m PAGE 6, KINGS MOUNTAIN MIRROR, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 5, 1972 Gov. Scott Tackles Child Abuse Problem Child abuse Is prevalent in every North Carolina county and Gov. Bob Scott hopes to be able to do something about it. After Gov. Scott cited the problem, I contacted Judy Bowers, acting supervisor ol Protective Services for State Social Services. "I would say from that sta tistic that we aren’t getting 100 per cent compliance with the new law,” Miss Bowers said, "because we know that child abuse and child neglect is happening in every county in this sUte. But we are getting many, many more referrals because of the law.” Miss Bowers says a trend seems to Indicate that many pre-school children are vic tims of child abuse or child neglect. "On somedays,” Miss Bow ers said, "this department gets as many as 20 reportings of child abuse or child neglect. We’re getting more such cases reported now than ever before.” Gov. Scott says in the past eight months in North Caro lina. parental abuse has killed 23 children and injured 356 others. The North Carolina legis lature passed a law last July that makes it mandatory for cltisens to report suspected cases of child neglect or child abuse to their county social services office. "Before last July it was a voluntary thing,” Miss Bow ers said, "but now people are re(]uired by law to report such cases and we have many such reports coming in.” Since the law went on the books, the State Social Ser vices offices has received re ports of mistreatment of chil dren in 89 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Just as child abuse Is not limited to any one section of the State, it’s also not limited to any one section of society. "We have child abuse and child neglect in lower Income families,” Miss Bowers said, "but we also have cases in middle and upper incomes. The cases occur in white and black families.” Child abuse Involves the child beaten severely. Child ne glect covers a child not being fed or clothed adequately, not given proper medical atten tion, educational'opportuni ties, etc. What does the State hope to do to reduce the number ol child abuse cases? "First,” Miss Bowers tells me, "we must get the story told to the people of this State. They need to understand that the new law requires them to report cases of child abuse or child neglect to their county social services office. The law no longer allows them to turn their head and say it’s none of their business.” "If these cases aren’t cor rected soon,” Miss Bowers says, "the repercussions might be felt for a lifetime. We need to learn about these cases as quickly as possible and then get with the families and stay with them until the situation is corrected.” Miss Bowers says she is highly pleased that Gov. Scott has become so involved in tak ing the problem of child abuse to the public. "Our law on child abuse is a good one,” she says, "and when the public fully under stands it, I think we’ll begin to make more progress.” Gov. Scott has called a state wide conference on April 17 and 18 to deal with the pro blem. The Governor will make the keynote address and a noted expert in the field. Dr. David Gill of Brandies Uni versity, will be a featured speaker at the conference. Miss Bowers says: "What we are doing is attempting to tell the story of child abuse and child neglect. The more people wanting to help, the better our chances of solving a very serious problem,” Cronin Names Best Players Among Those He Saw In A.L. By Cliff Morgan Sarasota, Fia.-American League President Joe Cron in is a league official who knows the game from the bot tom up, plus the administra tive side. He was one of the great American League one,” adding: "but he was a nice, easy going fellow— perhaps too gentle.” He spoke highly of A1 Simmons, whom he rated one of the greatest hitters he had ever seen. "We have all sorts of programs to help players learn the game, plus special ized coaching. We have in structional leagues in the fall after minor league play is over. In most cases the Major League managers themselves come and help decide what players need what. All this enhances the progress of players today.” shortstops not too many years ago. a pennant winning manager for both Washington (1933) and Boston (1946) and thus knows most of the great American League play ers of the past forty years first-hand. The writer asked him to name the best players he saw In action in his playing days in the Majors. Cronin wasquickto say he couldn’t name them all. but he singled out a few, saying maybe he saw more of them than other great players. "Ted Williams, Babe Ruth. Lou Gehrig, Charlie Geh- ringer and Joe DiMaggio were all-around great play ers.” he said. Quizzed about Ty Cobb. Cronin explained that Cobb had played before his time. "Cobb was the man who could disrupt an opposing team more than any other,” he conceded. Then he re called that Jimmy Foxx, “had as much ability as any- Crriitm Druf; Store BXPERIENCE'INTEGRITY-SERVICE When a prescription must be tilled in a hur ry .. . calll Whatever the time, we will fill it immediatejv. Hours: 8:30a.m. to 9:00p.m. Mon.-Sat. 739-4721 Emergency No. 739-2333 7S9.3851 LEASE This Car Foi |99 Por Month Skylarh Sport Coup* YOUNG SUICK-OPEL Hwy.74 Bypass E. Never trust a crafty' termite./ They’re tricky. Sneak into your house and do costly damage, before you even know it. Getihe drop on them- with Goid Crest Chemical Protection. CALL us today. 482-2037 Phone 482-5311 The Savings ISeics Is Great in ffant Ads 1220 ON VOUR DIAL s^aeilo