T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Representatives of the Belmont County Schools Staying Clean club and American Legion Post 159 are sponsoring the “Your Life Speaks” event where a nationally recognized speaker will talk with hundreds of Belmont County students today and Tuesday at Ohio University Eastern’s gymnasium. The event will also be open to the public at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Pictured, from left, are Cara Mowery, Diana Elerick, Cheryl Barnes, Larry Barnes, Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland, Rick Johnson and Belmont County Juvenile Court Judge Albert E. Davies.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE–Two local organizations have joined forces to help students throughout Belmont County remain drug-free.

Belmont County Schools Staying Clean and American Legion Post 159 will sponsor an event for middle school students of the county today and Tuesday. “Your Life Speaks” will be held for more than a dozen Belmont County schools from 10-11:30 a.m. today and Tuesday at Ohio University Eastern’s gymnasium.

There will also be a free session that is open to the public at 6:30 p.m. today. The event is free to all that wish to attend and listen to the “motivational” and “encouraging” words of the event’s speaker.

Nathan Harmon will instruct hundreds of local students on a variety of challenges and issues commonly faced by today’s youth.

Belmont County Juvenile Court Judge Albert E. Davies, who is involved with the Belmont County Staying Clean program, said the juvenile court is always looking for ways to provide education and information to kids and families on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

“We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to promote an event that involves a dynamic speaker who is going to have a dramatic impact on everyone who hears him,” Davies said.

Davies said Harmon will speak to middle school students from a real-life perspective that was formed out of eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, drug and alcohol abuse, divorced parents and eventually being sentenced to prison for 15 years for a drinking and driving incident that resulted in the death of one of his close friends.

“He (Harmon) has been the No. 1 school speaker for the last three years — 2017, 2018 and 2019. He brings real-life experiences and covers almost every issue in the book,” Davies said.

“You name the issue and he’s probably

had it.”

Davies said the anticipated guest speaker primarily delivers his message to middle school and high school students, however he also provides a strong message that will resonate with adults as well.

“We’re very excited to have him,” he said.

Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland said he has heard “great things” about the speaker and he wants to get the message out to the county’s youth in order to promote drug-free schools.

“It’s another incentive for us pushing them to be drug-free and hopefully it sinks in. If they can relate to the things he will talk about, what he did as a juvenile. … Hopefully they won’t want to make the same mistakes he did,” McFarland said.

American Legion Post 159 Commander Larry Barnes said the legion was happy to help and support the Staying Clean program and the upcoming event.

“We do a lot with the high schools and the Staying Clean program and with the sheriff’s department. … We thought it would be a great idea to sponsor this event,” he said.

The legion has supported the program for the past few years and plans to continue doing so.

The 13 participating schools will be divided. Half the students will attend the first assembly while the other half will attend the second assembly. The seventh and eight grade students will be transported by bus to the event.