DARE GRADUATES GET LESSON FROM TOP NARCOTICS OFFICER

For Brookhaven Academy sixth grader Jameson Wright, a college education is
now riding on his ability to keep up with a T-shirt for the next six years.

The shirt, given as a gift to Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics director
Frank Melton during Lincoln County's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
graduation ceremonies Wednesday, was passed on to Wright for safe keeping
until he graduates from high school. Melton promised to pick up the shirt
at the student's high school graduation.

"He's going to give me this T-shirt, and I'm going to give him a
scholarship to any state college or university he wants to attend," Melton
said.

Wright, the son of Jimmy and Julie Wright, was one of 655 Lincoln County
sixth graders to graduate from the 16-week DARE program. The boy was glad
to be the one chosen to receive the educational opportunity.

"It's great," Wright said.

Wright said he wanted to go to the University of Southern Mississippi, but
he had not chosen any academic path yet.

"I want to be a baseball player," Wright said.

While speaking with students earlier, Melton warned of the dangers of drugs
and said there is a 100 percent chance that students will be exposed to
them at some point in their lives.

"In other words, it's going to happen," Melton said.

Melton said drugs, not terrorism, represented the biggest threat to the
state and the country. He urged students not to start using drugs and not
to experiment, even once.

"The toughest choice you will ever have to make is saying no to drugs and
meaning it," Melton said.

Discussing specific drugs, Melton said marijuana is a precursor to harder
drugs like crack cocaine and methamphetamine. He called methamphetamine the
most dangerous drug on the street.

"It destroys the human body," Melton said. "It's like putting a gun to your
head and pulling the trigger."

If students get involved in drugs, Melton said there are two ways out: "a
pair of handcuffs or a coffin." He urged students to get immediate help if
they do get involved with drugs.

"The only way we can effectively help you is on the front end," Melton said.

Shifting his focus, Melton spoke about his and other adults' expectations
of young people. He told male students to give their earrings to their
sisters. He also said he would not tolerate boys wearing their pants
"halfway down your behind."

Melton urged students to maintain a good appearance, behave properly and
learn to "effectively articulate the English language with your heads up."
While challenging students to graduate and later attend college or trade
school, Melton told them to concentrate on four areas of life: faith in
God, faith in family, getting a quality education and volunteering to help
others.

"You do those things, you're on your way to being a successful human
being," Melton said.

DARE graduates Wednesday also enjoyed a drug dog demonstration from Lincoln
County Narcotics Officer Chris Picou, and students were among the first to
see the department's new DARE vehicle. DARE Officer Sudie Palomarez said
the red and black Mustang was confiscated following a drug stop on
Interstate 55 recently.

"This is what happens to people that are on drugs. They get their mighty
fine cars taken away from them and given to people like me," Palomarez said.

Lincoln County Sheriff Lynn Boyte congratulated graduates and urged them to
remember the lessons learned in the DARE classes. He said they would help
them now and later in life.

"You are the future of Lincoln County," Boyte told students.