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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday,
July 15, 2008
Contact:
Donna Smith, 273-0707.
Rochester
Weed and Seed Celebrates Success
OLYMPIA
-- On June 25th, fifty-five residents of
Rochester
gathered at Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate the accomplishments of the Weed and
Seed program over the past six years. Weed
and Seed is a federally funded program designed to help communities that are
experiencing a severe impact from the manufacture, sale or consumption of
illegal drugs. Also
attending the celebration event were County Commissioner Diane Oberquell,
County Sheriff Dan Kimball, County Prosecutor Ed Holm, members of the Chehalis
Tribe and representatives from several non-profit service agencies.
Since it’s inception in 2001, the Weed and Seed program
has given the
Rochester
community the tools to reduce the number of methamphetamine labs in the area.
In 2003, there were 15 methamphetamine labs that were closed by the
Thurston County Sheriff’s Department. In
2007, there were no methamphetamine labs found by law enforcement in the
Rochester
area. In addition, the number of
felony drug arrests in the Rochester area dropped from 37 in 2005 to 12 in
2007; a reduction of 67% in two years.
There have also been several “stings” on local stores and bars
which have significantly reduced the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors in
the area.
The program’s second focus is to replace the impacts of
illegal drugs with services, economic development and healthy choices for
community members (“seed” activities).
In the past six years, the
Rochester
area has also seen an amazing growth in services for residents, particularly
children and youth. The
Rochester Community Center was founded and located in the old Rochester
primary school, the Timberland Regional Library set up a library “kiosk”
in the community center which is manned by volunteers, and a new Community
Park Board has been established which has been installing a community park
next to the Rochester Community Center.
In addition, services for children and youth are now available on a
much broader scale than in 2002, offered by the Rochester Organization for
Families, Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County, Big Brothers, Big Sisters,
the Thurston County Parks Department and 4-H.
Those attending the Closing Conference of Rochester Weed
and Seed praised the work that has been done.
Most people attending did agree, however, that there is more work to be
done to help
Rochester
residents deal with the impacts of rapid growth in the area and to become more
organized as a community. Many
individuals agreed to volunteer their personal time to help meet these new
challenges.
For more information about how area residents can
help, contact Donna Smith, 273-0707.
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