The Leaf-Chronicle from Clarksville, Tennessee • Page E4

4 COMMUNITY CHRONICLE TUESDAY, 16, 2012 NEWS Down syndrome families start new support group Event this weekend to promote special needs awareness for the future are under way. The organization will serve families in Montgomery and surrounding counties, plus Fort Campbell and Hopkinsville, Ky. All money raised from events will remain in the local area. One monthly activity has already started. On a chosen Saturday, parents and children come together, giving the children an opportunity to play while the parents socialize and discuss items of interest.

On Saturday, Oct. 13, CADS will host the Community Cares Walk and Expo. The event, at Liberty Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will include health providers and vendors who can answer questions and provide information about health issues and special needs. The cause of Down syndrome is still unknown.

It involves an extra chromosome, but other medical facts remain a mystery. It affects approximately 400,000 children and adults in the U.S., at a rate of 1 in 691 births. Ben Hanna is 6 years old, full of energy, ready with questions, and will the incoming and outgoing of troops with families at Fort Campbell. Military families are in a constant state of flux, and oftentimes the commitment of energy and time is not there. The support group struggled, and this was part of the reason, but not the only reason.

Having learned from this early experience, Tricia knew there were families in the Clarksville area who were raising a Down syndrome child. These parents were facing the same challenges and dealing with the same issues as the Hanna family. At the urging of Doug, Tricia decided to re-start the group. CADS, or Clarksville Association for Down Syndrome, is once again an active group. They've filed for nonprofit status and Tricia has agreed to serve as executive director.

The organization is off to a solid start with 42 families joined up. Plans By Tim Parrish For The Leaf-Chronicle CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. Men like to fix things. It's just their nature. For a man, especially a dad, successfully fixing something can be like winning the Super Bowl for his family.

For Doug Hanna, not being able to fix a particular situation proved hard to handle. "I couldn't fix Down syndrome. That was difficult to deal with it," he said. "I couldn't fix it, but I sure could learn about it, and my wife and I could make sure our son, Ben, was loved, cared for, and provided the same opportunities as other children." When Tricia Hanna, Doug's wife, formed a support group three years ago for Down syndrome families, it proved to be a big challenge. A significant hurdle faced by health-issue support groups in Clarksville is The Hanna family, Ben, Doug; Logan, 10; and Tricia.

for the leaf-chronicletonycentonze something that requires additional knowledge and a commitment to work harder on behalf of your son or daughter." In describing a major goal of the new organization, Tricia and Doug Hanna agreed: "We want to educate people to the differences that exist among special needs children, and we want to get rid of the stereotypes that still exist." ing to share his unconditional love and high-spirited self with others. He has brought a richness and love to the Hanna family that they celebrate. There are four distinct function levels for Down syndrome individuals. Some have a dual-diagnosis, such as Down syndrome and autism. "This is not something that new parents should fear," said Tricia, "but Karen Willis county's first black female assistant DA Put herself through law school as working, homeschooling single mom Karen Willis repeats the oath given by Judge Mike R.

Jones black female assistant district attorney in Montgomery and serve as a U.S. attorney assistant for Middle Tennessee, the FOR MORE To learn more about Down Syndrome, CADS, or the Community Cares Walk Expo, contact Tricia Hanna by e-mail at cadstnhotmail.com, by phone at 624-1693, or visit the website at www.cadstn.org. Tim Parrish Freelance writer newstheleafchronicle.com "She's a wonderful person and will be a great addition to our staff." DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN CARNEY "I'm that real corny old-school person who really loves the law no matter what side of the law." KAREN WILLIS matter what side of the law. I'm still defending the Constitution and doing what the Constitution says and upholding the law." Making history A picture of General Quarles Boyd, the first black attorney in Clarksville, hangs on the wall of a Montgomery County court conference room. Willis passed through the door, stopped and read Boyd's biography as the first black attorney in Clarksville, known for his brilliance and knowledge of the law in the 1890s.

In many ways, Boyd was a trailblazer, and more than 115 years later, Willis set a new milestone for Clarksville, becoming the first black female assistant DA. "I think it's great not just for myself but for other people," Willis said. "I didn't grow up to seeing it. I graduated from here. I didn't see it on TV.

It took me until I was 30 to realize I could do it, and if someone younger can see we have a black attorney or assistant district attorney and they can see it as attainable and know they can do that too, I'm glad to be a part of that." Tavia D. Green, 245-0742 Higher educationcourts reporter taviagreentheleafchronicle.com GOOD HOUSEKEEPING Slnca 1909 Endorsed by Dave Ramsey details. "Not only do we stand behind our stand on them!" Local Owner. Michael Hoover By Tavia D. Green Leaf-Chronicle CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.

A smile spread across Karen Willis' face Friday morning as she repeated the oath given by Judge Mike R. Jones and joined the 15 assistant district attorneys in the 19th Judicial District, making history in the process. Willis, 41, was sworn in Friday as the first black female assistant DA in Montgomery and Robertson County. She will also serve as a U.S. assistant attorney for Middle Tennessee.

