AREA D.A.R.E. PROGRAMS GET BOOST

ZANESVILLE -- Fifth-graders in Muskingum County will continue to learn that
drug free is the way to be.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) programs at the Muskingum
County Sheriff's Office and Zanesville Police Department received grant
money from the Attorney General's office, to supplement program costs.

D.A.R.E. programs teach young children about self-esteem and how to say no
to drugs and other substances, said Sgt. Dan Marks of the Muskingum County
Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office received more than $8,200, and the ZPD received about
$10,600 for the 2003-04 school year for their DARE programs, said Regional
Director of Public Affairs Pete Couladis from the attorney general's
office. The grants are part of nearly $3.2 million which is being divided
among 222 law enforcement agencies statewide.

"We are making a difference for our young people," said Muskingum County
Sheriff Bob Stephenson. "Thanks to this grant, the program is still alive
for this year and hopefully for the next."

The D.A.R.E. program at the sheriff's office began in 1997, Marks said.
Since then, 6,269 fifth-graders in Muskingum County have graduated from
D.A.R.E.

The nine-week program is conducted for students in all of Muskingum
County's school districts: Franklin Local, Tri-Valley, Maysville, West
Muskingum and East Muskingum.

"This program is part of a very proactive effort on the part of the
sheriff's department," said Maysville Elementary Principal Tom Musgrave.
"It is a great way for us to be involved in kids' lives before they are
having problems. The program plays a big part in creating positive
relationships between the kids, the community and the sheriff's department."

Duncan Falls Elementary Principal Steve Rice has noticed the benefits of
the program through his own children.

"I'm a big supporter of it," he said. "Two of my kids -- now grown -- went
through the program and I think it has made a big impact with them."

Muskingum County D.A.R.E. Officer Bill Hoops notices every day how the
program changes and helps kids.

"We don't just talk about drugs, we talk about other problems," he said.
"Many times, kids will come up to me and ask me how they can get their
parents to stop smoking, and I try and give them information, which they
take home to their parents. I've had parents come up to me at D.A.R.E.
graduations and tell me their kids confronted them about their smoking or
drinking."