Kid FEAST, the daylong sustainability training hosted by FACES and the HOPE Coalition, drew a number of speakers and presenters to the Welch Armory Thursday.
The presenters covered a myriad of topics related to the welfare of youth. Topics ranged from drugs and recreational activities to what services are available for youth and to how to keep your children healthy and safe.
The event kicked off with a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m., followed by a talk on legislative issues by Delegate Clif Moore.
Topic experts included Rena Jefferies, Carolyn Falin, Diana Nash, Cheryl Mitchem, Carmela Fredrick, Donald Reed, Jay Wilson and Marsha Timpson.
Dorothy Watson, Kelli Hendricks, Linda Beach, Tom Hatcher, Norma McKinney and Sharon Laxton acted as facilitators. Other participants included scribes Wendy Watson, Jennifer Adkins, Dana Cook, Shelia Muncy, Kathy Bailey Chris Nicholes and Patty Flanagan.
Goldie Meadows, Darlene Lester, Bonita Miano, Lanelle Reed, Sharon Walden, Adolphous Young, Rosie Jackson, Beverly Slagle and Helen Carson also assisted.
Berwind Fire Chief Claude Adams and McDowell County Project Lifesaver Coordinator Deputy Lyle Noe took center stage during lunchtime. Noe spoke at length about Project Lifesaver, the non-profit tracking system, which is headquartered locally in the Sheriff’s Office.
Noe said that Project Lifesaver participants wear a bracelet transmitter, which sends a signal to a receiver. The participants can be tracked anywhere on land, or in water up to 11-feet, underground up to 8-feet and by air within a 5 to 7-mile radius.
The program is ideal for those who suffer from a cognitive disability, such as Alzheimer’s, autism, dementia, Down Syndrome, mental retardation, etc.
In searching for someone who wanders, Noe said the first 24-hours is the Golden Window of Opportunity, which is why it’s important for a participant’s family to contact 911 or the Sheriff’s Office as soon as the participant is discovered missing.
Most fairly healthy people can walk up to four miles in one hour, Noe said. However, more often than not, he said those who wander are usually found within one-mile of home.
“Most of the time they (the participant) will wander until they get injured or encounter an obstacle they can’t pass,” Noe said.

When a caregiver enrolls a participant in Project Lifesaver, Noe said that he places the bracelet on the participant and monitors all equipment regularly to insure that everything remains in proper working order.
The caregiver does their part by maintaining simple daily records on the participant.
Help is only a call away, should there be any problems, and that, Noe said, provides tremendous peace of mind to the participant’s caregiver.
FACES Director Kathie Whitt thanked Noe for the informative presentation and reminded the audience that Project Lifesaver is designed to keep people safe and alive.
“McDowell County has 170 people with autism and 850 people with Alzheimer’s. There are only seven bands out, so you can see that we have our work cut out for us (in educating the public about the program),” Whitt said.
Those interested in Project Lifesaver may contact Noe at the Sheriff’s Office at 436-8523.

KIDS FEAST – Project Lifesaver Coordinator Lyle Noe was one of several speakers at the sustainability training at the Welch Armory Thursday. Noe, Berwind Fire Chief Claude Adams and War Mayor Tom Hatcher are local certified Project Lifesaver operators.
FACES and the HOPE Coalition sponsored the event.
Pictured are FACES Director Kathie Whitt, Christy Lester, Faces; Berwind Fire Chief Claude Adams and Project Lifesaver Coordinator Lyle Noe. (Photo by Cathy Patton)