COUNTY LIFE
Domestic violence has many faces: Emotional, financial, gaslighting
By BARBARA GREEN, editor@bowienewsonline.com
During 2020, 228 Texans were killed by their intimate partners.
Three or more U.S. women are murdered every day by their current or former intimate partner.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is important to note domestic abuse is not about arguments or violent tendencies, it is about domination and control.
Men who kill their female partners usually dominate them first, sometimes without any physical violence. For some 28-33% of victims the homicide or attempted homicide was the first act of physical violence in the relationship.
A local woman shares her story of coercive control and how it almost led to her death twice. To protect her identity, The Bowie News is using a pseudonym for her, Sarah, and her aggressor, Tom. She hopes her story will shine a light on this facet of domestic violence.
The beginning
Sarah, now 50, grew up out of state, but has spent the last 10 years or so in Texas raising her family. She is an intelligent, faithful woman who loves her children, has worked as an educator and has an active role in ministry at her church.
Her relationships with her married partners have been fraught with joy and turmoil. Married to her first husband and high school sweetheart,
with whom she had three children, they were together 20 years when he came home one day and said he was not happy and left her for another woman.
Sarah hoped to have found happiness again only to see her second husband pass away during the night from a massive blood clot just nine months into their marriage. He had battled colon cancer, which led to an addiction to pain pills cutting their time together short during those nine months.
Her “rebound marriage,” as she calls it, turned out to be her aggressor during the seven years of their married life together.
“When I married Tom it as out of fear of being alone. When he started doing certain things, I did not see any red flags, as he isolated me. He would schedule a romantic get-away the same weekend as my grandson’s birthday party. He didn’t want me to be with family,” recalls Sarah.
Read the full story in the Saturday Bowie News.
Inside today find a special section Remembering 9/11 on the 25th anniversary of this pivotal day in America’s history.
This section provides an hour by hour account of that day to inform those who may not familiar with the details. We pay tribute to all those who faced the attacks and helped save those in danger from all walks of life. May this tribute remind you of all America lost that day and how the country moved forward.
Area young people from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to take part in the Art of the Song Young Visual and Performing Arts Exhibition on Oct. 10 during the annual music festival in Nocona.
Entry is free and artists may enter up to three pieces of artwork. One entry must be music-related, while the other two can be any art medium or genre. Drop-off artwork from noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 at 103 Clay Street.
Art will be displayed starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10. Those with questions may call R. Marie Molsbee, 940-887-0165 or horse.power.ranch.nocona@gmail.com.
The performing arts portion will be at Bitters & Sweets, 206 Clay Street. If you have a child who loves to sing, dance or play an instrument or perform? Let them share their talents in a performance at the Art of the Song.
Those interested in the performing arts program may contact Carla at 940-765-5619 or carlad@bittersandsweetsbar.com.
The staff, board of directors and volunteers of Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum are making plans for the group’s major fundraiser, “Shebang” on Sept. 26.
This year Shebang will join in all the celebrations for America’s 250th birthday.
Mark your calendar when the doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person and $350 for a table of eight. Shebang takes place in the H.J. Justin Building at 100 Clay Street.
The evening will feature a dinner prepared by local chefs, fun games where you could win a prize, live and silent auctions, plus the popular bucket auction where you never know who will win. A new menu is being served that will feature prime rib, roasted sweet potatoes, hominy casserole, broccoli salad and strawberry shortcake.
Reservations are being taken now, just call the museum at 825-5330. Proceeds from the Shebang help pay for annual operating costs of the museum. Call 825-5330 to purchase tickets, also visit the website at talesntrails.org to see auction items and learn more about the museum.
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