As a former Montana resident now serving as a missionary in Mexico, I'm very concerned by the actions of Rep. Denny Rehberg that facilitate the ability of drug cartels to acquire assault rifles (including AK-47s) in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF) proposed that gun dealers report the sale of two or more semi-automatic rifles to the same buyer within five days - an attempt to reduce the flow of guns from the U.S. coming into Mexico. Rehberg responded by sponsoring an amendment (passed by the House on Feb. 18) that prohibited the ATF from using federal money for that purpose. [continues 107 words]
The Watauga Methamphetamine Task Force met Friday to share success stories but also to discuss the continuing dangers and social problems caused by illegal manufacture and use of the drug. Maj. Paula Townsend, representing the Watauga Sheriff's Office, said the department would not have been as successful fighting the problem if not for community support and the work of the people associated with the task force. She said the county was at "a lull in the storm," with no new meth lab discoveries since July. However, she said several were under investigation. [continues 940 words]
The Watauga Methamphetamine Task Force met Friday to share success stories but also to discuss the continuing dangers and social problems caused by illegal manufacture and use of the drug. Maj. Paula Townsend, representing the Watauga Sheriff's Office, said the department wouldn't have been as successful fighting the problem if not for community support and the work of the people associated with the task force. She said the county was at "a lull in the storm," with no new meth lab discoveries since July. However, she said several were under investigation. [continues 941 words]
Crime was up slightly in Watauga County last year, though it declined in Boone and Blowing Rock, according to the annual crime report compiled by the N.C. Department of Justice. The annual report gathers information from all law enforcement agencies for major categories of crimes, and is traditionally released each autumn. Watauga's index crimes, those included in major classes crimes, increased from 1,356 to 1,365. That included reports from the Watauga Sheriff's Department and the police departments of Appalachian State University, Boone, Seven Devils and Blowing Rock. [continues 582 words]
N.C. Gov. Mike Easley signed a bill that may make local meth cooks think twice. Fueled by largely by Watauga County officials and voters, the law toughens sentences for illegal methamphetamine production. Mary South, the mother of former Deep Gap firefighter Darien South, mounted a petition drive last year asking for tougher sentences and for additional penalties for those whose illegal labs led to injuries to emergency responders and police. South delivered more than 2,700 signatures to the General Assembly and also stayed in contact with the Attorney General's office as the legislation wound its way through various committees. She and Darien even spoke to a senate judiciary committee about their experiences and addressed a regional methamphetamine summit in Rowan County. Mary also spoke to leaders of the House and Senate about the bill, which passed unanimously. [continues 706 words]
A bill toughening sentences for illegal methamphetamine production has been signed into law by Gov. Mike Easley, bringing satisfaction to a local woman who campaigned for the action. Mary South, mother of former fire fighter Darien South, mounted a petition drive last year asking for tougher sentences and for additional penalties for those whose illegal labs led to injuries to emergency responders and police. South delivered more than 2,700 signatures to the General Assembly and also stayed in contact with the Attorney General's office as the legislation wound its way through various committees. [continues 747 words]
Thanks to a six-figure grant, regional law enforcement agencies have a new weapon in their increasingly heated war on methamphetamine. Watauga Sheriff Mark Shook outlined the Northwestern North Carolina Methamphetamine Task Force at a press conference last week and announced the new force's first arrests. The task force is a cooperative effort between Watauga, Wilkes and Ashe counties and joined Watauga County Sheriff Mark Shook speaks to local media about the Northwestern North Carolina Methamphetamine Task Force Wednesday as, from left, William Greene, Boone Police; and David Call, N.C. State Bureau of Investigation look on. Photo by Marie Freeman, High Country Media [continues 787 words]
Watauga Sheriff Mark Shook introduced the Northwestern North Carolina Methamphetamine Task Force at a Wednesday press conference, followed by news of the task force's first arrest, with four defendants facing federal charges. The task force is a cooperative effort between Watauga, Wilkes and Ashe counties and joined by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Other participating agencies include the Watauga, Wilkes and Ashe District Attorney's offices, Boone Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Attorney's Office. [continues 743 words]
