“Wayne (Ray) told me about John (Shinholser),” the sheriff said following Monday night's Recovery Summit at the Roanoke Rapids Theatre. “I would welcome sitting down with John and discussing bringing a recovery program to our jail.”

Shinholser, of the McShin Foundation in Richmond, told the audience at the summit he has visited jail inmates for more than 30 years as part of his recovery mission.

Tripp said he wants to see the summit become an annual event. “It has been our goal to bring awareness to our problem locally and it is our hope that we have started down that path.”

Since holding a prayer vigil at the theater last November, Tripp said, “We have had 33 overdoses countywide with one death. Several have coded but have been brought back with Narcan which law enforcement, EMS and some fire departments have.”

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With 712 square miles of territory and a population of 54,000 people, “One overdose is too many and there is a way out with recovery. As long as we learn from our mistakes then they have served its purpose.”

Tripp said the event was not meant as a means for arrest. “We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and we are to lift each other up.”

While the sheriff said no promises can be made to rid the county of drugs, he explained, “We will win a few battles but not the war. It is our goal to slow its progress. Tonight was one of many steps toward proactivity and I want to thank my friends Wayne Ray, Katherine Keyes, Susan Polk Green and others who helped.”

Tripp said he was pleased during the summit to hear Valley Community Church will be participating in Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered program, beginning Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The program is designed to address a myriad of addictions from depression, anger and drugs, to pornography, alcohol and drugs and more.

“I have always said maintaining partnerships with the faith community and churches has always been a solution,” he said. “I think it's great.”

Deborah Marshall said there are plans for child care during the meetings and the programs are open to non-members for both those coming for the meetings or those who want to volunteer.

Call the church at 252-536-444 for additional information.