Essay Contest - April 2008

April 3, 2008 By BARB LIMBACHER

TWELVE students received awards during the eighth annual Animal Abuse Child Abuse Prevention Essay awards and fourth annual Pinwheels for Prevention Ceremony Thursday in front of the Tuscarawas County Courthouse in New Philadelphia.

About 100 attended the ceremony sponsored by the Animal Abuse Child Abuse Prevention committee which is an add-hoc committee of the Tuscarawas County Family and Children’s First Council. Other agencies involved in the ceremony were those who provide services for families and children and have individuals serving on the ACAP committee.

Most of the schools in Tuscarawas County participated in the essay writing contest, and 541 essays were submitted. Theme of the essays was “What my pet does when no one is at home…”

The four first place winners each received a $75 gift card. They were Lindsay Miller,9 , a 3rd grader, at Dover East Elementary and a daughter of Bill and Karla Miller of Dover; Lindsay Thompson, 10, a 4th grader at Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate, and daughter of Kim McArdle, of Bolivar; Teyah Lieser, 10, a 5th grader, at Dover East Elementary and daughter of Mike and Brandy Lieser of Bolivar; and Greg Little, 12, a 6th grader at Newcomerstown Middle School and son of Sheryl and David Little.

Second place winners were Noah Dunn , 3rd grade at Dover South; Gavyn Robin, 4th grade, New Philadelphia Central Elementary; Sierra Sandy, 5th grade, Dover East Elementary; Uniqua Russell - Barthalow, 6th grade, Newcomerstown Middle school. They received a $50 gift card.

Third - place winners were Amber Moore, 3rd grade, Newcomerstown West Elementary; Cyrus Mirhaidari, 4th grade, Dover South; Elizabeth Smith, 5th grade, Baltic Elementary; Nicolas Fanti, 6th grade, Newcomerstown Middle School. Each received a $25 gift card.

Karen Slough of the Tuscarawas County Dog pound brought a dog that had been abused.

Guest speaker was Crystal Ward Allen, executive director of Public Children’s services Assn. at Columbus. She associated the story of Alice in Wonderland with the girl falling through a hole and meets up with many different characters to a child falling through a hole if they are abused or neglected and all the different strangers that enter their lives, a judge, a lawyer, social worker, foster care givers all giving them directions.

“They also have limited access to their families,” Allen said,” We need to minimize the number of children falling in this hole and meeting all those characters.”

“My dream is not to see 910 pinwheels and the kids would get the love and support from their family.”

Tuscarawas County commissioner Kerry Metzger read the commissioners proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention month and presented it ( proclamation) to Lynn Angelozzi, director of Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services. Commissioner Jim Seldenright presented the awards and commissioner Chris Abbuhl gave comments about giving children love and support from their families.

Bob Scanlon of WJER presented a pair of Cleveland Indians tickets to the teachers of each first place winner. They were Susan Samsa, Dover East; Ashley West, Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate; Carmen Maurer, Dover East; Kathy Anderson, Newcomerstown Middle School.
Other program participants were Sue Shackelford, Harcatus Head Start; Robin Bowdish, Tuscarawas County Family and Children First Counsel; Angelozzi, and Sylvia Argento, court administrator of Tuscarawas County Juvenile Court.

Dover Girl Scout Troop 230 inserted 910 pinwheels in forms with bases that covered the courthouse steps and made by Tusco Display. A 10 - foot high pinwheel is on display at New Towne Mall near Damons Restaurant. Quick Print donated signs to be displayed at the courthouse and at New Towne Mall.

The individual pinwheels are to create public awareness of the 910 children involved in a report of abuse or neglect in Tuscarawas County in 2006, the latest statistics available. The pinwheels will be on display through April 30 in recognition of this year’s Pinwheels for Prevention, Prevent Child Abuse, Ohio’s statewide public awareness campaign.