Page 9 - November 08, 2017 Magazine Style Full page issue

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Living Safe thinking that would be notification well as the connection of the stand to the
It’s that time enough; it was not. I never blamed this tree. If a problem is noted, I will attempt
to fix it. If it cannot be fixed, I will not
individual for my accident, but I do
believe that this accident might have
climb it. I will then notify someone in
been prevented. I was transported to the club with where I am hunting with
By Pete Hypes
Chippenham Hospital, where I learned that the problem exists. If the stand,
hough it was fifteen years ago, I portion of my left arm. I was lying on that I had suffered a severely broken is good to climb, I do so intentionally,
focused on the task at hand. Once I get
collar bone, front and back, and that my
remember the second Saturday my back, unsure whether I was hurt.
Tof the 2002 black powder Once I rolled over attempting to get up, hunting season was over. to the top of the stand, I immediately
What is different fifteen years later?
secure my harness to the tree. I do
season like it was yesterday. It was a I knew that I was hurt. My truck was First, I am still climbing tree stands. I not hoist a loaded gun into the stand;
beautiful, crisp morning. I got to my about 200 yards away, and it was all I now wear a full body harness every time loaded defined as ready to fire. Once I
stand just before first light, and I had could do to get there. When I got to my that I climb a tree stand. I spend a bit of get everything up and into the stand, I
great expectations for that morning. It truck, I laid across my seat until I had time checking the stand that I will climb. move as little as possible. Descending
was a requirement of our hunt club that recovered a bit. Incidentally, I had no I check the stability of the ladder, as the stand has to be as methodical as
you had to be in an elevated stand or two-way radio or cell phone with me. climbing the stand.
an elevated position to black powder All that I could think to do was blow Accountability is an important
hunt. My stand for that morning was a the horn on my truck. No one came to improvement that has been made in
wooden stand that rose above a creek my distress signal. I decided to drive Obituary hunting. The club that I used to be in had
in what was known as Upper Malvern. to a road a hunt club member had gone an accountability board and logbook.
I saw the seat on the ground, but did down. He was walking up the road The club that I am in now requires that
not think anything of it. I would have when I got there; he had heard my horn you sign in at the entrance to the place
to climb the ladder twice that morning, blasts. At that point, I had nothing left. where you are going to hunt. Many
due to the number of things that I had There is no great time to say this, but hunters text other hunters to let them
to get to the platform. Climb No. 1 this is important to what I have learned know where they are hunting, since
was uneventful. Climb No. 2 would be this same thing had happened to the family members will not understand the
life-altering. I had just made it to the person who climbed this stand the night names given to hunting locations. We
platform when the ladder broke loose before, but he did not fall. He pulled also use personal two-way radios, and
from the ground, swinging under the the ladder back, securing it as best everyone now carries a cell phone. It
platform. I was not ready for this to as he could and left it, not notifying is important to know what you will do
happen, and I was thrown about eight anyone that this stand should not be when you fall and load your harness.
feet to the ground. I fell to my left side, used in until repaired or replaced. He I cannot stress the importance of
striking a small stump with the upper had placed the seat on the ground,
MARIE A. ALBIN overall hunter safety and especially tree
stand safety. I was fortunate to live to
RECENTLY DECEASED Marie A. Albin, 90, of Chester, tell my story. The same day that I had

joyfully went to Heaven on Saturday, my accident, a man fell from a stand in
ADAMS, Ms. Clara Mae, 77, of Chester. November 4, 2017 and is casting Powhatan and, if I remember correctly,
ANDREWS, Mrs. Eva E., 69, of North Chesterfield, widow of James Luther Andrews. her crowns at the feet of Jesus. broke both of his femurs. One of the
BARNES, Mrs. Betty M., 78, of Chesterfield, widow of Robert Barnes. She is survived by her daughters, last calls that I ran as a fire lieutenant
BROWN, Mrs. Joan Wilkins, 77, of North Chesterfield, widow of Edward E. Brown. Cheryl Willis and April Miller; was to assist game wardens with an
DUNN, Mr. Vernon Roger Jr., 70, of Chesterfield. son, Marcus Albin; grandchildren, investigation after a man fell to his
EDWARDS, Mrs. Jo Ann Martin, 77, of North Chesterfield, widow of Roger David Michelle, Dana, Adam, Jordan, Eric death from a self-climbing tree stand.
