"We love them dearly," stated Bruce Ballou, Director of Probation in the Maverick, Dimmit and Zavala County region, "But there are consequences to their behavior."

This tough love will be the basis of the rehabilitation center which held its Grand Opening ceremony on Wednesday at the Eagle Pass Radar Base.

"I'm impressed with the construction which has come a long way in a short period of time," stated The Honorable David R. Saucedo, Maverick County Judge, "Mr. Ballou and his staff have been working hard on this and I'm happy that it's finally come to fruition."

The Honorable Judge Cynthia Muñiz, District Judge and Chairman of the Juvenile Board was also on hand to give the project her blessing, "I believe it's appropriately named Border Hope because it will actually bring us that, the hope that our children will actually have that therapy and substance abuse therapy for them to see what giving back to the community means, how they have impacted the community and how they can change for the future."

Muñiz recalled the day when she received Ballou's application, which had a cover letter stating that he could assure her that he could diminish juvenile crime by 40%, "I said to myself, 'I have to talk to this guy,' he was so enthusiastic and full of new ideas.  I want to thank Bruce for being Bruce, then I met Becky and oh my God, another dynamo!  But it's definitely a community effort and a symbol of what we will be doing together with the children."

Their combined efforts, she said, put this thing together and Becky Ballou will serve as the administrative director of the facility.

The Honorable Judge Amado Abascal was also on hand and had the following to say about how he felt the facility would positively impact our community and that of the Tri-County area, "First of all I would like to give my thanks to all who helped complete this project as I was able to tour the facility last week.  I'm very excited for what is going to come in the future.  With Bruce's initiative, it's only the beginning.  I have great expectations for the Tri-County area.  Thanks to Judge Saucedo and Commissioner's Court for supporting the project."

Also present were members of Ballou's family who came down to support their brother and see his dream come full circle, "It's been a dream of his for at least 20 years," said Sandy Brown, Bruce's sister who was here with husband Bob and who collectively remember his ambition and drive to get this done, "We are amazed and so proud of him, he has poured his heart and soul into this, it's amazing, he wants to do all he can to turn someone's life around."

"We are very proud to have completed this project," said Javier Gonzalez, one of many probation officers who dedicated all of their extra time and efforts to assist in getting this facility done, "It will positively impact the juvenile justice system in Maverick County."

Some of the full-time personnel who will be manning the project are Rolando Ruiz, a Certified Substance Abuse Conselor, Daisy Ortiz, Brianda Garcia, Luis Gurrola and jason Gonzalez who will be the facility's YSO's (Youth Supervision Officers).

"It was a very much needed facility," stated Robert Ruiz, Maverick County Treasurer, "It will provide direct help by its director (Ballou) and it's definitely a labor of love because it was built entirely through grants.  The county only donated the land."

"We're ecstatic," reiterated Mario Escobar, Director of the EPISD Discipline Alternative Education Program, "For several reasons.  First of all, the vision, when people want to make a difference look what can get done.  Secondly, our youth will be better served as we attempt to guide us back into society."

This reporter was actually at one of the initial meetings held to analyze the possibilities of such a program at a time when funds were slim to none yet the initiative and drive of all stakeholders were extremely high and it echoes Judge Muñiz' comment as to why many projects in Maverick County and their ideas die due to the lack of funds in this day and age of the all too publicized debt crisis the county is experiencing, and the opening of this facility is definitely a breath of fresh air in lieu of all county endeavors and the facility will definitely generate revenue as opposed to the county having to pay and outsource in order to house our troubled youth.

"It's a gloomy day outside, but a bright future lies ahead," added Escobar, "As it will give us yet another option to work with kids and it is a major collaboration between many entities, that's why we're all here, federal, city, county, state, the school district all working together."

Escobar closed by saying that they had the vision when they hired Ballou, meaning the District Judges Muñiz and Abascal, saying that they found the right person to get all the stakeholders together to see this to fruition, and his probation officers worked diligently while still managing to keep up with their case loads which have diminished by 30% since the inception of the project as Muñiz stated that those kids who were on probation and who assisted have already been rehabilitated, perhaps through the hard work they put into transforming an old Army  barracks into what will now be an 18-bed facility with offices for its personnel and counselors, a cafeteria, a classroom, a wood shop for carpentry projects and a two-acre garden for growing fruits and vegetables.

Then it was Ballou's turn to greet the gathering and he began by introducing Pastor Harlene Sadler, UFR, who opened the ceremony with a benediction stating, "Where there is no vision, people perish."

Ballou proceeded to thank his probation officers who he said pulled double duty with both the construction of the facility while supervising their case load some of whom worked weekends and holidays along with he and his wife. 

He also got very emotional when thanking the faith-based organizations who had a significant part in getting this facility where it is today from Catholic to Methodist to Baptist organizations who brought their people, their own tools and supplies to pitch in their fair share as well as doing their part through out the community helping people with over $1 million of repairs to low-income homes each year.

Ballou proceeded to read his list of special thanks which began with his life-partner, his wife Becky whom he says has sacrificed just as much time and effort to see that the project has gotten all it needs every step of the way; he also thanked the Juvenile Board, both District Judges, all three County Judges from Dimmit, Maverick and Zavala, Robert Ruiz, our four County Commissioners, his staff, Commissioner Jose Luis Rosales, Adult Probation Chief Arturo Guajardo, The City of Eagle Pass and The Honorable Ramsey English-Cantú, Mario Escobar, EPISDPD, all community donors, Clayton Brown who donated the roof of the facility which kick started construction, Rio Grande Heating & A/C, Master Crafter Plumbing in San Antonio, Lee Rodriguez and his father who did the initial electrical work when they started, Larry Byrnes Electric of Houston, all faith-based organizations, Dale Matthews, Rick Pierce, John Caldwell and Ben Brunsley, Dana Sweet, the Deacons of the First Baptist Church and Triumph Church in Houston, Yolando Cox, Bob Dibble, Harlene Sadler, Ernesto Montalvo and the Maverick County Road & Bridge Department.

Father Joseph Benedict, OMI closed the ceremony by asking Our Creator to, "Help these children to not be lost, but to be found."

As the personnel bask in the light of the completion of the facility, Ballou said that now begins the difficult part, the arduous task of changing the lives of all who enter the Border Hope Residential Center.