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Local News

Sheriff's Scholarships

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office gives area students the opportunity to apply for scholarships and give insight into current issues. A $500 scholarship will be awarded to a student who is either a high school senior or college freshman. Other requirements are that a student must be an Illinois resident and the scholarship must be used at institutions of higher learning within the state. Montgomery County Sheriff Jim Vazzi says part of the application process includes answering the following essay question in 350 words or less.

When someone dies from a heroin overdose, it's because the narcotic suppresses their essential functions so deeply their body forgets to breathe. Their respiratory drive shuts down, their blood pressure drops and their heart stops beating.

In your opinion, is there a heroin epidemic in your community and what steps could be taken to combat the problem? What is driving the demand behind heroin use in teens and why do you think the heroin use is soaring in the United States?"

Sheriff Vazzi says, each year, the essay questions are usually based on current issues.

We believe that the teens who are writing this, they have an idea of what really is going on - The police don't necessarily know. You know the young community, they have their own slang and they have their own reasoning for doing things and we'd like to get their perspective as far as what they see and what they see law enforcement can do for them, rather than law enforcement being closed-minded and thinking they're the only ones that know anything about it.

According to Sheriff Vazzi, the essays and application materials will be reviewed by a group of retired teachers. Applications can be picked up at the Sheriff's Office or found on the Illinois Sheriffs' Association website. Students must complete the application, answer the essay question and return everything to the sheriff's office in their permanent county of residence by March 15th. Thomack 2/2/16

RFD