GRANT TO HELP COMBAT METH

Thanks to a grant secured by Rep. Mike Rogers, the Tallapoosa County
Sheriff's Department will get a much-needed upgrade on its
communications and radio systems.

The $50,000 grant will be used to purchase this the equipment and was
announced by Rogers' office Thursday.

"This is not a matching grant," Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy
Abbett said. "Sometimes we don't have matching monies available in
our county and Rogers recognizes that."

In the press release announcing the grant, Rogers said the money will
be used to combat the growing methamphetamine problem in Tallapoosa County.

"Rural areas like Tallapoosa County have been under siege by the
plague of meth," he said. "I am pleased to have secured these funds
and hope they provide some much-needed Federal support for local law
enforcement and their ongoing efforts to combat this lethal drug."

Methamphetamine has become the biggest drug threat in Alabama
according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with almost 300
labs seized in 2004.

The funding for the grant came from the Sciences, State, Justice
Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2006.
The bill provides funding for federal agencies such as the Justice
Department and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

"These investments are great news for Tallapoosa County citizens and
local law enforcement officials," Rogers said.

Abbett said an indirect factor into receiving the money was the
recent trip to Washington D.C. arranged by the Dadeville Area Chamber
of Commerce.

"We were able to express our needs to the congressional delegation,"
Abbett said. "The trip to Washington was very beneficial, and
indirectly, I think going up there made this possible."

He went on to say the money will be used for more than fighting
methamphetamines in the county.

"This will not only help combat the drug activity, but it will also
help the communication problems we have," he said.