LAKE CITY STUDENTS GRADUATE D.A.R.E.

LAKE CITY - Students, their families and staff at Lake City Upper
Elementary were part of a graduation ceremony Friday.

The ceremony did not mark the end of the school's fifth graders
elementary career. It did, however, mark the end of this year's
D.A.R.E. program. Like many graduations, it was a happy and joyous
occasion especially since there was a possibility it would not be
offered this year.

Due to a lack of funding, after the 2004-2005 school year, the
D.A.R.E. Program in Missaukee County was no longer going to be
offered to students in Lake City Area Schools, McBain Rural
Agricultural School, Northern Michigan Christian and Merritt
Elementary School. The program is directed toward fifth-graders at
each of the schools.

The D.A.R.E. acronym stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

Todd Stephan has been in the field of law enforcement for more than
20 years and said he has enjoyed the change of pace since becoming
the D.A.R.E. officer for the schools. He also wanted to thank the
community, staff and especially the students for making the
experience such a good one.

"It went better than expected as far as what I expected from myself.
Just the learning experience from the children has been refreshing.
It has been an education to me," Stephan said. "The support of the
community has been great and the school staff and parents working
together to make this year go well."

Missaukee County Sheriff Jim Bosscher said after organizations in the
county came forward with donations coupled with money left over in
the D.A.R.E. account, the program was able to be offered for all the districts.

The schools not only were supposed to lose the program but also the
school liaison officer. The officer dealt with day-to-day issues and
worked with the students and schools to help deal with various
problems that might have occurred.

Although the D.A.R.E. program has returned the officer position has
not been replace as a result of the extra money and donations.

Bosscher echoed Stephan's sentiments as he said without the help of
the community this important program would not have been offered to
the students.

"A lot of credit has to go to the community for stepping forward and
making it happen," he said.

D.A.R.E. was founded in 1983 by the Los Angles Police Department and
the Unified School District and is now in all 50 states and several
foreign countries.