LUDOWICI -- The Long County Sheriff's Department received a $347,800 check Thursday to help fund additional deputies, patrol vehicles and equipment from a grant secured by U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston.
The federal funding is from the Justice Department's Byrne-Jag grant program under the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which was signed by President Bush in December.
"We are so thankful for the job that Jack Kingston does for our area," Sheriff Cecil Nobles said. "It is hard for smaller communities like ours to operate without help from the federal government."
"We plan to use this money for cars and personnel, and also to help start an anti-drug program back in the schools," Nobles said.
Kingston (R-Ga. 1st Dist.) presented the check to Nobles in front of the Long County Courthouse with his department present and with several other members of the community on hand.
"With the growth in Long County, it has increased the amount of crime," the lawmaker said. "This grant will help the sheriff's department fight that crime, protecting the citizens and the officers themselves."
Kingston also said that with Long County being one of the poorest counties in the state, grant programs like this one were ideal to help with the community's needs.
On a political question, Kingston said he has not endorsed but can support Arizona Sen. John McCain's bid to become president.
"I have not endorsed Sen. McCain, and he is not as conservative as I would like him to be, but he appears to be the candidate of my party, and if his gets the nomination I will support him," Kingston said.
"He does have a strong war record on National Security. With the 3rd Infantry Division in our area, that's critical."
Kingston view of the Democrats possible nominees, Sens. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama?
"The two candidates on the Democratic side are both proposing big tax increases and dangerous and irresponsible exit strategies out of Iraq."
He added, "It has been proposed that there is a desire to have the troops out of Iraq in 60 days. This would be dangerous to our soldiers, and also erode the gains made in Iraq."
"McCain isn't as conservative as I would like him to be, but he is much more conservative than either Clinton or Obama."
The federal funding is from the Justice Department's Byrne-Jag grant program under the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which was signed by President Bush in December.
"We are so thankful for the job that Jack Kingston does for our area," Sheriff Cecil Nobles said. "It is hard for smaller communities like ours to operate without help from the federal government."
"We plan to use this money for cars and personnel, and also to help start an anti-drug program back in the schools," Nobles said.
Kingston (R-Ga. 1st Dist.) presented the check to Nobles in front of the Long County Courthouse with his department present and with several other members of the community on hand.
"With the growth in Long County, it has increased the amount of crime," the lawmaker said. "This grant will help the sheriff's department fight that crime, protecting the citizens and the officers themselves."
Kingston also said that with Long County being one of the poorest counties in the state, grant programs like this one were ideal to help with the community's needs.
On a political question, Kingston said he has not endorsed but can support Arizona Sen. John McCain's bid to become president.
"I have not endorsed Sen. McCain, and he is not as conservative as I would like him to be, but he appears to be the candidate of my party, and if his gets the nomination I will support him," Kingston said.
"He does have a strong war record on National Security. With the 3rd Infantry Division in our area, that's critical."
Kingston view of the Democrats possible nominees, Sens. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama?
"The two candidates on the Democratic side are both proposing big tax increases and dangerous and irresponsible exit strategies out of Iraq."
He added, "It has been proposed that there is a desire to have the troops out of Iraq in 60 days. This would be dangerous to our soldiers, and also erode the gains made in Iraq."
"McCain isn't as conservative as I would like him to be, but he is much more conservative than either Clinton or Obama."