TASK FORCE CONTINUES EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

Members of the Methamphetamine (Meth) Task Force have been working over the
last 18 months to educate the public about the growing meth problem in
Marshall County. They are currently working to implement programs to
promote public awareness and further educate the community and the business
community about the problem.

The Task Force held a meeting with local businesses on Thursday to educate
them on meth and the problem it is causing.

"This meeting has two purposes," said Pat Allen, a member of the
Albertville City Council who sits on the Task Force business committee.
"The first purpose is to heighten awareness of the meth problem in the
county and the second is to educate the businesses that are not drug
testing (about drug testing policies/programs)."

The group of businessmen and managers present at the meeting heard from
Bobby Elrod and John Springfield, who work together in the safety division
at Gold Kist Inc.

Elrod and Springfield encouraged the businesses to develop a drug
policy/program. Gold Kist implemented a drug testing program 12 years ago
and it has been a good policy for the company, said Elrod. Both Elrod and
Springfield said the establishment of a drug testing policy was important.
Elrod said Gold Kist was willing to share its drug testing policy with
other businesses interested in starting a drug testing policy/program. The
policy could be used as a guideline for the business to follow in creating
its own or just to have an identical copy, he said.

"A policy like this takes dedication," Elrod said. "You have to give your
full attention (to the program)."

Springfield added, "You have to have confidence in your program and be
consistent with it."

The Task Force used the meeting to educate businesses on how a drug testing
policy/program could benefit their business and the community. Though a
drug testing policy would cost companies a little money up front to perform
the test, it would save in the long run with other costs they pay when they
hire an employee. The drug testing policy also helps weed out the employees
businesses might not want. With the drug policy/program the company also
gives the employees who might abuse drugs of any kind the opportunity to
seek help.

"The employee can tell a supervisor that he/she has a problem and they want
help," Elrod said. "If they seek help, we offer a one-time help through the
EAP (Employee Assistance Program), and we will pay for it."

Some concern was raised about the legal aspects of establishing a drug
program after employees had been hired. Representatives of a few of the
businesses present were worried about the employees who had been there for
many years.

Springfield said it would be good to seek advice from the company's
attorney or get some form of legal advice. However, he said Gold Kist
didn't have any problem with it. Springfield said that it would be a good
idea to inform the employees a couple of months in advance to what was
being done and the target date of implementation.

"When you implement the policy, make sure the employees understand the
policy starts that day and has nothing to do with anything in days prior to
the implementation of the policy," Springfield said.

Under the policy Gold Kist adopted, employees have to have a drug test
before they are hired and they must sign a consent form stating they would
consent to the drug policy of the company. According to Elrod and
Springfield, Gold Kist informs the applicants of the drug policy and what
the employee is required to do under the policy before they sign the
consent form. The consent form goes into the personnel file of every
employee so if any questions arise than they have a copy on file.

Sparks told the attendees they could visit workplace advisor.com, a web
site offering legal advice for businesses for answers to potential questions.

Those in attendance of the meeting also heard about meth, how it is made
and what all goes into the manufacturing of the drug from Bill Stricklend,
chief investigator for the District Attorney's office.