OFFICIALS BEEFING UP ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN

School Searches To Rise In Fairfield County

LANCASTER, Ohio -- Rico and Arno, the drug-sniffing dogs, will be on
the job more, nosing around for marijuana and other contraband in
school parking lots and student lockers in Fairfield County's eight
school districts.

That was the message yesterday from county Sheriff Dave Phalen as he
publicized a drugcrackdown campaign that features billboards of Arno
and a deputy with the message: "Drug Dealers Beware! " Seven of the
billboards have gone up recently, and more are planned.

"We think we have to be proactive. This poster should be a warning to
them. They need to understand that we are not kidding," Phalen said
at a news conference, standing at a table strewn with bagged
marijuana, powdered cocaine, pipes and a Glock 9 mm handgun.

The items were seized from 40 people who were charged with
drug-related offenses during a sweep Oct. 27-28 along Rt. 33. The
sweep coincided with the Halloween weekend festivities in Athens. The
State Highway Patrol, with help from authorities in Fairfield and
Hocking counties and their drug-sniffing dogs, used aircraft, extra
troopers and its own dog to make traffic stops. Those charged might
not be drug kingpins, but no matter.

"We're not going to ignore the small stuff. All these drugs were
purchased from someone," Phalen said, gesturing at the table.

Local school superintendents said they welcome more dog patrols in
their parking lots and buildings. A deputy and dog usually visit
three or four times a year, they said, and having the second dog will
allow for more-frequent and more-extensive inspections. A dog's nose
is sensitive enough to detect marijuana or other contraband from
outside a parked vehicle or a locker. If it does so, the student is
summoned and made to open the vehicle or locker for inspection.

"We have had some confiscations, but as much as anything, it's a
deterrent," said Jon Saxton, principal of Amanda-Clearcreek High School.