The Sun is Biased Against 204

[gatormom]

So it looks like it matters where you live and what paper you read. I never realized how the Naperville Sun reported on D204. Just became aware of that this year. Of course, for years we have been reading the Beacon and watching the NV good/WV bad scenario.

It all amounts to one thing for me, cancellation of this rag, but I am getting a new puppy next week and might need some paper for training.

[wvhsparent]

I replied back to him. I am not as concerned about the school attendance in the body of the article, although I really don't see the relevance. I am more offended by the Headline. The same article was in the Beacon and Sun, but with substantially different headlines...now that may be an editor function...if so we must let the editors know that we, as 204 parents, as well as 204 students, are not pleased......Our displeasure will be manifested in not buying/subscribing to their paper anymore.

[momof3]

wvhsparent said:

My only response is to assure that our decision to include
where this suspect briefly attended high school had nothing to do with a
bias against the Waubonsie Valley High School.

You'll notice that I included other identifying characteristics about
the suspect: the town he lives in, the subdivision he lives in, his age.

I re-read yesterday's article in the Naperville Sun.

The subdivision is NOT named in the body of the article.

[momof3]

I'm SURPRISED and pleased that the HS these kids attend is not screaming from the headline! Although reading the article, it appears they all attend 204 but maybe not the same school...(can someone else verify?) - still surprised The Sun didn't say "204 Teens charged in melee."

Teens charged in melee

By Bill Bird
staff writer

Five young Naperville-area men have arraignment dates pending in Will County Circuit Court in Joliet for their alleged roles in a soured drug deal on Naperville's southwest side.

A 20-year-old Naperville man was beaten about the head and arms in a fight that erupted at 7:16 p.m. Wednesday outside the Walgreens northeast of 111th Street and Route 59, Naperville police Lt. Dave Hoffman said in a statement. The man was not seriously hurt.

Hoffman said a police investigation showed the man had gone to the store's parking lot to buy marijuana from Kevin L. Johnson, 19, of 4811 Fesseneva Lane. Johnson lives in Naperville's Harmony Grove area just east of the drugstore.

An emergency radio broadcast Wednesday indicated the man had brought $40 to pay for the marijuana. Hoffman said Johnson allegedly "snatched the money away from him and threw him a small plastic bag" containing an unknown substance.

"The victim immediately recognized it was not (marijuana), and was subsequently battered by Johnson and four other offenders at several locations in the area while attempting to get his money back," Hoffman said.

While police were investigating the incident at the scene, Johnson and another suspect, James J. Bonk, returned to the area, where they were arrested after being identified by witnesses, Hoffman said. Bonk, 17, lives at 4403 Clearwater Lane in Naperville's River Run neighborhood.

The other three suspects were identified and taken into custody without incident at their respective homes, Hoffman said.

Those men were identified as Colin C. Allan, 17, of 1307 Dryden Court in Naperville's Ashbury subdivision; William D. Fulsang, 17, of 4855 Fesseneva Lane; and Justin M. Tokar, 17, of 3960 Broadmoor Court, in an unincorporated area north of Naperville's White Eagle neighborhood.

Hoffman said Allan, Bonk and Fulsang were charged with aggravated battery in a public place and mob action. Allan and Fulsang also were charged with unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Johnson was charged with aggravated battery in a public place, mob action, theft under $300 and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor. Tokar was charged with battery, unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor.

[cantretirehere]

What is odder to me is that the names and address of 17 year olds were printed. I thought that the names or at least the addresses of those under 18 could not be printed.

[EagleDad]

Hmm, Broadmoor Ct is in WE, not "an unincorporated area north of Naperville's White Eagle neighborhood." It's smack in the middle of WE. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, that's a few houses down from AvengingEagle (looks like you got a partier down the street, AE ). Nice job on accuracy, Sun.

Either way, let's not give them a pass for this story, some kids buying a joint ("soured drug deal" in the Sun dramaticism) is a little different than murder.

[bob]

So if they went to WV,


COPS BUST WVHS DRUG RING!!!!!!


Come on $40 for a bag of pot oregano.

Those kids just killed their futures.

[EagleDad]

LOL

I don't know about the battery charge if it sticks, but unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor don't seem like they would kill your future (not that I'd know presonally ) Plus for the minors, does this stay on a permanent record? I'm sure WVHSParent can speak to that.

