Host Neil welcomes Misty Gray and Anna Bell from Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center, which serves DeSoto, Tate, and Tunica Counties and provides forensic interviews, MDT coordination with law enforcement/CPS/DA, family advocacy, and trauma-focused therapy for children and caregivers. They discuss rising reports driven by awareness, the importance of Healing Hearts CACs in reducing repeated disclosures and recanting, and community trainings on signs of abuse (resources at www.healingheartscac.org). They highlight Tyler’s story and Tyler’s Closet for new clothing, diapers, wipes, and hygiene items, plus foster-care Christmas wish-list trees and a November gift card drive (Walmart/Kroger/Dollar General). Neil stresses the center’s reliance on donations, costs (~$1,700 per child interview), and thanks donors like Sherrie Driver/Jackpot Bingo. A Keller Williams Bonham Group matching fundraiser runs up to $25,000 through mid-December, plus a grill raffle. They also share Mississippi consent/authority rules and encourage reporting via 1-800-222-8000.

This podcast is Sponsored by Roofworks

http://RoofworksMidsouth.com

You can reach us at TheLocalYokelsPodcast@gmail.com

You can find the Local Yokel’s Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

Neil Colley talks with DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton and Special Victims Advocate Carmen Bechel about creating a new Special Victims Unit funded by the Board of Supervisors, with support led by Mark Gardner. The SVU will focus primarily on children who are victims of sex crimes, and also vulnerable adults, adding a dedicated ADA Jamie Young, investigator Chad Gatewood, and a victim assistance coordinator/advocate role for Carmen as she transitions out of asset forfeiture. They explain that increased predator cases reflect better technology, training, and proactive policing, not a new surge in crime, and describe how early DA involvement can improve investigations, victim support, and reduce recantation. Barton discusses why plea deals sometimes best protect victims, outlines case volumes and resource limits, and urges parents to stay engaged with children’s phones, relationships, and boundaries.

This podcast is Sponsored by Roofworks

http://RoofworksMidsouth.com

You can reach us at TheLocalYokelsPodcast@gmail.com

You can find the Local Yokel’s Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

Neil Colley from the Local Yokel’s podcast welcomes April Veale and Heather Stricklen to discuss Jeepers for St. Jude, a volunteer-run fundraiser supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where donations go directly to St. Jude with no overhead. They share how the effort began in 2016, paused during COVID, and returned with renewed momentum, raising $65,000 in 2019, then $12,000 in 2024 and $15,000 the following year. They promote the Jeeps & Broncos Show on October 24 at the DeSoto County Agri-Ed Center on Starlanding Rd, open 10:00–2:00, with $10 admission, VIP packages, T-shirts, raffle items, and food trucks. Neil also reminds listeners about the Fancy Nancy Foundation’s October 17 car show in Walls, MS, raising funds for House of Grace and giving away a Jeep.

Donate to Jeepers for St. Jude - https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=4688714&fr_id=162728&pg=personal

A reminder to buy Jeep giveaway tickets at fancynancyfoundation.com to benefit House of Grace and domestic violence survivors, and thanks sponsors including MSJ Off Road, Roof Works, Spider Off Road, Rough Country, and Duck Worthy Inc.

This podcast is Sponsored by Roofworks

http://RoofworksMidsouth.com

You can reach us at TheLocalYokelsPodcast@gmail.com

You can find the Local Yokel’s Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting