WILMINGTON, Ohio – A record seven individuals graduated from the You-Turn Recovery (Drug) Docket in ceremonies Friday, Nov. 17, at the Wilmington Church of Christ.
This recognition means the four men and three women achieved a minimum of 18 months of sobriety, completed individual and group alcohol and other drug counseling and complied with all conditions of supervision for the specialized docket within Clinton County Common Pleas Court.
Those graduating were Racheal Roberts, Stephanie Spencer, Maurice (Todd) Estep, Jacob Odom, Jeremy Wallace, Tosha Salisbury and Christopher Stanfield.
This brings to nine the number of graduates from the program established in the fall of 2014 by Judge John W. (Tim) Rudduck for those addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs. It received final certification from the Ohio Supreme Court in early 2015 and earlier this year was re-certified through 2019.
The docket’s first participant, David Key, graduated in 2016, and Sandra Lamb graduated earlier this year. Both attended the recent graduation and are doing well, according to Judge Rudduck.
Judge Rudduck welcomed a crowd that filled the sanctuary and Senior Minister Dale McCamish gave the invocation.
You-Turn Recovery Docket supervision officer Ka’Shira Myburgh introduced the graduates individually and recognized each with brief remarks about their road to graduation. Graduates were then presented a medal by a family member or other friend that they had selected.
Judge Rudduck also recognized a special volunteer, Terry Urton, who has supported participants in the program by attending a majority of their status review hearings over the past three years and has encouraged and fostered their success in other ways as well.
The program also included a surprise video from U.S. Senator Rob Portman of Cincinnati who congratulated the graduates as well as Judge Rudduck and his staff on the success of the drug court.
Inspirational musical interludes during the program were provided by the duet Timbre Hitch. The couple, Allison Rambo and Micah Steele, are also part of the leadership team for The Tanager House, transitional housing for women which opened in downtown Wilmington earlier this year.
McCamish closed the formal program with the benediction and a reception for graduates and those in attendance concluded the evening.
You-Turn Recovery Docket participants are supervised by the judge as the head of a treatment team which also includes court supervision officers and area alcohol and drug treatment providers. The team meets twice a month before status review hearings for participants that are held en masse in the Clinton County Common Pleas Courtroom which are open to the public.
Many people from the community regularly attend the status review hearings to lend support to the participants, including those from local churches and others battling addiction who want to share their stories and offer encouragement.
To ensure accountability, participants are regularly and randomly tested for substance use, rewarded for meeting goals, and sanctioned for not meeting clearly stated obligations. They must call in everyday to determine if they have been chosen to have a drug test that day.
For more information on the docket, go to www.you-turn-drug-docket.org, follow it on Facebook at You-Turn Recovery Docket, like it on Twitter at You-Turn@UturnDrugDocket, or contact supervision officer Ka’Shira Myburgh at 937-382-8686, ext. 1137, or by email at kashira@clintoncountycourts.org.
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