Messenger-Inquirer Ernie Fletcher has had his share of ups and downs in his first seven months as governor, but one area where his administration has continually distinguished itself is in dealing with Kentucky's substance abuse problems. A great deal of attention has been given to the efforts of Fletcher and Lt. Gov. Steve Pence to canvass Kentucky communities and come up with a comprehensive strategy for tackling this problem. That highly anticipated plan should be released soon, and we expect it to have a tremendous impact. [continues 360 words]
Efforts To Get Faster Returns Of Evidence Paying Off The evidence backlog that has plagued the state's crime labs for years appears to be diminishing after a series of efforts to improve the system. The Daviess County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office has noticed a difference with new case submissions being returned to prosecutors more efficiently, but there are still glitches in the system, and some older cases remain in limbo, said Commonwealth's Attorney Jay Wethington. "It's a whole lot better," Wethington said. "We're hoping to ease this problem." [continues 452 words]
Report Generated From Summits Across State In less than a month, Gov. Ernie Fletcher will lay out an initiative to battle illegal drug use in Kentucky, a plan that will have benefited from information gleaned from 14 drug summits held across the state. "The drug problem is at epidemic proportions and should be treated as an epidemic," said Lt. Gov. Steve Pence, who addressed the Owensboro Rotary Club on Wednesday at the Owensboro Country Club. Pence, a former U.S. attorney, said young people today have to deal with methamphetamine, Ecstasy and oxycontin -- all "devastating drugs" worse than the marijuana and beer that young people encountered years ago. [continues 274 words]
As encouraging as it is to hear about the numerous local residents helping out in their own different ways to fight the spread of methamphetamine, it's equally scary. Scary, because despite all of these efforts, meth continues to penetrate our community full speed ahead, spreading its devastation without regard for race, gender or socioeconomic standing. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find people who don't know someone whose life has been affected by this drug. Reporter Justin Willis outlined in a two-part series Sunday and Monday the effort it takes simply to tread water in this fight. [continues 369 words]
Jim Decker took a job six years ago working loss prevention at area Krogers. Although it was not in the job description, Decker quickly learned that among his many responsibilities was fighting the war against methamphetamine. Among the hundreds of customers he sees each day, a few are looking to collect the ingredients for a different kind of recipe, one that requires hundreds of decongestant pills. "Most of the time it's a gray, dead look," Decker said. "Their eyes, their movement, their nervousness. You're not supposed to profile, but you can't help but notice." [continues 826 words]
Spike In Criminal Charges Against Students Brings Move Numbers of students being criminally charged in the Daviess County Public Schools spiked significantly during the last half of the school year. There doesn't appear to be a single reason for the increase, and school administrators said no policy regarding student conduct has been changed that would explain the increase. Still, the numbers of students charged during the first five months of 2004 at all three county high schools is in stark contrast to the previous three years. [continues 882 words]
For years, Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain has repeatedly referred to the spread of methamphetamine as a community problem rather than simply a law enforcement problem. As a testament to his characterization, many people in the community have joined the battle against a tide of crime that has swept Daviess County since 1998, with the discovery of the county's first meth lab. From the time a person begins gathering ingredients to make the drug to the time they ingest the finished product, footsteps of crime and potential danger trail throughout groceries, convenience stores, retail outlets, farms, neighborhoods and private property. [continues 818 words]
From behind the tinted windows of an idling vehicle, three undercover city police officers waited patiently along an east Owensboro street, occasionally using binoculars to watch a home one block away. Upon first glance the home in the 1600 block of Hall Street appeared to be a popular gathering spot. It was almost sunset on a Friday, and several men and women lounged in the small yard or swung their legs over the edge of a porch. A young boy wearing one sandal screeched with joy while playing with two stray dogs. [continues 938 words]
On a recent Tuesday night in Daviess County, six armed men wearing camouflage and carrying binoculars and night vision goggles lay waiting in the fields and tree lines surrounding one of the front lines in the methamphetamine battle. The men, all deputies and investigators with the Daviess County Sheriff's Department, were conducting what has become an occasional overnight assignment: stakeouts of anhydrous ammonia tanks. Deputies were looking for individuals or teams of people who approach the 1,000-gallon "nurse" tanks of anhydrous and bleed the highly pressurized substance into propane tanks. The farm fertilizer is a necessary ingredient among the most common meth-making recipe in western Kentucky. [continues 979 words]
