Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Local News

Discussion

September 4, 2010

They’re ready to Walk Like MADD

Robby Robertson The Athens Review

Athens — For the past year, Tammi Branch has just about experienced every emotion there is. She has been sad, frustrated, perplexed, angry and even a little excited, just to name a few.

Now she is MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving, that is.

Branch is heading up the Henderson County Walk Like MADD 2010 event in Gun Barrel City. The Walk is scheduled for Oct. 9 at the Gun Barrel City Park.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released a National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behaviors, confirming the importance of MADD’s work to eliminate drunk driving, and keep alcohol out of the hands of kids.

 “The survey makes one thing very clear: Drunk driving remains a primary threat to the American family,” said Laura Dean-Mooney, MADD National President. “This means that MADD’s work won’t be done until cars are turned into the cure, eliminating drunk driving forever.”

Nobody knows this better than Branch. She lost her son, Eric, on Jan. 15, 2009 when he was riding in a car that crashed. Eric was killed upon impact. According to the police report, the driver of the car was traveling over 80 miles per hour, and was intoxicated more than twice the legal limit.

Tammi knew her life would never be the same.

“You know when you drop to your hands and knees, and you are begging someone to please let you see your son, it’s serious,” Branch said. “I still have scars on my knees from that night where I did that.”

It was her son, and for the first time in her life, she felt helpless and numb. It was a feeling she said she couldn’t explain, but for the next several months, she remained in shock.

“You just never know how your life can change in an instant like that,” Branch said. “I was feeling every emotion there was. I would be mad, and then angry and confused. I had days where I would  just cry.”

DeAnna Browning, of the district attorney’s, office told Branch that Amanda Tevebaugh of MADD was here to help her.

“A week to the day after Eric’s funeral I was scheduled to come meet with DeAnna at the DA’s office, and I was also scheduled to pick up Eric’s remains,” Branch said. “DeAnna told me there was this woman named Amanda, and she was with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and she wanted to talk with me. I didn’t want anything to do with that. I’m not getting on that band wagon.”

She said she had a misconception about MADD, thinking they want you to quit drinking totally. In reality, they don’t mind if you drink. They just don’t want you drinking and driving, Branch said.

“I think the main point of my call that day was to forget everything else you think about MADD,” Tevebaugh said. “I wanted her to know if she just needed to talk, I was there for her at any time day or night.”

Branch said that about a month latter when she felt the walls were closing in on her, and she wanted to die, she made that call, and Tevebaugh was there to help her through all of her emotions, as well as all the court proceedings.

“There were so many things she helped me with,” Branch said. “There were books, and things I needed to know about in the court room, and she was there every step of the way.”

By February or March of that year, Branch had already signed up for the Dallas Walk Like MADD, and was putting her team together, and raising money.

This year, Branch is putting all her effort into the Henderson County Walk Like MADD event. With the help of her committee members and the East Texas MADD office, she is hoping to go far beyond the goal of $5,000.

Tevebaugh said the committee is so blown away by the generosity of everyone in the county who has already donated and signed up to be a walker, but more support is needed. Walkers need to go to www.walklikemadd.org and click on the Gun Barrel City site to sign up.

Branch said there have been some schools in the county that have groups scheduled to walk. Every walker that raises $100 gets a T-shirt.

“Raising $100 is not that hard,” Tevebaugh said. “Find 10 people that will donate $10 for you to walk, and most people will do it. They know it is a great cause.”

There is no entry fee to walk. The route of the walk will be from the Gun Barrel Fire Department down State Highway 334 West Main Street, to the Beall’s parking lot and back.

Some of the sponsors already signed up for the event are:

• Diamond-$1,500

Weinstein Law Firm

AT & T Yellow Pages

• Platinum-$1,000

Henderson Co. District Attorney

Henderson County Attorney

Henderson County Sheriff’s Department

Voice, Inc.

