Pubdate: Fri, 12 Dec 2003
Source: Rocky Mount Telegram, The (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Cox Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1751
Author: Joe Miller, Rocky Mount Telegram

REVEREND RECRUITS FOR WAR ON DRUGS

The entire Rocky Mount community needs to help fight the war on drugs.

That was the consensus among many of the roughly 20 people who attended a 
community meeting Thursday to discuss the drug problem in Rocky Mount at 
North End Missionary Baptist Church.

The meeting was organized by the Rev. Elbert Lee, pastor of North End. 
Among those in attendance were representatives from the Rocky Mount Police 
Department, Rocky Mount City Council and the Rocky Mount branch of the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Lee said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss how the community can 
combat the drug problem and help young people get off and stay off drugs.

"We need to start somewhere," Lee said. "This is one way we can prove we're 
a city on the rise. (It) is an urgent, crucial matter that we think the 
community needs to have a knowledge of."

Police officials told the small crowd the department needs the public's 
help to fight drugs. Narcotics supervisor Sgt. T.A. Bashore said people 
should report any suspicious activity.

"If you see something, that's when you need to call the police department," 
Bashore said. "Being our eyes and ears helps a lot."

Ward 3 City Councilman Lamont Wiggins said the members of the city council 
are determined to make a difference. One thing Wiggins said the city needs 
to do is help drug addicts find jobs.

"We, as a community, need to begin to reach out," he said.

Lee said the need to help addicts is particularly crucial during the 
Christmas season.

"We can raise money that would be to help young people so they can have a 
few dollars to tide them over 'till Christmas," Lee said.

Rocky Mount NAACP President and Ward 1 Councilman-elect Andre Knight said 
the city needs to clean up its neighborhoods by investing in the community 
and tearing down dilapidated buildings.

"We, as a community, have to come in and clean up some of this stuff," 
Knight said.

Despite the small turnout, Lee said he thought the meeting went well.

He said he plans to hold another meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church, 
which is at 500 E. Grand Ave.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman