Hab Center advocates urge the community to make its voice heard

Saturday, April 10, 2010
Nevada, Mo. -- State Representative Barney Fisher, R-District 125 listens as George Mell of Rogersville, whose son, Matthew, has lived at the Nevada Habilitation Center for 7 years reads a letter he wrote expressing his feelings on the imminent plan to close the facility during a family and guardians' meeting held at the center, Friday, April 9. "We're all individual members of one nation, one body," Mell read, "when one individual is handicapped, vulnerable and suffering, the whole body suffers." Local officials, Department of Mental Health officials, medical professionals, state legislators and dozens of other interested individuals gathered to listen to the reasons for the closing, options for the residents and tactics to prevent the closure. Speakers urged listeners to gather as much support as they could and contact their elected officials, especially the governor's office. "Go to Jeff City," said Fisher. "Talk with anyone that will listen. Send e-mails, write letters, contact the Missouri Mental Health Commission." Fisher urged people to avoid using form letters, but to write a short, succinct, individual message, because such messages are more likely to be read. At a Nevada Vernon County Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon Friday, Fisher noted that just two years ago, officials were praising the Nevada facility as the best-run hab center in the state. He said he's presented an alternative proposal and questions the figures provided in the plan that would close the center, but that "they questioned mine, too." Fisher also expressed concern about disabled persons now being cared for by parents that are age 70 or older and future problems likely to arise. An extensive list of names and contacts will accompany a full length article in the Tuesday edition of the Nevada Daily Mail. --Rusty Murry/Herald-Tribune