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Eight young people – all from Lockwood – have been identified as "Legends" and will be featured throughout 2012 on billboards, posters, post cards, Facebook, etc., as examples of what is possible without the use of drugs. Featured right along side each of the Lockwood Legends will be their parents, whose involvement in their lives was consistently identified, by each and every one of the Legends, as the primary shaping factor in the decisions they made in growing up.

The Lockwood Legends are a part of an anti-drug campaign that brings with it a positive twist. In January, Roots of Promise, located at United Way of Yellowstone County, is launching a campaign that will focus on the positive. As explained by Kristi Drake, Project Coordinator, unlike many substance abuse prevention campaigns that use a scared straight tactic, this campaign focuses on the positive relationships between parents and their children as tools to prevent youth from drinking and drugs. 

While it is hoped that the program will grow to include all communities in Yellowstone County, its first focus will be in Lockwood, and will feature former students from Lockwood Middle School who never tried drugs and have gone on to achieve success in their lives. 

Last week, the Lockwood Legends spent time doing photo shoots for pictures that will be used in producing a series of billboards, posters, flyers, postcards, the Lockwood School District website, and Facebook throughout 2012. 

World Champion Bronc Rider Dan Mortenson is the most famous of the Legends, who will pose with his father, Don Mortenson, for some of the advertising. Mortenson credits his dad for instilling drug and alcohol-free values by explaining to him that his future would suffer and he would lose his competitive edge if he engaged in drinking. 

Mortensen says that even as a teen, his parents and friends held him in high esteem so he did not want to be ashamed of himself. "People look at you differently with the actions you take in your life," he added.

The involvement of their parents was a reoccurring theme in speaking to some of the others Legends at the photo shoot. Their parents were always there, always involved, and most importantly held expectations of them that were positive. The parents spoke of dealing with children who were always involved, were always optimistic, had a focus and were goal oriented – all of which are made possible with strong family support.

Drake noted that one of the characteristics identified as common among the families was that they usually ate one of their meals together at the family table. Not to be there, never entered their minds as an option. "It's just what we did," said another Lockwood Legend Breeze Brown, daughter of Dave and Jinx Brown, "We were always expected to be part of the family."

Breeze has launched her own business in Boulder, Colorado, Breeze Bars. She has a masters degree in Nutrition and is working to become a Registered Dietitian.  She first started making the bars out of her own kitchen in Boulder, CO.  In the beginning, just the Without Limits Racing team and a few family members were using the bars to assist with nutrition during workouts and as daily snacks. Breeze's sister, diagnosed with Celiac disease, was a major reason Breeze began to develop the bar. She and others with the disease were soon relying on the bars for their overall daily nutrition. Breeze has exciting plans for the future of her fledgling company.

Other Lockwood Legends include:

—Cicero Running Crane, who after serving two tours in the Middle East, is now a Captain in the Marine Corps.

—Jesse Swanke, a former Lockwood student who now teaches 8th grade math at Lockwood. His dream was always to return to Lockwood to teach and coach. His father, Craig, also went to school at Lockwood. Jesse and his wife, Becka, who also teaches at Lockwood, fully expect to see the next generation of Swankes as Lockwood School students.

—Aaron Freivalds, a Montana Highway Patrol officer. In high school Aaron went to the career center and became a journeyman welder. After serving a tour of duty in Iraq (army reserves) he applied and was accepted into the Montana Highway Patrol school, graduated first in his class, and has been working as a Highway Patrol officer for the past three years in Billings. Continuing the Lockwood tradition, he now also lives in Lockwood and his two young children attend Lockwood school.

— Katie Hoff, Skyview Soccer Team goalie, whose team took second place in state for the first time ever for Skyview. She was named Allstate keeper – best of the best in the state. Katie has played soccer ever since she was five. She has coached soccer and also plays basketball and track. She likes to work with children and spend time working at the YMCA's summer camp.

— Jetton Allies, an excellent student who is playing MSU-B basketball on a scholarship.

—Brendon Cady, an 18-year-old senior at Senior High School. An excellent student, Brendon practices martial arts and competes in the hill climbs each year on his dirt bike. He recently got accepted for an RN internship.

As the new year unfolds expect to hear more about these outstanding young people and how making good choices has helped them in life.

About Roots of Promise and United Way of Yellowstone County – Roots of Promise is an alliance for children and families with the mission and goal of connecting individuals and agencies to ensure that all children in Yellowstone County have caring adults, a healthy start, safe places, an effective education, and the opportunity to serve. The goal of the alliance is to prevent youth substance abuse and other risky behavior. United Way of Yellowstone County's mission is to mobilize the caring power of Yellowstone County in order to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the county.