DRUG BUSTS HELP, BUT D.A. CALLS ON COMMUNITY

COAL TOWNSHIP -- Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini
Thursday urged greater community involvement in efforts to combat a
serious drug problem in the region.

Speaking at the fall meeting of People for Progress Coalition, Rosini
said law enforcement agencies are doing what they can to put local
drug dealers behind bars, but called on churches, schools, parents and
organization to launch a community-wide effort to deter young people
from using drugs.

Those in attendance commended Rosini for his office's role in recent
drug busts. The district attorney noted these arrests would not have
possible were it were not for the existence of the drug task force
that functions in Northumberland and Montour counties. The task force,
which is supported through a grant from the state attorney general,
coordinates the efforts of law enforcement agencies throughout the two
counties.

The program provides for utilization of more manpower, more money and
more time to conduct widespread investigations that would be
impossible if municipal police departments had to act on their own,
Rosini noted.

Although the drug problem in Northumberland and surrounding counties
is not as serious as in metropolitan areas, the fact is criminal cases
in Northumberland County alone have tripled in 20 years, with most of
the increase coming from drug cases, Rosini said. He added that there
been an increase in the use of more dangerous drugs during that time.

Rosini said that when he became an assistant district attorney in the
1980s, most drug arrests involved marijuana. Today, there is an
abundance of heroin (in a very pure form) and crack cocaine. Because
drug users commit other types of crimes to support their habit, the
drug problem has a highly negative impact on the area's quality of
life, he noted.

Rosini said the local war on drugs could be helped through greater
public awareness, public support and public enthusiasm. He said he
does not believe there is a sufficient level of concern in working
together to prevent more people from turning to drugs.

"We can prevent our communities from deteriorating by embarking on a
community-wide effort" in making younger people more aware of the
dangers of drugs, Rosini remarked.

In other business at the semi-annual People for Progress meeting,
Margaret Lutz, who retired as the coalition's director on Sept. 10,
received legislative citations sponsored by state Rep. Robert Belfanti
and Sen. John Gordner.

Belfanti praised People for Progress in general and Lutz in particular
for providing support on important projects that have benefited the
area. Mary Kroutch, representing Gordner, agreed with Belfanti and
added that Lutz worked tirelessly in promoting all the many worthwhile
projects undertaken by the organization.

Janice C. Witrosky was welcomed as new coalition director.

Fran Filarski, president of the coalition, provided a brief update on
ongoing projects, including a program in which computers received from
Geisinger System Services have been refurbished and donated to
children in Mount Carmel Area and Holy Spirit schools who qualify for
the reduced lunch program and did not have computers in their homes.
The next phase of the program will allow for computers to be provided
to eligible students at Meadowview Academy, Queen of Peace School and
Shamokin Area Elementary School.