The DARE program is almost a staple any more for almost everyone who grew up in rural America.

The latest installment of the program gets underway this week at Clinton Elementary School and Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers indicates this is a program that has been in Clinton for many years now.

Chief Lowers calls it a great program and in recent years has come under some scrutiny about its effectiveness and questions regarding if the lessons are reaching youth.

The Chief indicates in years past, School Resource Officer Mike Bennett would help lead it, this year, first-year school resource officer Cody Maer will help lead it. He reminds this is also a very beneficial program locally because it gets local authorities in front of kids and allows the kids to get to know law enforcement at a more personal level.

Chief Lowers points out, for him and whoever does the program with him, they find they get more out of being with the kids of Clinton Schools than they put into it and calls it very enjoyable.