A League of Women Voters luncheon at Fernwood Friday focuses attention on Berrien County’s increasing methamphetamine woes.

“Methamphetamines: A Community Problem and Personal Hell” features Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey, state Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, and Steve Leapman, a therapist at Samaritan Counseling Center in South Bend.

This lunch meeting begins at 11:30 at Fernwood Botanical Garden on Rangeline Road near Niles. The public luncheon costs $15. Call Fernwood at (269) 695-6491 for reservations.

County commissioners took note Oct. 4 of more meth complaints showing up in the sheriff’s report on narcotics unit activities during August:

• Aug. 10, Smith Road, Niles Charter Township, laboratory components and ingredients seized, with warrants sought for two individuals.

• Aug. 14, traffic stop at Red Arrow Highway/County Line Road, Watervliet Township, meth, lab components and ingredients seized, with two subjects arrested.

• Aug. 14, search on Becht Road, Coloma Township, led to meth and marijuana seizure, with arrest warrants sought for two individuals.

• Aug. 15, search on East Euclid Avenue, Benton Township, meth and meth lab components and ingredients confiscated. One arrest made.

• Aug. 17, search on Third Street, City of Niles, meth lab components and ingredients seized.

• Aug. 24, search on Hatch Street, Benton Township, meth lab components and ingredients seized. One arrest made.

• Aug. 27, search on Midway, Benton Township, meth, meth components, ingredients and a handgun seized. Two subjects were arrested.

• Aug. 28, search on Hatch Street, Benton Township, meth seized. Arrest warrant sought for one individual.

• Aug. 29, search on Little Paw Paw Lake Road, Coloma Township, meth seized. Arrest warrant sought for one individual.

Meth is the drug of choice in rural America.

Cass County has been hit hard, but now it’s moving into its more urban neighbor.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, in 2009 1.2 million Americans 12 and older reported abusing meth at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.