County D.A.R.E. program to continue

By Staff
Melissa Cason
VINA-Franklin County Sheriff Larry Plott said Thursday that Franklin County students would continue to reap the benefits of the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) program thanks to the generosity of concerned residents.
The announcement was made as Plott received a $1,000 check raised by the Vina Youth League for the DARE Program.
Vina Youth League President Timmy Ozbirn said the league held a roadblock in Vina on May 24 to raise the money to save the program the county desperately needs.
"We felt it was an important program so we decided to try to raise some money to help keep it in our schools," Ozbirn said.
He said the roadblock started around 6 a.m. that morning and before 6:30 he had already collected $200 from a local business to help fund the program.
"We play teams all over the county, and I challenge all the leagues in the county to join us in fundraising efforts to keep DARE in our schools," Ozbirn said.
Plott said that he and DARE Officer Mike Franklin were overwhelmed by the support they have received from Vina and their efforts demonstrate how important DARE is to the residents of the county.
"It is just amazing how a little town can raise this kind of money in such a short time," Plott said.
He said the program will be in the schools next year even though the money promised to fund it is not in-hand yet.
"We only have $6,000 in our hands for the program," Plott said. "The other amounts pledged by District Attorney Joey Rushing and Senator Roger Bedford are contingent on grants."
However, Plott said that he is committing now that DARE will be in schools next year even if the funding that is promised somehow falls through.
"When we make a commitment, we keep it to our schools and our students," Plott said.
"Should any of the promised money fall through we'll deal with it."
Plott said his department is taking the future of DARE year by year based on the money that can be raised, and who can help fund it.
"I didn't know whether or not the program was going to be in place next year and we must have money to purchase supplies too," Franklin said.
DARE has always relied on donations to fund the workbooks, t-shirts and other items to run the program every year.
"I want everyone to understand that their donations are more important than ever now and that anything anyone can pledge or raise will be well appreciated by the students of Franklin County," Franklin said.