think the issue was that
this tribute to Tyler was blown way out of proportion
because one grown up left laying drags. Again, this was
not the reason friends and family were gathered in the pasture.
They were giving out tshirts and stickers in honor of Tyler.
The newspaper and Jennifer Schmid made it sound like they
were holding a drag race on Sims Road that day in honor of
Tyler and that's obviously not what the gathering was for.
Rita or any other person there that day had any control
over what another grown up done while leaving the
driveway. If you, Mike and Jennifer Schmid is so concerned
with the teen drivers. I think you all could have found
a better way to approach the situation you say that
Banks County has with teens and their reckless driving.
If you knew that teens were drag racing and
running 100mph in Banks County, why haven't you come
forward before now asking that somebody address the
situation???? This was diffently not the way to handle it!!!
I don't care who was doing what!!! The Bush/Hart families
and friends has lost a loved one and the articles printed
by Mike Buffington was very disrespectful and just down
right cold hearted!!!
Like I said before the articles are very disrespectufll and cold hearted!!!
And for your information, I don't know
what is going on in Banks County, because I live in Jackson County!! What I do know is those articles are one sided and protrayed the Bush/Hart families and friends to be doing something illegal when it was one person doing the illegal act!!! You can't blame other people for the acts of grown men!!!!!!!!!
That was my question to you, what are you doing? Your the bc mom!!! If you all know those things are going on then there is another way to approach the situation than the way it was approached!!!
If you went to church you know that our names are in Gods book and when it time its time and there is no way to stop that
But I will ask this where is Tylers Front Page?
There is diffently a problem!! Like I said before, the
reason people are so upset about the articles that have
been printed over the past 3 weeks is, The articles were
directed toward one family and one week after the death of
their child/grandchild/friend and one sided.
The articles were Cold Hearted and Disrespectful to these
families!!! Can you not READ?? This should have been
handled in a differet MANNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I have lost a loved one from an auto accident. If
you must know!!!!!!! And as far as needing you to do anything
in our county, no thanks!!! I would hate for you and all
those other people that have been so critical of the
Bush/Hart families to help this county do anything!!!!!
And if the main issue is teens driving and their deadly
behavior it shouldn't have been directed toward one family!
The articles title shouldn't have been "Drag racing tribute
did not honor Bush!" It should have been addressed, but
not the way it was!!!!
Again, not bashing one family (no matter who the family was)
one week after their loss on the front page of this
newspaper or any newspaper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You and
alot of the other readers are misunderstanding why some
people are so upset. It has nothing to do with them
not being concerned about teen drivers. Everybody is
concerned with teen drivers in ALL COUNTIES!!!!!!
singled out on the front page of this newspaper because
their teen was in a tragic accident? NO, you did not!!!
That is the point people are trying to make about these
articles! That is the reason they are so upset!!!!
If I were you I wouldn't be so quick to stand up for this
kind of reporting. It could be your family next!!!!!
You can't blame what happened on the teens that died. They made their decision and they paid a consequence. If you had been at Tyler's funeral you would have heard the preacher say that. No one is denying that Tyler made a stupid decision and paid for it with his life, but please undersatnd that as a parent you are the first line of defense. Make your child aware of the responsibility that comes along with being given a car. You can't blame waht happened on the school or the county. As a parent Rita is excellent, and her thoughts, and responsibility were put into question by this article. Rita was not allowing teens to "drag race". From the get go the paper and MS Schmid have made it seem that way. This is why people are so angry. Then the paper made ti even worse by allowing comments. Yes there are some people in Banks that enjoy laying drags, drag racing, cutting doughnuts, burn outs, and peeling rubber, and I don't think all the preaching the world will not cahnge that. I undersatnd these are the drivers we are all scared of, but it is going to happen. All you can do is instill in your children to be alert on the road and treat others drivers as they would treat thier selves. Meaning look both ways, don't speed, don;t follow to closely, don't run red lights, if you see some one driving erratically call 911 and stay as far awway form them as possible. These are the pearls of wisdom to pass on to our children. I understand that people who do these kind of things are scary and doing something illegal, but it also something that this country has built itself on. Fromt he day the frist car was built pople have found ways to make it better. Make it faster, make it bigger or smaller, make perfrom better. This is a country of car lovers, and people are going to push their vehicles, as most see it as a extension or thierselves. You can't change the whole country, the state, the county, but you can start by telling your own children. Tell them to be careful everythime they walk ou the door. Tell their dates, their friends if they are riding with them. No one was upset about the problem that is in Banks County. It was the way it was handleled. No one in the pasture was asked that day about what they saw. That makes it one sided. People have gotten way off track with this. Let the family and freinds get over this. If you have a problem with how another teen drives take it up with hteir parents, if that does'nt work, tell your kid not to ride with them.
this was handled the wrong way. It should have never
singled one family out. I don't think that anybody is
disagreeing that there is a problem with teen drivers not
just in Banks and Jackson counties, but every county.
