DRUG MONEY MAY GO TOWARD SCHOLARSHIPS

Some Nueces County high school students could end up in law enforcement
careers and have their college education financed by money seized from drug
traffickers.

Nueces County Sheriff Larry Olivarez on Friday announced that his department
will offer $70,000 in scholarships to 14 Nueces County high schools, with
the funds coming from money seized by sheriff's deputies as suspected drug
profits in various investigations.

"It's a celebration for us that we not only are able to take away from drug
traffickers who are hurting our kids but reinvesting back in our community
and our young people," Olivarez said.

Legislation passed last year made it possible for sheriff's departments to
use drug forfeiture funds for scholarships. Olivarez worked with state Rep.
Jaime Capelo, D-Corpus Christi, and state Sen. Carlos Truan, D-Corpus
Christi, to get the legislation passed. Capelo said the legislation was
Olivarez's idea.

Ryan Adamson, a Flour Bluff High School senior, said he is glad the
scholarship fund was created.

"It's taking money out of the hands of drug dealers, and it will be used by
students who will do something good," Adamson said.

The scholarships will be awarded during the 2000-2001 school year, Olivarez
said.

Students must be planning on careers in law enforcement to be eligible.
Groups involved in selecting students for the scholarships will be: the
sheriff's department; area high school students on a council created by
Youth Opportunities United, a program that develops programs for youth; and
Workforce Network, a private non-profit management company that will
administer the scholarship money.

The scholarships are going to Agua Dulce, Banquete, Bishop, Calallen,
Carroll, King, Miller, Moody, Ray, Flour Bluff, Port Aransas, Robstown,
Tuloso-Midway and West Oso high schools. Each will get $5,000 in
scholarships.