Five people arrested in the bust of a methamphetamine lab near a Beaver Crossing school have been charged with numerous felonies.

Seward County Court documents say the five were arrested March 2. A search warrant led officers to camping fuel, anhydrous ammonia, empty pseudoephedrine boxes and meth.

Forty-four-year-old Tommy Foster was charged this week with seven felonies, including manufacturing meth within one-thousand feet of a school, conspiracy of distribute meth, child abuse and possessing anhydrous with intent to manufacture meth.

His 19-year-old son Thomas Foster is charged with aiding the manufacture of meth within a school zone, possessing meth and two misdemeanor counts of failing to report child abuse or neglect.

Other charged were 19-year-old Philip Hamm with aiding the manufacture of meth within a school zone, 23-year-old April Pallat with meth possession and two misdemeanors of failing to report child abuse or neglect, and a 16-year-old girl with felony child abuse.

All remained in Seward County Jail late Wednesday.

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Fast Facts About Meth

• Methamphetamine use among high school seniors more than doubled between 1990 and 1996.

• Women are more likely to use meth than cocaine.

• The average meth "cook" annually teaches ten others how to make meth.

• Every pound of meth produced leaves behind five to six pounds of toxic waste.

• Seizures of clandestine meth labs in the Midwest increased tenfold from 1995 to 1997.

• Methamphetamine accounts for up to 90 percent of all drug cases in many Midwest communities.

• Methamphetamine kills by causing heart failure, brain damage and stroke.

• Methamphetamine-induced paranoia has led to numerous murders and suicides.

• Methamphetamine produces hallucinations.

• Meth users are the hardest to treat of all drug users.

• Meth lab site cleanups can cost up to $150,000.

• Methamphetamine is highly addictive.

• Meth use increases risk of child abuse and neglect and domestic violence.

Many people may be unaware that they're living near a meth lab. Here are some things to look for:

• Unusual, strong odors (like cat urine, ether, ammonia, acetone or other chemicals).
  
• Residences with windows blacked out.
  
• Renters who pay their landlords in cash. (Most drug dealers trade exclusively in cash.)
  
• Lots of traffic - people coming and going at unusual times.
  
• There may be little traffic during the day, but at night the activity increases dramatically.
  
• Excessive trash including large amounts of items such as: antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, red chemically stained coffee filters, drain cleaner and duct tape.
  
• Unusual amounts of clear glass containers being brought into the home.

Source: www.kci.org [Koch Crime Institute]