Officials Look To Replace Federal Money Or Revise Treatment Program Federal grant funding for Blount County's Juvenile Drug Court program dries up this fall. Court officers and members of the Juvenile Drug Court team now face the task of reaching out to community partners such as businesses, churches and other treatments, who can help raise funds. Blount County Drug Court Program Director Theresa Irwin said the juvenile drug court team meets July 26 to discuss funding options, the scope of the program and what revisions to make to the program. [continues 443 words]
A Meth Lab Explodes. The site: a trailer at the edge of the Old Hubbard School property on Hubbard School Lane. Blount County Sheriff's Office deputies arrive, and Blount County firefighters douse the burning building. It's a scenario that requires the help of a lot of emergency services agencies, and Wednesday morning they all tested their skills during the largest decontamination exercise held in Blount County. It was only a test, no buildings blew up and no arrests were made. The 11 victims taken to Blount Memorial Hospital, including one child, weren't really hurt. [continues 377 words]
Higher turnaround times at state forensic crime labs are adding up to longer waits for district attorney offices prosecuting drug and alcohol-related crimes. Crime lab tests for drug and alcohol analysis can take up to six months now, according to a recent Tennessee Bureau of Investigation report. A March 2005 report from the TBI's forensic services division shows that its Knoxville lab, one of three in the state, has a turnaround time of four weeks for a blood alcohol analysis and 28 weeks for a toxicology analysis. Its Nashville and Memphis labs have lower turnaround times of 20 weeks and 13 weeks, respectively, for toxicology analysis. [continues 335 words]
GATLINBURG -- Much has been done, but the country has a long way to go in the fight against meth and the war on terror, speakers said Tuesday at a regional law enforcement conference. The problem of methamphetamine production, addiction and suffering by the families of users is being seen in every state, Karen Tandy, administrator, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said. Tandy said collaboration among agencies at every level has led to major busts and the reduction of LSD, cocaine and Ecstasy use. Meth remains a problem, but she said use among teens is down. [continues 506 words]
Mass-Produced Drug Coming From Mexico In the last eight months Blount County has seen an increase in methamphetamine manufacture, a trend that will likely continue. That's the forecast from speakers at one session of the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists workshop, "Drug Addiction and Recovery," held Monday at Cornerstone of Recovery in Louisville. "It's so difficult to police," said Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols. "You can make it in your car." The drug presents unique problems for law enforcement, according to Capt. Jimmy Long, assistant chief deputy, Blount County Sheriff's Office. [continues 588 words]
