May 07, 2008 04:48 pm
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In honor of Volunteer Recognition Week, which was April 27-May 3; Vigo County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) would like to give thanks to our wonderful volunteers. Without them, we would not be able to help so many abused and neglected children in our community.
Being a CASA volunteer is not always an easy task and takes a person who is dedicated and passionate about making sure children have safe homes where they will be cared for and loved. Last year, Vigo County had almost 300 children in its juvenile court system through no fault of their own, but due to the substantiated abuse and neglect by a parent or guardian. The fallout from this is devastating to a child and may have lasting effects such as delinquency, mental health issues, substance abuse, and more.
When a CASA volunteer is assigned to a child, he or she forms a relationship with that child or children in the family and reports to the court about the child’s needs, and wishes, which sometimes can go unnoticed or overlooked without a CASA volunteer. Indiana law dictates that all court cases that are CHINS (Children in Need of Services) must be assigned a CASA or be put on a wait list until a CASA volunteer is available; thus the CASA is a legal party to the case/child in which they are involved and with this comes much responsibility and trust.
We would like to recognize each one of our outstanding volunteers, all of whom we will never be able to thank enough for selflessly engaging in this sometimes difficult, yet rewarding, pursuit of helping children achieve hope. On behalf of the children for whom you advocate and from the Vigo County CASA program, thank you:
Michelle Alexander, Susan Anderson, Vicki Atkinson, JoLinda Bark, JoDee Biddle, Norman Bluebaum, Tamara Boland, Kathy Bradbury, Sandra Bryant, Robin Burden, Kay Cahill, Nancee Callahan, Becky Chilton, Samuel Chilton, Yvonne Christie, Linda Clark, Sheryl Compton, Richard Conley, Pamela Corbin, Ernestene Crawford, Stacy Daugherty, Jennifer Davis, Kelly DiCenso, Catherine Dorwick, Margaret Dowers, Marge Driscoll, Heidi Dunlap, Jacqueline Edington, Joyce Ellinger, Karen Fisk, Chastity Foote, Constance Fowler, Brittany Fritz, Charles Fuhrer Jr., Greg Gauer, Kathleen Graham, Angela Gray, Katherine Hackett, Melissa Hackett, Jeff Hauck, Tyler Horn, Tracy Houpt, William Jenkins, Penny Karn, Jill Kuckewich, Michelle Lawson, Dale Luchsinger, Mavis McDermott, John McFarland, Jennifer Nelson, Pamela Pahnke, Tamera Pogue, Connie Ralston, Raye Rauckman, Betty Reece, Sharon Russell, Marilyn Sals, Janet Schlunt, Daniel Scott, Paula Stites, Sarah Strobel, Patrick Sullivan, Tracy Sutliff, Monte Tosser, Gloria Urrea, Eric Vanatti, Lynne Watson, Marilyn Wheeler, and Alyce Williamson.
If you know any of these awesome volunteers, please extend your congratulations to them for their shining efforts in making a difference in the lives of children.
While our volunteer list keeps growing, there are still children left waiting for a CASA. Our goal is to serve every child waiting for a CASA volunteer in Vigo County; if you are able to help achieve this goal either through volunteering your time or by making a donation, please call Vigo County CASA and speak with Nikki Fuhrmeister or Molly Buerger today. Contact us by phone: (812) 231-5658, by mail: 202 Crawford St. Terre Haute, IN 47807, or by e-mail: nlfuhrmeister@vigocounty.org.
Visit us on the web: www.vigocounty.org/casa.
— Nikki Fuhrmeister
Vigo County CASA Director
— Molly Buerger
Volunteer Coordinator
Attention needed at bad intersection
As I was finishing up a nice afternoon motorcycle ride with my husband, we were heading south on Fruitridge and we noticed the flashing red lights. Instantly, I knew that there had been another accident at the intersection of Ft. Harrison and Fruitridge Avenue.
As we approached the intersection, we saw the car and the school bus that were involved and instantly think the worst. As a mother of two school-age children, my stomach sinks at the prospect of children being on that bus.
I work at a business in that area and cross through that intersection as many as 10 times a day. I too have been involved in an accident in that same intersection in ’06. I was also eight months pregnant. Thankfully, I was able to walk away and my baby was born healthy. There have been others who have not been as fortunate.
Everyday I see numerous vehicles speed northbound on Fruitridge to beat the light or beat the vehicle in the left lane to the merge. I see vehicles westbound on Ft. Harrison have to slam on their brakes because the east-bound vehicle turning onto Fruitridge thinks they too are turning. One of these times a near miss is going to become fatal.
Is it going to take someone dying before city leaders realize that there is a problem with that intersection? Someone needs to do something soon.
— Elizabeth Hettinger
Terre Haute
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