[bob]

and they ruined their famalies reputation. Nothing like being known as the father or mother of the local pot dealer.

[warriorpride]

bob said:

So if they went to WV,

COPS BUST WVHS DRUG RING!!!!!!

I'm with Bob on what the Headline could/would have read. I've seen enough if this in the Sun to see a pattern. With few exceptions, the high school that someone went to really isn't relevant to most crimes being reported. And, I don't ever recall seeing headlines like "Naperville North students arrested for X" or "Former Neuqua Student Goes to Jail". In their meeting, I hope that the SB holds the Sun folks to a higher standard than is currently displayed. And, we all should, too.

[wvhsparent]

momof3 said:

I'm SURPRISED and pleased that the HS these kids attend is not screaming from the headline! Although reading the article, it appears they all attend 204 but maybe not the same school...(can someone else verify?) - still surprised The Sun didn't say "204 Teens charged in melee."

Teens charged in melee

By Bill Bird
staff writer

Five young Naperville-area men have arraignment dates pending in Will County Circuit Court in Joliet for their alleged roles in a soured drug deal on Naperville's southwest side.

A 20-year-old Naperville man was beaten about the head and arms in a fight that erupted at 7:16 p.m. Wednesday outside the Walgreens northeast of 111th Street and Route 59, Naperville police Lt. Dave Hoffman said in a statement. The man was not seriously hurt.

Hoffman said a police investigation showed the man had gone to the store's parking lot to buy marijuana from Kevin L. Johnson, 19, of 4811 Fesseneva Lane. Johnson lives in Naperville's Harmony Grove area just east of the drugstore.

An emergency radio broadcast Wednesday indicated the man had brought $40 to pay for the marijuana. Hoffman said Johnson allegedly "snatched the money away from him and threw him a small plastic bag" containing an unknown substance.

"The victim immediately recognized it was not (marijuana), and was subsequently battered by Johnson and four other offenders at several locations in the area while attempting to get his money back," Hoffman said.

While police were investigating the incident at the scene, Johnson and another suspect, James J. Bonk, returned to the area, where they were arrested after being identified by witnesses, Hoffman said. Bonk, 17, lives at 4403 Clearwater Lane in Naperville's River Run neighborhood.

The other three suspects were identified and taken into custody without incident at their respective homes, Hoffman said.

Those men were identified as Colin C. Allan, 17, of 1307 Dryden Court in Naperville's Ashbury subdivision; William D. Fulsang, 17, of 4855 Fesseneva Lane; and Justin M. Tokar, 17, of 3960 Broadmoor Court, in an unincorporated area north of Naperville's White Eagle neighborhood.

Hoffman said Allan, Bonk and Fulsang were charged with aggravated battery in a public place and mob action. Allan and Fulsang also were charged with unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Johnson was charged with aggravated battery in a public place, mob action, theft under $300 and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor. Tokar was charged with battery, unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor.

That's because it would have said "Neuqua teens" and we all know Neuqua kids are all good.

[wvhsparent]

eagledad said:

LOL

I don't know about the battery charge if it sticks, but unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor don't seem like they would kill your future (not that I'd know presonally ) Plus for the minors, does this stay on a permanent record? I'm sure WVHSParent can speak to that.

In Naperville.... these all will probably stick. I surprised they did not pinch them for distribution...much stiffer than possession, which BTW counts if one trys to pass off a look-alike substance too.

[wvhsparent]

cantretirehere said:

What is odder to me is that the names and address of 17 year olds were printed. I thought that the names or at least the addresses of those under 18 could not be printed.

17 can be charged as an adult, hence name released.

[bob]

I surprised they did not pinch them for distribution...much stiffer than possession, which BTW counts if one trys to pass off a look-alike substance too.

They should charge them for distribution. Throw the book at them.

[EagleDad]

bob said:

I surprised they did not pinch them for distribution...much stiffer than possession, which BTW counts if one trys to pass off a look-alike substance too.

They should charge them for distribution. Throw the book at them.

You wanna ruin a 17 year old kid's future over selling oregano? Dang bob, you're starting to sound like Rush. Seems a little harsh to me.