RIVERSIDE RESIDENTS SAY THEY ARE IN 'WAR ZONE'

Riverside lies a few miles outside Erwin, on one of only two routes that
sheriff's deputies can take to get from Lillington to the eastern part of
Harnett County.

It can hardly be considered remote. But residents say they feel local law
enforcement is failing the community by not solving Riverside's drug problem.

Vivian Smith is president of the Riverside Community Association that is
attempting to rid the area of its chemical problems and conceded that:
"Drugs are a bad habit in our community."

Community Building

At their monthly meetings, the association has been discussing ways to
raise the necessary funds to erect a community building on Bunnlevel-Erwin
Road. Mrs. Smith says she hopes activities could be provided in such a
building that will provide an attractive alternative to drugs for the young
people of Riverside who have "nothing to do."

The association has applied for a federal grant to help in their endeavor,
and hope to have the building's foundation laid by the year's end. When
completed, Mrs. Smith says she hopes to organize "workshops to help people
who want to get off drugs."

Mrs. Smith said she knows she faces un uphill struggle: "Drugs are hard to
stop. So many people are involved .... because they can make fast money."
She says that it "would help if patrolmen would patrol the area more often."

However, for Mrs. Smith appeals to earthly authorities will be insufficient
to solve the problem alone. She suggests a "prayer day at the Cape Fear
Conference 'A' Headquarters to pray for God to remove drugs from our
community." Riverside falls under the jurisdiction of the Harnett County
Sheriff's Office. Maj. Steve West says that the area is as regularly
patrolled as any in the county. He adds that officers have "made some
arrests" recently, but urges residents to lodge complaints with the
sheriff's office if they are having problems.

'War Zone'

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals from
area drug dealers, says that it is "degrading and shameful that they have
to live in fear of these drug thugs." He highlights a house on Roosevelt
Road as the focus of the narcotics problem and compares life on that street
to "being in a war zone."

He expressed the belief that the crystal meth that was being manufactured
in Erwin prior to last week's bust was bound for Riverside. He said that
the sheriff's office is "fully aware of these activities," and plans a
class action lawsuit against the sheriff's department for "failing to
properly protect us."

Maj. West admitted "a lot of people call" to complain about specific
addresses in Riverside, but said aside from regular patrols, officers would
have to be present for a drug buy to make any arrests.

When asked if he felt the county was neglecting Riverside, one resident
said, "ignoring is the proper term for it."

County Manager Neil Emory refuted that claim and listed the various
projects the county has undertaken to help the community. He emphasized how
the millions of dollars to be invested in the new Overhills High School
will benefit the children of Riverside who will attend.

He also pointed out that despite the low population density in the area,
the county recently undertook a capital water project there. The paramedic
coverage of Riverside has also been improved in the last two years.

County Manager Sympathetic

Mr. Emory said he was sympathetic to the concerns of Riverside citizens,
and noted that "when you have a problem, it's easy to feel like you're in
it all alone." He encouraged those concerned to call the county manager's
office, that he is always "happy to come in" and discuss problems. He
promised to ensure that any complaints he receives regarding criminal
activity in Riverside are directed to the sheriff's office.

Unfortunately, criminal activity is where the thrust of the problem lies
for a township of which one resident said: "It is in concrete now that
these thugs control the community instead of Sheriff Knott and his crew."

The reluctance of almost all Riverside residents interviewed for this
report to give their names suggests they have little confidence that local
authorities can or will solve the problem in the near future.