KENDALL IS OUT TO TAKE AIM AT METH

Pushing Awareness: County Wants To Nip Drug Scourge Before It Can Get
A Foothold

YORKVILLE -- When anecdotal reports about methamphetamine use started
showing up in Kendall County, Janet Stutz was among the people who
wanted to find out more information.

With a group of local legislators and law-enforcement officials,
Stutz, the principal at Bednarcik Junior High in the Oswego School
District, organized meetings to educate themselves about the highly
addictive stimulant which often is manufactured in dangerous home laboratories.

At those meetings, Stutz was stunned to see a map of where meth labs
were being uncovered. Usually thought of as a downstate, rural
phenomenon, the map was a beeline toward Kendall County.

"We're right in the path, but it hasn't quite got here yet," Stutz
said. "We need to be prepared."

June 19, the Kendall County Network Project will hold the first
Methamphetamine Task Force meeting at the Kendall County Historic
Courthouse, 109 West Ridge St. According to Stutz, the meeting will
focus on ways to detect meth production or abuse by organizing a
countywide education campaign.

"It's a real serious issue," she said. "It's a drug that's going to
cost a lot of money to clean up."

So far, the county has not seen many meth possession cases but the
drug's effects have shown up in the court system. Kendall County
State's Attorney Melissa Barnhart said she watches people come in
charged with burglary or vandalism whose bodies are wearing away at
each appearance.

"You see the aftermath of it," Barnhart said.

The Kendall County task force will focus on educating the public
about the signs and dangers of illegal meth production. Anyone who
lives or works in the county is invited to participate. Those
interested should contact Ann Kodat at (630) 553-4166.
Pre-registration is requested but not required.

Meth has become a growing problem in Illinois. In 1997, police raided
24 meth labs; by 2005, police had shut down 973, according to state records.

The state legislature has acknowledged the problem, passing
legislation that creates a log to track people buying cold medicine
containing meth ingredients in Illinois.

Sunday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a law authorizing the creation of
an online list of methamphetamine makers which will include the
person's age, offense, conviction date and the county where the drug
arrest was made.

"Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs on
the streets," Blagojevich said in a statement. "We need to do
everything possible to put a stop to the scourge of meth."