Tanya Pankz tells domestic violence victims at women’s shelter about her daughter’s death

The mother of murdered 2001 Rockwall High School graduate Jennifer Pankz spoke to about a dozen young female domestic violence victims today at Kaufman County’s Genesis Center Women’s Shelter.

Tanya Pankz, the mother who started speaking recently about relationship violence dangers, said that her story about her daughter’s encounters with two separate abusers and the dangers equated with dating abusers seemed to be appreciated by several of those in attendance.

“One of the young women came up afterward,” Tanya said, “and told me that – after hearing Jennifer’s story – she’s now through returning to her abusive boyfriend. Learning about how Jennifer eventually was killed by the boy she had been dating was evidently enough for this young woman to hear to convince her that she needs to end their relationship or perhaps be murdered as well.”

The speaking engagement was arranged for Tanya by the women’s shelter director, Pastor Nancy, who also arranged an appointment for Tanya Oct. 9 with the Kaufman ISD Superintendent.

Gov. Sarah Palin alleges her Alaskan State Trooper ex-brother-in-law threatened to kill her sister

Listening to talk radio yesterday, I learned that new Republican VP candidate Gov. Sarah “Baracuda” Palin and her family have alleged several times that her former Alaskan State Trooper brother-in-law threatened to kill her sister and perhaps other family members several times, and have expressed great frustration that these threats have not been properly investigated.

She’s now being accused of ordering the firing of former State Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan because he refused to fire the State Trooper, Michael Wooten, who is still employed on the force.

There’s also at least a rumor that Officer Wooten used a taser on their son for fun when he was about 11 years old.

More details are available from yesterday’s Washington Post:

Exclusive: Palin ‘Experienced a Lot Frustration’ With Family Feud

Excerpts of e-mails written by GOP vice-presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to a former state police commissioner show Palin “experienced a lot of frustration” over the continued employment of her former brother-in-law, an Alaskan state trooper embroiled in an ongoing family feud.

The former police commissioner, Walt Monegan, was fired by Palin in July and accused the governor of dumping him because he refused to fire her ex-brother-in-law, Mike Wooten. Monegan showed copies of e-mails written to him by Palin to The Post’s James V. Grimaldi and Karl Vick. Parts of two quotes were not included in The Post’s original story:

Saying a February 2007 e-mail she wrote to Monegan was “just my opinion,” Palin wrote, “I know you know I’ve experienced a lot of frustration with this issue. I know Todd’s even expressed to you a lot of concern about our family’s safety after this trooper threatened to kill a family member — so you need to know that if I am a supporter of whatever we can do to build trust back into DPS, then there are many other Alaskans in the same boat we are and may look on this new cop bill as a good thing.”

A second e-mail from Palin’s personal Yahoo account, sent in July 2007, shows that the governor was still struggling with Wooten’s employment.

“We can’t have double standards. Remember when the death threat was reported, and follow-on threats from Mike that he was going to ‘bring Sarah and her family down’ — instead of any reprimand WE were told by trooper union personnel that we’d be sued if we talked about those threats. Amazing. … And he’s still a trooper, and he still carries a gun, and he still tells anyone who will listen that he will ‘ever work for that b*itch’ (me) because he has such anger and disdain towards my family.”

(Palin similarly quoted Wooten in the earlier e-mail.)

(Be sure and read that other story linked above to “showed copies of emails.” It provides much more detail.)

According to the talk radio show caller, it was Palin’s father who initiallly reported the alleged threats to law enforcement. Good for him!

Obviously Gov. Palin and her family should and would want to report death threats – especially by a State Trooper – to authorities. And can’t we all imagine how frustrating it must be when an investigation of threats against a member of the Governor’s own family lasts more than one year? Especially by a State Trooper?

Parkland Hospital CEO receives new award for a man from Family Place

The president and CEO of Parkland Hospital was the recipient of the very first “Man of Influence” award presented yesterday by The Family Place women’s shelter at their annual Trailblazers Awards luncheon.

Dr. Ron Anderson was selected from four finalists also nominated for the award, which was given to recognize a man who has helped make family violence a community issue, rather than solely a women’s issue.

Other nominated were Dallas County Family Violence Court Judge Roberto Canas, Club Corp. CEO Eric Affeldt and Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation founder J.J. Smith.

The luncheon attracted over 200 people who paid $100 a plate as a donation to The shelter, which is the largest in DFW.

Executive Director Paige Flink announced that the shelter’s budget is about $8 million dollars this year, which is being used to assist victims of family violence.

Sister of slain fitness model to speak out against relationship violence

Amanda Sazell

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Several months ago, fitness model Amanda Sazell was tragically killed in a highly-publicized murder-suicide case by an admitted steroids dealer and user, who had admitted providing steroids to at least one former Dallas Cowboy.

Now Amanda’s equally attractive and vivacious sister, Brandy Cooke, has decided to begin speaking our publicly against domestic violence and steroids use in hopes of saving the lives of many other women.

My wife and I met her at The Family Place’s annual Trailblazers Awards luncheon yesterday, and were very impressed by her and her rather surprising enthusiasm and strength for what she wants to do. She said that she and her family want to meet with me and other members of the LIllian Smith Family Violence Foundation because, as survivors of various kinds of family violence, they want to speak with others who have been through the same grieving which they are experiencing. One of our organization’s objectives is to provide comfort to those who have experienced family violence trauma.

We look forward to meeting with Brandy and her family soon.

“Chocolate & Chic” event raises $60,000 for Brighter Tomorrow’s women’s shelter

Denise Howieson, featured speaker Victor Rivers, Nancy Swartz and Executive Director Jana Barker

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Brighter Tomorrow’s 12th annual “Chocolate & Chic” event raised $60,000 for victims of domestic and sexual violence May 1, 2008 at the Marriott Los Colinas Hotel.

Featured speaker was actor and former athlete Victor Rivers, author of “A Private Family Matter,” the story of the abuse he experienced in his own home.

For more info about him see www.VictorRivers.com.