Members of the Breathitt-Wolfe Family Violence Prevention Council put the finishing touches on Tuesday to an event that proved highly successful last Spring - “Father’s Day Out”, at Douthitt Park.

Hoping to cash in on the success of last year’s day at the park, this year’s festivities is slated to take place on Saturday, May 19th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Douthitt Park in Jackson.

Prevention Council President Mildred Lee-Rogers told members at City Hall several groups will help out with the day, which originally was a way for fathers to connect and spend time with their children. “It was for fathers and their kids, but that also includes mothers and their children, as well as grandparents and friends. This also helps us to get across our message that domestic and child abuse is not the way to go at all. We stress strong, loving families, and this event shows how much people really enjoyed the time at the park last year. We want to do it again next month.”

Among those helping out with their services will be clowns from the Oleika Shriners’ Temple in Lexington, as well as puppets from the Rape Crisis Center in Hazard. The puppets will put on two skits that day which deal with the dangers of domestic violence, and what children can do to prevent it. The Junior Red Cross will provide games and contests, with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse scheduled to appear. The Jackson Fire Department will bring their popular Fire Safety House for the day, and appearances from Ronald McDonald and Smokey the Bear are possible.

Lee-Rogers also said that she’s working with the National Guard to bring their “Rock Wall” climb to the park that day, plus the group will be drawing for two items they’ll give away as a fundraiser. One is a homemade ladies’ basket filled with gifts and goodies; the other is a mens’ tool chest that will also contain gifts and specialties. She mentioned that chances for these items will continue to be sold by Prevention Council members up to the day of the event.

In observance of this month of April being “Child Abuse Prevention Month”, council members were urged to attend and support the remaining events put on this month by the Kentucky Department of Protection and Permanency. One will be a tree-planting ceremony to remember child abuse victims this Saturday at Douthitt Park, beginning at 12 Noon. Another one will be the “Kid’s Fest”, to be held at Douthitt Park next Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Members were asked, and the public reminded to bring either a stuffed animal or a can of food to the event for a donation to the department.

Also, they were reminded to attend a presentation of “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”, a presentation that deals with the aftermath of rape and sexual assualt. Sponsored by the KRCC (Kentucky River Community Care) Rape Crisis Center through a grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, and performed by the Health Education Advocate Team (HEAT) of Murray State University, this program will be held next Monday at 11 a.m., at the Life Skills Center.

The Prevention Council will hold a planning session on Tuesday, May 8th, at 2 p.m. at Jackson City Hall. City Hall will also be the location for their next regularly-scheduled meeting, to take place Tuesday, May 15th, at 12 Noon.