Teen Challenge addresses security issues

Executive director Greg Keylon works with Teen Challenge students during class time.

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Friday, June 18. 2010

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Commissioner Tommy Powers announced at the regular meeting June 9 that county commissioners met with Teen Challenge leaders June 1 to discuss security measures at the Prayer Mountain facility. There are 19 boys housed there. Six boys have run away from the facility since it opened over a year ago. Commissioners and residents in the area have complained about security issues at the facility.

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#1 David Rawlins on 06/18/10 at 08:05 AM

The one that ran away a couple of weeks ago claimed to have shot someone in the past.

That sounds like a pretty hardened criminal to me so what Mr. Keylon is saying is not necessarily true.

#1.1 fat bass tard on 06/18/10 at 08:32 AM

he also says there are three live-in counselors but on the night of the last runaway there was only one.

#1.2 exactly on 06/18/10 at 09:11 PM

You said it yourself david, Claimed to have shot someone, Was it a real gun ? water gun? bb gun ? Was it reported to police ? exactly you or none of us know so how could teen challenge have known, How do you know if I haven't shot someone, I'll answer for you yes I have (not kidding). And as for Tommy Powers I commend you for actually going to teen challenge and seeing what it is all about without listening to the junk on here. You other ignorant people should take the hint and do the same. You see how Tommy Powers attitude has changed don't you ? EXACTLY ..............

#1.2.1 David Rawlins on 06/19/10 at 08:38 AM

Why would he lie? How would telling someone who is trying to help him that he had shot someone encourage them to help?

Had he told me that, he would have spent the rest of the evening waiting for the cops, tied to a chair.

#1.2.2 Sheila Tolley on 06/19/10 at 09:40 AM

They finally gave Tommy a little brown bag. You must be easily swayed, Exactly, I am not. Those magic orange jumpsuits. They will look like deer hunters running through the woods now. Run Bambi Run.

#1.2.3 rhoda dunn on 06/19/10 at 12:39 PM

ignorant is what you see when looking in mirrow. i feel like you are putting words in tommys mouth. he makes no beans about not wanting teen challenge here. he has stuck with the citizens and will until death. shame some of the others did not follow and this county along with upson would not be haunted by this business. EXACTLY... GET A FENCE FOR BOYS PROTECTION AS WELL AS CITIZENS. a fence to save someone is not much to ask.

#2 ? on 06/18/10 at 08:16 AM

Who's to say the teen was telling the truth?

#2.1 fat bass tard on 06/18/10 at 08:30 AM

you think these fine christian boys would lie?

#2.2 Sheila Tolley on 06/18/10 at 08:32 AM

Who says Keylon is telling the truth? If it ain'T logical, it did not happen. The boy had only himself to hurt by telling the truth. Keylon has his money and job to preserve by telling lies. If it is not a prison why are they now wearing orange jumpsuits? If they must wear orange jumpsuits why can't they also have a fence? That outside lighting will be a big help. Now the boys will not stumble while running down the hill when leaving. Who paid for the orange jumpsuits?

#2.2.1 rhoda dunn on 06/19/10 at 12:22 PM

sheila, these sweet boys are now sweet little pumpkins. and keylon lied about the alarms. the place was to have working alarms when they opened. now after a year and 6 escapes they're gonna get them on the doors. bulll they should be made to get fence regardless if they want it or not. our safety is at stake here and the situation is being powder puffed. tell me what harm a tall fence with barb wire would hurt? nothing but the little hands that get stuck on the barb trying to escape. the citizens would feel somewhat better and might could sleep at night. GET A FENCE TALL AND BARBED.IT IS THAT SIMPLE. the citizens feelings should be first, not teen challenge not wanting to hurt boys feelings with a fence. get real teen challenge and first assembly of money, i mean of god.

#2.2.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 06/19/10 at 03:10 PM

Can someone tell me one thing wrong with Rhoda's idea? TC has the money. Put it where it counts, keeping your boys safe and Pike citizens, lifelong tax paying, Pike citizens safe.

#2.2.1.2 Sheila Tolley on 06/21/10 at 08:18 AM

Rhoda,
I do not understand why commissioners cannot blog? They could at least give their ridiculous reasons for backing Keylon and the Griffin Kickback League. Maybe when they grow to fit big boy pants they can talk. Election time will bring them out. They all get saved about six months before their re-election time and realize they work for Pike County, not Florida TC and FAG.

#3 v smith on 06/18/10 at 08:35 AM

the commissioner's need to REQUIRE them to have a fence or close the facility.

it's time to stop pussy-footing around with the clowns from teen challenge

#4 Concord Resident on 06/18/10 at 09:20 AM

"...They'd like to us to have a fence around the property but we're not a prison..."

conflicts with

"They know they have problems – mostly with boys who've been there less than 45 days – and will now make them wear orange jumpsuits."

Orange jail issue jumpsuits? How exactly is this helping?

#4.1 Anonymous on 06/18/10 at 09:32 AM

It's so our law enforcement can see them better at night while tracking them through various properties without warning folks. Has anyone stopped to think how easy it will be to take off those jumpsuits. It's all smoke and mirrors to them at this point.

#4.2 Sheila Tolley on 06/18/10 at 10:42 AM

Now the SCAM has color.

#4.2.1 ~**~ Pearl Neclace ~**~ on 07/09/10 at 09:06 AM

I see bright orange......

#5 Anonymous on 06/18/10 at 09:25 AM

FENCE NOW~!

#6 know what on 06/18/10 at 10:03 AM

I AM GOING TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.
MAKE TEEN CHALLENGE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY
AND THEY WILL GO AWAY.

#6.1 Sheila Tolley on 06/18/10 at 10:49 AM

TC spends a lot of money now. The big amounts are spent in the kitchen. COOKING THE BOOKS.

#7 A letter to the commissioners on 06/18/10 at 10:40 AM

Dear representatives of the Pike County citizenry (not teen challenge),

You were elected to represent the best interest of Pike County not Spalding County.

The time has come to require the owner's of Prayer Mountain to either fence the property with a secure fence (similar to the ladies prison on county farm road) or shutdown the facility.

You are supposed to be representing Pike County and yet you've allowed this drug addict day care center to open and endanger people whom you are supposed to represent. This is a dereliction of duty. Either do what you were elected to do or RESIGN NOW!!! and let someone else do the job correctly.

#7.1 Sheila Tolley on 06/18/10 at 03:41 PM

YES to number 7. I still would like to know why they pay no taxes to Pike County.

#7.2 rhoda dunn on 06/19/10 at 12:41 PM

could not have wrote it any better.

#7.3 Anonymous on 12/12/10 at 08:44 PM

hey letter to the commissioner, if you live in pike, and have teenagers, i can tell you, they are lighting up on a daily basis!!!! get real. you retarded parents are so stupid when it come to your own kids. your kids are no different than the ones at the drug daycare, they just have not been caught, YET? You think because they join you at church, awe, so sweet eddie haskel, that they do no wrong. WRONG!!! you dumb --- people.

#8 Sheila Tolley on 06/18/10 at 10:46 AM

Please be honest Tommy, did Greg put you on the payroll?

#9 Pike Patriot Homeowner on 06/18/10 at 09:30 PM

I can help. I have a special on North Face Men's Gear. Check out my site.I will give 10% off to the Teen Challenge and a kickback to the contact. Can't we all just get along? I was a Teen once.

IN GOD WE TRUST

#9.1 katie ruffin on 12/12/10 at 04:56 PM

if your aloud to write the teens, at teen challenge, i'd like to know. & i'd like to have the adress.

#9.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 12/13/10 at 08:45 AM

Hi Katie,
The address is:

Teen Challenge
736 US Hwy 19
Meansville, Ga. 30256

#10 Sheila Tolley on 06/19/10 at 03:14 PM

Am I reading this correctly? Either way, 25% or 33% have escaped in one year. Right?

#11 Just a Fun Fact... on 06/20/10 at 09:05 AM

They have released a diet pill for dogs now. (seriously, google it) I am going to try it...if it works I am going to try it on my dog.

Sheila Tolley

#12 TGrant on 06/21/10 at 01:58 PM

There are many assumptions about this facility.

Mostly, we should be reassured that if these boys were hardened criminals and/or murderers they would most definitely be residing in a detention center. Secondly, these boys are human. As quoted, when they do attempt to flee it is merely to return to THEIR hometown because they miss their loved ones.

If we are to live in fear it should be directed more toward a society that has not been taught a better way of life... through a facility that is willing to teach them.

God bless these people. Hang in there.

#12.1 Concord Resident on 06/21/10 at 03:03 PM

T, I appreciate what you're saying, but my fear is all for the boys. We are country people, used to dealing with theives in our own way.

One of these dark nights one of those boys is going to try to steal from the wrong family or break into the wrong home. They may be do it because they are just trying to get home, but they will end up home with Jesus if they aren't kept confined to TC property.

TC doesn't care about that, apparently, or there would have already been alarms in place, a fence around the the property, and orange jumpsuits. Why did they wait until everyone is up in arms over all the escaped boys to take what little action they've taken??

TOO LITTLE, MAYBE TOO LATE.

#12.2 rhoda dunn on 06/21/10 at 07:27 PM

there is nothing wrong with our way of life. no one said the boys were not human or were hardened criminals. keep in mind a murderer is not a murderer until their first murder. kids as young as 9 years old are murdering nowadays. it is in news regularly. trying to get home some of the boys has robbed a place lately. the people supporting this business will have the blood of citzens or boys on their hands when the time comes. not if but when. PUT A TALL FENCE WITH BARB WIRE. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.time to get real and get head out of sand tgrant

#12.2.1 walter kendrick on 07/06/10 at 08:51 AM

Rhoda how close do you live to the facility.

#13 Anonymous on 06/21/10 at 07:04 PM

''As quoted, when they do attempt to flee it is merely to return to THEIR hometown because they miss their loved ones.''

