has been expanded through grant money to include every public and private elementary school in Marion County, as well as two middle schools.  D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a course designed to equip students with skills for resisting peer pressure to experiment with alcohol and other drugs.  Students are taught about making the right choices when it comes to peer pressure about sex, committing crimes, and pranks.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office is currently in it's second year of funding.  During the grant period, there were over 2,000 students who completed visitation instruction and 420 students who completed the core curriculum instruction.

• For more information contact Major Patti Lumpkin at 369-3547.