D.A.R.E. RETURNS TO LIPAN, TOLAR

Drug Abuse Resistance Education is back at county elementary
schools, and teachers and students showed their joy at the Tolar
Elementary School D.A.R.E. graduation party Friday. Red and black
balloons festooned the gym while a speaker blared a D.A.R.E. theme
song, and students filed onto the makeshift stage. A fancy table
with cake, cookies and Kool-Aid awaited them. Forty adults observed
from the audience.

"It's been three years since we had D.A.R.E.," fifth-grade teacher
Jo Ann Vaughan said. "Thanks to sheriff (J.E.) Mayo, who returned
the program to the county schools when he came to Hood County. And
thanks to officer Anna Edwards, the kids just love it."

Forty-three fifth graders celebrated completing the 10-week health-
and law-conscious program Friday at Tolar. Lipan fifth graders
graduated Jan. 26. The kids get workbooks and T-shirts and were
granted diplomas.

Third-grade students enjoying the D.A.R.E. graduation festivities
are Kelsey Stone, Whitney Dunson and Rebecca Floyd

When the new sheriff came to town a year ago he was surprised the
D.A.R.E. program had been cut from the county budget.

"It is a good program, and it's good for students to have positive
interaction with law enforcement," Mayo said. "This is the only
place I'd seen where schools didn't have D.A.R.E."

Mambrino School held its D.A.R.E. graduation Monday. Oak Woods
Intermediate plans its celebration for Wednesday; Brawner
Intermediate for Thursday; and Crossland Intermediate this Friday.
Because they are funded by the city, these programs continued uninterrupted.

The program teaches students about illegal drugs, cigarettes and
alcohol and ways to resist peer pressure while building and
maintaining self-esteem. The kids had field trips to City Hall and
the county courthouse, and wrote essays about what they learned from
the program; the Tolar winners being Madison Eichholtz, Morgan
Jackson, Gideon Sanders and Hayley Butler.

Officer Anna Edwards, three years with the Granbury Police
Department, had never taught kids -- or anyone -- before this year.
She said she really enjoys it.

"I get hugs from everybody," Edwards beamed, while students lined up
to do just that in a farewell gesture to their teacher.

Officer Christine Willsey also works in the program. Both work
regular patrol shifts when not teaching D.A.R.E.