News and Events

Dixie County SWAT Members Monitor School District Tobacco Policy
March 6, 2025

On March 6, 2025, the Dixie County High School SWAT club conducted a Monitoring Policy Implementation activity on campus.

Seven SWAT officers participated in the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida’s “Where Do You See…?” environmental scan. They walked around the school grounds, documenting tobacco-free school signs, tobacco litter, any students or staff using tobacco products, and the presence of vape detectors. After completing the scan, they held a discussion about their findings, including any surprises and areas for improvement.

The officers noted that the most commonly used tobacco and nicotine products among students are Zyns (smokeless/spitless pouches) and vaping devices. They also expressed concerns that school administration does not strictly enforce policies against youth tobacco and vape use on campus. While most of the officers recalled receiving tobacco and nicotine education in middle school, they felt that many students did not take the information seriously. They also discussed the need for the school to provide better resources on how students can quit using tobacco and nicotine products.

Following the environmental scan, the SWAT officers prepared a presentation scheduled for March 20, 2025, where they will share their findings and action plans with the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida’s K-12 Policy Coordinator and the Statewide Youth Advocacy Coordinator. Read More
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Dixie County Tobacco Prevention Specialist Conducts Partnership Training for Local Group
January 16, 2025

On January 16, 2025, the Tobacco Prevention Specialist for Dixie County, Melanie Anderson led a training session for the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County at Dixie County High School. This training provided a valuable opportunity to engage both adult and youth members of the partnership. A total of 20 members attended, including 14 students from the high school. Since its inception, the partnership has aimed to ensure that at least 25% of its members are youth representatives, recognizing the essential role they play in the future of the initiative.

The training, developed and approved by the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida, was titled “Let’s Talk About Tobacco in Dixie County: Connect. Inform. Inspire Action.” The agenda covered key topics such as the importance of reducing tobacco use, the various types of tobacco products, which products are popular among youth, and the comparison of vaping versus smoking in terms of harm. Additional discussions focused on what fuels youth tobacco use and strategies to reduce it.

Amy Jones, the Dixie County High School SWAT Advisor and teacher, highlighted the correlation between tobacco use and low academic achievement, noting that nicotine harms the parts of the brain responsible for learning.

Representatives from the Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition, Sheila Frierson and Katrina VanAernam further explained the risks of nicotine use, particularly during adolescence. They emphasized that nicotine exposure can make the brain more sensitive to other substances, leading to a higher likelihood of teens using other drugs. Read More

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SWAT Members Represent Dixie County at Regional Youth Meeting
November 2, 2024

The Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida recently hosted a Region 2 Youth Meeting in Starke, FL, bringing together tobacco prevention advocates from across the region. Held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, the event welcomed one tobacco prevention staff member, an adult chaperone, and two members of Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) from each participating county. Representing Dixie County, Tobacco Prevention Specialist Melanie Anderson and two dedicated SWAT youth attended this impactful meeting.

The day’s agenda focused on equipping attendees with valuable knowledge and skills to further their mission of creating a tobacco-free future. Key sessions included Tobacco-Free Schools training and an interactive activity designed to inspire youth-driven initiatives within their communities. Participants also delved into Point-of-Sale training, exploring strategies to combat the influence of tobacco advertising at retail locations. Energizer and skills-building activities added a dynamic element to the day, fostering teamwork and enhancing advocacy skills.

The meeting concluded with small group brainstorming sessions, allowing participants to share ideas and develop actionable plans for local tobacco prevention efforts. Dixie County’s SWAT representatives emerged from the meeting energized and equipped with new strategies to make a lasting impact. Their participation underscores the county’s commitment to empowering youth to lead the charge against tobacco use and build healthier communities.

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Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Chapter Advocates Against Vaping on “Not-a-Lab Rat Day”
October 16, 2024

On October 14, 2024, the Dixie County High-Middle School SWAT Club participated in the 4th Annual Cross City Police Department Scarecrow Square Scholarship Fundraiser. The Scarecrow Square had fifteen different youth groups and community organizations participating in creating scarecrows. The DCHMS SWAT youth created a “Not a Lab Rat Day” Scarecrow, as a Big Vape mad scientist, mixing untested chemicals to create the “poison” in vape products that are designed to attract youth. The long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are still unknown, which leads to the current users to become the “lab rats” for the vape products.

