Teenagers and other kids:

Don’t go on the lake ice. Period.

Wait until you see icehouses before making any attempt at walking on the ice. The people who bring the little fishing shanties onto the ice are adults who often have knowledge of ice depths and are experienced at finding out when traveling on lake ice is OK.

There have been too many reports lately of kids testing the ice. That scares us.

At the Albert Lea Tribune, we dislike having to report tragedies. Some can’t be prevented. But when tragedies happen as a result of somebody doing something irresponsible and stupid, that really stinks.

You dying because you were walking on thin ice puts a lot of people into action who would rather be doing other work.

No one, from the first responders who pull your body from the water to the cemetery workers who dig your grave, wants to have to see you die from a case of idiocy.

So think about other people for a change and stay of the lake ice.