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Commissioners, others gather to honor domestic abuse victims, survivors
Athens Daily Review - 10/3/2018
Oct. 03--On Tuesday, Henderson County commissioners signed a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Read by Commissioner Chuck McHam, the proclamation recognizes those who have survived domestic violence and honored those who have died from domestic violence. Following the Henderson County Commissioner's meeting, he and others gathered outside the Henderson County Courthouse to raise awareness about the issue.
Della Cooper, director of outreach for the East Texas Crisis Center, told the crowd that "domestic violence needs to be talked about more than twice a year." And Lorin Young talked about the abuse her sister, Alicia Weaver (Scott), sustained for 12 years at the hands of her husband.
On Dec. 27, 2016, her husband, Daniel Scott, shot her with a .357 Magnum revolver, killing her. He was sentenced to 70 years in prison for the murder.
Cooper said that Alicia is just one of the many domestic violence victims in Henderson County.
"This year, we have served a total of 489 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault -- 412 women, 42 men and 35 children."
Athens police, Cooper said, reported working 176 cases of domestic violence, while Henderson County sheriff's officials worked 526 assault calls and received 118 reports -- 76 of which are sexual assault reports.
"A man kills his current or former female partner every 2.5 days in Texas," Cooper said. "Victims' ages ranged from 15 to 92. Eighty-two women were between 20 to 39.
Officials with the East Texas Crisis Center in Athens work to provide safety, shelter and education for victims of family violence, sexual assault and other violence crimes.
This year's theme to preventing domestic violence is "#1 Thing."
"We encourage the citizens to get involved to help prevent domestic abused within our county," Cooper said.
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