Youth Coalition Prepares for Red Ribbon Week

Sallisaw Youth Coalition members promoting Red Ribbon Week are, from the left, Taylor Valdivia, Rachel Dominic, Nirali Jayswal, Kaleb Clark, Auri Sparks, Devon Andrews, Payton Karr, Blake Karr, Brittany Mattingly, Madison Huff, Adyson Holt, Kade Mendola, Whitney Dobbs, Eiljah Davis, Britty Gist, Matt Pence, Claire Craghead and Katie Raney.

In 1985, DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was working undercover in a drug investigation in Guadalajara, Mexico, was kidnapped, tortured and murdered. His drug fighting efforts led to the discovery of a multi-million dollar narcotics operation in Mexico.

In his honor, those in his home town in California began wearing red ribbons to fight against the use of illegal drugs.

From there, the Red Ribbon campaign to prevent the use of illegal drugs has spread throughout the United States.

In Sallisaw, the Sallisaw Youth Coalition (SYC) will be holding Red Ribbon events from Monday through Oct. 31.

On Monday the SYC students will be decorating two parks in Sallisaw, the Jay Reynolds Park at Iola and Opdyke and the McGee Park on McGee Street.

On Tuesday the students will hold a Gate Blitz at the Sallisaw High School complex and will be stopping drivers at the gate to the parking lot and handing out magnets.

On Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. the students will hold puppet shows at Liberty Elementary School for all the elementary students.

Saturday at Nightmare on Elm Street the students will be handing out candy and positive information to all the truck-or-treaters for Halloween.

Sharon Day, SYC project director, said, "Red Ribbon Week serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of drug free America."

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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