For Immediate Release
September 23, 2005
Contact: Anna Gustafson
717-787-2637
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Rhoades Presents Schuylkill County District Attorney's Office with $25,000 Grant

POTTSVILLE – Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) today presented Schuylkill County District Attorney, Frank Cori with a check for $25,000 for the Schuylkill County Narcotics Enforcement Team to provide a much-needed upgrade in equipment.

The funding was awarded through the Department of Community and Economic Development's Community Revitalization grant program.  The program's primary goal is to help local governments, non-profit organizations and industrial development agencies work to improve their local communities, said Rhoades.

"The District Attorney's office recognized the need to reorganize the Narcotics Team in 2003. Under D.A. Cori's direction, the team has become a liaison between Homeland Security and local, state and federal government agencies," said Rhoades. "This funding will go to better equip the team with upgraded technology, communications and safety gear that will increase efficiency in future investigations."

Accepting the check, District Attorney Cori stated, "I am very grateful to Senator Rhoades for this generous grant to assist our anti-drug program. It underscores the Senator's commitment to combating drugs in Schuylkill County and I am proud to partner with him in this effort.  The extraordinary success which SNET has achieved is a result of the combined efforts of state and local law enforcement and this grant goes a long way to maintaining that success."

According to Cori, since the inception of the Narcotics Team in 2003, the unit has conducted over 87 investigations in the county related to drug activities. As a result of these investigations, 28 people have been charged with violations of the Controlled Substance Drug Device and Cosmetic Act, with an additional 14 cases still pending in Schuylkill County.

"I am pleased to present this grant to District Attorney Cori," Rhoades said.  "This funding will provide investigators with the tools that they need to conduct the necessary investigations that will continue to keep our communities safe."