MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL NAMED

The office of the mayor, in partnership with Charter Communications,
inducted 12 high school students into the 2001-2002 Mayor's Youth Council
on Drug Awareness at a luncheon Thursday.

The induction marks the fifth year that a group of 12 outstanding high
school students have been chosen to take part in drug education programs in
the city and county schools.

The students will work hand in hand with local law enforcement resource
officers and DARE officers, making appearances at elementary and middle
schools on behalf of drug education.

Traditionally, Mayor Tom Rowland inducts the new members, assisted by
Charter representatives and DARE officers. Standing in while the mayor was
in Nashville was Cleveland's First Lady Sandra Rowland.

Rowland was assisted by Miss Tennessee Stephanie Culberson, who travels
statewide as part of the Governor's Drug Awareness Program.

Students inducted were: Lynsie Haney, Heather Mosley, Bryce Kirksey and
Bryant Baines, all from Walker Valley High School; Adrienne Ector, Sarah
Rogers, Jamey Case and Donnell Goode, all from Cleveland High School; and
Lauren Hilliard, Brittany Kinder, Adam Elder and Chris Montgomery, all from
Bradley Central High School.

Culberson, also the reigning Miss Cleveland, congratulated the students for
their selection on the Youth Council, and on behalf of the Governor's Drug
Awareness Program, challenged them to serve as positive role models for the
children in this community.

"Thank you for your commitment to keep our schools in Tennessee drug free,"
said Culberson, "but even more importantly to me as Miss Cleveland, thanks
for helping keep our schools here in Cleveland and Bradley County drug free."

Accompanied by parents, family and school officials, each student was
recognized and received a Certificate of Commendation from Rowland. They
also received instruction from DARE officers on the roles they will play in
coming months as part of the drug education and awareness program in
Cleveland and Bradley County.

"You are here because you were recognized by your school as outstanding
leaders and will be positive role models for other youth in this
community," said Rowland, as she addressed the Youth Council.

In giving a brief history of the Council, Rowland said, "Several years ago,
our Goals 2000 Education Initiative sponsored an event on an elementary
school campus. We invited members of a professional baseball team as
guests." She said that the professionals signed autographs, gave away
baseballs and photographs. "Assisting us were football players, baseball
players and cheerleaders from our three high schools," Rowland said. "What
impressed us most was that the young elementary school students were more
impressed with our local high school athletes ... these were their heroes,
these were the people they could relate to, and the people they could become."

Rowland told the Council the mayor then decided a Youth Council of local
teens would be his best ambassadors in the war against drugs in our
schools. "As a result, the Youth Council was formed, through a partnership
with Charter Communications."

Mike Burns, general manager for Charter Communications, was on hand to meet
the youth and congratulate them on their selection. Connie Wilson,
Charter's human resource coordinator, coordinated the program with the
schools and served as hostess at the Thursday luncheon. Other Charter
associates, Sheryl Underwood, Judy Queen, Bob Compton, David Ogle and Mike
Earnhart, assisted in the day's event.

In addition to sponsoring the program, Charter Media also produces TV
commercials for drug awareness and drug prevention, utilizing the Youth
Council, DARE officers and the mayor.

Burns said Charter is pleased to partner with Rowland and the DARE officers
to sponsor the Youth Council.

"We feel it is an important part of our service to this community --to
support our young people and to assure that programs such as this are
available in our schools," he said. "We are truly proud of each of the
students chosen this year and honored to be a partner in this program."