County drug coalition in need of funds after October 2007
By Lizz Harold Staff Writer

The Cherokee County Drug Coalition has collected significantly valuable data about drug, alcohol and tobacco use in local teens.

Other contributions that the coalition has made include involvement with the Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative and several presentations about school violence and drug use in school children.

After October 2007 however, the grant funds that have kept the coalition going and Director Dr. John Crosby at work will end.

At the monthly coalition meeting that took place May 1, several options for sustaining the coalition after the grant cut-off were discussed.

Based upon the Pride Survey that was issued to county students, alcohol was a major concern in terms of early use and abuse. The information has led the coalition to try and seek out funds provided from county alcohol taxes.

The bottle tax on alcohol in the county, as published by the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission Board, shows a significant amount of money available for county and municipal distribution.

Dr. Crosby discovered that approximately $80,000 is available yearly for county use.

Terelle Beaver, director of Finances at the School Board, said that the alcohol tax money is given to the school board and used as they see fit in programs that aren't specifically for alcohol prevention.

"The money is added to the general budget and is not targetted to a specific program," said Beaver.

Dr. Crosby inquired further to County Commissioner David Sumpter, who was unsure about the funds and the process in which they are allocated.

It appears that the coalition would not be recieving funds from the county or be included into this year's budget, added Dr. Crosby.

"If the community is forthcoming, we can get funds," said Dr. Crosby adding, "We aren't throwing in the towel just yet."