COUNTY TO SEEK GRANT TO WARN OF METH DANGERS

The Osceola County Commission agreed unanimously Monday to pursue a federal
grant to pay for local efforts to educate the public about the prevalence
and dangers of methamphetamine use.

Commissioners Atlee Mercer and Ken Shipley attended a National Association
of Counties conference in July where the national methamphetamine epidemic
was a hot topic; they returned eager to combat the drug problem here.
Methamphetamines, a stimulant re-ferred to as meth, is the fourth
most-prevalent illicit drug in the country.

Mercer said he and Shipley heard the warning at the conference that the
meth problem is coming their way.

Since the conference, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office has busted two
meth labs, one on July 26 in Holopaw and the other on Aug. 9 in Kissimmee.

This year, the sheriff's office has uncovered a total of nine meth labs,
three in January, three in April, two in July and one in August, said Twis
Lizasuain, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

Of the nine labs, three were found in hotels. A room at the Ramada Inn
Eastgate on West Vine Street was home to the lab uncovered Aug. 9.

Lizasuain said that between Jan. 1 and July 31 the sheriff's office
investigated 57 cases involving both the production of and possession of
meth. Those investigations resulted in 68 arrests, she said.

Since taking over as sheriff in November, Bob Hansell has been proactive in
combating methamphetamine, Lizasuain said. She said Hansell has plans to do
a series of public service announcements in an attempt to educate the
public about the drug. There are also plans to hold a seminar for
hotel/motel owners to teach them the telltale signs of the drug's production.

Lizasuain said the goal is to present the seminar to all hotel/motel employees.

Mercer likened meth to the 1970s crack epidemic.

"This (methamphetamine) is the 21st century crack cocaine. It destroys
families, people and the community," Mercer said. "We have to be diligent
and be aware of what we're facing."

Since returning from the conference, Shipley has spoken passionately about
the issue, saying it is the cause of an increase in spousal abuse and
broken families.

"This drug has got to be stopped at the family level," he said.

The commissioner urged parents to educate their children about the dangers
of the highly addictive drug, which is also known as "Ice."

Moved by two videos shown at the conference, "Hawaii Crystal Meth Epidemic"
and "Life on Meth," Shipley ordered the two tapes and plans to get the
videos to every school and law enforcement agency in the county.

Because some of the meth busts have occurred at hotels, Shipley said grant
money is needed to educate the hotel/motel owners "about what it (meth)
looks like and smells like." He also said grant money is needed to educate
students about the drug.

"All the money we give the sheriff is after the fact, after they've (meth
cookers) been put in jail or blown up a hotel," Shipley said of the need to
be proactive.