At the Lake: Adults urged not to ignore signs of child abuse

Lisa Utzig, outreach and education coordinator for the Tahoe Women's Center, has had 28 children disclose some form of abuse to her this school year. Twelve of those disclosures involved sexual abuse.

Utzig visits classrooms around Lake Tahoe throughout the year to talk about child abuse and prevention. After she gives a 40-minute, age-appropriate presentation to the students, Utzig says she will be available after class if anyone wants to talk to her in private.

"Sometimes they just want to talk about their brother picking on them, but other times it's really serious stuff they disclose to me," Utzig said. "I try to validate their feelings, and tell them it's not their fault."

Investigations by Child Protective Services found evidence that abuse or neglect most likely occurred in 94 cases in South Lake Tahoe in 2006. CPS determined 78 of those cases were serious enough to warrant petitions filed in court. There was not enough evidence to show that the abuse or neglect most likely occurred in 120 other cases, but there was also not enough evidence to show that it didn't occur.

CPS determined 34 families needed services in order to keep their children safe in their home. Those families voluntarily participated in services and the cases were not taken to court.

Utzig and the staff at the Tahoe Women's Center are trying to bring attention to the

issue during April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention month. An education and awareness day will be held Saturday at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena.

Utzig said it's important for adults in the community to learn about child abuse and to report it if they suspect a child is being harmed. She said many adults may feel like a child is in danger but are reluctant to make a report because they don't know for sure or don't want to break up a family.

"If you don't make a report, one day it could be a bruise and the next day it could be something far worse," Utzig said. "You have to put the child's safety first. If nothing is going on, CPS will investigate and won't find anything."

Leanne Wagoner, executive director of the women's center, said there are four main kinds of child abuse: physical, emotional, sexual and neglect.

Wagoner said neglect isn't often thought of as a form of abuse, but parents are required to care for their children's basic needs including providing food, shelter, water and heat.

"A lot of times a neglect situation can be remedied, which is why we really talk about CPS as being a resource for families," Utzig said. "If parents can't afford the heat or rent, CPS will help with counseling and talk about organizations that provide free food and clothing."

If someone suspects a child is being abused, they should call CPS. Utzig said if someone is unsure or intimidated by the system, they can call the Tahoe Women's Center or Tahoe Youth and Family Services and speak with an advocate.

Angela Wilson, CPS intake supervisor, said the majority of the referrals made to CPS, especially those that end up going to dependency court, are related to the parent or caretaker abusing substances. South Lake Tahoe has a dependency drug court that specifically addresses substance abuse issues with parents who have children and Wilson said it is very successful.

After a report is made to Child Protective Services, an intake worker investigates the report by interviewing the child in a neutral location such as school before talking with the child's parents and other family members. Wilson said sometimes the investigation includes criminal background checks and the child's medical records.

When the investigation is complete, the CPS intake worker determines if the child is safe or if other steps need to be taken to remedy the situation. Wilson said the most restrictive action would be to remove the child, but sometimes CPS can work with the family on a safety plan and leave the child in the home.

"Our primary goal is to return the child home," Wilson said. "If we do have to take children, it's usually because there's a major safety issue."

Wagoner said it's important for all adults to pay attention to the children they're in contact with and spend time talking with them. She said kids need to know their opinion and feelings are valued.

"Always believe children. It's not typical that they make that kind of stuff up," Utzig said. "There are a lot of people out there who have told and they weren't believed, so they closed up and never told anyone again."

Utzig said early intervention is one of the keys to helping victims of child abuse recover. Both the Tahoe Women's Center and Tahoe Youth and Family Services offer counseling for children. Utzig said if a child is a victim of a crime, they could qualify for the victim witness program, which could pay for private counseling.

"Kids who are abused can grow up to be healthy adults," Utzig said. "And if they can get early intervention, recovery can start sooner."

Unless you're shopping or sightseeing, motorists may want to steer clear of the northeast section of South Lake Tahoe starting next month.

