With a successful tradition of building better citizens and helping children say 'no' to drugs, the Winston County DARE programs kicks off another year while adding a new program.

Both the regular program and the new 7th grade curriculum start the week of Nov. 6. Presently, the 7th grade program will be at Winston Academy with the DARE officers hoping to institute county wide in the future.

Louisville Police Department DARE Officer Tonya McWhirter takes the lead for her fifth year while DARE officer Jason Pugh will handle the new program for the class of seventh graders. Officer McWhirter will teach nine DARE classes in each of the schools (Louisville Elementary, Winston Academy, Noxapater and Nanih Waiya) to roughly 280 children.

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Tommy Mosley learned firsthand the damage drug use causes.

"I remember coming home high as a kite, and my father would have to put me in bed," the 35-year-old said. "I remember the disappointment I would see in his eyes. I remember the hurt I put my mother through."

Now clean and sober for more than 15 years, Mosley shares his story with others with hopes that learning from his mistakes can help keep others from going down the same path. For the past two years, Mosley - a native of Wade - - has made a full-time job of inspirational speaking. This line of work has taken him to places as far away as Asheville, N.C., but to Mosley, the travel isn't the important part of the job. "I felt that I was called by the Lord to do this work. I just go where I'm needed," he said.

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