GET THE DRUGGIES OUT

Cars racing up and down the street, hypodermic needles strewn
around.

Residents of the Blackstock subdivision, off Horse Lake Road, have had
enough. They say they have drug dealers doing business on their street
and they want something done about it.

"It's non-stop every day and it's getting tired," resident, Norm
Knutsen told the 100 Mile House Safety Committee meeting Jan. 24.

"Why can't we charge the landlord for policing costs?" he
asked.

Knutsen and several other residents appeared before the committee to
outline their concerns.

Knutsen told the safety committee that at least one residence is home
to some drug dealers who are dealing in hard drugs like crack cocaine.
He also told the committee that children have been approached to buy
these drugs.

"Every month a new batch of drug dealers move in," said Conrad Welton,
clearly disgusted with what has been going on in his neighbourhood.
"They're racing up and down the street, swearing at people."

Cpl. Ken Brissard of 100 Mile House RCMP said, "These people crave our
attention. Eventually they'll get caught."

Asked if the RCMP had ever "caught" these dealers, Brissard said
people on that street have been charged for a variety of offences.

Mayor Donna Barnett suggested Blackstock residents talk to whoever
owns the buildings to get the situation cleaned up.

She also recommended residents send letters to politicians, asking
them to toughen up laws against those who sell drugs.