Committee members present: Gary McElligott, Tom Tatum, Eric Wells, Mona Gray, Deborah Hall, Lola Vardaman, James Vardaman, Tammie Creekmore, Brad Wear, Quinton Bagley, Leanne Duvall, Robin Martin, Rick Padgett, Ken George, Bill Gilkey, Chuck Dunn, Vicki Sutton, John Foster, Montie Sims, Lynda Baxter, Debbie Weber, Elizabeth A. Carter, Betsy Bostian, Shannon Adkison, Carolyn McGee, Sammie Johnson, Marie Lawrence, and Carol Geels.
The meeting was called to order by Gary McElligott who thanked everyone for coming. He then asked that each person in the group introduce themselves. Gary then introduced Tom Tatum who spoke to the group about some of the projects the state of Arkansas and other states are working on to control the manufacturing and distribution of meth. Mr. Tatum also stated that Arkansas is further ahead than most of the other states in the enhancements of laws. He said there are three goals that they had discussed in their two day meeting which are:
Mr. Tatum then told those present how they can be helpful by having a watchful eye on neighbors, and pay close attention to night traffic, and chemical odors such as ammonia and acetone.
Kenny George, Drug Task Force Coordinator in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was then introduced to the group where he showed a display of the ingredients found at meth lab scenes, and discussed certain items needed to make meth such as matches and ephedrine, both items needed to make the drug. He also showed the group pictures of what happens when a lab goes bad. He stated that there had been a decrease in labs found last year from 30-40 labs to this year’s approximate 10 labs.
Everyone then went to the three designated groups for planning. They are:
DCFS has succeeded in adopting the procedure for processing a meth encounter. E.R. staff has completed a computerized format to be used to write up their policy and procedures.
Their goals are for DCFS to set up a training to conduct a trial run through of procedures, and to bring in a representative from Real Estate.
There was a report sent by Jeff Phillips with Counseling Associates that stated that the Pope County Drug Court is partially funded through DCC and each participant has to personally pay $600.00 to the program, and that Pope County has funds for face to face counseling, but not to set up offices, help in paying rent and electricity etc.
Sammie Johnson suggested that we need to target the schools more and could even think about bringing in prisoners to talk with students and tell them of their experiences. He also stated that he is surprised that when visiting schools that students recognize drug paraphernalia when displayed.
Shannon Adkison suggested that with parents permission students could go on a field trip to the jails and see first hand how horrible it can be, and that these kinds of experiences really influence a young person’s decision to not use drugs. She also stated that we could look into a grant from state funding for drug testing kits and supplies.
Leanne Duvall, Yell County Juvenile Intake Officer, also suggested that kids could sit in a courtroom during drug court case trials and would learn a great deal.
Gary addressed the group again and said that future goals could be to get more industries involved with the coalition, to get a drug court up and running, and to let employers know that someone who has been through drug court and needs a job will make a good hire as he/she will have to have a clean drug test.
The next meeting for the Drug Coalition is scheduled for Thursday September 7th at noon at the Dardanelle Community Center. The meeting was then adjourned.