Shattered hopes and dreams ...
Whitehouse community suffers triple loss
Story by Suzanne Loudamy
Whitehouse ISD suffered a triple loss this past week. Three young lives were taken in separate incidents over a five-day period.

Alex Fleming

On the evening of May 8, WHS junior Alex Fleming was killed in an auto crash on Bascom Road just north of the Whitehouse city limits at Hillcreek Road.

Alex was described as the model student by his teachers and administrators at WHS. His band director, Denny Whitley, stated that Alex was the kind of kid you dream of as an educator. Alex leaves quite a legacy for his young years here on earth. He also leaves a loving, yet grieving, family and a host of friends.

The following day, teachers and students at Holloway Middle School were stunned to hear of the death of fifthgrade student Kezia Ross. The cause of her death is still under investigation. Kezia's teachers remember her for her smile and laughter.

Over the weekend, 2006 WHS graduate Trey Bernholtz died in a car crash on FM 756 (Paluxy) near Whitehouse. According to a report filed by Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Barry Evens, the 2007 Nissan pickup, traveling at a high rate of speed, left the roadway and crashed into several trees. Trey had just completed Tulsa Welding School and had purchased a home near his parents. Friends and family

Kezia Ross

alike say he had a bright future. (See page 2A for obituaries.)

Many in Whitehouse are still trying to catch their breath with all this tragedy coming in such a short time.

Richard Peacock, executive director of student and support services at Whitehouse ISD, said that the students are taking advantage of the counseling begin offered, but are doing very well. Many of the area's youth pastors were called upon to join school counselors to help students deal with the sudden deaths of their classmates and friends.

"The events of the past week, that have resulted in the loss of one former and two current WISD students, have been difficult for our district," Peacock said. "These losses have affected many students and staff throughout the district. Our thoughts and prayers go to each of the families during this time of loss."

Trey Bernholtz

Unfortunately, Whitehouse has dealt with several young people's deaths by car crashes in the past ten years. Eric Forbis, Michelle Garlock, Scottie Baker, Adam Baldwin, Tiffany Zanolini, Ashley McCaa, Bubba Hardin, Kenny LaGrone, Lee Smith, Tiffany Johnston and Ryszard Spakousky are all names that come to mind. And there are others.

These young lives were cut short for a variety of reasons and under a variety of circumstances. Regrettably too many of them were directly or indirectly caused by speed or alcohol/ drug impairment.

Each year, more than 2,200 teens ages 15 to 20 years old die in alcohol related traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Smith County leads 49 neighboring counties in fa- talities in alcohol related crashes.

In 2003, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of death for the age group 4 through 34. Because of the young lives consumed, motor vehicle traffic crashes ranked third overall in terms of the years of life lost, i.e., the number of remaining years that the person is expected to have lived had they not died, behind only cancer and diseases of the heart.

Baker

"I've worked in law enforcement for 33 years in this county," said Rick Waller, Whitehouse police chief. "I've seen lots of wrecks involving young people. Most of the time (the crash) could have been prevented."

Waller continued with the fact of how many distractions are in vehicles these days. Cell phones, text messaging, audio systems and even eating while driving are all enormous distractions.

"Even when you're looking at the road, if you are on the cell phone or fooling with the radio, you're mind is not on driving," Waller said. It's those kinds of diversions that lead to lifeending mistakes.

"Any time you leave the roadway, the actions of the car are unpredictable," Waller went on to say. "The driver just has to take care."

Reports from NHTSA show that there is an increasing trend in speeding related fatalities for most "rural" roadway functional classes since 2000. Driving the roads of East Texas, everyone must take that extra care.

Zanolini

The parents and friends of these who have departed too soon had great hopes and dreams for them. Those dreams were instantly dashed, but hope remains, hope that it will be a very long time before Whitehouse sees this much loss again.

Spakousky Garlock Johnston Smith LaGrone Baldwin McCaa Hardin Forbis