Schools kick off Red Ribbon Week

Kevin Buey

Oct. 26, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- It is Red Ribbon Week in Luna County, a time when schools, law enforcement and related agencies partner to teach students about dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Red Ribbon Week is celebrated nationally in late October. The time period is often adjusted to fit projects and calendars of schools and involved agencies. It was Oct. 17 to 25 this year in most parts of the country.

In Luna County, members of the DWI Prevention program and the U.S. Border Patrol will be visiting schools today through Friday. Columbus Police will join the DWI group in Columbus and the New Mexico State Police hope to coordinate schedules with the DWI staff at some of the schools.

Red Ribbon Week honors the life of slain Drug Enforcement Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. Students and staff wear red ribbons, looped as if a lanyard, to honor Camarena, who died at age 37 in 1985 as he investigated a multi-billion dollar drug-trafficking operation.

Red Ribbon Week is supported by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Camarena worked his way through college, served in the U.S. Marines and became a police officer. He then joined DEA.

Now in its 24th year, Red Ribbon Week grew from clubs formed in Calexico, Calif., Camarena's hometown, by friends who wanted to assure his work was not forgotten.

Parents of school-aged children in Illinois and Virginia helped spread Red Ribbon Week awareness, attempting to halt violence and destruction caused by drug and alcohol abuse. The oldest and largest drug-prevention campaign in the country, it is sponsored nationally by Prevention Partners, of Dallas.

Kevin Buey can be reached at kbuey@demingheadlight.com.

RED RIBBON WEEK PRESNTATIONS

Monday -- My Little School, 8:30 a.m. and noon.

Tuesday -- Bell Elementary, 10 a.m.; Chaparral Elementary, noon and 1 p.m.; and Torres Elementary, 2:15 p.m.

Wednesday -- Columbus Elementary, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Thursday -- Memorial Elementary, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Friday -- Deming interMediate School, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0481-39144582