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Heimann honored for drug fighting |
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Written by admin
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Monday, 27 November 2006 |
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By ERIC MANN
In 16 years on the bench as judge of Adams Superior Court, James A. Heimann of Decatur has become involved in many activities, but probably none lasting longer than his association
with local, regional, and state efforts to eliminate the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, especially by youth.
For his work since 1991, the year he ascended to the superior court position, Judge Heimann was recently named Volunteer of the Year for 2006 by the northeastern Indiana regional advisory board of the Governor's Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana.
Heimann was nominated for the award by Barry Humble, executive director of Adams County's Substance Abuse Awareness Council (SAAC), who wrote on the nomination form, "One would expect a judge to have some firm, straight-forward beliefs about substance abuse.
"What Judge Heimann has done is to share his passion concerning the negative impact of substance abuse beyond the walls of his courtroom and into the homes and meeting rooms of the Adams County community. His preference is to share with the community from the wealth of his experiences to prevent tribulation rather than pronounce judgment after a community member makes a poor decision."
Heimann, who is in his early 60s, has experience not just as a defense lawyer and a jurist, but also as a military prosecutor in Vietnam during that war, when substance abuse violations were high among crimes that were handled by the military courts.
Humble's statement about Heimann adds that the judge "became involved with SAAC shortly after becoming a judge in 1991. He has been a member of the coalition ever since. During 2003, he was selected as chairman and is currently the longest-standing member of the SAAC.
"Judge Heimann has made countless presentations to school classrooms and driver education classes as well as to civic, church, and community groups throughout the county. The focus of the message he shares deals with the role and responsibility each community member plays with regard to substance abuse. He is very passionate about creating opportunities for treatment and recovery."
Humble sums up by praising Judge Heimann this way: "The impact of his message goes well beyond the courtroom. He lives what he believes within his family, church, and among his colleagues." For instance, he tells people in his court that, although never a big drinker of alcohol, he gave up all alcohol use when he was elected judge.
Humble also wrote that Heimann's "activities beyond the courtroom create a forum for him to share his message throughout the entire county."
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 November 2006 )
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