Latest news with #RedRibbonWeek
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
MCHS promotes student leadership with Cougar Council
McLean County High School (MCHS) is focusing on preventing student alcohol, nicotine and drug use through a student leadership organization called the Cougar Council. Led by Leandra Keister, the McLean County Public School (MCPS) community education director, and Becky Tanner, the high school's Youth Services Center coordinator, the Cougar Council recruits students who display leadership skills for membership in the organization. 'Sometimes we operate on an invitation-only basis but sometimes we open up applications to students that want to participate in Cougar Council,' said Keister. 'We try to select members to represent all areas of student life like athletes, band members and ROTC participants.' Cougar Council, according to Keister and Tanner, focuses on alcohol and substance abuse prevention at the high school. 'Other schools might have similar clubs or programs, but we're always getting recognized at events and conferences for being leaders with the Cougar Council, along with Webster County,' Keister said. The club has existed since before Tanner took the position as Youth Services Center coordinator at MCHS, but Keister said that, like many clubs and organizations, Cougar Council had to revamp following the COVID-19 pandemic. Student members of the Cougar Council help to design events and activities surrounding October's Red Ribbon Week and dress-up dates during prom week to help promote the abstinence of alcohol, nicotine or drugs during the prom festivities. 'Some of our students were also able to attend a workshop about grant writing,' Keister said. 'Their grant application finished third in the state and it focused around creating 'Quit Kits'.' A Quit Kit is a collection of items and resources that are passed out to individuals in the community who are seeking a means to help with smoking cessation. 'I love that we've been able to help members of the community with the Quit Kits,' said sophomore Cougar Council member Mason Howard. 'Being a part of helping someone make a positive change has been rewarding.' Keister said that club members were also able to meet with members of the Kentucky state Congress to discuss SB 100, a bill to help with keeping vaping devices out of the hands of minors. 'I enjoyed being a part of the Frankfort trip. 'It was great to see how we could make a difference as students,' said Howard. 'And the students recently received word that the bill had passed,' Keister said. 'So it was neat for them to be able to see that they can make a difference in the state.' Keister said members of the Cougar Council also host the McLean County Community Coalition meetings. 'Each student presents a topic from the agenda to the group attending the meeting,' she said. Addison Benningfield, a junior, said that she's enjoyed participating in those meetings and watching her peers get involved in school activities and around the community. 'I like that we're able to participate in the Community Coalition meetings and that we get to talk about what we do with Cougar Council during the meetings,' she said. Senior Cougar Council member Kate Hayden said that she even got the opportunity to participate in a national anti-vaping advertising campaign thanks to her participation in Cougar Council. 'The campaign had a theme of 'More than the Boxes' suggesting that we are more than the stereotypes that people give us as students because lots of people believe that all high school students vape or drink alcohol,' she explained. 'It was such a cool experience and volunteer opportunity. I had friends calling and texting me to say that they saw me on a commercial.' Keister said that the club tries to add new members during the spring semester so that when the next semester comes around, the Cougar Council members already know the rules and what happens during club meetings. 'That way we're not having to start the new school year off with all brand new students who don't understand how Cougar Council operates,' she said. Freshman Eli Brown said that knowing that he's been able to make a difference in the community is what keeps him coming back to meetings and events. 'I'd heavily encourage any student interested in joining to fill out an application or accept the invitation. 'Just knowing that we, as students, can make a different in the community while making friendships is something that makes Cougar Council something exciting to join,' he said.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Family of slain DEA agent Enrique ‘Kiki' Camarena details 40-year journey for justice
