At a Glance
- The ordinance has been in the town's books since its founding in 1920 when snowballs were considered "missiles" like rocks.
- The boy got to have his first legal snowball fight immediately following the meeting.
- His little brother was his first target.
A 9-year-old boy has convinced a northern Colorado town to abandon its nearly 100-year ban on snowball fights.
Dane Best of Severance, Colorado, presented his case last week to the town's board, arguing that the "children of Severance want the opportunity to have a snowball fight like the rest of the world."
"The law was created many years ago. Today's kids need a reason to play outside," he added in his three-minute presentation, the Greeley Tribune reported.
Best decided to challenge the town board after learning several weeks ago that it was illegal to throw a snowball in the town that is home to nearly 5,000, the Greeley Tribune reported.
In this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, photograph, 9-year-old Dane Best poses in the council chambers in Severance, Colo. Dane is trying to get rid of his town's ban on snowballs and officials are wondering what took so long.
(Sara Knuth/Greeley Tribune via AP)
While the ordinance was not enforced, it remained a law that the board says dates back to the town's founding in 1920.
Kyle Rietkerk, assistant to the Severance town administrator, told the newspaper kids visiting Severance Town Hall on school field trips were always shocked to learn that it is illegal to throw a snowball. The early founders of the town considered snowballs in the ranks of "missiles" like rocks. It was prohibited to throw these missiles at people, buildings or other property.
“All of the kids always get blown away that it’s illegal to have snowball fights in Severance,” Rietkerk said. “So, what ends up happening is they always encourage the kids with, ‘You have the power you can change the law.’ No one has.”
But the Range View Elementary School student changed all that. He began by writing letters with his classmates asking the board to consider lifting the ban.
On Monday, members of the board listened to Dane's presentation and voted unanimously to lift the ban. The decision was met by cheers from area children and parents attending the meeting.
After the vote, members of the board asked Dane who would be his first target. He immediately pointed to his 4-year-old brother, Dax.
Right after the meeting, Severance Mayor Don McLeod offered two snowballs to Dane and Dax, who threw the first legal snowballs in Severance history as the crowd cheered.
Best says his next challenge is to overturn an ordinance that defines pets as only cats and dogs. Under the ordinance, Best's pet guinea pig is illegal in the town.
At a Glance
- The ordinance has been in the town's books since its founding in 1920 when snowballs were considered "missiles" like rocks.
- The boy got to have his first legal snowball fight immediately following the meeting.
- His little brother was his first target.
A 9-year-old boy has convinced a northern Colorado town to abandon its nearly 100-year ban on snowball fights.
Dane Best of Severance, Colorado, presented his case last week to the town's board, arguing that the "children of Severance want the opportunity to have a snowball fight like the rest of the world."
"The law was created many years ago. Today's kids need a reason to play outside," he added in his three-minute presentation, the Greeley Tribune reported.
Best decided to challenge the town board after learning several weeks ago that it was illegal to throw a snowball in the town that is home to nearly 5,000, the Greeley Tribune reported.
In this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, photograph, 9-year-old Dane Best poses in the council chambers in Severance, Colo. Dane is trying to get rid of his town's ban on snowballs and officials are wondering what took so long.
(Sara Knuth/Greeley Tribune via AP)
While the ordinance was not enforced, it remained a law that the board says dates back to the town's founding in 1920.
Kyle Rietkerk, assistant to the Severance town administrator, told the newspaper kids visiting Severance Town Hall on school field trips were always shocked to learn that it is illegal to throw a snowball. The early founders of the town considered snowballs in the ranks of "missiles" like rocks. It was prohibited to throw these missiles at people, buildings or other property.
“All of the kids always get blown away that it’s illegal to have snowball fights in Severance,” Rietkerk said. “So, what ends up happening is they always encourage the kids with, ‘You have the power you can change the law.’ No one has.”
But the Range View Elementary School student changed all that. He began by writing letters with his classmates asking the board to consider lifting the ban.
On Monday, members of the board listened to Dane's presentation and voted unanimously to lift the ban. The decision was met by cheers from area children and parents attending the meeting.
After the vote, members of the board asked Dane who would be his first target. He immediately pointed to his 4-year-old brother, Dax.
Right after the meeting, Severance Mayor Don McLeod offered two snowballs to Dane and Dax, who threw the first legal snowballs in Severance history as the crowd cheered.
Best says his next challenge is to overturn an ordinance that defines pets as only cats and dogs. Under the ordinance, Best's pet guinea pig is illegal in the town.
https://weather.com/news/news/2018-12-04-colorado-ban-snowball-fights-9-year-old
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