RIVER FALLS GETS GRANT TO FIGHT DRUGS

The federal government will help the River Falls School District in their
fight against alcohol and drug abuse.

The River Falls Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Committee, largely made up
of members of the school district, received a $100,000 as part of the
government's Drug-Free Communities Grant program.

"This is very exciting," said District AODA Coordinator Eric Johnson. "It's
very good news. We haven't had very much luck with other grants."

The committee, which also includes university and YMCA officials,
ministers, and the police department, will use some of the grant to hire
another coordinator who would help find service and volunteer opportunities
for students.

The goals include reducing drug use by youth in the community, increasing
positive family communication, and increasing the opportunities for youth
to provide leadership and service in the community.

The grant program, which awarded a total of $6.8 million to 70 new
coalitions this year, is intended to help communities who are fighting drug
problems and are putting prevention plans in place.

"The communities know their own problems the best, and prevention is the
most cost-effective way to handle them," said Rafael Lemaitre, deputy press
secretary of the White House Drug Policy Office.

"To get this award, they have proven they're a very qualified coalition,"
he said. "They are a useful organization for providing drug prevention in
the community."

Lemaitre said the grants are often used to pay for personnel, measure the
success of the programs, and buy program supplies such as school teaching
kits, school programs, informational mailings, and media-related activities.