PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners honored a stop-smoking counselor Tuesday and proclaimed Thursday to be Great American Smokeout Day, living up to a tobacco-prevention award that the county recently received.
Commissioners cited Wally Seelye, student assistance professional at Port Angeles High School, for his three years’ work teaching smoking-cessation classes and counseling students against becoming addicted to nicotine.
“Wally meets not only with youth who have been caught using tobacco, but also with the parents,” said Florence Bucierka of the county Health and Human Services Department.
Using the “Not On Tobacco” curriculum, Seelye has worked with 55 students, 75 percent of whom quit smoking.
“Wally is one of the keys to not only treating nicotine addiction but in preventing kids from starting,” Bucierka said.
Commissioners also urged smokers to quit — at least for 24 hours — on Thursday.