Pubdate: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 Source: Times-Republican (IA) Copyright: Times Republican 2005 Contact: http://www.timesrepublican.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3497 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) STUDENTS TAKE A TRIP TO CAPITOL BUILDING A recent trip to Des Moines for some Woodbury Elementary students was designed to encourage them to live drug-free lives, as well as providing the students a chance to see Iowa government in action. Woodbury fifth-graders taught by Mrs. Alman and Mrs. Stevens were able to take a bus to the Wallace Building and the Capitol Building courtesy of the Marshall County Sheriff's Office Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. "There was no Marshalltown bus available, so I used grant money secured for D.A.R.E. [through a drug-free community program] to pay for a bus to take us," said Marshall County Deputy/D.A.R.E. Officer Steve Sodders. The trip was part of National and Iowa D.A.R.E. Day, Sodders said, and students were able to hear Iowa's drug czar, Marvin Van Hafften, read a proclamation and tour the Capitol Building accompanied by Rep. Mark Smith. The students were treated to a musical program by a retired D.A.R.E. officer and even got a chance to see the voice behind the anti-crime cartoon dog "McGruff," as voice personality Jim Parker did a magic and ventriloquist act dealing with drugs and how to be safe. Although Sodders said the fifth-graders had plenty of fun, spending time with a law enforcement officer had another purpose. "I think it gives them a positive opinion of law enforcement as a whole," he said. "They know we are there to help them work out problems and stay safe no matter the circumstances. "They feel comfortable talking to other law enforcement officers - and any time we can increase communication with people in the public, that works out for everyone." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom