D.A.R.E. DONATIONS NOT LOCAL

Decatur police said a legitimate Huntsville business is donating a portion
of its profit to a Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, but warned
residents the money doesn't benefit local drug programs. Sgt. Greg Cain
said MVP Distribution in Huntsville left merchandise for sale at Billy's
Mini Market, on Sixth Avenue Southeast. Cain said police have received
sporadic calls since January, asking if the program is legitimate.

"A representative is telling clerks the money raised will support a local
D.A.R.E. program," Cain said. "But none of the money they raise stays
locally, because we haven't had a D.A.R.E. program in three years." Billy's
Mini Market owner Becky McNutt said a MVP representative came to her store
two weeks ago, but she declined to participate. The representative returned
Thursday, she said, and her clerk gave him permission to leave merchandise
and an order form.

"He asked us if we could sell the items or take orders," McNutt said. "He
said part of the money goes to local Decatur schools for their D.A.R.E.
program. Technically, it's a legitimate thing, but to get in our door the
guy says it's going to our schools, but it's not." Some of the merchandise
left for sale included a remote-controlled car, books, sunglasses, watches,
stationary and photo coasters. MVP owner John Nordlund said his business is
a product placement service company that is affiliated with Premier Books.

"Premier Books sponsors D.A.R.E. programs nationwide," Nordlund said. "And
has pledged $1 million to D.A.R.E. over the next four years. Generally, 20
percent of our sales support D.A.R.E. programs. Our hope is to lower the
cost of supplies."

Nordlund said he would speak with his Decatur representative Thursday about
the way he informs business owners of the company's intentions. "We're very
careful to train our guys," Nordlund said. "We stress we don't contribute
directly to local programs. I'll talk to our route driver and find out
exactly what he said."

Mike Duffey, manager of Decatur Decorating Center on Sixth Avenue
Southeast, said a MVP representative visited his store Thursday. The
representative didn't mention sales would support anything locally, Duffey
said.

McNutt said she removed MVP's items from her counter when she found out
Decatur wouldn't benefit from the sales.

Nordlund said he planned to host future book fairs that would exclusively
support local schools or hospitals.

Cain said Decatur schools dropped the D.A.R.E. program three years ago in
favor of a federally recognized drug education program. "We have five
school resource officers dedicated full time to teach anti-violence and
drug prevention," Cain said. "We're using Alternative Choices Education
System."

The federal government established guidelines on how to use federal funds
for drug prevention, Cain said.

"The government told the schools that use federal funds for drug prevention
that the program had to be research based proven and effective," Cain said.

"At the time we switched to A.C.E.S, D.A.R.E. was in the process of getting
themselves on the federal government's proven and effective list."