MARCHING FOR A MISSION:

NORTH CHURCHES COME TOGETHER TO RALLY FOR DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY

NORTH -- A local church is working to bring an end to drug abuse in
the small community of North, where many members say the problem has
reached epidemic proportions.

Church of God by Faith in North is spearheading a prayer rally and
march against drugs to begin at noon Saturday, Feb. 7, at the North
Town Square.

Speeches, songs and prayers will kick off the event, which will
culminate with a march from the square into the Oliver Road community.

"Our main focus is going to be on the drug problem because it's real
bad in our community. We're going to be praying for the community as a
whole, but our main concern is addressing the drug problem," said
Clarence Casteal, who serves as a deacon at Church of God by Faith.

"We're trying to get all of the local churches ... to come together.
My pastor (Elder David Lucas) came up with the idea," said Casteal, a
resident of the North's neighboring Chapel Hill community. He said his
community had drug problems of its own but stressed that it would take
a community effort with involvement from law enforcement to turn
things around.

He said his community has gotten law enforcement officials together in
the past to make presentations -- and offer solutions -- on the issue
of reducing drug activity.

North Police Chief Mark Fallaw and Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry
Williams have both been invited to attend, along with North Mayor Earl
Jeffcoat and members from surrounding churches.

Local invited churches include the following: St. Dorcas, Chapel Hill
and Flora Branch Baptist churches; St. Mark United Methodist Church;
First Baptist Church of North; Word of Life Abundance Center; Gospel
Temple of Deliverance, and Faith Deliverance Temple. North Town
Council members are also invited.

"We don't want to leave anyone out. We're inviting everyone and want
to let the drug dealers know that we're aware of this problem, and we
don't like it," Casteal said.

He said the march will end in the Oliver Road community because there
has been a prevalence of drug activity there. The community is also
where a lot of members from Church of God by Faith and other churches
reside.

Casteal anticipates the march will simultaneously help unite the faith
community and address the drug problem, which affects more than just
one segment of the community.

"We just thought it as a good thing to have and are going to try to
make this an annual event where the whole community can come
together," he said.

North Police Aiming To Curb Drug Problem

North is not unlike many other small towns around the Midlands: neighbors
help neighbors, people wave, the majority of the townspeople know one
another.

And just like many towns throughout the state, North has drug
traffic.

"I don't know that it's any worse (than other towns), but it's
definitely a problem," North Police Chief Mark Fallaw said. "We're
seeing it, and we're definitely taking a pro-active stance against
drugs."

The North police officers usually locate illegal drugs while
investigating unrelated incidents or during traffic-related stops.

"Last week, we made an arrest for possession with intent to distribute
crack cocaine," Fallaw said. "In that same week, we made an arrest for
possession of marijuana."

The majority of drugs coming into North stem from an area just outside
city limits.

>From there, the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office moves to the front
of the battle line against narcotics.

"Our narcotics officers work directly with the municipalities in
trying to apprehend drug dealers," OCSO Maj. Barbara Walters said.
"(Fallaw has) done a great job up there. My hat's off to him."

Part of that effort in North has resulted in the seizure of several
firearms, narcotics and cash.

North receives a portion of any monies seized from drug-related
arrests. Service weapons, such as the "Glock 40" have been purchased
for North officers using drug money.

"I'm trying to get weapons off the street and supply the officers,"
Fallaw said. "We're taking that money and trying to combat the problem.