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The Pet Rescuer

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:48:57 +0000

BURLESON, TX — Melissa Stiles-Longoria loves dogs, and has for as long as she can remember. “My mom says when I was around 2, I grabbed a dog who wandered up while we were attending a company picnic and wouldn’t let it go,” Melissa said. By the age of 8, she had made her first rescue. Melissa brought Molly, a German Shepherd and Blue Heeler mix, in the front door and asked, “Can we keep her?” Molly became her longtime childhood companion.

Then, Melissa married Hector Longoria. “He knew I loved dogs,” Melissa laughed, “but I’m not sure he knew what he was getting into. Actually, neither did I.”

In 2002, the couple was visiting Hector’s parents in South Texas for Mother’s Day when they saw an advertisement on a telephone pole for Chihuahua puppies. Hector gave in to Melissa’s request to pick out just one as her Mother’s Day present. “It was my first experience with a puppy mill,” Melissa shuddered at the memory. “You could smell it before we got there. It was horrible.”

The owners told them each puppy was priced at $400, but all Melissa had was $150. They showed her 18 adult Chihuahua females in a 5-by-3 run and told her to pick one. Her eyes immediately fell on Bella. Her back was hunched and she was shivering. The couple took the small dog home and had her examined by a veterinarian, who told them the dog’s spine was permanently malformed due to poor nutrition. Today, Bella lives happily with Melissa and Hector. She is what Melissa calls, “the diva of the pack.” Bella may be small, but she lets the other dogs they rescue know she is the boss. Melissa grinned and admitted, “Everyone obeys her.”

Two years later, Melissa found Barron, a white male Chihuahua, in the middle of traffic on Crowley Highway. He was obviously an abandoned, hungry dog. Melissa took him to her vet who discovered the animal had been shot. He had a bullet wound on his leg and a casing embedded close to his heart. Barron is also alive and well today in the Stiles-Longoria home. So is Buster, a paraplegic dog who has his own wheelchair thanks to another Burleson resident named Jerry West who creates the specialized chairs.

People began to contact Melissa when they discovered stray dogs. She took them in, nursed them back to health, and then proceeded to adopt them out. Then, in 2008, she landed a job at the Russell Feed Store in Crowley where she formed connections with pet foster care people, other rescuers and also potential adopters. The more she learned the more determined she became to be a part of the effort to rescue animals and place them in proper environments.

Melissa began to network with Burleson Animal Services, Johnson County Humane Society and Lonesome Dove Equine Protection. Then, she organized Positive Outcome Chihuahua Rescue (POCR). Since January 2010, she has placed more than 100 dogs of all breeds in happy homes. “I take all kinds in, even cats and bunnies now, but only a few at a time so each gets proper care.”

This pet lover thoroughly investigates each potential owner. In order to adopt one of her rescued dogs, potential owners must fill out a five- to six-page application with vet references and a thorough background check. Melissa is just as meticulous about how she cares for each stray. “I specialized in unwanted adult dogs — mostly Chihuahuas,” she explained. “Each one is fully vaccinated. All of my dogs are neutered or spayed, and spend a minimum of a month with me.”

Melissa watches their personalities surface and observes how they interact with the other dogs, with kids and with house sounds. Many need to learn to trust humans again. For that, Melissa relies on her “other child,” a stray named Bronx. “Bronx is such a gentle, sound-minded dog that the others learn quickly from him how to behave around people.”

Within days, a stray gains awareness that not all humans are cruel. Within a couple of weeks, most are well-acclimated to being house pets. Then, Melissa can properly assess in which type of home they would thrive best. “If they’re one who is fit for an older lady who needs a lap dog, or one that can romp and play with others, I’ll know.”

This rescuer relies on several people to assist her in her cause. Hector shares in the dog care duties on a daily basis. Her 16-year- old daughter, Renee, helps as well with kennel cleaning and feeding. “My mother, Katy Stiles, is invaluable to me, as is Mary Convery, who assists me with the adoption process,” Melissa admitted. “Mary can always spot a good potential adopter.” Melissa also depends on four foster pet owners who take care of the strays after Melissa and Hector have nursed them back to health. Dr. Kevin Gibbs, who visits all seven of the Russell Feed Store locations in the Metroplex, offers low-cost vaccinations, and Texas Coalition for Animal Protection provides low-cost spaying and neutering. Since Melissa pays for all this on her own, they are invaluable resources. “I will accept donations, and I always let people know by mail how their money was used, but I never charge an adoption fee,” she added.

Not all the rescues have happy endings. Many times over the course of her mission, Melissa has taken animals that were not thriving to the North Texas Humane Society, so they could be humanely put down. “They do it for free if you have documentation that you have tried everything you can,” she stated. “I stay with them until the end.”

Melissa has developed a Ten Commandments of Rescue Caring, the 10th being you must stay until the very end. “It is tough. There are times when we get several in a row that just are not going to make it no matter how hard we try.” Her eyes became teary as she continued. “But it is networking on Facebook and through e-mail and seeing how many people out there want to help animals get adopted that pushes me to keep going.”

Melissa has a mission to help dogs and other pets live happy, healthy lives. If the hundreds of animals she has touched over the past 10 years could talk, they would all surely thank her. “Each animal I come in contact with, whether they live or not, knows even if just for a few hours, that someone cared and loved them,” Melissa smiled. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Written by Julie B. Cosgrove.

Editor’s Note: For more information, e-mail Melstilo@att.net.

A Texas-sized Romance

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:36:26 +0000

CORSICANA, TX — Billy Sr. and Louise Tallant’s love story started in Corsicana during the summer of 1950. Billy said he remembers it like it was yesterday. “A friend and I rode over to Corsicana High School one day. He went around one corner, and I went around another. That was the first time I ever saw Louise,” he said.

It wasn’t love at first sight, however. “I was so shy I wouldn’t go anywhere with him, but he persisted and talked me into a date,” Louise laughed. “He understood me and got me out of my shyness. He’s so friendly; he puts everyone at ease.” The couple dated for two years and, ultimately, married in the Corsicana home of their preacher on September 26, 1952.

Born near Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Louise and her family had moved to the Corsicana area, where she graduated from Corsicana High School and went to work for Collin Street Bakery as a bookkeeper. “I worked there about five years then went to State National Bank where I stayed for 10 years,” she remembered. “Around that time, I decided I wanted to be a teacher, so I drove back and forth to Commerce for four years to get my teaching degree. Then I attended Stephen F. Austin College and got my master’s degree. After graduating, I started teaching in Dawson ISD.” Louise taught fifth grade at Dawson, until retiring recently. Billy Sr. is a native of Navarro County with a life journey that has encompassed a wide variety of careers and interests. Known as “The Indian Trader,” he is a natural artist and gifted storyteller with a national reputation as a carver and collector of Indian artifacts. His vast collection and artistic creations, many of them containing detailed images sculpted from rock and bone and embedded with turquoise, line shelves in most of the rooms of his cozy country home, as well as several buildings on his property, which is located about 10 miles southwest of Corsicana.

Shortly after the couple married, they decided to leave all that was familiar to them and move to California. Billy recounted how the decision to take his new bride out west came about. “After we were married, my cousin asked us to go to California with him back in 1952, so we piled into a 1949 Packard and headed west. We settled near the ocean in Venice, California. It was beautiful. I got a job at North American Jet Aviation, where I ran a big aluminum press,” he remembered.

“It didn’t take long for us to start missing Texas. Since we didn’t have a car out there, we bought a 1940 Chevrolet for $50 and drove back home.” After returning to Corsicana, Billy worked in a furniture store, a hat factory and an oil company before going into business for himself as a self-taught welder.

The couple eventually had three sons and a daughter and settled down in Pursley. Their daughter, Mary, and son, Billy Jr., who teaches in Corsicana ISD, followed in their mother’s teaching career footsteps.

This year the Tallants will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, an accomplishment they say any married couple can expect to achieve if they just follow certain standards. With recent statistics showing that more than 40 percent of American marriages end in divorce, engaged couples and newlyweds have definite reasons to be concerned. This relatively high failure rate has been attributed to a wide variety of causes: from poor communication habits, financial problems and lack of marriage commitment to dramatic changes in priorities. Last but not least, the one most glamorized in movies and on TV is infidelity. But the good news is that all of these causes may be minimized or avoided altogether if couples decide at the very beginning of a marriage that they are going to set some basic standards for each person to follow to insure they keep their love and commitment alive.

“Just behave yourself,” Billy Sr., who is 78, instructed as he offered his opinions on how they have made their marriage work for such a long time. “Once you say ‘I do,’ don’t honky tonk or drink too much, because anytime a woman marries someone she met in a beer joint, they are going to have trouble.”

Louise, 76, agreed and added her own advice. “We waited five years before we had our kids, and that made a big difference. We got on our feet and got to know each other before we started a family.”

When they met, Billy Sr. was Baptist and Louise was a member of the Church of Christ. He eventually joined her church. They made it a point to go to church every Sunday, a practice they’ve steadfastly maintained. Billy stressed the importance of reading and studying the Bible in keeping a family together. “When you read the Bible, don’t skip any parts, and raise your kids to do the same,” he said.

For her part, Louise is positive that sharing the same religious beliefs was extremely important for them and the success of their marriage. “I wouldn’t have married him if he didn’t go to church,” she said.

Louise continued by adding, “When Billy gets upset, I just leave him alone until he gets over it, and he always gets over it pretty fast. We make it a point to never go to bed angry at each other. We always settle our problems before we turn out the light.”

Billy nodded his head in agreement. “It takes two to tango, so we just use common sense and settle any problem we are dealing with right away. We try to never let the sun go down on our anger. Over the years, we’ve learned how the other thinks and reacts, and I’ve never found anything wrong with being married, either.”

Most of all, the couple is unanimous in giving credit to their friends for helping them make their life together a success. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without the good friends we have here in Texas and Louisiana. We can’t thank them enough for being there for us all these years,” Billy Sr. said.

When the Tallants look back at nearly 60 years of love and companionship, they agreed on one more thing, something that visibly surprised them when they realized how true it was. What they have had all these years has been so great and has passed so fast … like the blink of
an eye.

Written by Rick Herron.

Always Answering the Bell

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:27:24 +0000

ENNIS, TX — Firefighters learn to respond instantly, even from a sound sleep, to the station’s alarm bell. Before a civilian could figure out what the noise is, the firefighters are wide awake, in their gear and halfway to the ladder truck. Retired with distinction from the Ennis Fire Department last June, Freddy Santos has been answering that bell, in one way or another, for more than 40 years.

First, Freddy has answered by making the most of opportunities as they arise. Beginning in October 1971 when, upon completing his U.S. Navy service, he pursued a new job. Having read of an opening for a Ennis sanitation operator, he met with Thelma Gooch, the city secretary at the time, to apply for the job. Instead, she sent him to see then Chief D.D. Day about an opening in the Fire Department. He still laughs about one of the chief’s first questions: whether Freddy was tolerant of smoke and fire. “I told him I was raised around smoke and fire,” Freddy smiled. “We had lived in several homes that used cast-iron, wood-burning stoves for cooking and heat. So there were days we would be run out of the house by smoke.”

He was hired on a trial basis that month as a hose man, gaining permanent status in June 1972. The following “Though I made many mistakes, the summer the fire department took over the ambulance service — before then, funeral homes provided the only emergency transportation to hospitals — and Freddy trained as one of Ennis’s very first Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). mark of a good

A second way Freddy has always answered the bell is to do his best work, whatever the job. As he did, he rose through the ranks to make captain in 1977. Then, in 1999, he was transferred from firefighting to the Building Code and Code Enforcement program, under the direction of Fire Marshal and Chief Building Inspector Buddy Markham, who just recently retired on December 31, 2011. “I will always believe fire prevention is the backbone of the fire department’s service,” he said. His promotion to the inspection department allowed him to channel his energy into this top priority.

While Freddy takes fire prevention and safety very seriously, he appreciates humor and knows the value of having fun. During his firehouse days, he enjoyed the inevitable ribbing and practical jokes as much as anyone. But the magnum opus of the prank repertoire happened to every brand-new recruit early in his probationary period.

All the other firefighters would get up in the small hours one morning, tiptoeing out of the bunkroom to avoid disturbing the recruit. Then they would climb into full firefighting gear and pull the ladder truck out. The elaborate preparations included smearing soot on their faces and jackets and having someone start washing down the truck as if they had been on a call. When the stage was set, a couple of the men would clatter into the bunkhouse, waking the recruit and then act surprised to see him still there. “Man, you missed a fire!” they would exclaim.

