By Tim Schmidt,
Record Managing Editor
A simple message printed on neon-colored shirts was a reminder of why an estimated 300 people gathered in Warrenton Saturday.Stop Heroin.The message also served as a reminder of the lives that have been lost to the drug as its use has surged locally and across the nation.“The overdose deaths, they are not decreasing,” said Juan Wilson, a task force officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. “We are seeing more and more. With the resurgence of Fentanyl, we are seeing more people die. With events like this, the community working together, that is really how we will address the issue.”Check out the photo gallery from the event here: http://bit.ly/1U6ISpC.Saturday’s Stop Heroin Walk was the third similar event to be held since the overdose death of 17-year-old Jordan Lunsford, who died Nov. 15, 2014.Besides Lunsford, the walk was held in the memory of Scott Neumann, Logan Shay, Kristen Windham, Corrie Browning, Lauren Reinhardt, Bethany Benney, Kelly Brittain, Nicky Vigna, Kyle Kohrs, Chris Kohrs, Jeffrey Dugan and Ricky Smith.Their parents were presented with a gift from walk organizer Kelli Clodfelter.While speaking to the large crowd prior to Saturday’s walk, Clodfelter acknowledged that this is still an emotional time for her and her family.“You remind me we are not alone,” she remarked. “You support us, you care that our children are gone and you want to help us stop this epidemic in our community.”Attendees gathered on the lawn outside Warrenton City Hall and walked to First Bank and back. Their hope was to raise awareness about heroin and how it is impacting lives in the community.Users turn to heroin because it is a cheaper option and has similar effects to that of prescription painkillers. Unfortunately, overdoses are becoming a regular occurrence.Wilson added that the support from the community has been great to see in the fight against the drug."I started overdose cases in 2010, there wasn’t much support out there,” he remarked. “To see this, the coalition that is out there. . .it is overwhelming to see the outpouring of support from the community.”Family and friends of Kristen Windham walk in her memory during a Stop Heroin Walk Saturday, April 16, in Warrenton. Windham was one of 13 people who lost their lives to heroin in recent years. Bill Barrett photos.
