DRUGS ... 'A SERIOUS, SERIOUS PROBLEM'

In an effort to bring drug education to parents and the community, Keyser
Police Captain Forrest "Buddy" Ellifritz has developed what he calls
"Street Drug ID Class."

"I developed the class last fall and have given it to Keyser EMS,
Burlington Fire and Rescue," said Ellifritz.

Ellifritz has been certified by West Virginia Law Enforcement Training
Committee as a law enforcement instructor.

The class educates on the different drugs and how they effect people. "I
explain (law enforcement and rescue) safety precautions, what to do when
they encounter people under the influence," said Ellifritz.

One powerful teaching tool for Ellifritz is showing his class a group of
photographs taken of a drug user the first time arrested, and compared to
pictures taken during additional arrests over a period of years.

"It's amazing what people look like before and after," said Ellifritz' wife
Lauren, who said she had attended several of her husband's classes.

Ellifritz wanted to expand his class and teachings, and to do that he
needed money to purchase a lap top computer and projector. By purchasing
those pieces of equipment, he said he could do his presentations on power
point, as well as all other training classes that he will be certified to
teach.

Ellifritz wrote a letter to the Mineral County Commissioners, in turn the
commissioners wrote to Senators Sarah Minear and Jon Blair Hunter.

Tuesday, Minear delivered a check for $3,000 to Ellifritz - exactly the
amount he requested.

"I think it's great to have someone in Mineral County willing to teach.
This drug thing is a serious, serious problem," said Minear.

Ellifritz said he was elated when Commissioner Janice LaRue called and told
him Senator Minear was coming to present the check. "I'm so thankful to the
County Commissioners and the chief (Karen Shoemaker) for allowing me to do
this and for their assistance," Ellifritz commented.

Minear told Ellifritz if he decided to expand his class even further to
send her a letter and "request what funds you need and I'll submit it to
Budget Digest for the upcoming year."