CONFERENCE TO BRING 500 OFFICERS TO COUNTY

LUMBERTON - More than 500 law-enforcement officers from across the country
are expected to descend on Robeson County in January as part of a four-day
conference.

The county will host the National Drug Interdiction Winter Conference from
Jan. 21-24. The third annual conference is sponsored by the National Crime
Enforcement Association.

Sheriff Glenn Maynor said the county was selected for the conference
because of its work in drug interdiction on Interstate 95. Several of
Maynor's deputies serve on the association's board.

"This workshop is set up to train officers that work on interstate highways
all over the country," Maynor said. "Highways are the main transport for
drugs. And because we have some of the top officers in the United States
doing that work, we were selected to be the host."

The conference will be held at the Southeastern Regional Agriculture Center
on U.S. 74.

Maynor said he expects some of North Carolina's top elected leaders to
speak during the opening ceremony of the conference.

"It is too early to say right now, but we expect some very big wheels to be
on hand," Maynor said. "This is an important conference for the county and
the state as well."

Other speakers will include Mike Lewis of the Maryland State Police; Angel
Calderon, a agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency; and C.E. Meyer of the
Carroll County Sheriff's Office in Georgia.

Although the agenda for the conference has not been completed, vehicles
seized during drug arrests in the county will be on display.

"We want to show the officers how people have used compartments in these
cars to conceal drugs," Maynor said.

Economic boost

Mary Taylor, executive director of the Lumberton Visitor's Bureau, said
having 500 people attend a conference in the county should be a boon to the
local economy.

"I can't give a dollar figure for what this conference will mean to the
county, but it will be substantial," Taylor said. "I think this is going to
be great. We're looking forward to accommodating them with restaurants,
lodging and entertainment."

Taylor said her office is working with the Sheriff's Office to arrange
hotel accommodations.

"We certainly will make them welcome," she said. "I'd like to get news like
this every day."