The Colquitt Lions Club members and guests recent heard a report from the Pataula Drug Task Force commander.
ASAC Mark A. Pro, Georgia Bureau of Investigation officer detached to be Commander of the Pataula Drug Force, gave the crowd a report on what the agency is doing.
Commander Pro thanked the Lions for allowing him to come and speak to the club on the activities of the Pataula Drug Task Force. He also thanked Sheriff H.E. "Buddy" Glass and Chief Scott Worsley for asking him to come speak to the club.
He stated that the Pataula Drug Task Force office is located in Colquitt next to the Miller County Jail.
Commander Pro stated that the Pataula Drug Task Force covers a large area of Southwest Georgia which includes the counties of Miller, Seminole, Calhoun, Early, Clay, Quitman, Randolph, Webster and the cites of Colquitt, Dawson, Jakin, Damascus, Cuthbert, Shellman and Fort Gaines.
The speaker stated that the Pataula Drug Task Force operates on a budget consisting of 75% federal and 25% cash match by those counties and cities served.
Commander Pro stated that the mission of the task force is to assist local agencies in the fight against illegal drug traffic.
Pro gave some of the statistics for the Pataula Drug Task Force for the past three years.
For FY 2003, there were 105 cases opened with 65 arrests. For FY 2004, there were 231 cases opened, and 177 arrests made. For FY 2005, there have been 333 cases made with 253 arrests made.
In this area, methamphetamine cases seem to be stabilizing; the records show that this type drug traffic is not increasing.
Commander Pro indicated that the task force expends a good portion of the funds and agents’ time to fight the sale and manufacture of methamphetamine. These cases are not only the most dangerous for the agents, but for the general public.
Many states, including Georgia, have enacted laws restricting the sale of common cold medicines like Sudafed, and nationwide, the police are telling merchants to be suspicious of sales of charcoal, coffee filters, aluminum foil and Kitty Litter. Walgreens agreed this week to pay $1.3 million for failing to monitor the sale of over-the-counter cold medicine that was bought by a methamphetamine dealer in Texas.
Commander Pro stated that the fight against illegal methamphetamine cases take much time and effort to make good cases. He requested that anyone who has knowledge of suspected illegal drug activity to call 1-800-344-5025, and the task force officers will check it out and keep the source of the information confidential.

We are always proud of our military people for the many sacrifices, services and acts of bravery that they perform each day and each of the years that they serve us and our country. We are especially proud to tell when one of our very own is honored.
Major Carol M. Fields, better known to people in Miller County as the former Carol Bush, was presented the Bronze Star by Lt. General "Jack" Hudson, Aeronautical Systems Center Commander at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Major Fields has been in the U.S. Air Force for 13 1/2 years. She has been station at Hurlburt Field in Florida, Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, Peterson Air Force Bas in Colorado, and Brooks City Base in Texas. Her convoy survived a direct attack in a vehicle born improvised explosive device (VBIED) while traveling in downtown Baghdad. She currently serves as the deputy director of Contracting for Human Systems Group.
The major has also traveled by convoy and Blackhawk helicopter over much of Iraq training Iraqi police cadets who aid the U.S. Coalition forces.
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Army of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; or while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
The following narrative was read when the Bronze Star was presented:
Major Fields, United States Air Force, distinguished herself by exceptionally meritorious achievement as the Chief, Coalition Police Assistance Training Team, Security and Justice Sector Contracting, Joint Contracting Command-Iraq, form 3 March to July 12 2005 during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
During this period, Major Fields provided outstanding, unwavering leadership to a team responsible for executing and administering contracts valued at over 725 million dollars to prosecute the coalition counterinsurgency and reconstruction campaign in Iraq.
Leading from the front as the contracting officer, she awarded four security and training source selections valued at 105 million dollars, three life support source selections valued at 70 million dollars, and multiple award contracts for weapons and ammunition with a collective total ceiling of 300 million dollars.
Her actions directly enabled mission success for the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, providing critical training, base life support, weapons and ammunition, and perimeter security for over 40,000 Iraqi Police Service, Department of Border Enforcements, and Diplomatic Protection Service Trainees attending coalition sponsored Iraqi Public Service Training Academies.
Of particular note, was Major Fields' administration to the 74 million dollar Counter Terrorism-Special Operations Training contract, serving a program which the Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq Commander declared his number one priority, then hailed a total success.
Graduates of this program conducted successful multilateral operations to capture high value terrorist cell targets and defuse explosive crisis situations. Lasting effects included the replacement of coalition forces by Iraqi police teams, accelerating the transition of authority to Iraqi control and the establishment of close personal protection for the Iraqi Judiciary and Counsel of Judges and other dignitaries.
Major Fields leaned forward to deliver on the spot direct mission support where and when contractor performance deteriorated.
On more than one occasion, while traveling via ground convoy or combat helicopter missions into high danger areas throughout Iraq, she came under direct attack from small arms fire and Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices.
Despite the threat of extreme danger, she was successful in correcting horrid life support deficiencies and gross force protection negligence by putting eyes on target then taking swift and decisive action.
Major Fields was instrumental in establishing security and justice in Iraq's hostile, volatile environment. Her actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon herself, the Joint Contracting Command-Iraq, the United States Air Force and the Department of Defense.
Carol graduated first in her class from SGA in the Class of 1988. She graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992. She is married to Jeffrey L. Fields, and they have six children; Samantha, 16; Kayla, 15; Nicki, 14, Kristopher, 10; Rachel, 9, and Abigail, 6.
Major Fields is the daughter of Dianne and Milton Johnson and the late Ted Bush. She is blessed by a host of relatives from the Colquitt area including her siblings, Leslie Godwin, Adam Bush and Darren Dolan. Carol is almost as proud of her uncles, Tubby Dancer and Buddy Bush, and her aunt, Dottie Chandler, as they are of her.
When interviewed Major Fields was asked what she thought of the war in Iraq.
She answered that she thought that we needed to be there and that our armed services were doing a great job for the U.S.A. and the freedom of the Iraqi people.
Basically, this same answer has come from every military person that has been interviewed from this area of the country.
This newspaper and Carol's many friends from this area are proud of people who serve their nation and other people in the world to protect the freedoms that many take for granted.
She is wished continued success and safety in her career in the service to the United States of America.

Week of December 25, 2005