Making good choices

The Red Ribbon Week program has been around since the early '80s, but it's not just about wearing red ribbons anymore. The National Family Partnership program's mission is to lead and support families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug free youth. And in Thompson Falls, the schools are doing their part.

"Our job is to guide kids to make good choices and have great futures," said K-8 Counselor Rob Christensen, who led the Red Ribbon Week events at Thompson Falls School District Oct. 23-27.

On Friday, Lynn Lanzoni with the Sanders County Sheriff's Office brought his K-9 dog, Max, to the elementary to talk about the drug problem in Sanders County and demonstrate Max's training. Lanzoni and Blaine Blackstone of Thompson Falls, who helped train Max, put backpacks throughout the Junior High Gym and then had Max determine which ones contained drugs.

Christensen said that this is the first time he's brought a drug dog in for an assembly, and he's glad he did.

"It opened my eyes to the importance of inviting local law enforcement into the schools," Christensen said. "It's good for kids to know what people do in our community."

Christensen said that the elementary kids got to pet Max after the assembly, and it was a positive lesson for the kids. And he was impressed with Max, too. He said that the dog didn't appear nervous and that was impressive with a gym full of kids.

Red Ribbon Week at Thompson Falls schools also included high school students preparing anti-drug presentations for K-6 graders. "The kids loved it," Christensen said.

In the past, the Clark Fork Valley Elks has partnered with the school for Red Ribbon Week activities, and in the future Christensen would like to combine resources with the Elks and Sanders County Sherriff's Office.

"It makes a better and stronger community," Christensen said of the efforts.