The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 11 - October 26, 2011
Red Ribbon Week at Yankeetown School
Editorial - Opinion - Commentary
Submitted by Sheena Price
Yankeetown Mayor's Report
The theme at Yankeektown School during Red Ribbon Week, Oct 23-31, is We’re
too Smart to do Drugs! The message to students is “don’t use drugs” and “don’t bully.”
A Guest Commentary by Yankeetown Mayor Dawn Clary
Before the school week started, red ribbons and balloons and informative flyers
and posters were placed around the campus. Bulletin boards in the cafeteria and library
Be Good Guys - The recycling trailer was moved from beside the town hall to
were decorated with the important message to students. Classroom doors were decorated
the area in front of the water plant to make room for the new basket ball court. Now it
and scheduled to be judged on Tuesday afternoon. Other activities for the week include a
seems that this has spawned two new problems. One is the illegal dumping at the recycling
Red Ribbon Quarter Race from Monday through Thursday, with the class collecting the
trailer. When we moved the trailer to the water plant, the County expressed concern that
most money receiving a pizza party on Friday, Nov 4! On Monday, red campaign ribbons
the position of the trailer next to the hall may have suppressed some of the more extreme
will be given to students. On Tuesday, the classroom with the greatest number of students
illegal dumping and that we may get problems with the new spot. It seems this has come to
dressed in red clothing will win the prize of a popcorn/soda party on Thursday, Nov. 3. On
pass, people are putting drywall and other weird stuff into it that is not allowed. We had a
Wednesday, red pencils or crayons, erasers and stickers will be given to students; this article
problem when the trailer was at the hall, but it didn’t include construction debris. The Food
will be distributed, and the National Prayer will be posted on the school’s Facebook page.
Ranch also has had a serious problem as has been expressed in articles in the Newscaster. I
On Thursday, bags of Smarties candy will be sent to classrooms to emphasize the theme,
know the county land fill is kinda far away and may be inconvenient, but it’s still the right
“We’re too Smart to do Drugs.” Teachers will read the history of Red Ribbon Week to their
thing to do to bite the bullet and haul your stuff up there and there is no excuse for using
students so they will be able to understand why it is important to prevent the use of drugs.
the recycling trailer for a dump. That being said, I do sometimes think that even though it is
THE STORY BEHIND THE RED RIBBON: Enrique “Kiki” Camarena grew up in a dirt-
WRONG, at least they did not dump the stuff on vacant land or in the swamp. I would like to
floored house with hopes and dreams of making a difference.
discuss with the county the placement of some kind of big dumpster down in this end of the
Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a
county that will take the stuff like old toilets, drywall, old TV’s etc. BUT, until something if
police officer. When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
anything can be worked out, please only put recyclables in the recycle trailer.
his mother tried to talk him out of it. “I can’t NOT do this,” he told her. “I’m only one per-
Problem number two is very FOUL language being used on the new basket ball
son, but I want to make a difference.”
court. The basketball court is next to a residential area and these people have apparently
The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug
had to put up with something that they should not have to put up with. Sometimes, people,
cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7,
teens, can be their own worst enemies. It is truly sad that the County has done something
1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared
nice for us and now the kids are aggravating the heck out of neighbors. Please think of oth-
at the agent’s side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena’s body was found in
ers when you are using the court so that you don’t spoil it for everyone.
a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death.
Halloween - The Fire Department is handing out candy on Halloween. Stop by
Within weeks of his death in March of 1985, Camarena’s Congressman, Duncan
with your little goblins. Have safe and fun Halloween, Good Night and Good Luck
Hunter, and high school friend Henry Lozano, launched Camarena Clubs in Imperial Valley,
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California, Camarena’s home. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans. These coali-
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tions began to wear red badges of satin, red ribbons, as a symbol in Camarena’s memory.
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The Red Ribbon Week campaign emerged from the efforts of these clubs and coalitions.
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Today, Red Ribbon Week is nationally recognized and celebrated, helping to pre-
serve Special Agent Camarena’s memory and further the cause for which he gave his life.
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The Red Ribbon Campaign also became a symbol of support for the DEA’s efforts to reduce
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demand for drugs through prevention and education programs. By wearing a red ribbon dur-
4X4’s - RV’s - Trucks - Autos
ing the last week in October, Americans demonstrate their ardent opposition to drugs. They
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pay homage not only to Special Agent Camarena, but to all men and women who have made
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the ultimate sacrifice in support of our nation’s struggle against drug trafficking and abuse.
Accepted
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