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Having A Ball
URL:
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n680/a05.html
Newshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Wed, 05 May 2004
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2004sPeoria Journal Star
Contact: forum@pjstar.com
Website: http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Author: Carrie Kepple
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm
(D.A.R.E.)
HAVING A BALL
Thousands Of Program Grads Join The Chiefs For Some
Hard-Hitting Fun
A procession of yellow school buses circled O'Brien
Field on Tuesday morning, trying to find the closest
place to park in the rain.
But once they pulled in, thousands of excited central
Illinois schoolkids flew into the stadium, skipping and
cartwheeling through the puddles.
They came to celebrate graduating from DARE, arguably
the country's most intense childhood drug prevention
program, which teaches kids about substance abuse and
resistance skills, at the 18th annual Peoria Chiefs'
DARE Day.
"I learned the consequences of what drugs can do to
your body," said 11-year-old Alan Weisser, a
fifth-grader at Norwood Grade School, as he waited to
get his ticket checked at the gate.
More than 5,000 students from nearly 65 schools came to
see the Chiefs take on the West Michigan Whitecaps.
The contest was delayed a half-hour because of rain.
Alan and his classmates completed 17 weeks of Drug Abuse
Resistance Education in December.
"They've been waiting for a long time," said
his teacher, Kelly Wroblewski.
Inside the stadium, a roar of little voices filled the
concourse as kids played tag, waved foam fingers and
swung the free blow-up bats they got at the door.
And a dozen kids huddled around Rally, the Chiefs'
mascot, for his autograph.
Elizabeth Stufflebeam, an 11-year-old fifth-grader from
Cuba, said she was waiting to get a ball signed just
"for the fun of it."
Former Chiefs owner Pete Vonachen comes out every year
just to see the kids having fun.
"The important thing about the whole event is
taking a break from the classroom and coming out here to
enjoy a game," Vonachen said. "I love
the kids. They're what it's all about."
Box office manager Ryan Sivori said he's seen the event
grow since he joined the Chiefs in 2000.
"It's to reward the kids in DARE. It's a
yearly tradition," he said. The crowd of kids
grew by about 500 from last year, he said.
DARE officer and Minier Chief of Police Daryl Weseloh
said spending the day at the park was a good reward for
the kids. He has been the officer for four school
districts for 13 years.
"It's another opportunity for them to see a
drug-free activity," he said.
Fifth-grade students from Elmwood even wore T-shirts to
show they are committed to staying drug free.
Kristen McFall, Jenna Scotti, Lacey Zaerr and Becca
Schreurs are all friends who said they learned a lot of
things that they never knew before from their DARE
officer, Matt Hawkins of the Peoria County Sheriff's
Department.
"I teach them about all the different drugs and a
lot of things they're gonna encounter in life,"
Hawkins said.
The Chiefs players and coaches also hoped to set a good
example.
"Hopefully we can show 'em what it's all about,
making good decisions in life," said Chiefs
pitching coach Bryan Eversgerd. "We love
playing for the kids."
The Whitecaps defeated the Chiefs by a final score of
10-4.
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