Mineral County celebrates National Drug Court Month

Mineral County celebrated National Drug Court month on Wednesday at a reception in the County Commissioners meeting room. 

The event included a lunch, several speakers and a graduation from the Mineral County DUI/Drug Court. Mineral County Judge began the event by introducing the team of employees who are essential to making the DUI/Drug Court a success in Mineral County. 

“That’s our team and this is what it is all about,” Judge James said. 

County Commissioner and MHP Sergeant Roman Zylawy then read a true account about a young woman who was killed by a drunk driver called “Taylor’s Story” to set the tone for the event. The story of Taylor’s death was used to show the severity of DUI incidents as well as the need for the work of DUI/Drug Courts in ensuring the offenders do not commit the same offenses again. 

“Taylor was just 19, and was just beginning her life,” Commissioner Zylawy read. “Only to have it end at the hands of someone who drank to the point of inebriation and got behind the wheel of a car. We are all our brother’s keeper and not only is it our responsibility that we never drink and drive, but it is also imperative that we watch over one another. We must ban together to do whatever it takes to prevent drunk driving.” 

After Commissioner Zylawy finished the reading of the story Judge James once again took the podium and spoke. 

“That’s a bit sobering to say the least,” Judge James said. 

“But it’s why we’re here today because what we are doing is trying to prevent this – not to put a pull on your lunch but to say that the emphasis of what we are doing is to stop that and to intervene.” 

Judge James also said that the purpose of the day was to celebrate the achievements of participants in the drug court and she introduced Wally Schrock and Randy Lee – two previous graduates of the Mineral County DUI/Drug Court.

The two spoke to the audience about the benefits of the program and their thankfulness for what the program did for their lives.

“I’ve said this before but it gives you a second chance at life,” Schrock said.

 With that it was time to celebrate the graduation of Dale Lee from the program. 

“I had the pleasure of being Dale’s counselor and I have seen him through the process of treatment court,” Turning Points Treatment Provider Kristie Howard said. 

“I tend not to say a lot about their experience in treatment because it is theirs. But I will say that Mr. Lee has been here longer than me and what I noticed initially is that he was still pretty angry and appeared to be resentful at times. As time progressed, he started to get in touch with the things that underlined those feelings and made a huge turnaround.” 

Howard added that she appreciated Lee’s willingness to be open and honest during the treatment process. Lee was then invited to step up to the podium and speak to the audience before receiving his certificate of completion. 

“This has been a journey I will never forget,” Lee said. “I’ve been drinking since I was 18 and I am 51 now – it took me that long to see how to do this the right way. I tried to do it by myself but I couldn’t.” 

Lee added that he had previously known about recovery but not exactly what it meant before saying that recovery was the reason he was graduating. 

“It has made a huge, huge change in my life,” Lee said. “The changes it’s made in my life are astonishing. This has been the best year of my life, the best. Going through all of the things I went through this year and being able to say that is enormous.”