WEED AND SEED OFFERS ATTACK PLAN OF DRUGS, GANGS

It sounds a little gimmicky: Operation Weed and Seed. But it isn't the name that matters but rather the help that the city of Sikeston hopes to receive in combating drugs and violence. The effort, announced recently, is the result of combined efforts from several local, state and federal agencies.

Sikeston has gained statewide attention for its growing drug problem. A dozen major drug dealers have been arrested in Sikeston in the past year alone. This spotlight brought some high-powered law enforcement and governmental officials to town last week, including U.S. Attorney Edward Dowd Jr. of St. Louis. Crime is particularly rampant in the Sunset neighborhood on the city's west side.

The concept is sound enough: Weed out violent crime, drug use and gang activity. Then seed communities with resources designed to keeping the problems out. Dowd admits that ridding the streets of drugs may be the easy part. Keeping crime and drugs out will require considerably more resources at the community level.

Perhaps Operation Weed and Seed can be the impetus to intensify Sikeston's drug fight. But it must be more than words and dreams. To be effective, this operation must translate into concrete solutions.

To their credit, the program organizers are looking to Sikeston for answers. Community residents and leaders are being asked to identify the needs that exist. Local participants will research such needs as education, housing, employment and other relevant issues. That will be a key to solving local problems.

The program received an unexpected boost last week. Just minutes after the rally to announce Operation Weed and Seed ended, a suspected drug dealer was arrested. He was spotted driving past the outdoor gathering, perhaps looking for potential customers. It just demonstrates the brazenness of drug dealers.

Once the program is fully implemented in Sikeston, organizers hope to expand it to Charleston, Caruthersville, Poplar Bluff and Cape Girardeau. That's the thing about drugs. They don't stay put in one community. Sikeston's drug and gang problems are Missouri's problems. As such, the city shouldn't be expected to fight this rising tide of crime alone.

Operation Weed and Seed is designed to help communities win back streets frequented by drug dealers and gang members. With sufficient support, Sikeston can make great strides in the war on drugs and gangs.