EVENT CENTRAL TO DRUG BATTLE

Parades, Fly-Ins, Drug-Free Pledges Planned for Local Red Ribbon Week

CHEYENNE - Fly-ins by Blackhawk helicopters, parades and educational
meetings about preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
by young people will be part of next week's Red Ribbon Week activities.

Dawn Gay and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Adrien Clark are co-chairing the
activities, which start Monday with a parade and rally at the state Capitol.

Young people throughout local schools will sign drug-free pledges on Monday.

"It's a wonderful awareness campaign to set the stage for teaching
the entire community about how we need to work together as one to
make alcohol, tobacco and other drugs unavailable (to young people),"
Cornelia Dereemer said.

She coordinates the Change Attitudes Now youth mentorship program
that involves high-school students. CAN students are role models for
children, advocating healthy lifestyles by staying away from alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs. The students will present programs at Baggs,
Bain and Freedom elementary schools during Red Ribbon Week.

Schools also will have activities.

Red Ribbon Week calls attention to the problems of abuse of tobacco,
alcohol and other drugs among young people and ways to prevent it.

The week started nationwide after the 1985 murder of a man who worked
for the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The event is a way to "teach kids how to recognize early in life that
drugs lead you nowhere," Dereemer said.

The event is sponsored here by the Red Ribbon Community Committee.
That includes LCSD1's Safe and Drug Free Schools, the military,
business people, legislators and other volunteers.

Events planned so far include:

Monday:

8:40 a.m.: A parade from Cheyenne Mayor Jack Spiker's office to the
State Capitol.

9 a.m.: Kick-off on the steps of the Capitol. Among those taking
part: St. Mary's School Choir, Cheyenne's Central High band, Central
High's Junior ROTC and a McCormick Junior High choir.

Jeff Sweetin, special agent in charge of the DEA's Denver field
division, will speak.

Other speakers include State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jim
McBride; Col. Michael Carey, commander at F.E. Warren Air Force Base;
Major Gen. Ed Wright, adjutant general for the Wyoming National
Guard; Lt. John T. Warnock, commanding officer of the Navy
Operational Support Center here; and students from the CAN program.

Tuesday:

7 p.m. Gay will speak to Burns residents who want to start a meth
awareness program. The location will be announced.

Wednesday:

9-10:30 a.m. Gay will present an educational assembly at Carey Junior High.

1-3 p.m. Freedom Elementary students will have a parade at F.E.
Warren Air Force Base.

Thursday:

9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. A presentation of "drunk goggles" is planned at
Chugwater. The goggles simulate what it's like to be intoxicated to
give students an idea of what control they lose when intoxicated.

11 a.m.-2:15 p.m.: The Wyoming National Guard's Drug Demand Reduction
Team will sponsor a visit by a Blackhawk.

From 11-11:45 a.m., the helicopter and crew will visit Gilchrist
Elementary; from 12:15-12:45 p.m., at Burns High; and from 1:30-2:15
p.m., at Johnson Junior High for students at Goins Elementary.

6-8 p.m.: The Cheyenne Meth Initiative Council will have a community
program at Lions Park Community House.

Friday:

10 a.m.: Gay will talk to fifth and sixth graders at Freedom Elementary.

6:30-9:30 p.m. Sponsors of the Haunted Skate at Taco John's Event
Center will include Red Ribbon Week activities. Those who wear a red
ribbon or bracelet will get a free soft drink. Canine units from the
sheriff and police will in the lobby; CAN students also will do a presentation.

Gay said she want to get information not just to the students but to
adults as well.

"The truth is that if a younger person is where they use alcohol,
tobacco or marijuana, the more likely they are to move on to harsher
substances than are their peers (who do not)," she said.

Gay is retired from the Wyoming Air Guard Counter Drugs program. She
also was assigned to DEA for 41/2 and was a law enforcement officer
for 14 years.