The price of vice is going up along with gas and food. Southeast Texas law enforcement officials said drug peddlers these days are charging more for less, and prostitutes are charging more for their services as well. For Beaumont drug dealers, the price of doing business is higher here than the state average, according to the most recent numbers released by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Violet Szeleczky, Houston DEA public information officer, said kilo prices for cocaine and marijuana have increased as a result of problems smuggling the drugs across the border. [continues 418 words]
Re: Ms. Laurel Kaskurs' latest letter indicating that Proposition 36 is a trapdoor catching "family members, friends and loved ones" without any warning at all. I don't know where she learned that relapse is a normal occurrence of recovery. Relapses happen, but not in every case. The relapses that occur under Prop. 36 usually are in connection with another crime that brings it to the court's attention. If Ms. Kaskurs would ask the people she is concerned about how they obtained the money for the substance they use (including alcohol) she might see why the idea of removing them from the community is relevant. Substance abuse programs in a correctional setting are sponsored by, and are every bit as good as, community based programs. Prop. 36 wants to help the abuser but must protect the community as well. The rest of the letter regarding our future and the elite circle is poppycock. Frank Alfred Davis Leucadia [end]
I want to take a minute at the start of a new era and underline some of the successes Charles County enjoyed in the fight against crime in 1999, and reiterate that as Charles County's primary law enforcement agency, we look forward to working with county residents to build on those successes in the new year. First off, Charles County enjoyed a significant drop in nearly every category of crime, as measured by the Uniform Crime Report. Though final figures are not available as I write this, we know that last year the county experienced the fewest homicides since 1986, underscoring our commitment to stop violent crime. ... [continues 423 words]
On behalf of the men and women of the Charles County sheriff's office, I wish to once again extend my appreciation and sincere thanks to all the citizens who participated in and supported National Night Out 1999. I personally wish to commend all the neighborhood coordinators and volunteers who devoted many hours in planning and supporting this annual crime and drug prevention community event. National Night Out 1999 was an unqualified success with more than 70 neighborhoods in Charles County participating. Over 7,500 Charles County residents came out on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 3, to enjoy the company of their neighbors in this annual goodbye party to crime, drugs and violence. [continues 98 words]
