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Tracy Whisnant 704-477-7391
www.shelbyinfo.com Our 43RD Year • Issue No. 25 • June 25, 2026
S Select tracywhisnant@remax.net
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Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office STAR Program and Camp helps kids enjoy summer important in our society and school today—building positive relationships between young School is out, and hundreds students and law enforcement,” of elementary students are havhe said. ing a great time thanks to a The program teams students special program put on by the from six Cleveland County eleCleveland County Sheriff’s Ofmentary schools- Boiling Springs fice. Elementary, Springmore ElIt’s called the STAR Program ementary, Union Elementary, and Camp. That stands for SherCasar Elementary, Fallston Eliffs Teaching Abuse Resistance. ementary, and Washington EleThe STAR program is similar in mentary, with a group of School concept to D.A.R.E. and is deResource Officers (SRO), for six signed for 5th-grade students. weeks of summer learning and It’s taught by School Resource fun. Officers within their schools. Another important aspect of The program addresses alcoSTAR is the bonds that often hol and drug abuse prevention, form between STAR staff and the consequences of substance the kids. use, peer pressure, bullying, and “What makes this story parmaking positive life choices. The ticularly impactful is the relaprogram dates to 2021. tionship-building aspect,” Lt. Sheriff’s Office Lt. Travis Lee said. “Throughout the proLee heads up the STAR Program, students interact with gram and Camp. He’s passiontheir School Resource Officers ate about the positive benefits it in a positive, educational setbrings to kids. ting, allowing trust and mutual “I truly believe the STAR respect to develop naturally. By Program’s main focus is on the end of the camp, officers something that is increasingly are no longer viewed simply as authority figures but as mentors, role models, and trusted adults whom students feel comfortable approaching when they need help or guidance. Them spending the week with us in just our normal clothes reinforces the ideal that we are just normal human beings behind the badge.” Program leaders come from law enforcement and schools. A STAR Camp Counselor, Tyler Dawson from Burns “Camp staff High School, enlisted in the Army after this photo consist of thirwas made. teen to fifteen By Alan Hodge
2026
Campers at Carowinds. (Photos provided) SRO each week, as well as thirteen to fifteen high school aged counselors who are chosen through an application process from the local high schools we serve as SRO in,” Lt Lee says. A swarm of kids get to take STAR Program and Camp staff from the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. part. “The camp this year has approximately thirty-five campers per each of its six weeks,” says Lt. Lee. “The camp is offered to around six hundred students per year upon completion of the STAR curriculum. Approximately STAR campers enjoy pizza. three hundred each year attend time summer fun. camp. Camp is held over eight “They might do a Comweeks, three days per week munity Service Project during the summer break from at one of the schools we school.” serve as SRO at,” said Lt. The kids have a blast and A STAR camper tries out a firefighter’s See CAMP, Page 8 equipment on a field trip. combine civic projects with old-
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