Jumping Horney Toads, has it been a fast moving seven days. We have been really busy with a lot of different projects this week and we will cover some of them and get you up to speed.

First of all, we had national Red Ribbon Week here in San Saba County this week and man what a rush. I have never talked so much and so fast in all my life. It seems like each year that I do this, we have more to talk about with less time and with more people asking for a program. Good thing God blessed me with a big mouth and lots of wind or it could have been bad for my health.

This year, I had some excellent help and was very proud of my staff for all their assistance. We had an outstanding time working with the youth of this community during Red Ribbon Week. Our theme this year was a simple but important one and it was Choices and Consequences. I have found that in every case involving illegal narcotics, it all started back with one simple choice and as we all know, the consequences soon follow. We worked with the kids on choices concerning tobacco use, alcohol use and narcotics. We also covered subjects concerning bullying and the consequences that follow. Deputy Freddie gave an excellent demonstration on how to follow directions and listen while in class and we all had a lot of fun.

We are having a coloring contest across the county and look forward to seeing the kids' work. We will be judging the contest and will post the winners as soon as possible. We will soon have some pictures of our programs for you and hope that if you're able to get involved you will come out and help. I want to thank the administrators, teachers, staff and students at all three schools for allowing us to share some of their valuable time in class with them. Please do not forget that if you can read this, thank a teacher.

One of the most valuable things that I have found working in law enforcement here in San Saba County, is community policing. If you are not working in the community, meaning the schools, churches, and organizations then you are really not accomplishing anything. Yes, we can arrest people and throw them in jail and in prison and sometimes that is exactly what needs to be done, but I believe that we need to attack the cycle. If you start when they are small, if you get the parents, churches, schools and other organizations involved, then you have a chance to make a difference. The more adults that we contact in a positive way, the more classes that we teach to educate parents as to the dangers facing their children, then the better chance we have to actually make a difference here in San Saba County.

The answer is that there is no one answer, there is no simple solution to a long-term problem. Yet what do we get done just yakking about it and griping about all the bad things going on around us. Well, that answer is simple, nothing at all. So it's far better to just move forward one step at a time and take the problem head on. We have been working with the community for some time and we will continue to do so. I believe that the real focus of the Sheriff's Office is twofold. First and foremost is patrol and intervention at the source of the problem. I believe that working traffic, patrolling the vulnerable areas of our county and following up with good investigations while working with prosecution is one of the keys to success. The second is root control and that takes us into the community working with each and every one of you and getting you involved in this struggle. The first rule of a battle is to know your enemy and knowledge is power. We want to educate you and in turn have you educate us as well. I believe that this is how and why we will be successful in the long term.

The plan is simple, get together and work together and let's make a difference in the future of San Saba County. Will this be easy? No, but then we teach our children that nothing ever is, that is worth having. Please join us in the upcoming months at any of our programs that you can attend. We will be posting a list of events and hope to see you there and involved. Well, as always we are thankful for your prayers and for all of your comments. Please contact us at 325-372-5551 or 5432.