WALK IS SYMBOLIC

Tradition Honors Red Ribbon Week

"No" was the word of the day Friday for Adams Elementary School
students as hundreds marched down the streets near Hulen Park to the
Guinn Justice Center in Cleburne in recognition of Red Ribbon Week.

A police and fire truck escort led the Adams Alligators, Cleburne High
School cheerleaders, student council members, parents and volunteers
to the center of Johnson County government. Several prominent members
of the community addressed the students about saying no to drugs.

"If you say no to drugs, you can make your dreams come true," 249th
District Judge Wayne Bridewell said. "Make your decisions, make good
decisions and say no to drugs, 'gators."

Cmdr. Adam King, the director of the county's Stop the Offender
Program narcotics task force, told students that drugs are stupid and
they make users stupid too. Buying a small amount of drugs might cost
$50 or $60, he said, but in the end it costs much more. Drugs can make
a person lose his or her education, job, belongings, family, home,
self-respect, freedom and faith.

"When you think about it, these drugs cost you a lot more than $50,"
he said.

Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon heard the students' dreams of what
they want to be when they grow up then advised that drugs only hurt
their chances of making their dreams come true.

"If you get on drugs, you can't have dreams," he said. "All your
dreams go away, so stay off of drugs."

Assistant District Attorney Martin Strahan said he's seen first hand
in his line of work how drugs can destroy a person and the person's
family.

"When it comes time, I know a real 'gator will say no to drugs," he
said.

Cleburne ISD Superintendent Robert Damron also got in on the fun,
singing an anti-drug song to the tune of Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line."

"That's what we want you do to: We want you to walk the line and say
no to drugs," he said.

Adams second-grader Carli Geltmeier said she enjoyed the walk and
hearing the speakers, and is convinced not to try drugs.

"They're bad for you," she said.

First-year Adams Principal Richard Mitchell said he was happy with the
whole event.

"I'm excited," he said. "We had a great turnout, and I'm so
appreciative of the cooperation and time all of the folks in the
community gave Adams today."

The Adams walk tradition began in the mid-1990s when Adams students
marched to the courthouse from their school, which was then located on
South Anglin Street. The courthouse has been under renovation, making
Guinn the substitute this year and last year.