YAB Gives Youth A Second Chance

Every so often I put on my newpaper writer hat and write articles for our local newspaper. Usually it is a promotion piece for some club or organization I am involved with at the time. Recently, a group of community volunteer approached me to do an information piece on the Youth Accoutability Board for Shoshone County. Below is the story that will be in the Shoshone News-Press sometime this week. They do a wonderful service for kids who make a mistake, and might just need a special turn in the right direction.
Youth Accountability Board Gives Second Chance to County Youth

By CAROL ROBERTS
Special to the News-Press

Shoshone County offers an educational opportunity for kids who flirt with disaster, but want to turn their life around.

The Shoshone County Youth Accountability Board is a diversion service offered for first time offenders who are 17 years of age and under, and admit to the charges.

The YAB is made up of a group of volunteer community members who want to help county youth through some tough times in their life.

“It is an opportunity to head off disaster,” said Linda Sepa-Newell, one of the YAB board members. “It is a retooling experience that gives people the opportunity to work with kids and get them back on track.”

If a young offender committed a crime such as shoplifting, vandalism or fighting, the Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney’s office can recommend the offender and their parents to go through the Youth Accountability Board.

"We have helped over 1,000 youth since the board was formed in 1983,” said Karen Rumpel, one of the original board members. “We average about 25 cases each year.”

One of the advantages of going this route is that the youths will not have a record that could limit them from joining the military, going to college, or other entering vocations that do not allow prior criminal records.

If the Prosecutor’s Office decides to refer a case to the YAB after the youth admits to the charges, a letter is sent to the parents or guardians of the youth, instructing them to contact the designated YAB representative. An investigator sets an appointment to meet with the youth and parents and begins the investigation process.

The case is assigned a date and a time to come before the YAB for a hearing. The investigator presents the facts to the board, and the youth and parents provide the board with information about their perspective on the charges, and answer questions. The YAB then draws up a contract with the youth and parents, which is signed by all parties.

In cases of theft or vandalism, the YAB mediates the cost of the damage, encourages the victim of the crime to face the youth, and helps communication between the two parties.

“Store owners may not know we even exist,” said Sepa-Newell. "Specifics to the contract may cover community service hours, a letter to the victim, an essay, a mandatory jail tour, payment of restitution or other activities deemed appropriate by the board."

“The contracts can be flexible,” said board member Karen Henry. “We try to fit the sentence to the crime, and the kids. Rarely do kids who have gone through this process offend a second time.”

Upon successful completion of the contract, admission to the allegations of the petition will be vacated and the case dismissed.

If the YAB option is chosen there is an $18 fee to go through this process.

“Sometimes antisocial behavior is a thrill to some youth,” said Sepa-Newell. “This process gives the youth a realistic experience, including the jail tour.

"Another value of the program is to teach skills and an opportunity for the youth to see the impact of their illegal activities on the community, and to see the ripple effect.”

Then the youths are given the opportunity to provide community service at local public agencies or businesses, the youths are embraced by the community, and a negative is turned into a positive. It also helps the kids save face by not having a criminal record.

“Even good kids will make a mistake,” said Sepa-Newell. “It is sad when kids have to go through the court system.

"This is a way to stop that process, and being a part of this YAB process as a volunteer is a wonderful thing.”

The Condo Explosion

The Silver Valley is experiencing growth, as least in construction. I am daily reminded of it as I look out my front window, and my landscape has changed from viewing the hills around Kellogg to now having an up close and personal view of Phase III of the condominiums at the Morning Star Lodge at Silver Mountain. Workers seem to be working around the clock to finish the construction on this phase.

Now, I'm not praising or blasting this growth. I wouldn't be in the lovely home I live in now if it weren't for the new developement. Our former home was bought out by condo builders to tear down so condo's could be built. I think it is just the newness of it all.

As I left Kellogg yesterday, heading to Pinehurst to pick up middle daughter, Z2, I glanced to my right toward McDonalds, and the sign on the building that used to say "Taco Express" now says something like "Alpine Village Resort Condominium Sales". In the paper this morning, the front page news is about a grand opening being held today for the sales of theses condos. These are located uptown on Ohio Avenue, I think behind the also being remodeled McConnel Hotel (which houses one of the coolest coffee shops in uptown Kellogg. As a child, the McConnel Hotel always kind of scared me, because it always looked run down, and the people who hung out there were scary looking. It is nice to see this building get a new face lift.)

When I arrived in Pinehurst, I was quite surprised by the new building that has risen up at the old KOA Campground. This one does pull at my heartstrings a bit, because the KOA has done a wonderful job since the summer we moved back here in 2000, hosting a 4th of July celebration and fireworks show. It had become a family tradition. Now, the beautiful campground is being changed. And the building is right up against the park, too. Well, it caught me off guard, and I'm not sure I like it.

The new Bee Hive Homes on the main street in Pinehurst look beautiful.

Z2 was at her friend's home in Pinehurst working on their upcoming History Day project. Her friend's aunt was a friend of mine in grade school, and I remember going to this house when I was younger, because her grandparents lived in this house. As soon as I drove down the street and spotted the house, I remembered. It is funny, but one vivid memory from that time at this house was watching Elton John and Kiki Dee singing "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" on TV.

Okay, back to the new construction. Another development from the paper this week is Shoshone County putting an emergency moratorium on any development in the county (not including inside city limits) so they can take some time to review county ordinances that have not been updated in over 20 years. One of the county commisioners launching this moratorium is newly elected commissioner Vince Rinaldi. I have know Vince my whole life, and he is now a neighbor. I have talked to him in the past regarding growth in the Silver Valley, and I believe he has a nice, balanced approach to the situation, and has good ideas to help the county plan and manage growth.

What blows my thinking about all of this is the plans Silver Mountain is planning around the new golf course and up on the mountain. Will people really come and fill up all those proposed houses, condos and hotels? I guess only time will tell. But it boggles the mind!!