County law enforcement officials across 44 states recently reported methamphetamine as the No. 1 drug problem in their county, according to a survey released last Tuesday by the National Association of Counties (NACo). Almost half of the counties surveyed reported meth has caused more problems than cocaine, marijuana, and heroin combined. But despite proposals from the Bush administration to eliminate the grant that funds drug task forces around the country, local and national public officials have proved they are willing to take a stand. [continues 650 words]
The River Valley Methamphetamine Project of Pope County was one of three community projects honored Monday at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock for its efforts in combating the drug epidemic. Nine local members of the meth project received awards in the governor's conference room "due to the ongoing front-line work that our community is doing in combating the meth problem," according to Marti Wilkerson, RVMP lead facilitator. The local meth project -- designed in 2004 to curb meth use, manufacturing, and distribution -- is comprised of local law enforcement officials, court personnel, drug treatment and rehabilitation services, schools administrators, business/industry managers, child protective services, Realtors, and the media. [continues 534 words]
Through a joint effort of the River Valley Meth Project and two Arkansas Tech University sociology classes, Pope and surrounding counties are expected to soon know more about the meth epidemic sweeping the state and the nation. Within in next several months, the two Tech classes will be conducting research, developing surveys, collecting data and writing reports on the effects of methamphetamine in the Arkansas River Valley. "We want to alert the community that a survey related to substance abuse in Pope County will be coming out, and we would like a response to it to better understand this problem," said Marti Wilkerson, lead facilitator for the River Valley Meth Project (RVMP) and associate professor of Rehabilitation Science at Tech. [continues 582 words]
Troop J Officers Are Recognized By DEA For Work In War On Drugs CLARKSVILLE - Whether they find a small bag of marijuana in the front seat or several hundred pounds of the drug stashed in the trunk, the Arkansas State Police Highway Patrol Troopers at the Troop J Headquarters in Clarksville take each case seriously and do what they can to keep narcotics off the state's highways and interstates. Last week, four of Troop J's troopers were recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration in a special ceremony for their work involving the seizure of illegal drugs in the six-county area (Pope, Johnson, Yell, Conway, Perry, and Van Buren counties). They are Sgt. Keith Eremea, Cpl. Harry Smith, Trooper First Class (TFC) Roby Rhoads, and TFC George Summerlin. [continues 433 words]
A man who was facing up to 40 years in prison for drug charges only two years ago is now leading a normal, happy life with his wife and daughter, thanks to a new area judicial program. Josh Renfroe, 24, the first graduate of the 5th Judicial District Drug Court, made a Pope County courtroom a place of celebration instead of tragedy Tuesday when his friends, family and the Drug Court staff came to congratulate him for completing the program. Renfroe was arrested in October 2003 for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, a Class Y felony punishable by 10-40 years or life in prison. However, looking back, he said getting caught was the best thing that ever happened to him. [continues 512 words]
