Free Spirit

Pic: Rep. Aaron Bernstine, Donna Kshir and Lee Cougardawn Roberts There are 3.6 million cases of child abuse reported each year in the United States. However, it’s estimated that for every case reported, two cases will go unreported. Pennsylvania currently does not offer a public website to find convicted offenders, but PA State Representative Aaron Bernstine (R) who represents Butler and Lawerence counties is ready to change that thanks to two grandmothers, Donna M. Kshir (Clinton County, PA) and Lee Cougardawn Roberts (who divides her times between Clinton County, PA and Crestview, FL). READ MORE HERE!

It has been a busy year for Clinton County child rights activists and authors Donna Kshir and Lee Cougardawn Roberts. The two best friends and sister advocates have been petitioning lawmakers to open the Pennsylvania child abuse registry. The duo believes that opening the central registry will reduce the number of children exposed to child abuse and neglect. The topic has been touchy, to say the least, but Ms. Kshir and Roberts stand firm on their mission. READ MORE!

On Saturday, October 28th, the Renovo Area Outreach provided ninety-eight area children and approximately twenty parents and grandparents to a DJ Dance held at the Renovo Fire & EMS. READ MORE:

“Conner's Law - Kentucky” goes on sale this Friday… and it has a connection to a local activist. Fighting to change the law on any level is never an easy process. It can take years, and even then a majority of the time the proposed bill never makes it through the House of Representatives or sees its way to the Senate. Read Full Story!

Two grandmothers from Clinton County continue to petition to make the state’s child abuse registry open to the public just as the sex offenders’ registry is open to the public under Megan’s Law. Donna M. Kshir (North Bend) and Lee Cougardawn Roberts (who divides her time between Clinton County and Crestview, Flordia) are continuing to seek legislation to become law that would require the State Police to open the current private database of individuals convicted of child abuse offenses in the state, including their name, date of birth, the tier of the crime and the location the crime took place, according to Lexi Howard, an assistant and spokeswoman for Ms. Kshir and Roberts. READ MORE!

Few people ever consider what it is like to care for someone who has suffered a stroke until they are faced with it. Strokes are more common than you think. It has been estimated that 1 in 4 people in the United States suffers from a stroke, and 1 in 6 die from the disease.  A stroke can affect your self-confidence and self-image, and it can affect the intimacy in your relationship, like communication, mood swings, or anxiety. You may both find it difficult to talk about how you feel, what you want, or what you need, but because you, the caretaker, think you should 'stay strong' for your partner you remain silent but remaining silent can have as much effect on your overall health and well-being as on your spouse. Three women, originally from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Maureen A. Ruhl (Renovo, PA), Deb Yeagley, and Dianne Snavely have come together to share their stories in a new book, 'Life After a Stroke: Real Women, Real Stories.' Each woman details how their