Pubdate: Thu, 29 Aug 2002
Source: Victoria Advocate (TX)
Copyright: 2002 Victoria Advocate Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/671
Author: Ann Rundle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

SHERIFF: GOLIAD'S DARE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE

GOLIAD - Sheriff Robert DeLaGarza vows the Drug Abuse Resistance Education 
program will continue as always despite not receiving financial backing 
from either the county or city.

"We definitely have enough to get started, so Oct. 1 it's going to be like 
nothing ever happened," DeLaGarza said. "I'm still hopeful. In fact I'm 
confident that we're still going to make it."

Last month, Goliad County commissioners pulled the plug on the $43,500 
program, explaining that they would possibly reconsider putting money 
towards DARE if other entities, such as the school district and the city, 
assisted with funding.

Armed with $10,875 in funding from the school district, a $10,000 
contribution from the DeWitt County District Attorney's Office, whose 
jurisdiction includes Goliad County, and a $2,000 contribution from America 
Electric Power-Central Power & Light, DeLaGarza approached commissioners on 
Monday to again ask for financial help.

"At this point here, we decided not to participate in funding the DARE 
program," County Judge Harold Gleinser said Tuesday. "There are not any 
funds to do it at this point."

DeLaGarza said he understood the court's decision. "I hate to see them have 
to miss out on contributing to such a fine program," he said. "I'm kind of 
disappointed to see them have to miss out on it."

Last week, the city council discussed funding the DARE program as well.

"There was a motion that we contribute some to it, but the motion didn't 
receive a second, so it actually didn't come to a vote," explained Jayne 
Hoff, city secretary.

She said the motion was to chip in $1,000 toward the program. She also 
noted that Mayor Bill Schaefer, who is the county's DARE officer, did not 
participate in the discussions.

DeLaGarza said he will now turn to corporations and individuals for 
contributions to keep the program going. "I feel confident that the moneys 
will be coming in," he said. "I feel very confident that we are going to 
make it."

The DARE program originally was funded six years ago through a grant, which 
depreciated each year. Last year was the first year the county paid for the 
entire program with no grant funding.
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MAP posted-by: Tom