The goose incident has made front page news in Longmont three times: the day the incident was first reported, a few days later when the fourth goose died, and again today. And updates on the story have appeared daily since the incident.

The Longmont Times-Call has a section called the T-C Line, where people can call or write in with comments about local goings-on. I read this section religiously—it is my favorite part of the paper, aside from Dear Abby, because reading it is like taking the pulse of the community. On Sunday, the entire T-C Line column was taken up by comments about the geese incident. And in Tuesday's paper, the column led off with a special Editor's Note: "The T-C Line received dozens of calls over the weekend about the goose-killing incident (even more than calls about Tim Tebow)." More than Tebow—now that's remarkable! Longmont is crazy about Tebow.

Here are a few of the comments:

I am deeply ashamed of those boys who ran through a group of geese they had herded together just for that purpose. They should be ashamed as well. I am also so proud of the other people who were watching and helped try to save the one goose that was injured but not killed.

 I am incredibly dismayed to learn I live in a city where young men run over defenseless geese for kicks. I urge these young men to do the right thing and own up to their actions.

 I can't believe there's kids in Longmont that would do that.

 For punishment, I suggest 300 hours (of community service) for each boy at Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center or the Longmont Humane Society and the loss of driver's license for one year for the jerk who drove the vehicle. These boys have to suffer a little bit for what they did.

I was horrified when I read about the teenagers intentionally running over the geese. ... They obviously have no regard for nature or life. I am appalled at their behavior and hope they are punished to the fullest extent of the law.

I am sickened by the report of the teenagers who intentionally herded then ran down the geese. ... I hope that they are not only caught and prosecuted for aggravated animal cruelty but required to do time at one of the many animal rescue facilities in the area. Maybe they will learn to be more appreciative of all the innocent animals that share the earth with them. I also hope their parents administer the appropriate discipline these children deserve and apparently need.

I'm calling about the teens who ran over the geese. Where are their parents?

So often, we are reminded that humans are not the only species on this planet, they just act like it when they behave in this atrocious manner. Shame on you, whoever you are.

Normally I find the pulse of my community a bit distressing when it comes to animals. This is a city where first prize for all age groupers in one of the big local running races, the Longmont Turkey Trot, is a dead turkey. (One of the sponsors of the race is the local Butterball factory.) But I feel heartened by this whole goose incident. Although the crime itself was deeply disturbing, the outpouring of community sadness and disgust over the killing of four geese gives me hope.

Today's front page headline reads "2 teens ticketed in deaths of geese." This, apparently, is bigger news that Romney's win in the New Hampshire primary. The driver of the SUV and the boy who herded the geese into the street both have been ticketed on four counts of felony aggravated animal abuse. The third teenager—the one who sat in the car and watched—has been referred to a restorative justice program.