Lantern Project: Since October 2013, Hope House has joined with other domestic violence programs around the state by implementing the Lantern Project. For our part in this statewide project, we added to the lamppost in front of Hope House a purple wreath. We will turn on the light for a week every time there is a death related to domestic violence in Wisconsin. We will post information online about the person(s) that was killed. If you drive by our building and see our lamppost on, please reflect on the deadly impact that domestic violence has on our communities. We know the list of stories we post here is incomplete. We strive to learn about and share these stories but know that there are some that we and the media miss. If you see a news story of a death in WI related to domestic violence and don't see it posted here, please feel free to let us know about it here. Thank you.

Obituary: "Vista Alexis Jackson was born in Racine, WI on June 23, 2001 to Wendell Jackson and Veia Crockett. Vista attended William Horlick High School. She was so excited about starting her first year as a freshman. Vista enjoyed singing and watching movies. There was something about Vista that always drew little children to her. She loved her family and had dreams of becoming a professional singer after college. Vista’s infectious smile will be dearly missed. Our Sweet Pea closed her eyes on September 10, 2015 at the age of 14"...Read more

News Story: "Racine police have arrested a 14-year-boy in the shooting death of a Racine girl. 

Police said Vista Jackson, 14, was shot in her home about 8:20 p.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of Albert Street. 

Vista was taken to Wheaton Franciscan Hospital by Racine Fire Rescue, and then was transferred by air to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee, where she died.

'I had just seen her, had just seen this child, you know? She ran past me crying, with one shoe. She came back 20 minutes later. She went and changed her shoes, and then two hours later this child is gone,' neighbor Tara White said.

Investigators have not released any information about what led to the shooting, but said Friday night said they will recommend charges of first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon against the boy. 

​WISN 12 News spoke with close friends of Vista who said she was in an abusive relationship with the 14-year-old boy"...Read more

There is no obituary posted at this time. If we become aware of one, we will post it here.

Woman, Man She Allegedly Stabbed to Death Had History of Violence: "A 31-year-old man who police said was stabbed to death on Tuesday by his on-again, off-again girlfriend had been ordered by a judge three months ago not to have any contact with her unless he had written permission from his probation agent, according to court records.The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man Wednesday as Terrence L. Woods of Madison.

The woman, Cierra Finkley, 25, was arrested on a tentative charge of first-degree reckless homicide after stabbing Woods outside an apartment building at 1186 Moorland Road on Madison’s South Side, Madison police said. She remained in custody on Wednesday.

Police said that the stabbing followed a domestic incident earlier in the day in which Finkley called police to say that Woods had tried to run over her and her child with his car. Police spokesman Joel DeSpain said police were looking for Woods on a tentative charge of second-degree reckless endangerment before the stabbing occurred"...Read more

There is no obituary posted at this time. If we become aware of one, we will post it here.

News Story: "Prosecutors say a 42-year-old Milwaukee woman fatally stabbed her boyfriend through his heart and then tried to tell officers the man had been stabbed in an attempted robbery, according to a criminal complaint released Wednesday.Diana Cunningham faces a charge of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of Gerry Wilson, 54, who was killed Saturday at a home in the 3100 block of N. 52nd St"...Read more

Welcome to the September 2015 edition of Hope House's Community Education E-bulletin!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), and Hope House staff and volunteers are busy planning activities. We will be raising awareness at area high school football games utilizing the NO MORE campaign, whose PSAs are often run during NFL games. We will have DVAM displays at local courthouses and community buildings. Community events for which we'll be staffing a booth in October will be focused on domestic violence awareness. For more information, including how you can get help with organizing our events or plan your own awareness activity at your school, business, church, or community group, please call Hope House at 608-356-9123. More information to follow in next month's e-bulletin!

Hope House Donation Needs
Monetary donations are most needed.  Individuals have the option of donating online.  Please note that a portion of your online donation will go towards PayPal fees.  Donations can be mailed to Hope House, P.O. Box 557, Baraboo, WI 53913. We also appreciate gas cards, gift cards (Walmart, Kwik Trip, Walgreens, Kohl’s), taxi vouchers from Baraboo Taxi, and used cell phones, iPods and iPads.  Please note that we are not accepting stuffed animals/plush toys, used toys, clothes (except for new sweatshirts and sweatpants), shoes, used books, furniture, TVs, bar soap, hats, scarves or travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash. Current needs include

