Enterprise Academy
Enterprise, Kansas
These young folks left their home at 4:30
on the morning of May 14, 2003 to come
to Franklin to help out.
Vanessa Tennison, Kimmy Wills, Emily McCullough,
Mariana Mortera, Jessi Whitson, Nick Cowgill,
Josh Anno, Jose Arteaga and Don Hewitt, Director
of Development
Kansas Army National Guard 891st Engineer Battalion
Company A
PSU Students
Given the choice of taking a two-hour final or spending the day
helping clean up tornado damage in Ringo and Franklin, a group of Pittsburg
State University students unanimously chose to help out."The Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation has a long history of providing service to the community," explained Dr. Scott Gorman, professor at PSU.
Besides, he was spending his own free time volunteering in Carl Junction to help clean up damage from the devastating storm system that nearly leveled Franklin and Ringo as well. "If you don't see something like that first-hand, you don't know," he said.
He explained that picking up debris also helps the mental state of storm victims, making their houses look a little more like home even before the major damage is fixed.
Gorman gave the students the choice between taking a regular written final or joining the clean up crews, then started looking for someplace nearby to work.
Gorman said he first asked students if they had friends or family that needed help. Jill Smardo, Frontenac junior, led a crew Tuesday to help family in Franklin area. "Their entire house was knocked down," the professor said.
The rest of Gorman's classes spread out in Ringo.
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
Zach Dickson and Pittsburg High School graduating senior Erin DeLee help with clean-up efforts in Franklin over the weekend as part of a project involving a number of PHS students.
Arma United Methodist Church
Left to right,
Betty and Harry Brunk, Steve Cole,Murray Lockwood,Dolores and Dave Bierbrodt,Linda and Alan Roberts.
Not pictured,
Susan Cole, Phyllis Hay, Ben Cole, Debbie Cummings, Gerald and Jane Ann Blazic.
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
A number of PHS students helped with Saturday's workshop including graduating senior Erin DeLee.
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
A number of PHS students helped with Saturday's workshop including junior Jana Starkweather..
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
A number of PHS students helped with Saturday's workshop including freshman Jessica Rider.
PHS juniors, from left, Melissa Troth, Ashley Lopez and Katie McCurdy, hellp clean-up ebris during Saturday's workday.
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
Matt Plank, graduating senior at Pittsburg High School, helps clear limbs and trash Saturday.
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
PHS juniors Elizabeth Hurford, left, and Cassie Buffington help collect children's toys and clothing scattered by the May 4 tornado during Saturday's workday.
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
PHS junior Catherine Guo, second from the right, organizes efforts during Saturday's workday. Also pictured are, from left, Jessica Rider, Jana Starkweather, April Green and Kaylee Johnson.
Ray Brecheisen/ The Morning Sun
A group of PHS juniors help collect debris Saturday in the wake of the devastating May 4 tornado in Franklin.
(excepts taken from Morning Sun)
The community can thank a group of young people who worked over the weekend to clean up the future site of the Community Center.
They aren't exactly volunteers. Instead, they have committed minor offenses, are on probation for their offenses, and are doing community service through the Restorative Justice Authority.
Community service is the most popular disposition currently prescribed by youth courts, according to program coordinator Stella Drenik.
"Community service has the potential to help youthful offenders improve their self-image, develop needed life skills and make meaningful contributions to their communities, while still holding them accountable for their actions," Drenik said.
She said that she currently works with youth age 10 to 17. "I am working with a 10-year-old now who stole something from a store, but the average age of those I get is around 14 to 15," she said.
Drenik works with them in a classroom setting. "We study the three parts of a community - people, places and organizations, as well as community problems and what we can do about them," she said. "I also do some street law-related education."
When it came to setting up a community service project, she and the youths had a brainstorming session.
Drenik noted that some of the young people don't feel that they are part of the community or are able to do anything about the problems they see. The community also may have given up on them - or, at least, they may feel that it has.
"Our goal is not only to prevent the kids from getting into trouble again, but rebuilding the bond between them and the community," Drenik said.
Family Living Editor Nikki Patrick can be reached at nikki.patrick@morningsun.net or 231-2600, Ext. 142.