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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 6, 2006 Web tip helps shut down underage party before it starts By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune An online invitation touting an "endless cup of beer for $5" and $1 shots for an 18th birthday party caught the eye of authorities, who shut down an underage drinking party in the hills outside Medford before it happened last weekend. An identification checker at a Medford nightclub spotted the invitation 18-year-old Matt Killen posted on MySpace.com the last week of July and notified the Oregon Liquor Control Commission's Medford office about the illegal party, set for July 29, OLCC spokesman Ken Palke said. Officials notified the Jackson County Sheriff's Department and called Killen's mother, Christina Weekley. "I was very, very glad she called," Weekley said. "I immediately called my son and we had a long talk about what a good idea it wasn't." They had a frank discussion about drinking, drugs and peer pressure, especially in the wake of a June crash that killed three teens who graduated in his class, she said. "We talked about consequences," she said. "He didn't have a hard time calling it off." Instead of drinking in the hills near Jacksonville, Killen spent Saturday evening helping his mom in the garden, she said. His 18th birthday was celebrated with a multi-generational family dinner at Outback Steakhouse. Weekley said she hopes authorities continue to monitor MySpace.com. "I'm pleased they let me know," she said. OLCC regularly gets tips about teen drinking parties from posters or fliers handed out on the sly, but this was the first time officials learned about one via the MySpace.com social networking Web site popular with teens, Palke said. "Anytime you can prevent an illegal party with a single phone call, you have to do it," he said. "This was a win-win for us." Southern Oregon Drug Awareness maintains a tipline at 973-7756 where people can anonymously report underage drinking, SODA Executive Director Shawn Martinez said. The tipline, launched this spring, has halted one party, where kegs were seized before youths arrived, she said. Martinez said she hopes to see more tips on planned parties, teen attempts to buy alcohol, and young adults who agree to purchase alcohol for underage people. She also constantly encourages parents to talk to kids about drug and alcohol use and family rules and expectations. OLCC officials noted that parties that sell alcohol without a license are illegal for all ages, but underage hosts can face a slew of charges, including furnishing alcohol to a minor, selling liquor without a license and being minor in possession of alcohol. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485 or at [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews