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Drug court picnic: Love, hope and new car |
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Friday, 31 July 2009 |
Dozens of participants of the Saline County Drug Court were treated to hamburgers, door prizes, magic tricks, powerful messages and even a new vehicle for one lucky person on Thursday. Penny and Phillip Wilson, left, of Lonsdale keep an eye on a wad of toilet paper as magician Maxwell Blade of Hot Springs attempts to make it disappear Thursday at the Saline County drug court picnic inside the Gene Moss Building at Tyndall Park in Benton. Current and former participants, along with their families and city leaders, attended the annual celebration.
The Saline County Drug Court picnic was held inside the Gene Moss Building at Tyndall Park. Current and former participants in the program, their families and employees of the program attended the event that featured entertainment by Hot Springs magician Maxwell Blade.
For drug court participant Thomas Dunlap, 40, of Shannon Hills, the event ended on an extreme high note when he won a 1999 four-door Pontiac Grand Am. The vehicle was donated by Lenders Auto Exchange in Benton.
“This couldn’t have come at a better time for my family,” Dunlap said. “I just lost my job.”
But with a new positive attitude, Dunlap matter-of-factly replied, “Well, I’ll get another one,” when Saline County Circuit Judge Robert Herzfeld, who heads the drug court program, said he was “sorry to hear about the job loss.”
“People in the drug court program have an opportunity to turn their lives around,” Herzfeld said. “It’s definitely rewarding for everyone. I am glad to see that things like [Dunlap] winning this vehicle at a time like this can make a positive influence on his families life.”
August marks the sixth anniversary of the program. The program was first presided over by Saline County Circuit Judge Gary Arnold, who also attended Thursday’s picnic. Herzfeld took over leadership of the program on Jan. 1.
“It’s been a real honor,” Herzfeld said. “Arnold helped set up the program in Saline County and he made it very successful. I want to help continue that success and help improve it. The program is already hitting on all cylinders; now we want to push down the pedal. We have an excellent team that has helped many come so far in goals of sobriety.”
Participants are in the program to overcome addictions to legal and illegal drugs, such as pain medications, cocaine, methamphetamine, alcohol, marijuana and other substances. The participants enter the program by pleading guilty to their respective drug-related felony charges. Instead of going to jail, they are instructed to work through the program. Upon completion, their charges are dropped.
Judy Pridgen, program coordinator, said there is also an economic benefit to the community. She said it costs the county about $50 per day to house an inmate in jail compared to $5 a day in the drug court program.
There are more than 40 drug court programs in Arkansas, Herzfeld said.
Pridgen and Herzfeld thanked numerous community leaders for donating door prizes, food and more to the Saline County Drug Court picnic.
Sponsors included Maxwell Blade and Quapaw House Inc.; both of Hot Springs; Mike and Stephanie Duke of Benton; Saline County Deputy Clerk Linda Montalvo; Benton and Bryant Walmarts; Ed & Kay’s Restaurant in Benton; Posey’s Service Center in Benton; Razorsharp Carwash in Bryant; Carol Perry of Saline County; Saline County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Ralph Bunche Community Action Committee; Coca-Cola; Sonic Drive-In; Applebees; and Bullocks Superstop; Lenders Auto Exchange and Dale’s Doughnuts.
Read Saturday’s Courier for more information about the Saline County drug court program and its success stories.
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