GRAND JURY URGES SUPPORT AGAINST DRUGS, ALCOHOL ABUSE

HOPKINSVILLE -- Citing how illegal drugs contribute to the breakdown
of families and the rise in domestic violence, the Christian County
grand jury has requested various community efforts to combat the drug
problem. "We saw a side of Christian County that must come out of the
dark and into the light," the panel stated in a two-page report signed
by jury foreman Pat Estes.

The panel concluded its work for January and February on Friday. In
the fight against drugs and alcohol abuse, jurors requested elected
officials to seek grants and other funding to provide additional
public safety and services; asked court officials to establish
long-term treatment centers; and encouraged residents to be more
responsive to the needs of young people.

"Having served on the grand jury, each of us now sees life in a
different way," jurors stated in their report. "We have gone from 12
individuals to become a unit of one, with 12 different
perspectives."

Meanwhile, the report also indicated that the January-February panel
returned indictments in 152 cases, issued no-true bills in nine cases,
remanded six cases to Christian District Court for further review and
held 50 cases for the next grand jury to consider.