PROGRAM 'DARES' TO SAVE LIVES

RENSSELAER -- Van Rensselaer Elementary fifth grade students were honored
yesterday for the achievements they have made in the D.A.R.E. program over
the last nine weeks.

This year millions of school children around the world will benefit from
Drug Abuse Resistance Education, (D.A.R.E.) the highly acclaimed program
that gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs
and violence.

"I like the D.A.R.E. program because it puts a uniformed officer in the
classroom," said Sheriff Orville Perry. "This builds a good rapport."

Fifth grade students at Van Elementary have been fortunate enough to have
participated in the D.A.R.E. program for the last 17 years.

"The D.A.R.E. program can only do so much but with the positive
reinforcement from parents it can go along way," said Deputy Jason Wallace.

This will be Wallace's last year teaching the D.A.R.E. program, but Perry
promised that the program will not die.

Over the last 17 years 9,000 fifth grade students have been introduced to
the D.A.R.E. program.

"The D.A.R.E. program began in 1983 in California, and in 1990 became a
part of Rensselaer," said Perry.

When the D.A.R.E. program first hit Rensselaer schools it was under
Sergeant Dave Schaetzel who worked with the program for four years, but
with limited funds and man power Schaetzel stepped down and Sergeant Tim
Bruce took over.

"Tim was amazing. He managed to hold down the fort for D.A.R.E. for eight
years," said Perry. "He pulled through and strived until something else
came along, in which the program got handed over to Deputy Jason Wallace
who has been doing it now for four years."

"The D.A.R.E. program has passed through many hands, but it has been most
difficult to keep going with limited man power," said Perry. "Here we have
one man who travels to Van, Saint Augustine, Tri-County, KV, and Saint
Christian. That is 500 students and 22 classes which is a lot to keep up with."

The D.A.R.E. program is designed to build life skills to help them resist
the peer pressures involved in schools today.

"The D.A.R.E. program is an excellent program that really needs to proceed
into the future," said Wallace. "I will try my best to make sure that it
will continue."

The D.A.R.E. program is run strictly on funds and donations. If anyone
would like to make a donation or inquire about the D.A.R.E. program
contact Sheriff Orville Perry at 866-7334.

D.A.R.E.

By Morgan Garrity

The first words my D.A.R.E. officer said to us was "Hello Everyone!" I was
thinking this program was going to be a walk in the park, but it turned
out that D.A.R.E. filled me with facts about drugs and alcohol, what they
were and what they do to your body. I have learned about response styles
and the five types of peer pressure.

As the days rolled on the facts from D.A.R.E. filled my head. Did you know
that there are two hundred known poisons in cigarette smoke alone? I
didn't, but it's those little facts that have impacted me in a way
that has convinced me to stay away from things that harm my body.

I believe D.A.R.E. is important because it teaches kids the effect of drug
and alcohol abuse. It is also important because it teaches kids about how
to stay away from situations where drugs and alcohol are present and if
you're in those situations D.A.R.E. teaches you how to get out of them easily.

The facts that I learned in D.A.R.E. were unbelievable. Did you know that
alcohol advertisers put ads on baby bibs? The advertisers put colorful
creatures on the ads and they attract kids of all ages. Tobacco
advertisers put pictures to show that when you smoke you're cool! (Which
isn't true).

I have learned so much through D.A.R.E. Like how three thousand
non-smokers die each year from breathing in other people's cigarette
smoke! D.A.R.E. has taught me how to stop and think through things before
I do them. I Morgan Garrity pledge to be drug and alcohol free
and forever make wise decisions.