BUSINESSES JOINING TO FIGHT METH WAR

ELKO -- The Elko Daily Free Press has joined with Newmont Mining
Corp., Barrick North America, Cashman Equipment, Stewart Title,
Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital and Dr. Stephen Price as a
group of business leaders seeking to make a positive impact in the
battle against methamphetamine use in Elko County and northeastern Nevada.

"All too often, we, as community members, expect law enforcement and
other social service agencies to bear full responsibility for this
problem and for solving its direct and indirect effects on our
residents," said Elko Daily Free Press Publisher Rhonda Zuraff.

"For the first time ever, business leaders are coming together to
implement efforts that will make progress on the methamphetamine
challenges our county faces. Whether it be starting a reward pool of
monies to offer for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of drug
traffickers, or helping provide resources to the school district or
law enforcement agencies, our goal is to look back 12 months from now
and see that we have done a small part to better the lives of our
community members, young and old," Zuraff said.

The first publication in this drive, "Stopping Meth -- Saving Lives,"
appears in today's Free Press and is part of a two-part series to
kick off the year-long effort. Next Saturday the Free Press will
publish "The Power of Parenting" as a resource for all parents and
guardians. This will include tips anyone can use to make a positive
difference in the lives of youth and, therefore, the future of our community.

The newspaper will continue with monthly feature stories focusing on
youth and adults who have been successful at avoiding the
stranglehold of meth, as well as those individuals who have found
ways to fight their addiction and return to being productive citizens.

"We are really excited to announce our first contribution, which is a
donation of $8,000 to Elko's Drug Court program led by Judge Andrew
Puccinelli," Zuraff said. The donation was made possible with the
help of the partners listed above.

Mary Korpi, Newmont's director of external relations, said the
anti-meth drive will benefit the entire community.

"At Newmont we demand a drug-free workplace," Korpi said.
"Additionally, we encourage the people in the communities where we
operate to be aware of and avoid illegal drug use. We are proud to
partner with the Elko Daily Free Press and others in this effort to
educate our communities about illegal drug abuse, including methamphetamine."