Cedar Avenue and surrounding streets will become the center of a major utility construction job relative to the groundbreaking of the $410 million convention center and hotel condominium complex.

Beginning May 1, the work will proceed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday " with perhaps an occasional Saturday.

The demolition is expected to end in the next few weeks. Then the city will reroute a primary gas line that serves all of South Lake Tahoe and Meyers through the neighborhood and affecting businesses on Cedar, Laurel, Manzanita, Stateline and Park avenues. Poplar Avenue is set to close at that time.

Crews will also divert a main water line, upgrade an electrical system, and move phone and cable lines to wrap up the work in June.

In July, foundations are expected to be laid on the 12-acre site featuring the mainstream hotel condominium building then the convention center. It will be able to accommodate groups between 2,000 and 4,500 people because the facility was designed to be versatile " especially in the shoulder seasons, Lake Tahoe Development Co. attorney Lew Feldman explained.

But city officials, developers and general contractor SMC Contracting hosted a gathering at Embassy Suites on Tuesday to field questions on the job and meet with business owners to review what will happen near their property lines. About 30 people, mainly motel operators, showed up to hear the plans and the repeated pledges of officials that they will try not to disrupt their business, at a time when Tahoe approaches the summer season.

Listening in was John and Margaret Maxhimer, who own Lakeside Landing where the developer wants to set up a sales office. They were given an extension to May 1 to move out.

"We will do our best to do this construction in the slower months," Redevelopment Manager Gene Palazzo told the group.

Overall, the group appeared receptive to the changes intended to rehabilitate the side of Highway 50 across from the Marriott-anchored Heavenly Village.

"It's a minor inconvenience, but it's a good thing they're doing this," said Linda Foster, who runs the Tahoe Adventure Lodge farther down on Poplar Avenue. "And at least they're not working on the weekends. That's when I get the majority of my business."

Foster also liked the idea of the work managed by SMC Contracting, which worked on the $250 million project across Highway 50.

Luese Van Liere, who owns Big Pines Mountain House " formerly Viking Motor Lodge " said she plans to roll with the punches despite just arriving in August.

"I just wished it had happened 3-1/2 years ago," she said.

Feldman might be thinking the same thing. He informed the group he was teenager when the project started " a concept that came up a few decades ago.

With all due respect to talk show host David Letterman, South Lake Tahoe's top 10 list itemized here is serious business for the City Council. And, it ends in a three-way tie with more projects added on.

The council put the finishing touches Tuesday on its list of things to do in the coming years for a city in the crossroads. City Manager Dave Jinkens was instructed to meet with staff and develop a work program that would turn their desires for a better world into reality.

The task is daunting. Residents have moved away, those left complain of too many rules and not enough enhancements to town, businesses have closed, the real estate market has dipped and visitation has fallen as the area competes for tourism.

The council's top goal and a proposal rolled into it speak to a few of these city trends " and at least one businessman who lives and works for the love of canines.

"I get asked that all the time," 2 Dogs and a Cat co-owner George Richter said of the prospect of establishing a dog park. His response to the city exploring the idea was: "That's exciting."

Tahoe is dog country. But Richter scratches his head when visitors and residents scramble to find places to take their beloved pooches.

"I've almost gone as far as to create a map of places that are pet friendly. More and more people travel with their dogs. It's sad I can't rattle off a dozen places to take your dog," he said.

Dog parks have popped up from Santa Monica to San Jose " a trend that coincides with the ever-increasing number of people spending money on their pets. Richter sees it first-hand at his Village Center shop.

The city has just scratched the surface on seeking a place where dogs can be dogs. About $15,000 has come up as a cost estimate. And a few places have been mentioned such as Bijou Community Park or a lot behind Raley's at the "Y," but no set location has been identified.

This will be contingent on the implementation of the Tahoe Valley Community Plan, another top goal that lays out the plans at the "Y."

And to tie all the proposals together and communicate the mission to the community, the city will put up a map highlighting the various government-owned properties and outline of pending projects.