COUNTY TO START D.A.R.E. PROGRAM

NATCHEZ - After only a few Neighborhood Watch meetings the Adams
County Sheriff's Office officials learned that the community had a
question they couldn't answer.

The ACSO was trying to reach out to adults to stop crime in the
county, but the adults pointed them elsewhere.

"Everyone wanted to know, 'What are you doing to stop kids from
getting on drugs,'" Sheriff Ronny Brown said.

So Brown turned to the Natchez-Adams School District with a plan
Superintendent Anthony Morris liked.

In the fall, the Natchez schools will implement their first D.A.R.E.
- -- Drug Abuse Resistance Education -- program.

The class will start with Morgantown Elementary's fifth-graders and
sheriff's Deputy Jack Smith.

Smith has already attended a two-week training seminar in Alabama and
he's certified to teach the class. Monday, ACSO officials met with
school officials to iron out the details.

Though the ironing will continue through the summer, they know Smith
will be teaching a 10-hour class to the students using a D.A.R.E.
handbook. Students will likely attend the class once a week during
their PE time, or every day for a two-week period.

Once they complete the program can attend a graduation
ceremony.

Morgantown Principal Fred Marsalis said Monday he'd like for the
program to include information on gangs and violence.

"My drug problem is an isolated few," he said.

But early intervention can make that number even smaller, Morris
said.

"Safety and security is a big issue for schools," he said. "We thought
this would be a good opportunity to share information with children."

D.A.R.E. programs are already in place in many schools across the
nation and have been successful in Concordia Parish Schools.

Smith said he plans to meet with deputies in Vidalia to learn of their
experiences.

Smith, currently a part-time deputy, will become full-time, splitting
his time between the school and the ACSO. He will wear full uniform
and carry his weapons on campus, providing extra security in the case
of an emergency, he said.

The D.A.R.E. program will be partially funded through dollars form the
Adams County circuit courts. Some of the money will be drug seizure
money, Brown said.

Morris and Brown said the program could expand beyond the fifth-grade
in the future.