Local authors publish book in memory of late woman’s impact on community:
For one local couple, the release of a new book by local authors Donna M. Kshir and Lee Cougardawn Roberts offers a welcomed form of comfort following the sudden passing of their daughter last year.
Reminding us that not a day goes by without some pain and sadness — but at the same time teaching them more than they ever thought was possible — Ken and Jen Schoonover, former Renovo residents who moved to Lock Haven, are understandably still just going through the motions. A tragic turn of events over just a few days saw their beloved daughter, Addison Deborah, diagnosed with a sinus infection which lead to her untimely death in just a matter of three days on Jan. 26, 2023. Fortunately the book, simply titled “Addison”, offers a form of comfort this Valentine’s Day. The book was compiled by Kshir and Roberts, following the creation of a website where family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances were asked to share photographs and memories of Addison. “She touched so many lives, we knew that already, but to actually see it in a book, on pages, including so many people that we never even knew she was having a positive influence on their lives is amazing,” the Schoonover’s said of the book. Addison was on the outside a completely healthy 24-year-old last January. She was very committed to her job at the Lycoming County SPCA, where her love of animals was able to guide her career. It really wasn’t work, taking care of animals and showing love to those that needed it, it was one of the things that she was meant to do. Despite doctors’ orders to stay home and rest from a sinus infection after mentioning that she didn’t feel well — since she had tested negative for COVID and didn’t want to miss work — she worked a double shift, wanting to work through the discomfort. The following morning Addison went into her parents’ bedroom, asking to go to the hospital because she was laboring to breathe. READ FULL STORY AT THE EXPRESS! |
Donna Kshir featured in new book.
“Conner's Law - Kentucky” goes on sale this Friday… and it has a connection to a local activist.
Fighting to change the law on any level is never an easy process. It can take years, and even then a majority of the time the proposed bill never makes it through the House of Representatives or sees its way to the Senate.
In December 2010, 2-year-old Conner Bachuss was abused so badly, he died from his injuries. The man charged, Ronald Sounder II, was his mother's live-in boyfriend at the time. Initially, Saunders was charged with murder, However, he took a plea deal for second-degree manslaughter. He would only serve 5.5 years of the 10-year sentence.
Seeking justice for her son, Mashanna Bachuss-Waggoner was looking for answers and stumbled upon a news article written by Donna M. Kshir in the Philadelphia Examiner. Unknowing to Bachuss-Waggoner at the time, Ms. Kshir was much more than a columnist, she had a long history of child advocacy; spending more than two decades fighting for children who have been physically and emotionally abused and/or sexually assaulted. The two women would become friends and she would use her influence in the growth of gaining national support for Conner's Law.
Conner's Law (KY SB102) would initially sit dormant for three years before it was signed into Kentucky state law by Governor Steven L. Beshear on Wednesday, March 25, 2015. The law requires a minimum sentence for manslaughter in the first degree to carry a 10-20-year sentence, which now includes fatal child abuse. The law requires 85 percent of the sentence to be served prior to release.
Writer S. Justice compiled the book from online sources, photographs, media outlets, and documents behind Conner's Law (KY SB102). The book documents the two moms' friendship and their journey to continue to be a voice against violence toward children, longer after Conner's Law was signed into legislation.
Bachauss-Waggoner said, "Donna Kshir is an advocate for abused children everywhere. She spreads awareness by using her voice to gain attention to child abuse cases. She worked diligently to spread awareness for Conner Bachuss’s case and for Conner’s Law. Donna wrote articles about the case and law, shared petitions, shared updates about the progress, and designed a website for Conner’s Coalition."
Along with Bachuss-Waggoner and Ms. Kshir who worked on this bill for 4 years, along with help from Senator Danny Carroll, Representative Gerald Watkins, Representative Steven Rudy, Will Coursey, Joni Jenkins, Richard Heath, Senator Whitney Westerfield, Representative John Tilley, Representative Thomas Kerr,. Jason Batts and Sheriff Jon Hayden of the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, her husband Eirik S. Waggoner and Bachuss-Waggoner's friends, family, and children.
