It's hard to believe that prom is looming on the horizon, but tickets are now on sale in the Robertsdale High Library for $20 per person. Now is the time for students to start purchasing their tickets, even if they don't have a date lined up yet.

           "By buying now, a student can save a ton of money, as tickets will go up in increments of $10 as each deadline comes up," said Sonnie Coleman, the faculty spokesperson. "From January 11, until Feb. 12, the price will be $20 per ticket. Beginning February 17 through March 5 the price will be $30, and from March 8 until March 24 the price per ticket is $40, or doubled from the start of ticket sales. The price will be $50 per ticket at the door."

           This year's prom will be held March 27, at the Baldwin County Coliseum in Robertsdale. The prom committee is currently working on this year's theme, along with all the details that go into planning such a massive event. The prom is sponsored each year by the junior class.

           Students who will have attained sophomore through senior status, and who are interested in exploring the career field of medicine this summer may register on-line for the Summer Scrubs Program at http://www.summerscrubs.com/.

           "The program, which is sponsored by the Bay Area Health Coalition and the Workforce Development of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, is an excellent way for a student to gain hands-on experience in the medical field," said Marsha Flint, a counselor at RHS.

           Flint said the counselors would be glad to advise the students about the Summer Scrubs Program, which will be held July 26-30, but that application would have to be made on-line.

           As part of the application process," she said, "each student will need two letters of recommendation from among their teachers. One of those letters must be from a math of science teacher. Each student must also write a brief essay about why they want to enter the medical field, plus they must be maintaining at least a 2.5 grade point average."

           The deadline for Summer Scrubs is Friday, March 19; however, a student can earn two bonus points for completing their application process by Friday, March 5.

           Candidates will be evaluated and scored on a point system in order to determine which students are admitted to the program.

           The Peer Helpers program, which is advised by Dr. Cindy Erickson, has been asked to help promote a national safety council driving program titled, "Alive at 25," that will be coming to the Daphne Civic Center, February 27, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

           "Traffic crashes are the leading cause of teen fatalities," said Dr. Erickson, "as they account for 44-percent of all teen deaths in the United States. Teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes as more than twice the rate of all other drivers."

           The first year for a newly licensed driver is the most dangerous, with more than one in five teen drivers being involved in crashes.

           "Each year approximately 6,000 teens are killed in vehicular accidents; more than 3,800 are drivers ages 15-20," she continued. "Annually, more than 326,000 young drivers are seriously injured."

           There is no cost to the students as they will receive a free lunch and T-shirts for attending this driving program.

           "One of the most chilling facts we were told at the meeting is that more persons between the ages of 7-24 die in traffic fatalities than die in combat for the same age group, thus the name Alive at 25. The school, group with the most attendees receives $1,000 in cash awards," Dr. Erickson said.

           As a way of encouraging RHS's students to attend a number of teachers are dropping some of the lowest grades a student has made on a test. Others are granting club service hours, and where it can affect parents and students alike, several insurance companies are giving discounts for taking the course, she said.

           To register, go to http://www.citrinlaw.com/, go to "Road Safety," which is located on the bar, and click on Alive at 25. Not only is this a win-win situation for RHS, but lives could be saved by our students' involvement with this program.

           The RHS Golden Bear Athletic Booster Club will be hosting an athletic fundraiser on February 20, beginning at 6 p.m. at Waters' Outback Barn in Robertsdale. This year's location for the event has changed from the Robertsdale PZK Civic Center because of the need for more space.

           The $100 ticket covers up to four adults, (you must be 21 or older to attend) and includes food, live entertainment, and the opportunity to win door prizes, as well as the $5,000 grand prize.

           Tickets are being sold by the school's athletes. As in years past $60 of the purchase price goes to the sport of the athlete, with $40 being used to cover the cost of the fundraiser and other expenses. Profits from the event help provide financial assistance to each sport as they make special requests throughout the year.

           For more information, please contact Amanda Givens, president of the Golden Bear Athletic Booster Club, at 947-4154.

           The bus will be at RHS tomorrow as the Central Baldwin Education Foundation will be sponsoring a "Fill the Bus" campaign in an effort to help schools in the Central Baldwin area to secure a number of needed supplies.

           "The members of the Education Foundation have had a school bus parked at various locations throughout the area so that people will be able to bring their donations and help ‘Fill the Bus,'" said Robertsdale High Assistant Principal Steven Grant. "The items that are donated will be distributed among the Central Baldwin Schools."

           Some of the needs include: hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray, copy paper, ink cartridges, boxes of Kleenex and plastic trash bags.

           Tomorrow concludes the "Fill the Bus" campaign, so those who wish to donate are encouraged to come on out and drop their items off.

           This Saturday the RHS drumline and color guard will compete at the Indoor Drumline and Winterguard competition at Harrison Central, in Mississippi.