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Murphysboro youths say no to drug culture

BY SCOTT FITZGERALD, the southern

Saturday, March 8, 2008 11:09 PM CST

MURPHYSBORO - A community effort here that has shown success to win back city neighborhoods from drugs and violence is making a name for itself with some important people.

U.S. Attorney Courtney Cox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Robertson were among the approximate 100 attendees Saturday at the second annual Stamping Out Meth And All Drugs (S.O.M.A.A.D.) youth rally at Murphysboro Middle School.

Jackson County Sheriff Bob Burns and Murphysboro Deputy Police Chief Tim Legere attended the rally also along with Mayor Ron Williams.

Each official gave a short address to the audience during intervals of the program that included skits, poetry, rap music and prayer.

Cox spoke about what his office does in its responsibilities as prosecutors for illegal drug cases.

"We put people in prison," Cox said.

It's a job that requires a tough veneer from his assistants and him, but beneath the exterior, Cox said it literally breaks his heart to see what drug offenders are doing with their lives.

They (offenders) get locked up for periods of 30 to 50 years in most cases, and they never get a chance to raise their children if they are parents. They've forfeited chances to experience life joys and literally run the people who care about them most such as spouses and family members, out of their lives, Cox said.

"I'd rather see people not use drugs than having to lock them up. God gave you a body, soul and mind. Drugs destroy those things. I'm glad you're here today, opposing drugs," Cox told the audience.

Roberts spoke about a Project Safe Neighborhoods partnership that U.S. Attorney's offices throughout the country have established with local law enforcement departments and other coalitions.

"We want to provide as much help as we can," Roberts said about the federal prosecutor's Southern District of Illinois partnering with Light House of Faith Ministry and its pastor Judy Patterson of Murphysboro.

Patterson who sat in the audience during the first half of the rally that was led by master of ceremonies Lawrence V. Nolan, overseer for Servants For Christ Outreach Ministries in Murphysboro, is responsible for much of the formation of S.O.M.A.A.D. and exemplifies much of what Roberts spoke about.

Nearly two years earlier, she led a Jericho-inspired march to take back the troubled Bridgewood neighborhood where gun fire rang frequently. Reportedly going face-to-face with known drug offenders, Patterson was quoted later, saying, "I took a strong word. I let them (offenders) know their season was up."

Williams saw the redemption of one of Murphysboro's neighborhoods as the result of Patterson's courage. He fully supports Patterson and others on their mission to save young people in Murphysboro from the harrowing and dangerous drug culture.

"This program (S.O.M.A.A.D.) has come such a long way," Patterson said to young people in the audience. "We had to change the culture. We had to change the way you think."

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

351-5076