STATE'S FIRST METH WATCH PROGRAM BEGINS IN ROWAN

If Darien South can't get folks motivated to help battle the growing
methamphetamine problem, nobody can.

The Watauga County native told a crowd of more than 200 gathered at
the F&MTrolley Barn Tuesday the harrowing story of how he lost nearly
half his lung capacity after responding to a home infested with the
chemicals used to make methamphetamine.

After crews extinguished the blaze, South, a volunteer firefighter,
opened a cellar door, and "immediately Iwas asphyxiated,"he said.
"Icouldn't breathe."

That was Jan. 26, 2003.

Today, South cannot play outside with his children. His childhood
dream of becoming a career firefighter has been dashed. He's plagued
with headaches and has undergone surgery.

Rather than trying to elicit pity, he and his mother, Jane, began a
grassroots campaign to stiffen the penalties for people involved with
methamphetamines.

On Tuesday, after their presentation at Rowan County's MethWatch
kickoff, the Souths were headed to Raleigh to speak before state lawmakers.

South's powerful message wasn't the only one heard Tuesday.

Rowan County now has the state's first Meth Watch program. The
initiative is designed to educate business owners to look for the
signs of meth use. For instance, the purchase of large amounts of
particular products like pseudoephedrine-based cold medicine, starter
fluid, camping fuel and coffee filters.

From those items, "cooks" can produce a synthetic drug more potent
than crack cocaine.Dangers lie not only in the drug's use but also in
the manufacturing process, which involves volatile chemicals.

Organizers hope enough community attention will put the cooks out of
business, at least locally.

Assistants passed out Meth Watch stickers for business owners to place
on doors and shelves where ingredients are found.

State Rep. Fred Steen II, a Republican from House District 76, could
not make the event since he was in session in Raleigh. In an e-mail to
the Post, Steen said he has co-sponsored four bills that deal with
meth labs. They include:

- - House Bill 1510, which would increase the criminal penalty for the
possession of precursor substances for methamphetamine.

- - House Bill 1512, which would make it second-degree murder for
someone who distributed methamphetamine that resulted in the proximate
death of someone.

- - House Bill 1536, which would make it an aggravating factor to
manufacture methamphetamine in a location that endangers a child.

- - House Bill 1537, which would increase the criminal penalty for the
unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine.

The local Meth Watch program already had 25 members, including people
from businesses, nonprofits, law enforcement and fire departments.
About 25 more, including several county fire departments, signed up
Tuesday.

F&MBank sponsored the event. An informational video, produced by
Miller Davis Studios and CMR Productions, will be available to businesses.

Chandler Concrete, Food Lion, the Rowan Partnership for Children and
Wal-Mart helped with the props and the products displayed.

To join the Meth Watch program, visit the Web site at www.
RowanMethWatch.com or call Richard Perkins at 704-636-3629 or Jill
McCartney at 704-637-5363.