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There is a drug problem

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jon
Tuesday, August 9, 2011: 9:47 pm
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I AGREE WITH YOU 100%!!! Unfortunately, meth and heroin are the main drug of choice now here in Martinsville. Its been getting worse and worse over the years and nothing is being done about it. The citizens of Martinsville need to get together and demand mayor Deckard do something about it. 3 police officers on night shift can't do anything proactive on the drug problem when it takes all 3 just to answer normal calls!!! Come on residents of Martinsville....let's get our town back from these drug abusers n thieves!!!

Just observing
Tuesday, August 9, 2011: 10:45 pm
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"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country" isnt this the same for our community? Being a proactive parent, knowing what your kids are doing, get involved with them.If you know someone is selling or using drugs, seek help for them or turn them in to the authorities. It is way to easy to blame others and rely on someoneelse to fix our problems. Be a parent and step up to the plate! As parents we owe it to our children and community!

jdigger
Tuesday, August 9, 2011: 10:55 pm
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maybe if the state cops were out busting meth labs and the such,instead of raising tax money by setting up speed traps we could get the bust we need.

nobodyimportant
Wednesday, August 10, 2011: 8:39 am
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jdigger, just a point of clarification....no issue with your premise. Few people know about the money trail on fines and forfeitures, the two largest sources of revenue in Indiana for the Common School Fund.

When a motorist is fined for speeding, that fine does not stay in any local fund. It is deposited in the Common School Fund, administered by state government. With forfeitures, it is something of a different story. Only the money that is deemed "excess" is sent to the Common School Fund. Excess is defined as what is left after law enforcement costs are deducted. What is wierd about that is that for years, there have been only a handful of counties actually sending forfeiture money to the fund. That has to do with the creative ways in which law enforcement "costs" are accounted for and the preference of law enforcement to use federal forfeiture laws on the pricier cases instead of Indiana's.

The Common School Fund is a bloated pot of money that can never diminish. According to Indiana's Constitution, only the interest from this fund can ever be spent, and then, most of it is not granted to schools, but loaned. So the pot just keeps growing and growing, with huge balances. It was an interesting and perhaps useful fund in the horse and buggy days, but it is an antiquated big fat pot of money that could be more productively used.

PrimeTime
Wednesday, August 10, 2011: 11:34 am
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Actually, Prime Time of Morgan County is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide substance abuse education and prevention to Morgan County residents. Prescription drug abuse is a main concern. If you would like to be involved in planning or participating in community outreach events and activities, please feel free to contact Julia at primetime@morgancounty.in.gov. The is a standing Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Committee that meets monthly and the United for a Drug Free Morgan County Coalition that meets every other month.

I would also like to note that fines and forfeitures collected from substance abuse related offenses go into the County Drug Free Fund, which is used to fund enforcement, treatment, and prevention programs. Any community members who are interested in combating substance abuse activities are strongly encouraged to work with Prime Time and become coalition members. We could definitely use more parents and community members to be involved. http://www.primetimemorgancounty.org

jon
Wednesday, August 10, 2011: 11:44 am
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Justobserving- I agree parents need to be proactive and watch what their children are doing. A lot of the dealers and users aren't living with parents. They are living in government funded housing, not working, and living off of us taxpayers. You cann bet if there is something going on in my neighborhood I will call our police dept. The problem is they don't have the manpower. Our city would rather spend unreal amounts of money on new fire department buildings and other things. Yes we as residents need to be proactive, but PLEASE tell me what Mayor Deckard or any mayor has done for the city about our drug problem in Martinsville!!!!

nobodyimportant
Wednesday, August 10, 2011: 9:10 pm
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Prine Time. Unless the law has changed very recently, no fines or forfeitures go into the local drug free communities fund. Only offender "fees" collected from certain alcohol and other drug court cases go into that fund. If fines and forfeitures are going into that fund, it is a violation of the Indiana Constitution.

jdigger
Thursday, August 11, 2011: 9:21 pm
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Iam just saying the state has bought trucks to fool speeder and to increase fines . It seems that if safty was the issue a marked police car is the best deterent I mean if you see a cop on the highway everyone slows down lets just be honest it is all about revenue not safty. drug will be here lets not fool ourself there Meth is a big problem so lets take 1/2 OFF COPS OFF TAX DETAIL AND PUT THEM ON HARD LINE meth patrol I know ther is no money in it but at least it is real law inforcement

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