The Local Coordinating Council for Drug Free Schools and Communities (LCC) is concerned with making and keeping area schools a safe and drug-free environment for students.
Representatives of the council are from a number of community agencies and organizations, including the Rushville City Police, Rush County Sheriff’s Department and area schools. The group meets monthly, serving as an advocate for keeping students from starting drug and tobacco use.
The organization met last week and heard from Indiana State Excise Police and Master Officer Monty McMahan.
McMahan, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, explained that there currently are 87 excise officers working in the state and they are divided into 18 districts.
McMahan gave a PowerPoint presentation on the activities of his department, which enforces laws and regulatory permit holders and non-permitees regarding alcohol and tobacco sales and uses.
The excise department was established in 1933 following prohibition and instituted in Indiana in 1935. The excise officers gained full police powers in 1985.
McMahan explained that the training to become an excise officer requires 12 weeks of specialized drug and alcohol instruction followed by 14 weeks of schooling at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Indianapolis. Officers also must receive an additional 16 hours of instruction on an annual basis.
During the most recent summer concert series at Verizon Wireless in Noblesville offices made nearly 800 drug and alcohol arrests. As a comparison, McMahan said that during the Indiana University football season this year an additional 800 to 900 similar arrests were made.
In other matters, the LCC was updated on the recently completed Red Ribbon Week held at local schools. Overall, the effort was well received as many schools tried a different approach to past years in an effort to gain the students’ attention on the importance of abstinence of drug, alcohol and tobacco use.
Through the use of grant monies and community funds the LCC sponsors a number of programs throughout the school year and uses the summer respite from classes at area schools as a time to seek new ways to reach and teach students of the benefits of living a drug- and tobacco-free life.
Working with an annual budget of roughly $15,000, plus additional grant monies, the LCC is limited with respect to the programs it may contribute to; they must meet certain criteria set forth by the state. The organization’s funds must be earmarked for either prevention and education, treatment intervention or enforcement and justice.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
News
LCC working on teenage drug and tobacco use
- News
-
-
Merger off between Chamber, ECDC
Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation Executive Director Jim Finan has announced that the Rush County Chamber of Commerce and ECDC will not be merging.
-
RCS adds to Rainy Day Fund
The Rush County Schools Board of Trustees met Wednesday night and, among other things, voted to move $550,000 into the corporation's Rainy Day Fund, which is basically the local school system's savings account.
-
Air Evac leaving Rushville base
Nearly four years to the day that Air Evac Lifeteam began operation from a Rushville base, the medical air transport operation will leave our community.
-
Teams sought for 2012 Relay for Life
Nearly a month after the annual kick off and three weeks before the first scheduled team captain meeting (March 1), local organizers are still hoping to expand the number of participants in this year's local Relay for Life.
-
Boys and girls basketball sign-ups underway
Sign-ups for the Boys & Girls Club of Rush County boys and girls ages five through second grade basketball will run through Feb. 29. These leagues will run the five Saturdays in March.
-
Youth in Philanthropy fund grant application deadline
Garry Cooley, executive eirector of the Rush County Community Foundation, has announced that the grant application deadline for the Youth in Philanthropy Fund is 4 p.m. March 1.
-
Lady Lions eliminate Lady Knights
The goal in the tournament is to advance and that is what the Lady Lions did Tuesday at Batesville with a 53-50 victory over South Dearborn.
-
The wonders of wood
Outside the wood shop door on Wednesday afternoons, kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Rush County line up for their turn inside the room where planks of wood become boxes, benches and shelves between 4 and 6 p.m.
-
Statehouse action resumes after Super Bowl break
After a time-out to accommodate out-of-town Super Bowl visitors, the Indiana General Assembly is back in session to tackle legislation that had been bottlenecked by a contentious labor bill.
-
Rice is Herman Freed Award recipient
Rush County Sheriff's Department deputy Alan Rice recently graduated from the Indiana law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Plainfield.
- More News Headlines
-
Merger off between Chamber, ECDC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
