Every politician, like most of the rest of us, has a terrifying secret that he fears would turn the public against him if the word got out. In Mike Huckabee's case, it is his record.

Aside from a few very lamentable lapses in judgment, Huckabee's scorecard for 10 1/2 years as governor actually is not one that should turn too many voters off.

He was an obliging follower when Democratic lawmakers came up with progressive solutions to the state's manifold problems in education and healthcare and he sometimes offered his own, like school consolidation.

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The 20th Judicial District Drug Court celebrated its fourth year of providing drug offenders with an alternative to prison or regular probation Friday morning.

It was standing room only in Courtroom A at the Faulkner County Courthouse, with over 100 people gathered to hear the testimonies of graduates or current participants in the drug court program. The first to speak was Jason Pruitt, who said a 10-year addiction to methamphetamine derailed his career before leading to his arrest in Greenbrier.

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Sensible Fayetteville wants to give voters a chance to declare marijuana the lowest priority for police.

"We believe law enforcement should be focusing on higher priorities and more serious issues," said Ryan Denham, an organizer of Sensible Fayetteville.

Members of the group are circulating a petition to get an amendment added to the ballot during next year's general election. The group argues that drug policy should be a local decision, not something handed down by the federal government, according to the group's Web site, www.sensiblefayetteville.com.

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The registered student organization Students for Ron Paul hosted the "Rock for Ron Paul" concert from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Chi Omega Greek Theater. A variety of musicians performed to promote political awareness. In addition to music, testimonials were given by individuals both in support and opposition to the Ron Paul movement. Portions of his speeches were also viewed via YouTube. The concert was sponsored in part by Qdoba's Mexican Grill, which provided free chips and salsa to those in attendance.

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ROGERS -- Combating methamphetamine's effects will not be truly effective until those fighting the battle merge treatment, prevention and awareness efforts into multidimensional approaches, the state's drug czar said Friday.

" Much of our success depends on our ability to knock down those silos, " Arkansas Drug Director Fran Flener said, referring to the perceived walls that separate those involved in drug-control efforts. " We can't allow the lack of collaboration to prevent us from being successful. "

Flener joined U. S. Attorney Bob Balfe and Congressman John Boozman, R-Ark., in addressing a group of lawenforcement officials, drugtreatment counselors and community leaders gathered for the Methamphetamine Awareness Luncheon. The event was sponsored by Drug Free Rogers-Lowell as a wrap-up for the group's Methamphetamine Awareness Month.

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I read Jonathan Hoffman's article, "Shouldn't Property Rights Trump the War on Drugs?" (Guest Commentary, Oct. 18). He states that "the federal government employs insane enforcement policies for laws that it has no authority to enact." He then goes on to state that "the federal government lacks ... the legal authority to engage in drug prohibition." Unfortunately, Hoffman is dead wrong in his uneducated assumption. The United States of America, at least the last time I checked, is a member of the United Nations, and a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

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Four students were referred to the UA Judicial Board after they were discovered to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana Oct. 27, according to a UA Police Department crime log report.

The students were not arrested, said Gary Crain, public information officer for the UAPD. There are three courses of action an officer can take upon discovering an offense in the case of students, Crain said. These courses of action are left to the discretion of the officer. Every time a student is arrested, they are also referred to the judicial board. In some cases, the officer will not arrest the student but refer them to the judicial board or the officer will issue a warning, Crain said.

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ROGERS - People respond to the pervasive methamphetamine problem in the county for different reasons.

Some respond to personal stories from former addicts and from recovery counselors.

Others feel the tinge of conviction when they see graphic photos of rotting teeth and sore-marked skin typical of the drug's users.

Some respond strongest when the drug problem is detailed not in use and enforcement, but in dollars and cents.

Whether or not Benton County residents know someone who uses the drug, the cost of meth is affecting them indirectly, stretching public resources and making private businesses less efficient, said Megan Cuddy, coordinator of the Benton County Methamphetamine Task Force. After presenting more personalized presentations to local businesses, the group made an effort to show the pervasive economic impact of meth use, commissioning a 2005 University of Arkansas study. The numbers woke people up. " We kind of got to them at a different angle, " Cuddy said. " I hope that they are taking it more seriously. "

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How UCA And The Local Courts Propose We Stop Sending Addicts To Treatment Centers In Other Counties

University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin indicated in recent e-mails with the media that one of his goals for the school is to build an alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility somewhere in Conway off the UCA campus.

"We have already met with the Governor's office once to see what kind of funding might be available," said Hardin, who offered few details other than a plan to incorporate into the project a treatment center in Russellville, Freedom House, which has cared for Faulkner County patients. Hardin also said he plans for the project to serve as a hands-on schooling ground, wherever it will be, for UCA's addiction studies majors.

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A group of Rector high school students are working to make a difference in the lives of their fellow classmates. The members of Cougars Are BAD (Banding Against Drugs) have united together to promote a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle.

One of the group's creators and most diligent adult volunteers, Michelle Thomas, says the group is not just focused on having an immediate impact, but determined to make a difference further on down the line.

"Starting a drug-free club in our school is very important because we are raising the kids of the future," Thomas said. "We're trying to educate future leaders about the risks involved with drugs and alcohol."

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ROGERS -- Go see a movie at a theater here and you will likely see more than a few previews before the feature starts.

In between the warnings to shut off your cell phone and advertisements for local businesses, a campaign to dispel myths about methamphetamine use aims to educate young people about how the drug could change their body and social relationships.

Over the last few years, the fight against meth has shifted from the floors of state and national legislative bodies to the minds of middle school and junior-high school students because users have grown younger, said Mike Maloney.

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BENTON COUNTY - The first time Jeremy tried methamphetamine, he felt a tingling start at the tip of his scalp and rush out to his fingertips in a surge of energy.

" It was like I was blasting off, " he said.

Years later, all he could feel was the dryness in his mouth - cracked, bleeding lips and a tongue like 80-grit sandpaper that came after days of drinking little or no water.

When Jeremy was using meth, he didn't have time to think about anything else. He wouldn't stop to eat, drink or sleep. He would slap himself on the back of the head or pound his chest with his fist to stay awake so he could get another fix, staying awake for days. Survival took a backseat to staying high.

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Washington County Prosecutor John Threet told the audience it was already the best graduation he had ever attended following a rockin ' blues number by The Cate Brothers at the seventh annual Washington / Madison County Drug Treatment Court graduation.

That was before 115 drug court graduates walked the stage of Baum Walker Hall in the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville to receive their certificates of completion and Bobby Coins. The coins are named for State Sen. Bill Pritchard's brother-in-law, who committed suicide in 1999 after a struggle with methamphetamine.

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BENTONVILLE -- Tammy Murray is proud of two of her latest achievements. She completed drug court and earned the respect of her children.

" I lost my self respect, " Murray said minutes after being recognized as a graduate of the Benton County Drug-Treatment Court. " I have my self respect back, but I got the respect of my kids. "

Murray is one of the 14 drug court graduates that were recognized Friday night during a program at the Bentonville Church of Christ's activity room.

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What happens when you take a hand full of generous women, add a group of needy children and give it a good shake. You get the "Stitch-in-Time Quilt Guild."What happens when you take a hand full of generous women, add a group of needy children and give it a good shake. You get the "Stitch-in-Time Quilt Guild."

The Stitch-in-Time Quilt Guild is a group of women that love the art of quilting and want to help their community. They meet on the third Tuesday of each month at the Methodist Church in Diamond City.

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Students Driving To School In The Batesville District Had Better Be Drug Free.

The district is beefing up its drug testing policy, which previously included only athlete drug testing.

In a special meeting Monday, the school board approved adding student drivers to its random drug testing policy.

Superintendent Ted Hall said any students who drives to school will be subject to drug tests. He also said the policy covers testing for students suspected of using drugs.

"Most (districts) are going to this thing now," he said of the policy. "I think it's good for us to look at it."

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I'm writing about Heather Hartsell's outstanding story: "Ex-police officer says war on drugs not working" (7-23-07).

The war on drugs was lost before it began.

No matter how much money we throw down the drug war rat hole, we will never be able to nullify the immutable law of supply and demand.

As long as people want recreational drugs and are willing to pay a substantial price for them, somebody will produce these drugs and somebody will get them to the willing buyers.

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"The war on drugs is a failure, and we need a new way to fight it," Tony Ryan, a former Denver law-enforcement officer, said Wednesday at the Jacksonville Lions Club meeting.

Ryan spoke to the club about an organization he's involved with called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), which believes an alternative policy is needed to combat drug use - legalize narcotics.

A nonprofit organization founded in 2002, LEAP is made up of current and former law-enforcement officials with the mission "to reduce many unintended harmful consequences resulting from fighting the war on drugs and to lessen the incidence of death, disease, crime and addiction by ultimately ending drug prohibition," Ryan says.

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Eureka Springs, Arkansas -- A pro-marijuana initiative approved by Eureka Springs voters in November has had no impact on how police handle arrests for misdemeanor possession, city officials say.

Voters passed an ordinance directing police and prosecutors to make possession of less than an ounce of marijuana a low law-enforcement priority. Under Arkansas law, such possession is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $ 1, 000 fine.

Eureka Springs Mayor Dani Wilson contends there's been no change. "The misconception here is that everybody thought when this thing passed that it was OK to run around with marijuana - it's not," she said. Police Chief Earl Hyatt said there are several reasons the ballot measure's success hasn't changed things.

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Q. What do the ACLU, Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice and anti-drug advocates have in common?

A. They all opposed the Bush administration and lawyer Ken Starr in the recent Supreme Court case of Morse v. Frederick.

If you know anything at all about this case, that may seem a little weird but it's certainly not the weirdest thing that Pat Robertson has ever done.

Last week the Supreme Court handed down a 6-3 decision in favor of the defendant, the Juneau, Alaska, school board in Morse v. Frederick. Court experts have suggested that it might be the most important student free speech case to be decided by the court in thirty years.

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