Most e-cigarettes (vape products) contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. The developing brain is more vulnerable to nicotine’s effects, including reduced impulse control, deficits in attention and cognition, and mood disorders. Nicotine can harm the parts of a youth’s brain that help them pay attention, learn, feel good, and control themselves.

  “Not a Lab Rat Day” is a Statewide Observance by SWAT Clubs in all 67 counties in Florida.  NALR is empowering youth to speak out about the influence of advertising, peer pressure and pop culture has on today’s youth. Dixie County SWAT youth has participated in NALR every year.  The Key Message for the 2024 NALR Day is aimed at de-glamorizing vaping.  Youth are exposed to e-cigarette messages through advertising on the internet and social media. The Dixie County High Middle School SWAT club will continue to share data and information on the dangers of vaping and the possible negative health consequences.    

For more information on the SWAT Chapter in Dixie County, contact Melanie Anderson at MAnderson@QuitDoc.com.

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SWAT Returns to Character Community Services for the 2024-2025 School Year
September 24, 2024

We are delighted to announce the return of Character Community SWAT Club.  Character Community Services has participated in a community SWAT club since 2015.  The past two years, Character Community Services pulled back due to low enrollment.  This year they have stepped up again and rejoined the SWAT movement. 

Mrs. Johnnie Hart, the CCS Administrator started the school in 2013, when she realized that there was a need in Dixie County for school choice for a very diverse population of students.  The school provides small classes with more one-on-one educational experiences. The CCS SWAT club is a community club, where youth do not have to be enrolled into the school to join SWAT.

This year, Ms. Bianca Pope will be the CCS SWAT Advisor.  This is Ms. Pope’s first year as an advisor, and she is excited to get the SWAT club re-started by participating in community events.  QuitDoc Foundation and the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County welcomes Ms. Bianca Pope.

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Tobacco Free Partnership Participates in Annual International Coastal Cleanup
September 21, 2024

On Saturday, September 21, 2024 the Tobacco Free Partnership, the Dixie County SWAT Club and the Tobacco Free Florida Provider, partnered to participate in the International Coastal Cleanup at Shired Island, Horseshoe Beach, Florida. 

Nineteen miles south of Cross City, Shired Island Park comprises of just over three acres owned and operated by Dixie County. In 2023, Hurricane Idalia destroyed the camping grounds at Shired Island and the County blocked the beach area off to walking traffic only.  The Tobacco Free Partnership worked with Paul Gainey, the County Manager, to assure permission to conduct the beach clean up at Shired Island. 

Six volunteers from the Dixie County SWAT Club, the Tobacco Free Florida Provider and the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County conducted the beach clean-up.  It was a beautiful day with several families enjoying the beach. The tide was out so that more of the shore was accessible for the clean-up.  After gathering six bags of garbage with plastic bottles, cans, left behind clothing, plastic bags and other littered items, they weighed the bags for a total of almost 50 lbs. of garbage. Read More

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Cross City Celebrates its Centennial in Tobacco-Free Fashion!
April 20, 2024

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County and the DCHS SWAT participated in the Town of Cross City Centennial Celebrations on April 20, 2024 at the City Hall Office in Cross City. 

The celebration started with a parade down Main Street where SWAT students rode on afloat with signs about SWAT and Tobacco Free Parks and Beaches. After the parade the event was held downtown with over 50 booths celebrating the event including a bike trick show and local bands playing for the attendees.

During the event, the Partnership and SWAT highlighted the new Smoke-Free Parks and Beaches ordinance in Dixie County and the movements by the Town of Cross City for at Tobacco Free and Vape Free Parks Ordinance. They shared with the visitors why the ordinances are so important, how they can help keep the ordinances in compliance and to promote Tobacco Free Parks and Beaches Policies.

During the Centennial Celebrations, Jalen Teague, the DCHS SWAT President was interviewed by Gainesville, Florida ABC TV 20 to educate why SWAT participated in the event and to promote Tobacco and Vape Free parks and beaches to build support towards adoption and compliance. The Town of Cross City Centennial Celebration turned out to be a great Tobacco and Vape Free Event!

