FEDERAL GRANT HELPS BANKROLL MILLER COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE

A check for $44,468.04 was hand-delivered to the Miller County
Judge's Office Monday for a grant to fund the salaries of two agents
with the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force.

Without the check, Miller County faced termination of its
participation in the task force, said Justice of the Peace Jimmy
Hickey, during the Budget and Finance Committee meeting Monday.
Hickey is the committee's chairman.

The grant was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and paid
Miller County's portion for the salaries of two agents with the task
force. Texarkana, Ark., also received grant money to fund salaries.

Hickey said a City of Texarkana, Ark., employee delivered the check
to Carla Jenkins, administrative assistant to County Judge Roy John McNatt.

"We've been trying to track this money down for the last three weeks.
It will take care of us for the remainder of the year," said Hickey.

"If the money had run out, we would have to discontinue it. It was so
important to take care of this to pay the salaries," he said.

During the discussions of the budget committee, JP John Haltom asked
McNatt if he was sending a monthly bill to the City of Texarkana,
Ark., for its share of the costs of operating the Lantz Lurry
Juvenile Detention Center.

"We can send them a bill each month," said McNatt.

Haltom suggested sending a bill after each quarter of the year.

"If we don't send a bill, the city will ignore it," said JP Ernest Pender.

"It becomes implied indifference," said JP Joe Gillenwater, referring
to the need for the county to keep reminding the city of the costs to
operate the JDC.