Western North Carolina Community Action Site

Your CAS Leader is Ellen Mackey

Serving Haywood, Buncombe, and Henderson Counties.

For information or to volunteer, please call our new MADD line for Western NC CAS:  828-926-9372 

‘AN EVENING OF REMEMBRANCE”

The December 2, 2006, Candlelight Service in Sylva, NC, was a beautifully poignant event.

 A white candle was lit by Sasha Benfield in remembrance of her deceased fiancé, Beau Garland Devlin, killed at age 18, and for all other persons who have died as a result of impaired driving. She was accompanied by Rebecca Justice, mother of Joshua Aaron Trantham, killed July 24, 2004, at age 16 , by a repeat offender drunk driver.. They were escorted by Lieutenant Brian Beck of Waynesville PD.

A red candle was lit by Chief Scott Sutton of Maggie Valley PD in honor of Michael and Freda Morris who are slowly recovering from injuries sustained in October, 2006, in a violent collision with a repeat offender. Freda’s mother was killed in the crash.

A blue candle was lit by Brenda East, mother of NC SHP Trooper Anthony G. Cogdill, killed May 30, 2003, by a driver with a measurable amount of an illegal drug in his blood.

For the first time, an ivory candle was lit as a symbol of hope to the hundreds of children who are riding with impaired drivers across the country every day and every night. This “Children’s Candle’ was lit by Macon County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Hoover whose controversial arrest back in the fall resulted in a heightened awareness to the plight of endangered children in his community.

NC SHP Trooper Mike Gahagan was presented the DWI Hero Award and Waynesville PD received the Top DWI Local Enforcing Agency Award.

WNC crime victims were supported by District Attorney Mike Bonfoey and his staff, staff from District Attorney Ron Moore’s office, House Representative Ray Rapp, Senator John Snow, Sheriff Jimmy Ashe, Sheriff Robbie Holland, NC SHP Troop G, Waynesville PD, MVPD, Canton PD, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Chaplaincy, NC Wildlife, Asheville PD, Jeff Henderson, Ingle’s, NC Conference of District Attorneys,   NC Forensic Tests for Alcohol, GHSP, NC ALE. WCU Police, Franklin PD, Murphy PD, and many other members of the law enforcement and civilian communities.

We are grateful to SCC for their hospitality.

Thanks to Craig Lloyd, Executive Director MADD-NC and to Diane Keener whose beautiful music made this a very special event.

A special thanks to Tonya Skinner of Forensic Tests for Alcohol whose extraordinary compassion for victims and their families lifts us all up to another place and to Russell for all his logistical help and for keeping us all warm with coffee, hot chocolate, and gloves.

Ellen Mackey

MADD-WNC

Western Region

Our mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and to prevent underage drinking.

Your CAS Leader can always use your help with events and suggestions.  Please contact her with your ideas.