Messenger-Inquirer City and county leaders say they denied Community Solutions' request for funding through the wellness initiative because of turf issues that exist among substance abuse groups. There's more than a little irony to that reasoning, particularly coming from local governments who have engaged in numerous "turf" battles and continue to do so to this day. But it also shows a lack of understanding about the substance abuse efforts taking place in this county. And it even raises questions about just how committed some of our local officials are to addressing an obvious and growing problem. [continues 521 words]
Those who live and work in Kentucky's communities are more familiar with the substance abuse issues affecting their areas than anyone. For that reason, the team that Gov. Ernie Fletcher and I charged to assess drug problems in our commonwealth is spending time in every region of Kentucky listening to citizens -- medical professionals, judges, prosecutors, dedicated teachers, highly skilled law enforcement officers, treatment specialists, former substance abusers and parents -- about their ideas for combating drug abuse in their communities and on the effectiveness of existing drug programs in their regions. [continues 510 words]
Providing more education to young people in our schools always ranks high when people list possible solutions for addressing Daviess County's growing drug problem. But what some fail to realize is that it's not a matter of simply exposing kids to the dangers of drugs and alcohol. That's already happening, with varying degrees of success. The feel-good nature of some programs has helped to hide the fact that they aren't having much impact on students' lives. [continues 374 words]
Survey Shows Rise in Student Use Local health officials and educators are trying to coordinate the drug awareness and prevention curricula at Owensboro and Daviess County public schools next fall, a move they hope will help stem a disturbing trend upward in drug experimentation among local middle and high school students. The chosen curriculum -- LifeSkills Training -- is a multiyear program that is "science based," can serve students from the ninth to seventh grade or younger and has a national reputation for success, said Gary Hall, senior director of RiverValley Regional Prevention Center. [continues 604 words]
HINDMAN (AP) -- Officials in Knott County have agreed to briefly stop mandatory drug testing of teachers after a teacher filed a federal lawsuit challenging the practice. Knott School Superintendent Harold Combs said the local board of education instituted mandatory and random drug testing in January for employees in "safety-sensitive" positions, such as teachers. Carol Crager, an elementary school teacher, filed a lawsuit March 25 in U.S. District Court at Pikeville, claiming the policy violated her constitutional rights. "This is a drastic increase in normal testing," said Crager's attorney, J. Follace Fields II of Lexington. "We feel it is overly broad and overly invasive." [continues 197 words]
Watching government at work can be a frustrating process, one that sometimes leaves us wondering whether the public's interests are really a concern for elected officials. But even those most cynical of government's role should find reason to be encouraged by the efforts of Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Lt. Gov. Steve Pence to combat Kentucky's drug problems. Tuesday, the Drug Control Policy Assessment Summit came to Owensboro, the 10th stop on a 16-city tour around the state. The turnout was impressive, both in terms of local officials and residents who attended, and those from around the state who served on the various panels. [continues 385 words]
April Fool's Day was no joke for six students at Daviess County Public Schools who were charged with drug crimes after a police sweep of the county's three high schools. Unlike past drug searches, school administrators encouraged police to widen their typical search of lockers and bookbags to include student vehicles parked on the school lots. Altogether the sweeps at Apollo, Daviess County and Beacon Central schools produced two prescription pain pills and less than a quarter-ounce of marijuana -- slightly less than what would fill a quarter of a coffee mug. All of the marijuana was found in parked vehicles, and police do not believe any of it was intended for sale or trafficking. [continues 430 words]
As an employee of the state Department of Public Advocacy's Owensboro office, Cindy Lyons is well aware of the troubling relationship between substance abuse and crime. But most of her words, directed to a panel of 13 experts as part of a regional substance abuse forum, stemmed from her experiences as the mother of a teenage girl. When Lyons' daughter was caught smoking a cigarette on school grounds, the official punishment was a brief suspension, she said. Lyons punished her daughter, too, but believed an educational opportunity was missed for both mother and daughter. [continues 704 words]
Pence Will Head Regional Forum To Assess Scope Of Problem For years, police and substance abuse professionals have fielded phone calls from relatives frustrated about how to end a loved one's substance abuse problem. For the past several weeks, questions such as "What can I do?" have been answered with a specific date and a time. Kentucky Lt. Gov. Steve Pence will be in Owensboro on Tuesday to gather input from residents during a regional forum to assess the scope of the state's substance abuse problem. Residents from Daviess, McLean, Ohio and Hancock counties are encouraged to attend the free public event. [continues 536 words]
