CHEYENNE (AP) - A dentists' group has vowed to keep pushing for elimination of soda pop in Wyoming schools.

"We are trying to see a total ban," said Cody dentist Jim Landers, who has been crusading against soft drinks in schools for several years.

"The schools like this type of money because it's discretionary income. They are selling out the present and future health of the children for a minute amount of money."

Landers is a member of the Wyoming Dental Association, which has tried for two years to persuade the Legislature to pass a measure banning pop in schools.

In the 2003 session, a bill sponsored by Rep. Pat Childers, R-Cody, was killed 8-1 by the House Education Committee. The majority of committee members said the decision should be left to local officials.

"This is a budget issue to the taxpayers of Wyoming," Landers said. "Obesity is the number-one medical pediatric problem in the country."

State education officials also would like to see sodas go down the drain.

"We're trying to encourage them (the schools) to put in alternative products and take away the pop," said Katie Mordhorst, nutrition programs supervisor for the state Department of Education. "We would prefer them not to have pop machines at all."

Laramie and Evanston schools have stopped selling pop from machines. So have schools in Los Angeles, Calif.

Nick Bouzis, president of the Wyoming Dental Association, said the issue isn't pop machines but children's health.

"We oppose contracts in schools that influence consumption and promote an increase of soft drinks," he said. Bouzis said he has seen an increase in decay around gum lines due to the acids in pop.

Landers said having pop in schools tends to make parents and students think consuming it is OK.

In Cheyenne, the high school and junior high schools offer pop, but officials say they stock other choices as well.

Craig Hagler, general manager for Swire Coca-Cola USA in Cheyenne, said more than half the machines that Coke has in schools are filled with non-carbonated drinks. He also said the company encourages students to take more steps to measure their fitness.

East High School receives $8,000 a year for an exclusive contract with Pepsi-Cola and earns about 30 percent commission on sales. In September, it made about $3,000 from the commissions.

Tom Kreider, assistant principal, said the money helps pay for band and football uniforms and welding gloves for students who can't afford them. In addition, the school bought 14 security cameras for the parking lot.

Just over half of the machines at the school offer pop, and the others have juice, water or Gatorade, Kreider said. About 63 percent of the sales are for non-carbonated drinks.

"You'd be amazed how many kids drink the bottled water," he said.

Central High has sold pop through vending machines for at least 10 years, said Matt Strannigan, an associate principal. But it also sells milk, juices, PowerAde and other choices. The money from its exclusive contract with Coca-Cola goes to the student senate.

"We're looking at probably $6,000 a year just for having the contract," he said. In 2002-03, Central High earned another $9,000 from sales.

Strannigan said if he saw studies showing a direct link between the machines at school and obesity, the issue would need to be seriously considered. But he said he hasn't seen such a study.

Educating students about using their powers of choice begins at home, he added.

Gary Datus, principal at Triumph High School, agrees.

"Most of our kids are in the position to make a decision for themselves about whether they want pop," he said.

Judy Rossmeisl directs the food service program for Uinta County School District in Evanston. The schools stopped selling pop two years ago at the encouragement of the state Department of Education.

"I am glad we did it," Rossmeisl said. "Students will take what is offered. If you offer unhealthy choices, that is what they will take." In Cheyenne, Central student Chelsey Rea, 15, said it is not a good idea to sell pop at school. But her friend Alishma Johnson, 17, said she buys pop there.

"I don't drink it as much as I used to" since the price went up, she said.

Buying pop is a way of life in this nation, Landers said, adding that the average American drinks 55 gallons of soft drinks a year.

"As long as I'm alive, we're going to keep beating it," he said. "We just see the devastation of it. It makes no sense."