POWDERSVILLE SCHOOLS SAY ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE IS WORKING By Sara Harvey

POWDERSVILLE - Behind the fun and games of national Red Ribbon Week, there
was a message that may have deterred Anderson County students from illegal
drug use during the past few years, according to northern Anderson School
District 1 officials.

Drugs became scarce in District 1 four years ago when locker-sniffing drug
dogs began regular patrols and school resource police officers began
teaching an anti-drug curriculum, district spokeswoman Joanne Avery said.

"It's working," Avery said. "We're not seeing it in the schools."

Children are also quick to report anything that seems out of place, she said.

Red Ribbon Week activities took place in schools across the Upstate this
week, with themed activities in Anderson County culminating in Thursday
evening's "Walk in the Park."

A crimson tide of red-wearing men, woman and children walked in Chris
Taylor Park in Anderson to honor local law officers who died in the line of
duty and to honor their fight against drugs.

At least 800 participated last fall, and no fewer were expected this year,
said Tamar Wardlaw, a prevention specialist who speaks to school children
about the dangers of drugs and alcohol for Anderson-Oconee Behavioral
Health Services.

The group co-sponsored the event with Anderson County law enforcement
officers. "Each year it gets bigger and bigger," Wardlaw said.

Red Ribbon Week was created to remember a law officer killed in Mexico
while investigating the drug trade, she said.

The walk also featured face painting and a drawing for new bicycles,
reflecting Red Ribbon Week's emphasis on fun as well as serious lessons.
District 1 Hunt Meadows Elementary students wore red one day, white another
day, planted red tulips another and had a variety of assemblies. Cedar
Grove Elementary planned special dress-up days for students to wear clothes
emblazoned with sports teams to indicate they are "teaming up against
drugs" and mismatched clothes to show they won't get "mixed up" with drugs.

The activities snare the students' attention, said Cedar Grove first-grade
teacher Jane Tucker.

"We do make it a big deal," Tucker said.