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FOR RELEASE??? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????EOWS
APRIL 7, 2001??????????????????????? ?? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?202/307-0703
LaCREEK DISTRICT/MARTIN, SOUTH DAKOTA
RECEIVES ?WEED AND SEED? DESIGNATION
WASHINGTON, DC ? The U.S. Department of
Justice?s Executive Office for Weed and Seed (EOWS) announced today that
LaCreek District/Martin is South Dakota?s newest ?Officially Recognized? Weed
and Seed site.? The announcement was
made at a ceremony today attended by United States Senate Minority Leader Thomas
Daschle, Martin Mayor William Kuxhaus, Oglala Sioux Tribe Pine Ridge President
John Yellow Bird Steele, United States Attorney for the District of South
Dakota Ted McBride and Justice Department EOWS officials.?? ???????? Operation
Weed and Seed is a Justice Department community-based multi-agency strategy
that ?weeds out? violent crime, gang activity, drug use and drug trafficking in
targeted neighborhoods and then ?seeds? the target area by restoring these
neighborhoods through social and economic revitalization.? When a site earns ?Official Recognition,? it
becomes eligible to apply for Department of Justice Weed and Seed funds.? The designation also gives sites priority
for participating in federally sponsored training and technical assistance; use
of the Weed and Seed logo; and eligibility to attend national EOWS training
conferences.? There are currently more
than 250 officially recognized Weed and Seed sites throughout the country.
The Weed and Seed strategy recognizes the
importance of linking and integrating federal, state and local law enforcement
and criminal justice efforts with social services, and private sector and
community efforts to maximize the impact of existing programs and
resources.? Community involvement is an
essential element of the strategy:
local residents must be empowered to assist in solving problems in their
neighborhoods.? ?????????
South Dakota?s newest Weed and Seed site is a
cooperative effort of the LaCreek District of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the
City of Martin.? South Dakota now has
three ?Officially Recognized? Weed and Seed sites:? LaCreek District/Martin, Enemy Swim and Rapid City.
At the ceremony, United States Attorney Ted
McBride said, ?This designation is the ?result of a collaborative effort on the part of the entities of
the Oglala Sioux Tribe, the City of Martin, community organizations, and
private citizens.? Hopefully, other communities
in South Dakota will take note of this model as they develop and implement
crime prevention strategies.?
EOWS Director Stephen Rickman said, ?We are
happy to welcome LaCreek District/Martin into the Weed and Seed family.? We hope that this community enjoys the
benefits from this proven strategy and takes advantage of the many
opportunities of this designation.?
? To
learn more about the Weed and Seed strategy and other Weed and Seed programs
and conferences, visit the EOWS Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows.?
Information regarding other OJP bureaus and
program offices is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov.? Media should contact OJP?s Office of
Congressional and Public Affairs at 202/307-0703.
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EOWS01070
After hours contact: David Hess, 888/763-8943 (pager)