MURPHYSBORO YOUTHS SAY NO TO DRUG CULTURE

MURPHYSBORO - A community effort here that has shown success to win
back city neighborhoods from drugs and violence is making a name for
itself with some important people.

U.S. Attorney Courtney Cox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda
Robertson were among the approximate 100 attendees Saturday at the
second annual Stamping Out Meth And All Drugs (S.O.M.A.A.D.) youth
rally at Murphysboro Middle School.

Jackson County Sheriff Bob Burns and Murphysboro Deputy Police Chief
Tim Legere attended the rally also along with Mayor Ron Williams.

Each official gave a short address to the audience during intervals of
the program that included skits, poetry, rap music and prayer.

Cox spoke about what his office does in its responsibilities as
prosecutors for illegal drug cases.

"We put people in prison," Cox said.

It's a job that requires a tough veneer from his assistants and him,
but beneath the exterior, Cox said it literally breaks his heart to
see what drug offenders are doing with their lives.

They (offenders) get locked up for periods of 30 to 50 years in most
cases, and they never get a chance to raise their children if they are
parents. They've forfeited chances to experience life joys and
literally run the people who care about them most such as spouses and
family members, out of their lives, Cox said.

"I'd rather see people not use drugs than having to lock them up. God
gave you a body, soul and mind. Drugs destroy those things. I'm glad
you're here today, opposing drugs," Cox told the audience.

Roberts spoke about a Project Safe Neighborhoods partnership that U.S.
Attorney's offices throughout the country have established with local
law enforcement departments and other coalitions.

"We want to provide as much help as we can," Roberts said about the
federal prosecutor's Southern District of Illinois partnering with
Light House of Faith Ministry and its pastor Judy Patterson of
Murphysboro.

Patterson who sat in the audience during the first half of the rally
that was led by master of ceremonies Lawrence V. Nolan, overseer for
Servants For Christ Outreach Ministries in Murphysboro, is responsible
for much of the formation of S.O.M.A.A.D. and exemplifies much of what
Roberts spoke about.

Nearly two years earlier, she led a Jericho-inspired march to take
back the troubled Bridgewood neighborhood where gun fire rang
frequently. Reportedly going face-to-face with known drug offenders,
Patterson was quoted later, saying, "I took a strong word. I let them
(offenders) know their season was up."

Williams saw the redemption of one of Murphysboro's neighborhoods as
the result of Patterson's courage. He fully supports Patterson and
others on their mission to save young people in Murphysboro from the
harrowing and dangerous drug culture.

"This program (S.O.M.A.A.D.) has come such a long way," Patterson said
to young people in the audience. "We had to change the culture. We had
to change the way you think."