Residents address proposed facility

To the editor:

Let me start off by saying thank you to the Jay County Commissioners for listening to the residents of Redkey.  

Next, I would like to address Mr. Cooney’s editorial in the newspaper on Dec. 26. 

To begin with, the residents of Redkey at no time presented themselves as having a “we’re better than them” attitude. I would say that the attitudes displayed would have been best described as shocked, frustrated and greatly concerned.

Secondly, stating that stigma is why the citizens are against the idea of a recovery house is far from the truth. We are not the cold-hearted people that were portrayed in the article.

As it had been stated numerous times and at different meetings by our citizens, drugs and/or alcohol have affected the majority of us personally, emotionally and financially. 

We are quite aware what is going on in and around our town. At no point did we say there isn’t a possibility that drugs or alcohol are in our community because currently there is more than enough of both. 

There is no objection from our community members to the need for a recovery house and at no time was this alluded to. Our main concern as a community is and continues to be, Redkey has nothing to offer that would support a successful sobriety journey.  

There were numerous concerns listed, so let me restate them in writing: 

•No employment opportunities 

•No ready access to a grocery store or restaurants 

•No recreational spaces 

•No easy access to mental health resources or quick hospital access 

•No form of public transportation 

•No stable police force with a strong police presence.  

Again, thank you to the Jay County Commissioners for listening to our concerns and look forward to future announcements of the new sober living home. 

Ronnie and Brenda Cochran, Dean and Julie Barlow, Jill Reed, Denice Work, Jeff Stinson, Vicky May, Shayne Branham, Kevin and Tami Tighe, Shelly Reynolds, and Shelia Simons

Redkey