The region's first volunteer health clinic that celebrated its grand opening the other day in Butler County is an impressive example of what can be done when a dedicated group of people has a vision, determination and strong community support. The idea for the clinic, which will serve uninsured or under-insured Butler County residents 19 to 64, is not a new concept, but it will fill a void in this community's health care market.

The Volunteers in Medicine program, which began in Hilton Head, S.C., in 1993 and now has some 45 clinics in 18 states, is designed to provide routine health care to people who might otherwise end up in hospital emergency rooms — either for a true emergency that might have been avoided with regular, preventive care or for routine care.

Ken Bennett, chairman of the clinic board, and Jean Purvis, who saw a VIM clinic in operation and realized it would work in Butler, spearheaded the effort. But the project never could have been completed without many volunteers, from board members to the people involved in the design and construction of the clinic — many of whom supplied their labor or materials for free — on East Butler Road in Summit Township. And all of that helped stretch the budget, much of which comes from generous contributions from across the county.

In addition to the uninsured people it will serve with medical care, the greatest beneficiary of the health clinic could be Butler Memorial Hospital, which should see a reduction in the number of people coming to its emergency room — for treatment of non-emergencies.

For the volunteer medical staff, the clinic offers a chance to practice medicine in a basic, old-fashioned way that existed before managed care and health insurance bureaucracies. As the clinic operates, these medical professionals will be offering their time and talents to help people in need. And that, in turn, will give to the volunteers the wonderful gift of giving.

Cheers to all involved in getting Butler's VIMclinic up and running.

County illegal-drug investigators merit praise for busting a sophisticated marijuana-growing operation at 146 Carl Ave. last Sunday."It's the biggest indoor operation I've seen in Butler County," said Pat Cannon, who heads the Butler County Drug Task Force and who has been in county law enforcement for 35 years.A total of 183 potted marijuana plants were confiscated, as well as lights and other equipment. Two trucks were needed to haul away the evidence.Not only do police merit plaudits for their accomplishment; so does the person or persons who supplied the tip or tips that led to the three-week investigation that produced the arrests.More people should come forward with tips, anonymous or otherwise, to help law enforcement officials curtail Butler County's illegal-drug trade. The toll-free telephone number to report illegal drug use or drug operations in the county — 1-866-363-3784 — oftentimes is included on this page.Illegal drugs damage or destroy lives in the county each year. An accomplishment like last Sunday's is a boost to those who work every day on behalf of freeing the county from this scourge.

With Butler County's new-prison general-construction situation in limbo since the general contractor walked off the job in December, and with other contractors' work confined mainly to the interior, there's no good explanation for West Vogely Street along the construction site to remain closed.The street, which amounts to an alley, should be open at least to pedestrian traffic, if only during daylight hours when most workers are in the downtown. The actual construction site is fenced in. The site, in its current state, should pose no hazard to people walking along it.Embarq employees still use a side door that opens into the currently restricted area.County officials are trying to unravel the legal issues tied to the general contractor's departure, and trying to determine how and when the project will be finished.While that state of uncertainty exists, and until general construction resumes, Vogely should be open. It's a public right of way.If there are times when other contractors' work requires that access be restricted, then it ought to be shut down temporarily.Keeping the roadway closed when nothing is happening construction-wise makes no sense.