MOTORCYCLES KEEP DARE RUNNING

Annual Ride Is The Only Source Of Funds For County's Drug-Awareness Program.

Greene County's DARE program is kept afloat by the rev of motorcycle engines.

On Sunday, a caravan about 400 strong is expected to roar out of
town for the fifth annual DARE to Ride.

"When everyone fires up to leave, it's just awesome," said Greene
County Sheriff Jack Merritt, who started the ride his first year in office.

The county's program is completely funded by the fundraiser. Since
2002, riders have raised $20,686 for the Greene County Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program and Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield.

Registration is to begin at 8 a.m. and costs $15 a rider, $20 a
couple or $20 per Jeep. The ride to Marble Falls, Ark., kicks off at
10 a.m. Proceeds are split evenly between the two organizations.

Merritt launched the ride after he was elected and promised to keep
DARE despite lack of funds.

Founded in 1983 in Los Angeles, DARE is a police officer-led series
of classroom lessons that teaches children how to resist peer
pressure and live drug-free lives.

Ron Moore, DARE instructor with the Greene County Sheriff's
Department, said the program has been whittled down from 17 to 10
weeks over the years.

For 10 weeks, Moore visits fifth-grade students in the county and
teaches them about substance abuse and how to deal with peer
pressure. He also brings in high school role models, such as
athletes and stellar students, to discuss how they live drug-free.

"We talk about three gateway drugs: alcohol, tobacco and marijuana,"
Moore said. "Those are the ones that can be found in our homes, so
those are the ones we discuss."

Springfield has three DARE officers who visit classrooms throughout
the year, said Sgt. Steve Licis, who oversees the Springfield program.

"It's basically about prevention, and the more we can teach
prevention, hopefully the less criminal activity in the future," Licis said.

A DARE officer for 15 years, Moore says that if funding continues to
decline, substance abuse could increase. He pointed to a recent
study that found teen smoking is up for the first time in years.

"It's a shame they have taken away these monies and now these
programs are suffering and it's beginning to show up in our youth," Moore said.