RAVE PARTIES RAISING CONCERN

Mothers, Officers Hope To Curb Teen Drug And Alcohol Use

VANCLEAVE -- A recent alcohol poisoning death has mothers on the Gulf Coast
trying to find a solution to the growing problem of underage drinking and
illegal drug use.

Travis Anthony Wooden, 20, who once excelled in basketball and track at
Vancleave High School, died May 8 at a party filled with bottles of alcohol
and drunk teenagers.

Authorities say raves have become a problem on the Gulf Coast in recent
months. The techno-music dance parties with underage drinking and drug use
has mothers at Vancleave High School ready to put a halt to the events.

"Our innocence is gone," said Sue Bennett, who is helping organize a
meeting for mothers concerned about rave parties. "We are hearing about our
teenagers planning weekend drinking parties and we are concerned about
drugs like ecstasy and Oxycontin."

The meeting is Tuesday at Vancleave High School.

Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said his deputies have investigated teen
drinking parties, conducted undercover operations and task force drug
stings, and also kept up pressure on drug rings.

On March 9, Jackson County deputies raided a rave. From 70 to 100 drunken
or impaired juveniles with vehicles were driven to a secluded area of the
county. Officers confiscated 21 bags of marijuana and 76 ecstasy pills.

"We have the FBI, DEA and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics helping in
the fight against drugs," Byrd said.

Local authorities are investigating a series of drug store break-ins in
which burglars swiped drugs such as Oxycontin worth hundreds of thousands
of dollars.

"Problems just seemed to have escalated this last year," said Melanie
Sanderson, who is helping spearhead Tuesday's meeting.