TFHS students pledge to be drug-free

Thompson Falls schools kicked off Red Ribbon Week activities on Tuesday with a "Donut Do Drugs" event at the high school.

Students signed a banner that read "Graduation Matters – I'm Drug Free!" pledging to stay drug free. The students were also given donuts and red wristbands for making the pledge.

Counselor Jodi Morgan said the event was to help students make a commitment to not do drugs. Grant money from the Graduation Matters program sponsored the donuts, and Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic (FVCDC) sponsored the wristbands and banner.

On Monday, high school students Cody Burk, Josey Neesvig and Megan Baxter talked to elementary students about the importance of staying drug-free.

"We talked to them about how drugs can ruin your future," Burk said. Neesvig added that keeping grades up was an important topic, as well as athletics. She said that each of them would not be as good of athletes if they made the choice to do drugs. "Having an impact on them at an early age will help the younger students later," Neesvig said. The high school students also handed out Red Ribbon Week bracelets to the elementary students.

Red Ribbon Week activities will continue with dress-up days this week in the elementary school. Next Tuesday, the high school will have guest speakers and The Strength Team out of Missoula will present an assembly for both the elementary and high school students.

Jennifer McPherson with FVCDC said it's important to reach kids at a very young age about the dangers of drugs and underage drinking. She said the age of initiation is 12 years old in Sanders County for underage drinking. The state average is age 13. She said the guest speakers on Oct. 30 will help get kids familiar with faces in the community, including law enforcement. Among the speakers will be Guy Engebretson with the Clark Fork Valley Elks, who is a former EMT and will talk about what the scene of an overdose looks like from a medical perspective. Lynn Lanzoni, the K-9 handler with the Sanders County Sheriff's Office, will also address the students. Superintendent Bill Cain will talk about the school's drug policy, and School Resource Officer Bob Thornhill, with the City of Thompson Falls Police Department, will speak.