GRANT TARGETS GUNS, DRUGS

A New Position In Prosecutor's Office Will
Focus On Specific Crimes.

SPRINGFIELD -- Clark County will receive more than $70,000 in federal
money to create a position in the county prosecutor's office.

The Clark County Commission passed a resolution accepting the funds
last week.

The money will be used to finance an additional assistant prosecutor
who will handle cases involving drugs and guns, said Clark County
Prosecutor Stephen Schumaker.

"We are very pleased to get this," he said. "We've had a lot of cases
dealing with guns that are related to drugs and we hope to make a
further dent in it."

Schumaker said a steady increase in gun- and drug-related crime in the
past few years prompted the need for another assistant prosecutor.

Schumaker said it isn't clear when the funds will be
available.

"We're ready to start the project as soon as they say go," he
said.

Chris Kinsler, currently an assistant prosecutor handling criminal and
civil cases, will fill the new position.

"Chris has been on our staff for quite some time, he's done a great
job for us," said Schumaker. "He's very enthusiastic, very competent,
and we expect great things from him."

The grant was issued in part through Project Safe Neighborhoods, a
federal program geared toward reducing gun violence.