STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM DARE DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM

CLARION - Clarion Borough officials congratulated 17 students at
Immaculate Conception School on Tuesday for their participation in a
10-week program that teaches drug abuse prevention.

Certificates were awarded during the special DARE event involving
fifth-grade students in teacher Karen Pesek's class.

"You worked hard for this," said borough Officer Scott Robinson, who
presented the program.

Drug Awareness Resistance Education offers students tactics to deal
with issues related to drugs, alcohol, tobacco and bullying.

Robinson encouraged the graduates to use the information in high
school, college and at "any time in your life."

"You can make the right choice" and say no to drugs, he
said.

Others attending the event were borough police Chief Mark Hall,
borough Mayor John Stroup, council member and public safety chairman
Rich Herman, and the DARE lion mascot.

The lion reminds students they can use humor as a way "to get out of
peer pressure situations," Robinson said.

The program was also presented to 55 students at Clarion Area
Elementary School.