Dickinson Southwest Coalition Highlights For November

DUI Reduction Focus: The Southwest Coalition of Safe Communities hosts a 3D booth at the Prairie Hills Mall annually. This year the 3D booth is scheduled for Saturday, December 1, 2001, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. A planning meeting was held with representatives from State Farm Insurance, the Dickinson Police Department, the Stark County Sheriff's Department, the ND Highway Patrol, the Prevention Assistant for Safe Communities and the coordinator for Safe Communities. Plans are to prepare a display that will be left up through January 1, 2002. This display will identify the number of people killed in crashes in North Dakota over the past year. Some or most of the crashes were alcohol-related and/or included unbuckled passengers.

On December 1, the booth will include: the ND Department of Health on Child Passenger Safety; 911 Safety; Vince and Larry; a ND Highway Patrol vehicle; and two Search and Rescue vehicles. The Sheriff's Department and Dickinson Police Department will each provide a drug and alcohol informational display. State Farm Insurance will have an educational display on driving safety. The ND Highway Patrol will display crashed vehicles and provide child passenger safety information. Fingerprinting and photo IDs, balloons and other incentive items will be available with the Wheel of Fortune game. RSVP and Girl Scouts will be contacted for volunteers to man the various booths, and Kids On The Block will be asked to present skits on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Another part of the 3D month activities is coalition participation in the Parade of Lights and the Lights On For Life ceremony following the parade, which is put on by the Greater Downtown Association. The coalition has purchased candy canes and found an individual to dress as Santa to ride on the fire engine during the parade and distribute the candy canes to children attending the Lights On For Life ceremony. The Hagen Junior High Choir will sing Christmas carols before and after the ceremony. Pastor Scott McKirdy will open and close the ceremony with a prayer in memory of those killed in vehicle crashes over the last year and for world peace. Stark County Sheriff Jim Rice, Dickinson Police Department Chief Gary Banyai, and Acting Highway Patrol Commander Tony Huck have agreed to read the names of crash victims killed in North Dakota. The Safe Communities coordinator will comment on drinking and driving, using a designated driver, and buckling up to save lives. The ceremony is expected to last approximately 20 minutes.

The Safe Communities coordinator will interview with KLTC, KCAD and KZRX radio stations on 3D activities and what 3D stands for. Information for discussion questions and answers will be provided by LoAnn's Marketing. The latest statistics will be requested from the ND DOT office before the interviews.

Data collection continues toward implementing a Victim Impact Panel Program. A sample order has been placed for MADD brochures, videos and other information on this program. The order is expected to arrive in December. It is hoped the order will include information on how to approach victims on becoming speakers on the panel. The coordinator met with Myrna Rudland and Deb Burke regarding victim speakers. Myrna and Deb will contact a victim about serving as a speaker for the panel. A one-year commitment would be ideal, since plans are to initially offer the program quarterly. Once numbers increase, the frequency of the program would be increased as necessary. After two victims have committed to speak, another meeting with area judges will be held.