RED RIBBON WEEK WRAPS UP

If you saw a red ribbon tied around your favorite tree this week,
don't worry - it's not tagged for firewood.

Rather, Gainesville ISD schools participated in Red Ribbon Week, a
nationwide push each fall to encourage students to abstain from
illegal drugs.

At Gainesville High School last week, students took to the streets,
tying red ribbons to trees, sign posts, utility poles and other narrow
structures throughout Gainesville.

"It's an opportunity to get people involved in something positive
instead of something negative," said Logan Rankin, student body president.

On Friday, members of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
spelled out "DRUG FREE" on field of Leeper Stadium by laying down
side-by-side.

Amberlee Whitley said it never hurts to associate a good message with
a fun activity.

Gainesville Junior High School hosted a variety of activities for its
students and faculty.

On Wednesday, the teachers played a basketball game amongst themselves
for the students to watch.

On Thursday the "grim reaper" (aka School Nurse Donna Hess) arranged
for two students to be taken from their class each 20 minutes
throughout the day, where they were dressed as the "walking dead." The
students were not allowed to speak after "dying."

According to Hess, every 20 minutes someone dies from a drug-related
incident.

She said there hasn't been any opposition to the program in any of the
years she has been at the school, though this year one parent at first
had misgivings.

"There was one who really didn't her student to be 'dead' and picked
by the grim reaper," Hess said. "But once we explained it and she
realized it was an anti-drug message, she was okay with it."

A costume contest was held Friday. On Oct. 19, Brent Daniels of Los
Angeles, a composer, "sound designer" and recording artist who uses
the computer technology to make sound effects and create music for
movies and television, gave a presentation at the GJHS auditorium. He
said his profession is inundated with drug use. He urged the students
to not succumb to peer pressure by abusing drugs.

To kick off Red Ribbon Week at Robert E. Lee Intermediate School,
students were invited to a pep rally. Members of the Gainesville
Leopards varsity football and volleyball teams, along with their
coaches, came to Lee to talk to students about the importance of
staying drug free in order to have a more successful life.

The GHS cheerleaders performed a special cheer they arranged
especially for Lee students about being drug free, along with the
Electric Red Dance Team.

Charles Luke, Gainesville ISD superintendent, spoke to the students
about making the choice to abstain from illegal drug use.

Lori Hart, Lee Intermediate counselor, said the activities may not
deter drug abuse in and of themselves, but they do help in making
students more aware of the consequences of dangerous controlled substances.

"We don't have any measurable data, but our hope is that students will
be more aware of what's out there and the dangers involved, as well as
being better armed with information and resources to help them say no
and stay clean," Hart said.

At W.E. Chalmers Elementary School, it wasn't Red Ribbon Week at all.
As a matter of fact, they used pink.

"The theme was 'Pink is hot, drugs are not," said Carla McCain,
counselor at Chalmers Elementary.

The change of color was in honor of student Krista Brewer, who is
fighting cancer.

"We dress in red all the time anyway, this being Gainesville," McCain
said, noting the school colors are red and white.

The Chalmers campus had a series of dress-up days as well, including
Twin Day emphasizing that "drugs double your trouble," Inside Out
Clothing Day, teaching that "drugs mess with your insides," and Hat
Day, urging students to put a "cap" on illegal drug abuse.

At Edison Elementary School, materials to be used for Red Ribbon week
did not come in on time.

"Due to items not coming in yet, we have not held Red Ribbon Week yet.
Edison will have it this week, next week or the following," said Julie
Altom, principal of Edison Elementary, on Friday.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Red Ribbon
Week began in 1988, by the National Family Partnership organization in
memory of Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was killed while on duty as a
narcotics investigator. The state began dedicating funds for Red
Ribbon Week in 1997.

Camarena, an agent of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, worked
undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to
include officers in the Mexican army, police and government.

On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his
wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him
in a car, according to witnesses. One month later, Camarena's body was
found in a shallow grave. Investigators believe he was tortured to
death.

A March 1985 issue of Time Magazine featured Camarena in its cover
story, "Death of a narc."

In honor of Camarena's memory, friends and neighbors wore red badges
made of satin.

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan helped to popularize the cause
throughout the '80s in the midst of a national push for illegal drug
education and eradication of international trafficking.