SCHOOLS OBSERVE RED RIBBON WEEK

Rolla, Mo. - Red Ribbon Week, a national observance held in schools
throughout the country, found its way to Phelps County.

Newburg Mayor Andrew Mattison signed a drug-free proclamation on
Monday after an assembly that kicked off the week at Newburg Schools.

"Red Ribbon Week is a week of activities promoting drug-free lives for
our students," noted teacher Christy Campbell, a Red Ribbon Week
organizer at Newburg School.

The assembly for the middle schoolers, which include grades five
through eight, began Monday morning with an introduction by Principal
Ron Reagan.

"It's the beginning of Red Ribbon Week, and you all did a really good
job of wearing your red shirts," Reagan told the students.

Cheerleaders rallied the students with drug-free cheers.

The fifth-graders were recognized as the loudest grade, cheerleader
Missey Richmond announced.

Cesar, the Phelps County Sheriff's Department K-9, and Deputy Allan
Studney made an appearance at the assembly.

When asked by a student in the audience how powerful the dog could be,
Studney answered, "Cesar's jaw has about 1,200 PSI
(pounds-per-square-inch), which means that he can break an adult's
femur bone."

The highly-trained, dual-tracking dog receives attack and tracking
commands in Dutch, Studney explained.

Studney and his assistant Jim Arnold demonstrated Cesar attacking one
of the officers wearing a training attack suit.

The assembly was brought to a close by a skit called "American Idol,
Brought to You by the Class of 2013."

The performance was about the effects of marijuana usage and how
damaging it can be. The actors in the play staged a mock arrest.

After the assembly, class members met in the principal's office with
the mayor for the signing of the proclamation. The proclamation also
was taken to the Doolittle School to be signed by that town's mayor.

Campbell said she and her class decorated the hallway of the middle
school with red lights, posters, signs and ribbons.

"All of the middle school students have pledged to be drug-free, and
we think it is a really great thing," said Campbell.

Along with activities and events scheduled for the week, Newburg
students will participate in Pajama Day, Hat Day and Twin Day, Reagan
said.