The Northwestern North Carolina Methamphetamine Task Force made its first arrests and held a news conference on Wednesday to introduce the multi-agency anti-drug effort. The task force arrested four Watauga residents in a 12-count federal indictment, a significant change in the charges that illegal methamphetamine manufacturers face. Watauga Co. Sheriff Mark Shook said the involvement of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms means that meth offenders will face much stiffer sentences, particularly when weapons are involved. [continues 519 words]
County Will Soon Become The Home Base For a Regional Task Force To Combat The Spread Of Illegal Methamphetamine Labs. The county was awarded a grant from the N.C. Crime Commission to establish the Northwest Methamphetamine Task Force. The county received $140,625 for one year. Watauga Sheriff Mark Shook said the task force will be an association with Ashe and Wilkes counties, with the departments each pooling three drug investigators who can be summoned for aid and mutual investigations. Watauga was asked to spearhead the effort because of the number of successful investigations. [continues 285 words]
A local firefighter's story led to the introduction of a bill to provide tougher punishment for those whose illegal drug production seriously injures those who respond to the scene of the crime. State Sen. Virginia Foxx, R-Watauga, introduced state legislation Thursday designed to help protect firefighters and law enforcement officers who might be exposed to the toxic chemicals used in meth labs. Foxx was inspired to take action after receiving a constituent letter from Mary South, the mother of former Deep Gap volunteer firefighter Darien South. Darien South was seriously injured while fighting a blaze at a residence that also served as a meth lab and has been unable to work since January 2003. [continues 623 words]
Illegal methamphetamine manufacturers could soon face more jail time, possibly slowing the turnaround that sees convicted meth cooks often back out and back in business less than a year after being busted. A bill to increase the penalties for methamphetamine production was introduced in the General Assembly on Tuesday. The bill came after N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper delivered a final report on combating the spread of illegal drug labs earlier this month. The bill significantly toughens the potential sentence for meth production, making it a Class C felony. According to 24th District Attorney Jerry Wilson, that would carry a sentence of between four and 20 years, depending upon aggravating factors and prior convictions. [continues 705 words]
Darien South responded to a house fire at 234 Holly Hills in Deep Gap which damaged his life forever, and now his family hopes to prevent others from suffering the same fate. South, a volunteer firefighter, felt heat after the fire appeared to be out, so he opened an access panel to see if the fire was smoldering beneath the floor. A blast of chemical gas rushed over his face, and he almost immediately lost his breath, had a severe headache and began coughing up blood. [continues 909 words]
David Mclemore knows the road of methamphetamine addiction, and now counsels drug addicts and serves on Watauga County's meth task force. Mclemore, who currently serves as director of public relations for First Things First, said he first used meth 25 years ago "back when drugs were real drugs." He drove a truck for a Johnson City, Tenn., company, and the boss would "give everyone lines of meth before starting work." Mclemore said the drug made him feel like Superman, and gave him self-confidence and a feeling of self-worth. He also seemed to get more work done, pushing himself to work harder. [continues 1064 words]
A large cross-section of the community came together for a kickoff breakfast for a problem that will take an entire community effort to combat. The Watauga Alcohol and Drug Council kicked off its annual Red Ribbon campaign on Tuesday in preparation for Red Ribbon Week coming up Oct. 20th through Oct. 27. Bert Wood was the main speaker for the event. Wood has a long career in prevention and treatment services and is knowledgeable about trends in drug and alcohol use. [continues 663 words]
Your Turn On Feb. 21, the president of Colombia broke off negotiations with the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and launched a major offensive into the zone that had been the site of the negotiations. The United States is very involved in the war in Colombia-during the past two years, more than $1 billion of our tax dollars were given to the Colombian military and police. Now, President Pastrana is urging the U.S. to get involved even further as part of the "War on Terrorism." [continues 673 words]
