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Bulletin, Progressive, Record, Reporter Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 5B
October is national Domestic l00qolence Month
Mona Hill
Staff Writer
mhill@plumasnews.com
"He didn't mean it." "He
felt so bad afterward." "It's
my fault; I was nagging him."
"He promised it would never
happen again."
Victims of domestic vio-
lence commonly make these
statements to justify remain-
ing in relationships with
their abusers.
October is national Domes-
tic Violence Month and one
in two women will experi-
ence domestic violence at
some point in their lives. One
in four women are experienc-
ing it right now -- even in
Plumas County. Perhaps
especially in Plumas County.
A dispatcher at the Plumas
County Sheriff's Office said it
receives at least one domestic
disturbance call daily. The
severity varies but it ranges
from verbal to physical.
Deputy Dennis Randall
confirmed state law requires
an officer take the primary
aggressor into custody when
there are indications of
physical injury. He also
said many times the victim
objects either vocally or
physically to the arrest.
Domestic violence is about
power of one partner over
another, whether physical,
emotional or mental. A
majority of domestic abuse
victims are women, but some
are men.
It's not just uneducated or
impoverished women who
are abused. Wealthy college
graduates and professionals
are just as likely to be
victims of domestic abuse.
It's a dirty little truth that
lies behind closed doors in
many homes.
Delicia Martinetti, coordi-
nator, and Julie Tanaka,
training and outreach spe-
cialist, work for the Domestic
Violence Services program at
Plumas Rural Services. They
help women countywide to
leave abusive relationships.
Among the services the
program offers: counseling,
job help, housing, food, cloth-
ing and medical assistance.
Some find it hard to under-
stand why a woman stays,
even as the situation worsens.
Often a woman believes
she brought it on herself by
not anticipating and meeting
rigid expectations for her
behavior, such as having
dinner ready on time or
laundering a favorite shirt.
She believes she's at fault
because she has voiced a
mild question or objection to
her partner at a time when
he's tired or worried or
watching the game or she
didn't get the coffee, sand-
wich or beer fast enough.
She's been told time and
again that she's stupid, ugly,
worthless, unimportant and
useless.
Martinetti told of women
who had suffered damage to
their teeth so severe that
their self-images were nearly
destroyed. Before they left
their relationships, they
panicked about leaving with-
out their bridgework and den-
tures. They believed what
they'd been told so often: No
one wants toothless hags.
Whatever form it takes,
domestic abuse isolates a
victim. She is ashamed or
convinced the abuser will
change. She wants to protect
her abuser from public
scrutiny.
And, she will return --
again and again -- to the very
relationship that threatens
her. Why? Because she is
afraid to leave the only thing
she knows.
For better or worse, she's
leaving her life -- all she
knows -- behind.
She may not have job
skills, resources for child
Watch out for wildlife on roads
Having observed "Watch
out for Wildlife Awareness
week" during the third week
in September, the California
Department of Transporta-
tion (Caltrans) strives to re-
duce the number of wildlife-
related injuries and vehicle
passenger fatalities on the
state's highways.
The campaign attempts to
enhance the efforts of govern-
ment agencies, universities
and nonprofit organizations
that establish safe highway
passage for wildlife in Cali-
fornia.
The Defenders of Wildlife, a
national, nonprofit organiza-
tion dedicated to protecting
native animals and plants,
estimates that 1.5 million
animals are hit on the
nation's roadways each year.
In addition, more than 200
people are killed in collisions
with deer, elk and other
wildlife. Wildlife-vehicle
collisions cause $1 billion in
property damage.
"California's unique natural
and cultural heritage is worth
protecting," said Acting
Caltrans Director Malcolm
Dougherty. "This natural
landscape not only provides
habitat to spectacular wild-
life, it is also a boon to the
state's economy. Caltrans
encourages you to join with
us in protecting wildlife, as
well as motorists."
Caltrans, the California
Department of Fish and
Game, Defenders of Wildlife
and the Road Ecology Center
at the University of Cali-
fornia, Davis, sponsor the
campaign. Caltrans believes
the awareness week assisted
in planning for the conserva-
tion of natural resources
while providing safe and
effective transportation.
Caltrans and Defenders
of Wildlife offer a few tips
for motorists in wildlife
country:
--Be particularly alert when
driving in wildlife areas.
--If you see an animal
cross the road, know that
another may be following.
--Don't litter. It could
entice animals to venture
onto the road.
Fire danger remains high
It's the time of year when
the early mornings and late
evenings mean putting on
an extra layer of clothing.
CalFire cautions residents
that even with the lower
temperatures, fire danger
remains high.
Lack of precipitation this
summer has made forests
and grasslands extremely
dry.
Even though the recent
showers brought by thunder-
storms have moistened fine
fuels, such as twigs, pine nee-
dles and grasses, one or two
warm d/'y days can cause
these fine fuels to be easily
ignited. Large fuels, such
as big branches, logs and
downed trees, are still very
dry inside and can burn
with great intensity. Living
vegetation still has low
moisture content and can be
easily ignited.
The following items and
activities can start wildfires,
which destroy homes, threaten
lives and damage natural
resources:
--Sparks from chainsaws.
--Discarded smoking mate-
rial.
