Intoxicated students leave North High School dance in ambulance
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Two Williamsville North High School students left Friday night's dance in an ambulance following excessive alcohol consumption.

Amherst police and Getzville firefighters responded to the school around 9:22 p.m. for a call that two 15-year-old girls were intoxicated.

Assistant Chief John Askey said the two girls had been drinking prior to arriving at the school, and the effects of the alcohol hit them while at the dance. They were both transported to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

A second complaint was called at 9:34 p.m. of a 16-year-old male who was taken to the nurse's office for intoxication. His parents were called to pick him up.

Askey said the department is investigating where the minors obtained the alcohol. The juvenile division will also be following up. He added that the school would be following up with disciplinary action.

North High School Principal Robert B. Tubbs called the incident unfortunate. On Tuesday he said that the three students were doing well.

"There were more than 900 kids at the dance, and for the most part it went smoothly," he said. "But there were some issues, and we had to make a 911 call."

Tubbs said the students were not drinking at the dance, and the school has had some issues with students drinking alcohol prior to arriving at dances.

"It's never on school grounds," he said, adding that the school plans to work with the community and parents about this issue.

While three of the students caused reason for concern at the dance, Tubbs said that is less than 1 percent of the students, with a large number of students following the rules.

The incident came days before the Healthy Community * Healthy Youth task force debuted its video to the Amherst Town Board on preventing drinking in Amherst high schools.

Through a Drug Free Community grant, the organization created the video to address alcohol and marijuana use in high schools.

The task force, supported by government officials, schools, residents and departments, focuses on improving positive character traits in students.

(Editor's note: for information on the video project see page seven.)