We are losing the war on drugs not only because we have been inept in our strategy to fight it, but because we have not been fully aware of the nature and extent of problem. While we have made progress on several fronts in the war against drugs, winning it requires a comprehensive strategy. The statistics are staggering. In the last two years, close to a million marijuana plants were seized and destroyed in Kentucky. Forty-one percent of our high school students have smoked marijuana at least once. Cocaine and "club drugs" such as LSD and Ecstasy are still common in Kentucky's metropolitan areas. And in 2002, 238 pounds of cocaine were seized in Kentucky. The overwhelming prevalence of these drugs continues to thwart local efforts to reduce substance abuse. [continues 728 words]
Many Ohio County High School students have heard friends and out-of-state relatives talk about attending raves, all-night dance parties with unusual sound and lighting effects. About 40 students and 30 adults had the chance Monday to see and learn about what they are missing during a two-hour presentation by Trinka Porrata, a retired Los Angeles police officer and drug expert. "It's just really scary," said Kirby Thompson, a 16-year-old junior at Ohio County High School. "It really gets your heart racing thinking about it." [continues 725 words]
Budget For Housing Inmates Out Of County Exhausted When the Hancock County jail was built in the 1970s, methamphetamine was unheard of in the region and the county was considered a low crime area. The small county jail, which was built to hold 10 inmates, often had empty cells. Today, the jail is constantly full and the county has to house several inmates in other county jails for long periods of time -- to the tune of $27 to $28 per inmate, per day. [continues 500 words]
For the better part of five years -- since methamphetamine first grabbed its stranglehold on this region -- local law enforcement has delivered a consistent message. This isn't a law enforcement problem; it's a community problem. And until every aspect from prevention to treatment to incarceration is given equal attention, issues with drugs will only worsen. Lt. Gov. Steve Pence is taking this message statewide, and his proposals last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee to shift the focus on fighting drugs are welcome news. [continues 492 words]
Supreme Court Ruling Prompts Push For Change FRANKFORT -- Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors will have an easier time charging and convicting methamphetamine makers if legislation before the House of Representatives is enacted, backers of a consolidated bill say. No vote was taken in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, but primary sponsor Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, said he expected it to be approved by the committee when it meets next week after a bit more tweaking. Yonts sponsored House Bill 24, which specifies that possession of two or more chemicals and two or more pieces of equipment with intent to manufacture methamphetamine is unlawful. Rep. Jack Coleman, D-Bergen, and Rep. Buddy Buckingham, D-Murray, filed similar bills. Yonts and Rep. Reginald Meeks, D-Louisville, filed bills placing stricter controls on ephedrine and like substances, which are used to make methamphetamine. [continues 356 words]
FRANKFORT -- Gov. Ernie Fletcher's administration wants better drug treatment, rather than prison sentences, for offenders. The state plans to cut the number of nonviolent offenders in prison and may put off opening a 1,000-bed prison under construction in Elliott County, Lt. Gov. Steve Pence said. Pence, who also is Fletcher's justice secretary, wants a backlog of evidence testing at state crime labs eliminated by April 1 and plans to thoroughly review the state's drug problems and what is needed to solve them. He also wants drug courts expanded. [continues 330 words]
Center Would Be a First for County An intensive substance abuse center at the Daviess County Detention Center could open as early as this month, offering select inmates a chance to deal with drug and alcohol problems before being released. Since July, when Daviess County Jailer David Osborne first said he intended to turn a vacant building at the jail complex into a treatment center, he has gathered support from elected leaders, substance abuse professionals and lawmakers. The jail has offered 12-step programs for years, but the separate building would require a strictly regimented lifestyle with counseling and monitoring -- the first program of its kind in Daviess County. [continues 831 words]
Sheriff's Department Fields 15 To 20 Meth Calls Daily A folding table in the basement of the Cigar Factory Complex was filled Monday with what appeared to be typical items from a garage: foam masks, engine starter, plastic gasoline cans, hoses, oven cleaner and lighter fluid. But throughout the next eight hours, the 45 participants in a class led by Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain and narcotics Detective Sgt. Jim Acquisto learned how similar collections of ingredients, including decongestant pills and anhydrous ammonia, create methamphetamine labs -- the worst scourge upon western Kentucky in decades. [continues 509 words]
