ONE ARREST MADE IN DRUG SWEEP AT MCHS

It wasn't bombs this time, but drugs that police dogs were sniffing
out at Morris Com-munity High School Friday afternoon.

Despite having had two bomb threats in the past two weeks, school
administrators went forward with plans to have a team of
drug-sniffing dogs search the school.

"There are so many requests to do this that we're lucky to get them
here," Associate Principal Tom Talarico said. "The timing wasn't the
best, but it really shouldn't have disrupted anyone."

One person it did disrupt was a clean-cut young man in baggy blue
jeans frayed at the feet who insisted he did not smoke marijuana,
even as police officers found residue and rolling papers in the back
of his Jeep Cherokee.

"I suppose you don't drink, either," an Illinois State Police
officer said as he pulled an empty Coors Light bottle from the back
of the vehicle.

But that scenario was the exception, not the rule. A search by four
police dogs -- two from Illinois State Police, one from the Grundy
County Sheriff's Department and one from the Marseilles Police
Department -- uncovered no illegal drugs inside the school. Talarico
said dogs passed by every locker, and entered several random
classrooms that were briefly emptied, but the students were not searched.

There were instances when a dog "targeted" a locker, but subsequent
searches did not uncov er any illegal drugs. Students whose lockers
were targeted were all interviewed.

"We're not naive enough to think that there aren't any (illegal
drugs in school), but we feel our school is a safe environment,"
Talarico said. "We want to press upon the kids that we do look, and
make them aware that we are diligent about checking for drugs."

Assistant Principal Kelly Hussey said that the unannounced drug
sweeps serve as a deterrent for those who might try to bring drugs
into the building.

"The purpose of this is not to get somebody in trouble," Hussey
said. "It's to protect the people we deal with, and help them
realize there are consequences to illegal actions."

According to Morris Police Sergeant Scott Henderson, at least one
student will learn those consequences. A 17-year-old female was
arrested after a dog targeted upon her vehicle and police later
found marijuana in the car. Henderson said she is being charged with
possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The misdemeanor
could be upgraded since it took place on school property.

The young man mentioned earlier will likely face disciplinary action
from the school district.