"It's a very historical moment for Clarksville and our office," District Attorney John Carney said. "She's a wonderful person and will be a great addition to our staff." Willis will specialize in the prosecuting of federal gun and drug cases and will work with the U.S. district attorney of Middle Tennessee and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to put violent criminals in prison. For Willis, the milestone is one she once couldn't fathom. The single mother's journey to be a prosecutor included hard work and perseverance.

"This is a step up the ladder," WiUis said. "I have a purpose and goal, and things have fallen into place without me knowing Several pit stops For many years, Willis ignored her dream of being an attorney. She made many pit stops along the way until she was challenged to believe in herself. At 18 years old, the Montgomery Central High School graduate joined the U.S. Navy and became an electrician.

She was in the Navy for five years, serving eight months in Desert Storm before having her only child, Terrale M. Willis, and moving to Alexandria, with supportive family. "I loved the structure, the travel and the discipline of the Navy," Willis said. "It gave you a purpose. You knew what was required of you." In Louisiana, she became a jail booking clerk and later an officer at the Crescent City Police Department.

"It was my first taste of the law," Willis said. "I love the law. I love everything about it. Growing up from 12 years old, I used to run home to watch "Perry Mason." It was something about the law. I didn't think I could go to law school, and enforcement was the closest I could get.

I was scared to go to law school." In 1997, Willis and her son moved to Clarksville, and she enrolled at Austin Peay State University majoring in accounting. "Every time someone would ask me what I was in school for, I would say accounting, but there was no joy. It's not what I really wanted to do. The same person who talked me into going to college asked me what I really wanted to do. It was hard for me to get it out, because I had never spoken it to anyone.

I said I would be an attorney. "Literally from saying it, it sparked something. It became alive for me." On track Willis changed her major to sociology and public management, graduated cum laude at APSU in 2002 and enrolled in Nashville Law School. While working toward her career goals, her No. 1 goal was being a good mother.

She home-schooled her son and focused on raising him to be a strong and hard-working young man. All Brick Home on Basement Plus a 2-Car Garage Up. Located in the Heart of Sango on a Dead End Cul de Sac wLush Landscaping Screened Deck Overlooking Your Private Wooded Back Yard. Lots of Hardwood Tile Floors, Central Vacuum, Double Ovens, Full House Stereo, Zone HVAC, Walk-In Closets, Front Back Sprinklers Much, Much More. You Must Come Friday.

Willis, 41, is the first Robertson County and will leaf chroniclegreg Williamson "I saw my name. I didn't think. I just stared," Willis said. "I called my son down. I said, 'Terrale, do you think there could be another Karen Willis in He was 10 or 11 years old then, and he said, 'No Mom, that's I was still in shock." Willis immediately began applying for jobs just to realize that becoming an attorney was only half the battle.

"I sent out about 56 resumes to local and Nashville law firms, and 56 came back, saying "Sorry not at this time," Willis said. "It was disheartening. A part of me knew I was supposed to open my own office, but again it was fear. I went and made these cheesy business cards and I passed them out. I would meet people at the library, the courthouse.

By April 2007, 1 moved into my own office." Willis said she's defended between 500 and 1,000 clients in her six years of business. "I love being an attorney," Willis said. "It's not as glamorous as it is on TV, but I wouldn't do anything different. I love helping people who can't help themselves. I love speaking for people real people who are in need.

"I'm that real corny old-school person who really loves the law no "We struggled together. We would sit and dream together. It was for a purpose. We weren't struggling just to struggle. I was hoping to do better and be better," Willis said.

"He saw that with hard work anything can be accomplished. It has helped him. He's in school full-time, works full-time and he sees the payoff of hard work. It's not going to come easy, but if you work it, you will get a reward for it." Her son, now 20, watched as his mother was sworn in. "I'm very proud of her," Terrale Willis said.

"It's an amazing feeling. Watching her go through law school when I was young, to see the difficulties she faced, I'm honored to have someone so close to me accomplish so much. I think as far as going after your dreams, she is a true example." Law school The first few years of law school brought many hardships emotionally and financially as she paid for expenses, raised her son and worked as a 911 dispatcher and substitute teacher. She often questioned whether she could accomplish the huge undertaking. "I had great teachers, great classes, but law school was a terror.

The first year was because of me and my mind still asking, 'Am I smart enough? Am I good Willis said. "I was the quietest person in the school for two years, they said. I was absorbing. I was afraid to speak. I was very intimidated.

We started out with 10 African-Americans in my class. By the time I graduated, there were three." On the first day of final exams, Willis was met with crushing news. Her father, Charles E. Willis, 56, had lost his battle with cancer. "My father passed my first year in law school," Willis said, her voice thick with emotion.

"He always had confidence in me. Whenever I felt I couldn't do it, I would think about my dad. "I had to get money from him one month to pay for law school. He said, 'Karen I am giving this to you as a He said, 'I'm betting that you can do this for you and your In 2006, it came time to prove her father right and take the bar exam. Willis and her best friend and study partner Mitzi Loveless studied 17 hours a day for three weeks to prepare.

Willis then waited 13 weeks for the results to be scored and posted online. J. i I I I I I I m. I I I I I Aft ATnftf JMlilry G'leruuke gS 18ft CLW a. "1-1 I insiiatM '5f kJ Del Teeter iiisiaiicu 'Maximum slze4ftx6ft Ask for s.

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