NEW ROUND OF METH MEETINGS SCHEDULED

As part of the department's ongoing programs to educate the community, the
Faulkner County Sheriff's Office is set to begin another round of
methamphetamine awareness town meetings.

The first will be Monday in Mayflower.

"The protection of our families and communities from the meth epidemic
requires the combined efforts of citizens and law enforcement," said
Sheriff Marty Montgomery. "It is our (law enforcement's) job to educate the
average citizen so they may not become a victim of one of the worst illegal
drugs to plague our community."

Montgomery will join Conway Area Drug Task Force investigators and others
to give meeting attendees a crash course on meth. Its history, chemical
make-up, effects and the warning signs of users or makers will be
discussed. A mobile meth lab will also be shown.

"Common everyday items found in many of our homes are used in the cooking
process," the sheriff said. "The officers presenting this class do an
excellent job of educating those attending on what to look for and what to
do if you suspect someone in your neighborhood is making or using meth."

Montgomery said he often sees and hears from people upset to learn their
family member has become involved with meth. Many people feel there is no
way their son, daughter, sister or brother could ever be affected, he said.
But the simple truth is there is no "stereotypical" meth user.

"Meth does not respect any race, religion or socio-economic class of
people. Almost every week I see another family member in my office fighting
to save a relative addicted to this drug," Montgomery said.

This is the second round of meth awareness town meetings for the Sheriff's
Office. As a result of public awareness, raised during last year's
meetings, more than 44 meth lab seizures and dozens of arrests were made in
Faulkner County in 2001, Montgomery said.

"This partnership of citizens and law enforcement continue to set the
standard for removing this drug and its dealers from our communities,"
Montgomery said. "We are inviting everyone to attend one of these meetings
and take a stand against this drug and the people who make it."

Monday's meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Mayflower High School cafeteria.

Other meetings will be March 18 at the University of Central Arkansas,
Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center, Room 4A; March 25 at Greenbrier City
Hall; and April 1 at Vilonia High School. The meetings are free and open to
public.