Moses Lake puts up a fight against meth
Moses Lake joins Herald to educate public
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council agreed to hop on board with the Columbia Basin Herald and other entities to stop methamphetamine use.
The council approved paying $2,510 to join the three-month public service campaign during the regular meeting Tuesday night.
The state attorney general, the city of Ephrata and Samaritan Healthcare are some of the groups partnering with the Herald.
The campaign entails education about methamphetamine. The project includes two tabloids used to educate youth in the school system and at home. There is also a contest for a Playstation 3 for a youth who can come up with the most effective anti-meth message.
"It is my hope the kids go through the publications for ideas and to learn," Herald Publisher Harlan Beagley said. "Education is really the only tool we have."
Beagley explained the impact of the drug on Moses Lake.
"There's a lot of different gateway drugs to get hooked," he said. "The problem is it kills a lot of people."
The council agreed methamphetamine use in Moses Lake is a problem.
"It's the root of the good, bad and the evil," councilmember Dick Deane said.
Councilmember Bill Ecret offered his personal help for the issue. He said he would assist Beagley in educating about the drug in the school system.
The drug causes issues for Moses Lake Police.
"Most of these people are addicted to meth so it is a significant issue," Police Chief Dean Mitchell said.
He said many of the people who steal from businesses are addicted to the drug.
Most methamphetamine is originating from Mexico, he said. The importation of methamphetamine to Moses Lake is growing larger than cocaine and marijuana, he added.
Initially the council declined to take action on the issue. There was a misconception the city could have trouble with the auditor for joining the already established campaign. Upon joining the project, the city requested a letter describing what the money was going toward to alleviate the concern.