EDUCATORS LAUNCH RED RIBBON WEEK

Georgia Beasley believes parents will have to do more drug abuse
education with their own children since the Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program, or DARE, recently came to an end locally.

A counselor at Anderson Elementary School, Beasley says teachers and
administrators on campus continue to caution kids about drugs where
the DARE officers left off after county officials cut the program in a
budget move.

"I believe not having the DARE program is a big loss," Beasley said.
"We can educate them here, and we'll do our best to support our kids.
But we need the community support. And the community is going to be
called on even more, since we don't have DARE anymore."

Red Ribbon Week

Residents can help children in the community through their
participation at the Anderson Elementary School-sponsored Community
Opening of Texas Red Ribbon Drug Campaign Week on Saturday from 11
a.m. to 2 p.m.

The day will start with a parade beginning at Navy Park at 11 a.m. The
parade will conclude at Salem Methodist Church, 402 John Ave., where a
program will take place on the church grounds.

Detective Eric Mitchell of the Orange Police Department will be the
master of ceremonies for the program at Salem.

Anderson students will say pledges to the American and Texas flags and
recite the school motto.

The students in the CHICKEN Club, which is an acronym for Cool,
Honest, Intelligent, Clear-Headed, Keen, Energetic and Not interested
in drugs will say their pledge and mayors from Orange, West Orange and
Pinehurst will read Red Ribbon Week proclamations.

School and community officials who will speak include: Anderson
Principal Benny Smith, West Orange-Cove's interim superintendent Tommy
Price, Coach Dan Hooks, The Revs. C.W. Crawford, Robert Gipson,
Lindsey Smith, Robert Frederick and Barry Bradley.

Also, special guests speakers will be: Sheriff Mike White, Chief Sam
Kittrell, Det. Sarah Jefferson-Simon, Officer Mike Sanchez, Officer
James Lucia, Tawana Bourland, Candi Anders, Kevin Warnell and Jackie
Mayfield.

Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded.

Community assistance is important at Saturday's event because it can
be a show of outward supportive love encouraging children to stay
clean and sober, Beasley said.

"Our county was one of the last DARE programs to continue, so I
appreciate our county for hanging in there as long as they did,"
Beasley said.

The DARE program officers worked in the district for about 10 years,
she said.

Beasley says DARE used to be a part of Red Ribbon Week.

"But, we are continuing on," she said, even though the program has
ended.

Activities

Beasley says the annual parade goes through Navy Park. The program
after the parade is held in various local churches. Next year, Cove
Baptist Church will be the host spot for the after-parade program,
Beasley said.

Benny Smith, Anderson Elementary School's principal, reiterates
Saturday's parade can "pump up" the community to help children remain
drug-free.

Smith also said that during Red Ribbon Week on Anderson's campus there
are plans to promote drug awareness for every day in the week.

"There are a number of activities we are planning on doing to keep
drugs away from our kids," Smith said.