• Bathrooms: Toilet paper, Deodorant, Disposable razors, Small garbage cans with bags, Nail clippers, Toilet bowl cleaner, Cleaning supplies such as Lysol disinfecting spray and floor cleaner, Clorox wipes, Hairspray, Bleach, Bathroom rugs and bath mats
• Kitchen: Ziploc bags, Tupperware, Small mason jars, Dishwasher soap, 13-Gallon garbage bags, Paper towels, Silverware, Brush for cleaning bottles, Fruit juice, Sip cups, Milk, Saran wrap, Aluminum foil
• Laundry: Power laundry detergent, Dryer sheets, Fabric softener sheets
• Clothing for Women and Kids: Winter boots, Socks, Women’s underwear, Medium-Large size pajamas, New sweatshirts and sweatpants
• Misc: New white full/twin bed sheets, Double stroller, Pack 'n Play, Baby wipes, Band-Aids, Diapers and pull-ups, Pocket-sized calendars, Strollers, Baby bottles, Umbrellas, Hangers, Weather radio, Journals, Exercise balls, Yoga/exercise DVDs, Relaxation CDs, Baby thermometer, CD players, Regular light bulbs

Special Note about Travel-Size Items: We encourage those looking to donate travel-size items to donate them to the Backpack Project. The Backpack Project strives to provide Baraboo School District students who are financially challenged to enter the school doors on the first day ‘just like everyone else’ and to show these children the community supports and encourages them to learn and do their best. If interested in donating towards this project, please contact Becky Hovde at 608-963-8230 or hivebiz@centurytel.net.

Children & Youth

• This Quick-Thinking Teen Cleverly Befriended a Woman's Kidnapper to Rescue Her:  "'My plan was to keep them in a public place where he wouldn't hurt her’...After arriving in Laval, Bonnet suggested they grab a bite to eat. At the restaurant, he gave the pair $50 for food and excused himself to use the restroom. Finally having the opportunity, he called the police and told them ‘someone had been kidnapped.’ Officers arrived minutes later. What Bonnet hadn't known at the time was that police were already looking for the perpetrator and his victim. The abusive man Bonnet reported had abducted his ex-girlfriend just hours beforehand”…Read more
• Your Brain is Particularly Vulnerable to Trauma at Two Distinct Ages: “According to Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and senior lecturer at MIT, your ‘terrible twos’ and those turbulent teen years are when the brain’s wiring is most malleable. As a result, traumatic experiences that occur during these time periods can alter brain activity and ultimately change gene expressions—sometimes for good”…Read more
• How Excusing Tyga And Kylie Jenner's Relationship Validates The Sexualization of Young Girls: “To put it bluntly: these older men aren't having sex with 16-year-olds because these young women are mature. They're sleeping with them because they're young, and in a culture that's obsessed with youth, virginity and the perceived sexual ‘purity of women,’ to ‘get in early’ is the ultimate win”…Read more
  
• Why the Silence? Child Abuse Expert Weighs In: “She says that while the allegations in the Pak's Karate case may seem staggering, but they fit a familiar pattern – multiple victims, hundreds of incidents, over a period of many years…She says that high-achieving athletes are especially vulnerable – not just because they often love and respect their coaches, but because they're driven to succeed…Societal pressures also play a role, including fears of how victims may be perceived. Male victims are significantly less likely to report sex abuse”…Read more
  

Miscellaneous

Signs of the Times: Why A Mighty Girl Supports Gender-Neutral Toy Signage: "As supporters of ending gender discrimination and stereotyping, we applaud Target’s decision – and the many other efforts like it happening both in North America and around the world – so we wanted to address some of the most common questions we’ve been hearing about gender-neutral signage and marketing: how it works, why it’s important, and how it fits into other efforts to change the way the world sees girls and boys.Gender-neutral marketing and merchandising is about much more than political correctness; instead, it’s a sign of the times, one that points to a shift away from strictly limited gender roles and towards a world where everyone can pursue their interests and talents without feeling like the odd one out"...Read more...Read related article: Target Hits the Bull's-Eye by Announcing an End to Gender-Based Signs in Sections of Its Stores

Local News

• Amos Day, 34, of New Lisbon, found guilty of first degree child sexual assault...Read more
• Cole McCormick, 23, of Poynette, charged with felony second degree sexual assault of a child under 16…Read more
• Thomas J. “T.J.” Traver, 26, of the town of Kingston, was on probation for domestic abuse at the time of his arrest for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl…Read more
• Manuel Sarmiento, 75, of Baraboo, charged with sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in 2012, ruled competent to stand trial…Read more
  
• James Hubred, 44, of Columbus, charged with felony child abuse of an 11-year-old boy…Read more
  
