A 'RED RIBBON' DAY

St. Clairsville Students Pledge To Stay Drug Free

OVER 600 St. Clairsville Elementary School students pledged to live a
healthy drug-free lifestyle on Friday in observance of national "Red
Ribbon Week," held annually from Oct. 18 - 22. This year marks the
first program of its kind at the school.

Red Ribbon Week is a national program that focuses on positive actions
against drug abuse. The red ribbons handed out to students on Friday
encourage them to remain drug, alcohol and tobacco free.

For the past 14 years, CCX Transportation Services has sponsored this
week-long event, and uses public service announcements, billboards,
and school programs to reach millions of young Americans. Guidance
Teacher Margie Suponcok explained that this is the first year for the
event, "and though CCX usually holds these programs for smaller groups
of kids, we think it's going really well and that the children are
learning a lot from it."

After pledging to be drug-free, every student received a bright red
"Freedom is Drug Free" ribbon to wear throughout the school day.
According to information provided by the organization, the Red Ribbon
Task Force works to establish and support parent and community groups
that include the youth, schools, churches, businesses, law enforcement
personnel, government, senior citizens, the media, and more.

CCX Service Center Manager Mary Jane Rogerson, who has been working
with the Red Ribbon Week program for nine years, explained to groups
of students that staying drug free will help them achieve in school,
in their lives, and eventually in careers. The students learned to
avoid abusing illegal and prescription drugs, as well as tobacco and
alcohol. Rogerson used an interactive game based on the shipping
industry to show students how many problems can be caused if just one
employee makes a mistake because they are on drugs. Teacher Cinda
Weisgerber commented that "Mrs. Rogerson did an excellent job, and
even hit upon several issues that the state requires us to offer in
our curriculum."

As part of this program, CCX brings one of its tractor trailers to the
each school parking lot. After this classroom discussion, every
student got a chance to climb up into the cab. CCX Account Executive
Chris Helminski said the company "likes to combine these two
approaches so it's more fun for the kids." Every student received
notepads, candy, and pencils along with their red ribbons.

CCX President and CEO Gerald L. Detter explained, "our participation
in the Red Ribbon campaign is about helping young people and giving
back to the communities where we live. We have seen the positive
impact Red Ribbon makes and welcome the opportunity to carry this
important anti-drug message into our schools."

Suponcik said that the school will reinforce what students learned on
Friday with the help of technology teacher Jeff Vass, who plans to use
computer lessons to help keep students interested in staying drug-free.

Last year Con-Way employees visited over 1,100 schools as part of its
"Adopt-A-School" program, in which company employees took the
drug-free lifestyle message to almost 700,000 students.

'The Red Ribbon campaign was established nationally in 1987 by
Californians for Drug-Free Youth, Inc.