DELPHOS—One hundred and thirty fifth-graders from Landeck, St. John’s and Franklin elementaries received certificates Friday afternoon as graduates of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program, while their parents, teachers and principals bore witness.

D.A.R.E., which teaches the importance of saying “no” to drugs, alcohol and other poisonous substances, aims to help children make good life choices.

The special guest speaker, Mike Hemmelgarn, used ventriloquist dummies, juggling and balloon sculptures to share a similar message.