LAWRENCE GETS GRANT FOR DRUG TASK FORCE

MOULTON - The Lawrence County Commission was awarded a $61,000 state
grant for the county Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Gov. Bob
Riley announced Wednesday.

The task force will use the funds to investigate and prosecute cases
involving the manufacture, sale and use of illegal drugs including
marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine, according to a press release
from Riley's office.

The unit plans to use a portion of the grant to hire an additional
investigator, which task force officials say will allow it to
investigate more cases.

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

Riley awarded the grant from funds made available to the state by the
U.S. Department of Justice.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will
administer the grant.