Operation Denial
Singler Cracks Down
by Larry Taylor
"The basis of Operation
Denial is to deny the use of the
traffic of drugs on our public
highways, streets, thoroughfares,
public buildings, parks, or any
other tax-supported areas or
right-of-ways that are paid for
by the public."
This is Medford Mayor
William Singler's explanation of
his city's new anti-drug program,
Operation Denial. In an
interview, the Rogue News
obtained details of the program.
Hitchiking-target of Operation
Hitchhiking is one target of
Operation Denial. According to
Singler, "25 percent of all
hitchhikers on the road are
wanted for something." When
asked about the source of those
figures, Singler said, "I got them
from a local enforcement
agency ."
Another facet of Operation
Denial is a phone line for
reporting drug law violations.
Mayor Singler explained this:
"(It) is a communication system
available. . . on a 24-hour basis
to any person who would like to
. . . let us know of any drug
traffic that they arc aware of . . .
OAJtWIScKdoL
n
VOL. 19. NO. 2
Ashland
Band, Choir
Musicians To
All-State Band and Concert
Choir selections have been made.
Five choir and four band
students have been chosen from
Ashland. It began today in
Portland and ends Saturday.
The band students selected
include: Dean Fortmiller,
trumpet; Phil Hartley, baritone
horn; Dan Stearns, clarinet; and
Arden Strycker. flute. The boys
left today for Lewis and Clark
College, where the final concert
will be held for music educators
and the general public.
Peter Dodge, tenor; Dan
J anvil, tenor; Gary Sargenti,
bass; Kathy Taylor, soprano;
Phil Thompson, bass were
chosen for the choir. The band
All-Stale Concert Choir members pose briefly before leaving for
Portland where they will begin rehearsals for the concert to be held
October 9. Members are (L to R) Peter Dodge, Dan Jarrell, Gary
Saregenti, and Phil Thompson (Not Pictured is kathy Taylor).
In other words, if you . . . saw a
'hit-and-run' case, would you or
would you not call the police
and let them know who hit this
person and ran? So, too, with
drugs, which is, of course, a
flagrant vioxation of the law. If
they see any of it going on, I
think it's up to the citizen ... to
advise the proper officials . . .
That information we screen very
carefully, and that which the
police can use we give to the
police."
Singler Defends Phone Line
The Fifth Amendment to the
United States Constitution
guarantees the right of a citizen
on trial to face his accuser. When
asked if his phone line, with its
anonymous informants, would
violate this right, Singler replied:
"Of course, for years
government at all levels has been
dealing with anonymous
information. The police
department, for instance, all the
time receives anonymous phone
calls. This isn't any different
than any type of information
that they receive".
Rehabilitation is usually
considered a vital part of any
drug control program. The
Rogue News asked Singler if any
n imp "
High School, Ashland, Ore.
, T 'Vl JSWVU" w W
Xi 2JSJ
Attend All State Conference
and choir members will rehearse
for two days in Beaverton. The
choir will then go to Lewis and
Clark College for the final
concert with the band.
The band conductor this year
will be Frank Bencriscutto from
the University of Oregon, along
with Maurice Skones from
Pacific Lutheran College, who
will be conducting the choir.
"It's a life-time experience for
most of them to perform under
a professional conductor,"
stated Mr. Ruth. "It's an elating
experience for the student to
sing in a choir of 300-400
students."
To be selected for All-State, a
student niust receive top grades,
On Drugs
rehabilitation program was
included in Operation Denial.
"This is not intended to be
rehabilitational, educational, or
any of that," he responded.
"The program is intended to
plug a void area which has not
been covered up to this time by
any people dealing in drugs. We
have educational centers,
therapy centers, and all ypes of
people and groups that are
concerned about the problem.
But there really hasn't been any
emphasis on law enforcement."
Singler summarized his
program's goals: "We who are
working in Operation Denial are
only trying to do one thing, and
that is to get citizen support for
the curtailment ... of the
distribution of drugs. We are out
specifically for the pusher . . .
(We) are not concerned with the
addict, or the person that has . .
. (already) been sucked under by
the drug . . . (That ) is up to the
people that are in rehabilitation .
