Law officers proud of DARE graduates
By SHARON KERR

BLAKE MCCLELLAND, a Rowe student, reads one of the winning essays to the assembly at the DARE graduation.

"You have been as much an inspiration to me as I hope I have been to you," said DARE officer Wanda Brister in her farewell to the Rowe Intermediate students graduating from the DARE program Nov. 13.

DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) gives students the tools to deal with tobacco, drugs, alcohol and peer pressure.

Brister told the assembled parents, "As law enforcement officers, we know we are not about to beat the supply side (of drug abuse), but we can put a big dent in their business by teaching kids to make good choices."

Jasper County Sheriff Ronnie McBride, Jasper City Police Chief Todd Hunter, Fire Marshal Stephen Williamson and County Judge-elect Mark Allen joined parents in celebrating a milestone for the students.

Kim Hines' JHS theater group performed an original play, "Hank and Gertie," that dealt with temptation.

Hunter said, "The lessons learned from this program will be applied years from now ... DARE is an effective tool to educate our children."

McBride told the audience that 85 to 90 per cent of the inmates in the county jail are there on drug related offenses, or family violence related to drugs. "It's a mean world out there," he said.

Almost 250 students participated in the program this year. Fourteen students won medals in the essay contest: Sergio Camacho, Ruby Clancy, Rachel Corkran, Katlin Dougharty, Kelsea Flanigan, Victoria Grantham, Rchel Hill, Blake McClelland, Ryan Rodgers, De'Andre Spikes, Darby Spencer-Stirling, Kahla Street, Kenlie Thomas and Amanda Warren.