TOWN TAKING STEPS IN DRUG FIGHT

Friday, 25 people met at the Taber Police Station as the first official
meerting of the Taber Drug Task Force got underway.

The community's strengths and weaknesses were discussed, along with
possibile opportunities and setbacks which may be encoutnered in the fight
against our town's growing drug problem.

But the consensus remained -- Taber has a drug problem, and it needs to be
rectified.

As with anything, acceptance of the problem is a good first step, and
Friday's meeting went a long way in determining what our town's reaction is
going to be to increases in drug use and drug trafficking.

Simply put, it will not be tolerated in Taber.

Those who were part of the task force seemed eager to enact changes in town
which would make it tougher for drug dealers and launch town-wide
educational drug campaigns.

Monday night, town council threw its strong support behind the efforts in
the form of a motion, but more will be needed from the mayor and council of
the Town of Taber.

Money, direction and more importantly, leadership will be needed from those
on council as Taberites wage a war on drugs in our community.

The task force is set to meet again May 21, and is looking to involve even
more community members.

The more people, and agencies who get involved in this process, the
likelihood increases that viable and logical drug reduction plans will be
formalized.

As many have siad, Taber's drug problem has not yet reached epic
proportions like it has in some central and northern Alberta communities --
now is the time to make sure it never does.