Carroll Police Department Graduates 139 In D.A.R.E. Program

The Carroll Police Department held a special graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at the Carroll Middle School to honor the hard work of 139 sixth-grade students who have successfully completed the Drug Abuse Resistance Education, D.A.R.E., program. Sgt. Gary Bellinghausen led the ceremony that featured guest speaker, Mayor Dr. Eric Jensen, and readings from D.A.R.E. essay winners. First place essay winners were Sophia Polking, Jayda Miller, Landon Thornock, Andrea Sander and Makalei Kofron. Second place essay winners were William Teggatz, Jacie Sturm, Emma Klocke, Kaitlyn Tigges and Madeline Parrott. The D.A.R.E. program, which was started in 1983, brings students and law enforcement together in K-12 schools across America and in 52 other countries to educate, inform and arm children to deal with the drugs, violence, bullying, internet safety and other high risk circumstances that may become a part of the student’s life.