Guthrie County Sheriff Marty Arganbright told the Board of Supervisors yesterday that an increase of drug and violence related crime in the county has made it more necessary than ever for his budget to be granted additional funds to hire another deputy. Arganbright reported that in January alone, there had already been nearly thirty arrests made countywide, including several methamphetamine related arrests in the past week.

Additionally, Arganbright says his department has been using a shotgun with a slightly bent barrel lately, because there’s no money set aside to buy a new one. Arganbright believes that the opening of the Wild Rose Casino in nearby Jefferson later this year will have an overflow effect of crime on Guthrie County, which he says also necessitates their need for another deputy. Arganbright told the Supervisors that he is willing to negotiate on other budget items in order to secure the funds for the extra deputy.