Tobacco.org

Students' message: Tobacco deadly 

Those statistics ignited members of "Busted! Teens Kickin' Nicotine" with a desire to make people aware of the dangers.

On Wednesday, during the 2008 Kick Butts Day DROP II, 370 students from 12 area schools simultaneously fell onto the Schuylkill County Courthouse lawn, representing the county residents who lose their lives annually from tobacco use.

After the students stayed on the ground for one minute, Kelly Kalovcak, TKN public relations manager and a senior at Minersville Area High School, said tobacco "isn't finished killing in Schuylkill County," prompting 55 students to stand up. . . .

A six-member state House/Senate panel was expected to vote April 1 on a new version of Senate Bill 246, which either would exclude smoking in nearly all public places or allow exceptions, according to The Associated Press. The panel voted 4-2 delay action until April 29.

"This bill cannot be delayed again," Wally Choplick, TKN Web site manager and senior at Shenandoah Valley High School, said. "Locally, we encourage all Schuylkill County residents to reach out to their senators and representatives to share their thoughts about the smoke-free workplace legislation and support SB 246."

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