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Director: CASA helps break cycle of abuse, neglect

Advocates appointed to children by the court system in abuse and neglect cases in Cheyenne County help serve as the eyes and ears for the judicial system while working to break harmful cycles, the organization's director said this week.

Rose Bowcut, who was named director of Cheyenne County Court Appointed Special Advocates last summer, offered an update on the program to the county board of commissioners on Tuesday.

The volunteer advocates work one-on-one with children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, she explained. There are 20 children currently in the program countywide.

Forty-nine states offer CASA programs. Nationally, more than 76,000 advocates and guardian ad litem volunteers helped more than a quarter million abused and neglected children last year, according to the National CASA Association.

Bowcut said a judge told her the program helps bring common sense to the courtroom.

"In all the cases we have currently, advocates have either been able to find information or develop a relationship that no one else in a case had been able to do," she said.

In addition to benefiting the court system, the volunteer advocates are also able to have positive impacts on the children, Bowcut added.

"We're talking about breaking cycles," she said.

Also at the meeting:

• Commissioners approved a bid to install a handicap ramp on the south side of the courthouse. Nienhueser Construction and Excavation was awarded the $3,630 bid.

In December, the board voted to lock four exterior doors at the building that had previously been offered access to the courthouse. At the time, Cheyenne County Sheriff John Jenson said limiting public entrances would increase security.

To ensure ease of access for people with physical disabilities, the commissioners said they would investigate the installation of a ramp on the sidewalk near the south door – by the sheriff's office – which remains unlocked during business hours.

Commissioner Steve Olson asked if there was a timeline for the work.

"Whenever weather allows them," said Roger Conley, Cheyenne County building and grounds superintendent."

• Andrew Sherman, Sidney Public Library director, said the library will work to expand its digital offerings throughout 2016.

Combined with the physical library and bookmobile, he said, the library is working hard to meet the needs of county residents.

The library recently redesigned its website to make navigation easier and now offers 130 magazines in digital format and digital audio books.

While visits to the library were slightly down last year, he said the increased use of digital resources was up, creating a wash. The bookmobile had an increase of 1,000 visits over 2014, he added.

Library staff are also working to attract more teens and young adults, Sherman said. To that end, restrictions on computer use by children at the library were recently lifted.

• The appointments of Anita and Gerald Pennel to the fair board were unanimously approved, filling the two vacancies.

• The next Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 1, in the commissioners' room at the Cheyenne County Courthouse.

 

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