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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday,
March 19,2003
| Contact: |
Linda Clark, Project Coordinator, 360-561-0789 |
|
Dee Koester,
Project Director/Grantee, 360-786-5540 x 6248 |
Rochester
Weed and Seed Site Funded by
Department of Justice and Executive Office of Weed and Seed
OLYMPIA – The Rochester Weed and Seed site,
which received federal recognition in February of 2002, has now received the
funding for the community-based program.
“This is our first award to implement this strategy”, says Thurston
County Prosecuting Attorney, Ed Holm. Holm
is the authorizing official for the project and has committed the support of
his office as the Grantee for the five years of Official Designation.
The Weed and Seed project is aimed at “weeding” out crime and
“seeding” in community improvements.
The program contains a strong community involvement component and a
Steering Committee has been in operation since 2001.
Jim Anderson, Superintendent of Rochester School District, is the Chair
of that group.
During
this project period, the law enforcement component is to establish “weed”
processes that would increase ability to investigate and prosecute meth
manufacture and related drug crimes in the area.
A focus on increasing services to victims of domestic violence is also
planned.
Other supportive strategies include Community
Policing, Prevention/ Intervention/ Treatment, and Neighborhood Restoration.
“Seed” processes will ensure that the community is strengthened by
reducing barriers to services for the rural area of the county.
The program has been allocated $115,000 of the
total $225,000.00 award to support weeding activities, including
Community Policing. The total
award includes a one-time funding of $50,000.00 to the Confederated Tribes of
the Chehalis, a Weed and Seed partner, to assist in the investigation,
prosecution, and prevention of violent crimes and drug offenses in public and
federally-assisted low income housing.
The Rochester Weed and
Seed Project operates in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Western
District, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, Kate Greenquist. For more
information contact Linda Clark, Project Coordinator at ROOF Center,
360-561-0789 or the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office at 360-786-5540.
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