The City of Kennett has received money from a national opioid class action settlement. According to Mayor Jake Crafton, the almost $7-thousand will be set aside for the city’s D.A.R.E. Program. According to a news release, the funds were secured after City Clerk Jan McElwrath spotted the settlement notice, consulted with the city attorney, and applied for the funding.
Police Officer Anthony Weaver leads the city’s D.A.R.E. Program, aimed at elementary school students. He said the funding will help strengthen the city’s ability to reach students at a critical age.
The opioid settlement stems from a series of lawsuits brought by states, cities, and counties across the country against manufacturers and distributors, whose practices were found to have contributed to the nationwide opioid crisis.