Substance Abuse

By DON AINES Staff Writer, Martinsburg MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Charles Frederick wants everyone to know the Naked Truth. He might even tell you about it with a song. Frederick, 58, of Hedgesville, has been a songwriter and singer, a professor, football coach and drug counselor among other things. The Naked Truth seminar series, he explained, "is an effort in assisting people with the increasing stresses in their lives. " "Whatever is happening - in nature or in government - is having an impact in their lives, whether they're aware of it or not," Frederick explained Tuesday at his rustic home.

pepperb@herald-mail.com A 15-year-old boy Wednesday admitted in juvenile court to a New Year's assault after a judge determined that his case would not be sent to adult court. Upon the youth's admission, Washington County Circuit Judge Frederick C. Wright III, sitting in juvenile court, ordered that the boy be placed at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, a noncommunity residential placement facility outside Baltimore. "It is only because of your age and the desire of this court to implement what might be available through the Department of Juvenile Services to modify your behavior that this court is keeping its jurisdiction here rather than waiving its jurisdiction to adult court, which is also mean," Wright told the youth.

Washington County Community Partnership gets grant for services By SCOTT BUTKI scottb@herald-mail.com A state grant of almost $900,000 will help the Washington County Community Partnership for Children and Families create services to assist children and teenagers who are at risk in the school system, as well as some involved in the juvenile justice system. The $896,640 grant comes from the Governor's Office for Crime Control and Prevention, John Budesky, community partnership director, said Thursday.

The Community Foundation of Washington County Inc. has applications available for grants from the unrestricted Community Fund in May 2006. Grants are given to programs and activities addressing the strength, safety and security of families, including the areas of child abuse, teen pregnancy, substance abuse and domestic violence. Proposal of Interest Forms may be obtained at the foundation's office, 120 West Washington St., Suite 300, or by calling 301-745-5210 or by e-mail at cfwc@hagcomfound.

A Boonsboro man pleaded guilty Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court to armed robbery in connection with an August incident at a bank ATM. Kelvin Jay Wade II, 26, hit a teenager over the head with a metal pipe and robbed him at the ATM, court records show. Washington County Circuit Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. sentenced Wade to 15 years in prison with all but eight years suspended, with credit for time already served in jail. Wade must serve four years of supervised probation upon his release and be evaluated for substance abuse, Long ordered.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - A Jefferson County, W.Va., drug-abuse prevention organization has received $100,000 in federal funds to help it continue trying to turn youths away from drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse. The funding, announced by U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., helps the FOCUS Coalition continue offering classes on substance abuse and conducting after-school programs, said Christa Shifflett, executive director of the group. At local elementary schools, FOCUS representatives offer lessons during the school day in hopes of drawing the students to similar programs after school, Shifflett said.

Al-Anon/Alateen family groups Hagerstown and Frederick, Md., areas. This is an anonymous, confidential support group for anyone affected by the drinking of a family member or friend. Call 301-663-6626. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Md. 77 Today, weigh-in at 7:30 a.m., exercise at 8:30, meeting at 9:30. First Christian Church, 1345 Potomac Ave., Hagerstown. Call 301-223-8143. Headway Today. This group offers support for persons living with brain injury.

Education reform, substance abuse treatment, related incarceration costs and state budget cuts were among the most heavily discussed issues at the 2013 Legislative Outlook luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Martinsburg. About 150 people turned out for the annual Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce program, which featured remarks by state Sens. John Unger, D-Berkeley, Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, Herb Snyder, D-Jefferson, the Eastern Panhandle's 10 members in the 100-member House of Delegates and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's regional representative, Stephanie Mathias.

Neighborhood news The seventh annual Frederick County Youth Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention Summit Tuesday at Hood College, Frederick, Md. Approximately 400 students representing 21 Frederick County public and private schools, along with 75 community leaders, will explore various issues concerning substance abuse. The theme is "'98, It's Not Too Late. " Throughout the day, students will participate in different workshops, including warning signs of substance abuse and addiction, peer pressure, violent crime, vandalism, youth activities and juvenile crime.

Substance abuse seminar Hagerstown Community College's Center for Continuing Education is offering a one-day seminar on substance abuse from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in The Merle S. Elliott Continuing Education and Conference Center on HCC's main campus. The seminar, "Complexities of Substance Abuse in the Clinical Setting," will cover topics including differentiating abuse and dependency, theories regarding the causes of abuse and addiction, common risk factors, behavioral indicators, contributing co-occurring disorders, intervention methods and therapeutic treatment approaches, matching treatment to individual needs, and treating the family as well as case studies in child, adolescent, adult and geriatric populations.