COMMISSIONERS EARMARK FUNDS TO FIGHT HEROIN

The belief that heroin has a foothold in Tuscarawas County was
validated once again at Monday's county commissioners' meeting.

Commissioners approved an $8,000 appropriation that potentially could
improve the safety and effectiveness of the county's court-ordered
treatment program.

Kory Halter Kochera, director of the community corrections program,
explained the treatment program had to extend its hours as drug use
and drug-related court cases have skyrocketed.

"My first request would be the additional funding for security so
that we have a presence in the Courthouse Annex during drug treatment
times, after regular hours," she said.

She estimated 300 to 400 convicted felons, deemed at high risk by a
risk assessment tool, pass through the annex doors every month as
part of the program.

"We have had no incidents, knock on wood, so far," she said.

The program aims to help drug addicts recover and become active
members of society, while keeping them out of jail. In 2005 none of
those ordered to take the drug treatment program committed another
felony, Kochera reported.

She said drug offenders spend an average of 257 days in the county's
program, which boasts more than a 67 percent successful completion rate.

About $5,000 of additional funds will pay for a reserve sheriff's
deputy to be at the annex during the program Mondays through
Thursdays. The annex usually closes for business at 4:30 daily. Drug
treatment classes begin then and run until 9 or 10 on average, Kochera said.

The remaining $3,000 will pay for reserve deputies to work
non-traditional hours and make their presence felt in the homes of
those going through the treatment program.

"With heroin you basically have a 24- to 72-hour window to do drug
testing," she said. "This would get our presence out into the public
by checking their homes and establishments which they would not be
allowed to attend as part of their community sanctions."

Commissioner Kerry Metzger said he's impressed with the program.

"It's always good to have a way to measure the effectiveness of a
program so that when you're budgeting you know you're spending
taxpayers' money wisely," he said.

In other business, commissioners approved advertising a public brine
permit hearing July 10 at 1:15 for Kimble Clay and Limestone Co. of
Dover to spray brine on private ground for dust control.