LEWISBURG COUNCIL TOLD OF METHADONE ABUSE

Dr. Mike McNeer, a psychiatrist from Princeton, told the Lewisburg
City Council Tues. he has anecdotal information that a methadone
clinic is slated for Lewisburg. Methadone has been used with some
success to wean addicts from oxycontin and other narcotics, noted McNeer.

However, he pointed out that West Virginia is one of only two states
that do not regulate methadone clinics. He said the seven current
clinics in the state are all for-profit facilities. "There's a 1,300
percent profit margin on the sale of methadone by these clinics,"
McNeer claimed. "There's no incentive to wean people from their
addictions. Patients often trade one form of addiction for another."

According to McNeer, federal regulations, to which all clinics are
subject, "have been very liberalized. They're vague and nonspecific
about screening, counseling, and physician-client ratio." He said
there are no federal requirements governing the education and
background of clinic physicians.

He said nearby Ohio has strict control over the clinics and does not
permit the dispensing of methadone for profit. "West Virginia
clinics," he claimed, "have been recruiting patients from states that
have tough regulations, leaving fliers in parking lots saying, in
effect, `come on over here and get a higher dose'."

McNeer said methadone is "a tricky, potent, and complex narcotic." He
said even a slight overdose can cause respiratory arrest and death.

"I represent no one's interests," he asserted. "Nobody's paying me."
He said he was alerting Lewisburg as he had alerted other communities.
He said citizens need to press state lawmakers for strict regulation.
Council took McNeer's suggestion under advisement.

In another matter, Mid-Atlantic Music Experience promoter Paul Levine
thanked Lewisburg for its "gracious hospitality" extended to guests of
the recent music festival at the fair grounds. He said many of the
5,000 guests at the three-day event were effusive in their praise of
the "friendly, helpful" people in the community.

He said future festivals would promote the area's tourist attractions
and attempt to involve more local businesses in the event. He also
noted that future plans would include one-day tickets for local people
rather than just the three-day passes issued for the initial
festivities.

"We hope to be back next year," he said, and claimed, "The fairgrounds
are cleaner than when we got here."

Lewisburg Police Chief Tim Stover said, "Things [concerning the
festival] happened the way we hoped they would. Traffic trickled
in--all in all, it went very well. The mounted security [that
patrolled the fair grounds] kept in touch with us."

In other business, Council Members expressed alarm that Mid-West
Airlines is considering terminating its daily flights between
Greenbrier Valley Airport and Charlotte, NC. Mayor John Manchester
said it would be "a hit to the local economy." Council passed a motion
in support of a letter from Manchester encouraging the airline to
maintain the service.

In his monthly report to Council, Chief Stover complained about the
delay in getting the 911 tower erected on Muddy Creek Mountain. "My
officers can't hardly talk on their portable radios. The county has
paid the money and deserves the service. I'm going to be there biting
at the ankles every chance I get . . . for the safety of police and
firemen out there," he asserted.

Stover told Council his department had recently conducted an "active
shooting class" at EGJH. He said it was a practical exercise in
dealing with a Columbine shooting type incident. "It was very
realistic," he noted. About 50 police officers, firefighters, and
emergency medical people participated.

In another matter, Council voted to approve two assistant fire chiefs
selected by their fellow firefighters: Bill Turner at Station #1 and
Bernie Simmons at Station #2.

Council Member Mark Carver reported that the Public Works Committee
had prepared a bid package for 2003-2004 street paving. He said a
pre-bid meeting will be held Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. in City Hall Council
Chambers. Bidding will be accepted in the same location on Aug. 12, at
11 a.m.

The paving bid-package includes paving all, or sections of, Wake Robin
Trail, Commanche Lane, Court Street, Randolph Street, and Church Street.