Local law enforcement teaches self defense class to 50 women

By: 
Erin Sommers Graphic-Advocate Editor

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At Macke Motors last week, Jolene Beenen, a North Central Correctional Facility captain, walked several dozen women through exercises that could help them escape from an assailant.
Gus and Nancy Macke offered to host the self defense class, which female employees and the spouses of employees took Nov. 6 and which about 50 women from the public took Nov. 7, after several high-profile attacks on women in Iowa. Macke Motors and Lake City law enforcement invited me to attend and participate in the training, which I did on the second evening.
“I’ve had the unfortunate luck of being attacked by offenders,” Beenen said, explaining how she has come to hone her self-defense skills.
The techniques she was about to demonstrate work, she said. But she wanted the women to know something else first.
“The best thing in the world is using this,” she said, tapping her own head. “Use your head.”
Beenen also encouraged attendees not to worry about their ages – no matter their age, they can escape from an attacker.
Read more in the Nov. 14 edition or click here to subscribe and access the e-edition. 

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