The Woodward News

Local News

January 11, 2009

Seminar planned on stalking awareness

Stalking victims “live in fear.”

“Some can’t even lay down to go to sleep at night because they fear their stalker will break in,” said Janet Fitz, volunteer coordinator for Northwest Domestic Crisis Services (NWDCS).

This fear is justified, Fitz said, noting that if stalking goes unchecked “most of the time it leads to a violent crime, such as murder or rape or beatings.”

However, there are places that victims can turn to for help, she said, noting Northwest Domestic Crisis Services is “one of those agencies that do help them.”

It is with the purpose of letting victims know where they can turn to as well increasing public knowledge about this serious issue that Northwest Domestic Crisis Services is sponsoring a special stalking awareness seminar Wednesday evening at Northwestern State University’s Woodward campus.

The domestic crisis center is sponsoring the seminar now because January is Stalking Awareness Month, Fitz said.

The first thing people need to know about stalking is that it does happen, even in Woodward, she said.

“I don’t think a lot of people do know it happens here,” Fitz said. “A lot think we’re in Northwest Oklahoma and we’re oblivious to these crimes that happen in larger cities.

“They’re wrong. The officer shooting earlier this week shows that.”

After understanding that stalking is a reality, Fitz said people should know that “stalking can happen any time by any person.”

She shared a story from the 1970s where a woman, who visited the same filling station every week, was stalked by a man who worked there. Eventually the man’s obsession became so strong that “he ended up hurting her.”

“It just started as a regular person buying gas, but it turned into a nightmare for her,” Fitz said.

Fitz plans on discussing more about the “Who, When, Where & Why” of stalking during Wednesday’s seminar.

Brandi Kowing, a therapist at Northwest Domestic Crisis Services, is also slated to speak during the seminar.

“She will explain what to do from the beginning of being stalked to hopefully when it ends,” Fitz said.

“We want to bring it to the public so that if they feel like they are in any danger whatsoever, they will report it to the authorities,” she said.

While there was a time that stalking victims might not have found much refuge in the law, Fitz said, “we are seeing law enforcement officers using stalking laws more often now.”

In addition, she said laws have gotten more stringent over the years to allow more protection for victims.

Seminar attendees will be provided with copies of Oklahoma’s current stalking and harassment laws so they can see just how much protection is available, Fitz said.

The stalking awareness seminar will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 118 of the NWOSU Woodward Campus.

For more information about the seminar, contact 256-1215.

“We hope that people really do come out for this,” Fitz said, noting that she hopes to make the seminar an annual event so that this important issue doesn’t go overlooked in the future.

In addition, she hopes that the seminar will help someone find the relief they need from a life of fear.

"If we can save just one person's life, it's all worth it," she said.

Text Only
Local News
  • VFW to hold Memorial Day ceremony

    Memorial Day is a day for people to remember and honor those who have fought and fallen in all of our nation's wars.

    May 26, 2012

  • Voter registration deadline approaching

    Those wanting cast a ballot in the June 26 Primary Election need to be registered to vote by June 1.

    May 26, 2012

  • Alabaster Caverns sets science camp

    FREEDOM - Alabaster Caverns State Park and the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) are teaming up to provide a summer science camp.

    May 26, 2012

  • Giving kids a reason to smile

    SHARON - An area organization wants to give children affected by the April 15 tornado a reason to smile.
    Knowing how much many families lost during the tornado, the newly formed "Make a Child Smile" program seeks to help replace the children's beloved items that were stolen by the storm.

    May 25, 2012

  • Oklahoma House narrowly passes annual budget bill

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma House on Thursday narrowly approved a $6.8 billion general appropriations bill to fund state government, just hours after the same bill failed, avoiding the need to return for a special session.

    May 25, 2012

  • Farmer’s Market opening up Saturday

    The Woodward Farmer's Market Association will be back this summer.

    May 25, 2012

  • Officials expect busy weekend on highways


    OKLAHOMA CITY -  AAA Oklahoma expects over 500,000 state residents to be on the road for the Memorial Day holiday. That's a 2.2 percent increase from last year, said Chuck Mai, AAA public affairs vice president.
     

    May 24, 2012

  • Busy summer at library

    The Woodward Public Library will be staying busy in months to come with several summer reading programs.

    May 24, 2012

  • Quinlan event set

    QUINLAN - The annual Quinlan Alumni and Former Quinlan Students' covered dish supper is Saturday at the Quinlan Fellowship Hall.

    May 24, 2012

  • Big numbers expected at area lakes, state parks

    Memorial Day weekend is the annual kickoff of the summer season and area parks and recreation areas are expecting big numbers of visitors, including Fort Supply Lake.

    May 23, 2012