Ideas given to agency to help better services

Cornerstone Community Action Agency was in town recently looking for ways it can better Jacksboro.

The agency is opening a daycare here in town at 1014 Wichita (940-205-5412 or 205-5411) for which it is still looking to hire a Head Start teacher, an assistant teacher, an aide and a cook (apply at www.cornerstonecaa.org/head-start). Executive Director Hanna Adams and her team are looking to see strengths and weaknesses.

“If we are involved in tackling problems, we can grow our own and more warriors in the war on poverty,” Adams said.

Laverne Davis with Cornerstone said the people the organization helps want to and will impact the world in a positive world. The group asked for opinions on employment, education, housing, overall health, financial literacy and other subjects.

The group was asked to walk around the room and put local positives and negatives on the subjects. JHS Counselor Dori Taylor, who has rent houses says many people who need rent housing are not willing or able to put forward the effort to make their houses affordable.

Taylor says many of the houses she has upgraded are out of the price range for many people.

“There is no middle ground,” Taylor said.

In the overall health section while most of the group says Faith Community Hospital has made some improvements, its prior reputation has hurt it in many cases. The hospital was considered a strength, along with Lindsey State Jail as far as employment opportunities are considered locally.

A weakness was found to be people willing to be educated.

Businesses questioned said many of the people looking for jobs lack the training higher level jobs require and, in many cases, are unwilling or unable to get it.