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41 °F 5 Day Forecast Sunday, December 7, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 6, 2003 Smith joins chorus of support for OnTrack By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune Republican Sen. Gordon Smith has added his indignation to the plight of a Medford drug agency whose federal grant applications were rejected because the margins were too narrow. He joined Friday with Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, in asking for reconsideration this year or "special consideration" in the future for two grants for OnTrack Inc. But an official for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Washington, D.C., offered a succinct response to the senators’ bipartisan plea: "No," said Mark Weber, associate administrator for communications for SAMHSA. The senators’ concern was directed toward SAMHSA’s refusal to consider two grant requests from OnTrack Inc. totaling $663,000 a year for three years. The grants would have expanded programs for pregnant women and drug-addicted teens. Advertisement The applications were not accepted for review because the printed margins were two-tenths of an inch too narrow. Agency officials — and the senators — complained that OnTrack previously had been awarded grants printed on the same too-narrow template. SAMHSA workers said a large number of grant applications forced them to adhere stringently to rules, including a requirement for a 1-inch margin. Together, the senators penned a Dec. 5 letter to SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie calling for OnTrack’s application to be reinstated. The pair cited SAMHSA’s "uneven enforcement" of rules regarding margin size and the critical need for drug services in Southern Oregon. But Weber said the $8.3 million available for the grants already has been awarded to other applicants. He said OnTrack would be welcome to try again — even without the senators’ assistance. "They’re going to have to apply," he said. Rita Sullivan, director of OnTrack, said she certainly intends to apply again, this time with a document with impeccable margins. She said she’s not worried that the flap over the margins will backfire in future considerations. "I think the process with the professional review teams has a lot of integrity in it," she said. Sullivan, whose agency was featured in news stories coast to coast this week, said she was surprised — and "heartened" — by the senators’ support. "I think it demonstrates that it’s not a partisan issue, it’s an issue of fairness," she said. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times