Bend In The Branch

Crossroad

2007-01-18T22:19:00.000-05:00

I find myself at a crossroad where I must choose between writing from my heart and writing just to write.

For the moment, I choose to write from the heart of subjects which are not for public consumption.

I'll be back!

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-12-18T20:50:00.000-05:00

Only 6 Days 'till Christmas!

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-12-11T21:12:00.000-05:00

Bow Wows of Holly

Pausing to Remember

2006-12-07T22:14:00.000-05:00

Pearl Harbor Day

Project Blue Light

2006-12-06T20:46:00.000-05:00

Honoring the memories of police officers killed in the line of duty and their survivors.

Punishment?

2006-12-06T20:22:00.000-05:00

I doubt that being taken for a ride in a police car and being allowed to hang out at the station while my mom went to church for a few hours would've have scared me.

I doubt that being on TV while playing with the toy I had stolen would deter me from stealing.

I doubt that his mom will ever understand why her son "has a history of being disobedient 'and getting away with it.'"

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-12-04T22:08:00.000-05:00

Christmas Cards Sealed with a Kiss

Remembering the Victims: Captain James Myers, DOPS

2006-12-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

Shot 9 times, his assailant attempted to burn his remains and spent more than two years claiming innocence, only to confess on the eve of trial.

Sentencing has begun.

The Felonious E-Mail

2006-12-04T21:58:00.000-05:00

So I gathered, based on the careful explanation of the sender,

"Maybe it can't cross state lines."

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-11-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

Creature Comforts: Chips & Covers

Before Columbine

2006-11-15T21:57:00.000-05:00

On September 26, 1988, Jamie Wilson walked into Oakland Elementary School with a gun in Greenwood, South Carolina, and opened fire.

Jamie Wilson had a history of mental illness, but was sentenced to die for his actions on that fateful September day.

18 years have passed, and that death sentence is being appealed.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-11-13T20:17:00.000-05:00

Vogue

Giving

2006-11-13T20:15:00.000-05:00

A little goes a long way for a child in need.

Operation Christmas Child

Veterans Day

2006-11-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, a monument was cleaned and
its emblems polished.

Today, more than any other, we pause to honor men like James Greene.

I Voted

2006-11-07T22:22:00.000-05:00

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-11-06T21:01:00.000-05:00

Sleeping Late

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-10-30T21:34:00.000-05:00

Snoop Dog

Murder of a Marine

2006-10-30T20:18:00.000-05:00

Updated (below)

Corporal Justin Lee Huff, 23, son of Blaine and Theresa, husband of Rebecca, father of an unborn child, Comrade of the Marines of 1st Marine Logistics Group, Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, recipient of the Combat Action Ribbon and Navy Presidential Unit Citation, was laid to rest January 26, 2006.

Corporal Huff was reported missing January 2, 2006 when he failed to attend a class at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center at Dam Neck Annex. His burned body was discovered buried in a wooded area of Currituck County, North Carolina on January 13, 2006.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Cooper Jackson, 22, a fellow student, was arrested and charged with murder, kidnapping, impersonating an officer from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and obstruction of justice.

An Article 32 Hearing began Monday to determine if evidence supports trying (court-martialing) Jackson for all initial criminal charges.

Testimony indicates that Corporal Huff was a victim of circumstances instigated by the vile manipulation of an emotionally disturbed, foolhardily lovesick young man.

Jackson encountered “Samantha”, a supposed voluptuous and wealthy blonde who had reportedly been brutally raped by a Marine, on the internet. He never met “Samantha” (she left him waiting at an airport from 9:00 a.m. until closing over the Christmas Holiday), but he was convinced Huff was the Marine she described as having attacked her.

Jackson posed as a Naval Criminal Justice Investigative Agent and took Huff from Dam Neck in handcuffs to North Carolina, slit his throat, set him on fire, and buried him.

“Samantha” existed only in Jackson’s mind, and in the mind of Ashley Elrod, a hotel clerk who created the persona.

Jackson’s fate appears to be sealed.

One can only hope Ashley Elrod will be tried by a higher court for her participation in the murder of an innocent man.

References:

dailypress.com

pilotonline.com

Updated 14 June 2006

Cell phone records indicated Ashley Elrod made 4970 calls between December 7, 2005 and January 6, 2006. 509 calls were made to Cooper Jackson in December.

The rape she related to Petty Officer 3rd Class Cooper Jackson never occurred. It was merely a yarn spun to keep the sailor on the hook without reeling him in.

Jackson was not the only fish left dangling on the line.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Chunke testified that Elrod, posing as “Callie Adams”, was “kind of” his girlfriend at the time, even though the two had never met.

Reference:

pilotonline.com

Updated 15 June 2006

She e-mailed topless photos of a slender, attractive blonde and claimed to be wealthy.

He wanted to meet her.

She claimed to be the victim of rape; far too traumatized to trust another man.

He told her he wanted to kill the Marine who had raped her.

They often exchanged 50-70 calls a day.

Each and every lie heavyset, high school dropout Ashley Elrod told beget yet another.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Cooper Jackson killed Corporal Justin L. Huff.

He awaits a decision on whether he will face a court-martial that will surely end his career and could end his life.

She is in counseling because she “has low self-esteem” and needs “someone to talk to”.

