ESSAYS SHOW DARE TOUCHES FIFTH'GRADERS' HEARTS

"My Dad is 42-years-old and is alcohol and chemical dependent. Right now,
he lives with my grandmother. He does not own a car, because all his money
goes to buy drugs and alcohol. He can1t hold a steady job, so he is
'self-employed.' He isn1t allowed to see his children because he is violent
and abusive. He has no goals or future because the alcohol and chemicals
cloud his thoughts. To me DARE means that I don1t have to spend my life
like my Dad." Branson fifth-grader Katie Elmore read this introduction and
the rest of her first-place essay during DARE graduation ceremonies March
16 at Presley1s Theatre in Branson.

More than 200 fifth-graders from Branson and Kirbyville were recognized for
completing the 17-session program aimed at equipping youth to say no to
drugs and alcohol.

As part of the course, each student wrote an essay describing what the
program has meant to them. During the ceremony, the winning essay writers
were awarded cash prizes, thanks to community donations.

For Branson students, the top places were as follows: Elmore, first place;
Niki McCall, second place; Ginessa Bird, third place; Jonathan Junge,
fourth place; and Grant Chambers, fifth place.

For Kirbyville students, the top places were as follows: Jenny Wilson,
first place; Lisa Greenwood, second place; and Chad Service, third place.

Corporal Darrin Jenkins and Officer Gina Geloso of the Branson Police
Department led the DARE program in the two schools. Jenkins said fifth
grade was targeted for substance abuse prevention because research says
these students are most receptive to such education.

"We have 17 lessons and actually there are only two where we sit down and
talk about drugs," Jenkins said. "In some we talk about self-esteem, anger
control and gangs. We also bring in high school role models so the kids can
ask them questions and find out what high school is really like."

Other courses emphasized peer pressure, ways to say no to drugs and alcohol
and being assertive, Jenkins said.

Kirbyville1s first-place winner, Jenny Wilson wrote about her sadness that
so many kids and adults make the wrong choices about drugs and alcohol. She
wrote: "A lot of people, mainly kids and teens, think it is cool to do
drugs. DARE has helped me realize it1s not cool at all. It is very stupid.
Kids and adults die all the time because of drugs. Maybe there should be
DARE for adults too."