Pubdate: Fri, 12 Jan 2007
Source: Lufkin Daily News (TX)
Copyright: 2007 Cox Texas Newspapers, L.P. - The Lufkin Daily News
Contact:  http://www.lufkindailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3616
Author: Denise Hoepfner
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

300-PLUS LUFKIN FIFTH-GRADERS DARE TO STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS

"lf you play sports, drugs will mess you up."

That's one reason Mason McCarty, an Anderson Elementary  student and
sports enthusiast, swears he'll never try  drugs.

McCarty was one of more than 300 Lufkin ISD  fifth-graders who
solidified a promise to remain  drug-free at a Drug Awareness and
Resistance Education  graduation ceremony held Friday at the Pitser
Garrison  Civic Center.

The students are the 33rd group to graduate from the  DARE program,
which graduates two groups per year.  Officer Ben Vaughn of the Lufkin
Police Department has  led the program for the entire 17 years it has
been  offered in LISD.

Vaughn said over the years he's seen the program adapt  to the
changing needs of the kids.

"Right now our focus is on decision-making," he said.  "Fifth grade is
the perfect time to teach these kids.  They're old enough to know what
you're talking about  and still young enough not to have
experimented."

The LPD Crimestoppers band kicked off the ceremony in  high gear. In
keeping with DARE philosophy, the only  thing smoking was Randy
Stallard's electric guitar  during a blistering rendition of
Bachman-Turner  Overdrive's "Taking Care of Business."

Four overall essay contest winners read their entries  to the group of
students, administrators and parents  attending the graduation.

Reiley Parrish, the winner from Anderson Elementary,  said kids who
try drugs "have nothing to lose but their  lives."

"I'm never going to try marijuana," said Candyce  Martin, the Slack
Elementary winner.

Cindy Venegas, the winner from Brandon Elementary said,  "I want to
have friends so I pledge to be drug-free."

Samuel Moran, the winner from Coston, said DARE taught  him to stay
out of risky situations.

Class essay winners were Meaghan Breidenthal and Marika  Foreman from
Slack; Patrice Coleman and Christina Bogan  from Brandon; Gerardo
Villalba, Michelle Beltran and  Ariel Velasquez from Coston; and
Danielle Encarnacion,  Jayce Guerrero, Austin Charanza and Jacob Carr
from  Anderson.

Principals from each school distributed DARE diplomas  to the teachers
to hand out to the students. Each  principal thanked Vaughn for the
rapport he builds with  the students.

Vaughn encouraged the kids to think of graduation as a  beginning, not
an end.

"What you learned today will be put to use in the 
future."

LISD is the only Angelina County district participating  in the
program because of federal budget cuts, said  Vaughn.

Lynn Torres, assistant superintendent, said President  Bush didn't
request money for anti-drug programs next  year, although the House
and Senate asked for $3.1  million - 10 1/2 percent less than the $3.5
million  received last year. Of those funds, LISD received  $44,832.

Torres says she's not optimistic funding will be  approved, but the
district is committed to DARE because  of its direct effect on the
kids.

"As soon as the (legislative) session ends, we'll  consider funding
for the 2007-08 year, she said. "Right  now it's too early to tell."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin