By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON – St. Lawrence County legislators passed a resolution supporting the establishment of a Boys and Girls Club in Massena.

Massena Police Chief Timothy Currier is leading the effort. He says the establishment of a club will likely improve graduation rates and keep many of the area’s youth from getting into trouble.

Massena has recently seen a spike in crimes including an alleged kidnapping, a shooting and a recent drug bust that resulted in charges of more than 12 people.

The most recent operation involved a dozen local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and turned up 500 grams of cocaine, 28 grams of crack cocaine, and heroin. Federal search warrants at four Massena addresses also yielded 380 grams of cocaine, 77 grams of heroin, 100 grams of crack cocaine, five handguns, and $11,000 cash.

Currier believes Massena could curb the some of the crime by offering youth a positive outlet.

“Kids get into trouble for three reasons: They lack positive peer influences, they lack positive adult influences, or they simply don’t have something to do,” according to Currier. “We know the Boys and Girls Club can solve all three of those problems, providing a safe environment where they can play, learn, and enjoy their live,” the chief said in an earlier interview.

The County resolution says the club would provide “programs dedicated to enhancing the education, recreation, arts, and science and technology of our youth provided by positive role models and mentors is the way stronger communities are created, which in turn make a stronger county.”

The resolution passed unanimously and will be forwarded to the Boys and Girls Club of America.