It is encouraging to see the Escambia County School Board looking at ways to amend the zero-tolerance policy on drugs. Finding ways to bring the use of judgment back into the mix is welcome. The new proposal by board member Gary Bergosh is certainly worth considering. He would put a "safe harbor" provision into the policy. Basically, it would protect students from expulsion if they voluntarily turn drugs over to school officials. If nothing else, it gives students who might have been caught up in a situation not of their own making a place to turn. And while we expect that such situations would be few and far between, it also opens up avenues for students who might be guilty of bad judgment and who are looking for a way out. [continues 309 words]
Having been a member of the Escambia County School District committee that recommended the expulsion of the two young ladies at Pensacola High School that "found" and "held" the pills, I find it interesting that the zero-tolerance policy has once again been attacked by the media and other concerned citizens. In my mind, zero tolerance had little to do with this case. That is because, I believe, most citizens would agree that any student who brings a combination of pills to school that could be dangerous or even possibly lethal should be expelled. [continues 419 words]
Students Might Find `Safe Harbor` From Zero Tolerance The Escambia County School Board wants to revamp its zero tolerance policy on drugs, giving students a way out if they find themselves with drugs on campus. Board member Gary Bergosh suggested adding a "safe harbor" policy to the School District's Rights and Responsibilities handbook that stipulates students can turn in drugs to a faculty member without fear of expulsion. "It would basically say if someone found drugs or realized they brought a prescription drug with them to school, they could turn it in to the administration or a teacher and automatic expulsion would not apply," he said. [continues 539 words]
The decision by a hearing officer to reject "zero tolerance" expulsions for two Escambia County students was absolutely correct. The students, enmeshed in a confusing series of events surrounding a bag of pills found on the Pensacola High School campus, were facing a penalty far beyond the seriousness of the matter. Clearly, the School Board needs to take a long and serious look at its zero tolerance policy with an eye to revising it with some common-sense safeguards. The hearing officer, local attorney John Allbritton, nailed the matter in his written order: [continues 386 words]
What's the big deal? Most people would be fired for reporting to work high. Why are teachers different? I have interacted with dozens of addicts, both active and recovering. Like cancer, addiction is a progressive disease. However, addicts choose this illness when they take the first drug. Addiction is a mental illness, but even schizophrenia is treated more successfully. Most addicts relapse often. Like pedophilia, addiction has no foolproof treatment. Would anyone tolerate a pedophile teaching their children? Addicts are a threat to others. They are among the most dangerous people, and can be violent, erratic and paranoid even when sober. [continues 92 words]
I'm ashamed of the Escambia School District and board. Yes, the teacher who used cocaine committed an inexcusable act, but this situation should have been handled privately and within the law. Instead, I have watched the superintendent and board misuse the media to whip up a frenzy and humiliate a man. Someone had to tell the News Journal whose personnel file to request. Someone had to call all those media outlets to tell them every time a hearing was scheduled. Someone had to decide that he himself was without sin and was entitled to cast the first stone - privately, publicly and on national TV. [continues 108 words]
The sad case of a 15-year-old Pensacola High School honor student, caught up in a mess over a bag of pills that now threatens her college future, speaks volumes of the errors of an iron-clad "zero tolerance" drug policy. And the pending expulsion of Teresa Elenz appears to be one such error. So far as we can tell, no one challenges Elenz`s story: that she discovered a bag of pills on the PHS campus, picked them up out of curiosity and then, well aware of the penalties for drugs at school, panicked. She hesitated to put them down again or toss them in a wastebasket for fear of being seen. She decided against turning them in to a teacher, again fearing the consequences of possession. [continues 290 words]
Contract Still To Give Staffers Second Chance The name Robbie Sites will haunt the Escambia County School Board for a long time to come. The teacher who reported to work high on cocaine and then won the right to keep his job made national news and frustrated the School Board and Superintendent Jim Paul. Board Chairman John DeWitt and Paul said they should have the right to terminate Sites for his action. But, according to his contract, they did not. Although Sites resigned after winning in court, board members want to make sure they're not in that situation again. [continues 223 words]
The News Journal's Aug. 13 editorial offered excellent advice on preventing adolescent drug use. The importance of parental involvement in reducing drug use cannot be overstated. School-based extracurricular activities have also been shown to prevent drug use. They keep kids busy during the hours they're most prone togetting into trouble. In order for drug education to be effective it has to be credible. The most popular recreational drug and the one most closely associated with violent behavior is often overlooked by parents. That drug is alcohol, and ittakes far more lives every year than all illegal drugs combined. Alcohol may belegal, but it's still the number one drug problem. [continues 346 words]
I am aghast that there is even a chance that any teacher that shows up to work under the influence can get their job back. I am even more perplexed they think they are entitled to that job. I realize that during the Clinton years this type of misconduct became not only expected, but rather chic. Get over it, the Clinton years are over. In a day when a student can and will be expelled for a pair of nail clippers or an aspirin, I would expect all in the profession of teaching, including the teachers union, to set an even higher standard for themselves. Belonging to a union - or is it a club? - does not give anyone the right for misconduct and to expect a second chance. By the way, cocaine use is still illegal the last I looked! - [end]
It's unfortunate the school principal wants to continue discriminating against the teacher that tested positive for cocaine. Drug abuse is an illness and the teacher should be treated as such. Society, especially the school system, has become extremely tolerant of all types of people, such as gays and transgendered. But they continue to discriminate against people who suffer from drug dependency. This teacher should be allowed to remain in his teaching position provided he attends the mandated counseling and treatment. [continues 73 words]
When I read anything more ridiculous than Noelle Bush getting tested negative for the prescription drug Xanax and being jailed for just having it in her purse, I'd like to hear it. A lady I used to know took Xanax along with six other medications daily. What an outrage! REV. PAM SIMS, Pensacola [end]
The recent reports that youth substance abuse has decreased is exciting news for Northwest Florida. This decrease reflects the efforts of parents, teachers, law enforcement and many local organizations. While this is good news, we must not see it as an indication that we can stop our prevention efforts. For several drugs including tobacco, Northwest Florida youth report higher incidents of abuse than our state averages. For example, while Florida lifetime incidents of marijuana use by youth is 37 percent, the Escambia County rate is 42 percent. [continues 537 words]
There's no reason to criticize Circuit Judge Nickolas Geeker for his ruling that the Escambia County School Board must rehire a teacher who was fired for testing positive for cocaine on the job. A judge's job is to follow the law, and that appears to be just what Geeker did. If the situation is to be changed, it must come in the contract negotiated between the School District and the teachers' union. The current contract calls for all discipline to be progressive. While that makes sense for lesser problems, it doesn't seem to make any distinction for dealing with serious offenses. [continues 150 words]
Escambia School District and teachers unions officials are taking the right step in coming together to rework contract language that left the district unable to fire a teacher who came to school high on cocaine. Under the current contract, in the absence of criminal charges the specific question of a teacher testing positive for drugs is not spelled out. So it is handled under contract language calling for progressive discipline for employees who err in some other way, such as abusing alcohol. [continues 289 words]
The new "designer" drugs reaching the streets of Northwest Florida are more than just a headache for law enforcement. They reinforce the need to utilize the most potent weapon in the anti-drug arsenal. Parents. Many of us have heard the radio commercials touting parents as the "anti-drug." Research supports that. Contrary to what many might believe, children do listen to mom and dad. If they deliver an honest, informed anti-drug message, their children will listen. More, mothers and fathers can influence their children`s behavior by paying attention and by exerting needed control. Parents can have a positive impact by: [continues 170 words]
RE: Random drug testing on students. The target: the students who participate in after-school activities. Is it not probable that these students as a whole have higher grades than the total student body? Why not random drug test the following?: The President of the United states and all his staff; Congress and all their staff; the Cabinet and all their staff; all governors and all their staffs; the Senate and House and all the legislatures of the states and all of their staffs; all county commissioners and their staffs; all school system employees, including the school superintendent, school board and teachers; all city council persons and their staffs; all law state, local and federal enforcement. Big question: Will the local school systems, Santa Rosa and Escambia, accept the federal bribes to violate the Fourth Amendment of high-school students? - William O. Jones, Jay [end]
