OFFICIALS ATTENDING CONFERENCE

Four area law enforcement officials will join medical professionals and
advocates for children and crime victims in Nashville this week who are
taking part in the first annual Methamphetamine Conference.

Estill Springs Police Chief David Cook, Winchester Public Safety Director
Dennis Young, Franklin County Sheriff's Investigators Mike Bell and Bruce
Elliott will be among more than 500 who will meet at the Renaissance Hotel
in Nashville to hear Gov. Phil Bredesen, First Lady Andrea Conte, Reps.
Lincoln Davis and Zach Wamp and 50 speakers and panelists this week.

Issues ranging from Drug Endangered Children to HIV Risk Related to Meth
Cases will be discussed during the meeting.

The sponsors for the conference, "Methamphetamines Response: A
Multidiscipline Approach to Protecting Tennessee Communities," include the
Administrative Office of the Courts.

The conference will focus on issues such as methamphetamines 101, Emergency
Room Response, Foster Care and methamphetamines and Prosecution Strategies.

Speakers are addressing how to conduct meth investigations and medical
issues of concern to judges handling the drug cases.

Speakers and panelists include Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents,
doctors, Department of Children Services representatives, prosecutors,
local law enforcement officials, judges, victims' rights advocates and
educators.

The number of meth lab seizures in Tennessee climbed from 128 in 1999 to
752 in fiscal year 2002-2003.

The drug also has taken an increasing toll on children and families.
Between Jan. 2002 and July 2003, more than 500 children were removed from
Tennessee homes where methamphetamines were manufactured.

The conference will run through Wednesday.