By Todd Wineburner

The Pontiac police department has released the results of tobacco compliance checks that took place Tuesday (3-3). The field tests are conducted periodically to make sure that area retailers are refusing to sell tobacco products to minors. Earlier this week, a minor working under the supervision of the police department approached a variety of businesses, and three did sell them tobacco products. Citations were issued in those cases, but the majority of businesses checked handled the situation correctly. Pontiac Police Chief Jim Woolford says the department wants to single out Casey's, County Market, Exit 197, Pontiac Mini Mart, Pontiac Travel Mart, Pontiac's Shell station, Thornton's, Tobacco and Cigars on Old Route 66, Trainor BP Amoco, Walgreen's, and Wal-Mart as businesses whose policies kept tobacco products out of the hands of young people.

The checks are made possible by a grant from the Illinois Liquor commission, and retailers are periodically provided with training kits to ensure that their employees know proper procedures.