Former Kalama teacher pleads not guilty to providing alcohol to minors
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 11:37 PM PDT
By Leila Summers
Printable version
E-mail this articleKALAMA — A former Kalama High School teacher is accused of providing beer to Kalama graduates at a party she hosted at her Longview home.
Heidi Michelle Ward, 28, pleaded not guilty to three counts of distributing alcohol to minors. She was arraigned last week in Cowlitz District Court.
According to court records, 15 to 20 minors attended a June 14 party at Ward’s home, where the former English teacher and drama club adviser was the only person over 21.
Two attendees said Ward provded them a ride to her house after they attended another graduation party the same day — one day after Kalama High School’s graduation ceremony, according to court records.
At the party, an 18-year-old man said Ward bought him an 18-pack of Bud Light after he gave her money for the purchase, according to court records.
A majority of the visitors stayed overnight at the Longview home, according to attendees interviewed by Longview police.
One 18-year-old said she woke up following morning, “took a shower (and) cleaned up a lot of beer cans and bottles. People were sleeping all along the floor,” according to court records.
Ward resigned from Kalama High School in June following a reprimand from school principal Mike Hamilton that cited inappropriate relationships with students, according to court records.
When contacted by the Daily News, Ward said she had no comment on the charges. Ward is scheduled for a pre-trial conference Aug. 6.
BIGDAR wrote on Jul 24, 2008 9:17 AM:
" Sounds like an awesome teacher to me. Seems like all the good ones are the first to go. She was probably conducting research on teenage drinking. "
mole wrote on Jul 24, 2008 9:53 AM:
" we did not have those teachers,when i was in school!If we did we never told,truth is she thought it would be safer for these kids in a supervised home, to party,not driveing around drunk and causing trouble.parents have tried this and got in trouble also.THE MORAL IS NEVER GIVE THE KIDS A CHANCE TO BE SAFE,THEY TELL ON THIER OWN PARENTS WHEN MAD!!! "
DUH wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:35 AM:
" What she did was illegal. You're mad at the kids for turning her in? "
bones wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:47 AM:
" I feel bad for this teacher because this story sounds completely one sided (even if she didn't want to comment). I doubt her intentions were here and have parents considered that these aren't minors anymore (18=ADULT) and they knew very well what they were doing. DUH!!! At least they were at someones house...safe and not out causing a car accident or doing other stupid stuff. I'm sad that these 18 year olds turned their backs on someone who did something positive and memorable for them..what jerks! I had friends whose parents did this for us growing up and I'm alive because of it. If they didn't do it..trust me we would have found ways...IT'S NOT HARD (especially for girls)...to get alcohol! "
happymom wrote on Jul 24, 2008 11:06 AM:
" cheap way to end a career...Our kids do not need teachers like this. "
DUH wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:09 PM:
" RE: Bones... At least they were at someones house? Are you saying she's a responsible adult for furnishing these kids alcohol? IT IS ILLEGAL! She broke the law. I, as a parent DO NOT, and WOULD NOT approve of any adults giving my children alcohol no matter where it is! Did any of the parents of these kids know what was happening? If yes, and they allowed it to go on then they are just as irresponsible as she is. "
kitten wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:31 PM:
" What was she thinking? Next thing you know she'll be upside down taking beer hits. Sounds like she needs to take about five years off and grow up before she chooses her next career. "
momof2 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 12:53 PM:
" This town is so full of soap box riders , it makes me sick. If at 18 years old a person can go off and get blown up in some war we have no business being in, then why can't they have a drink? A lot of laws in this country need to be re-examined. If kids are going to drink, they are going to drink. This has been going on for a long time, ITS NOT NEW! I agree with the post about her providing it in a safe enviroment. Sorry, go ahead and take you shots, call me a bad parent. But I would rather find out my kid was drinking in a siuation like that, then out in the woods where they had to drive (or ride) home after drinking. How much do you want to bet she gets longer in jail, then the pot guy in the story up above? "
DUH wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:18 PM:
" It seems funny to me that if a local bar gets caught serving alcohol to a couple of minors, everybody is up in arms...Close them down! Throw the book at them! But when a 24 year old former teacher gives alcohol to as many as 20 minors, she's the greatest thing since sliced bread! "
momof2 wrote on Jul 24, 2008 3:12 PM:
" Actually I think the legal drinking age should be 18. Old enough to decide who will be president, old enough to fight, then old enough to have a drink. I am a 40 something mom, who does not run around pulling my rose colored glasses on and off to suit the situation. If the worst thing that this woman ever did was serve underage kids drinks, so what? There are so many other things that need to be fixed out there, this is small potatoes. "
CowlitzSounding wrote on Jul 24, 2008 4:07 PM:
" What she did was wrong. She knows teachers are held to a higher standard. Teachers can learn to be involved with students in many positive ways. She needed better intuition into how she should work with her students. It is unfortunate however that she gets a public reprimand. "
Kalama Dude wrote on Jul 24, 2008 4:17 PM:
" For any of those parents out there that preach the need for the expensive Grad Night alcohol free parties, where were they that weekend? This was graduates and many were out the night before at the official party, so for those do gooders, what do you say when you know you will not be able to control your little darlings even one day later let alone one month or year. These expensive parties are a big time joke and this story proves it conclusively. Face it folks our kids will do what they want when they want and frankly there is very little we can do, but preach, pray and pay attention. Good luck to all. "
Go Chinooks!!! wrote on Jul 24, 2008 5:56 PM:
" For those of you who don't remeber we tried letting 18 yr olds drink awhile back and changed it back to 21 because to many of them where killing themselves and others on the roads. The law says 21 its 21. And for a teacher to provide it for them, thats wromg. Kalama Dude your right parents need to "pay attention" and a little luck isn't gonna hurt either. "
Go Chinooks!!! wrote on Jul 24, 2008 6:02 PM:
" Thise of you who say the drinking age should be 18 look at this
article about the last time we lowered the drinking age http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/teens/a/aa010730a.htm "
article about the last time we lowered the drinking age http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/teens/a/aa010730a.htm "
berryjewels wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:00 PM:
" this saddens me our youth have enough to deal with these days and now they are being shown that drinking no matter their age is the only way to have fun :(, and that it is ok. I am one of the lucky parents, as there are a few of us, that our children still choose not to indulge in this manner. I am proud of my children and hope that they continue the road they are on, as they know that there are ways to have fun and drinking is not one of them. I would hope that my children would let someone know also if this were to happen at a place that they happened to be. It is illegal and I don't want children to have to go through life with that kind of starting record. It just doesn't hardly seem fair, so adults who allow this need to be reprimanded for such behavior! "
pacnwmom wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:38 PM:
" did I miss the clearance bin sale of soap boxes at the local Wal-Mart? "
bones wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:59 PM:
" So to all the parents who forbid under age drinking...Would you rather your child do it without adult supervision in an unknown location with god knows who with them...OR with an adult looking after them...Because guess what...YOUR child will drink if they want to. They WILL get the alcohol..it's not hard..and then they will have to get home with someone most likely drunk and then they will be lying to you because you are too narrow minded and forgot what it is like to be young and rebellious. NO it's not okay to condone it and say "here's the bottle!" BUT when you know they are very well going to be out "celebrating" and wanting to do these things..then let them know they can call you and not be in trouble for it or to do it somewhere controlled and safe. Parents who are too strict and not understanding get laughed at so often because it's their kids out there doing these horrible things and everyone else knows but them. Open your eyes and be open to understanding your teen/adult..be there for them. "
Kay English wrote on Jul 24, 2008 9:27 PM:
" After years of expensive schooling she throws it all away?? What a huge mistake. "
missymae wrote on Jul 24, 2008 9:47 PM:
" I think they should change the drinking age to 18 years old why not other states do It. because at any age people are not responsible drinkers and at 18 they are considered adults. What a bunch of back stabbers turning her in like that I hope there all happy with themselves and I'm sure all them at the party were drinking and having a good time I don't think It was right what she did and she should be punished for It. what are all these teachers thinking about there either having sex with students or buying them booze maybe the schools need to hire the kind of teachers I had when I went to school this sorta thing would've never happened In the 70's "
mole wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:12 PM:
" GO CHINOOKS.I'm 59,and I allways thougt it was 21.When was the age 18 allowed to drink in washington,not IDAHO. "
DUH wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:17 PM:
" RE: Bones... This teacher was reprimanded and resigned for inappropriate relations with students. Did she resign to avoid a very embarrassing investigation and possible charges? We don't know but her actions can draw many conclusions. If you or anybody else thinks that her supplying minors with alcohol is "appropriate" you're wacked. And to say that all kids "WILL" this and "WILL" that is hogwash. It all has to do with upbringing, and if you think that this is the right and proper way to raise your children then you are sadly mistaken. "
Small Town Girl wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:31 PM:
" The point isn't legal drinking age, or even the need for "safe" places for teens to drink. The point is expectation. Parents must hold their children to high standards and expect the best of them. Regardless of what is available, an adult always bears the responsibility of setting the example. In a parent's case, this means condemning illegal activities and teaching your child to obey the law. In the teacher's case, it means recognizing that you hold a position of public trust, and no amount of 'student bonding' is worth breaching this trust. There have always been temptations out there for our youth, but there is a reason some kids get involved in risky behavior and some do not. Educate yourself on those reasons! "
berryjewels wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:58 PM:
" well to start things off we have always been open with our kids and they know that if they should happen to need us that we would be there in a heartbeat to get them! We have never forbade them it has always been their choice, as I am sure that they have been offered things from their peers and they themselves chose to turn it down. As far as the "they will this and they will that" it sounds as though you are guaranteeing that, which only means that you would be the one making sure that it happened. Well I have news for that We raised our kids to know right from wrong and they have always been told that when something is wrong then it needs to be told to someone. They know that they will not be in trouble instead they know that it is safer that way, and in this story the kids did what kids are taught to do!! I am so glad to know that there are children who will still do that. We know that ours will IF it comes to that!! Thank you Daily News for keeping up with things like this for us and our children!! "
kitten wrote on Jul 25, 2008 11:02 AM:
" I have an idea! Let's lower the drinking age to 18 and raise the driving age to 21! It kills two birds with one stone. I think it is absolutely negligent of adults to let a child of sixteen behind the wheel of a car. Let them practice with an adult in the car until they are 21! Watch the number of wrecks and deaths go down. "
dude11 wrote on Jul 25, 2008 11:59 AM:
" Just a thought..Maybe the kids had a planned night to go drinking and she heard about it and thought it was safer to be at her house instead of in B.F.E. "
mole wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:02 PM:
" kitten,fantastic idea,but 18 for everything,you can vote,go to war,go to the bar and the store all on the same birthday!!!! "
DUH wrote on Jul 25, 2008 1:32 PM:
" I can only imagine that most of you commenting about wanting the drinking age dropped to 18 are probably not much older than that and are not yet 21. You make it sound as though the only way to have fun is to do it while drinking. NOTHING good ever comes from drinking alcohol. I have never heard anyone say, or seen any newspaper articles that state, If so and so hadn't of had that fifth beer he surely would have died. Instead it's all about, if they had only stopped at one or two, innocent people wouldn't have died. You all also state that kids are going to drink no matter what.... That would be much less likely to happen if there weren't people over the age of 21 that would buy them alcohol at the drop of a hat. You all seem to think it's ok to do that, and it's my guess by your comments that you already have done it. It is my hope that when and if you do furnish alcohol to a minor that you too face charges and are prosecuted! Not all of those kids stayed there as you can see by the article. they had to get home somehow! "
Go Chinooks!!! wrote on Jul 25, 2008 2:35 PM:
" WOW!!! history really does repeat itself, notice the reason for the lower drinking age....The drinking age was first lowered to 18 in many states back in the Vietnam War era. The country was asking thousands of its young men to fight and die for their country on foreign soil, so the popular thinking was, "How can we ask them to die for their country and not let them have a drink if they want one?"
But the lower drinking age begin to take a toll on the nation's highways. The number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities began to rise at alarming rates, and a high percentage of those involved young drivers. Congress again put pressure on the states to raise the drinking age because of this startling increase in highway deaths.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that raising the drink age to 21 has reduced traffic fatalities involving 18- to 20-year-old drivers by 13 percent and has saved an estimated 19,121 lives since 1975. Twenty of twenty-nine studies conducted between 1981 and 1992 reported significant decreases in traffic crashes and crash fatalities following an increase in drinking age.
Over 40 percent of all the 16-to-20 year olds who died in 1994 were killed in car crashes, half of which were alcohol-related. The number of intoxicated youth drivers in fatal crashes dropped 14.3 percent from 1983 to 1994 -- the largest decrease of any age group during this time period -- indicating that the higher legal drinking age simply saves lives. "
But the lower drinking age begin to take a toll on the nation's highways. The number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities began to rise at alarming rates, and a high percentage of those involved young drivers. Congress again put pressure on the states to raise the drinking age because of this startling increase in highway deaths.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that raising the drink age to 21 has reduced traffic fatalities involving 18- to 20-year-old drivers by 13 percent and has saved an estimated 19,121 lives since 1975. Twenty of twenty-nine studies conducted between 1981 and 1992 reported significant decreases in traffic crashes and crash fatalities following an increase in drinking age.