--Fireworks.
--Abandoned campfires.
--Hot vehicle exhaust
systems.
--Welding.
CalFire tells residents,
"Don't let the weather fool
you. Lower temperatures do
not mean less risk of fire.
Please continue to be fire
safe -- not sorry."
For more information go to
watchoutforwildlife.org.
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care or a place to live. She is
stepping into an unknown
world and perhaps for her it
seems better to stay with the
devil she knows.
Not all abusers are men --
about 15 percent of victims
are men. Martinetti said it
is harder for men to seek
services for help. There is a
special kind of stigma
attached: What kind of man
allows himself to be abused
by a woman?
Martinetti said often these
men are caretakers and be-
lieve they have an obligation
to care for their partners.
Abuse grows
Martinetti hears over and
over, "I don't know how I got
here."
At the beginning of a
relationship, everything
seems great. However,
Martinetti said, warning
signs begin to appear about
six to 12 months into the
relationship: non-negotiable
demands may appear, such
as for an accounting of who
the victim has spoken to, ei-
ther in person or on the
phone, or demands to review
email or cellphone records.
Most women don't want to
see these demands as attempts
to isolate or control them. They
think the demands are not that
important and don't notice how
it escalates until their self-
esteem is undermined.
Getting help
If you are in an abusive
relationship, there's help.
Martinetti and Tanaka can
provide an array of services
from physical safety to men-
tal health; they can provide
housing, food and training.
They work with each woman
from theplace she's at and
listen to what she's willing to
do.
They will meet at a time and
place of a woman's choosing
Facts about domestic violence
Victims: 85 percent female, 15 percent male
The No. I cause of women's injuries- more than auto accidents,
rapes and rnuggings combined
Thirty-four percent of female homicide victims 15 and older are
ki//ed by their spouses, ex-spouses or boyfriends
More than 1 million women seek medical care for battering
injuries annually
Source: "Domestic Violence: A Handbook for Victims and Professionals, "
published by Nevada Network Against Violence
My girlfriend got drunk at a party at someone's
B house and she says that she was raped when she went
..... sout ide to smoke a cigarette. She won't report it, said no on^-e 1=
would believe her because she was pretty drunk, but she's getting
depressed and dropping classes. I told her that she needs to talk to
a counselor because it's not easy to pretend it didn't happen,
but she's afraid that the police would be called.
Have your friend call the Plumas County Rape Crisis Center
at 283-5515 or Sierra SAFE at 993-1237 to talk with a rape
counselor. She does not have to give her name, all calls will
be confidential. Her physical health may be at risk, too.
Crisis Line Resource
283-4333 ';-- Center
1"877-332-2754 °r 283-5515 J
A program of
Plumas Crisis intervention & Resource Center
and her privacy is absolute.
If you know someone who
is in an abusive relationship,
don't give up on her because
she won't leave -- she's
already alone and needs
support. Call PRS and discuss
the situation with Martinetti
or Tanaka.
Numbers to call include:
283-5675, (888) 504-5102 and a
24-hour crisis line at (877)
332-2754. Martinetti said
there is always someone at
the other end of the phone.
Drop-ins are also welcome
at 711 Main St. (the blue
house at the fop of Cemetery
Hill).
STEP Outof Domestic Violence
What: 5K walk/run
Who: Plumas Rural Services"
Domestic Violence Services
program
Why: heighten awareness and
raise funds
When: Saturday, Oct. 8.; regis-
tration 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.; run
starts 10 a.m.
Where: Dame Shirley Plaza
How much: $10 entry fee in-
cludes drinks, T-shirt, draw-
ing tickets. Funds raised
assist with program costs.
Children participate for free.
Information: pre-register at
711 Main St. or call 283-5675
FEATURE OF THE WEEK:
Log Cabin Steamer
2019 East Main St., Quincy
283-2929
www.quincyhotspot .com
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ALL IN-STOCK
STEAMERS
Now through Oct. 12, 2011
REDUCE- RE-US - RECYCLE
Quality treasures at
affordable prices."
Budget conscious?
Find things at good prices and
good values at these area stores.
530-283-1762
10% OFF o. s$ OFF
any purchase of s20 or more thru October
At the ATM Graeagle • 836-4400
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Wednesday & Saturday • lOam.2pm
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801 Golf Club Drive, Lake Almanor
Welcome to .
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C{oOiin# Furniture, Co[{ecta6{es
Children's Clothing FREE on Mondays!
Victoria Powell 2095 E. Main St.
(530) 283-3627 Quincy, CA 95971
(Co]n]nft(00gs P]lace2
5e(c(o)nd Hand Treasures
• Antiques • Collectibles
• Used Furniture • Books
• Household Items • Jewelry
Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am-4pm
72850 Hwy. 70 ° 3 Miles West of Portola ° 530-249-1745
r
KRISSY'S KLOSET AND KOLLECTIBLES
, THRIFT [;TORE
• Second-hand Clothing
Collectibles and much more
• Donations Welcome
530-832-5600
181 Nevada St., Portola
i
EPHC Auxiliary
Nifty Thrifty
116 Commercial St. • "Old Town Portola"
832-5967
Open for donations and great values.
Tuesday through Saturday, lOam-3pm