COUNCIL CONCERNED THAT DARE ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS MAY END

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 7, 1993                   TAG: 9301070140
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
COUNCIL CONCERNED THAT DARE ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS MAY END
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office's plan to stop drug- and alcohol-abuse education programs in elementary schools in Christiansburg and Blacksburg has Christiansburg Town Council members worried.
They want to know more about the decision.
During Tuesday's council meeting, council members decided to ask Sheriff K.L. Phipps to appear at the next meeting, Jan. 19. On Wednesday, after a visit by town Mayor Harold Linkous, Phipps agreed, according to Deputy John Yon, the department's drug and alcohol instructor.
In a Dec. 12 letter to Town Council, Phipps said the sheriff's office will stop the DARE - Drug Abuse Resistance Education - program in Christiansburg and Falling Branch elementary schools because of limited funds. This will allow the department to begin programs at the combined middle- and high schools in Auburn and Shawsville.
"Our budgetary and manpower restrictions prohibit us from providing all levels at all schools, so we are concentrating our attentions on those schools with student populations living outside of the town limits," the sheriff's letter says.
"It is our hope that the Town Council of each town will provide the Police Departments with the means to dedicate the necessary officer(s) to begin or expand their DARE programs accordingly."
Linkous presented the letter to council Tuesday, provoking several minutes of indignant discussion and comments.
"This is a very important program to our young people and to all people in Montgomery County," said council member Truman Daniel. "It's pretty obvious we're all for the program."
"It's a vital concern to us, without a doubt," said Jack Via, who added that perhaps parents and teachers should become involved in the issue.
Town Manager John Lemley said the town would have to hire at least one more police officer to continue the program.
"It does take a law enforcement officer" to conduct the program, Lemley said. "It has to be a sworn officer trained by the State of Virginia."
The next training session is scheduled for this summer, he said.
George Porterfield, principal of Christiansburg High School, in a letter to Christiansburg Police Chief Ron Lemons, asked council and the Police Department to continue the program in town schools.
"Expansion of the program into the middle and high school is desirable, but not as critical as reaching young people with solid information before they are exposed to drugs and alcohol," Porterfield wrote.
Linkous, who pointed out that residents of Christiansburg also are citizens of Montgomery County, said the decision will cost town residents in two ways: through the taxes they pay to the county and to the town.
Several council members said the Sheriff's Department seemed to be discriminating against the town, and some even wondered if they could file a lawsuit.
Other council members pointed out a few students who live outside the town's limits attend school in Christiansburg.
"In some way I think we need to voice what you've just been saying here," Linkous said, prompting Via to suggest that council invite Phipps to the next meeting.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB