Law enforcement officers speak the H.M. King High School students during the Red Ribbon Week Kick off held Monday at that campus. (Photo by Juan Diego Vasquez-Cruz) The advice for students was to “make the right choice everyday and even if it is to stand alone and say ‘no’ to illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.”

This message was emphasized during Kingsville Independent School Districts Red Ribbon kick off held at the H.M. King High School auditorium Monday.

Other Red Ribbon activities were held on the KISD campuses this week.

Law enforcement representatives and guest speakers encouraged high school students to avoid the use drugs and alcohol and warned them of the consequences of drug users.

Guest speakers for the high school event were Emilio Castro, KISD Superintendent, Tara Rios-Ybarra, state representative; Pete De La Garza, Kleberg County Judge; Edward Mata, Kleberg County Sheriff; Stanley Laskowksi, City Commissioner, Ricardo Torres, Kingsville Police Chief and Gracie Garcia, Kingsville Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force commander

Border Patrol agents speak to H.M. King High students during the Red Ribbon kick off ceremony held Oct. 26. (Photo by Sylvia Perez) Some of the guests shared their message of being drug free. They were representatives from the Kingsville Chamber of Commerce, Naval Air Station Kingsville, Kingsville Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, Border Patrol, Kingsville and Ricardo Fire Departments, Texas A&M University Kingsville; Lions Club, VFW Post 2375, Boy Scouts of America Pack 345, American Legion, PDAP, Brush Country-CASA; Christus Spohn Hospital and other city and county officials.

Other activities at high school Red Ribbon Kick off, that was hosted by Ode Moreno, LASER principal, included the presence of mascots from various businesses and organizations. Some businesses set up booths to provide educational brochures, materials and information for the students. Some local restaurants also set up booths.

The Kingsville Chamber of Commerce also conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony during the morning ceremony at the high school.

Red Ribbon Week commemorates the life of Enrique “Kiki” Camerena, a DEA agent who lost his life investigating a major drug cartel in 1985.