CITY'S DRUG DOG SEARCH CONTINUES

Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver said he is still hoping and praying the
city's drug dog, reported missing more than two weeks ago, will be found.

"I just keep hoping he will show up one day," Driver said Tuesday morning.
"We have looked and looked and have a $1,000 reward. There's just not much
more we can do at this point."

On Friday, June 28 Clanton Police officials reported the city's lone drug
dog, Briggs, had turned up missing from his holding cage earlier in the week.

According to Chief of Police James Henderson, investigators found no
evidence of foul play or human involvement in the dog's disappearance.

"We are not sure how he even made it out," Henderson said in an earlier
interview. Henderson was out of town and could not be reached for comment
Tuesday.

Driver said the dog was not insured but the likelihood of the city
replacing Briggs is good.

"These dogs are well worth the investment," Driver said. "If Briggs does
not turn up I would say we would likely get another one in two to four months."

Driver said the price of a trained dog varies - with prices ranging
depending on training, length of training and other variables.

He added the reason the city decided not to insure Briggs or other dogs, is
the high cost of insurance premiums.

"They are just so high and after a number of years, the dogs more than pay
for themselves," Driver said. "Briggs had been with us for about five years."