LOUISVILLE -- Federal officials are investigating the fatal shooting of a black teenager shot in the back last week by a Louisville police officer, an FBI spokesman said Tuesday. "We are going to conduct what we call a substantial investigation, and that means we will conduct a complete, independent, thorough and impartial investigation of the matter," David Beyer, an FBI spokesman in Louisville, said in a phone interview. Beyer said the investigation was initiated early this week. Officer McKenzie G. Mattingly, an undercover Metro police officer, shot Michael Newby in the back Saturday night in western Louisville after they struggled for Mattingly's service handgun, Police Chief Robert White said. Mattingly was trying to buy drugs from Newby about 11:45 p.m. EST Saturday outside a strip mall when the deal went wrong, White said. [continues 702 words]
Smoking Bans, Tighter Meth Laws to Be Debated When the Kentucky General Assembly's House agriculture committee convenes this week, it will have a diverse slate of bills to consider. But the most interesting bills before the committee only deal with agriculture in a peripheral way. Some of the pre-filed bills attempt to further tighten access to anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer that's illegally used in the production of methamphetamine, and increase the penalties for people caught in possession of meth ingredients. [continues 647 words]
Readers Write If you read the Daviess Circuit Court news in the Messenger-Inquirer you would see that the same crimes go on and on each week: burglary and criminal possession of a forged instrument, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance, possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and stolen property, and not to mention DUI, jumping bail, rape charges, etc. These crimes are being committed by people 17 to 50 years of age. They are people who this country is depending on to be productive, to help keep this country alive. And they are people who blame our president for their problems, which is wrong and untrue. With this country at war and our young men putting their lives on the line for our freedom, you would think that they would want to do something to contribute to our nation, rather than live the life of drugs and crime. Drugs, and crimes committed because of drugs, are squeezing the life out of this country. I think we should have a law that says "Get a Job or Go to Jail." Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Perry Beaver Dam [end]
If someone were to ask Kentuckians to provide legislators with a list of priorities for the coming year, it's unlikely that additional technicians at state crime labs would rank very high -- if at all. But you can bet that safer communities -- and efforts to combat a growing drug problem, in particular -- would be at or near the top of that list. What most people fail to realize, however, is just how closely the two issues are intertwined. Law enforcement throughout this region has made fighting methamphetamine a priority in recent years -- an effort the community has taken a role in as well. But that effort is being hindered by the backlog at state crime labs in processing evidence. [continues 446 words]
The success that drug courts have had around Kentucky helping people turn their lives around has been well-documented. But anyone who needed further convincing should have visited Daviess Circuit Judge Tom Castlen's courtroom Monday. That's where 14 local residents -- who otherwise may have been in jail -- were instead recognized as the sixth graduating class of the Daviess County Drug Court. Fourteen residents -- who the odds say were likely headed for a life bouncing in and out of the criminal justice system -- are instead on a path to reclaiming their lives, substance free. All now are employed, and five are enrolled in college or technical school classes. One even received a college athletic scholarship. [continues 371 words]
Meth Cases May Take Two Years to Resolve The intrusion of methamphetamine into western Kentucky began to skyrocket in 1999 and has since been fought with federal grants for police, increased public education and new state laws. But the time between an arrest and a conviction is seriously hampered by the wait -- sometimes up to two years -- for test results to return from the Kentucky State Police laboratories. Meanwhile, the number of indictments handled by the Daviess County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office has reached an all-time high, which is mostly attributed to meth violations and the new laws that prohibit possessing precursors and tampering with or possessing anhydrous ammonia. [continues 957 words]
The 14 graduates rewarded for their hard work and accomplishments Monday started their journey at least a year ago following a shared experience -- a drug-related arrest. The graduates represent the sixth class of Daviess County Drug Court, an alternative for nonviolent offenders whose addictions landed them in the court system. Monday's ceremony filled the fourth-floor courtroom of Daviess Circuit Judge Tom Castlen with a crowd of nearly 100 relatives, previous graduates and a small army of court employees, counselors and law enforcement representatives. [continues 439 words]
