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Two graduates complete Recovery Court Program
Nevada Daily Mail
Two Vernon County residents were honored Tuesday for their successful completion of the county's Adult Recovery Court resulting in all charges being cleared without prejudice by prosecuting attorney Brandi McInroy and Judge James Bickel.
An audience of family, sponsors and alumni of the program attended the recovery court's 34th graduation ceremony, and the first since June 2014, to provide support to the 83rd and 84th graduates of recovery court.
Rodney Pope and Nicole Kalleck participated in the recovery court for the past 18 months, with each now having remained clean and sober for more than 500 days. Pope participated in the driving while intoxicated portion of the program while Kalleck joined the program after being charged with drug possession.
J.B. Woolverton, who is involved in the recovery court program, gave the graduation address which included advice on how to "maintain the change process" that began with their decision to join the recovery court program.
"You'll have a gravitational pull back to norm," Woolverton said, noting he has seen other graduates of the program slip back into their old habits. "You're in a place where they're not responsible for your change -- you are."
But while the recovery court committee -- including courthouse, sheriff's office, police department and juvenile office members -- will no longer meet with them each week, keeping careful tabs on them, Bickel and other committee members encouraged Pope and Kalleck to contact them if they ever need assistance or encouragement.
"They didn't give up on you, did they?" Woolverton told Pope and Kalleck, reminding them of the help they received from the committee members, even when they did not always enjoy their efforts. "They stuck with you. The responsibility now goes to you."
Woolverton reminded the two graduates that they can no longer be social drinkers or social drug users, since they will likely find one drink or hit is not enough. Woolverton said instead they should try to completely avoid the destructive habits that led to their arrests.
Stan Ford, a representative of Pathways and the recovery court committee, presented Life Recovery Bibles to Pope and Kalleck, while Bickel presented them certificates recognizing their completion of the program. Women from the United Methodist Women also presented prayer shawls they had knitted for the graduates.
After the presentation, members of the audience were encouraged to speak up if they so desired. Pope's daughter said she was happy her father was no longer living as an alcoholic while Kalleck's mother praised her for her accomplishment, saying she is now an even better mother to her own young daughter.
Alumni from the program encouraged the graduates to make new friends instead of returning to their previous acquaintances and to avoid past bad habits entirely.
"The recovery court changes lives one at a time," Pope said, thanking the committee and others for helping him over the last 18 months.