SUMTER COUNTY SAYS 'YES' TO NEW DRUG COURT

AMERICUS -- The Sumter County Commission will make possible a drug court in
Sumter County.

At the meeting Tuesday, the Commission approved half of the county's Drug
Abuse Treatment Education (DATE) program money for an expanded drug court
for non-violent users, those users who have not committed a crime in an
attempt to get drug money. The money is mandated to go to counties by state
law, and it is currently used to fund the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(D.A.R.E.) program at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Commissioner Bill Bowen wanted it made clear in the motion that the money
that does not come from the DATE money for the court will be funded by
court surcharges, not General Fund money.