Guard flies drug program to Troy

The Montana National Guard¹s Counterdrug Unit spent two days last week in Troy schools.

The unit was supporting the school¹s drug education efforts with the fly-in and a presentation about making healthy choices and living drug-free.

Guardsmen flew to Morrison Elementary School in an IH58 Kiowa helicopter on Monday, Nov. 8, and spent Tuesday, Nov. 9, in Troy before leaving as the clouds and fog allowed.

The Montana National Guard Counterdrug Unit is comprised of both Air and Army National Guard members and provides support to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and to community based organizations that request drug demand reduction assistance.

Senior Airman Drenda Carlson presented a program for each grade at Morrision, for junior high grades seven and eight and for the 10th grade at Troy High School. The presentation covered marijuana and methamphetamine.

³Each presentation in the kindergarten through sixth-grade classes was age-appropriate and ranged from puppet shows to hands-on activities that were related to attitude and choices that children make in their lives,² said Ralph Stevers, county prevention officer and counselor for Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic.

³All the feedback from the teachers was good,² Stevers said.

The National Guard¹s visit was in conjunction with Red Ribbon Week and the writing contest involving 120 elementary school students. There were 20 winning entries for which Troy businesses donated prizes.

Participating sponsors were Kootenai Drug, Trojan Lanes, Uptown Video, Pizza Hut and the Lincoln Theater. Seventy-six children received prizes for their essays.

Other National Guard members participating in the fly-in were Chief Warrant Officer Keith Banning, Chief Warrant Officer Chris Bryce, MSgt. Duane Harrel and Specialist Curtis Ueland.