Archives for December 2013

The Bridge’s capital expansion campaign entitled, Building a Stronger Bridge for a Brighter Tomorrow, has been completed. The Center located at 804 Quail Creek, Amarillo, has finalized construction and will host an open house on Thursday, December 12, 2013 from 4-6 p.m.

In January 2012, The Bridge embarked on a capital campaign in order to expand the existing facility, adding new offices, and a brand new Education Conference Center. This goal was initiated through a strategic plan which involved the board, staff and representatives from partner agencies. In May 2013, funding of the more than $600,000 project was complete. The renovation added approximately 1800 square feet to the existing building and a garage to house vehicles used in rural travel.

“We are excited to have completed construction of our project and show the community our new Education Conference Center. We are grateful to everyone that has supported us in our efforts,” Says April Leming, Executive Director of The Bridge. Major contributors to the project include: Amarillo Area Foundation, Dr. Kent Roberts and Ilene Balliett Foundation, C.J. and Syble Fowlston Charitable Trust, Gilliland Family Foundation, Mary E. Bivins Foundation, High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation, Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust, The J.E. and L. E. Mabee, Mays Foundation, Meadows Foundation, several anonymous donors, individual donors and the board and staff of The Bridge.

Also new at The Bridge, is a digital upgrade of its forensic interview equipment. The upgrade has been made to each location of The Bridge and to mobile interview equipment used in rural areas. The Bridge’s main location is in Amarillo and has satellite offices in Pampa, Dumas and Hereford. The improvement of this mobile forensic technology will go a long way to help underserved child victims of abuse in our area,” said Leming. “We are grateful to the Governor’s Office and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX) for providing the resources that will significantly increase the availability of services and resources for underserved children and families who have been victimized by sexual abuse.”

Law enforcement, prosecution and Child Protective Services across the state rely on trained staff at children’s advocacy centers (CACs) to conduct forensic interviews of suspected child victims and witnesses. CAC forensic interviewers are professionally trained to interview children about their experience in a non-leading, legally defensible manner. This interview is digitally recorded and often becomes a key piece of evidence in these difficult cases. Traditionally, interviews are conducted onsite at a local CAC. These facilities provide a neutral, child-focused environment which can lessen the trauma to victims and families.

Unfortunately, some suspected child victims are unable to travel to our center due to geographic distance and/or hospitalization. The use of mobile forensic interview equipment alleviates such barriers by allowing investigators and interviewers to travel to the child. The equipment package includes a video camera, a specially-equipped laptop and microphone.

The Bridge CAC in Amarillo is no stranger to having to cover a large territory with one full facility and three satellite offices. The Bridge covers 26 Texas counties with a staff of 10. This equipment will bring the technology to the 21st century, allowing interviews to be recorded digitally.

The Bridge (www.bridgecac.org) was the first children’s advocacy center in the state of Texas, opening its doors in 1989. The Bridge started utilizing mobile forensic interview (MFI) equipment in 1995; however this equipment required heavy lifting and a large vehicle to transport. In 1996, The Bridge went to Amarillo Media Systems to look for a better solution and they were able to deliver developing a concept that is still utilized today but has made advancements in the recording process through the years. Through the use of MFI equipment, The Bridge has been able to reach more victims who cannot travel to one of their facilities due to distance or other circumstances. This method has been proven to be a creative and efficient way to deliver high quality services to children in all 26 counties.

Since that time, the Bridge has provided services to more than 20,000 children who have been victims or witnesses of crime in the Texas Panhandle. In 2012, the Bridge interviewed 1,038 children in the Texas Panhandle, and provided community education to more than 3,000 adults and safety education programs to more than 700 children, ages 5-10. The Bridge strives to bring a comprehensive approach to child abuse investigation, facilitating communication among 72 partner agencies in the top 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle. Our Mission is: To Provide a Child’s Path to Healing and Justice.

By David Maly, Texas Tribune

Politicians, advocates and even a Santa Claus turned up at the Capitol on Monday to promote a new law that aims to protect Texans’ right to wish one another “Merry Christmas.”

Texas Values, a faith-based political advocacy organization, on Monday hosted an educational event to make sure that parents, students and others know about House Bill 308, the so-called Merry Christmas Law that the Texas Legislature passed this year. The law is meant to to ensure that public school districts can educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations and can use traditional winter greetings, such as “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Hanukkah,” without fear of litigation.

“School districts for too long have either wanted to or thought that they had to be speech police,” Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, said Monday.

Critics of the law, however, say the Texas Values campaign is unnecessary, because the right to say “Merry Christmas” and use other holiday expressions was never at risk.

“It’s crazy to think that somehow there is a war on Christmas when the vast majority of people celebrate Christmas,” said Dan Quinn, a spokesman for Texas Freedom Network, a political organization that advocates for the separation of church and state.

Saenz told The Texas Tribune on Friday that one has only to look to recent conflicts in public schools to see the need for the law and the Texas Values campaign.

“For many years, there have been court cases in the state of Texas where students have been restricted from making these expressions and told that they cannot say ‘Merry Christmas,’ and even not being allowed to wear the colors red and green at parties during this time of year,” Saenz said.

