STUDENTS EMBRACE ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN

Watching a piece of paper turn black with smoke stains may not affect
an adult's decision to smoke. But for a 10-year-old child, the display
may stop the student from ever putting a cigarette to his or her lips.

Exhibits about the dangers of drug, alcohol and tobacco use have taken
center stage in schools this week as part of the National Red Ribbon
Week Celebration, but local fifth graders have been learning about the
dangers of drugs and alcohol for months through the Too Good For Drugs
program.

"The program is actually taught to first - fifth grade students, but
local school resource officers teach it to the fifth grade level at
all the elementary schools," said David Greene, Columbia County
Sheriff's Office deputy and elementary school resource officer.

The Too Good For Drugs program has been in use in local schools for
two years. It's estimated that 800 local fifth-graders take part in
the program.

Greene said the program is an educational awareness program for
children to be able to learn about the harmful effects that drugs can
cause on them and some of the consequences of using those substance to
themselves and to others in their lives.

"The kids love the program," Greene said. "We try to implement a lot
of good visual aids and things that interest the kids where they can
reach-out and really put their hands-on... The kids feed on what we
do. It's just a matter of getting them motivated and keeping them
motivated throughout the class."

"I like the Too Good For Drugs program because it teaches kids not to
smoke drugs because if you do your lungs will get bad and you will get
cancer," said Chrissy Reichert, a Summers Elementary
fifth-grader.

"I like the program because it teaches us not to do drugs," added
11-year-old Kimbridge Wilkison. "I think it's a good program."

The Too Good For Drugs program is a 10-week program and at the end of
the program, there is a test the children must pass to be able to
participate in a formal graduation.

Four Columbia County Sheriff's Office deputies work as school resource
officers in elementary schools as part of the program.

"The purpose of the program is to educate the children so they can
make good decisions, good choices and so they will stop and think
before they decide what or what not to do," Greene said. "They'll make
good choices and good consequences are the results of good
choices."Jim Poole, executive director of the Lake City-Columbia
County Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Authority, said
he was pleased with the event that had been originally scheduled for
August but postponed by hurricanes.

"I just believe it was a good day for [the county]."

Meally Jenkins, employer services coordinator for Florida Crown
Workforce, which is providing complimentary employee screening,
testing and temporary office space to New Millennium, said more than
800 job applications for the company have already been received,
mostly from local people.