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The road for justice continues for the family of slain U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena forty years later. The family is suing the Guadalajara Cartel members responsible for his murder after President Donald Trump designated cartels as terrorist organizations. This is happening at the same time Rafael 'Caro' Gallardo, one of the cartel's leaders, is facing federal murder charges. 'My brother was out here, trying to do good and get rid of these marijuana fields, but it continued and it continued and these cartels still to this day continue,' said Myrna Camarena. 'Is there ever going to be an end?' Retail theft bust at Las Americas outlet mall leads to 80 arrests Camarena, Kiki's sister, said that the lawsuit's goal is justice for her brother. In 1985, her brother was kidnapped, brutally interrogated and murdered by the Guadajalara Cartel. Camarena was also working for the DEA when her brother was kidnapped. She said it was a Sunday when her boss knocked on her door and broke the news that her brother was missing. 'He says, 'Your brother has been taken.' He didn't use the word 'kidnapped.' He used the word 'taken.' I said, 'What do you mean? He's a policeman. He can't be taken. He can defend himself,'' Camarena recalled. ''He's been kidnapped,' he says. And I don't remember that I fainted.' A month later, she got the news that Kiki's body was found. He was found next to the pilot who flew him over a marijuana field operated by the Guadalajara Cartel to collect evidence. For Camarena, the discovery of her brother's body was the start of a road to get justice for her brother. 'Why him? What did he do other than his job?' said Camarena. Three cartel leaders were held responsible for Kiki's death, Miguel Angel Felix-Quintero, Ernesto Fonseca-Carillo and Caro Gallardo. The family filed a lawsuit against all three and the Sinaloa Cartel last week, seeking compensation for substantial physical, emotional and psychological damages. It comes as Caro Gallardo is facing federal charges for Kiki's murder. Reports say he could face the death penalty. 'We have waited 40 years for this. 40 years and he's finally here,' said Camarena. It's something she says her mother would've loved to have seen. New bill to limit federal district judges 'When my mother was on her death bed she said, 'I wish I could be here when he's arrested and brought to the us.' But she didn't make it,' she said through tears, 'so that makes it even harder.' She said that when Gallardo was extradited to the U.S., she prayed and told her mom that she had gotten her wish. Kiki's death has not been in vain. Since his passing, his life has been honored every year in October at schools around the country with Red Ribbon Week, where students pledge to be drug-free. There is also a school named after him in Chula Vista. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DrugFree Greenville calling on community, businesses in fight against substance abuse
Feb. 6—Greenville residents and businesses are invited to show their support for DrugFree Greenville by securing a 2025 supporter sign that helps fund programs dedicated to keeping the community informed about drug and alcohol abuse, especially the threats of vaping and fentanyl. DrugFree Greenville plays a vital role in educating the community and providing programs that target local youth, schools and families through events such as Red Ribbon Week, Kite Fly, No Thanks I'll Pass, Shattered Dreams and others. kAm"(:E9 J@FC DFAA@CE[ sCF8uC66 vC66?G:==6 H:== 36 23=6 E@ 4@?E:?F6 3C:?8:?8 2H2C6?6DD] (6 9@DE 6G6?ED :? E96 D49@@=D E@ 5@ ;FDE E92E 2?5 C6249 @FE E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ[Q D2:5 $96==J (2C5=@H[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 sCF8uC66 vC66?G:==6] Qx7 J@F 92G6 4@?EC:3FE65 :? E96 A2DE[ E92?J@F 7@C DFAA@CE:?8 sCF8uC66 vC66?G:==6] x7 ?@E[ >26 @FE E96C6 2?5 D9@H J@FC DFAA@CE]Qk^Am kAm$FAA@CE6C D:8?D H:== 36 5:DA=2J65 2=@?8 E96 {@?83C2?49 %C2:= ?6IE E@ y@6 #2>D6J q=G@F=6G2C5 5FC:?8 pAC:= 2?5 |2J — AC@G:5:?8 G:D:3:=:EJ 7@C 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 96=A 7F?5 E96D6 :?:E:2E:G6D] $:8? @AE:@?D 2C6 2G2:=23=6 2E G2C:@FD =6G6=Dik^Am kAm—#F3J $:8? w@=56CD Wc' I ba" D92C65 H:E9 a @E96CDXi S'__k^Am kAm—$2AA9:C6 $:8? w@=56CD Wc' I c'Xi Sad_k^Am kAm—t>6C2=5 $:8? w@=56CD Wc' I e'Xi Sd__k^Am kAm—s:2>@?5 $:8? w@=56CD Wc' I g'Xi S'[___ W:?4=F56D =@8@ @AE:@?Xk^Am kAm%@ 6?DFC6 J@FC D:8? :D C625J[ DF3>:E J@FC 4@>A=6E65 4@?EC24E 3J |2C49 b] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 4@?E24E sCF8uC66 vC66?G:==6 2E Wh_bX cdc\cb__ @C 6>2:= k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i7:?2?46o5CF87C668C66?G:==6]@C8Qm7:?2?46o5CF87C668C66?G:==6]@C8k^2m]k^Am
