{"id":79270,"date":"2025-10-17T11:24:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/?p=79270"},"modified":"2025-10-17T11:24:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:24:12","slug":"winter-haven-proclaims-red-ribbon-week-to-promote-drug-awareness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/17\/winter-haven-proclaims-red-ribbon-week-to-promote-drug-awareness\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Haven Proclaims Red Ribbon Week to Promote Drug Awareness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Winter Haven Proclaims Red Ribbon Week to Promote Drug Awareness
by James Coulter<\/em>
 
The City of Winter Haven has officially designated the week of Thur. Oct. 23 through Fri. Oct. 31 as “Red Ribbon Week,” recognizing the nation\u2019s longest-running campaign to raise awareness about drug, tobacco, alcohol, and violence prevention.
 
At their recent meeting on Mon. Oct. 13, Winter Haven city commissioners issued a proclamation affirming the city\u2019s commitment to promoting education and community efforts aimed at reducing drug use.
 
“The City of Winter Haven, Florida, is committed to a healthy lifestyle of its citizens and desires to ensure their quality of life,” the proclamation read. “That hope lies in education and drug demand reduction, coupled with the hard work and determination of organizations\u2026to foster a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.”
 
Red Ribbon Week was started in 1985 following the death of Enrique \u201cKiki\u201d Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent killed in the line of duty. In tribute, members of his community began wearing red ribbons in his honor, the official Red Ribbon Week website explained.
 
“Parents then began to form coalitions using Camarena as their model while embracing his belief that one person can make a difference,” the website stated. “These coalitions adopted the symbol of Camarena’s memory, the Red Ribbon.”
 
Locally, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), led by Sheriff Grady Judd, remains adamant in its stance against drug dealing and trafficking. In August, PCSO concluded a year-long investigation with the arrest of 32 individuals and the seizure of firearms, fentanyl, and more than $7,000 in cash.
 
Currently, the Red Ribbon Week website is hosting a photo contest, where families are encouraged to decorate the front of their houses, and schools are encouraged to decorate their classrooms, with red ribbons.  The contest winner will receive a free tablet and $1,000 for their K-12 school. The entry period is from now until Nov. 1. Learn more at:
https:\/\/www.redribbon.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Winter Haven Proclaims Red Ribbon Week to Promote Drug Awarenessby James Coulter The City of Winter Haven has officially designated the week of Thur. Oct. 23 through Fri. Oct. 31 as “Red Ribbon Week,” recognizing the nation\u2019s longest-running campaign to raise awareness about drug, tobacco, alcohol, and violence prevention. At their recent meeting on Mon. Oct. 13, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":79269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1496],"tags":[48,55,68,410,1712,1710,1711,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-79270","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-localgovernment","8":"tag-city-commission","9":"tag-city-commission-meeting","10":"tag-city-of-winter-haven","11":"tag-commission-meeting","12":"tag-drug-awareness","13":"tag-red-ribbon","14":"tag-red-ribbon-week","15":"tag-winter-haven"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/redribbonweek-1.png?fit=1919%2C1079&ssl=1","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t