LEMON SPRINGS UNITES TO FIGHT DRUG PROBLEM

LEMON SPRINGS - Residents concerned about drug activity in their
neighborhoods met Thursday night with state legislators, judges and
Lee County sheriff's deputies to ask for more visible law enforcement
and tougher sentencing.

Parents among the 150 people who gathered at Greenwood Elementary
School complained that their children were buying drugs from dealers
in their neighborhoods. Some residents complained that strangers
frequently knocked on their doors asking for money to buy drugs.
Several people wanted to know why known crack houses could not be shut
down.

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, the southern part of the
county - which includes Lemon Springs, Olivia and Tramway - has more
drug-related crimes than other unincorporated areas. Deputy John
Albertson said crack cocaine has been a problem in the area.

The meeting was the second organized by a new civic group, Citizens
Against Drugs.

"This is our community," said Jimmy Fraley, the organization's
president. "We're going to take it back."

The judges, prosecutors and lawmen who attended sympathized with
residents' concerns. Superior Court Judge Frank Lanier told them to
speak with their elected officials about stricter sentencing.

District Attorney Tom Lock explained the difficulties of catching
criminals in the act of drug sales.

Fraley said he was pleased with the officials' responses.

"I thought they gave us fair answers tonight," Fraley said.