The latest report that drug and alcohol abuse are at their lowest levels in a decade is cause for celebration and points to the influence that parents and adults can have on young people. The survey clearly points out that young people are heeding warnings from their parents and other adults about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, and the outcome is bringing positive results. The findings in the survey, conducted at schools contracted with Pride Surveys to question students during the 2001-02 academic year, reinforce the long-standing belief that parental influence plays an integral role in the choices their children make. [continues 223 words]
The movement to end the prohibition of a plant called hemp is turning a blind eye to the negative consequences. An end to this prohibition would hurt big business! The timber industry would be hurt because you get 4.1 times the wood pulp from an acre of hemp compared to an acre of timber. It takes one-sixth the chemicals to process hemp into paper as compared to timber. The fossil fuel industry could vanish. Because the hemp plant is one of the most efficient with photosynthesis, it produces potent biomass products (methanol for fuel cells) which would reduce our need for petroleum. [continues 111 words]
Re "High court's drug ruling won't affect local schools," June 28: Escambia County School Superintendent Jim Paul and Santa Rosa County Superintendent John Rogers have good reason to question the value of student drug testing. Student involvement in extracurricular activities like sports has been shown to reduce drug use. They keep kids busy during the hours they are most likely to get into trouble. Forcing students to undergo degrading urine tests as a prerequisite will only discourage such activities. [continues 132 words]
The U.S. Supreme Court made a mistake in ruling that students who participate in extracurricular activities in public high schools can be randomly tested for drug use. The high court's 5-to-4 ruling that schools' interest in getting rid of drugs at schools outweighs students' right to privacy is another example of government chipping away at the constitutional rights of its citizens, which include the right to be left alone when doing nothing wrong. School officials shouldn't be allowed to test students just because they choose to participate in after-school activities. Since there is no justification for randomly testing all students, the court has come up with another way to allow drug-testing in some form. [continues 177 words]
Top administrators of the area's two local public school systems say they do not believe the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allows random drug testing among public school students will have an effect here. Escambia County Schools Superintendent Jim Paul and Santa Rosa County Superintendent John Rogers said they're not sure how a random drug-testing system would work, what purpose it would serve or how much it would cost. Both counties conduct random drug tests on athletes. [continues 893 words]
The News Journal editorial, "Santa Rosa earns praise for eradicating pot" uses flawed logic to sway public opinion into believing that marijuana prohibition is valid public policy. Sheriff Wendell Hall making marijuana eradication a top priority is a foolish way to waste community resources instead of fighting real crime. Alcohol prohibition many years ago proved indisputably that reduction in supply creates high-paying, low-skill careers on both sides of the law. Suggesting that marijuana is against the law to grow or possess as the reason it should remain illegal is circular logic. The fact is that legal drugs like alcohol, nicotine and most pharmaceuticals are exponentially more hazardous. [continues 74 words]
The United States' war on drugs has come to a fork in the road. We can either eliminate the poppy fields in Afghanistan, which are used to make heroin, or we can pull our forces and money out of South America. We simply can't condone one operation, and fight the other, unless someone in the government loop is making a lot of money from the drug trade. All we ever hear about is the cocaine that is seized. We never hear about the poppy fields of South America. The DEA knows they are there, and I'm sure the growers don't keep all the heroin for themselves. So where do you think it is shipped to? Afghanistan! TOM WINDHAM Cantonment [end]
