October 19th, 2009
Commissioners proclaim 'Red Ribbon' week

Hays County Judge Liz Sumter, Hays County Commissioners Jeff Barton, Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, Will Conley, and Karen Ford, Hays County Sheriff Tommy Ratliff, Lt. Leroy Opiela, Hays County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith, Sue Cohen of the Hays Caldwell Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, San Marcos CISD Counselors Mary Williams and Juanita Fischer, and Hernandez Elementary Students Sarah Storch, Michael Cerda, Jordan Gonzalez, Zoe Powell, Belinga Haculihoyle, and Hitlas Meora.

STAFF REPORT

The Hays County Commissioners Court last week declared the week of Oct. 17-23 as Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon week is a celebration of the life of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena Salazar, a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) operative who was abducted and killed while investigating a major drug cartel in Mexico in 1985. Camerena was famous all over the United States and Latin America as a tireless and wily investigator who managed to successfully break up many bands of drug traffickers.

In honor of Camerena’s memory and to commemorate his battle against illegal drugs, his friends and neighbors began wearing badges of red satin.

The national “Red Ribbon Campaign,” begun in Camerena’s memory, teaches school kids to avoid drug use. The National Family Partnership organized the first nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988. The campaign has reached millions of U.S. children since its inception.

The Red Ribbon Campaign in Hays County is organized and sponsored by the Hays Caldwell Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. The council passes out thousands of red ribbons in Hays County schools.

A Family 1K fun run and walk, as well as a 5 K run, kicks off the campaign. This year’s event took place Saturday at River Ridge Business Park.