RED RIBBON WEARERS INTOLERANT OF DRUGS

Two brave high school students stood up before the Wahpeton City
Council Monday night and informed councilmen of the upcoming Red
Ribbon Week.

Red ribbons are worn as a sign of intolerance to drugs. Jessica Rick
and Ben Mattern are two of six Core members who officiate over the
group that will be visiting elementary schools this week to present
programs to stem the tide of illegal drug use. The entire group will
consist of about 25 high school students who visit Central Elementary
on Tuesday and Thursday, and will be at St. John's and Zimmerman
elementary schools Wednesday.

The groups will teach elementary students about the dangers of drugs
and ask each student to sign a pledge to lead a healthy drug free
lifestyle, where they will not use illegal drugs or illegally use
legal drugs.

"It's fun helping the little kids. It's interesting what they say,"
Mattern said.

"They're not shy," Rick added of the interest shown by elementary
students who apparently are not afraid to ask the high schoolers
questions during the programs.

Students wear the Red Ribbon in support of a terrible incident in
1985. Enrique Camerena, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent was kidnapped,
tortured, and brutally murdered in Mexico by drug suppliers to the
United States.

On March 9, 1985, hundreds of law enforcement officials gathered in
support in Calexico, Calif. Students at the local high school heard of
the murder and were outraged, to pay their respects to Camerena, they
wore red ribbons in honor of his dedication and courage. Shortly
afterward, parent groups began to display red ribbons as a sign of
intolerance to drugs.

The first red ribbon campaign was held in North Dakota in October
1988. That year alone 20,000 ribbons were distributed alone throughout
the state. In 1995 the number grew to 290,000 in North Dakota alone.