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Show Wednesday, October 4, 2006 B1 By Jennifer Petty & Janine Shannon Express Writers Just as the pink ribbon has become the universal symbol for the fight against breast cancer, the purple ribbon represents the fight against domestic violence. This month, National Domestic Domes-tic Violence Awareness Month, efforts have been increased to further educate people about domestic violence. Purple ribbons rib-bons are being distributed, and individuals are encouraged to learn more about warning signs and the steps needed to stop the cycle of violence. Domestic violence is when one family member hurts or abuses another. An abuser can either be male or female, but usually an abuser is a husband, father, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, or partner. Women and children are usually the victims. Violence is most often in the form of physical, sexual, or psychological abuse and is very prevalent in our society. In fact, it is estimated that battering occurs oc-curs every 15 seconds. Often the abused feels it is their own fault and that they can't do anything to stop it. The fact is that no one deserves to be beaten or threatened. Domestic violence is a serious crime and can be prevented. Eagle Scout candidate Ross Watkins has joined the effort to raise awareness about domestic violence by completing his Eagle Ea-gle Scout project in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Aware-ness Month. As part of the project, proj-ect, Watkins made 62 purple child-sized wooden silhouettes that will be used by the Domestic-Violence Coalition to raise awareness of the harmful effects of domestic violence this year and in future years. The statues stat-ues were drawn by artist Tonya Merrell who is also Watkins' aunt. Fifty-five of these silhouettes silhou-ettes were put on the courthouse lawn in Vernal on Monday to visually represent the number of children who were victims of domestic violence from July 2005 to July 2006 in Vernal. "I like the fact that we are doing do-ing this for a good cause to help increase awareness," said Watkins. "There are a lot of kids affected in Vernal a lot more than I thought," he continued. Watkins originally started doing another project in order to earn his Eagle Scout Award, but it fell through. He then learned about the project to build and paint the silhouettes. When asked about the difference differ-ence between the two projects, Watkins said that his current project is probably more of an emotional project than his first one. From the project, Watkins j The child's playhouse at the Women's 1820W& :JJ VemiUtah HwySteF l 435-781-2500 utstanding Agents. Outstanding Results. Expressions Basin Life Taking a stand against domestic violence said he hopes to get his Eagle Scout Award and raise awareness aware-ness about how many children are affected by domestic violence vio-lence in the Basin. The local Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, which includes in-cludes the Uintah, Daggett, and Duchesne counties, is also stepping step-ping up efforts by taking a more active role in creating public awareness in the surrounding communities. The coalition met in Vernal last month to talk about goals, set up a schedule for meetings, and discuss the awareness month project. The group consists of representatives representa-tives from law enforcement, Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), victim advocates, advo-cates, the courts, prosecutors, and other entities. They plan to meet once every two months, focusing fo-cusing on a different topic each month. In November they will develop a mission statement. For those who are abused, help can seem impossibly distant, dis-tant, but there are resources that provide support and assistance assis-tance to those in abusive situations. situa-tions. The Women's Crisis Center in Vernal, the Vernal City Police Department Victims Advocacy Program, DCFS, and the Northeastern North-eastern Utah Coalition Against Family Violence are some of the several groups that work together to-gether in the area to assist victims vic-tims of domestic violence. The Vernal City Police Department Victims Advocacy Program helps direct women to resources and the Women's Crisis Center provides a temporary place for women in danger of abuse and has assisted women in fleeing abusive situations for over ten years. DCFS provides 24-hour service at the center, helping women find jobs, plan for the future, fu-ture, and become self-sufficient. Women usually stay for about 30 days. "The housing situation at this point is our biggest obstacle," said Lilyan Baker, director at the center. Baker said it is harder hard-er than it used to be for women to get out on their own because of current housing costs. The location of the center is confidential to protect the women wom-en and is actually just a regular home. With three bedrooms, the center can house about nine people, often mothers and their children. Most of the time it is full. Baker said that an influx of workers to the area has also increased in-creased the number of people who need assistance. For example, exam-ple, the Women's Crisis Center served 39 children in the fiscal year 2004, compared to the 55 in the fiscal year 2005. During the fiscal year 2005, the center helped 49 women compared to 33 that were helped during the Center was another Eagle project 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, has deck across front and back. Quiet neighborhood Call Charity Scott 790-2032 pf 7 & " , J -1 ! K V&? - I M ft V tT? Kjft '.V &&1 li . a Eft if 1 -jg&& , . b4 Ross Watkins (r) pounds a silhouette 2004 fiscal year. A larger facility is clearly needed. Baker said that though the center sees a certain number of women each year, this does not accurately reflect the number of people affected by domestic violence. "We have counseled many more people than the number of women that come through the center," Said Baker, "and many others are too afraid to reach out for help because they feel shame and responsibility for being be-ing abused." City manager Ken Bassett, Baker, and city council member JoAnn