VINYL SIGNS TO ADORN POLICE VEHICLES

Preparing to promote education and awareness members of Southern
Illinois Meth Control Coalition met in regular session Wednesday,
plans are in place for display signs.

Franklin-Williamson Human Services manager of prevention services
John Shadowens and Coalition and COMIT Drug Task Force agent J. R.
Moore said vinyl signs would be permanently affixed to sheriff's
office vehicles in all counties that are Coalition members.

Members also recommended billboard advertising, along Interstate 57
and Illinois Route 13 corridors. Moore suggested contacting
Mid-America regarding billboard advertising.

"The advertising rates are based on a yearly contract and decrease
the more billboards you have your message on," Moore said. Members
said 30,000 vehicles pass along Route 13 daily, increasing the
potential for the message being seen.

"The use of methamphetamine tends to be ignored by many communities,
despite the number of indictments," Moore said. "It is easier for the
public to turn their heads to the problem and hope it will go away.

"People in every county are touched or affected by either the meth
user or have a family member who has been arrested for either using
or cooking meth," Moore said. "There have been 144 federal
indictments in Franklin County alone, all meth related."

Shadowens said Williamson County communities are passing resolutions
pertaining to meth labs. "Marion City Council has passed a
resolution, which stipulates realtors must inform homebuyers if a
meth lab was found in a prospective residence," Shadowens said.

Moore suggested Franklin County communities and County Board
officials adopt the same resolution.

Moore also called for public participation.

"The Franklin County sector of the Meth Control Coalition meets the
first Wednesday of every month, at 11 a.m. in the squad room of the
Franklin County Sheriff's Office," Moore said. "A number of
businesses have said they would send representatives to these
meetings, but we have yet to see them attend. Meth usage affects
everyone in one form or another. Taxpayers help to pick up the tab
for those who are incarcerated."

Another arm of the joint venture, the Franklin County 40
Developmental Assets Coalition, also reported recent findings.

Organizer Tammy Head said she attended teacher in-service workshops
in Akin, Ewing, and at Benton Middle School and Benton Consolidated
High School earlier this week and was met with positive responses.

"Students were given the 40 developmental assets survey right after
school started in August," Head said. "The data was tabulated and
reported to coalition members before Christmas.

"During the in-service workshops, all teachers attended and had a
number of questions," Head said.

Explaining the 40 developmental assets, Head said Search Institute
has identified 40 key assets that youth need to be successful and
drug free. "More than 2 million students have been surveyed during
the past 16 years," Head said.

"The 40 assets is a working comprehensive model that ties family,
peers, community, academics, hobbies and interests together," Head
said. "For every asset gained by the student, their grade point
average rises by a fifth of a grade point. If a student gains five
assets, one could realistically expect the gain of a full grade point
on a 4 point scale."

Head said teens in America typically possess 18 assets, based upon
the national average.

"Benton students possess 25 of the 40 assets, based on compiled
data," Head said. "Specific areas of achievement indicate 92 percent
of Benton students who reported they have the support of their
family. Another 92 percent report that adults in the lives of
students have high expectations of them. Ninety-one percent reported
having a positive sense of the future, and another 89 percent report
strong interpersonal skills.

"Eighty-five percent of students surveyed indicate they have strong
resistance skills to drugs, sex and alcohol," Head said. "When this
information was reported to teachers, it brought snickers from a few.
Another statement which brought more snickers from teachers indicates
76 percent of students surveyed reported they regularly take
responsibility for their actions."