NORTHERN HILLS - After seeing the Safe and Drug Free Schools program continue to lose funding over the years, the state has stepped up and is granting both Lead-Deadwood and Spearfish school districts with $100,000 to use toward community-based programs. Students throughout both communities, along with their younger siblings, will benefit because of this additional funding.

School Project Leader Jackie Rans, told school board members this month that it's taken about four years of hard work on behalf of the district and the state to make this happen, but prevention activities will be a lot easier to finance because of this grant.

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