Organized crime is the main beneficiary of Santa Rosa County`s marijuana eradication campaign. Thanks to the drug war`s distortion of supply and demand, an easily grown weed is literally worth its weight in gold. Taxpayer-funded eradication efforts only make illegal growing more profitable. Incarcerating pot smokers and citizens responding to the financial incentives created by drug laws does absolutely nothing to protect children from drugs. It is easier for kids to buy pot than beer. Taxing and regulating marijuana is a cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war. Decriminalization acknowledges the reality of marijuana use and frees users from the life-shattering stigma of criminal records. [continues 91 words]
John Chase in his letter to editor ("Use and abuse," April 10, page 9A) makes an important point about the need to distinguish between the use and AB- use of drugs. This apparently minor semantical distinction has a critical effect on Florida drug policy under Gov. Jeb Bush and Drug Czar James McDonough. Their stated drug strategies include "reducing drug abuse in Florida at least 50 percent by the year 2005." Never mind that such lofty and quixotic plans have failed miserably both statewide and nationwide over the past two decades. [continues 243 words]
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deserves high marks for its concerted effort to crack down on pot growers. Despite being one of the smallest counties in the state in terms of population, Santa Rosa ranked second only to Miami-Dade County in the number of marijuana plants eradicated last year, according to a report released last month by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. That should be good news for Sheriff Wendell Hall, who made the marijuana eradication program a top priority when he took office last year. He assigned a licensed pilot to fly a single-engine Cessna throughout the county to spot marijuana plots. [continues 185 words]
We should have a zero-tolerance policy for drugs in our schools, applying to teachers and students. The idea that we should rehire a teacher that is a known cocaine user is hogwash. What was this mediator's credentials? Every teacher of our children should be randomly tested, as should be the students, frequently for drugs. The military does it, businesses in this area do it. I would think every parent would want to know that this was being done. ELIZABETH HEDENBERG Pensacola [end]
Santa Rosa Second In State For Marijuana Eradication Santa Rosa County long has been considered a paradise for pot cultivators. But thanks to a deputy with a sharp eye and a small Cessna, that may not be the case much longer. Deputy Craig Stalcup flew six days a week throughout the summer and helped locate and eradicate 2,101 marijuana plants last year. That number placed the county in the state behind only Miami-Dade County, according to a report released this month by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. [continues 642 words]
1) Does Ernest Varney ("Lawsuit wrong," Letters, March 15) know that Roni (not Veronica) Bowers' parents are Christians? 2) Does Mr. Varney know that this alleged lawsuit was not instigated nor approved by Roni's parents? 3) Does Mr. Varney know that Roni's mother leads the Women's Missions Group at a local church? 4) Does Mr. Varney know how hurtful his letter was to friends and loved ones of Roni Bowers? 5) Now, does Mr. Varney know he should investigate further anything he has to say about Roni Bowers' death? MARY MATTHEISS Pensacola [end]
Letter writer Anthony Lorenzo was right on target in hisletter, "The DEA's war," March 29, except that theDEA is anything but a "benign organization." Another error in his letter is that arrests for marijuana are not up to 70,000 per year, as he stated, but rather greater than 730,000last year. More arrests were made for marijuana violations last year than for murder, rape, robbery and assault ... combined. It is time to end this insanity. KIRK MUSE Mesa, Ariz. [end]
In reference to "Deputy innocent in drug theft," March 24: Not meaning to quibble, but when testing for drug "abuse" one measures degree of impairment. A urine test - which I assume was the one used on Mr. West - tests for drug "use." The beclouding of these two words is part of official U.S. anti-drug policy to demonize the users of certain drugs, but not others. If we were living in the 1920s the News Journal staff reporters would be writing of my alcohol "abuse," because I drink an occasional beer. - John Chase, Palm Harbor [end]
Druggists Examine Security As Thieves Seek Popular Narcotic It used to be that a pharmacist's main concern was to make sure each pill made it into the right bottle. But ever since OxyContin hit the market, knowing how to react to a loaded handgun has become just as important. Since 1999, OxyContin sales have nearly tripled, totalling about $1.5 billion nationwide last year. Addiction also has increased, resulting in a steep rise in pharmacy robberies. The threat has prompted local law enforcement officials to step up their response to pharmacy robberies and has left pharmacists scrambling to bolster security at their stores. Some wonder whether to carry the drug. [continues 1051 words]
