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“The D.A.R.E. program is something we have heard about for a while and never really implemented it,â€� said Hays. “It stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. It is a cooperative program between the sheriffÐÔÊӽ紫ý department and the schools.â€�

“We had talked about the possibility of doing it county wide but it is a pretty expensive endeavor to do it county wide,� said Hays.

“As far as we can tell the only, cost is the training of an officer,� said Hays. “It has to be a police officer. It can’t be somebody that we just send to the training. It has to be an active police officer and the training is about a two week program somewhere, between $800 and $1,200.�

“There is a work book that goes with the program but the first year of the program the workbook are free and we are talking about doing it for fifth and sixth graders,� said Hays. “The would be the starting point to see if it is an effective program.�

“We would like to see that at Gaylesville and it would be something that Sheriff Shaver would

D.A.R.E cont. pg. 5A

D.A.R.E from pg. 1A

have to implement,� said Hays

Hays said the program would involve 10 lessons per grade level (for a total of 20 visits including fifth and sixth grade students) and each lesson lasts approximately an hour.

“It is a pretty intense training process and a pretty involved program,� said Hays. “So what we would like to do, I guess is fiture out a way we could make that happen.�

Ballew said they had been in contact with the Alabama coordinator of the D.A.R.E. program and found out they could get the program free for the first year since Gaylesville School has never had a D.A.R.E. program.

She said the program requires a two week training course for the officers at Fort Stewart Army Base.

The commission urged Hays and Ballew to check with other possible sources of funding and support before making a commitment at this time.

“It would definitely be a great program to have,� said Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver who was present at the work session.

On another matter, Cherokee County Administrator Tim Burgess updated the commission on the status fo the new Cherokee County Animal Shelter which will be housed in the former Nichols Animal Clinic facility.

“We are looking at changing some of the electrical outlets and maybe doing some rewiring in there, and that is taking place now,� said Burgess. “We have also contacted the city about he specifications for what they need.�

“The city inspector will get with Mr. Jennings and also Mr. Dutton on what needs to be done so we don’t construct something in order to just tear it out,� said Burgess. “They are getting together on that.�

“Also, I hope you have had an opportunity to look at the policies and procedures of the shelter and at some point we need to be able to pass those policies and procedures obviously before we start operating,� said Burgess.

Burgess suggested that the commission adopt the policies and procedures by the next commission meeting.

He noted they can be amended or updated at any time.

Cherokee County Commission Chairman/Probate Judge Kirk Day shared a letter received from the State of Alabama Historical Commission that Hatcher High School and the JFK Community Center at 205 Jackson St. are now listed on the State of Alabama Historic Places.

Commissioner Randy Jones noted that the Farmers Market is now open in Centre City Park on Thursday mornings and also Monday evenings.

“They have a lot of good vendors, a lot of really good stuff there,� said Day. “It is very well attended I think.�

“It is a really good thing to support to get some local produce,� said Day.