Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jan 2003
Source: The Dominion Post (WV)
Copyright: 2003 The Dominion Post
Contact:  http://www.dominionpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1426
Author: Katie Long

GUARD AIRCRAFT VISITS ST. FRANCIS, NORTH AS PART OF DARE ACTIVITY

Helicopter Gives Imaginations A Whirl At Local Schools

Morgantown Police DARE Officer Joel Smith (left) and Officer M. Charlton 
show off a helicopter used for drug investigations as part of the DARE 
program at St. Francis Elementary School Wednesday. The officers also 
visited North Elementary with the copter Wednesday.

BY KATIE LONG

The

If you think standing around in a snowy field being swathed in sub-zero 
freezing winds Wednesday sounds like torture, you aren't a fifth-grader at 
St. Francis Central Catholic or North Elementary schools.

The U.S. Army helicopter that landed at both schools Wednesday morning 
banished any brrrs from the kids' lips, leaving only smiles, oohs, ahhs and 
one very pressing question.

The landing was arranged by Morgantown Police Drug Abuse Resistance 
Education officer Joel Smith in conjunction with the West Virginia National 
Guard.

Pilot Monty Murphy joined Smith and MPD officers Lt. G. Cress, R. Miranov 
and M. Charlton in bringing a bit of the battlefield to the football field.

Smith said there are two WVNG helicopters available to law enforcement 
throughout the state full-time, for use by the Reconnaissance and 
Interdiction Detachment. The copters are used with the DARE program because 
they are so often utilized in drug investigations.

The copter comes in handy for other subjects, too, Smith said.

At both St. Francis and North elementaries, Smith recently combined his 
DARE lesson with a science lesson, teaching the children how the helicopter 
flies, how it is built and for what kinds of missions it is used.

But that didn't stop about 10 little hands from shooting up in the air 
Wednesday -- gloves or no gloves -- to ask the most important question of 
all: How fast does it go?

Smith told the kids the copter can fly at about 120-160 miles per hour.

"Wow," said one boy. "Holy Cow," said another.

"Man, that's fast," said all 10, gazing at the powerful aircraft in awe. 
Smith pointed to the students' expectant faces and said that's what the 
DARE program is all about.

Learning, with a good dose of fun.

The fifth-graders from both schools will attend their DARE graduation Jan. 
30 at St. Francis.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens