COMPUTING A DRUG-FREE LIFE

BAD AXE -- She went into the Kids Against Drugs program with general
knowledge about the dangers of drugs. She came out with a thorough
understanding of drug dangers, a strong resolution to keep herself
and others safe from drugs, and a new custom-built computer.

Natasha Bishop, a Bad Axe Junior High student, won a free computer
from Huron Computers after she wrote a letter explaining what she
learned in the Kids Against Drugs program, taught by Huron County
Sheriff's Office Deputy/Community Program Director Tom Morneau. It is
a drug awareness program for fourth and fifth-graders. The students
are given a Drug Safety booklet from Gateway Community Safety Net.
The booklets are donated by several businesses in Huron County.
Retired Sgt. R. Brent Woodward started the Kids Against Drugs program in 1991.

As part of the program, students had the opportunity to enter the Mr.
Computer contest. Students included in the letter how the program
changed the way they think about harmful drugs; how they plan to use
what they've learned; and why they think safety education is so
important for young people. Some letters included parent comments,
including Natasha's.

Gateway Community Safety Net chose Natasha's letter as the best, and
Huron Computers donated a computer with a CD ROM drive, a $500 value.
She received the computer last week.

Natasha wrote the letter when she was a fifth-grader at Bad Axe
Intermediate School last year.

"The K.A.D. program taught me the dangers of drugs and what it can do
to you," she wrote. "If anybody tried to offer me drugs I would say
'No' and run away. To keep others safe I would convince them not to
take drugs."

Natasha said she plans to use her new computer to learn, use the
Internet, and play games.

"I appreciate the computer," she said.

She said she "couldn't believe it" when she first heard she won the
computer. "I was jumping up and down," she said.

The computer comes with a Celeron 2.5 processor, 40 gigabyte hard
drive, and 256 megabytes of memory. She also received a 17-inch monitor.

Natasha's parents are Steve and Tammy Bishop of Bad Axe.