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15TuesdayMay142013HealthWellnessAlcoholFortSmithtohostdrygradforrsttimeindecadeByRENEFRANCOEURAdamBrunnerofFortSmithwantedsomethingdif-ferentforhisgraduationfromPaulW.Kaeserhighschoolthisyear.Everyyeareveryonegoesoutafterthetraditionalgrandmarchanddrinksandgetscrazy.Wethoughtwedtrysomethingmoresafeandap-propriateBrunner17said.Theideaforresurrectingachaperonedalcohol-freepromdancewasborn.Theplanistodosome-thingbiggerthanjustthewalksomethingwhereweallstaytogetherandmakegoodmem-oriesBrunnersaid.Alotofstudentsareforitbecausetheydontliketodrinkandthisisadifferenttypeofgradevent.Thedanceplannedcom-pletelybyBrunnerforthepastfourmonthsandboostedbythelocalanti-drugNotUscam-paignwillbeopentoanyoneinGrade11and12aswellaspastgraduatesuptotheageof24orsoaslongastheyhaveboughtticketsBrunnersaid.EducatorPamWalshwhochairstheNotUscommitteealongwithSheilaKindredwasthrilledwhenBrunnerapproachedherwiththeidea.AccordingtoWalshtherehasntbeenaprom-stylegraddanceforatleastadecade.Thereusedtobeadanceafterwardsforgradbutwhatwasfoundwasthatallthisworkwouldgointothedancethegradswouldcomehaveafewdancesgohometochangeandnotreturn.Itendedupbeingtheyoungergradeswhowerethemainattendeessothatkindofdefeatsthepur-poseanditwasdecidedtojusthaveagraddinnerandmarchinsteadshesaid.ThedancewillfeatureaDJprofessionalphotographerandatablefullofsnacksandfunkymocktailstoaddtotheoverallpartyatmosphereWalshsaid.Speakingfrommyexpe-rienceatmyowngradmybestmemoriesarefromthedanceshesaid.AdrugdogfromtheHayRiverRCMPdetachmentwillbepatrollingoutsidetoensureeveryoneisontheirbestbehaviour.Volunteerchaperoneswillbeondutyinsidethedanceandintheenclosedsmokingarea.Arewegoingtopreventkidsfromgoingoutanddrink-ingcompletelyIdontthinksoandIthinkthatsrealistictoexpectnoteveryonewillmakethesamechoice.Butatleastthisprovidesanopportunitytopromoteahealthychoice.ThewholeoverallpurposeisjusttomakegradassafeaspossibleWalshsaid.Havingavenueforayoutheventthatguaranteesnodrugsoralcoholisimportantespe-ciallyinasmallcommunityBrunneradded.Everyweekendsome-oneisgoingoutdrinkingandpartying.Lastyearsgradwasreallybigbutitstillwasntallofus.Ithinkwithsomethinglikethiswellmakealotofawesomememoriesandwellallbetogetherandnobodyhastoworryhesaid.Walshhopestoseethedrydancecontinueforyearstocome.ThedancewilltakeplaceattheFortSmithcurlingrinkonMay31from1100p.m.to300a.m.Tovolunteerormakeacon-tributiontothegraddancecontactWalshorKindredat867-872-5701.PamWalshprogramcoordinatorforSSDECandGrade12studentAdamBrunnerareorga-nizinganalcohol-freegraddancethisyearbringingprombackforthersttimeinadecade.Ithinkwithsomethinglikethiswellmakealotofawesomememoriesandwellallbetogetherandnobodyhastoworry.StudentAdamBrunnerMEDIASPONSORLTD.June152013FormoreinformationpleasecontactClaudetteJamesat867872-0168orat