VISIBLE SIGNS OF PROGRESS OF WEED AND SEED PROGRAM

A series of programs -- many designed to assist young people -- are among
the most visible signs of progress for the Weed and Seed program
established last year in a Bristol Tennessee neighborhood.

The program has helped put in place a new satellite location for the Boys
and Girls Club and opened a community policing office inside Anderson
Elementary School, according to police Maj. Mike Yaniero. A program
coordinator has also been hired and a regular series of meetings aimed at
getting feedback from the community has been scheduled, he added.

"We've gotten a good response from people in this neighborhood. There is a
good community group, who we've met with, and we've talked with them about
different issues in the neighborhood," Yaniero said.

The targeted area is bordered by 24th Street, West State Street, Volunteer
Parkway and West Cedar Street. Included are Anderson, Hill and Broad
Streets, Windsor Avenue and the areas around Anderson Elementary School and
Tri-Cities Christian School.

"This area has about 30 percent of our crime and only 8 percent of our
population," Yaniero said.

The Weed and Seed designation is part of a federal program to "weed out"
problems and "seed" human services, officials said. The city received a
$175,000 federal grant last October and will receive $225,000 during each
of the next four years to help revitalize the area.

In addition to programs, those convicted of drug crimes in the area will be
sentenced under federal guidelines, officials said earlier.

To further probe community concerns and interests, city officials conducted
a survey of about 300 area residents. Those who responded voiced concerns
about traffic, absentee landlords, trash, public drunkenness, drugs and a
perception of gang activity, Yaniero added.

"There is a percentage of people who believe that those type of things are
occurring even though the city's crime statistics show it isn't," Office
Benny Berry said.

"We have increased the visibility of police officers. We have officers
walking the neighborhood more and later we will have the bike patrol. They
(residents) like to see officers walking through the neighborhood, not just
riding in a car," he added.

Berry, whose office is inside Anderson Elementary, said that his job
includes coordinating law enforcement efforts in the area and participating
in activities with young people.

A key to reaching young people is the satellite Boys and Girls Club, which
moved into the Anderson Street United Methodist Church last year, according
to Executive Director Eric Clark.

"This is a wonderful location for us. It's more centrally located, it gives
us a Tennessee location and it has about four times the space of our old
location," Clark said.

The club, which is open from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. during school months and
from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the summer, offers a series of
activities for young people, Clark said.

The club is designed as a safe place for children through the sixth grade,
with students in middle and high school who live in the Weed and Seed area
also welcome, Clark added.

Last year, the club offered Smart Moves, a drug and alcohol education
program, held in conjunction with the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

"We reached about 100 children and we hope to do that again," Clark said.

The Weed and Seed program has "so much potential," said Molly Campbell, its
newly named coordinator.

"We have a focus group working in the Weed and Seed area to address things
like trash and abandoned vehicles. Everyone is really excited and we're
currently trying to recruit more volunteers for a Keep Bristol Beautiful
event in April," Campbell said.

A planned hiking/biking trail is expected to go through a portion of the
Weed and Seed area, which officials hope will "instill more pride" in the
area, Campbell said.

Berry cited the example of a broken window that is never repaired.

"That tells people that the owner will tolerate the broken window and
doesn't mind if another window is broken or something else is damaged or
stolen," he said.

The neighborhood association established a subcommittee to study and
compile the area's history. Resident Lonnie Blevins has conducted
interviews with many local residents and is working to turn the information
and photographs into a book, Campbell added.

In addition, Wellmont Health System has established a parish nurse program
to provide limited medical assistance at the school, she said.

"She will do a lot of programs for health awareness and health issues that
need to be addressed. And she will have some minor clinical duties,"
Campbell added.

And part of Campbell's job is to search for additional funding for related
programs.

"In addition to the original grant, I'm currently investigating all
possible grant sources," Campbell said. "We're currently looking for the
resources to build a community center. That was something that was highly
suggested by all of the neighborhoods."

"We also plan to implement a community awareness fair, hopefully in May, so
that people will be aware of all of the things that are around there,"
Campbell added.

The next Weed and Seed community meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m.
Tuesday, March 19, at Anderson Street United Methodist Church.