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Police: Prescription Drugs Found at High School Save Email Print
Reporter: Dana Brueck
Email Address: dbrueck@nbc15.com

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A tip from a student prompts a drug investigation at a local high school.
Three teens now find themselves arrested; three others facing possible expulsion.

All six students have been suspended. The school uses K9's to do searches from time to time, but Reedsburg's principal says finding prescription drugs at the school is a first.

"We are rural. We have kids who drive tractors to school during homecoming. This is rural America."
But, principal Rob Taylor says Reedsburg is rural America with some big city problems.
"The beginning of it was one student buying it from another student."
Police launched an investigation at the High School after a student tip about prescription drugs being sold at the school.

"...We're talking about vicodin, oxycontin...," the principal says.
"Once one was student was found in possession of drugs. Then they named other students and names quickly started coming in," Taylor says.
Three girls, 14-years- to 16-years-old face criminal charges... including possession.. intent to deliver and theft.
The school suspended them and three other girls, who also could face expulsion.
"It's black and white. There's no question. It can't be here. We can't have it," Taylor says.
Police Chief Tim Becker believes the students stole the drugs from the medicine cabinets of family members.
"Depending on demand... can go anywhere from $4 to $5 a tablet up to $10 a tablet," Becker says.
"Kids are taking it and they're selling it and they can make quite a bit of money," Taylor says.
Both say the case is a lesson for all parents.
"They may trust their kids... their kids' friends... but there's always someone else who knows about this stuff," Becker says.
"Moms and dads need to pay attention to what's in their medicine cabinet," Taylor says.
The principal says most of the kids know drugs are available in their community, but they were surprised to learn of prescription drugs being found at their school. Expulsion hearings begin tomorrow.

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Posted by: Annoymous Location: Reedsuburg on Jun 2, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I go to this school... I love mr. taylor he is the bomb.. The kids were dumb enough to do this to themselves. They should have been more smart about it and not even bring that crap to school.. The kids deserve everything they get mr taylor had no idea what they were doing until they found out through another student.. So lay off Mr. Taylor...

Posted by: Annoymous Location: Reedsburg on May 29, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Ok this has gone far enough. seriously lets all leave suzie alone and let her be a judgemental person. who cares what she thinks honestly? These students obviously need help and blaming mr taylor is not going to help them. I just had a talk with him today and he is AMAZING so seriously dont judge the man before u get to know him. So i just wanted to say blame the students and their stupidity. Not the principle who obviously knew nothing about it till it got out just 1 or 2 weeks ago.

Posted by: Student Location: Reedsburg on May 23, 2008 at 04:24 PM
I am a student here at RAHS and i find this all very disapointing..drugs and alcohol are completly old news to us..we grew up learning about not doing them but there are always those few students who choose to mess up there lives and essentially mess up the whole schools image. We are a Rural community and yes we do have some major problems! This isn't going to go away and there will ALWAYS be this problem without the school knowing. p.s Suzie your reply got circulated around the school and i think in a way to "stick it to ya" a number of students drove their tractors to school today. so no mr. taylor was not being stereotypical!

Posted by: R on May 23, 2008 at 03:06 PM
You know what I am amazed by is the principal in this case saying this is the first time finding prescription drugs at the school. Is that because you didn't care before and weren't looking? My God come on there are drugs in EVERY school. How many kids are on medications for ADD and ADHD that they do not take but they sell? The world needs to wake up and realize this isn't new, what is new is more people are getting caught finally. When my son was in school he told me how often Ritalin was being sold by kids taking it. When the school was confronted did they do anything? YEP, denied it all. Lock up your medications all you want but the kids are still going to get it from somewhere. It is sad but true. Who cares if you drive a car, tractor, or ride a horse to school? Wake up people it is the real world this is a "normal" thing in schools that teachers and staff are obviously ignoring. The whole it can't happen in my school idea. Come on!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 23, 2008 at 02:09 PM
I wonder if suzie went away for the weekend? Or seeing how she mentioned about gas being so high maybe she is tractor pooling.

Posted by: Gary Location: Madison on May 23, 2008 at 01:27 PM
What parents need to do, and this is for ALL parents in every community, township, rural and cities. You need to keep ALL medications under lock and key, not just prescription meds. Look, this type of drug abuse is not new. I am in my mid 40's and this was going on when I was in school. Also, parents need to be on the lookout for the warning signs associated with drug/alcohol abuse. Falling grades, no interests in things they did before, kids distancing themselves from you (more than normal teenagers do), mood swings (more than normal teenagers have). If anyone would need more information an these subjects, contact your local school guidence counselors or family physician and they can point you in the right direction. Be involved with your children, ask them the "tough questions" and do not back down. They may hate you for it now, but will thank you for it later!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 23, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Suzie 2 bad, How much do ya wanna bet you're gonna be lookin back to see whats written about you? Not only that , we'll just see your comments on another news article and say oh its goofy Suzie again!

Posted by: Anonymous on May 23, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Oh, dear Suzette cream cheese, For you to say you will not be checking , LOL!! I know you will check it's something you can't resist. You may not reply, but I know you will check. So, that being said, Please attend the tractor show at the high school, Everyone knows you'll be the smartest one there!

