AREA RECEIVES $1 MILLION TO BATTLE METH

Two days after a Tennessee couple was rescued from a sinking boat that
police said contained evidence of a methamphetamine lab, authorities
announced a $1 million federal grant to help fight the illegal drug.

"Methamphetamine is truly a scourge, particularly in this area," said Sandy
Mattice, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. "Other than
California, this area of the country seems to be the hot spot for
methamphetamines."

The U.S. Department of Justice grant will be used by the East Tennessee
Methamphetamine Task Force, and counties must apply for a share of the
money, Hamilton County Sheriff John Cupp told county commissioners Thursday.

The grant will become official next week, when the Hamilton County
Commission is expected to approve it.

Mr. Mattice said the drug can be fatal for users and to those who may be
near the manufacturing process, which often takes place in bathtubs in homes.

On Tuesday, a fisherman rescued Steven Womac, 37, and his wife, Tammy, 32,
from their 20-foot boat near the Eaves Ferry area south of the Watts Bar
Dam, authorities said.

Meigs County Sheriff's Department officials said they found ingredients on
the boat that are used to manufacture methamphetamine, as well as what they
believe is the finished product. The Womacs were arrested and each charged
with manufacturing methamphetamine.

"Just when you think you've seen it all, something else comes up," Mr.
Mattice said.

The grant announcement marks the third year of federal funding for the task
force, which has cracked down on 179 meth labs in the past seven months,
officials said. During that same time period, the state has processed
another 71 illegal labs, officials said.

Sheriff Cupp said about 35 methamphetamine labs were found in Hamilton
County alone last year. "The rate we're going this year, we'll pass 35," he
said.

Mr. Mattice outlined for commissioners a general task force strategy, which
includes plans to nearly double its coverage area from the original 22
counties to as many as 41 counties. The venture into Tennessee's more
northeastern counties would help "nip it (meth activity) in the bud" before
it reaches the same proportions it has in the southeastern part of the
state, he said.

The task force had to "play catch up" in southeastern Tennessee when it was
formed in 1998, Mr. Mattice said, but officials want to move into other
areas to prevent problems similar to those they've seen in the southeastern
part of the state.

"We hope we have stabilized the problem (here)," Mr. Mattice said.

County Commissioner William Cotton said he perceives the drug to be more
prevalent among whites and not as popular in the black community.

Mr. Mattice steered away from drawing racial lines but said the drug is
gaining prominence in urban counties.

"Up to this point, methamphetamine is more associated with rural counties,
whereas crack cocaine is more a problem in urban areas," he said.