Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Jan. 11, 1990, edition 1 / Page 17
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Guardian Program Takes A Special Kind Of Volunteer BY SUSAN USHER The needlework hung over Belly Buck's desk in die Brunswick County Courthouse carries the sim ple message, "Try A Lildc Kind ness." And ir. their work with abused, ncglcctcd and dependent children, that's exactly what Mrs. Buck and her small corps of seven Guardian ad Litem program volunteers do. The main ability needed to be come a GAL volunteer is the ability to relate to other people, especially children, the part-time program co ordinator said. The volunteers serve iitcraiiy as guardians at law" for the children assigned them, making sure that their interests, needs and feelings are heard as their futures arc decided for them in juvenile court. A GAL volunteer is assigned any time a petition is filed with the court by an agency alleging that a child has been a victim of child abuse or neglect. His or her job is to speak up for the child and to represent the child through litigation. The agency is one of several involved in dispen sation of the case in court, but is the only one whose purpose is to make sure that the child's wishes are ex pressed and that the child's best in terests arc addressed by the court and other agencies. Last year the program handled 18 cases that involved 32 children. "We had some cases we were real happy with," said Mrs. Buck. These included several where the case was terminated when children were suc cessfully reunited with their own, more stable families, and other cas es where children were placed in new, permanent homes. As guardians ad litem the vol unteers are sworn officers of the court, having first completed 12 hours of classroom training and four hours of observation in court. Part of a statewide program begun in 1983 by the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts, GAL volun teers independently investigate each case ? from the child's point of view. They interview the child and key people in the child's life and collect and examine records from various sources. They may do fol low-ups to make sure court orders arc carried out, or they may appeal a court order or petition to terminate parental rights, then participate in the placement court review after wards. Based on the information collect ed and working closely with Mrs. "It gives you ... a good feeling; it's hard to explain ? How do you feel when you help a kid?" ? Gray "Cappy" Capps GAL Volunteer Buck and with Rob Scrra, the pro gram's attorney advocate, they re port to the court and make recom mendations regarding the child's care, service treatment, security and placement. In court they may also protect the child from insensitive questions and the often harmful ef fccts of involvement in an adversar ial court process. "Our volunteers do an excellent job," said Buck, who volunteers with the program in addition to her 20 paid hours of service each week, taking all cases for which no other volunteer is available. "They visit the children and go out into the community and gather information. Lots of times they serve as a friend to the parents, to help them get back on the road." Sometimes the program's view point is in harmony with those of other agencies involved in a ease, sometimes not. "Then we go it alone," said Mrs. Buck, her smiling face showing a strong streak of de termination. "It takes a special kind of person to be a guardian ad lit em," she said. During the last three months of 1989, local guardians ad litem log ged more than 350 hours in case work. training or in court. One of those volunteers was Gray "Cappy" Capps, a senior citizen from Shallottc Point. Capps won a "onc-on-one" award last year from the Brunswick County Volunteer and Information 0"Her, logging more than 500 hours of service since joining the GAL program in 1988. Capps is still going strong. He's worked with nine or 10 children al ready, and speaks fondly of the suc cesses and wiui concern about the cases that aren't going as well. "I would like to say they help me," he said of the children with whom he works so closely. "I have the time available and it gives you an internal feeling ? a good feel ing ? of having helped someone." "It's hard to explain," he contin ued. turning to Mrs. Buck. "How do you explain how you feel when you help a kid? "If you ever sec a kid come from a broken home with drugs, alcohol, abuse, a baby with fetal-alcohol syndrome, and see that baby a year later in circumstances turned around for the better..." The program offers plenty of joy ous moments and rewards of a spe cial kind. But, Capps said, "You have your heart-breaking moments also. We have one child when he goes lo bed tonight he doesn't know where he will eat breakfast tomor row. Some of these kids have been through hell." But as the volunteers try to make sure that kind of situation doesn't happen again, the program's success stories keep them going. "The judges do listen to us," said Capps. "I think we do carry a little weight and make a difference." Capps wishes more people in the county would lake notice of what's going on around them and report in stances of child abuse or ncglcct to the Brunswick County Department of Social Services. The GAL offices gets calls describing such instances, but can't get involved until the situ ation is formally reported and a pe tition filed with the courts. Meanwhile, while Mrs. Buck looks for more volunteers like Capps ? caring, responsible, adults ? he keeps volunteering long hours, helping kids in trouble. "My childhood wasn't the best," he recalled. "I've always prayed that if I can help one child not live a childhood like I had that my time on earth would be well spent" He stays alert to calls for help; Capps is convinced that while he may have already helped lots of young people, that a special child will some day need him. "I've still got to find 'my' kid," said Capps. "The child I was meant to help." The Guardian ad Litem pro grams expect to hold a volunteer training program starting sometime in February. Interested persons are asked to call Mrs. Buck at 253 4060. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS On Appalachian Dean's List Mary Ann McLamb of Shallottc and Diana Marie Turner of Cala bash arc the only two students from Brunswick County who qualified for the fall 1989 semester dean's list at Appalachian State University at Boone. Students must attain a 3.25 grade point average on a 4.0 scale to qual ify for dean's list and carry at least 12 hours of academic credit during the semester. Miss McLamb is a sophomore majoring in biology, and Miss Turn er is a freshman who has not declar ed a major field of study. Completes Training Army National Guard Private James H. Grissett has completed training at the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Ga. A 1989 graduate of West Brunswick High School, he is the son of Malcolm and Brenda Grissett of Route 7, Shallottc. During the course, students received training which qualified them as light weapons infantrymen and as indirect fire crewmen in a rifle or mortar squad. Instruction included weapons quaiificaiiuus, tactics, patrolling, land mine war fare, field communications and combat operations. Conrad Chosen Karen L. Conrad, a senior at Old Dominion University, has been se lected as a new member of Out standing College Students of Amer ica. A resident of Hampton, Va., she is the grandchild of George and Helen Conrad of Brierwood Estates, Shallotte. A social science and po litical science major, she will gradu ate magna cum laude in May. Scholarships Awarded The Union High School Alumni Association has selected two area students to receive its first scholar ships. They are DeAndre Gause and LaShonda Grissett, both 1989 grad uates of West Brunswick High School. Each will receive a $500 scholarship. Miss Gause is studying at UNC Charlotte and Miss Grissett at Fay etteville State University. AT OCEAN ISLE BRING HOME THEfeBEACON On Sal* At ISLANDER RESTAURANT OCEAN ISLE BEACH SHOP OCEAN ISLE EXXON STATION OCEAN ISLE PIER OCEAN ISLE SEAFOOD OCEAN ISLE SUPERMARKET PARTY MART SHEFFIELD'S Etheridge To Talk At Ribbon Cutting Siate Superintendent of Pubiic Instruction Bob Etheridge was to be the guest speaker today (Thursday) at an 8:30 a.m. breakfast and ribbon cutting ceremony held by the Brunswick County Board of Educa tion to mark the official opening of the new addition at South Bruns wick High School. Bill Turner, assistant superinten dent for transportation and mainte nance with Brunswick County Schools, said workers completed the $1.5 million project in Decem ber. New classrooms, administrative offices, an art room and band room were constructed at the high school. The project took nearly a year to complete. The Brunswick Hospital expresses our sincere thanks to the following people who helped transport staff tn JL x X i JJ and from the hospital during the "White Christmas of 1989. " We Salute You! Mr. Dean Hewett Supply, NC Mr. Gene Sellers