Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jul 2001
Source: Log Cabin Democrat (AR)
Copyright: The Log Cabin Democrat
Contact:  1058 Front Street . Conway, Arkansas . 72032
Fax: 501-327-6787
Feedback: http://www.thecabin.net/contact/letters.shtml
Website: http://thecabin.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/548
Author: Beau Wilcox - Log Cabin Staff Writer
Bookmark: Methamphetamine http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm

Sidebar: Conway police officer, Scott Carpenter (left) explains the 
goals of the Conway Police Department Explorer Program at the Main 
Street Substation on Tuesday. The program is designed to introduce 
interested youth to the world of law enforcement through hands-on 
classes, field trips and officer ride-alongs. This first meeting was 
held to establish youth leaders of the program which will officially 
kick-off in August. It is open to males and females 14 to 20 years 
old.

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EXPLORING THE FUTURE

40 Attend To Hear Officials Address Drug's Impact On County

GREENBRIER -- A week of education about methamphetamine for 
interested Faulkner County citizens continued Tuesday night before an 
alert crowd at the Greenbrier Municipal Building.

After the program kicked off at the University of Central Arkansas on 
Monday, the meth awareness program moved north and attracted about 40 
citizens. Tuesday's presentation was a replication of the one 
conducted the evening before, as a series of speakers delivered 
roughly two hours of information about the drug that has invaded 
Arkansas, especially its expansive rural territory.

Faulkner County Sheriff Marty Montgomery, Lt. Bob Berry of the Conway 
Police Department and Joey Potratz, drug prevention coordinator for 
the Arkansas Sheriff's Association, each offered basic facts about 
the drug and its horrible myriad effects. Their comments were 
complemented by those of District 20 Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway, 
and District 44 Rep. Marvin Parks, R-Greenbrier, both of whom said 
their legislative capacity and the devoted effort of county law 
enforcement agencies and representatives makes the battle against the 
spread of meth a winnable one.

The legislative approach to the meth problem, Baker said, starts by 
supporting law enforcement through supplying funding to the cause and 
stiffening penalties for meth manufacture and possession. "As a 
legislator," Baker said, "that's paramount for me." This session, the 
first for Baker and second for Parks, did produce some successes in 
the battle against meth. The amount of pseudoephedrine, the most 
critical ingredient in manufacturing the drug, that can legally be 
purchased at one time has been limited to nine grams. Since this 
chemical is found in common cold medications, Baker said imparting a 
limitation of this kind was critical.

But Baker said Act 1141 was the legislation that "just tugs at my 
heart." That bill toughens penalties for those who manufacture the 
drug in the presence of children.

Berry said both laws mentioned by Baker were sorely needed in order 
for the fight against the drug to progress.

"The new law they passed is fantastic," he said, alluding to the 
possession limitation statute. "We've been needing this for a long 
time." Montgomery, who said the attention of the Faulkner County 
legislators to the meth problem is an "asset," agreed that one of the 
most tragic and unnerving facets of the meth problem is the frequent 
and accidental involvement of small children. He said the sheer 
danger of the product -- many of its precursors are toxic or 
flammable -- can spell horrible results for curious kids. "This 
shakes us to the core," Montgomery said, referring to the impact of 
meth on children.

Much of the meeting was devoted to encouraging the public to police 
itself. As he did Monday, Berry gave the Drug Task Force's 
confidential drug hotline number -- 450-6135 -- and said that 
anything suspicious could and should be reported. Like Baker, Parks 
credited Montgomery and other law enforcement officials for being 
active at the Capitol. He said their presence and persistence always 
command the attention of the Faulkner County legislative contingent. 
"Sheriff Montgomery has been in the middle of those sessions," Parks 
said. "You've got some folks on your side."

But Parks said the active presence of the law enforcement community 
is still dependent upon the public's assistance.

"They need you," he said. "Your willingness to be here tonight speaks 
volumes." The meetings feature detailed slides by Potratz and a short 
video in addition to the spoken material. The next meeting is 
scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, July 23, at Vilonia High School, and the 
last is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at Mayflower High School. 
For more information about the meetings, contact Jack Pike, Public 
Information Officer for the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office, at 
450-4914.
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