NOV 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 11

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY CARROLLTON, TX. Carrollton Officer Steven Nothem killed when his patrol car was struck by a vehicle on the Bush Turnpike. CARROLLTON, TX — A Carrollton police officer and another driver were killed in a crash on the President George Bush Turnpike on Tuesday, October 18th. Officer Steve Nothem II, was assisting a drunk-driving investigation when his squad car was hit by a passing driver’s vehicle. Local TV Station WFAA’s William Joy spoke with the officer’s father and namesake, Steve Nothem, on Wednesday, the day after the crash. Steve Nothem said before his son was a police officer, he served as a U.S. Marine and did two tours in Iraq. “He did that because he wanted to matter. He wanted ...,” Nothem said, as he choked up. “The Iraq war was young and dangerous, and he wanted to make his mark.” Steve Nothem said his son “was always the defender of the underdog” in high school. He went on to tell a story about how his son had a friend named Sam Lee, who had cystic fibrosis and was picked on in high school. Steve Nothem said his son would stand up for Lee and defend him from the bullies. Steve Nothem II and Lee vowed together that Nothem II would fight for our country, while Lee fought for his life. “Steve got back from his first tour of Iraq to learn that Sam was pretty much on his death bed,” Steve Nothem told WFAA. “Steve told Sam that he would name his son Sam, after him, and within an hour, his friend Sam died. That’s the kind of kid [Steve] was.” Steve Nothem said his son decided to become a police officer after his military career because, again, “he defends the underdog.” He said his son served for about four years in Wisconsin before moving to Texas. “[Steve] chose Texas over the other warmer climate states because he felt that the police departments in Texas were more well-respected than other parts of the country,” Steve Nothem said. Steve Nothem said Carrollton police notified the Kiel, Wisc. police, who then sent two officers to his house to deliver the heartbreaking news. “First thing I said was ‘it’s 4 a.m., who died’ and they said it was Steven.” Steve Nothem said, “if there’s anything that’s sort of comforting, it’s that he wasn’t killed by another drunk driver.” He said his OFFICER STEVEN R. NOTHEM Deputy Matthew Yates son “had a thing about keeping drunk drivers off the highway” because his aunt was killed by a drunk driver on Christmas Eve nearly a decade ago. The Carrollton Police Department said Nothem II leaves behind a 13-year-old son, twin 6-year-old sons and a 1-yearold daughter. “He really, really loved his wife and kids. More than most husbands do,” Steve Nothem said. “That was his whole life. That and his service, his community service. Those two things were it.” 2023 CHEVROLET TAHOE PPVs ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR BAILMENT POOL! CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS ON HOW YOU CAN GET YOUR FULLY UPFITTED 2023 TAHOE PPV THROUGH CAP FLEET. www.capfleet.com | sales@capfleet.com | 254-773-1959 26 The BLUES The BLUES 27