RUMFORD — Keeping kids healthy and tobacco-free was the motivation behind the recent poster competition “Tar Wars,” which concluded with Lilo Bean, a fourth-grader at Bethel’s Crescent Park School, emerging as the regional first-place winner. Bean won a new bicycle and helmet for her achievement.

There were also first-, second- and third-place winners in each of the River Valley elementary schools’ fourth-grade classes.

Tar Wars, a tobacco-free education program from the American Academy of Family Physicians, is designed for fourth- and fifth-grade students.

Rumford Hospital doctors Petrona Manasseh and Lisa McAllister, interns with the Rural Residency Program, and Carol Emery of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition presented the program, which was sponsored by the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition and Rumford Hospital. It included a one-hour classroom presentation and the poster contest. The Fund for a Healthy Maine funded this year’s program.

This year marks the 12th year that River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition has teamed up with the Rumford Hospital to present Tar Wars to more than 200 fourth-graders in the River Valley.

The 2011 Tar Wars Classroom Winners

Crescent Park School, Bethel

Mrs. Jerome’s Class: 1. Lilo Bean, first-place regional winner; 2. Julia Aug and Emily Hanscom; 3. Griffin Lehman, second-place regional winner

Ms. Haines class: 1. Kaitlee Turnick; 2. Brooklin Gordon and Kurtis Grover, second-place regional winner; 3. Hannah Evans and Lily Weafer

Mrs. Morin’s class: 1. Sadie Richardson; 2. Gabe Pasternak and Georgia Piawlock; 3. Brynne Speakman and Tristen Lilly

Meroby Elementary School, Mexico

Mrs. Fuller’s class: 1. Keagan Hodsdon, third-place regional winner; 2. Noah Casey; 3. Anthony Frost

Ms. Child’s class: 1. Kylee Pelletier; 2. Faith Riddick; 3. Leigha Carrier

Mr. Smith’s class: 1. Salyn Knowlton; 2. Courtney Carrier; 3. Robert Machado

Dixfield Elementary School

Mrs. Deprey’s class: 1. Mackenzie Ladd; 2. Wyatt Lufkin; 3. Tucker Olsen

Mrs. Giambattista’s class: 1. Zeb Houghton; 2. Lisa Jean McLeod; 3.William Ellis

Mrs. Holmquist class: 1. Alexis Casey; 2. Sophia Jacques; 3. Aver Bradeen

Woodstock Elementary

Ms. Wilson’s class: 1. Josie Forbes; 2. Morgan Prentice; 3. Elizabeth McLeod

Rumford Elementary School

Mrs. Breau’s class: 1. Mackenzie Downs; 2. Parker-Lee Salatino and Shawn DuBois; 3. Kennedy Hammer and Alyssa St. Cyr

Mrs. Richard’s class: 1. Phil Mills and William Bean; 2. Ashley Rodriguez and Lacey Tidswell; 3. Cameron Chase and Taylor Pelletier

Holy Savior School

Mrs. Shorey: 1. Jon Hodge; 2. Alex Gorham 3. K.J. and Brandon Litalien

Andover Elementary School

Mr. Sabin’s class: 1. Natasha Cogley; 2. Sadie Standeven; 3. Megan Chaisson

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