WILLIAMSTOWN - Law enforcement officers conducting a drug sweep Wednesday morning at Williamstown High School had three "possible hits" by their canine partners, but no drugs were found and no arrests were made, said Williamstown Police Chief John Burdette. Burdette said the search was the result of information his department has obtained during the past few months from students at the high school. "They confirmed what we already knew, that there's a small percentage of students trafficking in marijuana at the high school," Burdette said. [continues 603 words]
With funding from a state grant, Marietta Municipal Court Judge Milt Nuzum hopes to start a program using the ''drug court'' concept by the end of February. In 2002, Nuzum applied for funding to create a drug court program in Marietta. On Wednesday, Nuzum said he received notification that a Byrne Memorial Grant from the state has been approved to start the program in Marietta. Nuzum made the announcement during a press conference attended by Lucille Fleming, director of the Ohio Department of Alcohol Drug Addiction Services; state Rep. Nancy Hollister, R-Marietta; Marietta Mayor Joe Matthews and Sheriff Robert Schlicher. All expressed support for the drug court program in Marietta. [continues 650 words]
As a way to fight the increasing problem of illegal drugs, law enforcement officials in Washington County are considering creating a multi-jurisdictional drug task force patterned on the one operating in Wood County. Sheriff Robert Schlicher held a meeting Friday to begin discussions on the task force idea with representatives from the county's law enforcement, municipal governments, county government and the public. Chief Deputy Larry Mincks has been involved in multi-jurisdictional task forces during his law enforcement career. He gave a presentation about aspects of the proposed task force for Washington County. [continues 436 words]
