RED RIBBON WEEK ACTIVITIES HELD IN HOLLIDAY

The Holliday C-2 School hand many activities for the students at the
Holiday C-2 School. Students across America celebrate Red Ribbon Week
to become aware of drugs and to stay drug-free. The activities this
week included dressing up around a daily theme, performing skits about
staying drug-free, creating a 3-D bulletin board display, and
listening to speakers.

The students' favorite presentation was the K-9 Unit from Monroe
County. Officers Ronnie Barton and Raymond Barton brought their two
drug dogs in for the students to see. They watched the dogs search
bags for drugs and attack a bad guy. Students were very excited about
seeing the dogs in action and learning more about them.

Students learned many things about the dogs and their trainers. They
learned the ages of the two dogs, 1'8 months and three years. This
makes quite a bit of difference in their behaviors. Both have
excellent noses and can sniff out four different drug scents. They
both sit down when they find the drug and that is called hitting on
the drug. One dog is rewarded with a rubber chew toy and the other dog
is rewarded with food. They both live with the officers' families and
often have to train them on their own personal time because of the
lack of funding for them.

They keep track of the training and are able to use that information
in court to help them show that their dogs have had adequate training
to continue to find drugs. The dogs are used at traffic stops and
search hes by the police. Students asked about different breeds for
different assignments. The Monroe County area is very fortunate to
have these offices here.

The students were allowed to pet the dogs and found them to be very
friendly. Students and teachers really enjoyed the dogs' visit to the
school.

Students found al the presentations given during Red Ribbon Week to be
outstanding. They listened to Officer Brent Bernhardt tell about his
job as a Highway Patrolman. He was recently seen on national news on
the Good Morning America Show and other new programs because of his
job as the public spoksman during the plane crash at Kirksville. He
told us a personal story of a friend that he wished he could have
stopped from using drugs because his friend was killed in a crash
where drugs were involved.

Associate Circuit Court Judge Mike Wilson spoke with the students and
asked them not to accept the lie.. The lie being that drugs and
alcohol make you look good or act cool. He has seen many people who
use drugs in court and they do not look very good or seem very cool or
act cool to him. He talked with the students about focusing on their
dreams and their goals and making good and right choices. He told
students that almost every case that comes before him has a start
related to using drugs or alcohol. He asked students not to make a
poor choice, but to make good choices and stay drug-free.

Tammy Fugate from M.A.D.D. (Mother's Against Drunk Driving) talked
with the students about her daughter who was killed by a drunk driver.
She provided the students with information and presented activities.
She had a film about traffic accidents and the trouble caused by drunk
drivers. She brought pictures and discussed her loss.

The class performed skits on Friday. The fifth grade won the prize for
the best skit. The class that participated the most was the eighth
grade. Each day, the students dressed up to show their support and
choice to stay drug-free. Students were given chances to win a boom
box and three CD Walkman players. Additional smaller prizes were given to all
participants.

Mrs. Redigton did a fantastic job as sponsor of the week.