A broad smile creased Freddy’s face. “You should have seen the looks on their faces — they just knew they were going to lose their jobs. It was all in fun, of course. We never did any harm, and when the bell did ring — well, we were all business.” Later, of course, the victim would enthusiastically help pull the same prank on the next recruit.

Besides seizing opportunities and giving his best effort, Freddy answers the bell through his fierce loyalty and respect for his many colleagues, regardless of rank. He would rather tell you about their leadership and assistance over the years than talk about himself. In fact, since retirement, he said, “The most important thing I miss is the camaraderie of the people I worked with.”

He is grateful to every member of the inspection department and the firefighters, both paid and volunteer. Each one has had an impact on his life, especially Buddy, under whom he retired. “We worked side-by-side for over 35 years,” he said. “I would put Buddy up alongside any fire marshal and any building inspector in Texas, as far as knowledge of the job, and he would come out on top.” He smiled and added, “I’m not bragging — it’s just the truth.” Freddy also singles out the fire chiefs

who have led the fire department, from D.D. Day through Rocky Harber and Mike Seeley, to current Chief David Hopkins. All have contributed to its growth. Of Chief Hopkins, he said, “I’ve always thought of him as a visionary. When he first came [in 1986], he implemented the 9-1-1 system — the greatest thing that could have happened to Ennis.”

Freddy reserved his most eloquent praise for Lisa Laza, Ennis Fire Department’s secretary. “We served side-by-side for nearly 13 years, with never a bad word between us. She was my right arm, always willing to assist in every endeavor.”

The flip side of that loyalty and gratitude is Freddy’s humble sense of who he is. Despite the many awards and commendations he has received, including several Firefighter of the Year awards and the Medal of Valor, he refuses to take those accolades personally. Instead, he focuses on the department’s motto: “Protecting the Past … Preparing the Future.” He also points to those who made his success happen, high among them his wife, Mary. “I would not be the man I am today without her by my side,” he asserted.

But Freddy gives even more credit
to Jesus, whom he said he serves first. The Serenity Prayer plaque on his desk “reminded me daily of how much God loves us.” And he viewed his city vehicle as both pulpit and prayer station, praying each morning for wisdom and direction to do the best job possible.

The answer to that prayer was evident at his retirement celebration, where he received great honor and many gifts. One retirement gift sums up Freddy’s service: a miniature fire bell, now displayed in his curio cabinet, engraved “Always Answering the Bell.” Freddy still answers that bell, even in retirement, as he looks for new opportunities and challenges.

To young people considering a firefighting career, Freddy offers this advice: “Talk with some firefighters and make sure it’s the career you want.” As for himself, he is proud to have served. “Though I made many mistakes, the mark of a good person is not his downfall, but his rebound.

“It’s been a long journey,” he mused, then read the motto from the commemorative shadow box he also received at retirement. “It’s important to have an end to the journey … but it’s the journey that matters in the end.”

Written by Janice C. Johnson.

A Gift from Heaven

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:09:23 +0000

MANSFIELD, TX – Throughout history, there have always been those who have cried out against injustice. And there have always been those who wanted to speak up for the downtrodden. Many are willing to speak out for the poor. Someone is always ready to take up a cause that everyone else seems to want to ignore. But very rarely is that person a preteen from Mansfield. But then, everyone who has ever met her agrees that Heaven Conner is indeed a very rare young lady.

In May 2011, Heaven was walking with her mother, Sara, to a friend’s house. As they walked, they began to talk about Heaven’s frustration over the way a fellow student had been treated. “His clothes were not in the best condition,” Heaven recalled. But it wasn’t just the treatment of that one student that bothered her. Heaven had compassion for other students in that situation. “There were some kids who would tease other kids who didn’t have more than two outfits to wear,” Heaven shared.

She also spoke of her sadness at the way some children were teased simply because they did not have lunch money. Heaven did not feel it was fair for people to be treated this way because of their circumstances. “I don’t understand why people want to be mean,” she said.

Finally, her mom told her, “Heaven, you can either complain about it or do something about it.”

According to Sara, Heaven’s brain immediately kicked into high gear, and she began thinking of creating her own charity. “She was thinking large scale. I had to slow her down a bit and convince her to start off on a smaller scale and let it grow from there,” Sara said. “Her brain was going full tilt.” From that conversation, ClothesEd.org was born.

Last summer, Heaven asked her friends to donate name brand clothing for an outdoor clothes sale. She put together a business proposal, which she submitted to her dad, Eben. After he OK’d the idea, she talked to the administrators at Mary Orr Elementary School, who gave her permission to hold the sale in their parking lot. She then found a donor who agreed to match whatever profit came out of the sale. Heaven made around $500 from the sale. The donor matched it and, in addition, Heaven pitched in $500 of her own money (she occasionally models for the Campbell Agency, which includes JCPenney as a client.) With close to $1,500 in funds, Heaven then went “bargain-hunting” and bought name-brand clothes to be given away. She found students who needed the clothes through recommendations and inquiries on the ClothesEd Facebook page. ClothesEd has donated money to Worley Middle School in Mansfield and Acton Elementary School in Duncanville to assist students in purchasing lunch.

Sara explained the reason for buying name- brand clothing: “The main reason is to be sensitive to the demographics and climate of the school district. In order for a student to reach their fullest potential, they have to be academically, socially and emotionally ready. Heaven feels this is her social contribution, as it helps minimize teasing and rejection.”

Heaven has received very little criticism or questions from the community. “On the whole, everyone is supportive,” Sara said. “They were impressed with Heaven and what she was doing. They wanted to encourage her.”

Heaven has always been a compassionate giver. In December 2010, she donated $750 of her modeling money to Samaritan’s Purse Ministries to help provide water wells and necessary livestock to Third World countries. Last Christmas, she led a blanket drive for the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth.

She has also asked some of her former teachers to donate time during the upcoming summer to help tutor students who were having a hard time with certain subjects. The teachers readily agreed. Her goal next year is to have enough resources to help 50 students through clothing, tutoring and lunch assistance combined.

Heaven’s entire family pitches in with the charity. Her father is the senior pastor of Word of Truth Family Church in Mansfield, and ClothesEd.org currently operates under their nonprofit status. The Connors’ family motto is “Live to Give and Give to Live.” As a family, they believe givers enjoy the best benefits in life. In fact, Heaven hijacks clothes from her 2-year- old brother, Landon, for charity. “He has too many anyway,” she laughed.

