Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PC promotes drug free life

The Arkansas Sheriff's Association came to Gurdon Primary School Thursday for an annual presentation against tobacco, alcohol and drugs, with PC The Patrol Car starring in the effort.

Matt Bunten, project lecturer, and James Grahler, speaking through PC, talked to the entire student body Pre-school through grade four, and started out by waking up the patrol car.

Bunten said, "Let's tell him we want him awake. Say, go drug free, wake up PC!"

The children were told tobacco is gross, disgusting and stinks. Plus, PC said it has 4,000 chemicals; 200 of which are poison; such as tar, cyanide, arsenic and carbon monoxide. It was also noted you have to be 18 to buy it, but being 18 does not make tobacco any better for the body.

Bunten and PC made a deal to promise they would stay away from tobacco and they included the Gurdon Primary School students in their deal. Sheriff Troy Tucker was introduced as the one who made it possible for PC and his assistant to come to the school.

The same sort of thing was gone through for alcohol, noting you have to be 21 to drink. Bunten told PC he would promise to stay away from alcohol and then the student body was brought in on that promise as well.

The two lectured on inhalants and how they kill brain cells and on prescription drugs. They talked about marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

"When it comes to illegal drugs, you might try one once and never wake up," PC's voice told the children.

He warned about how illegal drug use could land a person in jail. PC and Bunten both told the kids they would stay away from illegal drugs  it was a deal. They were joined in the deal by the student body.

Then PC and Bunten did a magic show about making colors appear and disappear in a coloring book before presenting a poster that said, "Just say no to drugs, alcohol and tobacco."

Bunten said those who use illegal drugs need a big "L" on their forehead for "loser."

PC told them if they were approached by someone wanting them to use illegal drugs, they should: run away from that person, then tell someone you trust like dad, mom or a police officer who that person is to get them off the streets.

PC started beeping and lighting up to the song "YMCA" and told the crowd he loves kids.

Bunten told them he and PC would see them next year.