SD Guard Counterdrug program unveils billboard

Photo By Master Sgt. Theanne Tangen | The billboard designed by Emily Maltaverne, 10, is located at the west side Family Thrift Express Center parking lot which supports Red Ribbon Week the largest, most visible drug awareness campaign in the United States. Emily’s design was chosen out of 3,500 entries from 18 schools in the Rapid City area. The Red Ribbon Week coloring contest was put on by the South Dakota National Guard Counterdrug program.  

RAPID CITY, SD, UNITED STATES

10.06.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Theanne Tangen 

South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs   

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Soldiers of the Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) team, South Dakota National Guard Counterdrug program, along with other sponsors throughout the Rapid City area, hosted a Red Ribbon Billboard unveiling, Oct. 6.

The billboard, at the west side Family Thrift Express Center parking lot on Sturgis Road, supports the drug awareness Red Ribbon Week, which is the largest, most visible awareness campaign in the United States.

Emily Maltaverne, a fifth-grade student at Zion Lutheran School in Rapid City, won the contest with her illustration of an astronaut flying through space.

“I know a lot of kids who look up to astronauts and I know most astronauts are drug free,” said Emily, age 10. “I think that drugs mess you up and I want to go far in life. I want to go to the Art Institute of Colorado for culinary arts, and I am proud to be drug free.”

Master Sgt. Kristi Palmer, DDR administrator for the South Dakota National Guard, said the billboard contest is just one of many visual reminders showing our commitment to being drug free in Rapid City.

“There are red ribbons tied around trees, the president statues downtown and a huge red ribbon tied onto a dinosaur at Dinosaur Park,” said Palmer.

Emily’s dad, Mike Maltaverne, a Fire Chief for the Rapid City Fire department, recognizes the importance of Red Ribbon Week.

“For me this is a win-win situation,” said Mike. “As Emily’s dad, I am proud of her and as a fire chief, I am proud to see our community making an effort to bring drug awareness to our youth because unfortunately I see what happens when kids make the wrong decisions.”

The billboard contest, which ran from Sept.1 through Sept. 23, was put on to bring more awareness about drugs and alcohol to elementary students throughout the region.

The theme, “Drugs Don’t Fly with Me”, gave kindergarten through fifth-grade students a chance to get creative in order to win a $100 savings bond, a pizza party for their class and the chance to be the Grand Marshall during the Red Ribbon Parade.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do this contest without the help of our two sponsors Lamar Outdoor Advertising and Family Thrift Express Center,” said Palmer. “We are also thankful for the Army Junior ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) and Students Against Destructive Decisions for judging the 3,500 entries from the 18 schools who participated in this contest.”

• Date Taken: 10.06.2011
• Date Posted: 10.07.2011 17:03
• Story ID: 78191
• Location: RAPID CITY, SD, US