by Lorna Eddleman
WALSENBURG — Huerfano RE-1 School District took time at their regularly scheduled board meeting on August 4 to recognize representatives from the SO and OEM for the work they do on behalf of the school district over the course of each year.. The sheriff’s office puts together an annual Halloween safety awareness prgram. They go to the schools, hand out bags of candy, and talk about stranger danger and what to look for with unsafe candy.
They have also worked on bullying/cyber bullying prevention programs. Captain Kevin Vallejos and Lt. Milan Rapo have given lectures and brought guest speakers into the schools to talk about bullying. They have also explained to students that bullying can be punished by the law.
Vallejos and Rapo have also worked with the high school since the Drive Smart program started six years ago to encourage safe driving, as well as keep students informed of the laws for teenage drivers.
The annual Cops vs Jocks toy drive at Christmas is a wonderful gift to district students from the SO. Law enforcement battles it out with RE-1 coaches in a game of basketball. Entrance to the game for the public is a new unwrapped toy. The sheriff’s deputies then deliver the toys to children in need in our community.
The district is also very grateful that the sheriff’s office has always been available for safety drills during the school year. They are always available to our students when we need them. Our students know they are someone safe to talk to when they need them.
