PARADE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE FOSTERS COMPETITION

MOORE -- The focus of the 15th annual Red Ribbon Parade in Moore is to
emphasize drug- abuse prevention. But just because a good cause is the
reason for the parade doesn't mean there's not a little friendly
competition amongst participants. For example: Will Kelley Elementary
School snare the Grand Champion award again this year with its Spider-Man
float? Or will Houchin Elementary, the runner-up last year, take home the
prize with its jukebox-and-records production? And how about the other 18
elementaries in the Moore Public Schools, or the four junior highs and two
high schools that also will field float entries?

The high interest level in the parade through the years not only has
encouraged competition amongst the schools, it also has helped turn Moore's
event into what is annually one of the nation's largest Red Ribbon Week
parades. As of Wednesday afternoon, 97 entries -- from local schools and
businesses -- have submitted entries for the parade, which will begin at 10
a.m. on Saturday at the corner of N 5 and Broadway.

"It's wonderful to see that competition, and to see so many parents," said
Charlotte Bennett, the school system's director of student services and one
of the parade organizers. "I think what impresses me most is to see those
parents in the parade, walking with their children."

The Red Ribbon Week concept dates to 1985, when members of a Mexican drug
cartel murdered agent Kiki Camarena of the Drug Enforcement Agency in
Calexico, Calif. Calexico citizens began wearing red ribbons to honor
Camarena's memory, said Cleveland County Sherriff's Deputy Kim Lucas.

"This developed into a symbol of commitment to fight illegal drugs and
alcohol abuse," Lucas said.

Moore's first Red Ribbon Parade was in 1988, and the event has grown so
much that Bennett said, "I don't think we could stop it if we wanted to.
We're already getting calls about next year."

Float building for the parade has turned into quite the operation,
especially at elementary schools. Mary Barnes, the counselor at Kelley,
said the school's winning float last year "was based on being a good
American and had an American flag on it."

This year, the school's Red Ribbon Week theme is "Stand Strong, Don't Get
Caught In the Web of Drugs," hence the Spider-Man float theme.

"We are all looking for something different every year, to keep (students')
interest in it," Barnes said. "We are in hopes that they will remember that
Red Ribbon Week is pretty important."

That's a sentiment echoed by Houchin counselor Mary Barrett.

"It's a friendly competition between the schools. It's nothing serious, and
it's fun," Barrett said. "We keep in mind what the cause is for, to keep
drug free, and we try to instill that message into the kids."

Float judges will be Debbie Arato, the school system's assistant
superintendent of curriculum and instruction; Lara Basden, the president of
the Moore PTA Council; and Steve Adamo, executive director of the Moore
Chamber of Commerce.

The parade will proceed south on Broadway to Main, then east on Main to
Moore High School, which is at the intersection of Main and Eastern.

Bob Funk, the president of Express Personnel and chairman of the Oklahoma
City Chamber of Commerce, will serve as the grand marshal and will ride in
a stagecoach pulled by a team of Clydesdale horses. Dave and Dan from radio
station 96.1 KXY will be the parade's masters of ceremony for the 14th year.