Local 5th-grader wins statewide poster competition

A local fifth-grader placed first for a statewide Tar Wars poster competition.

Tar Wars is a tobacco education program to try to help kids make healthy choices.

The poster contest is a way for students to artistically express what they’ve learned.

This year, Josie Aikele, a student at Woodland Hills Elementary, won first place.

“Tobacco really can hurt you, and no one should take it,” she said. “Even though people think it’s cool and it will make you popular, it’s not. It won’t. Throw a party to be cool.”

Josie’s award-winning poster had a group of sheep on it and said, “have you herd tobacco is baaaaad for you?”