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Show page 13 - November 14, 2000 Uintah Basin Standard 'Zx.xi jS. Basin LIFE FAMILY REUNITED ON MAURY SHOW HU Woman's search for her mother ends at Family History Center By Leilee E. Whiting Shana Hoffman was two weeks thy of turning one year old the last time shesawhermother.Shewastooyoung to remember her mother, but she said that never stopped her from missing in common. For nine months. Sarah She got up and we hours away lived just from Shana't home in Bidderford. Ricky Kidder.Sarah'i ton by a previous marriage, recently moved to Skowgen, Maine, just about 90 miles away from Bidderford. He made contact wit h Shana last week and the I wo spent hours talking on the phone. Sarah and Shana both like Mexican and German food. They both love fishing. listening to country music and playing cribbage. "W talk every day, sometime all day. We're still trying to settle out some things," said Sarah, "but what happened in the past is staying in the lei anything past, and Im not goinglo hurt her ever again." Sarah will be flying 'to Maine to spend the Tbankspvuig and Christmas holidays with Shana and her two lf were both sobbing and holding each other. I didn't want to let her go." her. "Ever since I was old enough to my mom in my life. Thats never been a secret. 1 have been looking for her since 1 was 17. Im 27 now, she related during telephone call from her home in Bidderford, Maine. Shana't mom, Sarah Stafford, who moved to Roosevelt a year ago, said she never forgot the three small children she left in Germany with her husband during a bitter marital dispute. She had planned to leave the and Chance Salhcr (pictured left to right HAPPY READERS East Elementaiy3grdersNickBastian,TeJaSmithey children for a short time, make a home for them in the United States and read with Virginia Abplanalp from Castles of Sand. return for them. Not only did she fail to get her children, her husband who was in the service and stationed VIRGINIA ABPLANALP filed for divorce and reoverseas rial ceremonies heldearlier th month married. Although Sarah was able to at the Marriott Hotel in Provo as part maintain sporadic contact for a few of tha statewide Paraeducator in years, she remained separated from Education Week. her children for 26 years. She wondered ifher children were Virginias focus is helpingchildren in kindergarten through 3 grade well, what they were like, if they had sharpen their readingskill. She works children of their own now. If they ever . with students in small groups, as well thought of her. T wo years ago, Sarah pasted a mesas going intodastrooms and assisting teacher. And the teachers tha works sage on the ancestry.com bulletin By Lezlee E. Whiting The secret of herac with at East arent shy about telling board to let her children know where rather dreaded you that Virginia is their "right hand" ah was in tbs event they ever atVirginia Abplanalp ? Her complishments when it comes to giving struggling tempted to locate her. The problem hearing that she had a telephone call students the boost they need to help was that Sarah moved ' often, and her its holding for her in the office. School say them becocx moresucrowful in school. Shana'a efforts to locate her mom secretaries usually take a message ao zeal and enthusiasm The secret ofher accomplishment the call can be returned when the through the agency BigHugrcameone Her ? and it her leal 's behind the next move. teacher has a break. You naturally say step combined with a genuenthusiasm combined with a genuine That is, until Oct. 25. when Sarah worry that something bad has hap concern for the students she is help- went with Anita Price to the Rooeevelt ine concern for the pened when you get paged out ofyour classroom. ing. Family History Center to be gin doing "1 knew that when the took stustudents she helps. some inealogrreMwrrh. It was Sarah's however, Virginias dents Unto her Title On classroom) first visit to the Family History Cenknew there was nothing wrong. In they would significantly improve their ter and shell tell you in no uncertain fact, they were thrilled about the call vision of a teacher or district personshe received, because they were in on nel, assisting with tha implementarsadingtkills," related Sharon Allred, term that she was meant to be there. A woman working with Big Hugs the whole deal from the start A rep- tion of educational and support ser- a reading specialist at East. resentative from the State Office of vice programs and the assessment of "Virginia is so positive and always had traced Sarah to Rooeevelt. She had moved fromMaine to Colorado Education had called tha school to student progress within these pro- finds something to praise. related 1 classroom aid and grams. There arc 7XX) parsed ucators grade teacher Natalie Eberhard. "I and then Utah within the last two inform the know that the students the works years. She said she tried the Family paraeducator that the had been cho- in Utahs school systems. Two years ago. Virginia earned her with develop the ability to take a risk History Center after deriding that sen aa "Utah Outstanding and even if they fail they believe in Sarah 't message on the ancestry com Paraeducator for Tit la One." degree as a paraeducator by success "1 was really shocked. 1 had no folly completing the requirements tbemsehesenough to continue, know bulletin board sounded "like she was that went along with 45 hours of col- ingthry will succeed. Thryalwav want a member of the Mormon church." idea, Virginia related. There are apAnita, a worker at the Family History proximately 1,500 Title One lege instruction. Before that ah had to do their best for her." For Virginia, the ultimate joy m Center, answered the phone and was in Utah. The term worked for 13 years in classrooms as a paraeducator teaching kids to read comet "when aked if she knew a Sarah Stafford. "paraeducator" is relatively new. teacher's aid at East The caller was shocked to learn Paraeducator work under the super- She received her awardduringspe- - you finally see them get that spark, thatawhats fun. They think reading that Sarah was right here," Anita is just a chore and you can get them to related. Even more amazed was Saunderstand that reading is such an rah. Fifty years old and physically important part of life. To see a child disabled, Sarah was sure the call was read and eryoy it, that's what makes hoax," she said. Not only did the caller inform her everything worth it," she said. For Virginia, working with chilthat heryoungest daughter had been dren and her "cohorts" at East El- searching for her, Sarah also learned ementary is "just about the' funnest that sho would be reunited with her. aa well a her older daughter Kira and job you can have." "1 don't know who said it. but this on Enc on the Maury Povritch Show. The American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 64 is participating in the annual Gift quote describes Virginia loa "T.'aaid She was flown to New York City the Shop Project" for tha VA hospital and are providing gifts for Christmas to A tracker u snmeov u ha following Monday to tape the show. Natalie the Veterans at the VA hospital in Salt Lake. Donations must be new items taka Shanawas unaware that her mother hand, your aptnayvurmind and and the hospital asks that no glass item be included and the donations must had been located and brought to New touchayourhearL " be received by Nov. 15. Anyone wishing to donate to this worthy project to benefit our veterans in the hospital can contact auxiliary president Beverly YOUTH FAMILIES WITH PROMISE or Bev and Hansen, secretary Teresa Harmstoo, Roosevelt. in Millies renvmber I have wanted York. All she knew at the time the show was being taped was that ah swaa appearing to make a nationwide plea to find her mother. When Povitch asked Shana what she would say to her mother if she could bear her, the re-the wont hate me. "Well. I rlied, told thathope when I was born she wanted a boy and that 's why the left." "The first time I saw her (Shana was when I walked on stage. When 1 went down the stairs, the got up and we were both sobbing and bolding eachother.l didn't want to let her go. East paraeducator receives honor co-work- 15-ve- ar BasmJBriefs Gift Shop Project 722-341- Duchesne City Light Parade The annual Parade Dec Lin lake will 2 Light placeon Saturday, up at the High School at 5.30 p.m., with parade starting at 6 p m. Following the parade, visit Santa Clause at the Gill Mirketaou Center, hot chocolate and donuts will be served. For information call Clint Park at Christy Smith or Carole Monsen at 738-533- 738-200- 9, 738-201- 9 Sub For Santa The Duchesne City Lions Club, Sub For Santa program is underway a little earlier this year in an effort to more efficiently distribute and collect assistance applications in order to meet the Friday, Dec. 1 deadline. Applications can be picked up at thee participating buaineaees; First Security Bank. Kohls Store, Clint Parker Repair and Zions Bank. Dinner Dance Thanksgiving There will be a Dinner Dance on Community Thanksgiving Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Croas Roads Center, Roosevelt. Dinner, 7 p m. for 1330; Dance, 8 10 p.m. for 3. Tickets are being sold Call 6 for mors -- 722-429- Outreach Program Mr. John Maher. Service officer for the Disabled win be hero VA Department to provide assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs iasuss at tha following locations. Roosevelt, Nov. 28. from 1:30 3 p m. at the Workforce Office, 140 W. 425 S.; FL Duchesne, Nov. 29, from 12-- 1 pjn. at Bottle Hollow, Room 302; and Vernal. Nov. 29, from 1 am., at the Workfort office, 1060 W. Market Drive. Mini Pow Wow Annual Ute T ribe Head Start Mini Few Wow will be held Wednesday, Nov. noon. Public Is invited to this very special event! For 22 from 10 a m.-1- 2 mote information call 722-450- Solar Winds Free Concert The US AirFoice prevent Tbs United Stales Air Force Band of the Rockies, Solar Winds. This Free Conceit wiU be held Saturday. Nov. 1 8 at 7 p m. at the Vernal Jr. High Auditorium, 161 N. 1000 W. Free tickets available at the door. Belletrlstlcs Club The Befletnalics Club will meet on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7.30 p m. The meeting will be held at Sanna Rae Draper's home. Sanna Has will share her experience with the primitive AfricanMaasai People with ut. Veterans of Foreign Wars Wars. Uintah Basin Poet will Veteran or 9275 meet Tuesday, Foreign Nov. 14 in the Crossroads Center nt Rooeevelt at 3 30 p m. Copy! Maury had to tell us when tout down," Sarah related. While the bond between Shana and Sarah was spontaneous, her older children were more reserved and the two refused to bug her on camera. They did soften somewhat backatapr and did agree to a bug. Her daughter Kim has called since she returned home, but Eric remains distant, said Saririi. Shana explained that she was lied tooverthevears about her mother and realized that her father and stepmother tried to keep Sarah away from her and her siblings, but said that w all in the past. Shana and Sarah have spoken to each other daily on thstelrphonesuice their reunion on Oct 31 in New York. Together they are sorting things out and discovering how much they have Sarahs daughter Kim w as $ w hen her mother left. Sarah said she is slow ly warming up to hav mg her mother hack in her life. ft 722-251- 8 1. HAPPY REUNION After searching for her mother for 1 0 ears. Shana was finally able to find her, thanks to "Big Hugs." the agency that helped locate Sarah in Roosevelt New program to pair at risk youth with young & old mentors In July Duchesne County was "This is a prevention awarded a substantial grant designed specifically to fund a program called program, not a band-ai- d Youth and Families with Promise, run by Utah State University Extensolution." sion. Duchesne County joins 22 of 29 wral activities in school More than 50 counties in Utah to have the program. The purpose ofYouthand Families percent of mentors said their youth with Promise t lo red uce and prevent developed a positive change in attijuvenile delinquency by targeting tude and social skills, and mote than three primary goals: improving aca- 90 percent of parent noted positive demic performance and social skills, change in their youth and would want and strengthening family bonds. their youth to participate again. The program is derived from a "This is a prevention program, not study conducted by the Search Insti- a band absolution. Lew Mid. "This tute that examined the "assets" of it a peat opportunity for our youth succeMfiil kids, such a good commuand families, as well as for the communication with patents, an adult sup- nity to get involved with improving port network, and identified certain our youth." "assets that kids needed to avoid The criteria for youth who are selected for the program include acapoor behaviors associated with delindemic and behavioral problems, first quent activity. Utah State University developed lime juvenile court offenders, involvethe Youth and Families with Promise ment in illegal activities, and poor program as a result . The program pans support networks. They are referred youth, specifically tarpting the 6th and 7lh grades, with two mentors usually around college age, and a "grandparent" figure in their senior primarily from schools and the juvenile court, but parents and anyone else can refer youth to the program. Mentor are involved on a volunteer basis. They are provided training, ongoing support, a sene of prearranged activities, and expense reimbursement. In addition, mentors can earn two college semester credits accepted by UVSsC, USU. or BYU. Since the prognun w relatively new, there a high demand for both young adult and senior mentors. Throe interested in becoming a volunteer, or to refer a youth, can contact Ternr Lewis. Cell. 648-536- Enc is 21 now. He was 2 years old the Ut time he saw h mother. He appeared on the Maury Povitch Show with h two sisters as the family wai reunited. children. Cory. 5, and Kayla. 6, and Ricky and hi family Producers from the Maury Povitch Show have told the family they plan to do a follow-uto update the wpaunt w hen it au owe the Christmas bob-day- s texacl date is pending. p 823-103- tlewis,a rn.dad.kll.ut. us or Barbara Mathis. 722-399- barb ram ? LOCAL INQUIRIES usu edu . "We ate so excited to have this program in Duchesne County," Lewis said. "This is great opportunity for us to really make a difference in our commumtv." -- ii ext 622-468- est U3, Close to 600 calls made to Poison Control By Nicole Morgan year. Mentors will work with the youth to model raring behavior, provide motivation, and tutor in academic skills, engage in service projects, and encourage involvement in community youth groups such as 411 Mentors, youth. and paientsabmaitend monthly "family night" group activities designed to strengthen family bonds and to have fun. It is important to rerognir that the mentors dont replace the family, they tie in with thrm." mud Terry Leww, program coordinator. "The mentor are to tupfvrt the youth as well as the family " Inexistence since l994,Youihand Families with Promise has a proven track record of sucres Melhan6Q perrrnt of srSuu! teachers Mr yu:ih involved m the program hv show a improvement in acade msc and behav- - Within the last year 50.000 calls were made to the Utah Powon Control Center 593 of thee calls were made Uintah by resident of the Buis According to the recently released 1999 annual report by the Poison Control Center. .'0 of throe cal is came from Duchesne County .331 calls to Poison Control were placed by Uintah County resilient and 12 calls for help cant from Daggett County. The Uintah Basin Medical Center reported seeing 39 cases of suspected poisoning last rear. At the Ashley Valley M itcx! Center in Verna! there were 60 patients who reported to the emergency room because of possible puumnmg Rosin Medical Center officials, the newt frequent ty , Aroord'-ngtoUinU- ME NT OR IVO Terry I ew n is the new dircvtar ofYouth and Families w ith Pbwntse Program. SEE POISON on 2? s |