Pubdate: Thu, 11 May 2006
Source: Crossville Chronicle, The (TN)
Copyright: 2006 The Crossville Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.crossville-chronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1972
Author: Jan Boston Sellers, Chronicle columnist

Around The Town

DRUGS ARE A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY

I just flew in from Seattle and man are my arms tired.  I love that corny joke!

Actually, I have just gotten back from Seattle where I  attended the 
19th annual Addictions and Behavioral  Health Conference. This was my 
first time to the  Evergreen State, and even though its famous for 
its coffee (which I don't drink) and its seafood (which I  don't eat) 
and for its rain (which it only did once the  four days I was there), 
I fell in love with the place.

It was so pretty and as the state slogan says, green. I  know we saw 
some of the most beautiful flowers I have  ever seen as well as a 
view of Mt. Rainier (Captain  Snow) and the Space Needle.

I didn't get around as much as I would have liked  because the 
conference kept us busy during the day but  it, too, was exciting and 
well worth the long plane  ride. At least two of the speakers (Dr. 
Bill O'Hanlon  and Dr. Pat Love) I had seen on "The Today Show" 
and/or CNN, and one of the other guys is a Duke graduate who  is a 
consultant for the Lady Vols! Anyway, it is always  nice to visit 
with other people from other places who  do what you do and get new 
information.

The biggest drug problems in Seattle? Crack and  cocaine. An attendee 
from Nebraska said they battle  meth and marijuana while some of the 
other participants  say ecstasy is their main drug problem.

Interestingly enough, a lady from a treatment center in  Arizona 
approached me on break one day and said, "I  heard you talking 
yesterday, and I assumed you are the  one from Crossville, TN?"

I said, "Yes, as matter of fact I am."

She said, "I just want to let you know I have heard  about your 
anti-drug program there in Cumberland  County, and I think it's 
amazing that you guys work in  schools and offer after-school and 
summer programs and  counseling."

I must have looked shocked because I wondered how in  the world she 
knew about the TAD Center when she said,  "Oh, we visit your Web site 
all the time. We can't  believe that such a small town has so many 
resources  available for drug prevention and treatment."

Well, then, of course, I had to brag. I told her all  about our other 
good programs here: Good Samaritans,  the Avalon Center, Bread of 
Life, Family Resource  Center, Imagination Library, Creative 
Compassions,  Habitat, the Health Department, etc. I also told her 
about the county's birthday celebration, the golf, the  Playhouse, 
the great medical services, etc., and  invited her to come visit.

Afterwards she looked at me and said, "Well, if you  ever want to get 
out of the drug prevention business,  perhaps you should think about 
marketing or public  relations."

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

She said, "That was a pretty good spiel about your county."

"Well," I said, "don't take my word for it. Come see  for yourself!"

By the way, the top question I was asked the entire  conference -- 
"Where are you from?" Finally, after  answering this question at 
least 20 times, I looked at  the man and said, "The Bronx." Yeah, right...

*

Looks like the weekend is going to be good for the  annual Relay for 
Life celebration down at the Community  Complex. Relay for Life 
begins at 6 p.m. Friday night  and lasts until 6 a.m. Saturday 
morning. There will be  lots of good food and entertainment, so even 
if you  aren't on a team, get down there and check out the  booths 
and spend some money to help the American Cancer  Society.

*

Pleasant Hill Elementary School's annual talent show is  Monday night 
at the Palace Theatre. The doors open at  5:30 p.m., and the show is 
at 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

Also at the Palace is the TAD Center's annual talent  contest. This 
is a preliminary to the Knoxville A&I  Fair's talent contest. It will 
begin at 6 p.m.

And congratulations to Cumberland County High School  talent show 
winner Leila Nelson. Nelson, a senior at  CCHS, is a member of 
Advanced Choir, the CCHS Dance  Team and performs at Cumberland 
County Playhouse.

*

Mother's Day is Sunday, so Happy Mother's Day to all of  Cumberland 
County's moms, especially mine!
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman