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Rose Hooper
A group opposed to the incorpoation of Cullowhee asked the Jackson
County Board of Commissioners for funds to oppose incorporation
efforts. The action followed the board's move to donate $2,500
to pay for legal expenses for incorporating Cullowhee.
David Schulman, owner of David's of Sylva, was awarded the Retailer
Public Relations Award by the Menswear Retailer of America based
in Washington, D.C.
Ground-breaking ceremonies were held for the new educational building
at Sylva First United Methodist Church.
President Jimmy Carter arrived in Asheville for a fund-raising
dinner at the Biltmore Estate.
"Heaven Can Wait," starring Warren Beatty and Julie
Christie, was playing at the Ritz Theatre.
Sylva-Webster's cross country team placed second in a 14-team
field in a meet at Erwin High.
These were some of the events taking place the week of Sept. 23,
1978, when REACH of Jackson County was officially incorporated.
A local community group concerned with the problems of battered
wives, rape victims and other abused persons named the organization
"REACH" to deal with resources, education, assistance,
counseling and housing for victims.
As part of REACH's activities that week, a program was held at
the county courthouse sponsored by the N.C. Council on the Status
of Women. A number of representatives from law enforcement agencies,
social agencies and the medical profession participated.
Speaking at the program, Mary-Susan Parnell, director of the council's
Battered Women's Program, said, "Domestic violence can happen
within any home where there is a stressful situation. So it happens
all across America, all across the world."
Parnell said domestic violence touches society in many ways.
"Often wife abuse and child abuse go hand-in-hand,"
she was quoted in a front-page Sylva Herald article Sept. 21,
1978. "Even if the child is not abused in a home where the
parents battle, he is affected by the violence, for he thinks
that is the normal way married people should interact."
Parnell further noted that most crimes are committed by persons
who grew up in homes where there is abuse, according to the article.
A main problem, she said, is that battered spouses have no where
to turn.
"Often friends or family urge them to go back home and make
the best of it," she said. "Sometimes the victims are
made to feel guilty, like they are the cause of the abuse."
She stressed how important organizations like REACH are and described
programs already in operation across the state, including four
shelters where women can stay for several months. Some communities
have support groups and court counselors, she said.
"These programs give women time to make decisions. We are
not in the business of telling women to leave their abusive husbands;
we've in the business of providing options."
Linda Hardy, one of the organizers of the REACH event, said in
the article, "Without a good, strong support system only
a small percentage of abuse cases are reported."
In its first week as an officially-recognized support agency,
REACH began a needs assessment in the community and started setting
up temporary home care and shelter for victims.
Now, 25 years later, REACH is recognized statewide as a leading
human service resource and is often used as a model for other
counties setting up support programs for victims of domestic violence
and sexual assault.
REACH Executive Director Jean Bockstahler invites the public to
help celebrate the organization's 25th anniversary. Watch The
Herald for details starting next week.
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