Edwards. and Shane; four great-grandchildren Hunting is a great sport, but there are
EHRGOTT, Mrs. Sylvia Asbell, 84, of North Chesterfield, wife of Walter Ehrgott. and two great-great grandchildren. inherent dangers. We must keep our
ESTES, Mrs. Audrey Faris, 92, of Chesterfield, widow of W. Elwood Estes. She was preceded in death by her heads in the game. In one moment,
GONGAWARE, Mr. Christopher, 53, of North Chesterfield, partner of Sergey beloved husband, Bill Albin. Her in 2002, I became a hunting statistic,
Drobchenko. graveside service will be held at 3 missed two months from my job, had
HAYWOOD, Mrs. Lynda Allen, 77, of North Chesterfield, wife of Robert D. Haywood. p.m. on Wednesday, November 8, a tree named Pete’s Tree, and made it
HOLLOWAY, Mrs. Donna Jean, of Chesterfield, widow of James Holloway II. 2017 at Sunset Memorial Park. In into the last chapter of a man’s book;
LANIER, Dr. Daniel Jr., 84, of Chester, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, husband of lieu of flowers the family requests I would rather have seen what would
Kay Franklin Lanier. memorial contributions be made to come by that morning. Be careful and
LEBER, Mr. James Edward, 75, of Chester, a Navy veteran, widower of Bonnie have a great season!
Leber.
LEE, Ms. Evelyn Deloris, 75, of Chesterfield. Paying Cash!
LEONOWICZ, Mrs. Dana Lewis Haun, 70, of Chesterfield, wife of Donnie Leonowicz.
MC CALL, Mrs. Suzanne Shindel, of Chesterfield.
MITCHELL, Mr. Wyatt Douglas, 61, of Chesterfield, husband of Kimberly Nikole Gold, Silver, and Platinum .
Welsh Mitchell. BUYING KENNEDY HALVES 1965 TO 1969 *CALL FOR PRICE*
MORRISON, Mr. Harry Kendall, 77, of North Chesterfield, a military veteran,
husband of Brenda G. Morrison. Village Coin is paying top dollar for your jewelry
MOSELEY, Mr. Chazaray Danilo “Slim,” 28, of North Chesterfield. and anything gold, silver, or platinum.
PETERS, Mrs. Marie June Belles, 91, of Chester, widow of Lester William Peters Jr. WE BUY & SELL ALL
REA, Mr. Fred W., 95, of North Chesterfield, a World War II veteran, husband of UNITED STATES
Mary “Sally” Rea.
RUSSELL, Mrs. Margaret Ann Eggleston, 83, of Chester, wife of Wilson S. Russell. GOLD & SILVER COINS
SHERRILL, Mr. Robert Edward Sr., 75, of Chester, an Air Force veteran, husband of Licensed and Bonded. Serving the Same Location for 32Years
Edna L. Sherrill.
SMITH, Ms. Lucy Catherine, of North Chesterfield. Village Coin
STEELE, Mr. Ted Warren, 74, of Chesterfield, husband of Dianne Kennedy Steele. 1910 Boulevard, Colonial Heights
WHITE, Mrs. Annette Marie, 90, of Chester, widow of Harold E. White. (Corner of Temple Ave. & Boulevard, two story building w/maroon awnings)
WRAY, Mr. Roy M., 88, of North Chesterfield, an Army veteran, widower of Billie 520-4949
Dee Wray.
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