By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Commission declared April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Shelby County at a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 14.

The meeting began with the commission awarding bids for facilities upgrades, including doors and door hardware as well as HVAC and refrigeration equipment parts and supplies.

The commission then passed several more bid awards involving infrastructure before moving to resolutions to be passed. The commission passed a resolution donating a car to the Cleburne County Commission for use with their sheriff’s office and established rental rates for the Shelby County Highway Airport, which will become effective on Oct. 1.

The county also appointed Cecilia Link to the Shelby County Board of Equalization as the Board of Education’s appointment. Catherine Alexander-Wright, the interim executive director of Owen’s House, then spoke on the resolution declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Shelby County.

“We’re just grateful that you all took the time to come together and talk about an issue that affects our community,” Alexander-Wright said. “Owen’s House has served 87 children since Jan. 1… We provide counseling, we provide community awareness, all to keep our kiddos safe.”

Sgt. Robert Rodriguez of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office serves as a board member with Owen’s House. Rodriguez emphasized that the children who come through the program are in deep crisis, and that the support of people like the Shelby County Commission keeps hope alive.

“What you guys do in rallying behind that work is so important because each and every one of you play a role in being that agent of hope for these kids,” Rodriguez said. “This work helps restore innocence to these kids and to their families.”