How about some good news! Wouldn’t that be nice for a change

Dear Editor:

 While watching the Washington County Commissioner meeting this last week, I was pleasantly surprised to listen to the director of ROSE Advocates, Veronica Vasquez. She was giving her annual report to our county commissioners.

 The service they provide is so important in domestic violence emergencies. It’s a silent crime that we don’t like to talk about. The victim is often devastated, fearful, scared, and unsure of what lies ahead .

 Where can they go when they are just happy to get out alive? This is where ROSE Advocates comes in.

 Established in 1988...Over 20 years ago, a resident of a small town in Nevada witnessed a woman being abused in a public area. After the abuser left she approached the woman handing her a piece of paper with her name, telephone number and a brief note stating simply, “I’ll help you.” With the help of this stranger the woman and her son were able to return to their hometown, (Weiser, Idaho) to the safety and support of family and friends. Vowing to help others she gathered her family and friends and formed a secret, underground network of volunteers and safe houses to help abused women and children. This is how Weiser got the ROSE Advocates center.

 Listening to Veronica talk to the county commissioners it was nice to hear a positive report on how our Washington County Prosecutor, True Pearce and his Deputy Prosecutor Sean Jorgensen are and have been a huge asset to ROSE Advocates. She said that they have consistently responded in a very timely fashion as needed. She said they are reliably there for the clients.

 “Our Prosecutor and our Deputy Prosecutor work really well with our clients and their children,” Veronica said, “They meet more than once with clients and they are very sensitive to the needs of the people that have suffered from the hands of the abuser.” (I called ROSE Advocates for permission to write about this.) It’s a team effort when survivors seek help and answers in times of despair, abuse, and restoration.

 Without accountability and prosecutions we have no public safety. Without a Prosecutor we have no incentive for arrests or investigations. Without ROSE Advocate we have no safe haven from domestic abuse. The A Team!

 Thankful,

Cathy Kaech

Midvale Idaho