STUDENTS STAGE ANTI-DRUG RED RIBBON RALLY

Event honors slain officer, focuses on helping kids make healthy choices

Simi Valley students united this week to publicly declare before family and
friends their commitment to a drug-free world.

Staff and students from 21 of the 28 schools in the Simi Valley Unified
School District, along with some from area private schools, participated in
the annual communitywide Red Ribbon Rally Wednesday evening. It took place
for the first time at the Royal High School Stadium.

Traditionally staged at Bob Jacob Memorial Stadium at Simi Valley High
School, the change of venue came unexpectedly when a fire last week caused
an estimated $300,000 of damage to the stadium, burning bleachers, the
press box and a snack bar.

"Royal High School was gracious enough to allow us to use their stadium on
such very short notice," said Karen Schock, president of the Simi Valley
PTA/PTSA Council, which sponsors the annual rally with the Simi Valley
Unified School District. "We worried that the change of venue would
inconvenience the community."

But the worry was unfounded. When the 6:30 p.m. start time rolled around,
the parking lot and the bleachers were packed to capacity.

The rally is the highlight of weeklong festivities on each campus stressing
drug education and making healthy choices.

"Over the years, we changed the tone of our message," said Mary Woolever,
event co-chairwoman along with Melissa Thiesen. "We're teaching kids about
healthy living and giving them options and choices. Kids react much better
to positive messages rather than negative ones."

In its 14th year, the rally commemorates the loss of Special Agent Enrique
"KiKi" Camarena, a drug enforcement officer who was tortured and killed by
drug traffickers.

"We wear red ribbons in memory of the blood spilled and a life taken ..,"
said Michelle Bertsch, one of three Simi Valley Police officers who conduct
the D.A.R.E. on Simi campuses. The other officers are John Hughes and Don
Anderson.

"We wear red ribbons as a member of a proud and healthy community ... and
the continued fight against drugs. We wear red ribbons to say thank you,"
Bertsch said.

While the event itself is happy and fun, the gravity of the situation was
at once apparent, when Bertsch called for a moment of silence to remember
Special Agent Camarena, and close to 1,500 laughing, talking children and
adults came to near pin-drop silence for more than a minute.

"We know this program is working," said Jane Troy, an instructor at
Sycamore School and Red Ribbon Week coordinator. "The children in this
community are making better choices, and frankly, if we only reach one
child and change their way of thinking, then we would still be a success."