WALKERS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS

CARLSBAD -- A group of approximately 40 persons gathered Saturday
morning for the Fourth Annual Prayer Walk in downtown Carlsbad,
walking one mile to the Beach Park and praying for the city.

The walk was sponsored by the Carlsbad Community Anti-Drug/Gang
Coalition. Coalition Preventionist Alison Bryant said the prayer walk
is one of the strategies the Coalition uses to help the community
work toward becoming drug free.

"This year will be scaled down some with less people, there are so
many things going on in Carlsbad today," she said.

Don Suggs, one of Saturday's walkers, said he had lost a son to
drugs.

"I have a lot of experience with drugs," he said. "With losing my
son, it's a hard thing to deal with. Every family is affected
somehow. I know so many of them."

Woods Houghton, Community Coalition board president Woods Houghton,
who has participated in all four walks, led the procession driving
his tractor.

"It is one of those issues that I think all faiths should be able to
come together on," Houghton said. "These are out children and our
community, wherever they pray."

Houghton said that every year after the prayer walk takes place there
are several major drug busts in Carlsbad.

"Drug addiction has been with us for 8,000 years, so it's not going
to go away overnight," he said. "This is an opportunity for all the
faiths to stand up and say, We don't want drugs in our
community.'"

Ken Hargues, a pharmacist at Southwest Pharmacy in Carlsbad, said he
sees a lot of drug addiction issues in the community.

"My commitment to Christ motivates me to come out for this walk,"
Hargues said. "What Christ did with dying and the Resurrection gives
us all a plan for salvation. I would like everyone in Carlsbad to see
the light he shines, regardless of where they are right now."

Hargues said the walk is an opportunity for him to pray for people in
the jail, to find the Lord and have their lives changed.

"I pray that these people will become a help to the community, not a
hindrance," he said. "I pray that this city will prosper and thrive
and we won't be plagued by drugs."

Another walker was Betty Crutchfield, who said this was her first
time on the walk.

"I am walking and praying for the protection of our children," she
said. "They are our future and there are so many things out there. I
am always praying for the children here."

Crutchfield said she has three grandchildren graduating this
year.

"I am so thankful they haven't gotten mixed up in drugs," she said.
"I feel with the Lord's help, our schools and community can be a safe
place."

Lester Higgins said he had recently joined the Christian Motorcycle
Association in Carlsbad.

"I joined to spread the word of Jesus," he said. "I like to go on
these walks. It's a chance to share the word of God with those who
will listen. This walk is one of those things we have to do and it is
a good thing."