Pubdate: Sun, 13 Nov 2005
Source: Alexander City Outlook, The (AL)
Copyright: 2005 The Alexander City Outlook
Contact:  http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2401
Author: Kelly Caldwell

GRANT TO HELP COMBAT METH

Thanks to a grant secured by Rep. Mike Rogers, the Tallapoosa County 
Sheriff's Department will get a much-needed upgrade on its 
communications and radio systems.

The $50,000 grant will be used to purchase this the equipment and was 
announced by Rogers' office Thursday.

"This is not a matching grant," Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy 
Abbett said. "Sometimes we don't have matching monies available in 
our county and Rogers recognizes that."

In the press release announcing the grant, Rogers said the money will 
be used to combat the growing methamphetamine problem in Tallapoosa County.

"Rural areas like Tallapoosa County have been under siege by the 
plague of meth," he said. "I am pleased to have secured these funds 
and hope they provide some much-needed Federal support for local law 
enforcement and their ongoing efforts to combat this lethal drug."

Methamphetamine has become the biggest drug threat in Alabama 
according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with almost 300 
labs seized in 2004.

The funding for the grant came from the Sciences, State, Justice 
Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2006. 
The bill provides funding for federal agencies such as the Justice 
Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

"These investments are great news for Tallapoosa County citizens and 
local law enforcement officials," Rogers said.

Abbett said an indirect factor into receiving the money was the 
recent trip to Washington D.C. arranged by the Dadeville Area Chamber 
of Commerce.

"We were able to express our needs to the congressional delegation," 
Abbett said. "The trip to Washington was very beneficial, and 
indirectly, I think going up there made this possible."

He went on to say the money will be used for more than fighting 
methamphetamines in the county.

"This will not only help combat the drug activity, but it will also 
help the communication problems we have," he said.
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