November roared in with frigid temperatures, but they were not cold enough to stop SCHRA from breaking ground on what will be the new Bedford County Early Head Start site in Shelbyville.  Ron and his crew spent many hours prepping the area and getting it ready for tear down.  When everyone showed up on Friday, November 1^st, they were greeted with a tract hoe ready to go to work.  Before the demolition started, Paul Rosson, Executive Director said a few words about what the new building would do for the community as well as explaining that the new building will be almost twice as big as the old building, have two new playgrounds and additional parking.  He also thanked Shelbyville Mayor, Wallace Cartwright for all of his help in procuring the site for the building as well as for his support for the program in general.  State Representative Pat Marsh, Mayor Cartwright and Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham all took their turn helping to start the tear down, handling the tract hoe like pros. 

This building was originally a Head Start site.  Due to dwindling program numbers in the County, the site was shut down at the end of the 2017 school year and the children that remained were moved to one of the other three centers in Bedford County.  Laurie and here entire staff are thrilled to have the opportunity to have this new Early Head Start site and have been working hard to bring this project to life.  The plan is to be ready to welcome the children and moms into the new site in time for the start of the 2020 school year.  They are also hoping to expand with an additional Early classroom as well as a Head Start classroom.

Head Start Main Office Staff joined by State Representative Pat Marsh, County Mayor Chad Graham, Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright and Ron Teeples and his amazing crew before the demolition begins.

 

                                                 

Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright, State Representative Pat Marsh and County                                                                           DEMOLITION BEGINS!

Mayor Chad Graham prior to their turns in the tract hoe to start the demolition.

 

 

The South Central Human Resource Agency held a grand re-opening for the South Lawrence Head Start building on Thursday, October 24^th.  State Representative Clay Doggett, County Executive T.R. Williams and SCHRA Board Member and County Commissioner Bert Spearman all entertained the children prior to the ceremony with book readings.  The South Lawrence Head Start building was previously home to the Iron City United Methodist Church which closed in June 1996.  The church allowed South Central Human Resource Agency and Head Start to lease the building beginning in June 2001.  On May 17, 2009, the Trustees of Iron City United Methodist Church deeded the building to the South Central Human Resource Agency Head Start Program.  There have been numerous renovations and improvements to the building that facilitate the continued support of the children and families in South Lawrence and Iron City.  The grand re-opening was to celebrate the new roof that was recently put on the building.  County Executive T.R. Williams read a proclamation for the re-opening reasserting the County’s support for the Head Start program and the families which it serves.  SCHRA Deputy Director Sara Brown was also in attendance for the grand re-opening and thanked the County for their continued support for the facility, the families and the children.

South Lawrence Head Start at Proclamation and Grand Re-Opening ceremony joined by State Representative Clay Doggett, Sara Brown, SCHRA Deputy Director, Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams and Lawrence County Commissioner and SCHRA Board Member Bert Spearman

Books were read to the children prior to the ceremony by (photos left to right) Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams, State Representative Clay Doggett and Lawrence County Commissioner and SCHRA Board Member Bert Spearman

 

Lincoln County’s Recovery Court held its second graduation ceremony on October 31, 2019.   It may have been raining and cold outside but inside the United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, warmth and happiness is what was felt. Tony Patterson, Program Director, talked a few minutes about the men and women who were going to be honored. He told family and friends who were in attendance how these people were his hero’s and how they were going to be the change for those that come after them. He challenged them to be there to lift the community up and show others that this can be done, and they can be successful.   Each of the graduates then came forward to explain what allowed them to make it through the program. Jordan said that the program had offered him many chances to start over again saying “ I do not want to be the same person I was anymore”. He said it had been a long journey and he was grateful for the people there along the road. Edward told everyone that the program had given him the ability to deal with being overwhelmed and allowed him to get back on his feet. He said, “I took drug court because I wanted to be different.” Dustyn commented that he was glad that Recovery Court gave him a chance to be a better person adding, “the drugs never let me have as much fun as I have now clean and sober.”   Lincoln County General Sessions Judge Andy Myrick, who leads Recovery Court preceding’s, had the highest praise for these graduates saying, “this group has gone from being defendants to being friends and I am going to miss them”. He also spoke about the program saying that it is helping to stop the repeat offenders he sees coming through his courtroom and added that he was very glad to be able to add more names to the plaque and hopes to continue to add more names.   Recovery Court is a partnership between the Judge, District Attorney, Defense Attorney, the Probation Office and SCHRA Justice Services Department . This is an opportunity for those who find themselves with the choice of continuing on their path or voluntarily joining a program to turn their life around. Those allowed into the program must be a non-violent offender and show the partners they would be an appropriate candidate. The program strives to enhance public safety and improve the communities quality of life by addressing the needs of the non-violent offender giving them the treatment to become positive, responsible members of the community and gaining healthy, sober and productive lives.