Neighbors support proposed Cassian facility

Editor’s note: The following letter was sent to the Oneida County Planning and Development Committee. The authors requested that it be published here.

Dear Members of the Oneida County Planning and Development Committee:

We are writing to you in your capacity as members of the Oneida County Board of Supervisors and the Oneida County Planning and Development Committee to lend our firm support to the establishment of (the) ARWC in Cassian Township.

Drug rehabilitation helps those battling addiction to get on the road to recovery, in this case for the critical age group of 13-17 year olds. This vital service will help young people get back on track at this very early stage in their lives.  The facility, which will have 36 residential beds, will be the only one of its kind in the Northwoods, and while proposed primarily for tribal youth, non-tribal youth will also be welcome. The center will also provide jobs for up to 50 employees with the resultant positive impact on the local economy. 

A local policeman recently addressed the Rhinelander Kiwanis Club about drug use among young people in our area. He said fines and prison were not a solution. Rather we needed to provide support and rehabilitation for those battling addiction. We can aid our local law enforcement as they work to find solutions for the drug problem in northern Wisconsin by building rehabilitation centers like ARWC.

For these reasons, we are writing to ask that you approve building the ARWC. 

We are year-round residents of Cassian Township who promote efforts to bring health and wellness to our entire community. We believe that ARWC is one such effort.

John Viste and Elaine Strite

Harshaw