The donation of a fatal vision kit is a real eye-opener.

PHILLIPS – The ZONE is again making a difference in the lives youths of Phillips, Avon and Madrid. Twenty-five area youth, parents, residents and law enforcement staff celebrated the life of Kenneth A. Smith by the ZONE donating a fatal vision kit to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department in his honor. Smith was 16 when he died in an alcohol-related accident three years ago. His parents, Chuck and Sue Smith, were present.

By wearing these goggles that go with the kit, people can get a true experience of alcohol’s impact. The vision kit and video simulate the effect and send a message that hits home.

Gillian Trapp, manager of the United Kingfield Bank of Phillips and volunteer co-chairman of the ZONE, made the presentation to Sheriff Dennis Pike.

Trapp said, “Through our work with the sheriff’s department, the SAFE ZONE Coalition has shown success in the reduction of alcohol access and use by our area youth, as evidenced by a drastic decrease in citations to both youths and adults over the past two years”.

This is all made possible by a state-administered grant to the ZONE, which is due to end on April 15. When asked how the ZONE got the idea of fatal vision goggles she added, “Norman Spencer of the Sheriff’s Department was on hand at a recent Phillips Middle School dance with a borrowed fatal vision kit. It was a huge hit and very educational to the youths. Right then we realized that all the youth of Franklin County needed to experience these goggles”.

Pike, on behalf of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, was overwhelmed with the donation. “This fatal vision kit is a relatively new design that really intrigues everyone who puts on the goggles. Everyone thinks at first, no problem, until you ask him or her to walk a straight line. When the duct tape goes down on the floor to create the line, confidence quickly changes after the first step. They quickly find out that even one drink can significantly impair your sense of balance.”

He continued, ” We have borrowed a set from the Criminal Justice Academy in Scarborough in the past. This donation could not have come at a better time. Especially for youth,s this is so valuable to have a kit within our own county lines.”

Lynnette McCarrier, a junior at Mt. Abram High School, took the opportunity at this event to try on the goggles. “I cannot believe it,” she exclaimed. “This pair is not even at the legal limit,” she added after checking what the goggles were set at. The legal limit is .08.

Pike reassured the group that the goggles and two videos, which depict visually what happens when alcohol is a factor, would travel throughout the county. “The ZONE has a lot to be proud of. Just three years ago we were worried about the main street of Phillips and the well being of the kids here. With all this community support and the work of the ZONE, things are really coming around” Pike concluded.

The presentation closed with a special thank you to Christie Charles and Anne Richard for all their hours coordinating the activities of the grant, which has made so many things possible. From grant research to getting shifts covered through the sheriff’s department, these two folks have really made things happen for the ZONE and the communities it serves.

What will happen at the ZONE when this grant has ended this month? There are a couple of grants in the works. The ZONE is determined to keep the extra details on the weekends in Phillips by contracting with the sheriff’s department. Without additional grants or funding of some sort this will not be possible.

A George Foreman grill was also raffled off with the winner being Courtland Dill of Phillips.