Thursday, February 21, 2013

Volume 97; Number 34

www.bladepublishing.net staff@bladepublishing.net

A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560

Browerville Public School announces finalists for superintendent position

75 A prescription for trouble

By Amy Chaffins Reprinted with permission by the Osakis Review The reason for the change from prescription drugs to heroin is that the heroin is cheaper than the prescriptions. Scot Umlauf West Central Narcotics Task Force Locally, theres an increase in heroin use. We have a big problem that we see on the horizon and we need to get [information] out there as quickly as possible, Douglas County Attorney Chad Larson told the Echo Press on Tuesday. We cant ignore it. Heroin is here and the addicts that are using it started with prescription drugs and thats what were seeing here, said Scot Umlauf, commander of the West Central Narcotics Task Force and Douglas Coun-ty Sheriff s Office deputy. Prescription painkillers in particular are a gateway drug to heroin, Umlauf said. Painkillers are opiates, or opiate-based, the same thing as heroin. The reason for the change from prescription drugs to heroin is that the her-oin is cheaper than the pre-scriptions. Its not as available at this point, but it is cheaper, he said. On the street, Umaluf said, agents and informants are handing over as much as $5 per pill for Vicodin, and about $40 per Oxycodone pill. A hit of heroin can go for $20 to $30. Prescription drugs like Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin and others are in peoples homes a place that allows addicts easy access to the opiates. Larson said, We dont want to say that these prescriptions are all bad. But, if theyre not used as they were intended to be, and its not under the supervision of a physician, then weve got problems. People dont equate [opiates] with street drugs or the problems that come along with street drugs, Larson said. More and more people are becoming addicted to opiates and its easier to get on the streets once their supply is cut with the prescriptions. Larson added, It needs to be taken seriously and thats my biggest concern. Opiates will cause dependency, Umlauf said. Theres no stopping it. You cant just shut it off. From 1991 to 2010, the number of prescriptions provided for painkillers in the U.S. increased from 75 million to 209 million. Larson said, That answers part of the question as to why, since 2000, there are four times as many people checking themselves into treatment cen-ters for heroin and prescription opiate addiction.

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTOR SAY PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IS GATEWAY TO HEROIN
LOCAL IMPACT Weve noticed a trend over the years, Umlauf said. What was an East Coast problem is moving this way. Weve had overdoses and overdose deaths here in Alexandria. In Douglas County over the last three years, there have been at least six drug-related overdose deaths and at least four people who survived an overdose, according to Umlauf. Locally, people have been caught shooting up heroin behind the steeringwheel in a vehicle and passing out in parking lots or overdosing in retail store restrooms. Its a public safety concern, Umlauf said. Douglas County Hospital Emergency Room Doctor Dave Odland said he has noted an increase in cases of prescription drug abuse. On the prosecution side, Larson reported that from 2011 to 2012, felony-level sale or possession of prescription drug charges have increased from 12 to 36. Larson said when he started prosecuting, it was rare to have Continued on page 20.

The Browerville Public School is pleased to announce that four finalists will be considered for the position of Superintendent of Schools. These individuals, with experience as educational leaders in Minnesota and North Dakota, provide strong choices to the Browerville Board. The finalists were selected based on criteria developed by the Board and with input from the staff on the characteristics that should be sought. The finalists will be interviewed at the District Office in Browerville on February 28. Rick Bleichner is superintendent for the Breckenridge Public Schools. He has previous superintendent experience in two other Minnesota districts and has served in various administrative and teaching roles in Minnesota and North Dakota during his career. Bleichners resume shows accomplishment in academic achievement and technology improvement. Mitch Jorgensen is an elementary principal with the Langdon, North Dakota schools. Mitch has demonstrated success as a principal and is active in the community. He has experience in school improvement efforts and in the administration of federal programs. Tami Martin is the Executive Director and Principal for the Cross Lake Community School in Cross Lake, Minnesota. She has experience in Minnesota schools as a teacher and program director. Tamis current assignment places her in the lead role for all educational, financial, and operational aspects of the school she serves. Scott Vedbraaten is the superintendent of the Marshall County Central schools where he has served since 2010. He has previous experience as a superintendent and a principal for Hill City. Vedbraatens resume shows a depth of school improvement and community involvement efforts. These candidates bring a variety of skills and experiences to the table. Each has demonstrated success as an educational leader and is a person of good character. The Board will be assisted in the final steps of the screening process by a staff team drawn from volunteers across the school program. Candidates will tour the district and interview with the staff and Board teams prior to the Board making its choice. The new leader is expected to be named by mid-March and is slated to begin in the district in early July when Browerville Superintendent Robert Schaefer will retire.

2013 Relay for Life is July 26th

Relay For Life update
By Severin Blenkush The 2013 edition of the Long Prairie Area Relay For Life kicked off with a committee meeting including some of the team captains on February 7th. This year's Relay will be July 26th at the high school track in Long Prairie. This is the 12th anniversary of the Relay and our Relay is one of 129 that were held in Minnesota last year. Our committee is proud to have raised $463,652 over the previous 11 years to aid in advocacy, education, and research in the fight against cancer. Last year's Relay raised $37,841. Another cancer fund raiser was held at the Browerville High School during the week of February 4 - 8 with the annual Coaches vs. Cancer week. Head boy's basketball coach, Bob Schuelle,r and his wife Joan orchestrated this event, which features a raffle, free throw shooting contest, a "Sign on the Wall" to honor survivors or memories, guessing the number of Starbursts in a jar, and a dance. Local businesses donated prizes and blue t-shirts were sold. This year $2,689 was raised and these funds are included with the Long Prairie Area Relay's final numbers. A special thanks to Bob and Joan and the staff at Browerville High School for hosting this event. Our committee will again host a Survivor's Dinner in June. Invitations will be mailed to survivor's in May for this dinner and one caregiver will also be invited. This event has always been well attended and an enjoyable occasion for those in attendance. Our Relay has an online website at www.relayforlife.org/longprairiemn. Individuals may register teams or make donations at this site. Cancer information is available 24/7 at 1-800-ACS-2345 or online at www.cancer.org. For local information please contact Sev Blenkush at 594-6494.

SPRING EQUINOX March 20, 7:02 A.M. EDT

Tue. Feb. 19
Partly Cloudy/Wind

WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

Wed. Feb. 20 Partly Cloudy 13/4 Thur. Feb. 21 Snow Showers 16/15 Fri. Feb. 22 Snow Showers 22/15 Sat. Feb. 23 Partly Cloudy 18/10 Sun. Feb. 24 Cloudy 25/18

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