BOARD TO FOCUS ON CREATING A DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY

Bowling Green and Warren County will receive a block of state funding to
support a community effort intended to sway youth and teen-agers away from
tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. The Kentucky Agency for Substance
Abuse Policy chose Warren County as one of 32 Kentucky counties to serve as
a local board. The decision allows Warren County to be included as a
recipient for part of a $1 million grant from the office of Gov. Paul
Patton, according to Larry Carrico, executive director of the KY-ASAP.

Warren County and Bowling Green residents will benefit because of a
comprehensive community plan to battle tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse,
Carrico said.

The Warren County ASAP board members are writing their strategic plan for
after-school activities, education programs, parental involvement,
addressing the proliferation of alcohol and tobacco selling establishments
and the rise of new illicit drugs, according to Nancy Bertuleit, board
member and Warren County Schools student assistance coordinator.

The Warren County ASAP board could receive up to $50,000 during each of the
next three years.

"This whole effort is about networking," Bertuleit said. "We'll look at the
big picture, then we'll look at the major stake holders and see how we can
work together."

The goal of the board's plan is similar to many other efforts to reduce
tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse. But the method of the plan is a little
different in that it involves relying on multiple community organization
and law enforcement authorities to each do a part to fight the problem, she
said.

The plan may target newer illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and the
proliferation of club drugs, such as ecstasy

"One of the things we'll target is illicit drug use because the area, it
appears, exceeds the norms," Bertuleit said.

She said fighting methamphetamine will not only keep people from abusing
the drug, but perhaps prevent a greater tragedy involving a crash and
explosion from a mobile meth lab, which have already been found operating
in the bed of a pickup truck and trunk of a car in Bowling Green and Warren
County.

"I have to say the onset of club drugs is really scary," Bertuleit said.
"They're out there and parents need to be aware."

Organizations and businesses will be involved, including the city and
county school systems, Western Kentucky University, Hope Harbor,
Commonwealth Health Corporation, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, LifeSkills,
the Warren County Judge-Executive's office, Warren County Regional Jail,
city police, churches and Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, according to
Nickie Jones, chairman of the Bowling Green-Warren County ASAP board.

The board and organizations involved include a cross section of the
community and experienced individuals.

Warren County Jailer Jackie Strode serves on the board and brings
experience as the former chairman of the Bowling Green-Warren County
Partnership for a Drug-Free Community.

Strode said he and others hope to coordinate the groups and organizations
and gather experienced community volunteers and people who are new at these
efforts.

The group will target youth and teens from ages 12 through 17 and is hoping
to bring all the organizations to a public meeting at the central office of
Warren County Schools at 303 Lovers Lane Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.