If her charity didn’t keep her busy enough, Heaven also is active playing select soccer as a midfielder for the Dallas Texans. She also plays tennis, basketball and baseball. Musically, Heaven is a vocal student at Face the Music and plays the trumpet. When she was 9, Heaven wrote and recorded “Jesus Rocks” on Word of Truth’s Children’s Christmas CD. She currently attends The Oakridge School and plans to one day attend Texas Christian University to major in architecture and minor in theater arts. “I like to build things, and I’m very dramatic!” she said.

According to her charity’s Web site, Heaven doesn’t want to be the only child her age in the Mansfield area doing this type of work. “By myself, I can help a few kids, but if you get involved we can help a whole lot of kids,” reads the site. The Web site also includes a “Givers Wall of Fame” for those who have donated money or clothes. She encourages “really cool kids” to be a part of what she is doing.

Heaven not only believes other kids her age can pull off an idea like hers, she actually encourages it. She challenges her peers to “find what you’re good at and get started with it. Making a difference is the best thing you can do.”

But this is much more than a childhood project for Heaven. Clearly this is something she wants to continue to do even as an adult. Sure, she may have another career. She may be a successful architect, but the charity will also always be a passion. Her motivation is not recognition from her peers or from the general public. The motivation of her heart is for the less fortunate. “I like to help people,” she confessed. “I don’t feel being mean to people is right.”

Written by Rick Hope.

Editor’s Note: To get involved as a teacher or a donor, visit Heaven’s Web site Clothesed.org.

A Level Head for Leadership

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:56:51 +0000

MIDLOTHIAN, TX – As a young child, while watching the TV show Adam-12, Carl Smith, police chief for Midlothian, made the momentous decision that he never wanted to be a police officer. The actors on the show were always writing, and as a little boy who did not like to write reports, that was the deal breaker for him. However, the life of a police officer was his destiny, and it began to point in that direction in the early ’80s. “I went to work as a manager in a food store chain in Oak Cliff,” Carl explained. “We always had security. Back in the ’80s, there was a lot of gang activity, and I found it intriguing to watch the law enforcement officers at night as they dealt with these kids. A friend of mine said, ‘Look, you have the right attitude to be a cop. Why don’t you try?’ So, I took the entrance exam in 1987 and, as they say, the rest is history.”

The right attitude, according to Carl, is having a level head. As he defined it, a person with a level head is “someone who is faced with a situation where there is a lot of volatility involved and keeps a calm head while thinking on their feet. There are always multiple routes to take when dealing with people, and when you can de-escalate a situation by talking to someone, then you have a well-rounded approach to dealing with conflict. On the rare occasion where we have to use force to make an arrest or intervene in a fight, you still want that level head prevailing.”

Carl started policing in 1987 and spent 20 years in DeSoto. Five of those years were as assistant police chief, before coming to Midlothian four-and-a-half years ago. “When I came to Midlothian, my goal was to re-brand and remake the organization,” he stated. “I also wanted to increase the standards of operation.”

Carl was a perfect fit, notwithstanding his aversion to writing reports. He has proved that writing reports and policies is something in which he excels. “My history has been in policy making,” he recalled. “In DeSoto, I was always one of the policy writers for the department. I had a strong background in an organization called CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies). One of my goals was to come in and establish good, strong policy procedures for the officers that would be used on each shift. I also worked on training to increase their competency and confidence in the field.”

One of the chief’s goals is to get every officer to the highest level of training possible within the department. The Midlothian Police Department not only does a great job training its officers, it is also a satellite training provider. “There are very few organizations out there that have training classification.
We can bring in training to the police department, and we can host training,” Carl explained. Many topics increase the officer’s awareness and proficiency in the field. Force on force training or firearm training is one area.

Because both Hwy. 67 and Hwy. 287 cross Midlothian, the police department must deal with a variety of circumstances on the highways. Interdiction and DWI training are critical for law enforcement work on the highways. Interdiction is the concept of locating and intercepting illegal drugs. “Theoretically, we assume there are a lot of narcotics moving up and down the highways, and the officers want to be very good at identifying the characteristics of those dealing in narcotics,” Carl stated. Highway management is very complex with FEMA and state guidelines that must be adhered to. “We are writing policy right now to reflect national standards. With a small police department of 30 officers, many of the officers are wearing dual hats. They’ll have an expertise in DWI enforcement and a strong training in interdiction because of time spent on the highway.” Carl gives the staff and officers at Midlothian Police Department credit for high standards and professionalism. “If I am considered successful as a chief, they are the reason.”

Police officers in Midlothian do a lot of community service. They make many visits to local school districts for exhibitions and career days. “We encourage our officers to be involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Carl said. “I’ve volunteered at Vitovsky Elementary School for the last three years as a mentor. We start new programs all the time with retailers, informing them of what they can do to protect themselves and their businesses. Our biggest outreach is our Citizen’s Police Academy and our CERT program (Community Emergency Response Team). We try to equip our community not only with an understanding of law enforcement, but with how they can assist through volunteerism.”

Part of community involvement is awareness from the citizens of possible crimes being committed. “If you see something suspicious, call us. So many times, when a police officer catches someone in the act of committing a crime, it is because someone has called. People say, ‘I didn’t want to bother you.’ Well, bother us. We want that interaction,” Carl said.

Another aspect for necessary training is a realization that Midlothian is in a unique position for a massive emergency crisis. Carl recognizes the need for emergency preparedness. “Our ultimate goal, as always, is saving lives and protecting property. My concern for emergency management is probably more so than most municipal police chiefs because we have such large industry, major highways and major railways surrounding us. We have the potential for a perfect storm in the event of a catastrophe,” he stated.

Working in law enforcement is one of the most stressful jobs there is. Officers must find healthy ways to relieve that stress. For Carl, it is his family. He explained, “Over the years, when I am not at work, I immerse myself in my family and other activities. I have always been athletic, so I do a lot of fitness activities. When I go home, I try to focus on my family. I’ve been involved with youth groups with a local church since the early ’90s, so a lot of my grounding comes from just knowing that we are in public service. There are some people whose badge is their identity, but it’s not mine. I occupy the position of being chief of police, but I’m still Carl Smith. As much as I like that position, and I enjoy being associated with it, I’m still Ginger’s husband and my kids’ dad.”

Written by Betty Tryon.

