We believe that a parent has a right to discipline his or her child in a manner that works for the family, but this does not include belts and sticks or any other form of discipline that can cause bodily injury to a child.

Last year in Newton County, 1,179 cases of child abuse were reported, and there is no telling how many cases were not.

In honor of National Child Abuse Awareness Month, Prevent Child Abuse Newton - under the direction of Sheena Berry - will hold a child awareness festival this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at The Church at Covington.

Representatives from a variety of our family oriented organizations will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

There will be a fundraiser motorcycle ride that will start at 9 a.m. Saturday in the old Wal-Mart parking lot and end at the church. The cost is $15 for the 55-minute journey.

Prevent Child Abuse Newton does a good job in trying to get the message out to both children and parents that a family unit is for love and protection, not abuse.

We hope if you like to ride your bike, that you will come out as a family to help support this worthwhile group.