WINNER OF ANTI-DRUG ESSAY CONTEST CREDITS UPBRINGING FOR SAYING 'NO'

A soft-spoken but hard-nosed Bob Jones High School senior won a $1,000
college scholarship for his winning essay in a contest sponsored by the
city's anti-drug organization.

Kyle Long, the 17-year-old son of Mike and Stephanie Long, won the
scholarship from Madison DON'T (Drugs Offer No Tomorrow) in a contest named
for its first program coordinator, Janet Chesser, who died of cancer in 1997.

Summarizing the contents of his essay, Kyle said he suggested that
authorities ''increase the police presence at 'RAVES,' '' parties where
illicit drug use is often rampant.

Kyle said he has never been tempted to use drugs because ''I guess I'm just
fine the way I am,'' but he admits drug use is widespread among his peers.
''It's very common,'' he said.

The secret to resisting drugs? ''Upbringing has a lot to do with it,'' said
Kyle. His parents have always told him ''all the bad things about drugs.''

When he learned he had won the Chesser scholarship, Kyle said it wasn't a
huge surprise because he knew he had put his thoughts into words well. ''I
was very pleased with my essay when I finished writing it,'' he said.

At Bob Jones, Kyle has been involved as a ''tekkie,'' or technical crew
member, in eight plays produced by the drama department, and said that in
his spare time he likes to read.

He plans to study Native American studies and Cherokee language at
Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and hopes for a career as a teacher.

Kyle has three siblings, twins Kevin and Kelly, 14-year-old seventh-graders
at Liberty Middle School, and James, a 19-year-old senior at Bob Jones.

For more information on the scholarship or the organization that sponsors
it each year, visit www.madisondont.org.