CHESTERTON H.S. DRUG SEARCH COMES UP CLEAN

CHESTERTON -- At a time when the Duneland Schools system is preparing a new
drug-testing policy for students, a random search of more than 800 vehicles
in the Chesterton High School parking lot Friday turned up ... nothing.

No pot, no crack, no glass pipes, no cigarette rolling papers were
revealed, police said.

Not even a bag of any sort of suspicious substance.

The search with six drug-sniffing dogs began between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
and had nothing to do with any school drug policy, said Robert Taylor,
Porter County Drug Task Force coordinator.

The search is part of a random program in which periodic visits are made to
various schools in the county, Taylor said.

Bridget Martinson, a spokeswoman for Duneland Schools, confirmed the
results of the sweep

Taylor said the drug task-force used drug-sniffing canines from Porter
County, Valparaiso and Portage police departments.

Duneland Schools was considering re-establishing a random drug-testing
policy, one that would test even students who drive to school.

Instead, the school system opted to conduct drug testing whenever school
officials determine there is reasonable amount of suspicion that a student
is using drugs.

The test used will reveal whether a student has used such drugs as
marijuana, heroin, cocaine, alcohol and tobacco, officials said.