Love’s Journey

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:21:37 +0000

RED OAK, TX — The love story of Chris and Jennifer Buckhannon began on December 31, 2007, when the duo met at a friend’s New Year’s Eve party. They quickly became inseparable, and even life’s challenges haven’t broken their bond. “Neither of us was looking for a relationship … but it was an instant attraction, and we have been together every day since then,” Jennifer said.

Unbeknownst to Jennifer and Chris, their lives had been intertwined since both of their families moved to Red Oak in 1977. “My family moved to Red Oak when I was only 2 years old. We moved from Duncanville and planted ourselves here and have never uprooted,” Jennifer said. Chris’ family moved that same year to the area they lovingly dubbed “the farm.”

“After meeting Chris, I realized that we had a connection that we weren’t even aware of. I graduated from Red Oak High School in 1993, and Chris graduated in 1991. Our paths never crossed, but our families’ paths had crossed a lot,” Jennifer explained. “I played soccer with his sister and cousin as a young girl. I was in the same class with two of his cousins and worked with his brother at my first job at the Walmart photo center in Lancaster.”

After that fateful party, however, the connection was apparent, “because we didn’t want to be without each other. It was like we just knew we needed to be together from the time we met,” Chris said.

The couple had just settled into a Red Oak home together when a wrench was thrown into their blissful existence. On January 6, 2009, Chris was diagnosed with testicular cancer. “Once he was diagnosed, my priorities in life changed,” Jennifer said.

In February 2009, Jennifer proposed marriage to Chris. And, since he was unable to work, Chris was in charge of planning the wedding. “We reversed the traditional roles. I picked the date and the location,” Chris said. “Jennifer helped and gave her opinion, but I was in charge of getting everything organized.”

The couple married on April 18, 2009, after Chris had his fourth and final round of chemo just a week before the wedding. “We wanted the wedding to be outside by the lake because our favorite thing to do is go camping at the lake,” Jennifer noted. “Unfortunately, it was raining buckets that day, so at the last minute, we had to move everything inside.”

The day of the wedding, friends and family worked to help the couple’s dream wedding become reality, as Chris and Jennifer got ready inside the fifth-wheel campers in which they had come to the site. Chris made sure to include Jennifer’s daughter in the occasion, as well.

“Since I had been married previously, I had my daughter walk down the aisle with me, and she stood up with us as we got married. Chris even presented her with a ring as a gesture that we would all become a family,” Jennifer said.

Becoming a blended family was another challenge Jennifer and Chris faced, along with then 7-year-old daughter, Cheyenne. “It was very important to me for my daughter to mesh with Chris, and we had to work out some kinks. It took time

and a lot of patience, but now we have become one unit,” Jennifer said.

“Learning to be a father is a challenge, but I think I get a little better at it each day,” Chris said.

Communication and honesty are the two key ingredients to their success as a family. “Those two things are so important to making it through tough times. We take things as they come and support each other, no matter what crisis may arise,” Chris said.

Jennifer believes give-and-take is essential, as well. “We might not have the same tastes in things, but we are both willing to step outside the box to find common ground,” Jennifer said. As they do this, they learn to like each other’s interests. “In that way, we compliment each other,” she added.

Besides common interests of sporting events, camping, hunting and bowling, the Buckhannons have come to enjoy a mutual cause because of the way cancer has touched their lives. Jennifer organized the Central Ellis County Relay For Life in previous years, and she and Chris both participate in the event each year, along with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The race serves as a reminder of what they have overcome. “So far, I have been cancer-free since May 2009,” Chris said. In August 2009, Chris had his last surgery to remove the chemo port, and he goes back to the oncologist every three to four months to monitor his blood levels.

Because of the aggressiveness of his cancer, doctors don’t consider Chris in remission. But since his tumor was removed and his chemo treatment was completed, Chris said he has been “healthy as a horse.”

“Chris’ diagnosis changed both of our perspectives on life. We learned that you can’t take one second for granted — that each breath we take is a gift. And we have learned to appreciate even the most minute things,” Jennifer said. “We have learned you really can’t sweat the small stuff.”

While a cancer diagnosis is never a good thing, Jennifer said it has taught them how important one’s outlook is to a situation’s outcome. “I would tell anybody who has ever been diagnosed
to have a good mind frame and to think positive, no matter how bleak things may seem,” she said. “I believe that 90 percent of recovery comes from the mind, and if you give up, so will your body. It takes determination and the will to survive and overcome.”

With that in mind, the Buckhannon’s love story continues one day at a time. They each continue their jobs — Jennifer has worked five years as an accounting technician at the Army Air Force Exchange Service, and Chris has worked 13 years as a Havertys delivery driver. They plan to focus on staying healthy, enjoying their home in their quiet neighborhood and helping their daughter grow into a productive part of society.

Years from now, they hope their intertwined paths involve wide open spaces. “We would one day love to get a motor home so when we get to retire, we can travel,” Jennifer said. “But Red Oak will always be our home.”

Written by Angel Morris.

Editor’s Note: For more information regarding the American Cancer Society’s local Relay For Life, visit www.relayforlife.org/centralelliscountytx.

A Man and His Dog

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:12:27 +0000

DESOTO, TX — One overcast day, not too many months ago, Lowe’s was the scene of an unusual field trip. Various autos disgorged their owners, along with several people in polo shirts and khakis and three dogs. One man in a wheelchair worked at backing down the ramp from his van, a woman settled onto a motorized cart, while the other man spoke quietly to his dog. Several dry runs in and out of vehicles attracted curious, yet hastily averted glances from onlookers. The group in polo shirts worked at handing out pamphlets, explaining their affiliation with Patriot Paws, a nonprofit, service dog training organization for military veterans. The whole event was filmed by Mark Birnbaum, who has spent the past two years chronicling an extraordinary story — the story of Marshall Allen, the one with the wheelchair. Marshall’s story will be a feature-length documentary.

Marshall has always liked dogs and has owned several. But he never dreamed he would one day be cared for by a dog. By mutual agreement, Marshall and his dog, Wilson, feel they have not only a workable plan, but an enjoyable one as well. Truth be told, Marshall never thought he would need anyone to care for him. He was a strapping Fort Worth firefighter of some renown, until a bicycle accident left him a quadriplegic. After a lot of work, Marshall has regained limited use of his arms and hands with the aid of braces. He continues to work for the Bureau of Fire Prevention Fort Worth Fire Department, where he is in charge of commercial inspections, driving to work in his specially equipped van seated in a motorized wheel chair. But there are some things he can’t quite manage. Enter Wilson, a beautiful, two-year-old white Labrador.

