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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us February 24, 2005 Give us time to grieve and learn The leadership class of Ashland High School wishes to convey on behalf of all students our sincere and heartfelt sympathy for all of the families suffering after the tragic events of last weekend. Many conflicting stories and emotions have created divisions within our Southern Oregon community. We would like to both explain our feelings here at AHS and respond to recent criticisms directed toward our school. Ashland High School has been torn apart by the accident and the deaths it caused. Our students and staff have been impacted in various ways and each is dealing with a unique blend of anger and pain. All of us are helpless. Our student body is faced with the difficulty both of dealing with the loss of a peer and of guilt and horror at the repercussions of his reckless actions. As we grieve we do not want to send the message that we in anyway condone Kevan's behavior, but we do request permission to mourn the loss of a real person, a friend. We would also like to extend a plea to our fellow students around the Valley that they will not do Kevan the disservice of ignoring his mistakes and repeating them. We are mourning a tragedy that did not have to happen and should never happen again, and are struggling to discover any lesson or meaning in the aftermath of this disaster. The pain on our campus is immensely sharper because Kevan was not the only victim of his terrible judgment. Charles Ashley Bench was a beloved father, husband, and friend. We cannot imagine the pain his loss has caused, but we do extend our deepest sympathy to all who loved him. You are in our hearts. This is not over yet. More facts and conjectures will continue to emerge, probably for weeks to come. During this time we ask for understanding, and hope that everyone suffering because of Kevan's mistake will be respected and supported. All are entitled to their grief. Please remember empathy during these hard times. We must come together if we are ever going to heal. The Ashland High School Leadership Class Thanks to many for support We are deeply grateful for the kindness which has been given our family in the past days. The staff of Providence Hospital, Rogue Valley Funeral Alternatives, and Ashland High School, our friends, and friends of Kevan, have offered comfort in very many ways. Beyond our grief at the death of our precious child, and the death of another family's innocent son, husband, and father, we mourn the pain which this has brought to our community. May we pray and work together for healing. James Stephens and Patrice Thatcher Kevan Thatcher-Stephens' father and mother Plan for funds is unchanged Thank you very much for the terrific article on the current public art project at Calle Guanajuato. I would like to correct one important point: the family and friends who contributed to the memory of Arnie Krigel did so understanding those funds would go to the sculpture garden in and around the stairway, and not to the mosaic tile at the overlook. This has always been and is still the intention for those donations. Thanks for letting me clarify. Bruce Bayard Public Arts Commissioner Ashland Bush 'mandate' will run aground I found it astonishing when George Bush declared his election a "mandate." I find it even more astonishing that his supporters are continuing to whoop and holler about their "victory." But I guess when you consider that neither he nor they know or care about what the rest of the world thinks, then it makes sense. Ignoring the opinions of hundreds of millions of other people throughout the world who think Bush is the most dangerous man on the planet allows them to insulate themselves in a veil of righteous belief. Judging by the old saying, "What you don't know can't hurt you," means that they're practically invulnerable. But what he and they also don't know is that the boat they're on is headed for a reef, that there aren't any life vests on board, and that after they hit it and start sinking, Captain Bush won't radio for help because then he'd have to admit he didn't really know the course, the heading, how to read a chart, where the reef was, or even how to steer the boat in the first place. 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