JASPER SCHOOLS KICK OFF DRUG-FREE WEEK

Across the United States, there is perhaps no greater problem plaguing
young people than illegal drugs. The Jasper City Schools System is
determined to stop this problem.

The system's annual Jasper City Schools and Community Safe and Drug Free
week is next week and the program had its kickoff Thursday night at Maddox
Middle School. Rita Pilling, coordinator for the Jasper City Schools and
Community Safe and Drug Free program, said the night was officially called
their All Star TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Night.

"We wanted to make this a school and community-wide effort," Pilling said.

From 5-8 p.m., parents and their children packed the halls at the school
to receive information from a number of different agencies promoting a
drug-free lifestyle. Representatives from the Jasper Police Department,
Baptist Medical Center-Walker, Narcotics Anonymous, Bradford Health
Services and the six schools in the Jasper system were on hand to
distribute material to families and students about how to stay drug-free
and what to do if they or someone they know is addicted to drugs.

"All of our schools are represented and the clubs and activities that go on
at each individual school," Pilling said. "We feel like that the more kids
are involved and they see what there is to be involved in, that could help
be a deterrent against using drugs."

It was all just information for those on hand. A number of different forms
of entertainment were on hand, including cheerleaders, gymnastics teams,
bands from Maddox and Walker High School and the Jasper Kids Korale. In
addition, Pilling said nationally-known illusionist Randall Eller was to
perform at 7 p.m. a program titled "The Magic is You," which Pilling
described as a "program on human excellence."

Parents and children walked down the hallways looking at information and
receiving small gifts, including candy, drug-free stickers and T-shirts.

One parent, Memorial Park School librarian Lisa O'Mary said it was a chance
for her and her children to join forces with the community in opposing drugs.

"We promoted it all week at school and both of my children are in the
Jasper City Schools," she said. "We just came to be part of the community
and support drug awareness and help kids understand how important it is to
be drug-free."