It’s really loud, extremely energetic, and loads of fun for 2,800 fifth graders who will graduate from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program.  Children from 19 Knox County Schools will celebrate at the Thompson Boling Arena, Monday, May 12, 2008 from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m.  Free parking is available across the street from the arena off Lake Loudoun Boulevard.

 It gets loud quickly as the Knox County Motorcycle Officers kick off the festivities with sirens blaring as they roar into the arena.  No one can stay in their seat when the school roll call begins.  And the noise is almost deafening when the DARE instructors are introduced with some special tricks up their sleeves.

 The entertainment intensifies as Retro Bill hits the stage.  As the Official DARE Safety Buddy, Retro Bill tours the country performing live safety and self-esteem shows.  The 1950’s styled, pompadour-haired entertainer uses Silly String, Hula Hoops, and Frisbees to get his safety message across.

 Something different this year will be the announcement of each school’s essay winner, who will receive a DARE backpack filled with a water bottle, DARE radio, a holographic personal body fan, ball cap, autographed posters of Coach Pat Summit and Coach Bruce Pearl, and a ten pound Nestle Crunch Bar.

 A special thanks goes out to FOP Lodge #2 for purchasing the DARE t-shirts for all of the fifth graders and their teachers.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office honored its volunteers at a luncheon Tuesday, April 29th at the Foundry.  There are 115 people working in a variety of volunteer jobs such as the Chaplain Corps, Senior Citizen’s Awareness Network, V.I.P.s, and the Explorers.  During 2007 alone, volunteers provided 20,407 hours of service.  The value of that service is estimated to be worth $358, 156.

In a joint investigation, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are investigating a Friday afternoon robbery of the BB&T Bank at 11140 Kingston Pike.  A white male entered the bank around 3:30 wearing a gray nylon athletic suit with the hood up and a black scarf wrapped around his head.  He hopped over the service door and cleaned out the cash drawers and put the money in a dark bag.  He reportedly mumbled that he wouldn’t hurt anyone, that he just wanted the money.  Witnesses said he did not display a weapon.

He is described as 5’8” to 5’10”, thin build, mid to late twenties, and left in a 4-door late model 90s car with a circular dealership tag on the trunk.

 Anyone with any information is asked to call the FBI or the KCSO at 215-2243.