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| 60 residents turn out for second Key heroin meeting |
By: By STEPHANIE SOUCHERAY
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NORTHFIELD - Brightly colored sheets of paper lined the fold-out chairs at the Armory Thursday night during the Key's meeting on heroin and youth drug use. Participants wrote down their suggestions for solving the drug problem in Northfield on the pieces of paper, then shared the idea in a one-minute presentation.
Community leaders, including City Adminstrator Al Roder, Rice Couty Sheriff Richard Cook, and city council member Jon Denison were among the 60 or so concerned citizens present at the meeting.
The president of the Key, Marie Fischer, 17, opened the meeting by explaing that the event was focused on finding solutions to the reported drug problem in Northfield.
"We all agree that heoin has been a catalyst for raising awareness about drugs in the community," said Fischer.
After a brief history of the Key and an overview of the Key's July meeting on heroin and youth drug use, ideas were presented, participants could form small groups around an idea that interested them, and they discussed the logistics of making that idea a reality.
"We're all compassionate about the problem, we all want to solve it," said Amerman.
Pat Allen, a member of the Mayor's task Force on Youth and Alcohol Use, was the first to share her idea.
"I'd like to see a youth-center or mall in Northfield," said Allen. "Something with a music recording studio, a restaurant, a fitness center, etc."
Other ideas included mentoring programs, and relapse-prevention programs.
One of the most provocative suggestions came from Tom Graupmann, athletic director of the high school. Graupmann suggested drug-sniffing dogs in the high school, as well as random drug testing of students, including athletes.
"I'm just saying this as a suggestion," said Graupmann. "I'm not speaking personally."
Jena Frederick, 18, a Key board member, was pleased with the turnout at the meeting.
"There are a lot of people here with good ideas," said Frederick. "I liked the idea of a youth center."
Dan Hudson attended the meeting as a self-proclaimed "concerned citizen."
"I just wanted to come and listen to ideas and see if I could do anything to help," said Hudson.
- Stephanie Soucheray can be reached at ssoucheray@northfieldnews.com or 645-1114. |
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