EDUCATORS HONORED AT FIRST ANNUAL KID'S DAY

Two educators were honored for devoting their careers to children
during Paynesville's first annual Kid's Day International celebration
on Saturday.

Superintendent Howard Caldwell, of the Paynesville Area Schools, and
deputy Tim Kantos, the Stearns County D.A.R.E. officer, were honored
for their different ways of educating children.

Caldwell has dedicated his entire career to educating children. He
assumed the duties of superintendent in Paynesville in 1989 after
spending 20 years teaching math and science and acting as principal
and superintendent in a half dozen communities in Minnesota. After 35
years as an educator, Caldwell will retire in June.

Dr. Liz Greguson of the Paynesville Chiropractic Clinic, who organized
the event, noted how difficult it is to be responsible for the
education of thousands of children, as Caldwell has been. Educators
don't always get the recognition they deserve, she added.

Michael Leverington, assisted by Paynesville firefighter Jamie Soine,
aims a firehose at a pretend fire during the first annual Paynesville
Kid's Day on Saturday. More than 120 area kids participated in the
event which emphasized health, safety, and caring for the
environment.

"I'm pleased that I was considered an appropriate recipient of this
award," said Caldwell. There are many other people in the community
who also deserve to be recognized, he added.

Kantos has been the D.A.R.E. officer at the Paynesville Area
Elementary School since 1993, when the 10-week drug and alcohol
resistance program was first introduced to local fifth graders. Since
then, Kantos has taught the program to nearly 1,300 PAES students. His
goal is to help students lead "healthier, happier, lives," Kantos told
the Press in 2003.

Kantos began working for the D.A.R.E. program after learning
first-hand how drug and alcohol abuse can hurt young people. His first
girlfriend was killed by a drunk driver.

Greguson believes the D.A.R.E. program has a profound effect on area
children. Children like Kantos, and they probably get more from the
program because of the affection and respect they have for the
teacher, she said.

Kids' Day organizer Dr. Liz Greguson (left) give Stearns County deputy
Tim Kantos (right), the D.A.R.E. officer at PAES, and Howard Caldwell,
superintendent, an award recognizing their dedication to children.

Saturday's event was one of thousands of celebrations hosted by
chiropractic clinics throughout the U.S. and more than eight other
countries. The event's theme was health, safety, and environmental
awareness for kids.

Before the event was held, the Paynesville City Council approved a
proclamation declaring it "Kid's Day" in Paynesville. Acting mayor
Dennis Zimmerman read the proclamation to the crowd during the ceremony.

About 120 children and their parents attended the event, which
included: the Paynesville Police Department offering fingerprinting
and gun safety tips; the Paynesville Area Ambulance promoting bike
helmet fittings; the Paynesville Fire Department giving kids an
opportunity play firefighter; among other health and safety lessons.

Greguson hopes Kid's Day International will become an annual event in
Paynesville. Any money raised at this year's event will go to the
Stearns County D.A.R.E. program.