For the parent of the 15 year old...I appreciate your response and am sorry for the criticism your daughter's choice exposed you to. I hope she is doing well and that she has learned a valuable lesson. As bad as it sounds of how her "friends" left her, it could have been so much worse and I really hope she understands the vulnerable position she put herself in. Anyone who has been a parent should really know that even the best parents have kids who can make bad choices. Blaming the parents is not always the appropriate response, as in this case. Having the problem of kids misbehaving and indulging in substance abuse at a fair is, I'm sure, as old as the events themselves. I think all we can do as adults is, like someone else said, be a village and keep a watchful eye on everyone's children because there will be always be times when we can't watch our own.

I have a question about Why, one of the same boys that was arrested on Saturday night for drinking, (I was a witness and Yes we did inform the sheriff dept) and possibly suppling alcohol to others, was allowed back in the fair to repeat the same behavior on sunday night? I agree with the comments about increasing security, unfortunately. The reason we go to the Mariposa Fair is the "Hometown" experience. (3 generations of fair goers) This is an issue of society. We need to be their a watch out for all our youths as a community . Peer pressure can change the ideas of a Brillant child in the matter of minutes. It does take a village to raise a child, to work with the family, to raise a child and weather the storms of life. STOP the figure pointing, if you look in a mirror and point your finger. Who do you see?

I understand the comments being made asking "where are the parents". Unfortunately, some of the parents may have been the ones (maybe unwittingly)providing the alcohol. Many of the teens drinking were seen drinking out in the open in front of the beer gardens. Maybe a better system of "corraling" the patrons, rather than clogging that walkway would make monitoring the area easier for the Sheriff's officers. Kid's make bad choices, it's up to the parents to provide a solid foundation, but they will still make bad choices. Peer pressure is a huge problem, especially in this age group. While I may know what type of foundation I provide for my child, I may not know what their friends have gone through and what kind of foundation they have been given. In regards to the 15 year old who was taken to the hospital, I suspect their parents are suffering enough and don't need their parenting skills called into question. Mariposa is a great community and we have great kids here, we as adults need to provide positive influences on the kids in this community.

I am the parent of the 15 yr old that was hospitalized. We were there, we were not drunk. My child is an honor student and is already taking pre college classes. My child is very involved in school and actively participates in the sports programs that are offered. You trust your children and the "friends" they are with and something tragic happens. This is not a parenting issues this is a bad choice made by a smart teenager. The "friends" your children surround themselves with should not leave your child face down in the dirt, unconcious and close to death. For those that think this won't happen to their child because they are great parents, I wish you luck and I hope no one points the finger at you and blames you for being a bad parent.

Where were the parents? Where they drunk also? Where they there? This comes down to the parents keeping an eye on their minor child.

obviously, there is an issue with these kids, and where are they getting the alcohol? maybe fair next year should have a cerfew for kids, check there backpacks before going in, etc. this isn't going to stop, and someone needs to intervene!

A blemish on an otherwise fabulous weekend. So sad that our young people do not recognize the potential for injury and death due to results of intoxication, or in one case over-intoxication. Moms and Dads: continue to talk bluntly with your kids about alcohol and drugs. Your conversation means more to them than you know, and could save a life.