Pubdate: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 Source: Bureau County Republican (IL) Copyright: 2004 Bureau County Republican Contact: http://www.bcrnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3345 Author: Donna Barker Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Red+Ribbon (Red Ribbon Week) OHIO CELEBRATES RED RIBBON WEEK OHIO -- The purpose of Red Ribbon Week should last a whole lot longer than one week, according to Scott Horsch, principal at Ohio Grade School. On Monday morning, about 110 elementary students grabbed helium-filled, red balloons and congregated on the school's playground to kick-off Red Ribbon Week. The students launched the red balloons into the morning's blue sky. As the students waited for the balloon launch countdown, Horsch said Red Ribbon Week activities are designed to encourage students to lead healthy lifestyles and to make good choices. The decision to stay away from illegal drugs is something students need to take with them year 'round, the principal said. Cathy Rider, Ohio's fifth-grade teacher, organized this year's fourth annual Red Ribbon Week in Ohio. The national event began in honor of Special Agent Enrique Camarena of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, who was murdered in 1985 during a drug bust. Ohio's Red Ribbon Week activities are part of the nationwide Red Ribbon Week observance, she said. Other activities planned this week at Ohio Grade School include wearing colorful ties today, Tuesday; mismatched clothes on Wednesday; and Halloween costumes on Thursday. Fifth-grader Amy Soto said she likes the activities planned for Red Ribbon Week. Keeping children off drugs is important, she said. As a fifth-grader, she will be part of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. "Drugs are bad for you because they have different chemicals that can hurt your body and make you sick," Soto said. "Red Ribbon Week helps us to remember to not do drugs." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek