NEW METHADONE HEARING DESERVED

This Friday, citizens of Saginaw and the rest of Shelby County hope their
voices will finally resonate with the applicants behind the county's first
methadone clinic. They're not welcome.

Without the community's consent, two applicants received approval to open
the Shelby Treatment Center on U.S. 31 in Saginaw. The process was frought
with errors, including forged letters of support. When a public hearing was
held, nobody attended because nobody knew. All of the sudden, construction
had begun on a methadone clinic in unincorporated Saginaw.

Angry neighbors foresaw legions of drug addicts creeping into Saginaw's
sleepy landscape to receive treatment for their dependence on heroin and
painkillers. They grimaced at the image of drug addicts climbing behind the
wheels of their cars after leaving the methadone clinic, aiming their
headlights for the bustling traffic on U.S. 31.

Rest assured, this Friday's hearing at the Shelby County Courthouse is
encouraging to opponents of the methadone clinic. All construction at the
clinic has been ordered to a stop, pending further notice.

Hopefully, that further notice will include a permanent restraining order
to stop the clinic from opening. The community deserves a new hearing
process so that they can get the opportunity to voice their concerns to the
state board that grants approval for methadone clinics.

Thank goodness our local officials are stepping forward to grant citizens
the right to have their voices heard on an issue that will impact the
community. It's reassuring when government makes an effort to correct its
mistakes.