‘Ridiculous’ reporting on marijuana

I have to agree with Cristine Byrne (Feedback, Jan. 13). The lies and slander perpetrated by the media about Hayfork and Trinity County are preposterous, especially concerning our kids. The L.A. Times would lead people to believe our kids are a bunch of stoners who will all grow up to be pot farmers, but I know kids here who have no interest in marijuana whatsoever. Don’t we all?

This “reporting” is ridiculous, slanted and insulting to our youth who have accomplished so much. Where’s the story about our two section champion football teams in Trinity County? How about Hayfork High School snagging that Bronze Award for Best Schools in the United States from US News and World Report? Doesn’t sound like a county full of teenage pothead slackers to me.

Our kids deserve commendation for their many achievements, not sensationalistic drivel from the national media. I’m very proud of our kids and they deserve their bragging rights!

It’s too bad that Tom Barnett chose to contribute to the negative slant of the Times’ story. He certainly missed an opportunity to highlight HHS students’ accomplishments, but more important than his comments in that article, he must be doing something right for HHS to receive that Bronze Award.

Obviously, I don’t believe the so-called “pot culture” is having a negative impact on our youth and, anyway, there are plenty of other great things going on in our county. We who live here know this even if the media want to focus only on one facet of life here. That’s why it’s called “hype.”