“Wilson can open and close doors, pick up things and even bring me drinks from the refrigerator,” Marshall explained in the van on the way to Lowe’s. “He can identify water, juice or sodas. And best of all, he can help me if I fall, by pressing a panic Duncanville NOW calling 9-1-1.” Once parked, Marshall

button, getting ‘his’ phone for me or even leaned down to pet Wilson, murmured words of encouragement and gave him treats. While service dogs are trained to certain commands, the owners also customize vocal and hand commands. “Wilson will relieve me of quite a few challenges. Isn’t that right, Boy?

“I thought I knew dogs, but the things Patriot Paws has taught Wilson are really quite impressive,” Marshall remarked. Wilson opens or closes doors that have a braided cord hung on them, while ignoring doors without the cord. Following an 18-month to two-year initial training period, four service dogs at a time meet with four potential owners. Within about three months, the dogs learn their owners and know what constitutes normal behavior for them, as well as their particular needs. Wilson received extra training to familiarize him with the braces Marshall wears. Other dogs may need to be familiarized with prosthetics.

Lori Stevens, who has trained service dogs for over 20 years, founded Patriot Paws specifically to work with veterans at the request of the VA hospital. Patriot Paws provides service dogs free of charge specifically for veterans. “This trip to Lowe’s was the first outing for the dogs and their owners. While the dogs already know what to do, the new owners need to be trained,” Lori explained. “We teach them all the hand signals and cues, along with nutrition and animal behavior.

“At Lowe’s, the owners learned how to indicate which direction they wanted to go. For Marshall, since he is in a wheelchair, this was even more crucial. Both he and Wilson needed to know on which side of the wheelchair Wilson needed to be.”

The outing went well. Even though service dogs are not trained to defend their owners, Wilson did find a cutout cardboard man unsettling. “It’s because he can’t read the eyes,” Lori explained. The store agreed to let the group take the cardboard man with them to use in further training.

The new owners learn to balance work and playtime for their dogs. The dogs know that when they are wearing the service vests, they are “on duty.” So during their downtime, the vests are removed. They also wear a Gentle Leader (a guide strap across their face), which affords the owner additional control. Because food is used as a reward for service, their “treats” are part of their daily healthy food intake. They are never allowed to eat food from the table. Each owner wears a fanny pack with treats. Verbal praise and play are also used to reinforce behavior.

When Marshall’s previous dog passed away in May, his friend, Alex Allred, contacted Lori about Marshall and presented his case. Lori was eager to meet Marshall and find a dog for him. The dogs come from various sources, but mostly from breeders. Labrador Retrievers, other Retriever breeds, Poodles and Labradoodles make great service dogs. Their initial training, begun when they are 9 weeks old, is done by women incarcerated in the Gatesville Christina Melton Crain and Dr. Lane Murray units, with whom Lori has been working since 2008. At the prison, dogs are trained to respond to up to 42 various hand and verbal cues. Then Lori takes them to Patriot Paws, located in Rockwall, for further specific training. All of the dogs learn to work with people

in wheelchairs. Once the dogs have “chosen” their new owner, several days are spent together in training, and then they begin training in public places, such as Lowe’s or Bass Pro Shop. “It’s always interesting to see how the dogs ‘pick’ the person they can best relate to,” Lori said with a smile.

“Patriot Paws, which has a paid staff of six and 40 volunteers, receives 100 percent of their support from the public. We don’t receive any financial aid from the government,” Lori informed. So far, Patriot Paws has placed 29 dogs with vets who have mobile disabilities and have about 44 on their waiting list. “We don’t provide seeing-eye dogs,” she said. “Our motto is ‘service for those who have served.’”

One of Patriot Paws’ most unique trainers is their cat, Eli. “It’s important for the dogs to know they can’t take off and chase a cat or squirrel, so Eli really
is a dog trainer,” Lori laughed. “We find that caring for a service dog that is also caring for them, gives the vets even more reason to relearn functions they may have lost through injury. Both the dog and their owner learn to read each other’s stress levels and alleviate them. It’s a win-win situation.”

Written by Beverly Shay.

Editor’s Note: For more information about Patriot Paws, visit http://www.patriotpaws.org.

Rising Above the Circumstances

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:48:30 +0000

WAXAHACHIE, TX – The story begins in Freedman, a small community located within the city limits of Waxahachie. The all-black area derived its name following the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. From the early 1900s until desegregation was implemented with the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Freedman flourished. “It was its own little community,” City Councilman Chuck Beatty said. “Freedman was booming with barber shops, clubs, food establishments, carpenters, charcoal makers, doctors and convenience stores. We had everything we needed to be self-sufficient. The only things we shared with the whites were the Piggly Wiggly and Hickerson’s Food Store,” he added with a grin.

Landmarks in Freedman were many, but the one that initially comes to mind when reminiscing are the religious institutions. Samaria Baptist Church, the first black church in Freedman, also listed as the first black church in Waxahachie, was organized soon after the Civil War. Although the church building has gone through severe alterations that left very little of its historic fabric intact, it remains an active and prominent church within the black community. Additional structures built by other black religious organizations include Joshua Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1917 and New Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1927.

Black history holds a great deal of meaning for those, like Chuck, who were growing up in the Freedman community as the changes were implemented. Chuck was born in Midlothian, but reared in Waxahachie. He fondly recalls his trip to North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas. “George Brown, the first black mayor of Waxahachie,” Chuck said, “drove me to college.”

The advice George gave Chuck on that ride is the same advice that brought Chuck home, and it’s the same advice he tries to live by on a daily basis. “George told me to always remember to make contributions to society,” Chuck explained. “Use the talents God gave you, and never let anyone tell you differently.”

On that day, Chuck told George he’d be back to Waxahachie one day to make his contributions to his hometown. “I made George a promise,” Chuck said. “I was bound and determined to see it through.”

Chuck did make it back home, but not until he made his mark in the National Football League. His post-football career consisted of 30 consecutive years of service to the Boy Scouts of America, being elected to the Waxahachie City Council and serving as the third black mayor of Waxahachie from 1997 to 2002. He continues to serve as a city councilman today.

