DRUG OFFENDER, STUDENTS SHARE A STAY-CLEAN MESSAGE

STARKVILLE - Students at Henderson Intermediate School in Starkville
got the drug-free message loud and clear Friday, not only from their
own classmates, but from a convicted and rehabilitated drug offender
as well.

"I think the worst thing that happened was watching my mom cry in
court," said Heath Kleinke, 31, from Hattiesburg, and a trustee with
the Oktibbeha County Jail, who is serving six years into a 12-year
sentence for multiple drug-related crimes, including drug possession
and selling.

Since his conviction Kleinke has completed drug and alcohol
rehabilitation and illustrated a children's book titled "But Why."

Kleinke was the guest speaker at Henderson's Red Ribbon Week
activities Friday, which are a national campaign to teach drug and
alcohol prevention in schools across the country.

"The 12 years didn't really phase me. But seeing my mom cry on the
stand was the only time I cried the whole time," Kleinke told the
students, as he recounted his descent into drug use through college
which resulted in several arrests ranging from DUI to drug-possession
with intent to distribute.

But it wasn't just Kleinke who had a stay-clean message. The school's
sixth-grade drama students took their message to stage in a series of
skits where the students explored areas like peer-pressure, and how
the need to fit in can result in making bad choices when it comes to
smoking, drinking and doing drugs.

"If you drink beer, you can't be clear," said one of students in a
skit to discourage drinking and driving.

"You have to make a decision about whether you're going to change
you're life or not," said Kleinke.