The regular meeting of the Jasper Pirates Home Extension Club was held Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Newton County Extension Office. The meeting was conducted by President Betty Stivers. Five members and two guests were present. It was noted three club members were traveling and three others were ill.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, Stivers gave the devotional.
It was reported 91.5 volunteer hours were recorded by club members during the month of September.
Jeff Dezort, editor of the Newton County Times and chair of the Newton County Hometown Health Initiative and its new Partners In Prevention Coalition, spoke at length about the accomplishments of Hometown Health since its organizing about 20 years ago. The Jasper School Based Health Center managed by Boston Mountain Health Clinic, Jasper Farmers Market, Jasper Community Garden and ASMU Mobile Mammogram visits, to name a few, are some of the successful programs originated by coalition members over those years.
To address the need for an ongoing substance abuse prevention education program, the Initiative explored application for a federal Drug Free Community Grant. After years of preparation, the application was submitted last March. It was announced last August that Newton County was one of several grants awarded statewide.
The grant provides the coalition with $125,00 a year for 5 years with the opportunity to renew the grant for another 5 years. The new Partners In Prevention coalition will have a paid program coordinator and all segments of the community will be invited to suggest and help implement programs aimed at educating youth on matters regarding potentially harmful substances such as alcohol, tobacco, vaping, narcotics and especially the dangers associated with the misuse of opioids.