      

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The Tobacco Free Partnership Attends the UpLift Community Event
April 5, 2024

During the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County quarter three meeting, the partners discussed the need to recruit potential members from the faith-based community in Dixie County and how to conduct a partnership recruitment activity to address this demographic. Partnership member, Lesley Hersey of LSF Health Systems, recommended participating in UpLift, on April 5, 2024, at the Otter Springs Park.

UpLift is a tri-county community event, that is designed to support churches and faith communities in helping people struggling with mental health and substance abuse. The event’s intention was to reach Pastors, Lay Leaders, Youth Leaders, Sunday School Teachers, and Women's/Men's Ministries.

The Tobacco Free Florida Provider and a Tobacco Free Partnership Member set up an information table to inform the attendees about the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County and invited visitors to sign up to receive email invitatations and a copy of the quarterly Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County Newsletter.  The partnership member shared some of the previous tobacco free policy accomplishments achieved with the assistance of the partnership and informed them how the partnership will continue to work on tobacco free policy work with Dixie County, the town of Cross City and the Dixie County School District.  The attendees were able to ask questions of the partnership member and the Tobacco Free Florida Provider. Read More 

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Cross City Votes to Move Forward with a Smoke-Free Parks Ordiance
February 26, 2024

On February 26, 2024, the Dixie County High School SWAT club and the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County presented to the Cross City Town Council about the need to adopt a Tobacco Free/Vape Free Parks Ordinance to protect the kids, families from second-hand smoke and prevent tobacco litter.

The SWAT Youth shared that the Dixie County Commissioners adopted an ordinance that prohibits any person in or on any County-owned public park or public beach to smoke tobacco. The county owned and maintained locations were included in the ordinance to protect children and others who spend time in the parks and public beaches where they should not have to inhale secondhand smoke.  Secondhand smoke exposure can cause numerous health problems and has been linked to cancer and other fatal diseases.  According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, over 7,000 chemicals have been found in tobacco smoke, including hundreds that are toxic and up to 69 that are known carcinogens. 

Until June 2022 the Clean-Indoor Air Act prohibited any municipality from adopting an ordinance to make parks or beaches tobacco free, then Governor DeSantos signed HB105 to change the Policy to the Clean Air Act that finally permitted local governments (Counties and Cities) to adopt Tobacco-Free, Smoke-Free ordinances.  The Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County and the Dixie County SWAT youth have been working on educating local community groups and Dixie County Commissioners on the changes in the policy and the need for Dixie County to adopt a Tobacco Free Parks and Beaches Ordinance. Read More

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County High School SWAT Club Celebrates Black History Month by Focusing on Menthol Cigarettes
February 24, 2024

The Dixie County High School SWAT Club held a Menthol Tobacco subcommittee meeting where the Tobacco Free Florida Provider and eight DCHS SWAT officers met to plan the "Cross City on the Move, Making Things Happen" annual Black History Celebration.  The subcommittee members shared what menthol facts would resonate with the attendees, such as 85% of the black population who smoke use menthol. The subcommittee planned to share that menthol does not mean less harmful and menthol makes it easier to start smoking and more difficult to quit. 

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, four DCHS SWAT Members and two Tobacco Free Partnership members and the Tobacco Free Florida Provider, participated in the Black History Celebration at Johnnie Greene Park in Cross City, Fl. 

The partnership members and the SWAT youth set up an information booth so that they could promote the need for eliminating menthol tobacco, they provided correct information about the possible CDC Ruling preventing the manufacturing, distributing and selling of menthol tobacco and how the ruling will not criminalize possessing them. Jalen Teague and Sheida Momperasse, SWAT officers, were given the opportunity to read Black History Trivia over the intercom and read many menthol facts to the attendees. They shared that most kids who start smoking try menthol first.  The SWAT members assisted in the many games that gave them an opportunity to recruit future SWAT members. This event was very well attended and the community shared that they did not know that according to the CDC “The tobacco industry aggressively targets its marketing to certain populations, including young people, women, racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly Black people.”