. . (We want to cut down on the
traffic of drugs, and . those
people who distribute the drugs.
The only way . . . (to) do this is
through the proper law
enforcement agencies . . ."
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1971
be a top musician and have a
recommendation from his
teachers. Then the contestants
record the required exercises,
scales and songs. The tapes are
sent to the organizing chairman,
where the best are selected from
all over the state.
When asked, Mr. Maddox
stated, "performing in an
All-State group is a
once-in-a-life-time experience.
They're placed next to students
with equal or better talent, and
it demands their best
performance."
r n ran a n sz
b Ml II l Ml It
Clubs To Hold Smorgasbord Today
Club Display Day is being
held today, October 7. Students
will have a chance to view the
displays 20 minutes before,
during and 20 minutes after
lunch.
This event is an Inter-Club
Council function. Its purpose is
to familiarize students with
various school clubs, to give
them some idea of what each
club does, and to encourage club
membership.
Many clubs will hand out
literature at their displays
explaining their purpose and
activities. Some groups may take
advantage of the opportunity to
make money.
Participating organizations
include the American Field
Service, Chess Club, Drama
Club, Flag Girls, Future Business
Leaders of America, Future
p iL V"
Drug Problems Treated
By Open Door Ex-Users
by Rick Stanek
and Larry Taylor
Open Door, an organization
which many students have heard
of but few really know about,
was set up to work exclusively
with "drug and drug-related
problems." Their address is 227
N. Oakdale in Medford, and
their phone number is 779-5926.
The purpose of Open Door is
to " give kids a place to go"
when they are confronted with a
drug problem, explained Bruce
Martinsen, counselor at Open
Door. Martinsen further stated,
"we run a 24-hour switchboard;
we run a 24-hour open house."
Ten counselors volunteer their
time to Open Door. All of them
are ex-users, and are experienced
in all kinds of drugs. At least
two counselors are at the house
at all times.
Free Food Available
Free food and housing
services are also provided.
Donations keep Open Door
running. 14 different agencies
support Open Door; among
them are the F.mployment
Service, Family and Child
Guidance Center, the Welfare
Medical Careers Club, Honor
Society, Key Club, Letterman's
Club, Spades Club, and Spanish
Club.
There will be several
interesting exhibits. Two of note
are the Chess Club and the
Drama Club. The Chess Club has
invited league Secretary Harry
Glidden to demonstrate his
ability to play two or more chess
games simultaneously.
The Drama Club will
entertain students with the
"B-17 Theatre," which will
consist of short skits and musical
presentations.
The general feeling among the
club presidents is that Club
Display Day is an excellent idea
and will be very helpful in
acquainting students with the
high school's clubs.
Office, Aid to Dependent
Children (ADC) program and
Planned Parenthood.
Also available are ten doctors
on call and several lines to
lawyers to deal with any
problems of a medical or legal
nature. The Juvenile Department
also works with Open Door, but
they do not turn anyone intothe
Juvenile Department or the
police.
"Police don't enter the house
as long as we're straight, so we
don't want people to bring dope
in," Martinsen explained.
"We work hand-in-hand with
all the other agencies,"
continued Martinsen. He was
referring to the Hl-.LP line
(779-4357), the youth center,
and Lost Creek Newspaper.
Plans Ashland Visit
Martinsen said that, "We'll be
speaking at various schools"
around the valley. When asked if
they plan to speak at Ashland
High, he said, "We'll be speaking
in Ashland for sure."
Spade Club Created
Students now have a chance to
instruct others on a one-to-one
basis and receive academic credit
for it, through the Spades Club.
Spades Club will have its first
meeting Monday, October 11, at
3:30.
Mr. Wayne Hansen, who is in
charge of the special education
curriculum in the district, will
make a presentation at the
meeting. Officers will also be
elected. Then, according to
Inter-Club Council President Lesli
Peterson, students will have a
chance "to work with
handicapped and retarded
children."
Volunteers must complete a
three-hour training course in
order to work with the retarded
and handicapped children on an
individual basis.
For those who cannot find the
time for such class, but are
interested in actively participating
in Spades Club, there will be
opportunities. There will be
extra-curricular activities in order
to "adapt the special education
and handicapped students so that
thev may function in society."