SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CONVICTED FOR DRUGS MUST RESIGN TODAY

PHILIPPI (AP) -- A Barbour County school board member convicted on drug
charges has until today to resign to avoid a confrontation in court, says
county Prosecutor E. Lynn Phillips.

Jeffrey Byrne, 39, was arrested Nov. 4 in Clarksburg after he was stopped
for a traffic violation. A Harrison County deputy found two $50 pieces of
crack in a pat-down search of Byrne.

Byrne was sentenced to 90 days in jail by Harrison County Magistrate Keith
Marple, who then suspended the sentence and placed Byrne on six months
probation.

Byrne also was ordered to complete an outpatient drug treatment program.
Board members voted Jan. 14 to ask Byrne to resign, but he has not.

His actions have prompted Phillips to give Byrne until today to resign or
face a legal challenge to his right to hold the elected seat.

''I have drafted the petition letter and plan to file it in my name on
Friday at 11 a.m. if Mr. Byrne doesn't resign before then,'' Phillips said.
''The petition seeks to remove Mr. Byrne from the board.''

Byrne has not attended a board meeting since Nov. 14.