Two Blaine County Proms See Sober and Safe Messaging

 

March 30, 2022

In Chinook on Thursday afternoon, March 24, forest green gossamer was being strung to fashion a canopy and a crew was creating birch trees. Hot glue guns were heating overtime as Belle Elliot, Anna Terry, and Lexi Pitkanen attached leaves and lights to trunks for table decorations.

Students at Chinook High School were busy on Thursday and Friday, March 24 and 25 working to transform Floyd Bowen Gymnasium into an Enchanted Forest. The decoration team was preparing for prom, which took place on March 26. The week before, the Harlem High School Gymnasium imitated a Golden Jubilee. The Blaine County DUI Task Force also played a role in both Harlem High School's and Chinook High School's proms.

To encourage teens to make healthy choices and to enjoy a festive night filled with lasting memories, the Prevention Specialist for Blaine County, Ashley Birdtail collaborated with the Blaine County DUI Task Force. The two groups disseminated prevention messaging for proms. This included a media piece and prizes which were drawn prior to prom's ending.

"The idea for the prom prevention messaging cards and breathalyzers were concepts that I had come up with based off of conversations with other prevention specialists that I work with from around the state. The DUI Task Force jumped on board and that's where the prizes came from. We were able to do this event at Harlem's prom on March 19 and also for Chinook's prom on March 26," Birdtail explained.

Using her talent and her budget, Birdtail designed and paid for the prom prevention messaging cards and then distributed them to Blaine and Hill county businesses who specialize in prom-related services, such as floral shops and clothing stores. They were also given to the two schools.

The cards present a message for youth on one side and another for the parents on the opposite side. For example, borrowing statistics from the 2020 Prevention Needs Assessment, Harlem's card read: "Parents, in Montana most (71%) teens do not drink regularly. To encourage your teen to make healthy choices, help them make a plan to have a safe and sober prom night."

Flipping it over, Harlem students were wished "a safe, sober, and fun Golden Jubilee. We encourage you to have a fun night and create lasting memories! Make a plan to stay safe and sober."

Chinook's card bore the same message, changing out the Golden Jubilee theme for Enchanted Forest.

Using funds from her Partnership for Success grant, Birdtail also purchased single-use breathalyzers. "Prior to the designing of the cards and purchasing of the breathalyzers, I approached both schools with the ideas and received overwhelming support from administration at each. Once that was approved, everything else moved ahead," Birdtail explained.

The prizes provided by the Blaine County DUI Task Force were $50 Visa gift cards. The stipulation to being entered into the drawing for the cards was that the student must voluntarily participate in completing a breathalyzer on site. Once that stipulation was met, as long as the result was 0.00% blood alcohol content (BAC), the student's name was entered into the drawing. Prom-goers also had to be present to win.

In Harlem, there were four, $50.00 gift cards. Two names were drawn from each of two gender groups: boys and girls. Winners were Grace Brockie, Bobbi Tailfeathers, Jermaine Brockie, and Dalray Begay.

Additionally, Birdtail received two last minute donations from Havre businesses that were designated for Harlem's prom. Those donations included a $100 gift certificate to Glow by Kimber-which was claimed by Russell Doney-and three $15 gift cards to Wild Thistle Boutique. Winners of these gift cards were Titan Brockie, Kaleb Oats, and Hawkan Haakanson.

Believing that "everyone not only deserves to be pampered but to feel and to own that beautiful skin they're in," Glow by Kimber is a licensed esthetician business offering facials and waxing, as well as brow and lash tints and lifts.

Prom King, RJ Ramone and Queen Chloe Messerly were the royal pair who presided over the Golden Jubilee themed prom in Harlem.

Wild Thistle Boutique, on the other hand, is a women's clothing boutique that carries "the newest trends in fashion for the everyday woman without the expensive price tag."

Combined with the DUI Task Force gift cards, those business contributions brought the total prizes that were given out at Harlem prom to $345.

Birdtail enthusiastically announced: "I'm also very happy to report that out of 121 students who attended Harlem's prom, 60 students participated in the breathalyzers, and ALL of them passed with flying colors! Good job, Wildcats!"

Due to a conflict with a previously planned event, Birdtail was unable to attend Chinook's prom. Instead, Debbie Gomke of the DUI Task Force was in attendance conducting breathalyzers.

Prior to receiving the results on Monday, March 28, Birdtail said: "I have every confidence that Chinook's students will do great as well."

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024