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District Attorney Walt Merrell has announced a partnership between Covington County Treatment Courts and Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

LBW offers Adult Education services at no cost and through its Workforce Development Division, the college provides students with training courses in a variety of fields.

“This division of LBWCC offers self-paced online courses along with hands-on labs,” Merrell said. “Our goals for our Treatment Courts participants include not only helping them overcome addiction but also assisting them in gaining additional life skills, such as becoming more marketable. Through our partnership with the college, and as an additional incentive to the individuals in our Treatment Courts programs, we are able to remit $250 of their treatment court fees for each course completed, up to a total of three courses, or $750.”

Merrell praised the hands-on efforts that led to the partnership, stating, “Sabrina Cobb and all our Treatment Courts staff — Willie Byrd, Jeremie Shaffer, and Laurie O’Meara — strive to help our participants become the best versions of themselves. They have true servants’ hearts and continue to look for new ways to help people. Sabrina, who came to the DA’s Office after working at LBWCC, has a particular background in education, which aids her in assisting participants with finding their niche in the workforce. Of course, we greatly appreciate Jeanni Sanders, who heads up the Workforce Development Division, for her consistent efforts to aid people in improving themselves.”

To date, four Covington County Treatment Courts participants have completed training courses: Christian Williams, Katie Wilson, Velyncia Bonham, and Kaylee McWhorter. Williams completed the Excavator Training Course, and Wilson, Bonham, and McWhorter each completed the Food and Beverage Training Course.

“We are thrilled for not only these four participants who have already completed their training courses, but for the ones who are currently enrolled in and working toward their goals,” Cobb said.

LBWCC’s Workforce Development Division offers training courses in a variety of fields, including Community Health Work, Fiber Optics, and Bulldozer, in addition to Excavator and Food and Beverage Service.