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EDITOR'S NOTES The rest of the story Comment By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community... • MISSING ASHLAND TEEN: 'Why?' still unknown in Thomas-Garner case... • Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe • Editor's Notes: Agonizing uncertainty in runaway case » Social News The good news about Hannah Thomas-Garner in the Tidings on March 9 included one line that was chilling: “Of the 28 runaway reports in Ashland in 2014 ... this one got the most attention.” Hannah didn’t come downstairs for breakfast at her Ashland home on Nov. 30. Her family, by all accounts, did not hear from her again until Saturday, March 7, 97 days later. A few hours or days are bad enough when a loved one is uncounted for; going weeks, then months without knowing must have been agonizing. But here’s the thing: What’s up with those other 27 Ashland kids? Are they reunited with their families? Ashland Police Department Deputy Chief Tighe O’Meara took the time this week to dive into the figures and shed some light on what’s going on with local runaways. Because more than one juvenile appeared in some reports, the actual total was 35, O’Meara found. Of those who went missing, a total of 11 were from private Ashland homes we’re likely to picture when we hear about a runaway. Those three boys and eight girls were all found within a day of going missing — which makes Hannah’s case a real standout. No wonder it got the most attention. What about the other 24 runaways? Those 17 boys and seven girls went missing from the Lithia Springs Residential Treatment in Ashland. The separate boys and girls homes “are basically a half-way house” for juveniles convicted of crimes, O’Meara said. Each residence has approximately 10 to 15 residents. Far from running away from home, they’re running away from the Oregon Youth Authority, which has jurisdiction over them. The residences are operated by Community Works, a Medford-based nonprofit organization. “Community Works serves children, adolescents, young adults, women and families who are working to overcome a severe life crisis or trauma,” according to its website. “We help people move forward using their own strengths in a productive and positive way.” The Lithia Springs program “is a long-term community-based treatment program for youth offenders. ... The program approach is a behavioral rehabilitation model that provides a diverse array of integrated services. The length of the residential program is approximately 9-12 months.” When the kids, who come from all over Oregon, leave Lithia Springs, they’re violating terms of their probation and a warrant is issued for their arrest. “I can’t say how long they’re gone,” O’Meara said. “It gets more complicated.” Once they’re picked up, which usually happens in a “day or two,” O’Meara said, they’re taken to another location, not returned to Lithia Springs, “and we might not get notified.” “They don’t fit the traditional mold of a runaway,” he said. “Some are running back to their parents.” For those parents whose children run away, besides calling the police (541-482-5211), another resource is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.com, 800-THE-LOST). Also helpful in the search for Hannah, O’Meara added, was the Polly Klaas Foundation of California (www.pollyklaas.org, 800-587-4357). So now, as you might say if you're old enough to remember radio newsman Paul Harvey’s catchphrase, you know the rest of the story. Are there any other loose ends you’d like us to tie up from stories in the Tidings? Give me a call or send me an email. We’ll do what we can to follow up. Reach Daily Tidings editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or 541-631-1313. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/betling .   By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Ashland Daily Tidings Posted Mar. 26, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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