THERE IS DEFINITELY A DRUG PROBLEM IN STEPHENS

I am writing in response to a letter posted in the Sept. 24 edition
by Frank Whittle.

I’d like to send out my condolences to Pastor Ayers’ family. My heart
and prayers go out to them. I hate that this happened and I don’t
agree with how the agents handled the situation.

I feel the agents made a huge mistake shooting the pastor. I am like
everyone else. I only know what I have heard in the paper or on the
news. I have seen the video that everyone else has seen by now.

The video wasn’t that good quality and there was no audio, so I can’t
honestly say how things really happened. All I can say in the agents’
defense is that the young lady had been in the pastor’s car and she
was being investigated. I can’t imagine what Pastor Ayers’ family is
going through.

I do know how it feels to have a loved one addicted to drugs and I
have seen so much drug activity in this area and feel we have a huge
war on drugs and we must stop it – for our children, friends and families.

I think Randy Shirley should bring in more agents to fight this war
and clean up Stephens County.

I was born and raised in Stephens County and have lived the last year
in Franklin County. Most of my family still resides in Stephens
County. I have seen the changes in Stephens County due to drugs and by
no means is it for the good. The street where I was raised is getting
worse and worse.

People come knocking on your doors at all hours of the night trying to
sell stuff that is probably stolen or they need a fix. Crack pipes and
needles have been found on the sidewalk.

Whether the community wants to believe it or not, there is definitely
a drug problem in Stephens County.

There are so many people being affected by drugs here and so many
lives being destroyed. It is not just the addict hurting themselves,
but it is a domino effect that keeps going.

I am glad Mr. Whittle has not had to deal with this personally. I
would not wish the hurt and devastation on anyone. It is the most
heartbreaking thing I have ever had to deal with - watching someone
you love turn into a stranger that will lie, steal, cheat, or do
anything to get drugs.

Crack does not discriminate; it does not matter what race, gender, age
or the background you are from. I have dealt with a loved one’s
addiction to crack for the past two years, as well as other family
members, a friend and friends of friends that battle addiction.

I have been to the crack houses looking for this family member; into
homes with no power, holes in the floor, nothing but a couch for them
to sit on to smoke crack.

I have dealt with the dealers calling and coming to family member’s
homes. The dealers do not care that lives are being ruined, they are
only thinking about the money.

You would be surprised at the neighborhoods this is taking place in! I
have seen whole crews (from a local company) giving their entire
paychecks to dealers. I have witnessed drug deals at several gas
stations in Toccoa and Eastanollee. Why do you think there is so much
stealing going on in this area?

Drugs are easy to come by. Children can get them anywhere – even at
school. There are addicts out there stealing and prostituting to get
at fix. Their addictions are causing their spouses and children to
loose EVERYTHING, including homes and cars. Many children do not even
have food to eat.

If an addict tries to get clean – the dealers are persistent. They
will give them free drugs just to get them back. The dealers make it
easy – they will deliver the drugs to wherever and take cell phones,
jewelry, etc. for trade.

As far as the Stephens County Anti-Drug Coalition goes, they are not
in it for the money. All of them have been affected by drugs –either
themselves or a loved one. I know Danny Yearwood and he has helped
several people and got them into treatment centers and he didn’t ask
for money. But, he can’t do it alone.

It is going to take the whole community removing their rose colored
glasses and admitting that Stephens County does have a drug problem.

I would like to add that this community needs God. Removing God out of
our schools, etc. was our downfall. Through Christ we can do all things.

Aletta Vickery

Franklin County