A man Oklahoma authorities wanted back in prison for growing marijuana and violating parole is now free of jail and moved on to California. The case of William Joseph Foster stretches nearly 15 years and involves two states. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections wanted the governor to revoke Foster's parole; administrators got what they wanted. Foster either wanted Gov. Brad Henry to deny the DOC's request or grant him time served and release him from jail; he got the latter. [continues 569 words]
He rests his elbows on the table and wipes it continually with a napkin, an impulse of a nervous system worn thin by more than a decade of drug abuse. He can't control the urge to wipe the table one more time any more than he can control his urge to talk about the drug culture. Tim is 32. He is white, slim and able to talk sense into and out of people -- typical characteristics of a user of methamphetamine. [continues 1123 words]
The numbers stand solemnly on the page like tombstones in a cemetery, seemingly endless columns of statistics spelling out a single message: Methamphetamine is spreading like an invading army, overwhelming courts, counselors and law enforcement. Meth Addicts Face Inner Battle Statistics over the past few years show Oklahoma among the nation's leaders in meth labs, arrests, addicts and cases. So far, no drug treatment or police tactic has stemmed the tide. "We don't know what caused it, why Oklahoma," said John Duncan, a chief agent at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control. "Somewhere, the information became more available." [continues 764 words]
Students, Not Just Athletes, May Be Tested If Officials Are Suspicious Of Abnormal Behavior. BROKEN ARROW -- School officials expanded drug testing from athletics to academics Monday night. The Board of Education unanimously approved a policy that would test any student under ``reasonable suspicion'' for drugs. Broken Arrow becomes the third district in the area to enact such a policy. Jenks has had the same standards for three years, and Glenpool adopted a similar policy last year. ``It's another opportunity for students to not succumb to peer pressure,'' said Bill Coyle, director of secondary curriculum. ``This gives them another excuse.'' [continues 307 words]
GLENPOOL -- In an effort to curb unlawful employees and drug usage, the school board adopted two policies for criminal background checks and athletic drug testing Monday night. Employees will now fill out annual questionnaires on whether they have been arrested, charged or made a plea within the previous 365 days. The five questions, simply answered yes or no, deal with charges and convictions both in and out of state as well as pleas of no contest, felony charges reduced to misdemeanors and deferred prosecution agreements. Employees will also be required to notify the superintendent within 10 days of any pleas to state or federal felony charges, felony convictions, reduced charges, pleas or convictions to drug or sexual charges and deferred prosecution agreements. And 10 percent of the district staff will be checked randomly each year for complete criminal record searches. Superintendent Dennis Chaffin said the measures were needed to help strengthen the system. A bill by Sen. Lewis Long, D- Glenpool, would have required district attorneys to notify school districts when charges have been filed against a school employee. [continues 208 words]
