Project Extra Mile & Free the Wayne 17 Facebook page

Posted: 11 March, 2010

Project Extra Mile an underage drinking prevention project had a busy meeting which featured discussion of a recent trip to the unicameral and a controversial Facebook Group. Over sixty high school students including six from Wayne attended the Youth in Legislation Day Project Extra Mile's Steve Schear describes their experience: (Shear audio) The students spoke to Senator Bob Geise about the current 'use or lose' law for Minors in Possession which would allow judges to take away an underage drinkers license in addition to fines. The bill will probably pass before the end of the Legislative Session.
Schear also talked about upcoming Project Extra Mile activities for prom season. (Shear audio)
During the meeting Police Chief Lance Webster shared information from the Nebraska Risk and Protective Factor Student Survey about how underage drinking starts in the home. (Shear audio)
The group then discussed the 'Free The Wayne 17' Facebook Group which was created by a Wayne State College Political Science Professor. The group now has over 400 members.  The original intention of the group was to provide a forum to discuss Minor in Possession arrests made by the Wayne Police Department at a party last month. Some of the posts on the group were critical of the procedures used by the police during the arrests.  Members of the Project Extra Mile expressed concern that this Facebook Book was encouraging underage drinking. (Shear audio) Others were concerned about the message this Facebook Group might be sending about Police Officers in Wayne.  Project Extra Mile meets each month and the public is encouraged to participate. For more information check out projectextramile.org.