Meth Awareness in Westport 

On Thursday, March 6 at 7 p.m. the Westport Christian Church will be hosting "Meth Awareness Night." The event is free and open to everyone in the community and surrounding areas. State Trooper Chip Ayers of the Indiana State Police Methamphetamine Task Force will be the evening's speaker. 

Methamphetamine or "Meth" as it is known, is a drug that has or will most likely effect every person in America some way or another.  We have already seen a change in the way we buy common cold or allergy medicines.  We now must show a photo identification card in order to buy over the counter medication with Sudafed as it is one of the ingredients used to manufacture the drug. It has destroyed families, has begun to break down society and has cost all of us. Our children are at risk as doctors tell us that Meth rewires the brain. While recovery may be possible, the brain will never be the same. 

"Every parent should be fully equipped as possible to deal with what has been described as a drug which is worse than heroin" said Westport Christian Church minister Mike Bartlett. "Be smart, be aware, be equipped. I have heard Westport has a drug problem. If that is the case, then we need to do something about it because it will not go away on its own. But the truth is, not only does Westport have a drug problem, Decatur County has a drug problem" said Bartlett. Decatur County ranked 2nd in the state for Meth for police actions for more than 2 years. Bartlett believes it is now time to join together as a community to educate and to equip our community.  

Seating is limited so arrive early. For more information call, 812-591-3807 or visit their website at http://www.westportchristianchurch.com.

Pictured above are the winners of the Bicycle Raffle held by the Westport Police Dept (l to r) Jake Ogle, Erica Glunt, Officer Cathy Hastings, Sean Staples, Police Chief Todd Hampton, Jessica Cunningham and Office Michael Stone. Bicycles and helmets were donated by Wal-Mart in Greensburg.

Westport Focuses on Health & Safety

On Saturday, May 5, Decatur County Memorial Hospital's Westport Clinic along with The Independent Westport Area Business Association presented the first annual Westport Clinic's Health and Safety Fair. Hundreds of residents from across the county were treated to valuable health and safety tips from Decatur County Memorial Hospital and local groups. Visitors learned about many valuable programs available in the County such as Mammography testing, Spirit of Women Program, Home Health Care, Cardiac Rehab, TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), tips on how to stop smoking, as well as having the opportunity to have their blood pressure taken and free blood tests for sugar counts and cholesterol. Other local vendors present included the Bass & Gasper Funeral Home, Decatur County Solid Waste, Anytime Fitness, Stanley Home Products, Westport's Dairy Queen, T.I.W.A.B.A., Center for Redirections, Inc. and Tupperware by Cynthia Gasper. 

The Westport Police Department conducted educational information sessions for the children to promote bicycle safety. Riley Hospital donated hand-outs on bicycle safety along with pocket size first aid kits. Four bicycles and helmets were given away thanks to the generous donation through a grant from Wal-Mart. Winners of the bikes and helmets were Erica Glunt, age 5 from Economy, Jake Ogle, age 6 and Jessica Cunningham, age 12 both from Westport and Sean Staples, age 15 from Butlerville.  

Visitors who stopped at each booth had their entry card validated from the vendor, then took the card and participated in the Spirit of Women's "Walk For Spirit Program" to the Westport Clinic. At the clinic they got to meet the staff, tour the facility, sample some healthy grilled food and snacks and enter their card in a drawing for a new gas grill, compliments of the Westport Clinic.