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Dixie County Adopts Smoke-Free Parks and Beaches Ordinance
January 4, 2024

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County, the Dixie County SWAT Chapter that includes Dixie County High School SWAT Club, the Ruth Rains Middle School SWAT Club and the Dixie Learning Academy Community SWAT Club, would like to thank the Dixie Board of County Commissioners for adopting Ordinance 2023-11, “PROHIBITING SMOKING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF DIXIE COUNTY PUBLIC PARKS, AND PUBLIC BEACHES”.  On January 4, 2024, the Dixie County Commissioners, Chairman Jamie Storey, Commissioner Mark Hatch, Commissioner David Osteen, Vice Chairman Jody Stephenson and Commissioner Daniel Wood voted unanimously to approve the ordinance. 

The Ordinance that was introduced by Chana Watson, County Attorney, prohibits any person in or on any County-owned public park or public beach to smoke tobacco. Chana Watson noted at a County Commissioners meeting, that this ordinance included the county-maintained boat ramps on the Gulf of Mexico, Steinhatchee River and the Suwannee River.  The county owned and maintained locations were included in the ordinance to protect children and others who spend time in the parks and public beaches where they should not have to inhale secondhand smoke.  Secondhand smoke exposure can cause numerous health problems and has been linked to cancer and other fatal diseases.  According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, over 7,000 chemicals have been found in tobacco smoke, including hundreds that are toxic and up to 69 that are known carcinogens. 

In 2017 the Dixie County Commissioners passed a Resolution #08-3-2017 "SUPPORTING TOBACCO-FREE RECREATIOAL AND SPORTS PARKS FOR ADULTS AND YOUTH IN DIXIE COUNTY" that supported the prohibition of the use or possession of any form of tobacco during all activities by adults and youth at Dixie County Parks. At that time, the Clean-Indoor Air Act prohibited the county from adopting an ordinance but in June 2022 Governor DeSantos signed HB105 to change the Policy to the Clean Air Act and permitted local governments (Counties and Cities) to adopt Tobacco-Free, Smoke-Free ordinances.  The Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County and the Dixie County SWAT youth have been working on educating local community groups and Dixie County Commissioners on the changes in the policy and the need for Dixie County to adopt a Tobacco Free Parks and Beaches Ordinance. Read More      

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Dixie District Schools Strengthens Smoking and Tobacco Free Policy
November 14, 2023

On November 14, the Dixie County School Board added provisions to strengthen the district's Smoking and Tobacco Free Environment policy.

As recently as April, 2023 the Dixie County School Board adopted SB 8.32, SMOKING AND TOBACCO FREE ENVIRONMENT” policy.  The Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County and Dixie County SWAT chapter has been working with the school district for years to strengthen the K12 Tobacco Free Schools Policy.  Based on the Tobacco Free Florida’s Comprehensive Policy for Tobacco Free Schools, Dixie County SB 8.32 covered 12 of the 15 provisions that satisfy Tobacco Free Florida’s standards for a comprehensive school-based tobacco free policy. 

The provisions that were included in SB 8.32:

The Dixie County School Board approved this policy as a commitment to provide students, staff and visitors with a smoking and tobacco-free environment that will support tobacco prevention and protect the health of students.  Three of Tobacco Free Florida’s Comprehensive Policy for Tobacco Free Schools provisions that were not addressed in SB 8.32 are (Read More)

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Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Members Participate in Not a Lab Rat Day!
Ociotober 18, 2023

The sixth annual “Not A Lab Rat Day” was October 18,2023.  Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) put focus on the tobacco industry’s increasing usage of social media to target youth and promote products that are addictive and pose serious health risks.

According to the Tobacco Free Florida’s SWAT Not A Lab Rat Day Press Release:

 “Social media has become a staple of everyday life, especially for younger generations. The tobacco industry is aware of this and utilizes social media to generate buzzworthy content that can influence youth to start using their products. According to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 73.5% of students who use social media reported viewing e-cigarette content.

To generate content, tobacco companies use influencers and sponsored content. Vape advertisements shared by influencers rarely included warning labels about the addictive potential of nicotine, feature imagery that appeals to youth, and defy federal advertising regulations such as failing to disclose brand relationships, a requirement by the FTC.  Influencers are often invited by companies to serve as brand ambassadors to promote their tobacco products. They rarely use the Instagram feature that restricts youth access, despite the post claiming the content is for 18+ or 21+. Even if influencers follow this guideline, teenagers can easily get around age restrictions by creating a profile with a fake age. Tobacco companies also sponsor and hold events designed to connect with younger audiences, allowing them to promote the event on social media and promote their products by extension. These events often spare no expense in order to attract new customers.