Posted by: Suzie 2 on May 23, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Thank you Misspelled! Now, once they get the drugs under control in Reedsburg, maybe somebody will focus the attention back to the spelling, grammar, punctuation, and maybe even a typing class! With gas prices going up, maybe you should tractor pool. (Please do not reply to me, I will not be checking this again.)

Posted by: me Location: dane county on May 23, 2008 at 11:41 AM
To "student", that is a really smart thing to say. Proof why I worry about the youth and the future state of our country

Posted by: Kelsey Location: Reedsburg on May 23, 2008 at 11:36 AM
How Stupid are these kids in our school..HONESTLY!! I'm a student here and I know some of the girls who did it. I'm disappointed that reedsburg has to get this bad image. Reedsburg is NOT a bad town to live in ..there are just stupid people who have nothing better to do then to do stupid stuff like this.

Posted by: Samantha Location: Reedsburg on May 23, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Thats not the only thing that they sell and deal at the school. There a lot of people that give out cigs at school and sneaking out at the high school. They should look into this school a lot deeper than what they have.

Posted by: Student Location: Reedsburg on May 23, 2008 at 10:45 AM
why do we need all this attention.? isnt it old? i mean drugs and stuff?? get real.

Posted by: Secret Person Location: Reedsburg on May 22, 2008 at 10:36 PM
I am from reedsburg area high school and mr. taylor is probably the best principle to pass through here. he is good at fixing problems in our school and if these students dont get expelled what will they or anyone else learn from this bad decision? NOTHING!! And yes we do drive tractors to school. and what he was hinting towards is that big towns like madison are more expected for this kind of behavior. SO GET OVER IT!!

Posted by: BenThere Location: Dane County on May 22, 2008 at 10:14 PM
"Small town" fits Reedsburg, no problem. But "Big City" for Madison?!? C'mon! Madison is not a big, sophisticated city by a LONG shot. It has big city aspirations, sure, but it isn't the big city that it would like to be. I like the idea of tractors for homecoming - too bad a tractor in Madison would just get the driver hurt. (What Madison needs is better coordination among the various police groups in the small city - maybe we'd get control over the rampant crime, murder, etc. ... and maybe even get people to come to a FULL STOP at all stop signs!!

Posted by: Misspelled on May 22, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Proper grammar is appreciated by all.

Posted by: Bill Location: Reedsburg on May 22, 2008 at 05:12 PM
suzie have you ever been to reedsburg?? who do you think you are to say the things you said about are home town and our schools. thank God you don`t live in reedsburg, we don`t want people like you in our town, you must really be a hateful person or just hate life. People like you should not comment on things you know nothing about. stay in Madison we don`t want your her.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Janesville on May 22, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Rural,suburbs,city....location and demographics don't matter.Drug abuse doesn't discriminate!!

Posted by: ricky Location: reedsburg on May 22, 2008 at 05:02 PM
if anyone would like to join the anti-suzie club, a meeting will be held next to the john deers here at rahs. as for the six girls, they are just as idiotic. oh and suzie you might wanna use spell check next time so that you dont EMBARRASS yourself again.

Posted by: Diane Location: Richland Center/Madison on May 22, 2008 at 04:25 PM
Living rural or urban, does not matter. Problems are everywhere. Just found out--DEAL WITH IT! Just treat all "illegals" with the same integerity. Good Luck Reedsburg/Madison/Boaz/Richland Center, we all got problems. Lets try to get them fixed! Stop blaming and work to make it better.

Posted by: anonymous Location: reedsburg on May 22, 2008 at 03:13 PM
hey suzie, i'm a student in reedsburg and i'm very offended about your comment about driving tractors to school so you can kiss mine. mr. taylor is the best principal ever and would do anything for his students so what those moron kids did does not reflect on him or any other teachers. you're welcome to come to school tomorrow and see the tractors.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 22, 2008 at 03:10 PM
I went to high school 30 years ago in Sun Prairie. It was a "small town." We found plenty of things to get buzzed up on. Prescription drug abuse is as old as the medicines themselves. The principle must be an idiot if he did not know that. What, may I add, does small town have to do with no drugs? 1 out of 10 people is born addictive. This has been known for years! Just get over the shock and take care of the problem!

Posted by: Tim on May 22, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Dear Suzie cream cheese 9:19p.m. If you could only practice what you type.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 22, 2008 at 02:25 PM
How can people can these prescriptions so easily? I had my back fused a little over a month ago and had these same type of prescriptions. Right now I'm not sure I can even get a refill. Not that I need 1. But some people seem to be getting these drugs way, way to easy. Suzie Q, you sound like the same idiot from many other comments. Unless everyone named Suzie is as dimwitted as you are.

