By Barry Porterfield
An anti-drug message is the focus as Pauls Valley school officials are hoping local parents and students alike will take notice when a statewide television program airs this week.
Even though all the pieces for a local watch party didn’t fall into place, PV Superintendent Bobby Russell is encouraging plenty of attention be given to a show entitled “Crystal Darkness Oklahoma.”
The show airing on the major television affiliations from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13 is mainly focused on better educating teenagers and adults about the dangers of methamphetamine and negative impact it can have on families and communities as a whole.
“It is a 30-minute program that will inform, educate and possibly alarm all of us concerning this terrible enemy that is destroying many of our youth,” Russell said.
“This is a big project and a good one. This is a first class program and all Oklahoma based.”
Efforts by schools officials began very quickly to put together a local watch party allowing a large number of people to watch it live.
Those efforts soon fizzled when it was learned the cable capabilities were limited for both the high school auditorium and local Bosa Community Center.
Despite problems here efforts were more successful elsewhere with watch parties organized at the senior citizen building in Wynnewood, 804 E. Kerr, which is to be hosted by Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and at the Maysville United Methodist Church, 708 Mays.
Attention here in Pauls Valley has turned to alerting the public about the TV show, which was done with information sent to parents in packets given to students.
“We’re going to try and put out more information rather than having a community-wide program,” Russell said.
“It’s a family thing anyway. If we can get information out to them they can watch it at home,” he said.
The superintendent stresses the program is geared more for fifth grade age students and older.
For those unable to watch the program Tuesday night, taped repeats will be provided later on here in PV.
Local high school students will get a chance to watch the program at 8:50 a.m. on Jan. 22, while a similar showing is set at the junior high at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 26.
“We would welcome any parents to attend that would desire to see the program. If you have any questions feel free to contact our administration,” Russell added.
A taped showing will come even sooner in Elmore City with one scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14 at the First Baptist Church.
Also open to the public, the church is located one block west of the four-way stop in EC. For more information, call the church office at 580-788-4110.
Crystal Darkness Oklahoma is co-chaired by Oklahoma First Lady Kim Henry and Wes Lane, president of the Burbridge Foundation and former Oklahoma County district attorney.
The official watch party, which is free and open to the public, will be at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. It will start at 6 p.m. and show the documentary live.
It is one of more than 200 watch parties organized statewide with most in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Closer to home there are events set up in Sulphur, Purcell and Ada.
“On behalf of our Oklahoma City families, I gladly accept this statewide challenge to tackle methamphetamine head-on,” Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said.
“Whether you watch the documentary at a church, a school or with friends in a living room, we need to show the rest of Oklahoma that nothing can stop us when we work together. I am proud to partner with my counterparts in other communities because it will take the entire state to defeat this deadly drug.”
For more information, visit www.crystaldarknessoklahoma.org.
