Brenda L. Swecker, developer of the Smoke Detector Program in Randolph County Schools, has announced the completion of the program's 10th year.

This year, the program distributed a total of 111 smoke detectors and 125 fire extinguishers free of charge to graduating kindergarten and fifth-grade students.

According to Swecker, due to some grant successes the program was able to expand its distribution this year to Beverly Elementary School. This was the first time the school participated in the program. The expanded service included an additional 80 students.

Since the program's inception, 587 smoke detectors and 459 fire extinguishers have been handed out. The program began in 2000 with 30 kindergarten students at George Ward Elementary School receiving a smoke detector.

The program is funded solely on grant monies and does not rely on any money from any fire department, although the program is run through the Valley Head Volunteer Fire Department. This year, with the help of The Snowshoe Foundation, Randolph County Commission and Liggett's Supply in Mill Creek, the program was not only able to continue but was allowed to increase the area served by one additional school.

Plans are being made to host a cakewalk in July at the Valley Head Volunteer Fire Department building to benefit the upcoming year's program.