RURAL COUNTIES TO FIGHT INCREASING METH LABS

Lyons - Authorities in central Kansas are ready to start drug task
forces to combat a worsening problem with meth labs.

Rice County Sheriff Steve Bundy proposed the task force to Rice
County Commissioners this week after raids on three clandestine
methamphetamine labs within a week.

"Three labs in central Rice County in six days is a rate more
frequent than we care to have," Bundy said. "We're still fighting the
problem as much as ever, but we haven't been able to get on top of
it."

Bundy this month will visit city commissions in Rice County to seek
their assistance, he said.

He hopes each town in the county will allow an officer to give a
part-time but concentrated effort to the task force.

Bundy blames the prevalence of Rice County's meth manufacture on
several factors, including its mostly rural setting.

"Meth continues to be a drug of choice for manufacturers for several
reasons," Bundy said. "It is very addictive, very profitable and can
be done with great mobility."

Elsewhere in the region, McPherson County Sheriff Larry Powell said
his county has had an organized group for many years.

Meth is a major problem all across Kansas, Powell said.

"Since the first of the year we've had 21 meth labs," Powell said.
"There are investigations going on as we speak. "

Pratt County Sheriff Vernon Chinn said he has been approached by
Harper County Sheriff Kirk Rogers to explore the possibility of a
drug task force made up from several smaller counties in that
judicial district, including Sumner, Harper, Barber, Pratt and
Kingman counties. Pratt busted more than 20 labs last year.

"A drug task force is a great tool in my opinion," Chinn said. "They
work well."