Cowan, recently traveled trav-eled around the region looking at other facilities. They liked the new center in Logan best because it provides everything on-site, like medical services for rape victims, day care, training centers, as well as living quarters. quar-ters. Baker, Bassett, and Cowan would like to see a similar facility, facil-ity, but on a smaller scale, built in Vernal. Vernal City recently received a $50,000 grant from Uintah Basin Ba-sin Area Government (UBAG) to renovate the existing local center. After discussing the situation, situ-ation, however, it was decided that the money would not be put to good use on renovations if a new center will soon be built. Bassett and Cowan are looking II ft 1 Tf PW. II Organizers and employees from Northeastern Utah Coalition Against Family Violence, DCFS, Women's Crisis Center, Vernal City Victims Advocacy Program, along with scout Ross Watkins, his mother Janalee, and scout leader Chris Jaussi, kick off Domestic Violence Awareness month on the courthouse lawn. K Tressa Woods j 700-8882 into the ground in front of the courthouse while mother Janalee watches. at applying for Community Impact Im-pact Board funds before Christmas Christ-mas to build a new center at a cost of about $1 million. They are hoping someone in the community com-munity will want to donate land for the project. Baker and others who are fighting against domestic violence vio-lence rely on help from community commu-nity members to support their efforts. Ofteirfamilymembers, relatives or neighbors can see signs of domestic violence and abuse before an abused person will come forward and seek for help on their own. People in an abusive relationship need support sup-port from healthy relationships. It is important that a friend or family member does not get The Safety Plan If there is danger of abuse in a home there are several steps to take to ensure safe escape Pack a suitcase with toiletries, toi-letries, keys, and a change of clothing for you and your children. chil-dren. Keep medicine, ID, money, checkbook, birth certificates, social security cards, address book, protective order, and other legal papers in an easy- vi x atetx 1r Beautiful and Newer windows, roof, siding, paint, flooring and CaBTresMWMda 7904882 in between the abuser and the abused and become a victim of violence themselves, but encouragement en-couragement can be given to seek help. Community members can also get involved by raising or donating resources to help the center. St. Paul's Episcopal Church sold Discovery Toys at the county fair this year so that the Women's Crisis Center could purchase $350 worth of toys for children who come through the center. Donations are always needed at the center. Those that are especially helpful are basic household items such as pots and pans, gift cards to Wal-Mart, sweats, etc. vernalsocietyyahoo.com to-locate place. When preparing to leave, safeguard the above things with someone you trust so you can leave quickly Know exactly where you will go: police, family, friend, or shelter. Teach children how to call for help during an explosive explo-sive incident and where to go if they are at home and feel unsafe. WU1llrnHl ' CP Community Calendar September 27-October 27 The annual Juried Photography exhibit will be on display at the Western Heritage Museum. A reception recep-tion will be held October 4 from 6:30-8 p.m. October 1-31 Bluebell Corn Maze - Call Mark Monson at 454-3732 for more information. October 2-6 IPAMS Oil and Gas Show at Western Park. For more information infor-mation call 789-7396. October 4 Vernal Jr. High is having parent conferences from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. They invite all parents to attend and visit with their student's teachers. The Family Support Center of Uintah Basin will be offering offer-ing Parent Education classes in Vernal from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Workforce Services Bldg., 1050 Market Dr. Classes will also be offered Oct. 11, and Oct. 18. Please call 722-2401 722-2401 to arrange for childcare and to enroll for the classes. The Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis will be held Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 226 W. Main, Vernal. The community is invited for the Blessing of the Animals. October 6 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides the music. October 6-8 Utah Rock Art Association at Western Park. Call 789-7396 for more information. October 7 The Family Support Center of Uintah Basin will be offering offer-ing Parent Education Classes at the following locations: in Roosevelt at the Family Support Center, 250 N. 700 E., from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 9 A Daisy Girl Scout Troop is being formed and will be part of the Connections Program held at Maeser Elementary. Meetings will be held on Monday afternoons. Registration will be held Monday, Oct. 9 in the Maeser Elementary auditorium-gym at 3 p.m. Daisy Girl Scouts are Kindergarten age, 5-6 yrs old. Girl Scouting is a girl-oriented program which helps girls explore their world, learn new things, make new friends and have lots of fun. For more information call Molly, 789-8638. 789-8638. Community Bible Study every Monday at 7 p.m., 3630 S. 1500 E. October 13 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides the music. October 14 Uintah Arts Council's Concert Series presents the first concert this year at the Vernal Middle School Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 14. It is a Celtic Celebration. For more information see www. MyArtsCouncil.org or 1-888-240-2080. A Harvest Barn Dance will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Red Barn, 3973 E. Hwy. 40 in Ballard, as a fund-raiser for the USOMATA Carnegie Hall Fund. Live entertainment will be provided by Tex Ross and the Rhythm Wranglers and USOMATA Carnegie Players. There will be dinner, dancing and an auction. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and children under 3 are free. To place items of public interest inter-est in the Community Calendar, call 789-3511 or email them to editorvernal.com. 1 t5 CalMarrLoaDnoa 7904529 3 |