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http://hjnews.townnews.com/
Looking for a way to pat themselves on the back, members of the Cache-Rich Drug Task Force decided the easiest way would be to wear their accomplishments on their back.
Logan City Police Officer Jeff Simmons recently was promoted to sergeant in the department's patrol division, and with the change in duties, left behind his job as a task force agent. As sort of a going-away present, the task force created a T-shirt that lists 100 search warrants the group served from April 2004 to August 2005.
"There's strike forces in Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County that don't have that many (search warrants served)," Logan Police Sgt. Bret Randall said. "We just wanted to let the bad guys know that we're coming."
The Cache-Rich Drug Task Force is charged with investigating drug use in the two counties and, after gathering enough evidence to obtain a search warrant, making arrests of drug users. The group searched about 100 homes during the 17-month period detailed on the shirt, which was the most they've ever done in such a time period.
Randall said each search warrant requires about five hours of paperwork, then agents have to serve the warrant and search homes for substances such as marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and oxycontin. He said the T-shirts, which include the words "Coming to a door near you," were a fun way to acknowledge the work agents on the task force have done.
"We're working hard and taking drugs off the streets," Randall said. "We've got to make the druggies aware."
Harry Brand
September 8 2005, 08:54:08 UTC 6 years ago
Groups say themed T-shirt not appropriate for school
Harry Brandhttp://www.ktuu.com/
Anchorage, Alaska - School is just around the corner and that means many retailers are gearing up with back-to-school sales. However, one of those national retailers is now in hot water for some of the alcohol-themed clothing they are selling.
Corona. Miller Lite. Guinness. To the left of the ad, the J.C. Penney logo appears, with an arrow and a caption that reads “after school: powering their potential.”
“As we were coming down the stairs, I noticed another section of hoodies and I started to call (my son’s) attention to it, but then I noticed they had all Corona and different alcohol on them, so it just wasn't appropriate,” said Karen Kirn, a J.C. Penney shopper.
J.C. Penney catalogs throughout the nation are featuring beer-themed and beer logo T-shirts, and it's all part of their back-to-school sale. Those ads and similar ones like it that have appeared across the nation, getting organizations such as the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving questioning the message it is sending to students.
“This is a back-to-school ad and with clothing and other items for kids, predominantly going back to school, but it’s advertising alcohol logo T-shirts and, of course, the drinking age is 21,” said Marti Greeson of the Anchorage chapter of MADD. “Alaska has the highest rates of alcohol consumption per capita in our nation.”
The local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving isn't the only one questioning the ads. The Marin Institute out of California, another group that works to prevent underage drinking, also has concerns.
“When you’ve got a major national retailers like J.C. Penney helping Budweiser get a logo on a young person's chest, not only do we know that young people are more likely to be underage drinkers, the ones who own and wear that kind of merchandise, but they become a walking billboard all day long,” said Laurie Leiber of the Marin Institute.
“I would prefer not to see something like this in the back-to-school advertising,” Kirn said.
Nineteen-year-old Cail Fujimoto says he doesn't think the shirts themselves will encourage underage drinking; however, he was surprised by the ads.
“There's so many beer ads everywhere -- TV, blimps, magazines -- but this is probably a good one to start with, definitely a good one to fight, a back-to-school sale with beer advertisements,” Fujimoto said.
So what can consumers do?
“If they have a J.C. Penney store in their community, to visit the store and talk to the manager about it. Tell them that they’re not happy with this if they’re uncomfortable with it, and ask them to remove the merchandise from the floor,” Leiber said.
But MADD officials say they have spoken to J.C. Penney about getting the T-shirts moved.
“Here locally I did ask that this kind of product be removed from the shelves, at least where they’re carrying it in the boys’ clothing department,” Greeson said.
KTUU-TV was referred by the local J.C. Penney to call the corporate office to voice concerns. None of the calls were returned.
Harry Brand
September 8 2005, 08:59:02 UTC 6 years ago
T-shirt brings them running to Tupelo
Harry BrandBrothers spread positive T-shirt vibes9/2/2005 7:39:54 AM
Daily Journal
Tupelo Marathon
What: 24th annual 26.2-mile and 14.2-mile runs
When: 5 a.m. Sunday
Where: Tupelo
Registration: 1-5 p.m. Saturday at Trails and Trends, 1715 McCullough Boulevard.
Entry fee: $50 marathon, $40 14.2-miler
By GENE PHELPS
Daily Journal
TUPELO - Mike Lail knows exactly why distance runners from as far away as the West Coast converge here every Labor Day weekend for the annual Tupelo Marathon.
It's the unique skull and crossbones long-sleeved shirt.
"The T-shirt's the No. 1 draw," said Lail, who is in his sixth year as race director. "Everybody wants the shirt."
This year's 24th annual marathon and half marathon, the premier events sponsored by the Tupelo Running Club, are scheduled to step off at 5 a.m. Sunday, starting and finishing at the Tupelo Furniture Market's Mississippi building, located at the corner of Coley Road and Chesterville Road.
Chuck Engle of Clinton raced to victory in 2 hours, 42 minutes, 23 seconds to win last year. Runners from 14 states, including Mississippi and Washington, participated in the event.
Sarah Llaguna of Raleigh, N.C., was the female overall winner in 2:59.36.
Lail said Tupelo's marathon is only one of three being conducted in the United States this weekend.
"We've got a lot of runners called 50-staters, who run marathons in every state," he said. "This is usually a good time for them to come to Mississippi."
As of Thursday, 286 runners had pre-registered. Lail expects another "30 or so" between now and Saturday's 1-5 p.m. registration/packet pickup at Trails and Trends in Tupelo. In years past, as many as 100 have signed up on packet pickup day.
The entry fee is $50 for the marathon and $40 for the half marathon. Both fees include a T-shirt.
Lail said Hurricane Katrina could have an effect on the number of runners participating Sunday.
"I've had a lot of e-mails wanting to know if we're still running," he said. "We've had some from Florida and South Alabama who may not make it. Some have said they are not coming and instead giving up their motel room to someone (Katrina refugees) who needs it.
"We are worried about our accommodations here for those who don't have a room. Tupelo's full."
The Tupelo Running Club will have a table set up to collect funds for the American Red Cross and the victims of Katrina. The TRC plans to match the funds collected.