Pubdate: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 Source: Smoky Mountain Sentinel (NC) Copyright: 2006 Smoky Mountain Sentinel Contact: http://www.smokymountainsentinel.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4133 Author: Carla Gwaltney Owens, Sentinel writer COALITION, SCHOOLS JOIN IN ANTI-DRUG FIGHT The Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Clay County are hard at work with the local school system combating drug and alcohol abuse, as well as with local businesses to bring awareness to the issue of alcohol and drug abuse. Working with local restaurants last month, the Coalition encouraged parents to eat dinner with their children to bring awareness of the important role parents play in keeping children drug and alcohol free. Parents were encouraged to spend time with their children over a meal and given a brochure full of information on how they can work to strengthen family values and help their children make good choices. And at local schools this week, the Coalition is partnering with Students Against Destructive Decisions to promote Red Ribbon Week. Students in Clay County are joining with students in Towns County to combat drugs and alcohol as part of Red Ribbon Week. Members of SADD from both Clay and Towns Counties met at the state line on Tuesday to tie a red ribbon to signify joint effort against the destructive behaviors associated with alcohol and drug abuse. Students from both schools showed their solidarity by taking part in the Red Ribbon ceremony. Students at Hayesville Middle School and Hayesville High School are participating in Red Ribbon Week by having a different theme each day. On Monday, high school students wore red and middle school students signed the drug-free pledge. Tuesday was "Red Hat Day" at the middle school where they were "putting a cap on drugs," while high school students either turned their clothes inside out or backwards to show they were turning their backs on drugs and alcohol. At the high school, students will be "Socking It to Drugs and Alcohol" on Wednesday by wearing wild socks, and will have "Crazy Tie" day on Thursday to see who can wear the wildest tie. Red Ribbon Week will conclude at the high school on Friday with a poster contest sponsored by the Coalition and The Nantahala Bank and Trust. The winners of the poster contest will be announced at a pep rally on Friday afternoon. A committee will judge the posters and prizes for 1st , 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded with cash prizes of $75, $50 and $25 being given. The winning poster will be used for the design of the new billboard to be produced and displayed by the Coalition. Members of HHS SADD will be visiting HES as part of Red Ribbon Week to talk to 3rd and 4th grade students about making good choices. These role models will visit the elementary school to share their decision to stay drug and alcohol free. Students from Hayesville High School led by "100 Strong" will be taking part in "Make a Difference Day" on Oct. 28th. The students will be doing a community project to make a difference in their community and be eligible for one of ten cash prize in the amount of $10,000. The cash prizes are made possible through profit's from the sales of Newman's Own (Actor Paul Newman's line of food products) which are used for charitable purposes. Newman supports "Make a Difference Day" through his donation of $10,000 to 10 selected projects submitted for Make a Difference Day. Turner Guidry, 100 Strong sponsor, said his students will come up with a community project and submit it in hopes of being one of the 10 projects selected for the $10,000 prize. Hayesville Middle School will once again hold the "Hall of Terror" this year to demonstrate to students what could happen to them if they make a bad decision to drink alcohol or use other drugs. The "Hall of Terror" will be set-up in the auditorium on Nov. 8th. Coalition Coordinator Dawn Wilde said that the "Hall of Terror" was a great success last year and it has a great impact on the middle school students who participate. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine