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Cherokee County proclaims May 2026 Treatment Court Month; two participants share recovery stories
Summary
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners declared May 2026 Treatment Court Month and heard moving testimony from two graduates-to-be of the county's drug court programs, who credited drug court with their recovery and urged public support and attendance at May 29 graduations.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on May 19 adopted a resolution designating May 2026 as Treatment Court Month, signed in the record by Chairman Harry B. Johnson. The proclamation called out the role treatment courts play in reducing fatal overdoses and improving treatment outcomes.
Two participants scheduled to graduate May 29 spoke during the meeting to describe how the drug‑court program changed their lives. Shane Viken said he entered drug court on 08/07/2024 and credited the program with helping him pass 200 drug tests and regain relationships with family: "I found myself. I'm happy with myself." James Hatfield, who said he reentered the program after jail time, described completing relapse‑prevention, anger‑management and other classes, saying drug court gave him tools to stay sober and rebuild stability.
Judge Jordan and other treatment‑court staff highlighted upcoming graduations and invited commissioners and the public to attend. The board did not take additional policy action on the treatment courts during the meeting; the resolution and the personal testimonies were presented as recognition and community outreach.
The meeting record shows county staff also discussed program logistics and mentoring for a veterans treatment court, and invited citizens to volunteer as veteran mentors. The treatment‑court proclamations and comments concluded with an encouragement from judges and staff for commissioners and residents to attend graduation ceremonies.
The board moved to other business after the public testimony; the treatment‑court resolution was recorded in the minutes and appears as an adopted proclamation in the meeting packet.
