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It was really loud, extremely
energetic, and loads of fun for 2,800 fifth graders who graduated from the
Knox County Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
program. Children from 19 Knox County Schools celebrated at the Thompson
Boling Arena, Monday, May 12, 2008.
It got loud quickly as the Knox
County Motorcycle Officers kick off the festivities with sirens blaring as they
roared into the arena.
No one could stay in their seat when Sheriff "J.J." Jones began school roll call. And the noise was almost deafening when the DARE instructors were
introduced with some special tricks up their sleeves.
The entertainment intensified as
Retro Bill hit the stage. As the Official DARE Safety Buddy, Retro Bill tours
the country performing live safety and self-esteem shows. The 1950’s styled,
pompadour-haired entertainer used Silly String, Hula Hoops, and Frisbees to get
his safety message across.
Something different this year was the announcement of each school’s essay winner, who received a DARE
backpack filled with a water bottle, DARE radio, a holographic personal body
fan, ball cap, autographed posters of Coach Pat Summit and Coach Bruce Pearl,
and a ten pound Nestle Crunch Bar.
A special thanks goes out to FOP
Lodge #2 for purchasing the DARE t-shirts for all of the fifth graders and their
teachers.
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