Last Update 06/27/03
---------------------------- ((CARLA)) ((JASON)) ((BETH
LIVE))
((DAVE)) ONE OF THE
SUBJECTS IN OUR NEXT STORY WORKS FOR THE CITY OF FREDERICK,
AND HIS FRIEND IS A TEACHER--BUT HERE'S THE CATCH--ONE IS A HORSE. ((JAN)) JOE
DON DUNHAM IS THE CITY OF FREDERICK'S
FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND HIS HORSE, BO, IS A TEACHER OF LIFE SKILLS. SEVEN NEWS
REPORTER OMAR VILLAFRANCA VISTED WITH THEM IN WICHITA
FALLS TODAY AND HAS THE STORY. ---- ((PKG )) (NAT
SOUND PAUSE) HE'S NOT QUITE THE HORSE WHISPERER, AND BO IS NO MR. ED. BUT
TOGETHER, THEY'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY TEACHING KIDS LIFE SKILLS. (NAT SOUND
PAUSE OF DUNHAM TALKING) IT'S TOUGH SOMETIMES FOR KIDS TO LEARN COMMUNICATION
SKILLS AND RESPECT. BUT IF THE TEACHER IS A HORSE, WELL, THEY SEEM TO TAKE TO
THE LESSON BETTER. ---- WRIGHT:" I'd watch my friends actions to see if
their having a good day and I'd be patient with them ,
like if they aren't feeling well , I'd be patient and wait to see what they
want to do " ---- WHETHER IT'S HAVING BO FOLLOW HIS DIRECTIONS, OR JUMPING
ON FOR A RIDE, IN A ONLY A FEW MINUTES, THE KIDS LEARN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND
HOW TO EARN TRUST. SKILLS THAT JOE DON DUNHAM HOPES THEY'LL KEEP WITH THEM FOR
THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. ---- DUNHAM:" That's kind of my goal. Is to
really make a difference and to teach them that whatever goes on in their life,
you know, whatever things they may come up with, they can be whatever they want
to be, they can do whatever they want to do as long as they are willing to put
forth the effort and take the time to do it. " ----
AND ONCE THEY LEARN THESE SKILLS, THEN COMES THE ULTIMATE TEST--USING THEM.
(NAT SOUND)"KIDS IN RING W/HORSE) (NAT SOUND)"KIDS IN RING
W/HORSE" AND IT LOOKS LIKE THESE KIDS PASSED THEIR TEST. IN WICHITA
FALLS, OMAR VILLAFRANCA, SEVEN NEWS.
((JAN)) THE 60 KIDS IN WICHITA FALLS
TODAY WERE AT A COMMUNITY CENTER CALLED "THE PLACE", A NON-PROFIT
CENTER FUNDED ENTIRELY BY GRANTS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.