Drug prevention draws unusually large crowd

By Claude Chavis, Jr.
Staff Writer

The Eighth annual Red Ribbon Dinner, Oct. 24, in Lumberton, drew an unusually large crowd, according to the event’s keynote speaker George Sweat.

"I attend these functions around the state and this level of attendance is unusual," Sweat, secretary of N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, said

Several hundred people attended the dinner, a fundraiser for drug prevention in Robeson County.

Normally, 50 tables that seat eight people each are planned for the dinner each year. Alaina Hunt of Palmer Prevention said, "Every year we find ourselves selling more than 50 tables, but I'm not complaining."

The event was held in conjunction with National Red Ribbon Week. It was hosted by Palmer Prevention, Inc. and the Robeson County Sheriff's Department at the Southeastern Regional Agriculture Center and Farmer's Market.

Guests were greeted at the door by a ghoulish trio from the Haunted Fest. The Haunted Fest, scheduled to run through Nov. 6 at the Farmer's Market, benefits the Juvenile Justice Restitution Program of Robeson County.

The entertainment included Lumbee recording artists Paige Jones and Torie Locklear.