Dear Editor,

I was struck by a recent statement from a Powhatan teacher (I believe it was in a blog pertaining to the area murders). In it, she spoke of gangs in the school system, and drug and alcohol use among students during school hours.

I work for the Department of Juvenile Justice and have recently attended advanced gang awareness training.

I believe this teacher is on the right path. The obvious migration of gangs is into rural areas and suburbs. There has been documented gang affiliation in Cumberland and Farmville.

I realize that for a county to admit gang activity, we risk property values falling; however, we risk much more if we remain in denial.

Let’s be the community that’s proactive for a change. If it’s not a problem yet, let’s not give gangs the opportunity to florish here.

The Powhatan Today requested ideas for stories, how about this one?

Call in advice from a gang specialist, to see if he can identify any signs in our community.

There is a video put out by the attorney general, called “The Wrong Family,” that can be used in the schools as a deterrent and to educate parents that believe it can’t happen here.

Kim Gray
Powhatan