TAKING CHARGE — Pendleton County High School RAZE leaders, from left, Jordan Hevener, Allison Keplinger, Haley Lambert, Tara Mallow, Brittany Lockard and Danielle Fields created commotions showing the harmful effects caused by using tobacco products. The students shared the commotions with their fellow classmates as well as those at Franklin Elementary School.

Red Ribbon Week is a week to take action to influence children and teens to say “no” to drugs and tobacco. The RAZE leaders from Pendleton County High School completed commotions to help promote saying “No” to tobacco products.  Commotions are public displays showing the harmful effects that tobacco products cause, as well as the harmful ingredients tobacco products contain.  RAZE leaders also shared useful and interesting facts with the teens. Crew leaders are Jordan Hevener, Brittany Lockner, Haley Lambert, Danielle Fields, Alison Keplinger and Tara Mallow.  The leaders conducted a commotion called “Crime Scene,” where bodies were outlined on the ground to show that tobacco products cause death. Bright tape was used to catch the students’ attention. Devastating facts were written inside the bodies. They put red Xs on every fifth locker in the high school to symbolize that one in every five West Virginian will die from tobacco use.