, laura@rustonleader.com
09-01-2006
The North Central Alliance Partners in Prevention had a full agenda at its regular advisory board meeting Thursday.Tommy Grafton, Partners in Prevention director, announced Louisiana Tech University and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will present an educational workshop about methamphetamine from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Sept. 22, at the Thomas Assembly Center.
“(Methamphetamine) is a problem here and across the nation,” Grafton said. “This workshop is just to educate people — how a lot of it is coming out of Mexico and what to do if you suspect (drug use or distribution) is going on in your community.”
The free event is open to law enforcement officials, social workers, educators and anyone else who is interested in the issue.
Underage drinking was also a topic at the meeting.
Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Cpt. Wes Harris said in the next few weeks, deputies would be visiting places in the parish licensed to sell alcohol to pass out brochures about the law as it pertains to underage alcohol sales.
Additionally, he said the battle against underage drinking would be broadened to include local churches.
“We’ll provide a training course,” Harris said. “We’re looking at putting together a package to show the extent of the (underage drinking) problem and the consequences of it,” Harris said.
At Ruston High School, students will soon get a vivid picture of the consequences of alcohol abuse.
Ruston Police Chief Randal Hermes said a mock DWI wreck is tentatively planned at the school for Oct. 6.
“We’ve never done this in Lincoln Parish before,” Hermes said.
“We will work with the RHS student council, state police and other local public safety agencies.”
He explained that the mock DWI wreck is a skit which involves taking wrecked vehicles and making up people inside them to look injured.
Within the skit, there might be a hearse used for a wreck fatality and at least one person jailed.
Afterwards, the students engage in discussion about what they witnessed.
“This ought to have a lot of impact on students,” Hermes said.
Other issues discussed by the advisory board members included:
• The formation of a committee to enhance parental participation at I.A. Lewis School; and
• The attainment of office space on West Mississippi Street for use by United Way of Northeast Louisiana Lincoln Parish development director Kathleen Richard.
Other Top Stories