In 2022, 15.2% of high school students in Florida reported actively using e-cigarettes, while 6.6% of middle school students did the same.  While usage rates in Florida are continuing to trend in the right direction, there is still work to be done to end the youth e-cigarette epidemic. When this year’s Not a Lab Rat Day kicks off, SWAT members will be energized and ready to put the tobacco industry on blast for their use of social media to target youth. (Read More)

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Dixie County Commission Moves Forward with Tobacco and Vape Free Parks and Beaches Ordinance
September 7, 2023

On Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. the Dixie County Attorney, Chana Watson presented a Tobacco and Vape Free Parks and Beaches Ordinance to the Dixie County Commissions during the County Commissions Regular Meeting. The County Attorney reviewed the ordinance that she submitted. A motion was made by a County Commissioner to advertise in the local paper two weeks prior to a first hearing on the ordinance. The motion was approved by the County Commissioner.

On March 2, 2023, the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County Co-Chair had presented to the county commissioners about the need for the Dixie County Commission to adopt a Tobacco and Vape Free Parks and Beaches Policy in Dixie County.  After listening to the information provided by the Tobacco Free Partnership, County Commissioner Mark Hatch made a motion for the county attorney to review the current tobacco free parks resolution 2017-55 and to revise accordingly for an Ordinance that will cover tobacco free parks and beaches to be re-submitted.

In June 2022, Governor DeSantis signed HB105, the legislation that grants city and county governments the ability to ban smoking at public parks and beaches. This law could potentially impact Florida’s 67 county park systems and more than 400 city park systems.  In the past years, all a county or city could do was pass a Resolution and post signage. Now that the Florida Clean Air Act has been passed, it allows Dixie County and the Town of Cross City to take a major beneficial step to protect their communities by passing an ordinance to make beaches and parks tobacco, smoke and vape free. Read More

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Meet Our Newest Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Advisor, Ms. Jordan Butler!
August 24, 2023

In July, Mr. Richard Whittington, the Ruth Rains Middle School SWAT Advisor for the past 10 years, announced his retirement from Ruth Rains Middle School. Mr. Whittington has chaperoned many of the Regional SWAT Trainings, he has maintained an active SWAT club, participated in Park Clean-Ups, attended the Cross City Fly-In and Business Expo for five years where he assisted with the SWAT booth and so much more.  The entire Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County wants to thank Mr. Whittington for his commitment to the health of the youth in Dixie County and promoting youth empowerment. 

Mr. Whittington's departure left some mighty big shoes to fill!

 

Fortunately, Ms. Jordan Butler has stepped up to become the Ruth Rains Middle School SWAT Advisor. While a student at Dixie County High School, Jordan was a SWAT member for all four years, and she served as an officer for each year and President for her senior year.  Her second year of teaching, Jordan is a 5th grade ELA teacher at Ruth Rains Middle School. 

Ms. Butler shared that she wanted to be the SWAT Advisor to advocate for youth, promoting the importance of protecting and informing youth and the community of the dangers of using tobacco products.  During the June Statewide SWAT Training, Jordan chaperoned two SWAT youth for four days and three nights, where she attended the advisors training sessions.  Jordan is already planning a “Not A Lab Rat” event in October with the SWAT youth and will continue to grow active participation of the students at Ruth Rains Middle School.

   

We look forward to having Ms Butler inspire the next generation of Dixie County Youth to stay tobacco and vape free!

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Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Members Attend Statewide Training
June 12, 2023

During the weekend of June 8th – 11, 2023, two Dixie County SWAT youth, Harley NesSmith and Ashlyn Berry, attended the 2023 Statewide SWAT Meeting in Lakeland, Florida.  Jordan Butler, a former Dixie County SWAT member and a teacher at Ruth Rains Middle School is a new SWAT advisor for Dixie County, chaperoned for the training.

The theme was SWERVE and included four days and three nights of trainings, sessions and statewide SWAT connections. 

