http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=201011
Y-C hit with second suicide
Published: November 19, 2005
By PAUL DAQUILANTE
Of the News-Register
YAMHILL - A 17-year-old Yamhill-Carlton High School senior was found dead of hanging Thursday morning by his mother, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office.
Lt. Ken Summers said Cody Earl Monks-Damm hung himself in a barn at the rural family home, northwest of Yamhill at 23880 Mount Richmond Road. He said Cindy Damm discovered the body and called 911 about 11:15, triggering a response from deputies and medical personnel.
Monks-Damm, who had been sent home from school the previous day for disciplinary reasons, is the second Y-C student to commit suicide this school year.
Junior Anndi Huff, 16, was found dead Sept. 12 in her pickup, parked in the school's north parking lot. She had shot herself in the head with a .22-caliber pistol.
Superintendent Steve Chiovaro said Monks-Damm did not have a history of discipline problems. He said the boy had been expected back at school Thursday.
However, like Huff, he had been suffering from bouts of depression. And like Huff, that had raised family concerns, triggering treatment.
"He has been treated for depression issues," Summers said. "His family had been concerned for some time over the struggles he was having. He had undergone treatment."
Chiovaro said he was out of town when he received a call about 1:30 p.m. informing him of the incident. Other school officials, including Principal Jim Orth, had been notified, he said.
The county's crisis control team, consisting of counselors and clergymen, immediately responded to the school and set up a safe room where students come to grieve and talk.
Orth went from room to room, taking each teacher aside to explain what had happened and offer direction on how to break it to students.
Students who wanted to talk to a member of the team were escorted to the library. The team returned to school Friday to continue its work.
"Some people are a little numb, and they're wearing their emotions on their sleeves," Chiovaro said. "It's just a very, very tragic situation.
"The staff, they're good teachers. They care very much about their kids. They take these things very personally."
Orth said Monks-Damm, who had attended Yamhill Elementary School previously, "had his group of friends." But he said the youth was not as involved in extracurricular activities as most students.
"As I walk down the halls, I see kids who are so resilient," Orth said. "They have been so supportive of each other. I don't want to get used to this type of thing, but we know how to support each other.
"It just says so much for our students and the staff. This is why I believe so strongly in the small-school environment. This is why I work in a school this size."
Orth said, "The staff knows the students. They know each other and pull together."
A Memorial Service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Forest Grove Senior Center, 2037 Douglas St. in Forest Grove. Ed Willer, elder of the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in Forest Grove, will officiate.
Arrangements are under the direction of Tualatin Valley Funeral Alternatives, based in Hillsboro.
At least it "says" parents tried to find help for him; although they were the cause of the depression.