County Treatment Court Graduates Two More; Judge Miller Honored

WOOLRICH — This afternoon was a time to celebrate “sobriety and recovery” for the so far seven graduates of Clinton County Court’s two-year-old Treatment Court, an alternative to imprisonment for those with substance abuse issues.

Judge Michael Salisbury emceed the event at Woolrich Park, what he called “a celebration” of the two most recent program graduates. Local residents “Zach” and “Ron” were recognized for their new found sobriety and what Judge Salisbury called their successful efforts to become “contributing members of society.”

He said “Zach” now holds two jobs, works 60 hours a week and wants to go to college. And “Ron” works at First Quality and is planning to buy a home.

The two are the most recent graduates from the 26 locally adjudicated men and women who have entered the program. The majority of them continue in the three-phase program and two so far have fallen short and been released from the rehabilitation program and back into the correctional system.

Today’s event saw special recognition for President Judge Craig Miller, a plaque presented by Shea Madden, executive director of the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission. It was Judge Miller, Judge Salisbury said, who took the initiative to begin the program in Clinton County, instructing him to begin the planning before he had even taken his place on the Bench.

Salisbury praised Miller’s “vision, dedication and perseverance” in bringing the program to fruition. The three county commissioners joined in the recognition for Judge Miller, noting the local program and the court’s new Veterans Court were recognized recently by state Supreme Court Judge Debra Todd. The occasion was the annual state County Commissioners convention and she made particular mention of Clinton County’s efforts.