Over 40 percent of all the 16-to-20 year olds who died in 1994 were killed in car crashes, half of which were alcohol-related. The number of intoxicated youth drivers in fatal crashes dropped 14.3 percent from 1983 to 1994 -- the largest decrease of any age group during this time period -- indicating that the higher legal drinking age simply saves lives. "
MOLE wrote on Jul 25, 2008 8:05 PM:
" GO CHINOOKS,I see no answer to the drinkig age in WASHINGTON.I was around in the vietnam era,and did not know that, some of the states lowered it to 18 and then back to 21. that saved over 1 person a day for 33 years,13 percent.but the 1983 to 1994 stats,11 years seems to be a way higher death rate 14 percent,16 to 20 years old is under 21,with your own statistics It proves,you wrong.but I could never figure out when the two trains would pass any way!!by the way I do not condone under age drinking,they want it they will get it,I personally sold fake I.D'S,and bought it myself,stopped drinking cold turkey,18 years ago[5th of wiskey and half rack a day,In the 70's, magic dust]kids unsupervised are gonna get it,some of you forget your HIGH SCHOOL DAYS,I still remember, and learned to trust my son, and his friends,they allways had me, no questions asked call me,they did. "
Go Chinooks!!! wrote on Jul 26, 2008 10:19 AM:
" Mole, Im glad to see we are both not condoning underage drinking. My point was that there are people on this blog that think lowering the drinking age is a good idea and it is not. And while it may not have been in Washington that the age was lowered it was lowered in other states and proved to be a disaster. And you are right, if they want it they will get it. Also its one thing to do as you do and tell the kids to call "no questions asked" which I have done myself and it is quite another to be a teacher, in a position of responsibilty for these kids, and to break the law and to supply the booze and have the party at your house. Oh yea, I never did get the two trains either. :-) "
kalamaalumni wrote on Jul 28, 2008 8:25 PM:
" From the above comments I can see that none of you know what actually happened. Having been there and knowing the facts of the situation I am appalled that people nowadays think people are guilty of something because it says so in the paper. It doesn't seem to matter that there are false statements and misinterpreted information in the article. People are ready to throw the book and stand on their soap box to throw their opinions out there without actually knowing what they are talking about. I was outraged to read such irresponsible reporting, based almost exclusively on the word of a high school administrator attempting to cover his butt, and two 18 year olds accused of drinking underage. Any information gathered from these two biased sources should never be printed as fact, especially when the accused has neither been convicted nor seen the evidence against her. The article resembled a hardcopy of playground gossip, being both sensationalized and without proof. What took place is unclear to our community, but placing blame on one individual without proof is unrealistic. The High School administrators and the students involved in the incident are both washing their hands of any responsibility, and tainting the name of good woman and a good teacher who has been on several occasions praised by parents and teachers in our community as a “positive role model”. Anyone interested in the truth should take the initiative instead of believing a newspaper that is trying to sell papers. "
Go Chinooks!!! wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:48 PM:
" To kalamaalumni: What part of "according to court records" did'nt you read?? Nowhere in the article does it quote an administrator. And cover his butt??? Cover it from what??? Maybe you need to attend the pre-trail conference and get your facts straight. "
DUH wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:59 PM:
" Ok kalamaalumni, you threw it out there. Cover his but from what? What have you got to back that up? The Daily News has court records to back them up. You want to open up a can of worms, you better be prepared to eat them. Of course The Daily News is trying to sell newspapers, thats their business but, I really doubt that they all sat down and said, "This story is going to make the paper sell like hot cakes". I doubt that they sold any more copies on the day this story ran than they normally do on any other day. If they did sell more, my guess would be it only was only about 14 to 20 more. That would strangely coincide with the number of party goers. "
Riverview wrote on Jul 31, 2008 9:53 AM:
" kalamaalumni: If you were there then you also know that there was also a lot more that went on at this party than what was reported, and thanks to "students who washed their hands of responsibility" it was covered up and never reported. Finally, I'm guessing that you also know that this isn't the first time that this has happened with this "positive role model"--that one makes me seriously laugh out loud! "
kalamaalumni wrote on Aug 1, 2008 12:25 PM:
" For some reason my replies to Duh and Go Chinooks weren't posted. Obviously, people don't want to hear what I have to say. The truth. And in response to Riverview: You obviously are one of those people that believes every rumor you hear. Because if you actually knew her you wouldn't be saying negative things about her. She is a person that is loved and respected by many. And to have people slinging mud because they like to hear themselves talk isn't going to help. "
DUH wrote on Aug 1, 2008 2:23 PM:
" I still fail to see where you back up any of your words there kalamaalumni. "
DUH wrote on Aug 1, 2008 3:18 PM:
" Yeah, loved and respected by every minor that she provided alcohol to. The reason that TDN didn't post your comment is probably because the claims you made CAN'T be substantiated. TDN is not in the business of reporting rumors. They report the facts as best they can. Your claims on the other hand are just rumors because you can't back them up. Thanks for the laugh kalamaalumni. We all need a good laugh from time to time and you fulfilled my need for a good laugh for the day. "
Past Month's Most Commented Stories