STUDENTS COMPLETE DEFY CAMP

For 10-year-old Katie Brantley learning the dangers of drug use was
unforgettable, but she plans to continue the experience the rest of the year.

Twenty-nine other attendees of the Drug Education For Youth program said
they felt same way. Dressed in military fatigues, the kids sat anxiously
during their completion ceremony Tuesday afternoon in the T.R. White
Sportsplex in East Jackson.

"We had to learn a lot about teamwork," Brantley said. "About conflict and
how to lower and raise the American flag."

Brantley was the winner of the program's 50-word essay contest.

"I'm glad I had the chance to attend the DEFY camp," said Brantley in her
essay. "It was hard but it was fun."

The hard part for Brantley were the exercises and training from the
National Guard.

The program is sponsored by the Jackson Weed and Seed Safe Haven site for
children between the ages of 9 through 12. Officials said the program will
continue to offer classes for participants once a month through next May.

"Everything went so well," said Andrette Newsom, program coordinator. "I'm
extremely pleased that all of the kids want to stick with the program."

Newsom said the program will continue in September with monthly meetings on
Saturdays.

"We're going to take the kids to a football game and show them a soup
kitchen," Newsom said.

A lot of parents attending the ceremony said they noticed a change in their
children.

"He signed himself up for the program," said Mary Ross. Her grandson,
Demarcus Wallace, participated in DEFY.

"I made new friends but it was also hard work learning how to march,"
Wallace said.

JPD Lt. Jerry Truelove said the program definitely caused changes for some
of its participants.

"We saw a lot of these kids grow," Truelove said. "We had to settle some of
them down but we kept them in line, a lot of kids constantly hear negative
things but we wanted to give the kids something positive."

Volunteers from the Jackson Police Department, National Guard and local
college students worked with participants on other issues such as respect
and attending church.

"I saw some changes in a lot of the kids," said Crystal Truelove, a UT
Martin student. "All the kids had different personalities, but we all got
along well and had a lot of fun together."

The program focused on teaching children between the ages of 9 and 12 the
dangers of drug use, improving image and self-esteem issues.

U.S. Attorney General of the West Tennessee District Terry Harris addressed
the program's participants on Tuesday with a message of encouragement.

"I want the kids to know they can be anything they want and for them to be
proud of their accomplishments," Harris said.