SCHOOLS PROVIDE MESSAGE ON DRUGS

LEGGETT -- With four boxes placed on a mat, Rex showed students at the
Center for Educational Achievement how he sniffs out drugs -- in this
case, about $10 worth of marijuana.

"He's trained to track the scent of fear," said Edgecombe County
Sheriff's Deputy Allen Dennie.

While students get to see firsthand how the K-9 unit works, Sgt.
Norman Dozier showed the students drug paraphernalia, from an actual
marijuana leaf to a bottle of Everclear.

"Youth need to understand the consequences of not only using but
possessing drugs," Dennie said. "At the tender age of 8 to 18, there
are long-term effects of drugs and the possession of them. And it
affects the rest of your life."

Wearing shades, mix-match shoes, business attire and school colors,
students in the Twin Counties showed their support for drug-free schools.

Through a week-long event called Red Ribbon Week, some Nash-Rocky
Mount and Edgecombe County schools stressed the importance of
remaining drug free. Red Ribbon Week is a nationwide campaign on drug
awareness that was declared by Congress in 1988.

"In today's society, our children see so many negative things, and we
want our children to see there is a better way than taking drugs or
selling drugs to make quick money," said Helen Hunter, resource
teacher at Pope Elementary School. "In the end, you will die a young
death. We say, 'No,' to keep our bodies and minds healthy to fulfill
dreams. And when living honestly, (you) don't have to look over shoulder.

"Our motto is, 'Against all odds, we will succeed,' and we are trying
to show the community that against all odds, we will be successful.
And this is one of the highlights because we can get everyone
involved. We get the parents and community involved so they know the
children are being taught the dangers of drugs and give them a chance
to enforce what the school is teaching them."

While themes that included "The Red Badge of Excellence" or "Back to
Basics" permeated the schools, students also heard from many community
leaders, including Rocky Mount City Councilman Reuben Blackwell, Mayor
Fred Turnage and Rocky Mount Police Chief John Manley.

"I don't like drugs," said fourth-grader Zairayuna Battle, 9. "People
should be drug-free, because drugs can mess with your personality,
brain and other things.

Fourth-grader Kevin Mercer, 9, agreed, saying drugs are bad because
they can affect a person mentally and physically.

"I think those on drugs should stop, because it messes up their immune
system," he said. "They should only take the drugs the doctor
prescribes."