News (Media Awareness Project) - US NE: Staying Drug-Free |
| Title: | US NE: Staying Drug-Free |
| Published On: | 2008-10-22 |
| Source: | North Platte Telegraph, The (NE) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-10-25 16:55:43 |
STAYING DRUG FREE
This week, students throughout town are pledging to remain drug free
as part of the annual Red Ribbon Week campaign. On Tuesday, students
as Osgood Elementary received a special visit from a four-legged friend.
Officer Mark Stokey and his German Shepherd named Max visited the
school to talk about how Max helps to catch bad guys by finding the
illegal drugs they bring into our communities.
Osgood guidance counselor Linda Anderson said the dog was a big hit
with the students. She added Tuesday's special assembly is just one of
many activities that are going on this week throughout North Platte.
On Tuesday, the students at Osgood and Lake Maloney also got to hear
from local rodeo star Dustin Elliott who talked to the students about
how drugs like tobacco and alcohol can negatively affect his job as a
bullrider.
"He was fabulous," Anderson said. "The kids were just
mesmerized."
On Thursday, Miss Nebraska Gretchen Bergquist will talk to the
students at these schools about the adverse effects of nicotine. The
week will end with a chant competition and balloon launch on Friday.
Anderson said Red Ribbon Week is part of a national campaign to
educate students about the dangers of drugs. The event got its start
in 1985 after a young drug enforcement agent was tortured and killed
in the line of duty
Anderson said the community responded by talking to young students
about the dangers of drugs-a topic that was usually not addressed
until students reached middle school.
Anderson said the campaign went from one community to the next until
Congress eventually recognized it as a national program in 1988. Since
then, schools across the country have gotten involved in the program.
"So there are kids all over the country that celebrate Red Ribbon Week
at this time of year," Anderson said.
She said it is no coincidence that this event happens just before
Halloween. She noted statistics show that more kids are introduced to
drugs at Halloween than at any other time of the year because of
"candy look-a-like" drugs.
This week, students throughout town are pledging to remain drug free
as part of the annual Red Ribbon Week campaign. On Tuesday, students
as Osgood Elementary received a special visit from a four-legged friend.
Officer Mark Stokey and his German Shepherd named Max visited the
school to talk about how Max helps to catch bad guys by finding the
illegal drugs they bring into our communities.
Osgood guidance counselor Linda Anderson said the dog was a big hit
with the students. She added Tuesday's special assembly is just one of
many activities that are going on this week throughout North Platte.
On Tuesday, the students at Osgood and Lake Maloney also got to hear
from local rodeo star Dustin Elliott who talked to the students about
how drugs like tobacco and alcohol can negatively affect his job as a
bullrider.
"He was fabulous," Anderson said. "The kids were just
mesmerized."
On Thursday, Miss Nebraska Gretchen Bergquist will talk to the
students at these schools about the adverse effects of nicotine. The
week will end with a chant competition and balloon launch on Friday.
Anderson said Red Ribbon Week is part of a national campaign to
educate students about the dangers of drugs. The event got its start
in 1985 after a young drug enforcement agent was tortured and killed
in the line of duty
Anderson said the community responded by talking to young students
about the dangers of drugs-a topic that was usually not addressed
until students reached middle school.
Anderson said the campaign went from one community to the next until
Congress eventually recognized it as a national program in 1988. Since
then, schools across the country have gotten involved in the program.
"So there are kids all over the country that celebrate Red Ribbon Week
at this time of year," Anderson said.
She said it is no coincidence that this event happens just before
Halloween. She noted statistics show that more kids are introduced to
drugs at Halloween than at any other time of the year because of
"candy look-a-like" drugs.
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