Press Release

1-19-2012

Sheriff Sonny Weatherford is proud to announce that the Sumner County Sheriff's Office's new Med-Return Kiosk Box is now open. This box is a safe way for the residents of Sumner County to dispose of expired or unused medications. Please spread the word and deposit your unwanted medications here and help keep Sumner County a safer place to live. The kiosk is located in the administrative hallway of the Sumner County Sheriffs Office.The kiosk will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The purpose of the kiosk is to provide the public a place to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications.

Here are some interesting facts about unused and expired prescription medications:

*Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.

*Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.

*The non medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America.

*The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs got them from friends and family, with the home medication cabinet a primary source.

*Unused drugs thrown in the trash in their bottles can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold.

Sgt. Keith Bean,

Items Accepted: Prescription Medication, Prescription Patches, Prescription Ointments, Over-the-counter medication, Vitamins,Samples, Pet Medications

Items NOT Accepted: Hydrogen Peroxide, Inhalers, Sharp Needles, Ointments/lotions/liquids, Thermometers, Medications from businesses or clinics

10-29-11

DEA NATIONAL TAKE BACK INITIATIVE OCTOBER 29, 2011 FROM 1000-1400 HOURS

The Sumner County Sheriffs Office, Walgreens, and The Sumner County Anti Drug Coalition all in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration will have four (4) locations for take back initiatives to collect unused, expired, or unwanted prescription drugs. Our locations will be:

1. Walgreens in Portland on Hwy 52 near Hwy 109

2. Walgreens in Goodlettsville on Long Hollow Pike at Caldwell Dr.

3. Walgreens in Hendersonville on new Shackle Island Road

4. Walgreens in Gallatin on us31e at Maple St.

**Most abused prescription drugs come from family and friends. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental overdose, poisoning and abuse.

The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in the United States. Proper disposal of unused prescription drugs can save lives.

Please join Sheriff Weatherford and this Office to help make this program a success. At present we can not take any liquids or syringes at our collection sites.

If you have any further questions call 615-442-1846 or visit www.dea.gov for more information concerning this issue and alternate means of disposal.

6-16-11

GRAND OPENING BOB AND CONNIE BARKER ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY

On 6-16-11, Sheriff Sonny Weatherford is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the Bob and Connie Barker Animal Control Facility. This new facility which had been a vision of former Sheriff Bob Barker and Connie Barker has now become a reality in which the lost and abandoned animals will have a cleaner and enviromentally controlled building to be housed in pending being claimed by their owner or being adopted. The Barker's main vision is that this building will be a better place for the public to visit and want to spend more time with the animals in a much more confortable enviroment in the hopes that they will take their time in making sure the animal they choose is right for them. A professional staff consisting of at least four (4) certified Deputies has been assigned to this facility to assist the public in animal cases ranging from stray cats and dogs to animal cruelty cases. Sheriff Weatherford has staffed the facility with professional clerical people to assist the public and answer any questions related to animal control and care and adoption. Sheriff Weatherford greatly thanks the County Comissioners for their support in seeing this project thru not only for the animals and public in Sumner County but also in honoring Bob Barker a close friend and one of the greatest persons ever to serve Sumner County along with his amazing wife Connie.