He pointed to a recent instance at Nichols Elementary School in Frisco in which a member of the parent teacher association who was organizing a “Winter Party” sent out an email forbidding red, green, Christmas trees and references to Christmas or other religious holidays at the party.

Following local media coverage and concern from state Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Frisco, the association released a statement reassuring the public that the school was in compliance with the new law.

“Our December celebration is called a ‘Winter Party’ in an effort to include all holidays celebrated in our Nichols community,” the statement said. “Our effort is focused on allowing all children to celebrate any winter holiday without excluding anyone.”

Saenz said the Frisco incident and recent court cases, including a federal lawsuit against Katy Independent School District over removing a Christmas card from a fundraiser sale and other actions, are evidence that the campaign is necessary. Lawsuits against school districts can be costly for taxpayers, so he said it’s important to make sure the new law is followed.

Saenz said the campaign, which also uses radio ads in major Texas cities, is mainly meant to educate students and parents about the law, so that they can advocate for themselves if school districts attempt to restrict holiday expressions that the law allows.

But Quinn, of the Texas Freedom Network, said he believes the intent of the Texas Values campaign promoting the law is more secular in nature than religious.

“It’s a great fundraising tactic for them,” Quinn said.

Justin Butterfield, a staff attorney for Liberty Institute, a national organization that advocates for religious freedom, said the Merry Christmas Law simply makes clear what is allowed under the US Constitution and what’s not.

“It sets those bright-line rules and makes things a lot easier for the school districts, the parents, the students and for everyone involved,” Butterfield said.

State Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, who authored the legislation, said states, such as Oklahoma, are making similar proposals.

 AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will increase DWI patrols for a 21-day period that includes both the Christmas and New Year holidays. From December 13 – January 2, DPS troopers will focus DWI patrols in high-risk locations at times when alcohol-related crashes are most frequent.

“Historically, the holiday season brings an increased potential for drinking and driving incidents, and these enhanced DPS patrols will help save lives,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw.

“Impaired driving can easily turn a holiday celebration into a tragic situation. By designating a sober driver or finding alternative transportation if drinking alcohol is expected, Texans can do their part in keeping our roadways safe and making the holidays memorable for the right reasons.”

The increased patrols that target impaired driving are funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

DPS offers the following additional tips for safe travel during the holidays:

Eliminate distractions, including the use of mobile devices.

Buckle up everyone in the vehicle – it’s the law.

Slow down – especially in bad weather, construction areas and heavy traffic.

Slow down or move over for police, fire, EMS and Texas Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks that are stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated – it’s the law.

Don’t drive fatigued.

Drive defensively, as holiday travel may present additional challenges.

Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained before your trip begins.

 Dr. John Howard has joined the race to be the new judge of Donley County this week.

Howard, who is currently the chairman of the Clarendon College Board of Regents, is now in a field of three candidates seeking to succeed County Judge Jack Hall, who will retire at the end of 2014. Gary Campbell and Randy Bond are also seeking the Republican Party’s nomination to run for judge.

Folks interested in running for county or state offices in the 2014 March primaries are facing a filing deadline of Monday, December 9.

In addition to the judge’s race, the following candidates have been reported to the Enterprise and are running in the Republican Primary: for Commissioner Precinct 2, Mitchell Martin and John Grady; for Commissioner Precinct 4, Dan Sawyer; for Treasurer, Wanda Smith; and for JP Precinct 3&4, Denise Bertrand.

On the Democratic ticket, County Clerk Fay Vargas is running for re-election.

Those interested in running in the Republican Primary can contact County Party Chairman Tom Stauder on his home phone 874-5099 or his cell 290-5525. Those interested in running in the Democratic Primary should contact County Party Chairman Jean Taylor at 856-5961.

Also of local interest, State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) and State Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) have both announced their filings for reelection. US Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) is running for re-election and is being challenged by Dr. Pam Barlow of Bowie and Elaine Hays of Amarillo.

Dr. Robert Riza took the helm of Clarendon College this week as the school’s 19th president.

The new president arrived in town Saturday and attended church and the community Thanksgiving service on Sunday before greeting several visitors to his office on Monday.

“It’s been a very positive experience,” Riza said. “Everybody has been very gracious and welcoming just like I expected of good Panhandle, West Texas people.”

Riza transferred his Lions Club membership to Clarendon Tuesday and says his first priorities are to meet people and familiarize himself with what’s going on in the community and at CC. He also plans to sit down with his senior staff individually, and talk about what’s working and what’s not.

Beyond that the college’s reaccreditation in 2015 and the planning that goes into that will take quite a bit of the new president’s attention.

Riza comes to Clarendon after serving as Vice President of Student Services at Hill College in Hillsboro. His wife, Cobette, will join the president in Clarendon this summer after the couple’s daughter graduates from high school.

However, Mrs. Riza is already making a contribution on the Clarendon College campus, having the couple’s son deliver a 12-foot Christmas tree to the Bairfield Activity Center over the weekend. The tree was set up and decorated by students this week.

“She is very excited to be coming here,” Dr. Riza said of his wife. “She will be very involved in the community.”

Mrs. Riza has been an elementary teacher for 13 years and enjoys working with groups that help disadvantaged kids, the president said.