DRUG COURT RECOGNIZED BY COMMISSIONERS

Grayson County commissioners Monday congratulated county employees involved
in the implementation of the Star Drug Court program.

The commissioners' comments came as Dennis Cowhig, director of the county's
adult probation department, came before the commissioners seeking
permission to apply for an additional grant for the program. Cowhig said
the program has now produced four graduates and expects another participant
to matriculate in the very near future.

"We have met all of our goals for the first year except that we didn't have
as many GED's obtained (by participants) as we wanted," Cowhig said. Drug
Court officials have been surprised to find that most of the people have
high school degrees already. Cowhig said some have even attended college.
He said those who didn't complete high school at public schools got their
GED's while in jail serving time for earlier drug offenses.

Cowhig said Drug Court officials were asking the governor's office for
$377,605 for 2007. Last year, the program asked for $179,000 and received
$140,000. Cowhig said most of the money will go toward treatment, drug
testing and additional probation officers. Drug court participants are drug
tested three times a week and have to attend counseling every day.

"The program has been very successful," Cowhig said.

Grayson County Commissioner Johnny Waldrip, Precinct 1, said he has heard
very positive things about the program.

Grayson County Judge Tim McGraw agreed that the program seems to be making
a difference in the jail situation. He said it has been so successful he is
hopeful that a similar program can be started for those who suffer from
mental health issues. Cowhig said the group is starting a Family Drug Court
that will work with defendants whose children have been taken away from
them to help them eliminate drug related problems from their lives and help
them make stable homes for their children.

He then had good news for McGraw about the mental health situation. Cowhig
said he anticipates being back in front of the commissioners in early June
discussing grants that will help the county start a jail diversion type of
plan for those who struggle with mental illness. He said the county might
be able to use some of the money it already spends on mental health issues
toward the matching requirements for state grants to help with such a program.

Commissioners approved Cowhig's request to apply for the Drug Court grant.