RECLAIMING LONGWOOD

Residents Increase Efforts To Stop Crime, Drugs

Longwood - At first glance, Longwood looks like any other rural town
in North Carolina complete with fields of green and yellow, country
homesteads, big yards and Baptist churches.

But not everything is as it appears in this small corner of Brunswick
County.

For the past 30 years, the unincorporated town has struggled with
big-city problems such as drugs and violence. Just last month, charges
of assault on a law enforcement officer and felony attempt to elude
were filed against a teenage driver who led sheriff's deputies on a
high-speed chase through the Longwood area after authorities responded
to a report of suspected drug activity.

After decades of failed attempts to clean up the community, one group
is uniting citizens in a continuing effort to try take back their town.

Since its founding last September, the Longwood Community Action Group
has organized clean-up days, petitioned the county for increased
assistance and recently held the first Family and Friends Day,
featuring a health fair and career information. While the educational
aspects were important, the group's vice chairman, Freddie Stevenson,
said it was also intended to help residents get reacquainted.

"The event was to reintroduce the community to each other," Mr.
Stevenson said of the Aug. 2 affair. "Before that Saturday, many
people didn't even know who their neighbors were, so it should help
bridge the gaps in our community."

Those gaps, Mr. Stevenson said, have in large part been created by the
problems in the community. With the emergence of crack cocaine and
marijuana in an area of town known as the Quarters, he said many
citizens have fallen into the habit of either doing or dealing the
drugs.

Along Marlon and Carlon Roads, the two blocks that make up the
Quarters, cars stop in the street during the middle of the day,
transacting with roaming pedestrians and bike peddlers. Mr. Stevenson
said this type of activity increases as the evening approaches.

Born and raised in the neighborhood, Mr. Stevenson said the problems
revolve around dilapidated homes and buildings that become hangouts
for those engaged in illegal activities.

Even though these troubles have taken root in Longwood, Mr. Stevenson
said the problems often start outside the city limits. He said drug
suppliers feeding the local market have left a black mark on Longwood,
giving fellow Brunswick dwellers a negative impression of the
community. This often makes others forget about the good people coming
out of Longwood.

But Mr. Stevenson has a simple message for individuals smuggling drugs
into the town.

"Stay out of our community," he said. "If they stay out of our
community, then we won't have these problems here."

"This town has sent off individuals that eventually became doctors,
lawyers, nurses and educators. But these are the people that never get
talked about," said M.C. Herring, the pastor at Mount Zion Missionary
Baptist church and an honorary member of the LCAG. "It's not all
drunks and dope-habits."

Brunswick County Sheriff Ronald E. Hewett agrees with that sentiment.
While his office has arrested both residents and non-residents on
drug-related offenses, he said the actions of late have been a
positive step for the community.

While members of the LCAG believe a stronger presence from the
sheriff's office would help eradicate the problems, Mr. Hewett said
there is only so much his department can do. With more than 850 square
miles to cover in Brunswick County, Longwood is just one part involved
in protecting the overall population. Longwood does not have a local
police force.

Even though it would take a small army to put officers in every
community, Mr. Hewett said involvement from citizens could have a more
profound an impact than law enforcement.

"I commend this city for doing its part to make the community a better
place. Longwood is trying its best to make the community safe again
from within," said the sheriff, who attended the Family and Friends
Day with other members of his department. "If they continue taking an
active role, things are going to get better. The long-term effects
from their work will be seen."

Despite making gains over the past year, Mr. Stevenson said there is
still much work for the group to address. On top of eliminating drugs
and violence, the group also aims to raise funds for a community
center that would provide a safe haven for children, job information
for adults and assistance for the elderly.

But before they can tackle those issues, Mr. Stevenson said the group
will continue cleaning up the community. Even though the Longwood has
taken steps in the right direction, he said citizens must remain
diligent if they are going to meet their goals.

"We've always dreamed about doing something to take care of these
problems, but it never came to be," Mr. Stevenson said. "We're going
to work hard enough to ensure it works this time."