Volstead Lounge
Forgive Her
RECEIVED Mon., Dec. 15, 2008
Dear Editor,
I was executive director of an adolescent drug treatment center for many years. I had referrals from Child Protective Services. Many of the children placed in care are good kids. But those were not sent to my facility. There are some very, very difficult cases out there. Betty Lou "Bebe" Gaines was someone I knew, and she was so helpful to me in many situations [“Campfire Horror Story,” News, Nov. 21]. I finally only took individuals who were on probation so they could be sent back to lockup when they did not appreciate what the state of Texas taxpayers were providing. Woodside Trails Therapeutic Camp and School was an ideal situation for the kids that would have torn up the furniture, stabbed the personnel, run off, etc. I personally witnessed many of her kids who made remarkable turnarounds. All I can say about Carole Keeton Strayhorn is, “Forgive her, for she didn’t have any idea what she was doing.”
I was executive director of an adolescent drug treatment center for many years. I had referrals from Child Protective Services. Many of the children placed in care are good kids. But those were not sent to my facility. There are some very, very difficult cases out there. Betty Lou "Bebe" Gaines was someone I knew, and she was so helpful to me in many situations [“Campfire Horror Story,” News, Nov. 21]. I finally only took individuals who were on probation so they could be sent back to lockup when they did not appreciate what the state of Texas taxpayers were providing. Woodside Trails Therapeutic Camp and School was an ideal situation for the kids that would have torn up the furniture, stabbed the personnel, run off, etc. I personally witnessed many of her kids who made remarkable turnarounds. All I can say about Carole Keeton Strayhorn is, “Forgive her, for she didn’t have any idea what she was doing.”
Mary Luker
