URBAN HOPE, RCMP, DISTRICT 60 WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ELIMINATE DRUGS AT SCHOOL

FORT ST. JOHN -- With help from the City of Fort St. John, signs will
be popping up this summer advising would-be drug offenders of Drug
Free Zones around local schools.

The City will erect 50 signs within a two-block radius of all schools
in the Fort St. John, Urban Hope Chairman Ted Pimm confirmed Thursday.

Urban Hope, a community crime prevention committee, would cover the
cost of the signs with money from a provincial grant and, if
necessary, money from fundraising.

The signs will be just one component of the program, which was adopted
recently by School District 60.

"We still have to get a few more people on side," Pimm said. "We have
to make sure all the important players have all their questions answered."

Pimm said that so far school principals and administrators, police and
provincial court judges have confirmed their support for the program.

Anyone caught with drugs within Drug Free Zones would be charged and
subject to the maximum penalties allowed under the law.