Letters to the editor: 03/29/01

Child Abuse Prevention Month to be observed in April

To the Editor:

The public is encouraged to join in the annual recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, designated for April. During this month, prevention advocates across the country will coordinate efforts to support child abuse prevention programs.

Each year in North Carolina, 96,000 children are reported as abused and neglected, many in our local communities. About 40 children die each year in our state from child abuse.

April also marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of Hawthorn Heights, an emergency residential care and treatment center in Bryson City serving youth ages 10-17 in the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina.

In 1973, a female runaway, age 14, begged authorities to allow her to spend Christmas in a local jail rather than to be taken home to an abusive situation. Because of this incident, the region's major shelter for runaways and homeless youth was established and Mountain Youth Resources Inc. began.

Today, 25 years after the opening of Hawthorn Heights on April 1, 1976, Mountain Youth Resources has added an In-Home Services Program, which provides intensive home-based, family-centered counseling; and NewBridge, a long-term residential treatment center for court-referred youth. The goals of these programs are family preservation, crisis stabilization, and a reduction in the number of children requiring additional social services or being sent to state training schools and the regional detention center at a cost to taxpayers.

Mountain Youth Resources has achieved a quarter century of success serving a variety of regional needs. And, in the process, the agency has changed lives and saved lives. With the continued support of this community and others in our seven-county service area, we look forward to providing services at no direct cost to the youth, family or referring agent for the next 25 years. We are dedicated to our motto: "A United Family - A Healthy Child."

Sincerely,

Ned Dresher

Mountain Youth Resources

Board Chairman

'Thanks for the memories'

To the Editor:

I would like to thank Kenny Nicholson, Scott Hartbarger, Cindi Simmons, Si Simmons, former coaches, Smoky Mountain students, pep band members, booster club members, local media (both radio and newspaper), Smoky Mountain personnel and all others who helped with the Smoky Mountain Old-Timers Basketball Game.

This event was a great experience for the former players, fans and cheerleaders to see old teammates and friends from both Smoky Mountain and Sylva-Webster high schools.

I know the planning for an event like this takes a lot of time and energy. Everyone who helped with this fund-raiser should be commended for their effort in this enjoyable and memorable event.

Sincerely,

John Hamilton

Sylva-Webster

Class of 1981

Hickory

Letters to the editor: 03/29/01

Child Abuse Prevention Month to be observed in April

To the Editor:

'Thanks for the memories'

To the Editor:

Back to Archive: 03/29/01.