COMMISSION GETS BEHIND 'WAR ON DRUGS' PLAN

Monday night at the County Commission meeting, Doyle Williams,
President of the Ministerial Alliance, told the Legislative Body that
the Ministerial Alliance is wanting to get more involved with the war
on drugs, and in particular Methamphetamine.

"We support our local police officers and Sheriff's deputies, and want
them to have all the tools they need to do their job safely and
effectively," Williams said. "Furthermore, we are here tonight to
request some things that will help us to be more involved and help our
cities and counties to become more drug free as we hereby today
declare war against the production, use, and transportation of meth
and other drugs in Benton County."

Some of our goals are:

.To establish an Anti Drug Council with the purpose of educating the
community on the prevalence of drugs, to keep the campaign before the
people, and to educate the citizens of the signs of meth use and
production. Also to monitor whether or not we are winning the war.

.To see that we form an anti drug task force within the Camden Police
Dept. and within the Benton County Sheriff's Office and separate from
any state teams that may exist.

.To begin a Crime Stoppers program here in Camden and Benton
County.

.To place signs at each end of the city and the county stating:
Camden/Benton County "Fighting to be Drug Free"

.To create a watchdog group to sit in on court where meth charges are
being heard, and fight against reduced charges or dropped charges for
drug cases, especially meth.

.Promote religious values, ethics and morals be taught within our
school system regardless of threats from the Federal Government.

Commissioner Dale Cunningham entered a motion, seconded by Roger
Pafford for the Benton County Legislative Body to affirm the position
set forth by Williams. The motion passed unanimously followed by a
standing ovation.