Sidney Herald

Roughly 140 people in Richland County walked away more self aware, more confident and a little more prepared to defend themselves after Saturday’s free self defense seminar.

Like Kathy Deboever, a recent resident to Sidney from Fort Benton, who moved here with her husband to work in the oil field. Deboever said she’s been frightened ever since Sidney High School teacher Sherry Arnold’s disappearance. Immediately after she went missing, Deboever bought a stun gun. She attended Saturday’s session alone, having heard about it only one day before. “I have a dog that I walk every day, and since this incident happened, it’s woke me up,” she said. “I’m a lot more aware of my surroundings now.”

The woman picked up a number of pamphlets from groups who had set up booths; she said she felt better after hearing how she can better protect herself. “This is a good deal,” she said.

Clearly more edgy and nervous about potential dangers in the small communities here since the Arnold case, local residents, mostly women but also a few men who brought their daughters, attended a three-hour session put on by the Injury Prevention Coalition. The coalition was joined by representatives from STAND, Neighborhood Watch, HealthWorks, Sidney Health Center and Damsel in Defense, the self-defense products line geared toward women, whose booth was busy selling women stun guns and pepper spray.

“They do need to be educated, know they can go out and defend themselves, and that’s what we’re here for today,” Karen Ballentine, master Tae Kwon Do instructor with the Eastern Montana Martial Arts in Glendive, said. Saturday was all about learning tools to protect oneself.

See something

say something

Justice of the Peace Greg Mohr, in his “see something say something” presentation, told attendees to pay attention to their surroundings, and if something – whatever it may be – just doesn’t seem right, take action. Pay attention to the “who, what, when, where and why” of that particular situation. Who’s involved, what’s involved, when it took place, where it took place and why it’s bothersome. “If it’s enough to keep gnawing at you, report it, or at least write it down,” Mohr said. “It’s the little bitty things that make a difference.”

Mohr said it’s been the many tips that have helped in the Arnold case. “Everybody knows now that people are paying attention with their tips,” he said.

If something seems “off,” such as one such incident in which a report from a citizen recently who told police they saw a group of people standing outside a bar, gathered around a vehicle in the early morning hours on Central Avenue. The result was a theft arrest.

Maybe there’s something about a vehicle in which case look at the color, the license plate (especially if it’s personalized) and any identifying stickers. It may come in handy if law enforcement ask for the public’s help.

Tips for safety

In any case, stay away from what appears to be a threatening situation and trust one’s gut, Mary Friesz, Injury Prevention specialist, said. When in public, walk “tall” and with confidence. If one feels they’re being followed, Friesz encouraged them to turn in a direction where there are more people. A person may even want to attract attention by turning around to the person they believe is following them and ask in a loud voice why they’re following. “Get others’ attention. People are going to notice and people are going to come to your assistance just like you would go to their assistance,” Friesz said.

Neighbors are encouraged to watch out for each other, as are coworkers, especially in the dark and when people are scarce in numbers.

Safety also applies to cyber space. An estimated 78 percent of burglars use social media networks to target their victims, so Friesz warned not to “advertise.” That means avoid sharing when one will be alone at home for the evening or when the house will be empty. Also remember to set privacy to “friends only.”

Getting to know your neighbors can also improve safety in neighborhoods. Get to know their routines and the vehicles they drive. “It’s being nosy, but we’re also looking out for each other,” she said. “Let’s take back our community.”

Self defend

Sometimes unfortunate, things happen. Situations that one never expected. But there are ways to be ready. “There’s not a bad guy around every corner,” Ballentine said. “This is a terrible thing that happened in your community, but you need to move forward, you need to be confident and you need to empower yourself.”

Joined by a handful of her martial arts students acting as instructors, Ballentine showed those who volunteered various basic self defense moves while encouraging them to listen to their gut, a move in itself that can save one’s life.

A person doesn’t need to purchase weaponry to protect themselves, as participants learned. Making a proper fist and learning to throw a punch, using fingernails, using two fingers in the eyes or a thumb, a palm strike in the nose or an elbow, followed by a kick to the groin, were all taught and practiced by the almost 100 people who volunteered. “We have lots of weapons on our body,” Ballentine said, “and you never, never give up when you’re fighting for your life.”

Saturday’s day of self defense and of self awareness was much about turning a tragedy into something that can be used in a positive light. “We will never be the same, but as I’ve said before, that doesn’t mean we have to give up,” Sidney Mayor Bret Smelser said, nor does it mean “this community is going to fold up, tuck its tail and run. That means that this community going to work harder at what we do to make things better.”

Smelser, who said he was proud of the residents for their response in the aftermath, encouraged attendees to welcome new people into the area to create opportunities for positive change. “Let that angst, maybe that lack of security you feel now, build that spark to create something better for Sidney,” he said.

For more information on how to protect oneself, call the Injury Prevention Coalition at 433-2207.

reporter@sidneyherald.com