Days before what would have been the Kentucky toddler's 9th birthday, Bachuss-Waggoner presented Ms. Kshir with a Letter of Recommendation for her work with Conner's Law - Kentucky.
Bachauss-Waggoner added, "Donna has given a voice to victims of child abuse and their families by writing countless articles and books. She also published and contributed to a series of books for victims and survivors called Unmasked and Unmasked 2. Donna Kshir is a pillar of her community for helping with several local projects. She has raised money and raised awareness for different issues in her community. She also started a local writing group to give people support and an outlet to express their selves. Donna has also partnered with other child abuse advocacy groups to spread awareness about child abuse. Donna Kshir has been a significant individual in awareness and growth for child abuse advocacy."
Books can be purchased on Amazon, Lulu, Barnes and Noble, and other brick-and-mortar stores.
Sources: Amazon and AU4H
Fighting to change the law on any level is never an easy process. It can take years, and even then a majority of the time the proposed bill never makes it through the House of Representatives or sees its way to the Senate.
In December 2010, 2-year-old Conner Bachuss was abused so badly, he died from his injuries. The man charged, Ronald Sounder II, was his mother's live-in boyfriend at the time. Initially, Saunders was charged with murder, However, he took a plea deal for second-degree manslaughter. He would only serve 5.5 years of the 10-year sentence.
Seeking justice for her son, Mashanna Bachuss-Waggoner was looking for answers and stumbled upon a news article written by Donna M. Kshir in the Philadelphia Examiner. Unknowing to Bachuss-Waggoner at the time, Ms. Kshir was much more than a columnist, she had a long history of child advocacy; spending more than two decades fighting for children who have been physically and emotionally abused and/or sexually assaulted. The two women would become friends and she would use her influence in the growth of gaining national support for Conner's Law.
Conner's Law (KY SB102) would initially sit dormant for three years before it was signed into Kentucky state law by Governor Steven L. Beshear on Wednesday, March 25, 2015. The law requires a minimum sentence for manslaughter in the first degree to carry a 10-20-year sentence, which now includes fatal child abuse. The law requires 85 percent of the sentence to be served prior to release.
Writer S. Justice compiled the book from online sources, photographs, media outlets, and documents behind Conner's Law (KY SB102). The book documents the two moms' friendship and their journey to continue to be a voice against violence toward children, longer after Conner's Law was signed into legislation.
Bachauss-Waggoner said, "Donna Kshir is an advocate for abused children everywhere. She spreads awareness by using her voice to gain attention to child abuse cases. She worked diligently to spread awareness for Conner Bachuss’s case and for Conner’s Law. Donna wrote articles about the case and law, shared petitions, shared updates about the progress, and designed a website for Conner’s Coalition."
Along with Bachuss-Waggoner and Ms. Kshir who worked on this bill for 4 years, along with help from Senator Danny Carroll, Representative Gerald Watkins, Representative Steven Rudy, Will Coursey, Joni Jenkins, Richard Heath, Senator Whitney Westerfield, Representative John Tilley, Representative Thomas Kerr,. Jason Batts and Sheriff Jon Hayden of the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, her husband Eirik S. Waggoner and Bachuss-Waggoner's friends, family, and children.
Days before what would have been the Kentucky toddler's 9th birthday, Bachuss-Waggoner presented Ms. Kshir with a Letter of Recommendation for her work with Conner's Law - Kentucky.
Bachauss-Waggoner added, "Donna has given a voice to victims of child abuse and their families by writing countless articles and books. She also published and contributed to a series of books for victims and survivors called Unmasked and Unmasked 2. Donna Kshir is a pillar of her community for helping with several local projects. She has raised money and raised awareness for different issues in her community. She also started a local writing group to give people support and an outlet to express their selves. Donna has also partnered with other child abuse advocacy groups to spread awareness about child abuse. Donna Kshir has been a significant individual in awareness and growth for child abuse advocacy."
Books can be purchased on Amazon, Lulu, Barnes and Noble, and other brick-and-mortar stores.
Sources: Amazon and AU4H