SIKESTON ANTI-DRUG EFFORT INVOLVES SCHOOLCHILDREN

The numbers are amazing. Sikeston Elks Lodge 2319 has teamed up with the other businesses in the community to promote its "Just Say No" club. Their efforts have paid off with more than 2,000 elementary school members.

Elks members deserve a hearty pat on the back. Since the club's creation last May, members have traveled 1,540 miles, worked 445 hours and distributed more than 20,540 pieces of literature to promote drug awareness. That is impressive.

While there are stock programs to discourage drug use among children, studies show that these home-made versions designed to fit the locale are the most effective. Sikeston's program has tremendous support from not only the business community, but the school and the students themselves. That seems adds up to a winning combination to fight drugs.