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Powell County High School DARE

When we got back from the Take It Back™ Baltimore Conference, the girls were really fired up. We were looking ahead at things that were going to be coming up and right in our faces was our county fair. It is by far the BIGGEST thing in our community. More people attend the fair events than any other things we have. The fair always starts on Monday night and ends on Saturday night with a "Demolition Derby". This derby brings in thousands of people from Powell County and surrounding counties. No one would believe how many attend this one event. Over the years we have seen more and more "drunks" at the fair. They are around small children, and there are always a few disputes that end up in fights. Most always the people involved have been drinking. Now remember we are a dry county so there is no alcohol sold or served at these events.

Last year a fight broke out and two of those involved in the assault of 2 or 3 people got in their car, tore through a crowd of people and struck 3 people. A mother, grandmother and 7 year old boy. The boy was almost killed, the grandmother was injured severely and the mother had minor injuries. The child and grandmother are still trying to recuperate from their injuries.

So like a light bulb we saw what we needed to do. We wanted to "take back" our fair. Our fair that was meant to be a family event for kids of all ages, but it has turned into a place for partying and disruption. We had to work quickly because the fair was scheduled to begin on September 11. We contacted our School Resource Officer who too thought it was a wonderful idea. He spoke to the County Judge about signing a proclamation for "Take It Back™ Week" to be September 9 - 16. [see article]

We contacted the Powell County Lions Club and asked permission to work with them in trying to keep alcohol off the fairgrounds. They welcomed our assistance. They were already working on putting into action a zero tolerance policy for alcohol and would be posting signs to that effect. We wanted more. The girls contacted the City Police Department and the Sheriff to support us with goals and asked them to please have more officers on-site and to arrest those who were publicly intoxicated, or escort them off the premises.

They contacted Kentucky Motor Vehicles Enforcement and our Kentucky State Police post and asked them to send more enforcement to our fair and possibly set up road blocks to check for DUI's. We contacted a print shop to order thousands of handouts that said "Thank you for not drinking and keeping our fair alcohol free for kids of all ages, my friends and me." Then on the back of that we put facts about the involvement of alcohol in assaults, wrecks and other problems. [see pamphlet]

The girls presented their plan to the D.A.R.E. Club and asked for their assistance. The proclamation was read to them and they were asked to support it by their work. They ALL wanted to be a part of the movement.
[see article]

We wrote a grant through Community Ed. for service learning, and received some money for the project. The Friday morning of fair week, school is dismissed and the schools and community organizations build floats and have a huge parade. The parade is so big from beginning to end it lasts about 1 hour. We wanted to build a float. The parade theme this year was Road Trip. So what did we want to say about road trip? DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!!!

We made a work schedule for working on the float and working at the fair.

Activities:
Monday morning Mary spoke to the student body about the D.A.R.E. project. She told the students and staff red ribbons were available and all those who wanted to support the movement could wear ribbons throughout the week. They could pick up the ribbons in the Youth Services Center.

D.A.R.E. kids worked at the gate with Lions Club members to pass out hank you for not drinking flyers to all who entered the fairgrounds.
1. Gave out stickers, pencils, etc. with alcohol free messages.
2. All D.A.R.E. members wore red bracelets and red ribbons during the week.
3. Lions Club members were given red bracelets and red ribbons to wear.
4. Red ribbons were passed out to all who wanted them at the fair and high school.

D.A.R.E. kids worked on float. Arrive Alive, Don't Drink and Drive.
1. T-shirts were made. The Road to Success is Alcohol Free
2. D.A.R.E. kids walked the parade and handed out pencils, stickers, ribbons, suckers, and other alcohol free message items.

Results:
Law enforcement supported the project. All cars entering the fairgrounds were searched and drivers checked. Alcohol found was disposed of, some arrests for DUI's and public intoxication were made. Lions Club members stated there were no incidences of fights at the fair this year and felt it was the best behaved crowd ever.
SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!