We see the car, we see the logo but few of us actually know what the DARE message is other than it has something to do with Drugs. Students from Kent Elementary were presented with their DARE certificates and demonstrated to fellow students and members of the public and Lion members (main sponsor of the local DARE program) present at the assembly that they not only know DARE's message, but also the harmful affects of Marijuana, alcohol and tobacco. "This Dare group is one of the best we've had. There were two good classes of students and the support that they get from their parents at the end - that is what makes it worthwhile," says Cst. Cris Wortman, the school liaison officer for the Upper Fraser Valley. It is fitting that this class was a memorable one as this will be Cst. Wortman's last local class he will see graduate from the DARE program as he has just been transferred to Chilliwack. [continues 245 words]
Sometimes bigger is better, particularly when it enables one to draw on additional resources to help accomplish a goal. A recent outdoor grow-op involving 7,500 marijuana plants that were close to being ready to harvest was one such an example of the benefits of being part of the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachments. "This recent case is a good example of the real benefits of integrated policing (with the UFVRD)," says Sergeant Mike McCarthy with the Agassiz RCMP. The outdoor grow-op, located up a forestry road in the Elbow Lake area, was first reported to RCMP by a helicopter pilot who spotted the grow-op from the air and reported the GPS location to the RCMP. The grow-op was located within 48 hours of it being reported. [continues 296 words]
The Chehalis Band took a stand against drugs and alcohol in their community by uniting together and holding a Peace Walk. The hope was to help combat drug abuse and the after affects on the community. Their first annual peace walk proved a huge success with a police and fire escort leading the way for approximately 30 walkers. Bringing up the rear were people in cars that could not walk the hour long trek but wanted to be a part of the event. [continues 122 words]
Students at AESS got a different form of an educational message last Thursday (March 30). The message was delivered through a one person play 'Dissolve', which was about the drug facilitated date rape. "This is a story that needs to be told. In fact, Dissolve, represents countless stories that were never told. My vision with Dissolve is not only to educate my audience on the drugs themselves, but also to force society to recognize that this is an ongoing problem that desperately needs to be acknowledged. No one wants to believe that drug-induced rape happens within their social circle, but as long as the issue is ignored, victims will continue to wake up frightened, ashamed, and terribly confused," says Meghan Gardiner, the writer and performer of the play. The play was put on by the Agassiz RCMP and AESS. "This is a universal problem. There is a lot of synthetic drugs that teenagers really don't understand the drug or its impact and the results can be pretty devastating," says Sergeant Mike McCarthy, with the Agassiz RCMP. [end]
Almost 100 concerned residents gathered last week to hear Cst. Kurt Bosnell speak of his experiences with Crystal Meth in the Hope area. As Hope's serious crimes investigator Cst. Bosnell's insight into the local drug scene is based largely on his experience dealing with Crystal Meth since his arrival in Hope five years ago. From what the drug looks like, to how it is consumed, the audience got a feel for what the drug is and the level of addiction of local users. "Five years ago when I got here Cocaine was big in Hope and over time Crystal Meth has become the drug of choice. In Boston Bar they have a real Crack problem right now but Crystal Meth is slowly making its way up there too," says Constable Kurt Bosnell, with the Hope RCMP general investigations unit. [continues 498 words]
A young man, his past encircled by Crystal Meth, put his understanding of the drug to good use, making a logo for the new Crystal Meth Task Force, whose goal is to eradicate the drug from the community. The Crystal Meth Task Force, a sub committee of the Healthy Communities Committee, sponsored the competition that challenged local youth to design a logo that will identify their work, their goals and the horror of addiction. The winner received $200. "I entered to win the money ?" 200 bucks! I thought yeah, why not try," says Aaron Webb, the winner of the logo competition. [continues 293 words]
Crystal Meth. The word strikes not only fear for the damage the drug addicted can do to a community but fear for what it means for those who are using it. The drug's potential to have serious consequences has made the local Healthy Communities Committee take a proactive stance in the establishment of a Crystal Meth Task Force. "The purpose of the [subcommittee] is to improve and enhance the quality of life in our community through partnerships, awareness and action toward the eradication of Crystal Meth in Hope and area," says Gerry Dyble, the chair of the Healthy Communities Committee and executive director of the Hope and Area Transition Society. [continues 534 words]
A program designed to spot and report possible grow-ops in different neighbourhoods will be available to those neighbours who wish to implement it. Three public forums will be taking place over the next two months to provide the public with more information about the program and how to spot possible grow operations. "It goes hand in hand with Block Watch. It is a new program that crime prevention is taking on," says Constable Kurt Bosnell, the liaison officer for the Grow Watch program and part of the general investigation section for the Hope RCMP. [continues 499 words]
The uncovering of a grow-op will soon reveal the impact the new Controlled Substance Property Bylaw may have. On Wednesday, June 29, members of the Hope RCMP entered a house on Ferry Landing Place. The RCMP had obtained a search warrant to search the premises. Within the residence police located a sophisticated marijuana grow operation consisting of 1410 marijuana plants. Nearly every bedroom within the 3 storey home had been converted for growing marijuana," says Cst. K.G. Bosnell of the Hope RCMP in a press release. [continues 109 words]
An information session held Tuesday (April 26) to provide the public with information on a new controlled substance property bylaw, a bylaw that could cost landlords big bucks, was poorly attended by the public. Of the thirty people in attendance only ten were from the general public - most were politicians, police, both on and off duty, and district staff. "I would've hoped that more people wouldhave turned out, but most people would have heard about the Chilliwack bylaw which was well publicized. I'm disappointed but at the same time I think that most people already knew what it was all about and were pretty much behind it," says Gordon Poole, mayor of the District of Hope. [continues 202 words]
