MONDAY - Monroe County Tennessee News, Monroe County ...

May 21, 2012 Page 7 - The BUZZ
ing the course of their
journey. A full wedding
ceremony was enacted in
one of the maze’s room,
and the chosen few wore
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spiffy tuxedos and beautiful
wedding gowns.
But just as in real life,
not all the marriages
ended happily. Some students
even had to take
part in marriage counseling.
And others…
“I got a divorce?!” one
student was heard to cry
out at one point.
Yes, divorce was also a
possibility. And it could be
caused by any number of
things, from a simple
falling out of love to allout
cheating—cheating
that, in some cases, could
be brought on by a
drunken night out on the
town.
In fact, drugs and alcohol
played a huge part in
the Teen Maze. Students
could draw an unlucky
card and become addicted
to any number of nasty
items, and were required
to take part in therapy sessions
and rehab.
Several young men and
women simply could not
get out of the cycle of
rehab and a renewed addiction,
an all too common
occurrence in the
real world.
DUIs were also an all
too-real possibility in the
Teen Maze, and some of
those imaginary incidents
could result in death.
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Caskets and a jail-cell
(where more than a few
spend some time), complete
with officers and funeral
home workers, stood
at the ready, in case these
cards were drawn.
But just as there were
nasty consequences to
some numbskull choices,
there were also bright outcomes
to smart decisions.
Some students relaxed in
the Vacation Booth, while
others excelled in their
very successful careers.
Marriages survived and
families thrived, and their
piled up the money in the
Banking Tent.
And it was all based on
seemingly simple decisions.
But that was the point
of the Teen Maze. The
junior high students were
able to personally see how
certain choices could—
and would—impact their
futures. And if they take
this wisdom and instruction
to heart now, they will
be able to steer clear of the
many dangers in the future.
The Teen Maze was not
the only part of the daylong
event at TPJHS. The
“Fun Day” celebration also
involved raffle drawings,
inflatable toys, bully seminars
in classrooms, and a
full-scale rock wall. The
rock wall, especially, was
tied in with the overall
theme of the abstinence
program. It encouraged
students to not only make
positive decisions, but to
also think positively.
All in all, the day (as well
as the weeks before, for
that matter) was all about
the students, and guiding
them along the right path.
“This has been a great
opportunity to help our
The Teen Maze and the
“Think on Point” program
would not have been possible
without the aid of
many individuals, organizations,
and businesses. “I
can’t thank them enough,”
said Heather Rhymes.
Here is a list of the volunteers
and businesses/organizations
represented in
the Teen Maze 2012 project.
Individual Volunteers:
Rhonda Baker, Heather
Benedict, Richard Bettis,
Jennifer Bledsoe, Amber
Brookshire, Clint Brookshire,
Pat Bryant, Sharon
Byers, Eddie Byrum,
Laura Byrum, Donna
Canada, Michael Cansler,
Brittany Carson, Loren
Cherry, Tonia Norwood,
Pam Christensen, Debbie
Crews, Janie Dacus, Brad
Davidson, Megan Duncan,
Jimmy Fischer, Teresa
Flake, Tina Goins, Carla
Hunt, Erica Ingram,
Robert Jenkins, Dee Justice,
Ferran Kefauver, Jim
Kile, Carolyn Koup, Jeff
Koup, Rebecca Layman,
Sheila Lynn, Bryan Martin,
Dewayna Martin,
Amy Mason, Doris
Matthews, Megan Mc-
Conkey, Michelle
McJunkin, Lisa McMahan,
Steve Miller, Doug
Mills, Aubrey Millsaps,
Brian Millsaps, Chase
Nipper, Marilyn Parker,
Jim Post, Linn Post, Brent
Powers, Tabitha Prock,
Regina Ramsey, Anthony
Raper, Brandy Rhone,
Marla Richeson, Charlie
Ridneour, Crystal Russell,
Hannah Salt, Barb Sensy,
April Shafer, Tonya Shoemaker,
Emily Sitzler, Terri
kids,” said Rhymes, “[…]
so they will be able to be
productive citizens, and
successful in whatever
they choose to do.”
And Rhymes hopes to
keep the program going in
the future, too. The Community
Based Abstinence
Education Grant is a
three-year deal, promising
at least another two years
of mazes, seminars, and
“Fun Days” to come.
Teen Maze Volunteers and Sponsors
Snider, Sha’Niqua Stevens,
Ezra Stewart, Patrice
Teasley, Dwaine Thomas,
Martie Turpin, Jennifer
Underwood, Tremayne
Wade, Steve Ward, Olivia
Watson, Tyler Weiss,
Cathy Weist, Shannon
Wheeler, Susan White,
C.J. Williams, Holly
Williams, Patty Williford,
Clifford Wilson, Joe Proffit
Businesses and organizations:
Boys and Girls
Club of the Monroe
County Area, Monroe
County Sheriff’s Department,
National Guard,
Tellico Plains Police Department,
Madisonville
Police Department, City
of Sweetwater Police Department,
TN National
Guard CounterDrug Division
& Methamphetamine
Task Force, Monroe
County Alcohol and Drug
Task Force, Monroe
County Health Council,
Monroe County Schools
Coordinated School
Heath, Sweetwater City
Schools Coordinated
School Health, Young
Life/Young Lives, Monroe
County Juvenile Courts
and Justice System, Tennessee
Department of
Health, UT Extension,
TennderCare, Hiwassee
College, Kyker Funeral
Homes, Biereley Hale Funeral
Homes, Full Circle
Women’s Services, Knox
Adolescent Pregnancy
Prevention Initiative, Tennessee
Department of
Human Services, United
Healthcare Community
Plan, Women’s Wellness
and Maternity Center,
CHOTA Health Services.