FRANKFORT -- As Kentucky's next lieutenant governor and Justice Cabinet secretary, Steve Pence said he plans to focus on fighting the state's drug problems. Gov.-elect Ernie Fletcher on Wednesday capitalized on Pence's experience as a federal prosecutor by naming the future lieutenant governor to serve in a dual role in his administration. During their campaign, Pence had promised to be a "working lieutenant governor," and take an active role in the administration. "This is the first delivery on that promise," Pence said at a news conference. "It's not the fulfillment of the promise entirely because now we must deliver in the area of justice." [continues 450 words]
High school students are constantly bombarded with advertisements for alcohol -- often in magazines or during television shows that cater almost exclusively to young audiences. With alcohol propaganda all around, it's no wonder so many students feel beer is a necessity at any Friday night gathering. To help students combat the temptations of alcohol advertising and the dangers of underage drinking, River Valley Behavioral Health brought together teens from area high schools this weekend for a teen leadership conference at Mount Saint Joseph. The conference, which also was sponsored by the Kentucky State Police and the Department of Highway Safety, focused on the dangers of alcohol advertising, tobacco products and "club drugs" and encouraged the students to tackle alcohol and drug issues at their schools. [continues 305 words]
Kentucky has finally formed its first NORML chapter (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) in Louisville. I feel it is necessary for Owensboro to have its own NORML chapter. There is an exceedingly large population of pot smokers in this area who have their constitutional rights trampled on every day. It is important not only to educate smokers on their constitutional rights, but to give them an opportunity to speak out. By starting a NORML chapter here in Owensboro, we can dismiss the horrible propaganda that has targeted marijuana smokers as terrorists, rapists, killers, reckless drivers and flat-out losers. It is a waste of time and money to incarcerate responsible smokers. The times of hiding lifestyles are over, and the public must start to destroy any misconception they have about their culture. If given the opportunity, they can be a valuable asset to this community. Instead of shunning marijuana smokers, respect their simple way of life. Any supporters e-mail me at funkman@owensboro.net. Nathan Lee Owensboro [end]
When I was recently contacted by the Ernie Fletcher/Steve Pence campaign and asked my opinion of the drug problems in western Kentucky, I was eager to give input, although somewhat skeptical, and a little surprised. No statewide political campaign had ever solicited information from me during my 20 years in law enforcement. I was already impressed with Pence from his time as U.S. Attorney for Western Kentucky, and the effective prosecution of high-level drug traffickers by him and his staff. I was extremely gratified that the campaign genuinely desired to understand the drug issues in Kentucky. [continues 110 words]
As I read the editorial about Rush Limbaugh in the Oct. 15 edition, I felt that a few things should be mentioned. First of all, the editor says that Mr. Limbaugh has the opportunity to put a human face on the drug problem, but there has been and there is a "human face" on the drug problem. People who have had someone in their family deal with a drug problem, to include alcoholism, have seen this "human face." I do, however, believe that Mr. Limbaugh does have an opportunity do something. He has a chance now to rethink some of his stances with drug abuse and at the same time use his influence to tear down the stereotypes and stigmatism attached to drug abuse. Layson Brooks Jr. Owensboro [end]
A Daviess County grand jury heard presentations Tuesday that scrutinized the actions of two law enforcement officers, and one was indicted. The grand jury charged a former Daviess County deputy jailer with multiple prescription drug offenses. An Owensboro police officer was cleared in his role as the driver in an on-duty car crash which left a 22-year-old woman dead. A grand jury heard the facts of an exhaustive Kentucky State Police investigation into the May two-vehicle crash at J.R. Miller and Legion boulevards, said Daviess County Commonwealth Attorney Jay Wethington. [continues 454 words]
Messenger-Inquirer Rush Limbaugh's critics have been quick to label him a hypocrite in light of his confession that he's addicted to pain killers. After all, this is the same guy who spoke often about the need for tough drug laws and once said that those who violate these laws should be "sent up" to prison. Talk radio is a breeding ground, in general, for hypocrisy. But in this case, the likely reality is that Limbaugh, like so many other Americans, was simply ignorant to the devastating effects of substance abuse when he made those statements. [continues 484 words]
Local Governments To Receive $8.2 Million Dollars for substance abuse treatment are greatly needed in Daviess County, people at a Citizens Health Care Advocates meeting said Thursday, and at least some of the $8.2 million local governments stand to receive upon the restructuring of Owensboro Medical Health System should be devoted to filling that need. "We have not made it a health care priority, and it's time to do so," said Debbie Zuerner Johnson, director of Community Solutions, an organization that combats substance abuse. [continues 382 words]
