Jay School Corporation was prepping for Red Ribbon Week

Twenty-five years ago this week, local students were getting ready for a week of learning about the dangers of drugs.

An Oct. 21, 2000, story in The Commercial Review detailed Jay School Corporation plans for Red Ribbon Week, an annual drug prevention and awareness campaign.

Jay Schools had a variety of activities planned for the week, including Pennville Elementary School participating in a “Drug Olympics.” It included a relay race to demonstrate to students “how they can do more with a sound mind and body and reach new goals,” said principal David Yarde.

Other activities at Pennville Elementary included a coloring contest for kindergarten through second grade students, crafts and snacks with a “We’re Not Hooked on Drugs” theme and a backwards day to “Turn Your Back on Drugs.”

Students from General Shanks, East and Judge Haynes elementary schools in Portland were slated to march to Jay County Courthouse on Oct. 31 — some of the schools extended the timeline of activities for Red Ribbon Week because of fall break — for the annual Red Ribbon Rally and an anti-drug presentation. The Indiana State Police helicopter that was used to locate marijuana fields from the air was also set to land at General Shanks and East the same day.

Redkey Elementary School was planning a release of red and white balloons and Westlawn Elementary School in Dunkirk planned a walk through downtown in support of the Just Say No club and anti-drug messages. Just Say No members were scheduled to paint “no” on students’ faces on Oct. 31.

The band LaRue and Company was scheduled to speak Oct. 24 at Jay County High School. It would also perform a concert for middle school students during the day and another open to the public in the evening.

Red Ribbon Week started in 1985 as a tribute to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was murdered while working undercover.