GROUP TRIES TO PUT SHIRTS ON STUDENTS' BACKS

Clarksville police are trying to raise enough money by week's end for drug
education T-shirts for fifth-grade graduates of Drug Abuse Resistance
Education.

For the first year since D.A.R.E.'s implementation in
Clarksville-Montgomery County schools in 1989, officers don't have the
money to buy the students T-shirts. The shirts reward kids for completing
the course and pledging to stay drug free, while sending an anti-drug
message to other kids, Clarksville police say.

Deputy Chief Larry Vaden said the T-shirts need to be ordered by Monday.
Police lack about $3,000 to buy shirts for all 2,200 Montgomery County
fifth-graders. Pals of D.A.R.E., a group of citizens who assist the
program, organized fund-raisers and have already collected about two-thirds
of the money, he said.

Barksdale Elementary fifth-grader Emmalee Clayton thinks the T-shirts would
be a reminder to stay away from drugs -- and of the fun he's had during the
program.

"It'll show we've been through the D.A.R.E. program and say no to drugs,"
she said.

This year's D.A.R.E. T-shirts display a Fort Campbell patch on the pocket
to salute the soldiers, making the T-shirts extra special this year, Vaden
said.

"Graduation day is important for them and to wear that T-shirt is an extra
good feeling," Vaden said. "It's just something special for the kids. They
earned it," he said.

Several schools and the schools' Central Office will raise money with a
blue jean day this week. Everyone who wears blue jeans will contribute $2
to the T-shirt fund.

Donations can be made at any Legends Bank to Pals of D.A.R.E.

Putt-Putt Golf & Games offers unlimited free putt-putt to D.A.R.E.
graduates who wear their T-shirts. Even if the students don't get T-shirts
this year, associate Jessica Smith said the business will continue
rewarding D.A.R.E. graduates with free putt-putt.