MARCH

More than 70 persons marched through the streets of Ridgely Friday
evening pulling a replica coffin to represent the devastating effects
of illegal drugs. They chanted anti-drug slogans as they marched.

The march was organized by a group calling itself Grace Over Drugs, or
G.O.D. and its announced goal is to fight drugs and drive drug dealers
out of Lake County.

With many of those marching wearing white G.O.D. caps and t-shirts
they traveled over nearly four miles of Ridgely streets at sunset.

On Tuesday, approximately 25 persons marched through the streets of
Tiptonville at noon.

Friday, marchers were accompanied by a Ridgely city police escort and
two Lake County Sheriff's Department deputies.

"It went real well," said Brenda Crittenden, one of the orgranizers.
"We were well pleased. We are working on more (events) and not going
to stop."

She said the only negative aspect of the march was the lack of African
American participation and she blamed most of that on the short notice
of the effort. "A lot of persons just did not know," said Crittenden.
"My daughter and I are going door to door in an effort to get members
of the African American community involved in this.

"There is no focus on any one individual, we are just against drugs."

The march began with a word of prayer and organizer Pam Stewart
reminded those participating not to venture on to private property or
to spar verbally if they were to encounter hecklers.

Crittenden said there were two isolated incidents where persons yelled
at the marchers but that overall it went "very well."