SHERIFF: GOLIAD'S DARE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE

GOLIAD - Sheriff Robert DeLaGarza vows the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
program will continue as always despite not receiving financial backing
from either the county or city.

"We definitely have enough to get started, so Oct. 1 it's going to be like
nothing ever happened," DeLaGarza said. "I'm still hopeful. In fact I'm
confident that we're still going to make it."

Last month, Goliad County commissioners pulled the plug on the $43,500
program, explaining that they would possibly reconsider putting money
towards DARE if other entities, such as the school district and the city,
assisted with funding.

Armed with $10,875 in funding from the school district, a $10,000
contribution from the DeWitt County District Attorney's Office, whose
jurisdiction includes Goliad County, and a $2,000 contribution from America
Electric Power-Central Power & Light, DeLaGarza approached commissioners on
Monday to again ask for financial help.

"At this point here, we decided not to participate in funding the DARE
program," County Judge Harold Gleinser said Tuesday. "There are not any
funds to do it at this point."

DeLaGarza said he understood the court's decision. "I hate to see them have
to miss out on contributing to such a fine program," he said. "I'm kind of
disappointed to see them have to miss out on it."

Last week, the city council discussed funding the DARE program as well.

"There was a motion that we contribute some to it, but the motion didn't
receive a second, so it actually didn't come to a vote," explained Jayne
Hoff, city secretary.

She said the motion was to chip in $1,000 toward the program. She also
noted that Mayor Bill Schaefer, who is the county's DARE officer, did not
participate in the discussions.

DeLaGarza said he will now turn to corporations and individuals for
contributions to keep the program going. "I feel confident that the moneys
will be coming in," he said. "I feel very confident that we are going to
make it."

The DARE program originally was funded six years ago through a grant, which
depreciated each year. Last year was the first year the county paid for the
entire program with no grant funding.