JROTC and Peggy Needham honored at Traffic Safety Awards program

Congratulations to the Walla Walla High School JROTC program and community activist Peggy Needham for receiving awards at the annual Walla Walla County Traffic Safety Awards program Thursday afternoon at the Masonic Center.

The Walla Walla High School JROTC program received the Youth Initiative award for its awareness program to educate their peers on distracted driving and driving under the influence. Students Dan Enger, Rifle Team Captain and Samantha Scott, Rifle Team Executive Officer accepted the award on behalf of the program. Wa-Hi’s JROTC program has participated in this project for the past three years involving more than 60 students. They made more than 50 anti-drunk driving and anti- distracted driving posters, spent over six hours holding up banners in high traffic areas for passing motorists, created flyers explaining the dangers of drunk and distracted driving and surveyed students on these subjects. They also collected over 500 signatures on anti-drunk and distracted driving pledges. Thanks to JROTC Instructors Bill Bialozor and Mark Mebes for their leadership and support of this project.

Longtime community activist Peggy Needham received the Educational Outreach award. As Program Coordinator for W2 for Drug Free Youth, Peggy Needham plays a critical role in our community as it relates to educating youth and parents about the dangers of drinking and using drugs while operating a motor vehicle. Peggy organized the local version of the “Talk. They Hear You.” Underage Drinking Prevention program. This National Media Campaign empowers parents and caregivers to talk with children early about the dangers of alcohol. Peggy has also helped promote a Marijuana Talk Kit for Parents. Peggy supported Red Ribbon Week activities in Walla Walla Schools. This program stresses the risks of alcohol and drug use and the dangers of driving under the influence. Research is critical for school districts and results of the W2 for Drug Free Youth Community Surveys shed valuable light on issues centered on youth drug and alcohol use in our community. Peggy coordinated Parenting Wisely classes at Sharpstein Elementary in English and Spanish. These classes promote healthy lifestyles and raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. Peggy Needham is also an advocate for concussion awareness in youth sports, a member of the WWPS Safe and Civil Schools committee, Vice Chair for the Traffic Safety Task Force and a longtime youth baseball volunteer and advocate. Prevention education and helping others be safe has been not only a job, but a passion for Peggy for a long time.

Photo L-R: Nancy McClenny-Walters, Peggy Needham, Mark Higgins