Gavel headed from California to Washington D.C. stops at Drug Court graduation

The 23^rd Judicial District’s Drug Court graduation was called to order Saturday with a gavel that had traveled all the way from California on its way to Washington D.C. The Drug Court, which serves Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Stewart and Cheatham counties, graduated six participants in a ceremony Saturday at Farmers Family Restaurant in Dickson. Presiding Judge Robert Burch called the graduation ceremony to order with a gavel that is traveling across the country in the inaugural All Rise America National Motorcycle Relay for Recovery. The cross-country motorcycle relay celebrating National Drug Court Month started May 1 in Santa Ana, California, and made a stop in Dickson for the graduation ceremony. Doug Beecham, a drug court graduate who now works for the program, delivered a gavel being carried on the relay to Burch at Saturday’s stop. The relay features drug court graduates, professionals, veterans and other supporters carrying the gavel across the country and stopping at 24 National Drug Court Month events. At Saturday’s graduation, drug court graduates Beecham, Chad Massey, Jonathan Wall and Jimmy Cooper shared their stories of overcoming addiction and continued recovery. Following the ceremony, the gavel resumed its journey to Washington D.C. where it is expected to arrive May 24 after 3,000 miles on the road.