For four people and their families in Ray County, there was an extra reason to enjoy the Labor Day weekend: graduation from the county’s drug court program. Presided over by Judge Kevin Walden, the program’s 30th graduation ceremony took place on Sept. 2 on the third floor of the Ray County Courthouse in Richmond. Erica Brookshier, Jeremy Anderson, Emmanuel Smith and Kauy Wilson were the graduates. A judicially supervised program, drug court combines substance use treatment and community supervision for offenders with serious substance abuse issues. Lasting up to 18 months, the program’s treatment services are geared toward the individual, based on risks and needs, Walden explained. Statistics have indicated “pretty conclusively” that a drug court program “ is the most effective way” of assisting people with substance abuse issues, the judge said. It also is the most effective means of helping society overall, he added. In addition, Walden described the…