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Edition Two
Caldwell, Idaho
January 2015
What was Donna doing on her 50th Anniversary?
Jacqueline’s New Years Resolution
Newest Chamber Member
Caught in the Act
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Christmas Angels
Meet the Editor, Leora Summers
I have lived in Caldwell for 32 years and call this community my home. My husband, Sam, who was actually born here many, many years ago, and I have raised our two daughters, Kara and Kris, in Caldwell. We live in the same house we bought 32 years ago on Easy Street! Who wouldn't want to live on Easy Street, right? I earned a B.A. degree at the College of Idaho with a major in Elementary Education and Psychology and received a Masters of Education degree with a major in Special Education at the University of Idaho. I taught special needs children in the Lewiston, Kent
(Washington), and the Meridian School Districts before moving to Caldwell to raise our daughters. After the daughters were born, I explored working outside the home, but realized that when you pay someone to watch your children, that it then became a "job", and I thought that just maybe I was the best candidate for that job. Since that "ah-ha" experience, I've done volunteer work within the schools and community. Currently I am the secretary of Caldwell Rotary Club. I always had that nagging thought that if I had it to do all over again, that I would love to have been a writer. And now, this opportunity to write came with the start up of this new community paper, the Caldwell Perspective. So bear with me, and forgive me for my errors along the way, as this is my first "stab" at this "editor gig". I am excited to start this new journey and love being able to help spread the good news of people, places, and things in Caldwell. I thank Chantele and Michael Hensel for giving me this opportunity. I'm excited!
What’s Your Perspective Of Caldwell?
Submitted by Rob Oats,
Rob Oates is the Caldwell International Airport Manager. He is a Caldwell native and a former Army helicopter pilot holding FAA ratings as a Commercial Instrument Rotary Wing Pilot. This is his perspective of Caldwell.
By Leora Summers, Editor Caldwell Perspective
The Shelly Family Pictured from left to right: Melissa, Steve, Ryah, Donna, and Alex Shelly Donna Shelly worked at ShopKo when foster parents would come through the line with vouchers, which helped pay for necessities for their foster children. She always asked them how they did it. When she quit her job and her children were raised, she discussed being foster parents with her husband, Steve, and they decided to take the leap. They talked to their grown children and they were "on board," and a new adventure was in the making. They began the process by calling 211, Idaho Care Line, a program of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, which sent them a packet to get started. Background checks were needed for anyone over the age of 16 living in the home, and completion of the PRIDE program, a program that discussed what it was like to be a foster family, was required. There was a home visit to make sure that their home was "child safe." A social worker interviewed them and asked what age group they preferred. They said they preferred children up through the age of 10, or children they thought they could handle. It took about 3 months to complete the "vetting" process. So with both of them in their fifties, they received their first foster child. They were to become a home for over 30 children during the 7 years that they fostered. Since then, some have been adopted, some went home, some went to a family member, and some may still be in foster care. Donna and Steve adopted two of their foster children. They received
Alex when he was 13 months old and adopted him when he was 3 years old. Ryah came to their home when she was 11 years old and they adopted her when she was 13 years old. After adopting these children they stepped back from being foster parents. Some of their struggles being foster parents included getting the children to their doctor appointments or to their visits with their families or their social workers. Donna says that she learned how to deal with those struggles by talking and communicating with the social workers. She says that every foster child coming from a rough family life, comes with "baggage" and things have happened to them that they have had to learn to deal with. To be a good foster parent, you need to have a lot of love. These kids need someone. As a foster parent, you may need to take kids to counseling. People need patience to support, love, and to be their friend. Through fostering Donna has learned that God loves these awesome children just like he does us and that these kids are just like any other kids. It gives Donna great joy to help someone else and if she helps just one child, she has done what she has come here to do. The rewards for Donna and Steve are in seeing the children smile, seeing that they did something good for them, and seeing some of the parents get their children back. Though it was hard to give them up Christmas Angels continued on page 6
Inside this issue:
Calendar..........................2 Business..........................5 Community.....................8 Sports.............................11 Schools/Clubs.................3 Community.....................6 Entertainment.................9 Opinion...........................4 Community.....................7 Place of Grace..............10
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