Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council Discusses Safety Needs (cont)

uld it move to Gurdon, he said, it would employ 12 to 15 people.

The representatives were shown a building, but it didn't quite meet their needs. The city and business will be working together to see what can be done.

In addition, Smith said, he's been working with the Community Counseling Services to get a similar service in Gurdon.

He said there are counselors in Arkadelphia High School who work with troubled students. The results have been a decrease in the dropout rate.

Smith said Gurdon also has students with problems who could benefit from professional counseling. He's met with Gurdon Superintendent Bobby Smithson on the issue and said Smithson liked the idea.

Such a program, Smith continued, wouldn't cost the district anything. It would just need to provide office space for the counselor.

Along the same lines, he said, a company has shown interest in locating a counseling service in the old hospital. This service, Smith said, would house those in need, operating from Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Company officials were shown the old Beech Street church, but it didn't meet their needs.

There could also be a problem in getting the old hospital, he said. This is because there are plans on making it a residential care facility.

However, he said, the counseling service wants a location where it can house at least 24 people. These would be in two different groups from ages 6-12 and 13-17. Those youths in the groups would be referred through the juvenile court system.

Smith said a counselor would be on staff at all times, and psychiatrists would be called in as needed.

The children in the service, he said, would not be criminals, just children needing help. Clark County children would be given first priority, Smith added. "It would help a lot who are on the street now," he said, "and would also provide 15 to 20 jobs locally."

For those interested in contacting their local council representatives, they can do so by calling the following numbers:

Ward 1: Mickey Jones -- 353-4532

Ward 2: Gene Flowers -- 353-4378

Ward 3: Karen Parker -- 353-2065

Ward 4: Edna Cooper -- 353-6238

Ward 5: Philip Giles -- 353-2162

Ward 6: Glen Hughes -- 353-4124