Garrett County taking part in Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Sept. 05-- The Drug Enforcement Administration and government, community, public health and law enforcement partners have announced a nationwide prescription drug "Take-Back" initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Garrett County law enforcement is taking part in the nationwide initiative with the participation of the Garrett County Health Department, Garrett County Sheriff's Office and the Garrett County State's Attorneys Office.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them both potential safety and health hazards.

"Today we are launching a first-ever National Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign that will provide a safe way for Americans to dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs," said Michele M. Leonhart, acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. "This effort symbolizes DEA's commitment to halting the disturbing rise in addiction caused by their misuse and abuse. Working together with our state and local partners, the medical community, anti-drug coalitions and a concerned public, we will eliminate a major source of abused prescription drugs, and reduce the hazard they pose to our families and communities in a safe, legal and environmentally sound way."

"With this National Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign, we are aggressively reaching out to individuals to encourage them to rid their households of unused prescription drugs that pose a safety hazard and can contribute to prescription drug abuse," said Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler. "The Department of Justice is committed to doing everything we can to make our communities safer, and this initiative represents a new front in our efforts."

"Prescription drug abuse is the nation's fastest-growing drug problem, and take-back events like this one are an indispensable tool for reducing the threat that the diversion and abuse of these drugs pose to public health," said Director of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske. "The federal, state and local collaboration represented in this initiative is key in our national efforts to reduce pharmaceutical drug diversion and abuse."

Collection sites in every local community can be found by going to www.dea.gov. This site will be continuously updated with new take-back locations. Other participants in this initiative include the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; the Partnership for a Drug-Free America; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the Federation of State Medical Boards; and the National District Attorneys Association.

For further information regarding drop off sites in Garrett County, contact Nancy Brady, 301-334-7777 health department; Lt. Rob Corley, 301-334-1911 Sheriff's Office, or Lisa Welch, states attorney 301-334-1974.

To see more of the Cumberland Times News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.times-news.com

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website - competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Three seek Garrett Sheriff position

Corley wants to cooperate with state police with GBI
Jeffrey Alderton
Cumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — Garrett County sheriff’s candidate Robert E. Corley, a Republican who is a lieutenant in the department, said he is seeking the office “to give to the public in a more official capacity, just as I have given throughout my career.

“The sheriff’s office belongs to the people, not the sheriff, and I just hope they entrust me to manage it for them. I believe in the people of this county, and I know I can bring good things,” said Corley, who has served in the sheriff’s office for the past 15 years.

A graduate of Fairmont State College, Corley is a Maryland state-certified accident reconstruction specialist and a state-certified polygraph operator. He is also a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School.

Corley is assigned as the assistant jail administrator in the sheriff’s office and has served in the department in various capacities, including patrol supervisor, hostage negotiator, grant manager, community services administrator and as officer in charge of the county’s sex offender registry. He has also conducted the department's drug awarenesss and education program in Garrett County schools and in the public for the past 10 years.

If elected, Corley said he would monitor the office budget closely. “We have to really watch the finances to best benefit the sheriff’s office and, more importantly, the citizens of Garrett County.

“One thing I would eliminate that would save money is the use of off-duty vehicles for personal use. I don’t think it is effective spending to continue that policy, and it is not fair to the public.

“I would also keep intact the north and south end coverages and the town patrols, provided, of course, that the manpower is available.

“I would also like to see the Garrett Bureau of Investigation to come back into play, involving the Maryland State Police again and the state’s attorney’s office investigator. I personally believe having Maryland State Police involved combines our resources, networking and provides better service to the public.

“I also want to enhance the uniform patrol of the sheriff’s office by creating a more structured chain of command that will improve the patrol performance,” he said.

Concerning the sheriff’s office relationship with Maryland State Police, Corley said, “I can promise to make an effort to build a positive relationship with Maryland State Police. We will be more than willing to share our resources with them whenever they are needed. I’d like to see a good, positive relationship between the sheriff’s office and Maryland State Police.”

Corley also said he wants to have a “good working relationship” with the media.

“I have spent the last 10 years as the public education liaison for the sheriff’s office and have spent most of my career talking to the public. I will continue to do that. It’s a very useful tool in keeping the public informed and educated. I will also continue to serve on drug and alcohol awareness and education committees.”

Corley said he intends to attend town and county meetings at least once a month — “not only to hear the issues from the officials but to hear the citizens attending those meetings. I intend to work with the county commissioners to build a more positive working relationship.

“I’m not in it for one term. This is a commitment to the citizens as well as the sheriff’s office. I have 15 years invested in a 25-year career and if I don’t meet the expectation of the citizens in four years they will elect a new sheriff and I will have lost everything I've worked for. But if I am elected and do meet their expectations and do stand behind my commitments, they will re-elect me.”

As for his mentors, Corley said retired Sheriff Dick Sanders and current Sheriff Gary Berkebile are among them.

“I have never worked for a finer individual than Dick Sanders. The public loved him, and he was a very public person as sheriff. I was hired by him in 1995, and he recognized my ability to talk with people and put me in a position that allowed me to build positive relationships with the citizens of the county.

“Sheriff Berkebile promoted me to the rank of lieutenant and also continued to allow me to advance in my career. Sheriff Berkebile has also had a positive influence on me throughout my career, and he supports me in my bid to be elected sheriff.”

Corley and wife Sharon are the parents of two daughters, Madison, 13, and Sydney, 9. The family resides in Oakland.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website - competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

GC Patrol Cars All Receive AED Units From POA

courtesy Republican News


Oct. 23, 2008

Thanks to the Property Owners Association of Deep Creek Lake, all Garrett County sheriff's deputy patrol vehicles are now equipped with automatic electronic defibrillators (AED). The POA made a donation of $20,000 in memory of Judge Fred A. Thayer, who died in the spring of 2007 as the result of a heart attack.
The announcement of the donation was originally made last November, but because of government paperwork changes at the time, the AED units were months from becoming a reality. They have now been distributed throughout the county to all patrol vehicles, with all deputies trained to use them. The idea behind the donation is that deputies can now offer to a victim a greater chance of surviving cardiac arrest.

Reportedly only about 5 percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest survive, with victims of every age, including infants and the elderly. If victims receive CPR and AED shock within 3 minutes of collapse, the survival rate can increase up to 74 percent.

Sudden cardiac arrest is usually caused by an electrical malfunction that makes the heart quiver in a deadly rhythm called ventricular fibrillation. A lifesaving pulse of electricity is the single most effective way to restore the heart's normal rhythm, noted a spokesperson. This donation has made it possible for deputies to respond to a cardiac arrest and be equipped to handle it in the most beneficial manner possible for the survival of the victim. They can offer assistance before emergency medical crews may be able to arrive.

It has been agreed among the Garrett County commissioners that the maintenance expense associated with the AED units will be funded by the commissioners. The hope is that additional AED units will be obtained to complete the sheriff's office fleet. There will be training and retraining headed and coordinated by Dep. John Frank.

Judge Fred Thayer was a past president of the Property Owners Association and was conducting POA business the day he died. The rural vastness of Garrett County was a contributing factor in his death, said the spokesperson, as he did not receive aid timely enough to effect a life-saving outcome. The POA decided then to improve the survival chance for others in a similar situation. The project was headed by Scott Johnson, president of POA, and Lou Battistella, secretary of POA.


If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350