SAVE DARE

This letter is to inform the voters of New Madrid County to please wake up
to what is occurring in the county. Did you know that an educational
program for the children is going to be eliminated in May 2003? Do you know
why it is being eliminated?

I recently contacted one of the New Madrid County commissioners concerning
a rumor that the Drug Abuse Resistance Educational Program (DARE) is to be
eliminated in May. He informed me that it is not a rumor.

Below is a list of reasons I was given during our conversation:

1. The State of Missouri will no longer provide the funding for books and
literature to teach the program;

2. Several other counties are also eliminating the program. My responses to
the above reasons are:

1. The amount of money funded for material by the state was approximately
$500. Last year, businessmen of New Madrid County donated approximately
$1,500 to purchase material from the National Safety Council to be used in
the DARE program. I am almost certain they would gladly donate again to
purchase the material for DARE.

A grant was offered to pay half of the officer's salary to help maintain
the program. The commissioners denied this offer.

2. One of the counties is eliminating the program due to personnel
shortage. We have an officer.

I feel that if the parents are using drugs in the household, the children
need the information taught in DARE even more than the other children. DARE
teaches them the true effects of drugs on their body and on their lives.
Approximately 1,500 children are educated by this program. If only 100 of
these children are made more aware of the dangerous situations, DARE has
made a great accomplishment. If we discontinue this program we are giving
up on the children and we are not setting a good example for them.

People of New Madrid County, please ask yourselves the following questions:

1. Do you want the children educated against drugs or do you want them
using drugs?

2. Should our children receive every opportunity we can offer?

3. Does your opinion make a difference in what happens in this county?

4. Do you care enough to do something?

Below are a few of the things you can do to help show your support for the
DARE program:

1. Start a petition. At the top of the page, put "We Care About D.A.R.E. -
Keep It In Our Schools." Take it to the people in your area and obtain as
many signatures as possible. If you do not wish to take it to the
commissioners, contact me and I will try to make arrangements to pick it up
and present it to the commissioners.

2. Write letters to the commissioners. Send the letters to: The
Commissioners in care of the New Madrid County Clerk's office, Courthouse
Square, New Madrid, MO 63869

3. Call the commissioners Voice your opinion to the commissioners.

I am a concerned mother and grandmother.

Cathy McCoy