Bad Kitty's Cage

Where to begin... As most of you probably already know, i had a last minute trip to cincy last week for a funeral. ive never been to a funeral before and had definitely never seen a dead body. Who would have thought that my first one would be someone younger than me? On October 17th at approximately 2:30 am, Stephen Anthony Schmits was in a head on collision with a drunk driver with three previous DUI’s. how does someone like that still have a license? Just proves once again how screwed up our system really is.

All in all, it was a good trip home. It was really great to see all of my friends, especially the ones I haven’t seen since high school, and I got to see a new baby. Its just too bad it wasn’t under better circumstances.

So, now im back in CO and back at work and I miss everyone and wish I was back in OH. Oh well…

Here are some of the newspaper clippings, incase your interested…

Driver in fatal wreck has DWIs. The driver of a car in fatal wrong-way Interstate 40 crash had a history of DWI convictions, authorities said. Glenda James, 47, had three previous DWI convictions, in 1986, 1988 and 1997. Toxicology tests from Tuesday's accident aren't complete. Stephen Schmits, 25, was killed instantly when his westbound car was struck about 2:40 a.m. Tuesday by a car driving east. Stephen Schmits' uncle, Matt Johnson, said the family is having trouble coming to grips with a life cut short by someone with a history of drunken driving. He wants the public and policymakers to share his family's pain.

"This isn't an accident," Johnson said. "This lady made a conscious choice to drink and then get behind the wheel and snuff out a young kid's life who was just starting to spread his wings."

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, and both vehicles were total losses, police said.
"Her car was going the wrong way on I-40 and smashed head-on into his vehicle. At this time, we don't know where she got on I-40 the wrong way, and we don't know why," said Kammie Michael, a spokeswoman for the Durham Police Department.
Mary Watson, James' mother, said her daughter had a drinking problem. Watson said she had spoken with her daughter by phone Monday morning and could tell that she had been drinking.
Stephen Anthony Schmits, 25, of Cary, died Tuesday morning.
He is survived by his mother and father, Grace and Scott schmits; brothers, Scott and Alex schmits and Serenity; maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather.
Funeral services will be held later in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Obituaries
Stephen A. Schmits (June 26, 1981 - October 17, 2006) Guest Book Sign Guest Book Send Private Condolences
Schmits, Stephen A., loving son of Scott D. Schmits., Sr. and Grace L. Schmits (nee Johnson) , beloved brother of Scott D. Jr. and Alex P. Schmits, and dear grandson of Jeanne Johnson and the late Dr. John Robert Johnson and Donald W. Schmits and the late Juanita Schmits. Also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins, Tuesday, October 17, 2006 in Durham, NC. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Church, Hyde Park, Monday, October 23 at 9:00 a.m. Friends may call at the Geo. H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home, Mt. Lookout, Sunday from 4-7 p.m. Memorials may be directed to pawsitivelypitbull.org (P.O. Box 16156, Portland, OR. 97292) or to your favorite Park organization.