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