New director for Turning Point, hall of trees

Mysti Willmon, Gazette Editor
Posted 11/12/20

Bobbie Orcutt was the Lincoln County Turning Point office manager and administrative assistant. Now she is the director of the Lincoln County Turning Point.

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New director for Turning Point, hall of trees

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Bobbie Orcutt was the Lincoln County Turning Point office manager and administrative assistant. Now she is the director of the Lincoln County Turning Point. Orcutt is working hard to raise funds for the organization to continue to offer help to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and more. Orcutt previously said their loss is at nearly $43,000 with all the budget cuts. Unfortunately, there has been an uptick in use of the organization too, Orcutt said.

“Our annual fundraiser in Afton was canceled this year,” Orcutt said. “We are trying to find more innovative ways to reach out to the community as well as get funds.”

According to their website, Turning Point’s mission is “is to reduce the incidence of family violence, sexual assault, stalking, incest, child abuse, and human trafficking in Lincoln County by providing comprehensive services and options to any victim, and by providing preventive education programs in the school, communities and other community agencies,” Orcutt said the funding they get goes toward the survivors.

“It helps with their needs,” Orcutt said. “We maintain two shelters — one in Kemmerer and one in Afton. [The funds] help with food, clothing, transportation and more in order to help them get back on their feet. We try to help in any way we can.” Orcutt said that the organization is looking to see what they can cut without compromising the needs of the survivors.

According to Orcutt, they have finally found an alternative the Parade of Trees this year. Normally, community members participate by decorating trees in and around their homes. The community then does a tour of the decorations, voting on the best ones. There is usually a raffle fundraiser as well. This year the Eagles FOE 2341 will host the Turning Point Hall of Trees at the Eagles Hall on Dec. 3. In order to decorate a tree, individuals and families will pay $50 and businesses will pay $100. On Dec. 3, at 5-9 p.m. individuals will pay $5 before the event and $10 at the door to judge the decorated trees. The winner will receive a trophy. There will be raffles and snacks at the event as well.

“We didn’t want to ask people to host in their homes with COVID-19,” Orcutt said. All of the proceeds of the event will go to Turning Point.

“We are just chugging along,” Orcutt said. “The community is coming together to help us.”

Due to COVID- 19 Turning Point has offered examples of red flags for people to look for and warning signs of a violent intimate partner relationship may be:

• extreme jealousy

• Possessiveness

• Unpredictability

• A bad temper

• Cruelty to animals

• Verbal abuse

• Extremely controlling behavior

• Antiquated beliefs about roles of women and men in relationships

• Forced sex or disregard of their partner’s unwillingness to have sex

• Sabotage of birth control methods or refusal to honor agreed upon methods

• Blaming the partner for anything bad that happens

• Sabotage or obstruction of the partner’s ability to work or attend school

• Controls all the finances

• Abuse of other family members, children or pets

• Accusations of the partner flirting with others or having an affair

• Control of what the partner wears and how they act

• Demeaning the partner either privately or publicly

• Embarrassment or humiliation of the partner in front of others

• Harassment of the partner at work.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the Turning Point office through email, phone or social media. The 24-hour crisis line is 1-307-877-9209.