• Jesse Leatherberry, 18, of Baraboo, charged with second-degree sexual assault of an unconscious woman...Read more
  
• John Lomax, 52, of West Baraboo, faces 40 felony counts of child pornography possession…Read more

Parents' & Youth Service Providers' Section

• Local Training Opportunity on Child Sexual Abuse: The Sauk County Coordinated Community Response Team is sponsoring a free presentation by Scott Neubauer, of the Child Abuse Education Foundation, on identifying child victims of sexual assault. The presentation will be on Thursday, September 24 at 10:30 am at the West Square Building, Room B30, in Baraboo. No registration required. Learn more at the Child Abuse Education Foundation website.
• Suicide Prevention Resources: The American Association of Suicidology has a webpage with resources such as fact sheets, videos, toolkits, links, and more. Check out the video from Mayo Clinic on talking to teens that may be thinking about killing themselves.
• Guide Helps Educators Navigate Social Media: “These are the conclusions of a new free publication, The Educator’s Guide to Social Media from ConnectSafely.org. Written by Kerry Gallagher and myself, the guide answers the basic questions of how you can safely use social media in class and for professional development and how to maintain both student and personal privacy”…Read more
  
• Webinar on Bullying Prevention and Suicide Prevention for Schools: SAMHSA and the American School Health Association’s webinar “provided an overview of the risk and impact of bullying and suicide in school-aged children and highlighted the connection between these public health issues and the ‘whole child’ concept. The webinar showcased SAMHSA's mobile applications--KnowBullying and Suicide Safe—and other key resources as tools to promote bullying prevention and suicide prevention in schools”…View the webinar
• Parenting & Social Media: Common Sense Media has several resources for parents related to social media, and media in general. Here are just a few: 3 Kinds of Apps That Stir Up Drama in Schools, How to Set Screen Rules That Stick, and Can you recommend a messaging app that's safe for kids?
• Healthy Sexuality as a Protective Factor against Sexual Assault: Advocates for Youth has a guide for parents to help them talk to their children about sexuality, which may help protect them from abuse. The information is broken down for talking to children ages 3-18. The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault has created an infographic to easily access this information.
  
• Webinar on Understanding Sex Offenders: "Awareness to Action sponsored the webinar, 'Understanding Sex Offenders: Information for Child Serving Organizations and Other Adults' by Dr. Anna Salter. This webinar runs approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes and can be viewed in segments during a staff meeting or can be assigned to staff for viewing and then discussed later."
• October is National Bullying Prevention Month: "National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign is held during the month of October and is a time when communities can unite to raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities, outreach, and education. PACER offers a variety of resources to use during the month and throughout the year to inspire, educate, and involve others to join the movement and prevent bullying in their communities"...View resources here

Resources & Training
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Trainings for Law Enforcement and Other Responders: The Department of Justice is offering free two day trainings in Wisconsin on sexual assault and on domestic violence. For more information, including training content, locations and dates, please see this flyer.

KidPower’s How to Recognize and Stop Workplace Bullying and Harassment: Check out this radio and video interview on workplace bullying and harassment and three related resources.

Obituary: "Theresa C. Coates, age 47, of Wisconsin Rapids, WI died Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at Ministry St. Joseph Hospital, Marshfield, WI.

Theresa was born July 30, 1968 in Marshfield, WI to William and Janet (Ashbeck) Fruin. She married Douglas Coates on December 30, 1998 in Port Edwards, WI. He died October 25, 2013. Theresa was employed at Golden County Foods and later at NAPA Auto Parts in Wisconsin Rapids"...Read more

News Story: "Juneau County authorities contacted Wood County at about 9:45 p.m. Monday and asked that police check on a 17-year-old boy who made suicidal threats and was on his way to Saratoga, according to Wood County reports.

Deputies arrived at a home at 6010 Church Ave. at about 10 p.m. and learned that two people at that address had been shot, according to a news release issued Tuesday morning by the sheriff’s department. Helicopters took two patients from the scene to a hospital, where a female was pronounced dead and a male remained hospitalized Tuesday, Wood County Sheriff Thomas Reichert said.

The Church Avenue property is owned by Theresa Coates, according to public records, and she lives there with two daughters, according to neighbor Bruce Dimick.

Wood County court records show that Coates’ 17-year-old daughter and the 17-year-old suicidal boy, whose names Gannett Central Wisconsin Media learned, were accused in January of taking Coates’ car and disappearing for two days. Officers found the teens in Nebraska when the vehicle got a flat tire, according to court records"...Read more