More than likely, it was this service to community that brought the task of Freedman Memorial Plaza to Chuck’s realm of responsibility. “Former City Manager Bob Sokoll gave me the task of honoring Waxahachie’s three black mayors,” Chuck said, pride for the honor still present in his voice. “I decided to expand on the task to include the entire Freedman community, as well as some other individuals. So many blacks have

made significant contributions, and I felt like they all needed to be memorialized and honored.”

Land on which to build the park was the first item on the agenda. The land was donated to the city by former Dallas Cowboy and city councilman, Broderick Sargent. “He made the donation in honor of his grandparents, Ira and Myrtle Sargent and Delmar and Gertrude Erskine,” Chuck stated. “Delmar had once owned a barber shop in Freedman.”

Once the land was secured, the plans for Freedman Memorial Plaza were drawn up. While the park was being erected, Chuck was busy researching all those in the Freedman community who had a made a difference. Certain criteria needed to be met before individuals could

be added to the memorial. “You had to have been born in Waxahachie or have lived in Waxahachie,” Chuck explained. “You had to have made a significant contribution, while also being of good moral character.”

The list was amazingly lengthy. It was so large that Chuck had to make a few changes in midstride. “I knew we weren’t going to be able to list every single name because there were so many,” he admitted, “so it was decided that we would list all the different categories where the contributions had been made. It was the only way to manage all those who needed to be honored.” Categories include, but are definitely not limited to, caregivers, educators, doctors and aviators.

Chuck will never forget the day when the ribbon cutting for Freedman Memorial Plaza was held — July 6, 2007. Hundreds of people of all colors had gathered to see history in the making. “Seeing people come together to celebrate black history was something else,” he confessed. “It gave all of us who worked on this project a great sense of pride.”

Explaining the significance of the memorial caused emotion to well up in Chuck’s voice. “The rows on the concrete path symbolize cotton, and the broken chains on the ground represent the end of slavery and emancipation,” Chuck said. “The path leading into the park
is descending, symbolizing hallowed ground and the heart of the matter. The memorial found in the center of the park was structured of black granite that came from South Africa.”

The names of different black community leaders and contributors are inscribed on the granite. Names include City Councilmen Roy L. Borders; Will Andrews; H. Henry Herford; Cohn Tatum; A.D. Sweatt; Broderick Sargent; Emmanuel Cleaver, who went on to be the first black mayor of Kansas City and is currently serving as a U.S. Congressman from Missouri; T.J. Patterson, who is mayor pro-tem of Lubbock and who’s also had a library named in honor of him and his wife; and Willie Albert Tipton, who was an aviator in the military and later became the interim president of Prairie View – A&M University. Bessie Coleman, the first black female in United States history to earn her pilot’s license and the first female to earn an international aviation license, was honored in Freedman Memorial Plaza the day following the ribbon cutting. “She flew for the enjoyment of flying,”
Chuck added.

The park is an ongoing work with plenty of space for expansion. “Every two years names are added to the wall,” Chuck said. “It’s going to be up to the younger generation to keep the history alive. If you don’t know where you come from, you’ll never know where you’re going.”

The memorial is a loving tribute dedicated to all the brave souls who rose above their circumstances to make the Freedman community an integral part of the history of Waxahachie. To walk the path and see the wall is to fully understand the symbolism Freedman Memorial Plaza has for the entire community.

Written by Sandra Strong.

Helping Hands

marshallhinsley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:33:54 +0000

WEATHERFORD, TX — On a hill overlooking Weatherford is set a piece of history gathering dust and graffiti. Long gone are the days when children would sit at desks and write on tablets. Seemingly, the only writing now comes out of cans of spray paint. Raymond George aims to change all that. The all-black school he attended as a child is his passionate restoration project.

Raymond is the chairman of Save the Mount Pleasant Colored School, Inc. The members of this committee oversee the restoration of this valued piece of history. “We work closely with community leaders to save the historical presence of the school,” Raymond explained. “Our goal is to turn this school into a museum and a meeting house.”

The present structure is currently being transformed into a museum because of some dedicated people, generous donations and good ole elbow grease. The two-room, brick building was constructed in 1927. At that time, it was called the Mount Pleasant Colored School. Students in grades one through nine learned, laughed and played there for 36 years.

During the near 50 years the school was in operation, the country saw many changes. Jim Crow laws segregated black and white people. “That is just the way it was,” Raymond remembered. “We did not know any different. People sometimes ask me if I think those were bad times. We felt blessed to be getting an education, and for that reason we all thought it was good times.” When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed in July, outlawing discrimination in public accommodations, the school soon closed. Colored children were integrated into Weatherford schools.

“In 1953, after I graduated from the ninth grade,” Raymond explained, “my dad drove me and several other children into Fort Worth every day to I.M. Terrell High School. It was almost an hour each way. I remember him doing that for us so we could continue our education.”

Raymond retired from Southwestern Bell in 1997 after 40 years of service. “I had to find a project to keep me busy,” he said. Raymond has been working to preserve the school for 12 years. In November of last year, the one-and-a- half acres of land on which the school was set was purchased.

Raymond has become a history hunter as well. While researching the school’s history, he discovered information was scarce at the library, records in the court house seemed to be missing and not much memorabilia could be found. But, artifacts are popping up all the

time. For instance, the librarian at the Weatherford Public Library found an old, tattered book with information about colored schools in Parker County in the late 1800s. Some history came from Raymond’s own family, too. He found numerous photos of family members, who had attended Mount Pleasant Colored School.

Recently, the restoration has taken on new life, because Raymond has been speaking out about saving history by saving the building. He wants a physical reminder of the era and is trying to get it registered as a historical landmark. He is planning a wall of remembrance. He wants to commemorate anyone who has been involved in or simply cares about the Mount Pleasant Colored School. He collected tile from the area around the building and with the help of a local business, Etched, is etching names and dates on them to recognize former students, teachers, administrators, relatives and donors. “If we do not keep this in the public eye, it will fade away,” he stated with emotion.

His passion has spread, much like his words. He discovered there are so many willing to give a helping hand, time or money. One such individual is Grady Wallace, owner of Roof King. Grady is donating the roof to the Mount Pleasant Colored School. He recounted his decision by saying, “I told my wife that we were so fortunate and blessed by God in our business. I felt like we needed to give some away. A couple of days later, my secretary put an article on my desk about the school. After I read it, I thought, I can donate a roof.”

