SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN RED RIBBON WEEK

Chaffee high school students gasped as rescue workers pulled an 18-month-old child from the wreckage following a mock accident involving a drunken driver.

Although the accident was staged as part of Red Ribbon Week, the impact was real, said Chaffee Police Chief Keith Carr.

Chaffee is among many area schools sponsoring activities for Red Ribbon Week, a time set aside to educate students about the dangers of substance abuse.

Many youngsters are wearing red ribbons this week in recognition of the week.

In Chaffee, a high school organization called TOAD, Teens Opposing Alcohol and Drugs, coordinated the mock accident. The Chaffee police and fire departments, Oran fire and rescue department and North Scott County ambulance district participated.

The scenario, set in the school's parking lot, was an accident at a T-intersection. The car with the right-of-way was struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver.

"The rescue squad did an extrication of one of the vehicles and cut the roof off. They pulled out the infant and the ambulance crew worked on the child," Carr said.

The 18-month-old baby in the scenario, which was a CPR doll, died in the crash.

In Scott County, Kelso C-7 at New Hamburg along with St. Denis Catholic School and Kelly public schools in Benton received grant money that was teamed with local donations to install two message boards.

The permanently-installed, changeable signs were unveiled Monday to kick off Red Ribbon Week. Children will put up their messages promoting a drug-free community.

In Cape Girardeau, over 4,000 students received a red ribbon and individual schools have scheduled a variety of events.

The Cape Central cheerleaders will teach students at Franklin Elementary School a cheer and Mid-America Teen Challenge is scheduled to perform.

Clippard Elementary has sponsored a poster contest.

At Central Junior High School, students are receiving intensive workshops in science classes. One day is devoted to drug usage. Another day is devoted to tobacco use, and the third day focuses on gangs and violence and how to promote a safe community, explained Dolly Jewel, alcohol-substance-abuse prevention coordinator for the school system.

Just Say No clubs in three elementary schools -- May Greene, Jefferson and Franklin -- are also sponsoring activities.

"We are trying to get kids from kindergarten through high school to be drug free," Jewel said. "We are informing them and giving them choices."

Jackson schools will observe Red Ribbon Week Nov. 17 through 21.