HEBRON — As parents increasingly report they are seeing young people in gang colors, a Boone County group held the first of a series of sessions Tuesday evening aimed at discouraging youths from joining gangs.

        The “Make the Right Choice Night” at Country Place apartments, with free hot dogs, cookies and pop for participants, was paid for by a three-year grant to the Northern Kentucky Extension Homemakers, a nonprofit group that covers an eight-county area including Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.

        The group chose to have its first event at the Boone County apartment complex because of the high number of runs the sheriff's department makes there.

        “According to the sheriff's department, they have more calls coming from the area of the apartments than other places, so this is where we wanted to start,” said Pat Ingram, who spearheaded the program for the Boone County Extension Homemakers. “This doesn't mean it's the only area of trouble, or that it is the worst.”

        Boone County Sheriff's Department could not provide statistics on the number of times they respond to problems at the complex.

        It is unclear how many gangs exist in Northern Kentucky, but Ms. Ingram and others think gang activity is more prevalent than many people believe.

        “There are rumors and innuendoes that there is gang activity there,” said Deputy Joe Humbert, the school safety director for Boone County.

        “I don't think there is a major gang problem, but there sure are wannabe gang members.”

        The program's audience heard from deputies, school safety experts and mothers on the dangers of gangs.

        Ms. Ingram, 57, of Burlington said she wanted to use education to make parents aware of the problem.

        “Gangs are for people that can't handle life on their own,” said Tammy Vaughn, 38, of Hebron. “They feel they have to have people back them up.

        “This event is good because there are people here to talk to them about other options.”

        Ms. Vaughn is a mother of two who lives at the 400-unit complex, which about 300 children call home.

        “We want to let the children know there will be people out there watching,” Ms. Ingram said.

        “I see kids wearing gang colors in the mall and at Kroger.

        “We are sticking our head in the ground if we don't believe there are gangs in Boone County.”

        The next program will be Thursday evening at the Greens of Turfway apartments in Florence.

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