FIST Gets Ready for Action

THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO TAKE PART IN OPERATION F.I.S.T..THAT`S SHORT FOR FIGHTING ILLEGAL SALES OF TOBACCO.. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED WITH FEDERAL GRANTS AND RUN BY THE LUZERNE COUNTY SHERIFF`S DEPARTMENT.. DEPUTY ERIN JOYCE IS THE COORDINATOR.. "Last year we had some of them come for training....they were told what they face" SHE`S TALKING ABOUT STORE OWNERS AND CLERKS WHO SELL CIGARETTES.. IT`S AGAINST THE LAW TO SELL TO A MINOR.. THESE STUDENTS HOPE TO STOP THOSE SALES..AND GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT HEALTHY LIFE STYLES.. BY WORKING UNDERCOVER.. Stevie Dorbad a Wyoming Area H.S. Student says "We approach the counter ask for cigarettes, if they ask for identification we give them a card of congratulations if they don`t they get busted.. police write them citations." T.J Pilarcik a Wyoming Area H.S. student adds... "It`s not that easy to just walk in and buy cigarettes or to get that." F.I.S.T. WAS LAUNCHED IN LUZERNE COUNTY 6 YEARS AGO.. Sheriff Barry Stankus, Luzerne County notes... "Mr. Mehalshick I`m taking you back... your going to remember you were the first to go out with us that night in the tobacco interdiction How has this program grown? by leaps and bounds..in fact the state and federal government have given us more grants." STORE OWNERS AND/OR CLERKS FACE HEFTY FINES IF THEY SELL TO MINORS..AS DO TEENAGERS..WHO FACE FINES AND THE LOSS OF THEIR DRIVERS LICENSE.. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON F.I.S.T. CALL (570) 825-1727