Or because they don't want to be forced to do what the facility expects of them and rebel to go back to what they were doing that got them there in the first place.

#14 ashamed on 06/22/10 at 09:52 AM

How exactly are WE in danger? The place has been here a year and what has happened? Why wouldnt we be proud that our county has a facility that helps children instead of waiting until they turn into true criminals?

#14.1 David Rawlins on 06/24/10 at 05:47 AM

They've had 5 or 6 runaways.

2 of them stole property from a nearby house
1 of them approached a house at 2AM and the owner just happened to be standing on the porch. he told the lady of the house that he had shot someone in the past

If you have people willing to steal and/or kill to leave. You are going to have a tragedy.

#15 tee on 06/22/10 at 10:18 AM

TC, why do you want to stay in a county that doesnt want you there.If you are really concerned and want to help these boys,why would you stay somewhere that these kids are not wanted and and we know they can read so i am sure they have read all the things that have been said about them.This last time it was wrote that the man had a gun on him and could have killed this kid..I f you really care for these kids then you wouldnt still be here. I think you are putting your pride in front of the care and safety of the kids,because you are here and gonna prove a point and stay. I think if you are a true CHRISTIAN place then you wouldnt be putting these kids through all this.I do9nt think its about the kids anymore with TC its just they wanna prove a point!!!!!

#16 Concord Resident on 06/23/10 at 07:02 PM

I'd like to know just how often the director is on site, working with those boys. Looks to me like a photo opp.

#16.1 Sheila Tolley on 06/23/10 at 09:31 PM

That is really a blow-up doll. The real Greg is in Griffin laundering money. You notice he has no left hand. The student is actually holding up the doll by the blow-up nozzle.

#17 hee hee heeee on 06/23/10 at 08:26 PM

You go teen challenge, Love yall and keep the fight and faith up , They are more for you than against you and don't forget if God is for you who can be against you !!!!
Can't wait to see you in church again.

#17.1 fat bass tard on 06/25/10 at 07:28 AM

this must be the pastor for the church where they sit in the dark with 13 year old kids

#18 walter kendrick on 06/28/10 at 12:05 PM

If the county commissioners are going to let this facility exist, then I think they should require TC to put up a fence. This entire situation is a joke, the people from the Griffin church came to the meetings and with their presence convinced the Pike County Commissioners that the people were for allowing this facility in Pike County. Some of the Pike County taxpayers were not able to speak or get into the meeting because there were so many people from Griffin. I say if that church and its people want the boys so much, then build a facility on the church grounds in Griffin. It is only a matter of time when someone will be hurt or killed. Many people will shoot first if they find someone on their property stealing in the middle of the night. It is time for the commissioners to reconsider allowing this facility to be in Pike County. The Pike County taxpayers are having to pay for law enforcement to track down and find the escaped boys. TC should reimburse Pike County for all the time spent finding these boys.

#19 walter kendrick on 07/02/10 at 07:13 AM

If I was a Pike County taxpayer, I would be demanding that the commissioners require TC to pay for law enforcement's time in searching for and apprehending the escaped boys. I would demand this from the commissioners because I don't imagine TC is paying any taxes, it is probably on the tax books as a religious facility. When in reality, it is a business making money for somebody.

#19.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/02/10 at 10:09 AM

You are absolutely right. Perhaps as elections take place we will get some people who care about Pike into office.

#19.1.1 walter kendrick on 07/05/10 at 08:18 AM

Sheila, is there any active movement to close TC? What about commissioner candidates that will oppose allowing TC to operate in Pike County?

#19.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 07/05/10 at 11:13 AM

No, I am sorry to say there isn't, Walter. They had a little horse and pony show after the last escape to fool people. TC promised once again to abide by the original promises that they committed in the original opening. They are wearing little orange suits now. (Woopie!) The only commissioner I know that would support a closing would be Tommy Powers. Maybe as new platforms are made public...more will come to their senses. I hope they are all voted out but Tommy.

#20 walter kendrick on 07/09/10 at 07:59 AM

For those of you that are blind and believe these boys escape to go home, they escape to go back to their habit. Drug addicts will do whatever is necessary to get drugs or money to buy drugs. This may have already been part of these stories about TC, but go to the following link of a newspaper article in the LaGrange newspaper about teen homes.
http://lagrangenews.com/view/full_story/5518140/article-group-homes-come-under-scrutiny

#20.1 v smith on 07/16/10 at 07:51 AM

this is going to happen here in pike county you just wait.

i hope the victims family sues the pants off the BOC and each commissioner who was involved individually when it does happen. and then the citizens in the valley should start a class action suit as well.

you can bet if it's any of my kin they will be sued.

#20.1.1 walter kendrick on 07/22/10 at 08:39 AM

You can be sure we will sue if our father is harmed in any way. Since this county and the county commissioners choose to not do anything about this issue, they are putting Pike county citizens in danger and the possibility of using the taxpayers money to pay for law suits.

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