Annually, the Elks nationwide have a poster and essay contest for their Drug Awareness and Prevention Committees. The theme this year was "Not Now, Not Ever." The poster contest is open to students in the third, fourth and fifth grades. The essay contest is open to students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
The lodge, which sponsored the Jamestown contest, was Columbia Elks Lodge 594. Joyce Wesseldine, Drug Awareness and Prevention Committee chair, is in her third year chairing this committee. Wesseldine said she works very closely with schools in the Columbia area, including Jamestown. This year their lodge had over 700 entries total in the poster and essay contest including many students from Jamestown C-I School.
Winners of their lodge for both the poster and essay contest are forwarded to district for judging. If they win at that district, they are then forwarded on for judging at the state level, and then at the national level.
A coloring book is published nationally by the Elks and handed out to the youth in the United States by their local Elks lodges. The coloring book is comprised of winning posters at the national level.
In the past, Wesseldine said they have been very happy to have Jamestown, Bunceton and Prairie Home participate in these contests.
Prizes were awarded as follows: 1st, 2nd and 3rd from each class at each school (1st place won a certificate and a medal, 2nd and 3rd received certificates). There is an overall winner for each school in both the poster and essay contests. That winner receives a $25 gift certificate and a framed certificate. Winners at the district level receive a pizza and soda party for their entire class at the end of the school year. There are monetary awards at the state and national levels.
Results from Jamestown are as follows: Poster Contest: Third Grade, Faith (1st), Clark (2nd) and Kylie (3rd); Fourth Grade, Chiane (1st), Samantha (2nd) and Lainey (3rd); Fifth Grade, Aliegh (1st), Cara (2nd) and Katie (3rd).
Essay Contest: Seventh Grade, Mickayla Strother (1st), Erica Crider (2nd) and Mackenzie Strother (3rd); Eighth Grade, Andrew Nott (1st), Alex Gerlach (2nd) and Haily Owens (3rd).
Overall Poster Winner for Jamestown: Chiane.
Overall Essay Winner for Jamestown: Mickayla Strother.
Overall Essay Winner for Columbia Lodge 594: Mickayla Strother.
Third Place Essay Winner for Columbia Lodge 594: Andrew Nott.
District Winners Mickayla Strother and Andrew Nott also won pizza parties for their classes for winning in district and their essays have been forwarded to state for judging.