Home Free services made New Year's Eve safer

Editor:

The "Home Free" service provided on New Year's Eve is a critically important part of our holiday Sober & Safe Campaign. This was our 17th year, and we are very grateful to those who make it all possible. This year, 333 rides were provided on New Year's Eve so that people could come and go from parties and taverns in our community more safely. As a result, the whole community was safer on New Year's Eve.

Havre Ford is due a special word of appreciation for dispatching the calls and providing the drivers, cars, and safe rides. Steve Steinmetz and company at Havre Ford did the "heavy lifting" Monday evening. Thanks.

Thank you also to Cellular Plus for again providing the phones used to receive and dispatch the requests for a designated ride. And we couldn't have gotten out the word about the Sober & Safe Campaign without the help and cooperation of the Hi-Line Tavern Association, the DUI Task Force, the Havre Daily News and New Media Broadcasters. So thanks to all of you, too.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to the Havre Police Department, the Hill County Sheriff's Department, and the Montana Highway Patrol for their special efforts this holiday season to keep our streets and highways free of alcohol-impaired drivers and, thus, safer for everyone. Law enforcement is vigilant all year long, 24/7, to make and keep our community safe, but especially so over the Christmas and New Year season. Thank you.

On behalf of the DUI Task Force, we hope you all have a safe, prosperous and happy 2013. Thanks again for helping make our little corner of the world safer.

Rich Jespersen

2012 Sober & Safe Project Coordinator