MANY GATHER FOR METHAMPHETAMINE TALK

Some 200 Franklin Countians braved cold temperatures and northerly winds to
pack into the Winchester Pavilion Saturday to listen to federal and local
investigators speak on the dangers of methamphetamines.

Among the speakers were Vince Margona, Special Agent in charge over the
state of Tennessee; Ben Scott, resident agent; Special DEA Agent David
Shelton; Cindy Kilpartrick of the Department of Human Services, and her
supervisor Mary Earp; Winchester Police Drug Agent Danny Mantooth and Billy
Anderson; Winchester Public Safety Director Dennis Young; and Franklin
County Sheriff's Drug Investigator Mike Bell and other law enforcement
officers.

Shelton told those in attendance that methamphetamine use could cause tooth
loss, as well as sores that can develop all over the body. Shelton made a
statement that surprised a number of those in attendance: that Franklin
County ranked tenth in Tennessee in the production of methamphetamines last
year.

Kilpatrick provided startling information when she said that between the
first of September and the end of October of 2002 there were 39 children
removed from their homes and of that number 38 were from homes where
methamphetamines were in use. She noted that state law now allows the child
services workers to permanently remove a child from the parent's custody if
the parents are convicted of producing methamphetamines around the children.

While Mantooth and Bell spoke to the audience, Winchester Police
Investigator Billy Anderson wore a protective suit that the officers are
required to wear while dismantling the dangerous labs. The officers also
told of the dangers facing them when they enter a house where a suspected
meth lab is in operation. They pointed to the fact that often times when
they enter a house, there will be numerous weapons in the residence.

Because of the dangers from the weapons, Mantooth noted that the officers
often times use a SWAT team to go into the houses to naturalize those
inside the residence. As he spoke, the members of the Winchester Police
SWAT team entered the building.

One of those in attendance stated that just the "sight of those people was
enough to scare" people.

After about one and half-hours of discussion, Young--who moderated the
event--opened the floor up for questions.

"We were well pleased at the questions asked," Young stated. "There were
even some young kids there who were concerned about meth." Young said he
was surprised when one man spoke up and stated that he had not been out of
jail long for the possession of meth.

The man told of what it was like to be in "an eight by eight cell" and the
horrors of trying to get off of the drug. "He was able to provide the
citizens an inside look at this horrible world," Young explained.

In addition to the officers who spoke, the Southeast Tennessee
Methamphetamines Task Force truck was present to allow people to see what
is used to clean up chemicals from a lab also in attendance was a
helicopter Tennessee National Guard Counter Drug Unit.

"We were well pleased that the citizens turned out for informational
meeting and we plan to hold some more of these type meetings," Young said.
"I think this shows how concerned the public is about this serious problem
in our community."

However, the officers expressed their disappointment that no elected
official was in attendance for the meeting.