CANINE SEARCH TURNS UP NO DRUGS AT HCHS

There were more feet moving than normal at Habersham Central High
School Monday morning.

That's because a half dozen law enforcement canines from northeast
Georgia were on site to conduct a drug sweep.

Organized by Sgt. Jeff Sosebee of the Habersham County Sheriff's
Office, the search also included canine teams from the Georgia
Department of Corrections, Hall County Correctional Institute, Lumpkin
County Sheriff's Office and Cornelia Police Department.

"We had a thorough search - multiple dogs," said HCHS Principal Jim
Van Hooser at the search's conclusion. "It was very successful in that
they didn't locate any drugs - either inside or outside the building."

The school was locked down for one class period to allow the
search.

"At no point were any of our students in contact with any of the
dogs," Van Hooser said.

"That one went very, very good," Sosebee said. "They had it ready -
there was absolutely no logistical problem."

Sosebee hopes Monday's search sends a clear message to students, staff
and visitors at the county's schools. That message is that drugs will
not be tolerated on the county's school campuses.

And this will not be the last search of a school campus.

"We've got the tools to do this now," Sosebee said.