PUBLIC CAN GET DATA ON DRUG WAR

The northern area of the county may be rural, but that doesn't mean it
can't have problems with drugs, says Armstrong County Commissioner
Rich Fink. "I get concerned when I read about people in my community
involved in drugs," said Fink who lives in Madison Township. "When I
see someone charged in connection with drugs coming up Route 28 from
Pittsburgh.

"Are there drugs up here, is there addiction, deaths, are there drug
deals, is there a possibility for meth labs going on? Absolutely," he
said.

For those reasons, Fink was glad that leaders there decided to have a
Community Drug Awareness and Prevention Day.

awareness and prevention information and resources program for the
public, the first of its kind in the north of the county and southern
area of Clarion County, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
at the Widnoon Rod and Gun Club. Food and drinks will be provided at
the event.

There will be speakers from ARC Manor, the National Character
Education Foundation, Pennsylvania state police, the Armstrong County
District Attorney's office, HAVIN, ARMNET (Armstrong County Narcotics
Enforcement Team), Children, Youth and Family Services, Big Bothers
Big Sisters and area churches. District judges Samuel Goldstrohm and
Gary DeComo will also speak at the event.

The idea for a community awareness day came about when several area
churches came together to create a faith-based event.

"We have to get the information out," Fink said. "And get the
community involved and have extra eyes out there. The church community
saw the need."

As county commissioner, Fink is also concerned about how drug
addiction affects tax dollars.

"Look at the jails, social agencies and medical transports," Fink
said. "It's going to get worse unless we do something."

Lt. Tom Dubovi of state police in East Franklin Township said there
have been instances in that part of the county in which someone out of
the city set up in a house to sell drugs.

"They stick out. People know they're not from there," Dubovi said.
"We've gotten phone calls. We were able to take down a house where
they were selling drugs a couple of months ago."

Dubovi's advice to people in those northern communities is to keep
their eyes open.

"Look for anything suspicious," Dubovi said. "Don't get directly
involved. Call police."

Traditionally, rural areas are under-served by social agencies,
according to Denise Marano, a prevention specialist at ARC Manor who
will speak about signs and symptoms at the awareness day program.

"We want to let people know this is what to be concerned about, there
are services and who they can contact if they see (drug-related)
problems," Marano said.