MONEY SEIZED IN DRUG CASES TO PAY FOR TRIP

Drug traffickers arrested in Forsyth County are paying for Sheriff
Bill Schatzman's trip to Israel.

The $2,700 to cover airfare, food and lodging for Schatzman came from
the county's drug-forfeiture fund, the sheriff's office said.

Schatzman flew Saturday to an anti-terrorism conference in Israel. He
was one of 35 sheriffs - and the only sheriff from North Carolina - to
be chosen by the National Sheriff's Association to attend, said Dave
Griffith, the chief deputy in Forsyth County.

The U.S. Department of Justice said that using drug-forfeiture money
for the expenses was a proper use of the funds, Griffith said.