OHIO CELEBRATES RED RIBBON WEEK

OHIO -- The purpose of Red Ribbon Week should last a whole lot longer
than one week, according to Scott Horsch, principal at Ohio Grade School.

On Monday morning, about 110 elementary students grabbed
helium-filled, red balloons and congregated on the school's playground
to kick-off Red Ribbon Week. The students launched the red balloons
into the morning's blue sky.

As the students waited for the balloon launch countdown, Horsch said
Red Ribbon Week activities are designed to encourage students to lead
healthy lifestyles and to make good choices. The decision to stay away
from illegal drugs is something students need to take with them year
'round, the principal said.

Cathy Rider, Ohio's fifth-grade teacher, organized this year's fourth
annual Red Ribbon Week in Ohio. The national event began in honor of
Special Agent Enrique Camarena of the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, who was murdered in 1985 during a drug bust. Ohio's
Red Ribbon Week activities are part of the nationwide Red Ribbon Week
observance, she said.

Other activities planned this week at Ohio Grade School include
wearing colorful ties today, Tuesday; mismatched clothes on Wednesday;
and Halloween costumes on Thursday.

Fifth-grader Amy Soto said she likes the activities planned for Red
Ribbon Week. Keeping children off drugs is important, she said. As a
fifth-grader, she will be part of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
program.

"Drugs are bad for you because they have different chemicals that can
hurt your body and make you sick," Soto said. "Red Ribbon Week helps
us to remember to not do drugs."