ALLEGRE -- Before the lights go down, Bob Gregory makes sure to look into the eyes of every person sitting before him. After all, he's there to tell them bad news. But even worse, he's there to show them something that he hopes they will never forget. "Tonight, we will talk about your worst nightmare," he told the congregation at Bellview Baptist Church in the Allegre community. "Tonight, you will see how methamphetamine destroys the brain and only leaves the body to wither and die on the vine. It's worse than any cancer." [continues 383 words]
A Daviess County group fighting drug and alcohol abuse is inviting residents to awaken Saturday with a wider perspective on the problems and needs facing the community. Community Solutions for Substance Abuse is hosting a treatment forum Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon which will feature a panel of 11 people ranging from Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain to Daviess County District Judge Joe Castlen and treatment counselors and recovering addicts. The event is intended to inform the public on the magnitude of the drug and alcohol problem while also examining the gaps in services, said Karen Coleman, who is the Treatment Committee co-chairwoman with Community Solutions. [continues 310 words]
Child Support Suit, Use of Drugs Cloud Campaigns FRANKFORT -- Apparently you don't have to be a Boy Scout to run for Kentucky's top law enforcement job. The race for attorney general pits a state lawmaker being sued for child support against a one-time judge twice disciplined on the bench and an independent who says he is "anti-drug" yet regularly smokes marijuana. Some prosecutors consider it a less-than-ideal field. "I have the same concerns that other citizens would have," said Allen Trimble, commonwealth's attorney for Whitley and McCreary counties. "We expect our attorneys general to kind of take the moral high plain. If they fall from that, it kind of hurts them." [continues 382 words]
The vast majority of people with substance abuse problems don't seek the treatment they need. And the select few who do ask for help often find that the necessary treatment isn't readily available in the area -- or even near the area -- where they live. The findings are just a sample of the troubling picture painted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health released this month by the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2002, 22 million Americans were dependent upon drugs and alcohol, but only 6 percent sought treatment, the HHS reports. And even when people did seek help, nearly one in every four found treatment for drug abuse to be unavailable. [continues 377 words]
HARTFORD -- Getting help, not a criminal record, is the focus of a new student drug policy being considered by Ohio County Schools, its drafters say. The "reasonable suspicion" policy would allow drug testing with parental permission if at least two trained observers in a school agree that a student shows signs of substance abuse. "We're looking at it as a positive thing to get them counseling and the help they need," said Ruth Fields, an assistant superintendent and one drafter of the policy. [continues 653 words]
Allen Street Program Operated For Two Years Jennifer House, a transitional housing and rehabilitation program for women with alcohol and substance abuse problems, has closed after operating for two years at 1125 Allen St. "This was a good program. ... I feel terrible about its closing," said Sandra M. Brandt, vice president. "We were one of seven facilities like this in Kentucky." The board likely will meet this weekend to develop a final closing plan that includes how to dispense of the property, furniture and other items, Brandt said. [continues 280 words]
Owensboro is a good place to live, work and raise a family. All you have to do is ask those who have recently moved to our city or examine our city's crime statistics to affirm our community's reputation for being safe. But, as with all cities across our nation, we have problems that need to be addressed by the entire community. The single biggest driver of crime in Owensboro is illegal use and sale of drugs. Our local drug problem places a huge demand on our criminal justice system and has a destructive impact on family members, friends and work associates. As long as our residents demand the product, there will always be suppliers to provide it. Decrease the demand, and the supplies will diminish. There is no doubt that it is more cost-effective to educate, train and rehabilitate than to investigate, arrest, prosecute and incarcerate. [continues 421 words]
MAYSVILLE -- As abuse of the drug methamphetamine grows throughout the state, an Ohio River community will work to keep the drug out of its neighborhood. The Buffalo Trace Agency for Substance Abuse Policy will host the Meth Lookout Program on August 12 at the Maysville Community College. The workshop is designed to help retailers, public utilities, hotel and lodging owners and emergency workers spot people setting up methamphetamine labs, said Karen Hall, a substance abuse prevention specialist with the Buffalo Trace Regional Prevention Center. [continues 208 words]
FRANKFORT -- A former teacher will receive $70,000 from the Shelby County School District to settle a lawsuit she filed claiming she was wrongfully fired for promoting the legalization of hemp. The settlement with Donna Cockrel, formerly of Frankfort, was reached Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Frankfort where jury selection was to begin in the suit filed in 1997. Cockrel came under fire in 1996 when she invited actor Woody Harrelson, an industrial hemp advocate, to talk to her fifth-grade students at the Simpsonville Elementary School about his cause. [continues 94 words]
