Trinity Valley CASA needs volunteers
Special to The Monitor
ATHENS–Since November, 1994, more than 200 Trinity Valley CASA (court appointed special advocates) volunteers have served more than 1,300 children. There are 68 CASA programs in the state of Texas.
More than 870,000 abuse cases are documented every year.
More than 1, 250 children die each year from abuse and neglect. Nine out 10 abused children know their abusers.
One out of four girls and one out of seven boys will be sexually assaulted by the time they are 18 years of age.
Eighty percent to 90 percent of prison inmates are victims of child abuse.
As you look into the faces of these children, you see frightened, scared, disorientated and confused children. They have experienced and witnessed horrific situations in their own homes.
As these children are removed from their homes, the only “normal” they know, they are traumatized again.
CASA volunteers are people just like you who are screened, trained and then appointed by judges to advocate for abused and neglected children.
The volunteer’s focus is on one child or a set of siblings, giving each child help and hope as they move through the foster care system toward a safe, permanent home.
There can be no greater community responsibility than keeping defenseless children safe and preserving their future.
What is clear is that the 1,300 children that we have served deserve more from us as citizens, taxpayers and parents.
Can you help? Consider becoming a CASA volunteer. The need is great.
Locally, the Trinity Valley CASA is able to provide volunteers for only 50 percent of these children.
To increase the number of these children being served, volunteers are needed who are willing to step forward and accept the challenge. It takes a special commitment, but the rewards are extraordinary.
To find out more, check the websites www.casaoftv.org, or www.becomeacasa.org.
You may also contact Darla at the local CASA office in Athens at (903) 675-7070. Henderson County training is scheduled for Tuesday through Friday, Jan. 18-21.

Sheriffs office accepting applications for upcoming Citizens Police Academy
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for its upcoming Citizens Police Academy, scheduled to begin Feb. 8 through May 3. The academy is a 13-week program designed to provide Kaufman County residents with firsthand information about how the sheriff’s office functions.
Sheriff David A. Byrnes will welcome academy attendees. In the weeks that follow, participants will learn about the many aspects of law enforcement from veteran officers, who teach in their own areas of expertise.
In a classroom setting, citizens will explore various aspects of law enforcement including criminal investigations, arrest control, family violence, child abuse, detention operations and general patrol.
K-9 and SWAT duties are just some of the topics covered during the course.
Each class provides insight into the challenging tasks deputies and investigators must face daily.
Participation in the academy requires a commitment of one night a week for 13 weeks. Class is held from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays.
There is no fee for attending the academy. Participants must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Kaufman County. Space in the class is limited.
For further information or an application, contact Sgt. Broocke Hammer or Lt. Bruce January at (972) 932-9782, or (972 ) 932-9775.
An application is also available online at www.kaufmanso.com.  

Grayhawk owner relocates to Cedar Creek Lake area
Special to The Monitor
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–Grayhawk Companies, dealing in risk management, financial and benefit services, as well as administrative services, is coming to the Cedar Creek Lake area.
Founder, chairman and CEO Gary Johnson and his wife, Paula, along with their three dogs (Max, Gus, and Banjo) and two cats (Blackjack and Roulette) recently purchased a second home in the area and quickly decided to relocate full-time.
Founded in 1997, Grayhawk’s main office is in Richardson, where Johnson has been has applied his 27 years of insurance and risk management experience.
But, upon becoming familiar with the Cedar Creek Lake area, he decided the area was a nice fit for his family and for the company. He will personally head up the office here.
“There are a lot of people ‘selling’ insurance, but it doesn’t appear to be many (if any) who are committed to or have the experience to analyze all risk exposures, and develop risk transfer methods for both business and personal financial management,” Johnson observed.
He sees buying insurance as the last step of risk transfer.
“Insurance is the ultimate risk transfer method, but it should be the last step, not the first,” he said.
Grayhawk is a collection of five companies, all highly synergized and strategically involved with all clients.
“We are a group of companies that can manage the largest risk or the smallest,” he added. “We truly are a company that can approach any risk and manage it in a 360-degree manner.
“We are here to manage all your risk and insurance needs,” he added. “All business exposure, all personal exposure, employee benefits and human resource administration, loss control and safety, and business financial planning.
“We have the experience and passion to solve problems not just sell something,” Johnson said.
“However, we do approximately $35,000,000 of insurance premium – buying insurance is always done after the need is established as a final risk transfer method,” he said.
“To Grayhawk, it is all about making sure our clients financial security will be in place after a crisis. There are a lot of risk transfer methods and buying insurance is only one,” Johnson said.
“We are different, for sure!” he added. “We are big enough to manage anything, anywhere. However, we are local and servant-minded to care for all and any of the lake area’s needs.”
Grayhawk is opening at 1302 South Third St. in Mabank, beside Groom & Sons’ Hardware.