Posted by: A on May 22, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Hmmm...It's interesting that some are bashing a principal when at least 6 students were selling, providing, stealing, and using drugs....I think that's the bigger issue. And for chewing and smoking, as far as I know, that's not acceptable in school either. Kids may do that in their cars or at home, but when drugs of any kind show up in a shcool facility, there needs to be harsh consequences- that's the real world. And likewise, simply because this drug issue has been around forever does not validate this as an acceptable action. Furthermore, the rant about Reedsburg- obviously there are some other issues that may need to be addressed....Reedsburg is rural and unfortunately rural areas are now becoming drub havens- that may be a stererotype, but it's also validated by the actions of these students. Naive- not nieve (that's Spanish for snow). Actually NCLB is a program established to improve the education of underperforming schools.

Posted by: JJ Location: Rural WI on May 22, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Yes, lock up all your drugs..prescription or not. Lock up your checkbooks, debit and credit cards. Once they get on this stuff they are not themselves. It is highly addictive. Many of these kids are snorting this stuff. In our little rural community I have heard of 3 kids ending up in the hospital for overdosing on it.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 22, 2008 at 10:52 AM
we are student at RAHS. this is not a rural co mmunity. Taylor doesn't know what he's talking about. People have been Slingin drugs forever

Posted by: Gary Location: MAdison on May 22, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Let's face it, inner-city or rural areas, the drug problem is everywhere. Look where most of the meth lab busts are coming from... The Great North Woods, miles from civilization. For anyone to assume "it can't happen in my backyard" is looking at their world with blinders on. Damn Suzie, are you from Reedsburg? You put your location as being in Madison. How do you know that Reedsburg is in "such a mess"? Do you know what the teaching curriculum is in Reedsburg? Just because they teach the effects and consequences of using drugs does not mean students will not use them. If that were the case, there would be no drug problem in America. I don't think his intent was to "stereotype" anyone or thing, just meant he didn't think it would happen in this community/school. For that reason, I have to agree with you, WAKE UP it is no longer a big city issue! By the way, it's embarrasing no E.

Posted by: Bob on May 22, 2008 at 10:12 AM
To Anon 7:18 p.m....Why shouldn't they get expelled. When it all comes down to it, they are basically dealing drugs. If they were older, they would be arrested. And although I don't agree with young people chewing or smoking either, at least you can't die from it instantly. With the drugs they are selling, someone could possibly have a drug overdose and die. Then would this be grounds of expulsion?

Posted by: John Location: Reedsburg on May 22, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Suzie- he wasn't stereo typing, they actually do drive tractors to school for homecoming. If you would get out of the city sometime, and actually drive outside to rural areas, you would see that this "naiveness" is due to the fact people arent getting shot, stabbed, beaten, murdered as they are in your area. You city people are too afraid to step up and do anything about your problems besides blame the Madison PD for all of your problems. Maybe if you yuppies would quit letting people out because the bad guy has a politically correct disease, there wouldnt be half the problems there! Get a life and worry about your own darn town...Thank you

Posted by: Katie Location: Madison on May 22, 2008 at 09:32 AM
To Anon on 05/21 - what do you want them to do? Slap their little hands and say "no no"? The kids absolutely need to be expelled. They should be charged with possession and/or possession with intent to sell. Why treat them any different than an 18 yr old? You can bet MY 14 yr old would not only be grounded and all his "toys" taken away, but would be in the doctors office for drug screening on a regular bases. "No no" won't work when they're using/selling Vicodin and Oxycontin. This type of thing requires fast, severe actions or the behavior will snowball.

Posted by: K Location: Reedsburg on May 22, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Suzie, Reedsburg is a small town and there really are kids who drive tractors to school during homecoming week. These are not stereotypes except to a big city person who doesn't know the city being discussed. The Reedsburg school system is not to be blamed they are doing the best they can with the funding and support they have. Reedsburg has a DARE program and they stress the hazzards of drugs (all types) at a young age. This is a problem for the whole community. The parents the school and all others who could be touch by these young students. Yes, they should be punished (expelled and charged). We as a community need to look at how we can keep this from happening again. Reedsburg is a small town dealing with big city problems on a small town budgets.

Posted by: Suzie Location: Madison on May 21, 2008 at 09:19 PM
What kind of principal says "We are rural We have kids who drive tractors to school" Totally stereotypes! Our sad state of education in the United State is a direct result of education leaders like this who say really uneducated things to the media and have no clue what academic achievement is or means! No wonder why Reedsburg is such a mess. Reedsburg High needs to "get with the program" - start taking ownership for student learning, start educating your students, start getting teachers to meet learning needs. "Rural???" Whatever! Get with the program. This is the new millenium! Stop acting so nieve. No wonder NCLB came about! Completely clueless educators!!! Did you ever teach the student about prescription drugs??? Did ya cover this in class? Isn't Reedsburg looking for a new principal or AP??? Hire someone who has a clue! Based on the wonderful interview printed here... the Principal should resign. Stereotypes -- embaressing.

Posted by: Annonymous Location: Reedsburg on May 21, 2008 at 07:18 PM
This is stupid. Expulsion should not be the answer to this problem. these drugs have been goin around for months and they jus found out about it. meanwhile studens who chew or smoke get absolutely nothing as punishment. I live in reedsburg so its absolutely rediculous that they go that far. there should be a punishment but not one as serious as expulsion.