RED RIBBON WEEK PUSHES ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE

REDLANDS Bright red ribbons will decorate the city as well as parts of San
Bernardino County next week in commemoration of the 16th annual Red Ribbon
Week.

The campaign began in 1985 following the death of U.S. Drug Enforcement
Agency officer Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, said Renee Groese, a Redlands police
spokeswoman.

Camarena was killed by drug traffickers in Mexico in 1985 while working
undercover. Following his death, communities around the nation began
displaying red ribbons out of respect for the DEA agent's courage, and to
demonstrate support for drug-free schools, workplaces and communities in
America, Groese said.

"It is designed to create awareness concerning the problems related to the
use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs," Groese said. "To organize
community prevention coalitions and support healthy, productive, drug-free
lifestyles."

Starting Monday, Oct. 22, through Oct. 31, cities throughout San Bernardino
County will host a serious of breakfasts in honor of Red Ribbon Week. On
Oct. 27 a Red Ribbon Week parade will be held, Groese said.

In addition to the red ribbons, county schools will host assemblies,
classroom activities and have guest speakers talk about the importance of
being drug- and alcohol-free.

"We are working hand-in-hand with the schools as far as handing out ribbons,
putting together pamphlets and skits," said Kim Zyss, director of Youth to
Youth, a nonprofit drug prevention and youth development program in Big Bear
Lake. "We have a group of teens who have put together some skits and
presentations that they will be delivering during school assemblies next
week."

In an effort to spread the word throughout the Bear Valley community, Youth
to Youth teens will be selling packets of large red ribbons to area
businesses. The ribbons can be hung outside their offices, Zyss said.

"Our push is to decorate our valley," she said. "We also have large outdoor
plastic ribbons that we are planning to sell."

This year's events were coordinated by Youth to Youth teens as part of a
community service project, Zyss said.