WEED AND SEED LEADERS GET TO KNOW ISLAND RESIDENTS

Wheeling Island residents and ONE Wheeling Weed and Seed leaders
accomplished what they set out to do during their first meeting Monday -
they got to know each other.

Weed and Seed Executive Director John Rowan and Program Coordinator Mel
Hopkins explained what the program offers and residents explained what the
community's greatest needs are and in what areas they would like assistance
from the organization. Rowan said Weed and Seed wants to learn from the
residents what the community's issues and problems are.

"We're here to reach out to you. You know your community best," he said.

In October, the Weed and Seed board of directors chose the Island to join
East Wheeling as the target community following an application and hearing
process.

The Island will likely become an official Weed and Seed area late next
summer after the extensive planning process is completed and it is accepted
by the U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the Weed and Seed program
nationally.

For the first meeting between the organization and the community, Rowan
said the objective was simple.

"We really just want to establish a dialogue," he said.

He explained the many prevention, intervention, treatment, youth, and
community programs Weed and Seed offers.

The Island has needs that are unique from the first target community, and
the strategic objectives must be modified to reflect that, Rowan said.

"We don't want to just duplicate what we've done in East Wheeling, we want
it to reflect your needs and concerns," he said.

Hopkins said she is able to help residents get in touch with various
programs and agencies that may help them with any number of problems.

"I also act as a clearinghouse. I'm constantly looking, searching for
contacts that may help people out," she said.

Residents discussed some of the biggest problems in the neighborhood
including drug trafficking, prostitution, dilapidated properties and
nuisances such as loud music.

Sgt. Randy Rejonis of the Wheeling Police Department said officers on
overtime patrols funded by Weed and Seed will likely go to great lengths to
enforce "quality of life" laws.

Instead of issuing warnings for open containers, littering, loud music, and
similar less serious violations, officers will ticket the perpetrators.
This should have an immediate effect on the quality of life in the
neighborhood.

That will lead to more focus on the more serious crimes, he said.

"You have zero tolerance for the little things," Rejonis said. "Then you're
going to go from there and hopefully build into the bigger things."