BURG PLAYS HOST TO DARE CONFERENCE

GATLINBURG -- The annual statewide DARE conference is being hosted this
week by Gatlinburg Police Department.

About 200 DARE (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) officers from all over
Tennessee will participate in daily classes Monday through Thursday. The
classes will update and energize them for a new year of teaching children
about the hazards of drugs.

The week's activities will be kicked off tonight at 8 p.m. with a public
parade on the Parkway which features Retro Bill, the National DARE Safety
Buddy.

Actor, writer and director Bill Russ, also known as Retro Bill, is a
colorful, entertaining and informative "blast from the past." His act is
described as "Elvis meets Jim Carrey with a message of safety and
self-esteem for kids."

Using fun props such as Hula Hoops, Slinkies, rubber duckies, Silly String
and a Mr. Potato Head, Retro Bill delivers messages of citizenship,
character, self-esteem and safety.

The focus of this year's conference is to teach current and new DARE
officers the new curriculum for the program. Officers must attend to get
certification in the new curriculum.

Participating are officers from city police, county sheriff and state
police departments across the state.

This is the second time in recent years that the Gatlinburg Police
Department has hosted the conference, which has been organized this time by
Officers Mike Skinner and Jimmy Huddleston. Law enforcement agencies from
the various regions take turns hosting the event.

"Chief Harry Montgomery supports this program 100 percent - when he sees
any program that will benefit kids, he goes all out for it," said Huddleston.

Opening ceremonies for the conference featured Jaimie, the 11-year-old
daughter of Jimmy and Melody Huddleston, singing the National Anthem and
"Amazing Grace."

In addition to the daily classes, the officers and their families will
participate in fun activities, such as a cookout and sightseeing.