Arkadelphia schools will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week with activities all week long, beginning Monday, Oct. 26. Students throughout the district will be supplied with a ribbon, which they are encouraged to wear all week long while at school. Students will also be educated on drugs and alcohol. Cpl. Jason Watson, the Arkadelphia police officer assigned to Goza Middle School as a resource officer, told the Siftings recently about the upcoming events at the school, and provided a brief history of how Red Ribbon Week came about. The nationwide program started in the 1980s after Enrique Camarena, a DEA agent, was kidnapped in the line of duty, tortured and killed. In honor of the sacrifices he made in the war on drugs, Camarena’s friends and some teachers at his hometown high school in California wore red ribbons, pleading to live drug-free lives on behalf of all Americans. Watson said of the events, “We want to try to reach as many of our students as possible. At this crucial age of being a teenager in middle school, they’re starting to experience the junior high social life. They’re about to go to high school, and we want to reach all of them and tell them about the dangers of drinking and driving. We’re there to say, ‘We’re here for you — Not only am I a police officer or a teacher, but we’re here as a support group for you.’” Watson thanked teacher Sarah Moss for her help in organizing the week’s activities.

Monday: Anyone, including students and parents, who wants to stop by Goza Middle School from 7-8 a.m. can do so and have a snack or talk with students about Red Ribbon Week, or just to show support and have a snack. KIX 106 will do its morning show on location, and Crystal Palace will be there with gift certificates.

Tuesday: Arkadelphia Country Club is providing a golf cart for students to drive while wearing the “Fatal Vision” goggles, which simulate the vision of someone who is intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. “We’ll be using those to get the students an idea of what it’s like to operate a vehicle while intoxicated,” Watson said.

Wednesday: Beginning at 8 a.m., Watson and others will be on hand to finish up with the Fatal Vision goggles. Throughout the day classrooms will be watching videos from M.A.D.D. and other anti-drug organizations.

Thursday: “Mrs. Arkansas” Nicole Knapp will speak to students from 1-3 p.m. about the dangers of drinking and driving and the dangers of drugs, as well as how students can cope with peer pressure.

Friday: Several in-house activities will be giving out certificates and awards to students, and students will be watching more anti-drug videos. Watson will be speaking to students at Peake Elementary School about Red Ribbon Week.