RED-RIBBONED STUDENTS TAKE STAND AGAINST DRUGS

The red ribbons on the clothes of area students this week are more than a
fashion statement. They're reminders of the stand students are taking
against illegal drugs and alcohol.

Some schools like Grover and Springmore elementaries have taken that a step
further and provided students with a chance to dress up, with their focus
on anti-drug themes.

Red Ribbon Week is a national celebration offering people a way to take a
stand against illegal drugs and alcohol. The weeklong observance started in
1985 as a way to honor Enrique Camarena, a government agent who was killed
by drug traffickers in Mexico.

Springmore children wore hats one day and tacky clothes on another and
enjoyed red food in the cafeteria each day, said Becky Hill, a guidance
counselor at the school.

"They love the hat day and we have all had hats on, but they really love
wacky tacky day," Mrs. Hill said.

She explained that drugs make people do wacky things and that's what the
tacky clothes signified on Wacky Tacky Day.

Overall, she's pleased with the week's turnout.

"We have had fun and after it's all over, you're glad you did it," said
Mrs. Hill. "If it helps even a few children, I think it's a success."

Children at Grover Elementary took a walk around campus Monday to talk
about healthy alternatives to drugs, said Wendy Lemons, the school's counselor.

"They enjoyed it and some of them wanted to stay a whole lot longer," she
said. "They named things they could do instead of drugs that would be
healthy alternatives."

At the end of the walk, as school was getting out, students started
chanting, "Say no to drugs! Never do drugs," so their parents could hear
them in the parking lot, Mrs. Lemons said.

On other days, students wore creative hats ranging from construction hats
to Native American headdresses and princess tiaras, she said.

Children also commemorated the week by writing essays on what their
anti-drug is and winners' essays are printed in The Star in an insert in
today's paper.

The Substance Abuse Task Force of Cleveland distributed 4,000 red ribbons
across the county, said Phil Weathers, safe schools director for Cleveland
County Schools. Ribbons went to school system employees, law enforcement
agencies, emergency medical services, the Cleveland County Health
Department, local hospitals, the Wal-Mart SuperCenter and restaurants.

Other schools featured speakers and DARE officers who reminded students to
stay drug-free.

Elementary and intermediate school students signed a pledge card from the
school system as a promise to stay drug-free, Weathers said.

"There's been a lot of things going on to promote this and the teachers
have been encouraged to participate," he said, adding that many wore
ribbons during the week. "They're trying to be role models and to promote
an anti-drug stance."

Student essays on their stand against drug use are included in a Special
Insert in Saturday's Star.