News for October 2, 1999

3 girls arrested in drug bust at Grafton High

by Julie R. Cryser
Assistant Managing Editor
Three Grafton High School teen-age girls were arrested Friday morning, capping a nearly one-year investigation conducted by a city police officer.
The three girls, ages 15, 17 and 17, were arrested at the school around 9:30 a.m. The 15-year-old was charged with possessing a deadly weapon. She had a boot knife in her bookbag. One 17-year-old was charged with possession of a controlled substance, while police charged the other with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver and six counts of having a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.
Both girls had marijuana in their possession, police said.
Grafton Police Department Sgt. R.W. Beltner said he has been investigating these three teens since early this year. Beltner said he had gone to the school Friday morning to investigate a car tampering incident when the principal there asked for assistance with one of the girls, who a parent had made a complaint against.
"They had found prescription pills in her bookbag," Beltner said.
"With the information I had, I figured it was a good time to arrest them."
Beltner had been working with an informant and several others who had been purchasing drugs from the girls, he said. He believes the prescription drugs were stolen from one of the girls' homes. Juvenile petitions for the three will be filed by today, Beltner said. Police are still investigating where the girls got the marijuana.
Grafton High School Principal James Romeo was at the school Friday evening but told his secretary that he couldn't discuss the matter. An assistant superintendent did not return a telephone call.
John Bord, Taylor County's prosecuting attorney, said the county, school system and local police are working together to try to eliminate drug sales at the school.
"This isn't an isolated incident," Bord said Friday. "It's there and we know it's there and we will take all the necessary steps to eradicate it from the school.
"In time, I have confidence in the city police that we will put a hurt on them," Bord added.
Bord said sealed indictments will likely be given to a grand jury in January for several adults who police believe are supplying teen-agers with drugs at Grafton High School.

Tons of tires recycled with help of volunteers

From Staff Reports
More than 30 tons of tire rubber was recycled during Retire Your Tire Day at Meadowbrook Mall, perhaps lessening the common eyesore of tires thrown over hillsides and into rivers.
Workers and volunteers collected used tires from 325 used vehicles between 7 a.m. and noon on Sept. 25. The effort was the first large-scale tire collection in the area in 45 years, said Tom Plevin, sales manager for USA Waste Services of West Virginia.
"Anytime you can recycle 33.8 tons of material for beneficial use, it certainly enhances our environment and the aesthetics of our community," Plevin said. "We were elated with the results."
Volunteers from several community organizations participated in the event, including JROTC cadets, and more than 60 vehicles per hour were processed, he said.
Sponsors and participating organizations included the Bridgeport Police and Fire departments, the Harrison County Solid Waste Authority, the Clarksburg VFW, the Clarksburg Lions Club and the Notre Dame Academy, he said.
Plevin said other sponsors included Garfields, Outback Steakhouse, Wendy's, TCBY and Waldenbooks. "The success of this event was primarily due to the great support we had from volunteer organizations, particularly the JROTC cadets," he said.
"We cannot thank everyone enough for making this such a successful event," added Marcello Lalama, manager of Meadowbrook Mall.