Blackfoot students light the way for city-wide smoking ban

One group of high school students in Blackfoot have been fighting to make the city smoke-free.

On Tuesday night, Independence High School’s Student Health Council will present their proposal in front of the city council to tell the community why a city-wide smoking ban is important to the well-being of the city.

“I want to be able to help people and make sure everyone is healthy,” Independence senior and health council president Tony Davids said. “Cancer is a big thing now, and so I want to make sure we can try and find a cure for something.”

In this case, to these students a cure is in the form of smoke-free parks and designated smoking areas throughout the city.

Blackfoot Mayor Mike Virtue said an ordinance has not even been drafted yet, so Tuesday night’s meeting will be a good chance for the city attorney to just gather pertinent information needed.

Virtue said the students met with him previously about four months ago, but this time the students will present their proposal in front of the community as well.

The health council was formed by the Southeastern Idaho Public Health department in an effort to push for more non-smoking communities. Davids and his colleagues have been working closely with the department’s Traci Lambson and said if the council decides to implement the smoking ban, they would provide the necessary essentials (such as signage) to put in place at the parks.

The city of Pocatello will also be meeting during a study session on December 12 to discuss a smoking ban in the city as well.