Talking like old friends, the two men shared stories about growing up and what they remembered of the segregation era. “I have been able to see [history] from both sides while working with Mr. George on this project,” Grady admitted. Grady may be significantly younger than Raymond, but he remembers the dividing lines in town.

Raymond shared a story about seeing history from both sides. “Sometimes when we would walk to school, the white kids would throw rocks at us. We would keep all the rocks, and when we walked home in the afternoon, we would throw them back at them. After that, we would all play baseball together.”

The togetherness theme has been showing up lately in Raymond’s mail box and at the school itself. “Since the school has been in the public eye, donations have been pouring in,” he said. Many have given their money and time to help clean up the building and surrounding

land. Businesses are generously offering their products and services to help restore the building to its original state. Raymond pointed out the floor, donated by Tyree Flooring. He also hopes to find windows and doors. “I don’t even think most people know where the school is,” he said, “but I have come to realize that we live in a community that really cares. It’s not about black and white anymore.”

For 48 years, the doors have been shut, the windows broken and the floor collapsing from disrepair. As Raymond walked along the property, he reminisced about the times he spent there as a boy. He pointed to where the water pump and the flag pole were located. “The girls played in the front on a swing set,” he recalled. “There was a Maypole over there. The boys played in the back of the school. The outhouses were located in the back, too. Kids would walk up the hill from Prince Street. We are also trying to get the street reopened.”

The heritage Raymond is working hard to preserve is a part of the entire history of the community of Weatherford. He wants the community to remember that the mission of the restoration of the Mount Pleasant Colored School is “to recognize a historic time when segregation was a way of life in the community and the South. This effort honors those who believe in the value of education and opportunity, as well as those in our community who made the transition peacefully and honorably.”

Written by Erin McEndree.

Committed to CASA

marshallhinsley — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:31:05 +0000

WEATHERFORD, TX — For many, a new year means a new commitment. Joe Birmingham made the commitment to volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Parker County just over a year ago. When he first heard about the program four years ago, he thought it might be a perfect fit for him. “Our role is to act as people who care about these children, who are compassionate. At the same time, our role is to employ professional objectivity about their situations,” Joe said. Joe thought the program meshed well with some of the things he was interested in and concerned about, but he also knew the children needed help.

Once appointed to a case, Joe will review the child’s file. If he feels comfortable with the case, he will accept it and begin the process of learning everything he can about the child or children involved. “Every case is a little bit different, but our role is to do a lot of fact finding,” Joe said of speaking with the child’s parents, other relatives, teachers or therapists.

Joe will interview as many people as possible to learn all he can about the child’s situation. He will then write a report and make recommendations to the judge about what is in the best interest of that specific child. Ultimately it’s up to the judge and Child Protective Services (CPS) to decide what is best for the child.

Depending on the situation, Joe spends an average of four hours each week volunteering for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). He tries to build relationships with the children. “I think that’s very important. In many cases, these children have been removed from the home,” he stated. “Sometimes, they have very little consistency in their lives.”

Many CASA cases involve children ranging from toddlers to teenagers. “Somebody comes in the middle of the night, and the police are there. Someone from CPS is there to take the child away,” Joe explained. “The children don’t know any of these people, and it can be very frightening.”

When the advocate first meets the child, the child may not be too receptive. Over time, the children recognize their advocate is there to help them. Joe says many cases are heartbreaking. “There are times I wish I could step in there and do something to help the child, but that’s not our role. As CASA, that’s not our job.” That’s someone else’s role to play, and Joe is always hopeful that it is played out well.

“There are sad situations where things don’t work out as well as you would like them to,” Joe explained. Some children are placed into a residential treatment center to get the help they need, while others may age-out in the system after turning 18. “But on the other hand, there are incredibly heartwarming cases,” he added. Many children are adopted or find comfort in foster homes. Others are reunited with their parents or are placed with a relative or close family friend.

The CASA volunteer program is for people who want to try to make a difference in a child’s life. “We become part of the system that helps that child,” Joe said. “It’s just so exciting to be part of their lives — to see that these kids will probably progress to adulthood and achieve some level of responsibility, independence and well-being.”

Joe recommends the CASA program for anyone who wants to get involved. “There are so many children who are neglected and abused and taken into the court system. There are just not enough CASAs to be assigned to the cases,”
he said.

For children in the court system, staffers and case workers may come and go. Often, their CASA volunteers stay the same. Many volunteers want to stay with the program for the sake of the child, but things do happen. Some people move away or simply cannot take on the case anymore, so another advocate is assigned to the child.

Although Joe has been involved with five cases over the past year, CASA volunteers will normally only work two or three cases at a time. Joe retired from his position as president of Weatherford College in 2009, so he has the extra time to volunteer. Joe feels his 35 years of experience as a college administrator helps him with his volunteer work. CASA volunteers must analyze case information, have the ability to interview people and know what kinds of questions to ask.

“It’s an important attribute to be able to take the facts and shape them into a format for a report,” he said.

Dealing with the CASA program can take an emotional toll on volunteers. “This is a part of society we normally are not familiar with. We normally don’t see situations where there is child abuse or neglect,” he said. “We have to deal with it as unemotionally as we can, because our role is to have professional objectivity about what’s going on. At the same time, we have a compassion and concern for these children,” he explained. His cases do affect him, but Joe has learned to cope with it himself.

Evelyn, his wife of 39 years, is very supportive of his volunteer work with CASA. Evelyn is a social worker in Fort Worth. “She understands 100 percent of what I do,” Joe explained. Over the years, Joe has listened to many of Evelyn’s cases, in a very generic sense, so he has an understanding of the challenges these children face.

The CASA of Parker County office is there to help its volunteers. The centralized office is an important support function, and staffers are always there to offer advice. Orientations are held for interested advocates, and training sessions are also provided for potential advocates. An advocate must complete 30 hours of training to become a volunteer. The Parker County office manages record keeping and communication from the District Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and other involved parties. Program officials then communicate that information with the advocates.

When it comes to volunteering with CASA, Joe thinks the advocate must be able to withhold judgment about others. In many cases, some of the parents may not have acted properly with their children. “I think it can cloud your professional judgment if you are too emotional or too judgmental,” Joe rationalized. He tries to accept this world and work with it for the best outcome. In some cases, things do work out very well for the child. “You just couldn’t ask for anything else.”

Written by Amber D. Brown.