 

Ms. Jordan shared that many of the Sessions on the agenda for the Statewide SWAT youth were very interesting and she even learned a lot about the program. She shared that the key note speaker who spoke about Resilience was very interesting and motivating.  These Sessions included Tobacco Industry 101, Campaign Planning Skills, Mission Statement Workshop, The Power of Inspiration: Building a connection with your community, Perfecting Policy, Community Activism with Michael Scott and Town Hall Conversations.  The youth really enjoyed the DIY sessions that they could sign up for to ignite their creativity.  Game night, talent show night and a dance were planned closers after long days of gaining knowledge. Read More

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Dixie District Schools Revises Comprehensive Tobacco Policy
May 8, 2023

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in the United States. In 2014, an estimated 16.8% of adults were current cigarette smokers, and 9.2% of high school students smoked cigarettes. Nearly 90% of smokers developed their habit as teenagers, and students’ tobacco use in high school influences their behaviors later in adulthood. In June 2011, local public school districts were authorized to develop new tobacco-free school policies through an amendment to the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act.

The Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS) is a statewide, school-based survey effort which is a survey instruments administered to Florida public middle and high school students. During the 2022 FYTS, 13.6% of Dixie County youth reported to use electronic vapor products on school property, 2.5% reported to use smokeless tobacco (dip/chew) on school property.  In 2022 26.5% of Dixie Youth reported to be current users of vape. Administrators, staff, students and parents at the Dixie County Schools have shared concerns with the growing trend of vaping on school grounds.

At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, Amanda NesSmith, a new member of the Dixie County School Board and also a parent of two Dixie County youth requested more information on the vaping epidemic in the schools.  She wanted to determine how the school code of conducts in each schools address the vaping concern.  The Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County shared the need for the Dixie County School Board to adopt a comprehensive Tobacco/Nicotine Free Schools Policy that addresses vaping and any other new tobacco products on the market. Read More

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Dixie County Commission is Considering Smoke-Free Parks
March 2, 2023

On Thursday, March 2, 2023, Amanda NesSmith, DCTFP Co-Chair presented to the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners about the need to pass a Resolution to prohibit smoking and vaping in public beaches and parks.

 

Amanda contacted the Commissioners’ Office to be put on the agenda for the meeting so that she could address the 2017 Resolution “Supporting Tobacco-Free Recreational and Sports Parks for Adult and Youth in Dixie County, Florida”.  At that time, a resolution was the only legal form that the County Commissioners could express their concerns for the health of their community and protect youth from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke at the County Parks.  Since that time, electronic cigarettes, or vaping, has grown to become an epidemic in all communities among youth.  The ongoing research on these products have begun to show that the aerosol produced by vape products contains at least ten chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.  By standers exposed to vaping aerosol can absorb the nicotine.  Exposure to the fine and ultra-fine particles highly concentrated in the aerosol may exacerbate respiratory aliments like asthma, and constrict arteries which could trigger a heart attack.

House Bill 105, which was signed into legislation in June 2022 grants counties and cities the ability to ban smoking at public parks and beaches.  Amanda shared how HB105 will allow the Dixie County Commissioners to pass an Ordinance in Dixie County that could prohibit all use of tobacco and vaping in the county parks and beaches. 

Amanda shared that an ordinance to ban smoking and vaping at the parks and beaches will further advance public health by reducing second-hand smoke and vape. She also shared that according to the American Poison Control Center reports, nearly 13,000 poisoning cases involving exposure to cigarettes, cigarette butts, vapor-generating devices, or other tobacco products in 2018 and 79% of those cases occurred with children aged 5 years and younger. Reducing contact with the products will result in a decrease chance of poisoning of the youth of Dixie County. Read More

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Dixie County SWAT Members Conduct Clean-Up at Waldo Park
February 24, 2023

On Friday, February 24 at 3:00 p.m., the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County and the Dixie County High School SWAT Club conducted a city park clean-up Waldo Park, 1950 NE 389th Ave, Old Town, referred as “Spillers Park”.  Waldo Park is owned by Dixie County. Five SWAT youth, Lola Butler, the Partnership Chair, Melanie Anderson, the Tobacco Free Florida Provider/QuitDoc, Kody Latham, the Prevention Specialist for the Henley Foundation and a guest conducted the clean-up.

This park was recommended by the youth representatives at the February Partnership Meeting because it is maintained by the county and it is in a very rural area.  Many of them reported family events and birthday being held at this park.  When the park clean-up began, the park manager, that lives on the park property was present but was not interested in assisting due to his own smoking addiction.

