RED RIBBON RALLY HELD

Somerset County's courthouse was abuzz Friday with young and old
voices trying to make a difference.

Courtroom No. 1 filled beyond capacity as hundreds of students,
parents and public officials joined a Red Ribbon Rally in which awards
were presented for anti-drug posters, banners and essays.

The rally marks the beginning of a weeklong campaign to combat drug
and alcohol abuse among young people.

Along with individual awards, for the 12th consecutive year, a team
from Rockwood Area High School took first place in the banner contest.
Second place went to the Shade-Central City School District, while
Meyersdale Area School District came in third. Teams from the
Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District and Somerset County Technology
Center achieved honorable mention.

Kayla Mack, a senior at Shade-Central City High School, said she was
humbled when she found out that she was named the county's outstanding
SADD student at yesterday's rally.

Mack wrote an essay about the importance of encouraging others to
succeed in whatever they do while not allowing drugs to interfere with
those goals.

"I once participated in an exercise where three of my fellow
classmates and I demonstrated how will and friendship can help you
achieve a goal," she wrote in an essay that she read to the crowd.
"Everyone was amazed how well the experiment worked."

Mack will use the Lions Club of Somerset County scholarship to help
further her education when she graduates from high school. She plans
to attend Conemaugh School of Nursing to become a registered nurse.

"I enjoy helping people, and this scholarship will help with the cost
of my schooling," she said.

The Red Ribbon Week is all about helping others. This year's theme is
"Reach for the Stars, Not Drugs."

Red Ribbon Week coordinator Mary Ann Bowman said the event is like a
global positioning system for the community and individuals to take a
stand for hope and dreams for young people.

"Believe in yourself ... activate your inner GPS. Punch in the
location. Lock in the destination and reach for the stars, not drugs,"
she said.

The rally was emceed by county Commissioner Brad Cober and featured
music by a singing student group called Counter-Act. Elisa A. Osman,
pastor of the Lavansville-Bakersville Lutheran Parish, gave the
keynote address.

Osman told a story about her relationship with a cousin she shared
holidays, camping trips and laughter and dreams with while growing up.
He got lost in the world of drugs and she no longer knows where he is
or if he is alive.

Before she lost touch with him five years ago, she saw a man who
wasn't himself because of the drugs. "It was like someone took over
his body and was doing a bad imitation of him," she said.

"It hurts when someone chooses a substance over being with you," Osman
told the crowd.

"Each one of you has power to do good, to make a difference in the
world," she said. "There are so many good things that you don't want
to miss out of ... so many natural highs in life worth staying around
for."

Every year, an individual is chosen for his or her work in the area of
drug prevention for young people.

State Rep. Bob Bastian was named outstanding person of the
year.

Bastian said he appreciated the honor, but did not know if it was
warranted.

"I will continue to stay involved," he said.

He and his wife, Susan, open their farm each year to help kick-start
the annual event.

This year, Red Ribbon Week will begin Oct. 21 with an evening of food,
music, a bonfire and hay rides at the Bastian farm near Friedens.
Admission is free with a red ribbon. The family event will be held
from 5 to 8 p.m.

The teen wrap-up event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 28 at the
community room in the Somerset Borough Building with music, food,
games and door prizes provided. Wear a red ribbon for free admission.

Red ribbons are available at both events.

The 2006 Red Ribbon week event is sponsored by Bastian, the Twin Lakes
Center, Somerset County Drug-Free Communities, the Somerset County Red
Ribbon Committee, Somerset County SADD students and Somerset County
4-H.

A full list of winners, along with photographs, will appear in
Friday's Daily American.