Texas Department of Transportation/ TxDOT

• Gold-$500

The Ranch

Gap Broadcasting

Dr. Pepper

Ben E. Keith

ETMC-Cedar Creek Lake

Extreme BBQ

• Silver-$250

ETMC- EMS

McAfee Insurance

Prime Data

Edward Jones - Debra Davis

Story Electric

1st State Bank

Walmart - GBC

Gun Barrel Pharmacy

State Farm Insurance - Lona Mauk

Athens Collision Center

Lakeside Collision

Citizens State Bank - Mabank

Lighted Pathways Hospice

Linda & Kenneth Farmer Bail Bonds

Family Resource Center

Teague Chevrolet

Check ’n Go

Dairy Queen of Mabank and Gun Barrel City

• Bronze-$150

Ashley Adams McKee

Ken’s Confront Zone

A Yankee Locksmith

Ruth Martin Insurance

John Sickle Law Firm

Day Tire

A+ Garage Door

Brookshire’s Food & Pharmacy

• $50 donations

Citizens State Bank-Athens

Walmart - Athens

Christian Life Center

Text Only
Local News
  • kengeeslin_profile.jpg Geeslin under fire

    Henderson County Attorney Clint Davis, has asked the Texas Rangers to look into a complaint filed against Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ken Geeslin by one of his employees. 
    Three witnesses agree that a verbal altercation occurred at the precinct barn on Jan. 11.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Juneteenth.JPG Early planning!

    It was  June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. A ship pulled into the Galveston port and Major Gen. Gordon Granger reads Orders, No. 3 to the people of Galveston.
    “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.  The freed men are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages.  They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
    With the reading of this order, slavery was ended in Texas, and Juneteenth was created.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Bro. Henry Lusk.jpg Remembering Pastor Lusk

    Henry Lusk was a man who sold hardware during the week, and preached about the carpenter of Nazareth on Sundays.
    Lusk died Wednesday after a bout with cancer. He had pastored the Athens Church of God for about 6-1/2 years, and was manager of Athens Lumber and Supply for 29 years. Church members remembered him Friday as a energetic Bible preacher and caring pastor.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-3 Rotary grant recipients pic.jpg Athens Rotary Club presents grants for public service

    The Athens Rotary Club presented grants to several organizations for their public service, Thursday. Pictured, left to right are club members and representatives of the organizations recognized. They are: Doug Scala, Rotary; Debbie Zea, Meals on Wheels; Mark Roberts, Henderson County Performing Arts Center; Ray Talbot, Labor of Love; Kathleen Lilly, Cain Foundation; Jean Riggs, Cain Center; Charla Hendrix, Leslie Saunders, Sarah Grey, Athens Independent School District; Carol Morton, Keep Athens Beautiful; Robert Nelson; Karen Whitton, Food Pantry; and Kyle Rocha, Cain Center.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Hampton.jpg Murder’s conviction affirmed by the Court of Appeals

    The Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler this week affirmed James Arlie Hampton’s murder conviction from December of 2010.
    Hampton was convicted, and sentenced to life in prison by a Henderson County jury for the murder of Corey David, who had been a guest in Hampton’s home. 

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Airport Board discusses Loop 7 sign

    The Athens Airport Advisory Board held a preliminary discussion on putting up a sign on Loop 7 at a regular session, Thursday.

    February 3, 2012

  • Oglesby..JPG Beloved teacher Oglesby dies suddenly

    An Athens Middle School teacher who died Wednesday from a recent illness cared about his craft, and the 8th graders he taught.
    Thomas Oglesby, 64, taught in the Athens Independent School District for more than 20 years.  He specialized in language arts, and even did a little coaching on the side.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Athens Rotary tenders grants

    The Athens Rotary Club gave grants to several organizations, Thursday, in recognition of community service.
      Robert Nelson presided over the presentation of gifts ranging from $500 to $1,500 to help the groups in their services which included endeavors like feeding the hungry, home improvement and community theater.

    February 2, 2012

  • Deputies answer call for stolen copper from Oncor in Mabank

    MABANK     — Henderson County Sheriff’s Department officers answered another call on Jan. 26 concerning the theft of still more copper wire, this time from Oncor at 13680 County Road 2925 in this community.

    February 2, 2012

  • Man, woman arrested for burglary north of Murchison

    Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call reporting trespassing on property north of Murchison Wednesday. The deputies arrested a man and a woman for burglary.

    February 2, 2012