DRUG PROBLEMS AFFECT EVEN SMALL TOWNS

SINCE being elected to the office of mayor of Panama, OK, one of the
biggest issues I've faced is drugs and all its illegal uses.

The drug problem deteriorates everything it touches such as young people,
older people, schools, groups, individuals and most of all homes.

Our community is small, with 1,500 people more or less. We operate on a
budget much too small to fight drugs and the crimes that drugs produce.
Several citizens in the community are crying out for us to rid ourselves of
this problem and are wondering why we haven't done so.

Funding is our biggest problem. Our police can't be successful in fighting
illegal drugs unless they're funded and have the equipment it takes to
fight the problem. I have approached several business people seeking
support and help, only to be told they can't afford it and they feel it's
not their place to fund such efforts. Most insist that I apply for a grant,
but to get a grant of any kind one must have money to match it and our
budget won't allow for it.

I foresee some good things coming, possibly including state Rep. Kenneth
Corn's House Bill 860. I support him and his bill fully and believe if it's
passed it will be a tremendous help to communities like ours. In the
meantime, we still have to contend with the war on drugs. We are retreating
instead of moving forward.

Everyone, including the governor and his staff, is looking for ways to
spend the tobacco settlement money. Why not spend some of it to help
communities like ours to fight drugs? We need help now!

The military teaches that while you are on the front line of battle there
are two things you can count on -- supplies and reinforcements. We've been
left without either one. We can't afford to retreat as we are surrounded by
our enemy.