Fall Creek Elementary C.A.R.E. Graduation

Judge Jeanie Houston shakes hands with a Fall Creek Elementary School student during C.A.R.E. graduation ceremonies Friday, Feb. 22.

Judge Jeanie Houston (second from left) poses with Yadkin County Sherriff's Department C.A.R.E. officers L. Yates, Rita Anthony and Hollis Stinson. They were on hand for Fall Creek Elementary School's C.A.R.E. graduation, Friday, Feb. 22.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 22, 2008

East Bend, N.C.

Judge Jeanie Houston was the keynote speaker at today's Child Abuse Reduction Effort graduation at Fall Creek Elementary School.

C.A.R.E. is a 16-week program that teaches children to care for themselves and to be aware of their surroundings, and also helps them in a non-threatening way to recognize predators. Classes emphasize a positive body concept and self-esteem. It also encourages assertiveness in students when they feel uncomfortable.

Fall Creek's classes were taught by Yadkin County Sheriff's Deputy L. Yates, with Deputy Hollis Stinson helping to oversee the county-wide effort.

According to Deputy Stinson, Judge Houston is a tremendous asset to program such as C.A.R.E. On the judicial bench since August 1997, Judge Houston has spoken at several C.A.R.E. and Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduation ceremonies throughout the 23rd Judicial District.

"It's a great honor to me to stand before you and introduce the speaker," Deputy Stinson said. "She's been a very good friend of mine, as well as a mentor. ... With her knowledge and her care, especially being a mother herself, (Judge Houston) has just been a wonderful person to take her own time to come and do this for us."

Judge Houston said the C.A.R.E. program has played an integral role in stopping a number of abuse cases in Yadkin County.

"(Students) learn to trust their instincts," Judge Houston said. "Maybe somebody says, 'This doesn't matter. We're going to keep it a secret.' They learn that that's not right. ... It never fails. Every year when we do C.A.R.E., we end up with something coming out, being reported and coming through the court system. It's happened every year in this county."

Congratulations Jamie!!!

Jamie Reynolds is a good friend of Rick's, and was a groomsman in our wedding. Jamie, a native of Sparta and the son of James and Lib Reynolds, has worked in racing for more than 12 years. He's now a mechanic for Penske Racing South driver Ryan Newman.

And early this evening, Jamie ... with a little help from Newman ... WON THE DAYTONA 500!!! Words can't express how proud we are of Jamie, who is pictured here (far right of the frame) during an early race pit stop. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

West Yadkin C.A.R.E. Graduation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2008

Judge Jeanie Houston spoke today to approximately 250 students, faculty and parents during graduation ceremonies for West Yadkin Elementary School's Child Abuse Reduction Effort program.

C.A.R.E., formed in Randolph County in 1992, is a 16-week course designed to teach second-grade students to recognize and report child abuse. The initiative is taught by specially trained uniformed officers from local law enforcement agencies.

During West Yadkin's ceremony, 102 second graders received certificates from their teachers, Judge Houston and Hollis Stinson, the Yadkin County Sheriff's Department school resource officer who taught the course.

"When we were seven and eight years old, we didn't have to worry about the things that they teach in these C.A.R.E. classes, and that bothers me and it probably bothers you, too," Judge Houston said during her remarks. "It's a different world than we grew up in."

Statistics on child abuse, Judge Houston said, are staggering. Every day in the United States, four children die as victims of child abuse. Eighty percent of those children are under the age of four. She continued, adding that a case of child abuse is reported in the state of North Carolina every 10 seconds.

During nearly 19 years in the court system of the 23rd Judicial District, Judge Houston said she could name without hesitation at least six children in the four-county area of Wilkes, Yadkin, Ashe and Alleghany counties who had been killed as the result of abuse.

Judge Houston, who attended West Yadkin Elementary as a child, called on parents to be involved in the lives of their children.

"Every parent here today is an interested and concerned parent, or you wouldn't be sitting here," Judge Houston said. "You need to talk to your kids. You need to know what's going on their life."

On the judicial bench since August 1997, Judge Houston has spoken at numerous C.A.R.E. and Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduations throughout the 23rd Judicial District.

My Family

Rick, my husband, has been working on a series of stories for Stock Car Racing magazine in which he reviews a number of the different driving schools. Here, Rick and I are shown with our twin sons, Jesse and Adam (left to right), at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Words cannot fully express what my family has meant to my life. We live maybe five miles from my parents, Tom and Jean Reavis, and even closer than that to my sister, Angie, and her children, Denver and Lauren.

Re-Election Announcement

I'm announcing my plans to continue serving the people of the 23rd Judicial District by seeking re-election to the bench, a position I've held for more than 10 years.

This will be my fourth term in the 23rd Judicial District, which consists of Wilkes, Yadkin, Ashe and Alleghany counties in Northwest North Carolina.

My experience speaks for itself. I'm a 1984 graduate of Western Carolina University, and a 1987 graduate of Campbell University School of Law. I began my legal career as an associate attorney with Zachary & Zachary Law Offices in Yadkinville, and in March 1989, I began work as an assistant district attorney in the 23rd Judicial District.

I worked in that office until being appointed to my current position by North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt in August 1997. I was then elected to the seat in 2000 and 2004.

My husband is Rick Houston, a freelance writer with several NASCAR and Christian publications. Rick and I have twin sons, Adam and Jesse, and I'm also the proud stepmother to Richard. I'm also a member of Maplewood Baptist Church in Yadkinville, where I serve as a children's Sunday School teacher and as a member of the church council.

Come November, I would sincerely appreciate your vote.