Even though the park seemed very clean of all litter as they began the clean-up, it did not take long to find many cigarette butts around the picnic areas, near the swings, and in the parking area.  A clear plastic bag was filled with the butts gathered.  This county park has a playground area, with 10 covered picnic tables. There was not any “No Smoking” signs anywhere at the park.

  

   

Read More

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Dixie County SWAT Chapter Conducts a Park Clean-UP at Waddle Wheeler Park in Cross City
December 17, 2022

On Saturday, December 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County, the Dixie County High School SWAT Club and the Ruth Rains Middle School SWAT club conducted a city park clean-up at Wandle Wheeler Park in Cross City, Florida.  Wheeler Park is located right behind the County Courthouse, the Sheriff’s Office, and the County Commissioners Office.  Over 20 participated and planned the event.  Members of the Town of Cross City Council and the Sheriffs Office were invited to join the fun and to observe the need for a tobacco free parks policy by SWAT youth. 

In June 2022, Governor DeSantis signed HB105, the legislation that grants city and county governments the ability to ban smoking at public parks and beaches. This new law could potentially impact Florida’s 67 county park systems and more than 400 city park systems.  In the past years, all a county or city could do was pass a Resolution and post signage. Now that the Florida Clean Air Act has been passed, Dixie County and the Town of Cross City can take a major beneficial step to protect their communities by passing an ordinance to make beaches and parks tobacco, smoke and vape free. 

  The Town of Cross City manage Wandle Wheeler Park, which has signage at all entrances that state the park rules that include no tobacco.  During the park clean-up, one adult was seen smoking from a picnic area.  The youth shared with other park attendees that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. There are thousands of deaths each year associated with secondhand smoke. Children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, physical and cognitive development abnormalities, and cancer. There were several families that visited the park to play at the playground, eat at one of the picnic areas and to play basketball at the ball court. Read More     
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Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Chapter Celebrates Annual Not a Lab Rat Day!
October 19, 2022

The fifth annual Not A Lab Rat Day took place this year, Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) was ready to spread the word on the health effects of e-cigarettes, promote prevention (never starting) and encourage youth to quit vaping. SWAT, Florida's youth-led movement, empowers and encourages youth to protect themselves and future generations by taking a stand against the e-cigarette industry.

The Ruth Rains Middle School SWAT youth held a NALR Day event at the RRMS basketball game against Bronson Middle School (Levy County). The SWAT youth set up a booth highlighting Not A Lab Rat Day as a rallying to stand up and declare that they refuse to be Big Tobacco's "lab rats" as we continue to learn more about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.

Nine of the RRMS SWAT youth planned the event, set up a table with Electronic Vaping Products (EVP’s) information to inform youth and adults about the Vaping epidemic.  Adults learned about the many different forms of vaping devices and some of the common names of these devices.

Read More

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The Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Chapter to Work on Smoke-Free Local 
September 27, 2022

Dixie County SWAT clubs are excited to be celebrating 15 years of working with the QuitDoc Foundation in Dixie County.  This year has already begun with exciting plans to work on a policy creating Tobacco-Free/Smoke-Free Parks and Beaches in Dixie County and the Town of Cross City.

During the Summer, Governor DeSantis signed House Bill 105 that allow counties and municipalities to regulate smoking at public park and beaches.  This bill updates the Florida Clean Air Act and gives local governments an opportunity to implement new Tobacco Free public spaces that could reduce tobacco use, protect youth and decrease exposure to secondhand smoke. This will allow Dixie County and the Town of Cross City to adopt ordinances that reflects the Tobacco Free Parks and Beaches passed in 2012.  


Across the nation, cigarettes are by far the most littered item in the country.  Here in Florida, for over 30 years, cigarette butts have been the most found item in Ocean Conservancy’s annual Florida beach cleanup.  The Dixie County SWAT youth plan to work with the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County to conduct park and beaches cleanups throughout the county to highlight the need for Dixie County to adopt a Tobacco Free Parks and Beaches Ordinance.  Read More

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Meet Amanda NesSmith, The Co-Chair of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County!
September 22, 2022

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County Co-Chair, Amanda NesSmith has committed to continue serving in her position as co-chair for the second year.  Amanda grew up in Dixie County and has served in the Florida Army National Guard for 20 years and continues in Recruiting & Retention for the Guard.  Amanda is married with two kids in Dixie County Schools.  She was recently elected to fill the Dixie County School Board District 2 seat.  Her commitment to the Dixie County is shown throughout her years and continues through the partnership. 