I don't live in Banks County, but have lost a loved one
in an auto accident where the person driving was drunk and
under age. But, I didn't see Mike addressing the issue
where 2 men were indicted with hauling and selling moonshine
in Jackson County and the one man buying and selling firearms
to a convicted felon. He didn't single out these families
on the front page and Jackson County has always had a
problem with illegal liquor that our kids could get a hold
to. This story diffently should have been printed on the
front page, they were indicted! They were caught in the
act!! There's alot of issues these counties need to address as
far as our teens go. But we don't have to single out one
family in the time of their grieving and plaster them on
the front page making them look like they was involved
and condoning an illegal act when it was one grown man
doing the illegal act. If you think this was the way to
handle the situation, then maybe you are just as cold
hearted as Mike Buffington and Jennifer Schmid and to me
that is not helping matters any. All these articles did
was cause more pain, anger and alot controversy between
people in these counties. That is diffently not the
message we won't to send out to our teens!!!
differently. These families need the support of their
community and the other counties. They don't need people
juding them on what they done wrong. Everybody is guilty
of doing things they shouldn't!! And we shouldn't take
this opportunity to put down people in other counties because
they have an opinion on these articles. I think we all
agree that we are concerned about teens and their driving.
you know forgot only your opinion counts
No one is saying that the teens were in the car. They are saying they are worried about teens seeing adults drive irresposibly and the possibility that the teens will think that its okay for them to drive like that also.
And lets face it, most teens do drive irresposibly...not all, but most. That doesn't mean that they are bad kids, but something should be done to try and stop the ones that are driving dangerously so that they don't get hurt.
You need to go back and read Jennifer Schmids police
report. I do belive that her police report made it out
to be the teens driving the car along with Mike Buffingtons
articles. The point I think Donna is trying to get you
all to understand is that the teens were not driving reckless
that day. It seems that she is having to repeat herself
because some people (maybe not you) keep insinuating that
the teens that were on sims rd that day were drag
racing, doing spin outs, laying drags whatever you want
to call it. And maybe you haven't said it was teens but
others have questioned it and that's the picture
Mike Buffington and Jennifer Schmid painted for the public
She's just taking up for the innocent!!!
Donna obviously is close to the Bush/Hart families and
is trying to grieve with them so how about giving her a
break!!!!
I agree with you that Jennifer's report seemed nosy and all together too long. From what I've heard, I don't think she handled the situation in the best way and from what I read in her report, I think she is mighty nosey and a lot of those questions were none of her business. As I have said many times...the only thing that I have a problem with is that there was someone LAYING DRAG in the middle of the road in front of teens.
There...do you have anything else to say?
"I think the point you are missing that while teens and children are immpressionable what they saw that day was more demure than what is on TV, movies, and games. Yes it is illegal, but so is drinking underage, smoking underage, DUI, DWI, speeding, drugs, reckless driving, and a number of other offenses that are shown everyday on TV, movies and games."
---I agree that it was nothing compared to what is on TV, etc. There is contraversy about those things also. However, most teens are able to differintiate between the stunts that are seen on TV and real life. When they seeing someone doing something like that in real life whether it be in a car, doing drugs, or whatever, it may become something entirely different. The line between the stunts on TV and real life get blurred.
"I understand your concern that this was on a public road and in fornt of teens and children, but that are others who have valid points and opinoins, do not be so quick to do away with them because they don't match yours."
---I do not believe I have dismissed anyone's opinion as of yet. There have been times when I have gotten frustrated because someone misunderstood my comment. Whether that means that I have not been clear, or that people are reading into it what they want I do not know. However, if anyone feels that I have been dismissing their opinion, I am sorry. I am simply responding to their opinion with my own.
"All I can say is when any one hits the road they should always drive defensivly and with caution. You may can handle what your doing but you can't handle what others are doing. If you come flying around a curve and a car is stopped for any reason, and you hit them, it's your fault. You can not always control every situation as you think you can. Just like those teens and children and adults had no control over what another adult does."
---I also do not believe that I have ever said that the teens or adults not driving the car had any control over what the person driving the car was doing. I do blame the person in the car, however. Just think, if the person driving the car had not been laying drag...Jennifer would not have stopped and Mike would not have written the article.
"Just back off and gain some wisdom before you respond again. You going back and forth with SiDonna makes you no more right or wrong, it just reinforces the fact that everyone is trying to get across here. This was handled the wrong way."
---I think it is presumptious and petty to assume that I have no wisdom and to insinuate that my opinions are "wrong". An opinion, by definition, is neither right nor wrong.
"If you have a problem with what the teens veiwed, fine. But if you are going to act like that was the worst thing have ever seen, then you are in denial. If you have kids then try to keep them away from such things. Don't let them watch TV, or movies, or vidoe games. Don't take them to Nascar races, or the drag strip, don't buy them exspensive muscle cars, or suped up 4 cylinders when they turn 16. Don't reinforce that these things are ok for them to do when they drive their own cars. Make them take Drivers ED, make them take defensive driving courses, amke them take a DUI class,these also lower your insurance costs to cover them. Teach them to be aware of their actions, and tell them for every action there is a reaction. You can not blame one person for all this and if you go back and read your comments that is the way it looks."
---I also never said that this was the worst thing that these kids have ever seen. However, this is the topic at hand. As I have said before there is a difference between seeing something on TV and seeing it in real life. Now, you could argue that taking your kids to NASCAR and to the drag strip is showing them dangerous actions in real life...and you would be right. But the people that participate in NASCAR and at the drag strip are trained and understand the risk in participating. They are not endangering innocent bystanders. It is also legal in those settings. I'm not saying that some kids won't see their favorite NASCAR driver and try to pull one of their stunts, but like you said, you must teach them to be responsible...that every action has a reaction.
Then all problems will be solved with the he said she said crap!!!
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mk. 4.24
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
This passage of scripture from the KJV Bible does not indicate that there are different levels on which to be judged. We will all be judged for our wrongs regardless.
I would like to say that I truly cannot see where Tyler Bush's memory was tarnished. In fact, this article has brought to light many people who gave credance to the great kid that Tyler was. I also don't believe Tyler would want this to be dragged on. He would want us to live life as best we could and not live in contant anger but rather to come together as a community for everyone's best interest.