SMOKELESS `CLASS OF 2000' IS INCENTIVE OF NEW PROGRAM IN CAPE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- When Ryan Mattes, a St. Vincent student, prepared his project for a science fair, he never realized he would be called upon to demonstrate his findings to the "Class of 2000."

"We wanted students to see just how smoking can affect the lungs," said Charlotte Knaup, a third-grade teacher at St. Vincent. "Ryan's project was just what we needed."

Using a simulated pair of lungs, Ryan demonstrated how smoking could stain the lungs and how much nicotine and tar could develop over a one-year and five-year period of smoking.

"If a person smokes a pack a day at least a year, it will take 10 years for the lungs to clear once a person quits smoking," said Ryan.

Ryan's presentation was part of a program conducted at St. Vincent Tuesday to kick off the "Smoke-Free Class of 2000" project, which will be held throughout Cape Girardeau.

"This project has many sponsors," said Melvin R. Gateley, a retired public-school principal who is devoting much of his time to Vision 2000 and its operation. "What we're trying to do here is to create a smoke-free society."

Other sponsors of the project include the American Cancer Society; American Heart Association; American Lung Association, Walt Disney Co., which provides artwork for a pledge certificate and provides a short, cartoon film; and St. Francis Medical Center, which will hold a special graduation ceremony every year for the class of 2000 until graduation from high school.

"This year's graduation ceremony will be held June 6," said Gateley. "Each third-grade student in the city will sign a smoke-free pledge. As a part of their pledge, they promise to say `no' and walk away if anyone offers them cigarettes or tobacco."

The first program in the project involved more than 40 students from the two third-grade classes of Charlotte Knaup and Vicki McMullen at St. Vincent. Similar programs will be conducted at all schools here.

Becky Kies, a nurse who formerly worked at St. Francis Medical Center and served as a school nurse for four years, was guest speaker during the program Tuesday.

Kies, who now volunteers as school nurse at St. Vincent and Schultz, explained that the students should take care of their bodies by not smoking. "You, as part of the class of 2000, can show others by not smoking and not doing drugs," she said.

Involving class participation, she said smoking pollutes the air, dulls taste buds, hurts the body, and can cause cancer.

"Vision 2000 wants to eradicate smoking," she said. "This is a good way to start."

"My dad quit a long time ago," said Tiffany Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rich Miller. "I know I will never smoke. I'm going to sign that pledge and keep it."

Matthew Bollinger, son of James and Sheyrl Bollinger, was impressed with the demonstration of what smoking can do to the lungs. "I think this was a good program," he said. "I think we can help make this a smoke-free community."

"I'm going to be a smokeless person," said Mick Metzger, son of Mike and Julie Metzger. "I don't want to smoke at all."

Sarah Vickery, daughter of Bill and Susan Vickery, said: "I don't like to be around where people are smoking. Some of my relatives smoke, and, when they do, I go to my room."

Jill Edwards, daughter of John and Pat Edwards, said her mother used to smoke but quit. "Smoke bothers me," she said. "I'm just not comfortable around smokers."

"It hurts the body," said Greg Kluesner, son of A.J. and Betty Kluesner. "My uncle used to smoke but he quit."

Christine Kimball, daughter of Bill and Theresa Kimball, said being around smoke bothered her. "I hope this project can work," she said.

Jordan Tatum, son of Howard and Teresa Tatum, said his dad used to smoke but quit. "I want to see everyone quit, but I know it's probably hard once you start. That's the reason I'm not starting."