Amada shares that tobacco addiction has affected many members of her family and their health conditions due to smoking cigarettes include heart attack and COPD.  Amanda has family members who have quit smoking and ones who would like to quit but battle the addiction.  Amanda joined the Tobacco Free Partnership with hopes to promote the Tobacco Free Florida Cessation Programs in the community, but she also shares a strong need to work on tobacco prevention.

Amanda's daughter in the middle school has already reported exposure to vaping in the bathrooms at the school.  Educating the community on the Vaping Epidemic and promoting tobacco/nicotine free polices in Dixie County is a goal of the Tobacco Free Partnership.
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Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Chapter Hold Recruitment Event
May 13, 2022

On May 13, 2022 the Dixie County High School SWAT Club held an end-of-the-year SWAT Recruitment and tobacco/vape free information table during the two DCHS Lunches.  Every student at DCHS was able to attend and participate in this event.  The DCHS SWAT club was excited to present to their peers about the dangers of tobacco, smokeless tobacco and vape. 

After setting up a dunking booth, the SWAT youth allowed students to participate only after they read out-loud a fact that was provided by the SWAT Club.  One student, a DCHS Baseball player read that “Cigarettes kill 1 out of every 3 people who use them” and he shared that he was shocked, and that he couldn’t believe that so may are harmed by a legal product. 

Many of the other tobacco facts that were highlighted by the students were:

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Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County Recognizes Graduating SWAT Seniors for Their Tobacco Prevention Efforts
May 12, 2022

The Dixie County High School graduating class of 2022 has eleven Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) student that were given a plaque from the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County.  The Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County honored the DCHS Seniors for all that they have done not only as a SWAT members, but also as very active partnership members.

 
Pictured from L to R: Lola Butler (Partnership Chair) Alice Whittington, Maddison Robson,
Aaliyah Sutton, Melanie Anderson (Tobacco Prevention Specialist), Wendy Hutchison (DCHS SWAT Advisor), Livia Bennett, Mary Whittington, Kimberly Young-Carver, Amanda NesSmith (Partnership Co-Chair); Not Pictured: Lauren Marcu, Jordan Downing, Desiree Barshay, Shyanne Sheets, and Jasimine  Stout. 

These impressive young woman that have been great examples of youth leaders and have been very important in continuing the adult/youth partnership. These Seniors have attended all of the Partnership Meetings, served as partnership Youth Representatives, Subcommittee Members, and representatives of the partnership at many community events. 

Every year of the Dixie County Chamber of Commerce, Cross City Fly-In and Business Expo, they have held a booth for both the SWAT clubs and for the Tobacco Free Partnership.  They have participated in County Community Health Events such as “Town of Cross City Fall Health Festival”. Read More

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SWAT Spotlight: Meet Alice Whittington!
March 21, 2022

In 6th grade, with the start of middle school, Alice Whittington decided to join the Ruth Rains Middle School SWAT Club.  Alice and her sister Mary both became very active in SWAT.  Their first year, they both promoted SWAT throughout their school but they also attended the Cross City Fly-In and Business Expo where they talked to other youth and parents about the dangers of tobacco and how the tobacco industry was targeting them in the middle school.  The Middle School SWAT club also set up a display of 88 Barbie Dolls to show how many Floridians died each day by the use of tobacco.

Each year, Alice ran for office and became the president of the Ruth Rains Middle School SWAT Club, and as she transferred to Dixie County High School she continued as a very active SWAT officer.  Alice attended many of the State and Regional 2 SWAT Training through the years becoming a recognized face among the other counties SWAT Clubs. 

     

Even with Alice taking multiple AP honors and duel enrollment classes, earning over 100 community service hours, cheerleading, weightlifting, soccer, Beta, FCA, HOSA, Drama, Student Government, Student Council, National Honor Society, Rotary and baseball announcing, she has been a very strong voice for SWAT in Dixie County, presenting to the Dixie County Commissioners, the Dixie Legislative Delegation, City of Cross City and the Dixie County School Board on tobacco and vaping policies. Read More