LC DRUG TASK FORCE GETS ADDITIONAL FUNDING

The grant received by the Lawrence County Drug Task Force will help fund
the unit for the coming year but it is $11,000 short of the requested amount.

Gov. Bob Riley announced last week that the task force had received a grant
for $61,000. The funds were made available by the U.S. Department of
Justice and are administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and
Community Affairs (ADECA).

"If we had gotten the $72,000 grant we had requested, we could have hired
an additional officer for the task force," said Task Force Director Amard
Martin. "But we didn't get enough for a new officer. But it was more than
last year when we only got $45,000."

The LC Drug Task Force is two officers strong including Martin and Dennis
Sharp.

Martin said he will use the funds to pay the expenses of the task force.

"Our cars are worn out and now unsafe. I want to get two new vehicles that
will blend in with the cars in the county," Martin said.

In making the announcement, Riley stated "Illegal drugs are a menace to the
health and safety of every segment of our society. The task force's
investigations and arrests send a clear message that users and pushers will
not be tolerated in Lawrence County."

The task force agents from the Lawrence County's Sheriff's Department, the
district attorney's office and the police departments of Moulton,
Courtland, North Courtland and Town Creek reduce drug-related crime by
using informants, undercover drug purchases and other
intelligence-gathering techniques.

These efforts lead to the seizure of money, weapons and vehicles used in
illegal activities.

The grant is made to the Lawrence County Commission but is earmarked for
the drug task force. The grant is a 50 percent match requiring the county
to pitch in $61,000.