BONNAROO ARRESTS PROVIDE FUNDS FOR ANTI-DRUG FESTIVAL

Christian Music Part Of Free Event

Money from drug busts at June's Bonnaroo music festival will fund an
anti-drug festival in the same town this weekend.

A Christian music festival focused on an anti-drug message will be
held tomorrow at a city park in Manchester.

There won't be a Bonnaroo-like crowd of 90,000 at the new festival,
known as ANKH, in Manchester's Rotary Park. But 900 teens are
expected, and event organizers hope that the alternative to Bonnaroo
will grow in future years.

Law-enforcement officers expect an easier time than they had in June,
when 27 people were arrested and 132 drug citations were issued at
Bonnaroo 2004. The event was marred by the deaths of two attendees.
According to autopsy reports released last week, both died of drug
overdoses.

Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said that money from drug fines and
seizures generally is used by law enforcement in anti-drug and drug
awareness education efforts. And that is one aspect of this festival
that attracted him.

''To me, that's what the drug fund is for and what we are trying to
promote,'' Graves said.

Billie Jo Cox and other volunteers who work for the Alliance for
Community Outreach are putting together the ANKH event. The nonprofit
organization offers personal counseling.

''ANKH is the Egyptian symbol for life,'' Cox said.

The festival is an alternative event for teenagers, Cox said. ''An
awful lot of teenagers here can't afford Bonnaroo,'' she said. ''It's
too expensive. This is a poor area.''

But that doesn't mean the local youngsters don't like music.

No, it won't be Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews and other superstars who fill
the field annually for Bonnaroo. Instead, ANKH has booked several
bands from throughout the Midstate who have volunteered their services
for the free event. According to Cox, there will be free food and
beverages available beginning at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, with the music at
6.

The artists will be selling CDs and T-shirts, but it's purely up to
the spectators whether they want to spend any money. ''There is no
cost for the event, and no collection plate will be passed,'' Cox said.

Plans are under way for next year. ''We are hoping to expand into
country and bluegrass,'' Cox said, adding that a 300-acre farm has
been reserved for next year.

The $5,000 needed to hold this event has been provided by the
Sheriff's Department. An extra $1,000 came from the Sportsmen's and
Businessmen's Charitable Organization and other businesses.

Sheriff Graves is enthusiastic about ANKH, and he said several of his
deputies have volunteered to be on hand for traffic control or other
needs. There also will be D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
officers present.

To get to Manchester

To get to tomorrow's ANKH festival from Nashville, take Interstate 24
to Manchester, Exit 110, turn right, and follow the signs. The Rotary
Park is in downtown Manchester. For more info, call 931-728-1219.