GROUPS HOPE WEB SITE HELPS IN DRUG FIGHT

HUNTINGTON -- A community-based group has launched a Web site in an effort
to eradicate drugs and crime in Huntington.

The Web site, www.huntingtonsafety.net, provides information on and links
to law enforcement agencies and drug rehabilitation programs, among other
things. It was established by The Neighborhood Institute, the umbrella
agency for Huntington's 13 neighborhood organizations.

The goal of the site is to consolidate all local crime prevention and drug
rehabilitation programs, whether they be church, government or community
based, under one computerized roof, said John Belcher, a member of the
Neighborhood Institute and president of the West Huntington Organization.
That way, it will be easier and more discreet for someone wanting to report
criminal activity or seek help with substance abuse problems, he said.

"For whatever reason, a lot of people aren't willing to call or go to
police to leave tips or report a crime," Belcher said. "We hope this Web
site gives them an alternative tool."

The idea for the Web site arose in January at First Baptist Church during a
roundtable discussion about drugs and crime in Huntington.

Many people who attended the discussion recommended forming a network of
churches and neighborhood groups so services don't overlap and a wide range
of people are served.

Belcher said rather than sit and ponder the idea, he began contacting
computer service companies to see how much it would cost to create a Web site.

Database Network Administration, a Charleston-based technical services
company, built and is maintaining the site for free, Belcher said.

In addition to links to law enforcement agencies and drug-rehabilitation
programs, the site also has information on missing children, including the
Amber Alert system, and the West Virginia State Police's sex offender
registry and most wanted list.

"It will continue to evolve as time goes by," Belcher said. "We felt like
we had the core ready to go, so we went ahead and activated it. The site
went on-line Tuesday.

Lt. Mike Davis of the Huntington Police Department said the HPD will soon
update its Web site. In the meantime, the department will post information
such as its most wanted list and anonymous tip line on
huntingtonsafety.net, he said.

"It's nice to have one Web site where someone can go to get information of
this nature," Davis said.