Community and civil rights activists met Tuesday night to try and delay the eviction of eight families from the Warrington Village Apartments, a federally subsidized housing development. The eviction notices were served after at least two people were arrested by Escambia Sheriff's deputies following searches by armed security guards hired by the Columbia Management Group, the company that runs the complex. The first evictions are to begin Thursday. Before the searches, residents received a letter announcing that a routine maintenance inspection was scheduled. [continues 237 words]
Dr. Mett Ausley's keen observations ("Failed drug war," Letters, Mar. 12), caught my attention. It's elementary, war is for war mongers, warlords and wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. At the very least, America must re-legalize cannabis, and cease caging humans for using cannabis. God gave us cannabis and put cannabinoid (THC) receptor sites in our brains since the beginning. Those who prohibit that connection may well be the true terrorists to truth. Truth is the prohibitionist's worst nightmare, and I welcome the media to continue projecting the truth on this issue. Stan White Dillon, Colo. [end]
This is reference to Dr. Mett Ausley's letter ("Failed drug war," March 12). The DEA will use any tactic to secure funding for their benign organization. They will claim that drug purchases support terrorism. They will target a few doctors. They will start a new war against Oxycontin. They will ban hemp seed food products. They will raid California cannabis suppliers of medical patients. When will we stand up and say, "No more of this insanity"? Arrests for marijuana are up close to 70,000 per year now, even though two-thirds of Americans don't think people should be arrested for smoking marijuana. "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety" - Ben Franklin. Anthony Lorenzo, Tampa [end]
In response to the recent letter from Dave Michon ("Witch hunt," March 11) of Eau Claire, Wis. (and similar letters of same sentiments) regarding the case of recently convicted Dr. James Graves, methinks the Graves "support" group doth protest a bit too much. Michon argues that people like Assistant State Attorney Russ Edgar, for example, "have no feelings" when it comes to people in pain. First, let me say, I agree with Mr. Michon's claim that Dr. Graves' "customers" were (and are) "in pain." If kicking a drug addiction were "painless," certainly more people would make an effort to do it. The fact that an addiction exists will create "pain" whenever a "craving" takes place. Coincidentally, the "pain" typically worsens whenever a "source" disappears. [continues 82 words]
Prosecution, Defense Costs Nearly $400,000 The trial of Dr. James Graves has cost Santa Rosa County taxpayers almost $400,000 - and the bills are still coming in. Newly released court documents show the defense spent $295,205.21 and the prosecution about $84,550.73, for a total of $379,755.94. This is the county's most expensive trial ever, Santa Rosa County Attorney Tom Dannheisser said. "I can't remember anything that's been over $100,000," he said. "I've never seen a case that involves so many medical experts." [continues 283 words]
After testifying in his defense Saturday, a former Escambia County sheriff's deputy was acquitted of charges that he stole marijuana from an evidence room. Jerry West, 29, was found not guilty after the Escambia County jury deliberated just minutes during a rare Saturday court proceeding. Circuit Judge Linda Nobles ordered the weekend session because she had a conflict in her schedule for next week. In the third and final day of the trial, West testified for about two hours under questioning from his attorney, Nobles reported after the verdict. Prosecutors cross-examined West for about 45 minutes. [continues 101 words]
Pain Doctor Maintains Innocence In Deaths Dr. James Graves likely will die behind bars, serving a sentence for manslaughter and illegally prescribing narcotics. Circuit Judge Kenneth Bell told Graves, 55, he did not "take lightly" the 63-year prison sentence the judge handed down Friday. Under state law, Graves must serve at least 85 percent, or almost 54 years. "He will never walk free again," Bell said to a hushed courtroom in Milton. The Pace doctor faced 38 to 138 years in prison under Florida sentencing guidelines. [continues 1268 words]
Dr. James Graves could go to prison for the rest of his life when he is sentenced today. State guidelines call for Graves, 55, to be sentenced to 40 years. "That's a death sentence for him," said his attorney, Ed Ellis, who will ask for less time. Circuit Judge Kenneth Bell can go beyond or below the guidelines. He is expected to strongly consider comments from the family of patients who died. Last month, Graves became the first doctor in the country convicted of manslaughter for overprescribing OxyContin. Four patients overdosed and died. [continues 364 words]
The trial of former Escambia County Sheriff's Deputy Jerry West continues in the Escambia County Courthouse today at 8 a.m. West, 29, was arrested in April 2000. He is charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and tampering with evidence. Defense attorney Jerry Allred said he took more than an hour Thursday to outline the case during his opening statements. "This is an extremely complicated case, and it appears that there is an explanation for every point the state would make," Allred said. [continues 155 words]