Supply, NC Mr. Mack Long Supply, NC Mr. A1 Fulford Holden Beach, NC Mr. James Brown, Jr. Supply, NC Mr. Huey P. Hewett, Jr. Supply, NC Mr. Alan Dameron Holden Beach, NC Sgt. Russell Brown National Guard/Shallotte Mr. Neil Loughran Ocean Isle Beach, NC Mr. Randy Keesee Holden Beach, NC THE BRUNSWICK HOSPITAL A* Affluu 4 HFAUtflfaUOT lNt; Highway 17 South / Supply, NC / 754-8121 pi WO Th? BWUNSWCK Bt ACQN STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHEK GUARDIAN AD LITEM Gray "Cappy" Capps shares recollections of past cases with program coordina tor Ilettv Stuck. Capps savs his volunteer work with the Drogram is rewarding, because he likes "helping kids." Degree Of Riant injury Uncertain BY WILLIAM BARROW JR. Agricultural Extension Agent The weather during the Christ mas holiday helped many of us realize what our northern neighbors deal with on a regular basis. Wc often brush off the severe ness of a winter storm when someone else experiences it and think they arc more pre pared than us to handle it. I'm BARROW not sure if they can handle it better, but my hat's off to them since they have to do it on a more regular basis. Many people have asked about liicir planus aiiu wliai kliiu of injury they sustained. We really can't give that question a full answer until spring arrives and plants begin to bud. But there arc a few observa tions wc can make. First, there are a number of brown leaves on any plant that was exposed. This is a result of high transpiration rates enhanced by the high winds and bright sun, and the severe cold temperatures. Bright sun and a constant wind tend to increase the rate of moisture that is lost or transpired into the atmo sphere. Those leaves exposed could not keep up with the increased demand and were freeze dried. Most, if not all, of these leaves will fall. However, there does not appear to be heavy damage to the plant itself. Generally the stems are green and alive. We will have to GARDENING TIPS wail and see if the buds survive. Those plants covered with snow show little injury. This is a major difference from the cold experi enced in 1983. Then we did not hae snow and whole plants were killed. In addition to the brown leaves, look for areas around the base of the plant where the bark may have been split vertically. Generally, the freezing and thawing will causc this on some plants, particularly in areas where there is a lot of mois ture. Plants affected may not show symptoms until the summer, when long dry spells stress them for water. Overall, the damaage from this winter storm appears less than experienced in 1983, but we will have to wait and see. In the coming weeks, I will give some tips on how to handle specific plants. AT BOONES NECK BRING HOME THEfiBEACON un Saie Ai BILL'S QUICK STOP BRUNSWICK SCHOOL CF 2sS?? M ADULT AEROBICS CLASS Tuesday & Thursday Nights from /":00 to 8:00 Get in shape for 1990! Come have a "Lightening, Tightening" good time. Hwy. 17 N., Shallotte, 754-6106/754-8281 King's APPLIANCES^ "Dedicated To Serving Brunswick County " 90 DA/S SAME AS CASHF NO PAYMENTS REQUIRED SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER ON G.E. APPLIANCES Him >0 dtys, ?** tw ehitgm utflMXAf* accnmd from pun* um *?. m* SOt n iwunctcfisrgm. r.FCAF* financing tot Gf Appliance i (?&? Large Capacity v??/ Automatic Washer Model WWA5600C ? '2 ryrln?rrguUi ami permanent p?m ' Mash nnx* If iiipeialurt rmnbination* *ith i'nnio-u\iiiK t ??!?! m.i let iiitiiv Soak ? *i It ( as~ Spacemaker II " ,?W7 Microwave Oven Model 1 1 M II II ta\ii\ I \r mii tounieilop ? ir hang Itiini hjII ? .? In iit i limr < ????k I X 2 \iiio lti>.iM and Anlw iVfioM In INinn I e%el% (?Qrf. . Heavy Duty 4-C/c/e Dryer Model DDI VMMXi IYiiii.mh iii jtri w kniistwlr I lining M-Irt lions DwiaMr |??u? ckiin enamel drum Remov able u|> lii>ni Inn filler ( 4/ Continuous Clean 30 Electric Range Model J B< IM.lv I ill I'M k ( air od ? mjiI j? r unit* i Imk. reminder nnirr. KUk K'a? men diNir wih window. I arge vintage drawer (At v Potscruhber ?P!P) Dishwasher Model (.S 1)6001 wlr* temperature Senvor S* | it-m H?-u'4r full warrants on IVr ma I nl ? ml) ami dooi Inn i I (a%k lot delailvi. wETm'm"** ^Competitive Prices ?Trained Sales Staff ?Service & Parts Dept. ?Large Inventory ?FREE LOCAL DELIVERY J Model I BX I H XI 1*0 cu. ft. rapacity; .V 14 cu li Iree/er la? tor> installed itrmakri with removable ice bin 2 door ?helves lneiK> Saver Switth
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 11, 1990, edition 1
17
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