SIXTY-FIVE STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM DARE PROGRAM

BENTON -- Sixty-five Scott County students will graduate today from the DARE program conducted by the Scott County Sheriff's Department in cooperation with county schools.

DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell and Deputy Sheriff Bob Knight, the DARE instructor, are scheduled to present graduation certificates to students at three schools.

Those graduating include 20 fifth and sixth graders at St. Denis School in Benton; 21 sixth graders at Kelso C-7 in New Hamburg; and 24 students at Scott County Central Elementary at Morley. Sixty-six students at Kelly Elementary in Benton have already received graduation certificates this semester.

This is the third year that the DARE program has been offered by the sheriff's department. In all, more than 390 students have completed the DARE curriculum, Ferrell said.

DARE is a 15-week program designed to teach students to say no to drugs.

DARE classes are scheduled for next semester at schools in Oran, Chaffee and Scott City.