LOCKNEY RESIDENTS GROW WEARY OF DRUG TEST CONTROVERSY

LOCKNEY - In this small rural community where the spotlight has shone
so brightly over the contentious student drug testing issue, the
prevailing sentiment heard lately is enough is enough.

Since the school district issued a mandatory drug testing policy in
February, Lockney has seen some controversial days. A lawsuit has been
filed to overturn the district's new policy, and nearly one-third of
the town's population attended an emotionally charged school board
meeting in support of the measure.

After everything that's happened in this normally tranquil community,
many residents are asking for the same thing to be left alone.

"The kids are tired of the cameras and tired of the interviews. We
just feel like it was a big circus," said Karen Wilson, an elementary
teacher in support of the policy. "I do think the media as a whole
blew the whole thing out of proportion."

On Feb. 1, the school district implemented a drug testing policy that
requires all students in grades six through 12 to be screened. All
faculty and staff members also are required to be tested.

Larry Tannahill was the only parent who refused to allow a student,
his 12-year-old son, to be screened. With help from the American Civil
Liberties Union, he filed suit against the district, claiming the
policy violates the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, which
prohibits searches without probable cause.

Since February, the community has seen national and international
media attention. Tannahill said he's received more than 400 letters
and phone calls from people throughout the nation supporting his stance.

But for people in Lockney, including Tannahill, the whole thing is
getting old. Real old.

"It's time to move on. Larry's kids will be out of high school when
this thing is settled," said Dean Morris, a longtime community
resident and supporter of the policy. "The less that's said about it
the better because it's just going to be harder on Larry, and it's not
going to be easy on us. And what we say in the paper and what you
print is not going to amount to a hill of beans because it's in the
courts, and that's where it's going to (be decided)."

Tannahill grew up in Lockney and graduated from Lockney High School in
1982. He said the lawsuit has ostracized him from the community and
even cost him some friends. Threatening notes have been left at his
home, and he recently lost his job as a farmhand, though his employer
said that letting him go had nothing to do with the suit.

"I'm really tired of all of it," Tannahill said. "I'm just tired of
all this mess going on. It's gone too far."

Tannahill's former employer, Lindan Morris, says he simply ran out of
work for Tannahill, someone Morris has been friends with in the past.
Since Tannahill's departure as an employee, Morris has received
threatening phone calls at his farm supply store.

"The people calling Lindan's store and stuff, that's not right,"
Tannahill said. "It's ridiculous. There's no reason for it at all.
They don't deserve that."

At a recent school board meeting, nearly 700 people showed up to
support the policy. Repeated standing ovations were given after people
spoke in favor of it. A few grumbles were heard when Tannahill's
lawyer spoke about the suit.

Wilson said some people were thinking of booing Tannahill off the
floor that night.

"It could get ugly, but we don't want it to get that way because it's
only hurting his kids and our kids," Wilson said. "Every time we saw
him, somebody could scream at him, or could have booed him off the
floor the other night. I felt a lot of people had a lot of restraint
to not do that. I know some were thinking about it, but we don't want
it to turn into something awful."

One thing the policy and the lawsuit seem to have done is strengthen
the community, Wilson said.

"This has really pulled people together for the good of our
community," she said. "I really feel like everybody is willing to do
whatever it takes to get our point across."

Even the student body has come together, students say.

"I think in the student body especially, we're really more united than
before," said Jeffrey Hunter, junior class vice president. "The simple
controversy of the whole thing and people being against us, that just
really brought us together."

Things are beginning to calm down in the community, Hunter
said.

"The school and our teachers and the staff, they don't let it control
our education. We don't discuss it; they do a good job of keeping it
under control," he said. "It was pretty wild there for a while, but
there's so much other stuff going on, we don't have time to let that
(take over). We don't obsess about it."

Though Tannahill might be shunned on the sidewalks, his children
aren't being targeted as outcasts at school, Wilson said.

"I have a son the same age as one of (Tannahill's), and I had asked
him if things were going OK and he said 'yes,' " she said. "We as
parents have told our children this has nothing to do with (the
Tannahill children), so it wouldn't be fair to punish the child for
what his parents are doing."

Hunter occasionally sees 12-year-old Brady Tannahill in the halls and
said he's being treated fine.

"We don't hold it against (Brady) because we know it wasn't his
decision," Hunter said.

Despite the differing views on the policy, Hunter said the community
should respect Tannahill's opinion.

"To be honest, I would never have expected anyone from our community
to do this to the school," Hunter said. "We're taking this as not only
an attack on the school, attack on the whole town ... and so we're
going to defend ourselves. But everyone's entitled to their opinions
and we have to respect that."

Traci McQuhae, a 17-year-old junior in favor of the policy, said it
was apparent at the school board meeting that Tannahill is up against
nearly the entire community.

"I wonder if he knew what he was getting into when he started this?"
she said. "I don't think anyone has any animosity toward him, not so
much as we want him out of the town. It's not like he's destroying any
lives or anything. I think they just want him to understand their
points too."

In the meantime, residents hope things will continue to calm
down.

"If you can put yourself in our shoes, we're just so tired of this,"
Wilson said.

Many residents said they realize it will probably take several years
for the courts to rule on the issue.

"This is our deal," Hunter said. "It's between the members of our
community, and we think it should stay that way."