The Escambia County School Board will fight a decision to rehire a teacher who arrived to work impaired by cocaine. Robert K. Sites III, 37, initially was terminated after arriving at Brentwood Middle School on Aug. 10 with cocaine in his system - 50 times above the cutoff for a positive drug test. An independent arbitrator ruled this month that a penalty less severe than termination was warranted and wants Sites rehired with full pay and benefits. The board voted Friday in executive session to appeal the arbitrator's decision. [continues 185 words]
Deputies Can Assign Community Service For Some Offenses Whether it's for underaged drinking, criminal mischief or something more serious, more than 2,000 juveniles are arrested in Escambia County each year. A new diversion program at the Escambia County Sheriff's Office promises to reduce those numbers and is now expanding as spring and summer teen-age high jinks are on the rise. Under a civil citation program that began last month, deputies can divert first-time misdemeanor offenders directly into a community cleanup program. [continues 418 words]
It is tragic that Gov. Jeb Bush's daughter, Noelle, is still struggling with the drug problem that recently led to her arrest. I agree with the governor that Noelle is someone who would benefit from an intensive drug rehabilitation program to conquer her drug problem. It is even more tragic, however, that Gov. Bush is urging that thousands of "ordinary" Floridians get mandatory jail time for the same offense! Why is it not also "a private matter" for these folks? [continues 67 words]
There seems to be a great deal of excitement and some jubilation over the manslaughter conviction of Dr. James Graves. As a professional who has worked with drug addicts for over 20 years, I am not elated - I am saddened. If the only way to stop a physician from prescribing drugs that are sold on the street or misused and abused is to charge him with manslaughter then we are in a lot of trouble as a society. "Why was Dr. Graves not stopped earlier?" is the real question. [continues 101 words]
Escambia Superintendent Wants To Fight Arbitrator's Decision Escambia County Schools must rehire a school employee who reported to work with cocaine in his system - 50 times above the cutoff level for a positive drug test. Robert K. Sites III, 37, initially was terminated after arriving at Brentwood Middle School on Aug. 10 in an agitated and nervous state. A "reasonable suspicion" drug test revealed cocaine metabolites in his system. An independent arbitrator ruled this month that a penalty less severe than termination was warranted and wants Sites rehired with full pay and benefits. He must be evaluated by a substance abuse counselor, complete a rehabilitation program and test negative for drugs upon his return to work. [continues 559 words]
1. Do the mission board (Association of Baptist World Evangelism) and the parents of Veronica Bowers know that the U.S. government's money comes from taxpayers, many of them fellow Christians? 2. Are they familiar with the Bible Scripture admonishing Christians not to go to court against other believers? 3. What monetary loss did they suffer from Veronica's death? 4. Did they not have the courage to say no to the lawyer that advisedthem to join in a suit against the government? 5. Do they feel comfortable about profiting from a loved one's death? 6. Does anyone other than the husband, Jim Bowers, and the pilot, Kevin Donaldson, deserve monetary compensation? Should they receive more than funeral, medical and related expenses? ERNEST VARNEY Pensacola [end]
The Feb. 24 article "Doctors who deal, not heal, targeted" tells us the unprecedented prosecution of Dr. James Graves for manslaughter is not an isolated occurrence, but coincides with similar actions against a number of doctors around the nation. Obviously, bureaucrats within the drug-enforcement apparatus have contrived a "drug sweep" against doctors for propaganda effect. Intimidating doctors might appear to be the objective, but the real purpose is to distract public attention away from the larger issue of the failure of the drug war, to be narrowly refocused on prescription drug abuse. Here, history shows there is likely success, for which credit can be claimed. [continues 99 words]
I know most people may not like what I have to say, but here goes. We (collectively) are not doing a good job of treating drug addiction. One example is that of Dr. Graves' patients. If the Pensacola News Journal reported it accurately, then almost all of his patients were addicts. Now, everyone wants to put him in jail and throw away the key, but if you really step back and look at it, like it or not, maybe there are not enough drug treatment centers to take care of the demand. We are being told there is a war on drugs, but where is the treatment to reduce the demand? Please think about what I've said, and then let your conscience be your guide. Dennis S. Primm, Pensacola [end]