Reference: pilotonline.com

Updated 24 July 2006

Petty Officer 3rd Class Cooper Jackson will face capital charges (the death penalty) in a general court marshal for the murder of Corporal Justin L. Huff

Updated 23 October 2006

The Plea Bargain: Petty Officer 3rd Class Cooper Jackson pled guilty to charges of premeditated murder, kidnapping, impersonating a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent and obstruction of justice, avoiding a possible death sentence for the murder of Cpl. Justin L. Huff.

Updated 30 October 2006

Petty Officer 3rd Class Cooper Jackson has been sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.

I urge a donation in Corporal Huff's name for the benefit of his son to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Just Sayin'

2006-10-23T20:36:00.000-04:00

If the safety bar wouldn't latch, "Hold on Tight" wouldn't persuade me to ride that roller coaster.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-10-23T20:32:00.000-04:00

Easy Chair

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-10-16T22:39:00.000-04:00

Life Behind Bars Ain't Easy

Wouldn't Have Believed it,

2006-10-12T23:28:00.000-04:00

If I hadn't seen it

Tech. Sgt. Stephen Achey

2006-10-12T23:22:00.000-04:00

Silver Star and "Keeper of the Flame" award recipient

Lance Corporal Jonathan W. Parker Memorial Overpass

2006-10-12T22:40:00.000-04:00

More at WLTX

SMSgt (Retired) Greg Elmore

2006-10-10T19:09:00.000-04:00

"I was there because I'm American," he said. "It wasn't Greg Elmore — it was Americans doing great things. I'm just proud to be American."

Read more at The Item

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-10-10T18:56:00.000-04:00

Pup in a Blanket

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-10-02T21:35:00.000-04:00

Swallowed by a giant, toothy lizard.

Much to be Done

2006-10-02T21:20:00.000-04:00

Today, those who lost their lives as a direct result of criminal domestic violence in South Carolina were remembered in a solemn ceremony.

Days ago, the Sheriff of a county in which a Police Chief had been arrested for criminal domestic violence made the following statement:

Sheriff James Metts said, "We were very shocked and concerned that a law enforcement officer would allegedly act in this manner."

Metts said, "We found the front door had been kicked in and the wife had been assaulted. She'd been knocked down to the floor. Water had been thrown on her."

The Sheriff also said, "We treat this like any other crime. It's a crime that occurred in the jurisdiction of Lexington County. Even though he's Chief, he lives in this jurisdiction and broke the law."

The Sheriff's statement failed to mention "...three separate incidents where Lexington deputies have responded to the couples' home. They say the first occurred in 2003 and the other two happened this year."

Far too reminiscent of the attitude freely expressed by a State Representative 18 months ago.

Da Hoopty

2006-09-27T22:00:00.000-04:00

Science projects suck so much more when you're not allowed to buy the ready-to-assemble model.

Absolutely Paranoia-Inducing

2006-09-25T20:39:00.000-04:00

Being passed by 7 highway patrolmen on a 15-mile stretch of highway and being passed by 5 highway patrolmen on the same 15-mile stretch of highway 3 hours later.

The Grocery List

2006-09-25T20:35:00.000-04:00

Broccoli and carrots to be served raw, Slim Jims, nachos, Doritos, popcorn, pretzels, Combos, and real bubblegum.

The Kid's braces were removed today.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-09-25T19:09:00.000-04:00

Puppy le Peu

The Better Part of Valor

2006-09-19T18:20:00.000-04:00

Rootin' for Ray Ray & Fahmarr

Updated: 12 September 2006

Waiver Granted!

Updated: 19 September 2006

Trust Fund Established

Fahmarr McElrathbey Trust
c/o First Citizens and Olson, Smith, Jordan and Cox Attorneys
P.O. Box 1627
Clemson, S.C., 29633.

Monday's Mutt Shot

2006-09-19T06:42:00.000-04:00

Halloween Dress Rehearsal

Affirmation

2006-09-15T22:42:00.000-04:00

If the time should come when I believe myself incapable of purchasing a beverage with my meal while dining out, I will never, ever, request additional lemon and proceed to make my own lemonade with the complementarily-provided water and sweeteners.

Double Exposure

2006-09-14T19:10:00.000-04:00

Returning to the scene of the crime

Five Years

2006-09-13T19:14:00.000-04:00

Remember

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-09-11T19:12:00.000-04:00

Keeper of My Domain

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-09-04T17:21:00.000-04:00

A Little Privacy, Please

In Memory

2006-08-29T22:04:00.000-04:00

Cpl. David G. Weimortz

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-08-28T20:13:00.000-04:00

Somebody's Knockin'

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-08-21T19:59:00.000-04:00

One Ear Open

SCANG 151st FAB (HQ)

2006-08-21T19:53:00.000-04:00

Godspeed

Southern Definitions: Harvested

2006-08-21T19:50:00.000-04:00

pron. har*vist*id - big ole word meanin' supper/clothes/shoes kilt dead.

He'd make a purdy pair o boots, wouldn't he?

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-08-14T23:19:00.000-04:00

Do Not Touch the Treat!

Power, Greed and Corruption

2006-08-08T20:44:00.000-04:00

The saga continues with the arrest of a former Lake City City Administrator, George Simmons for embezzlement and misconduct in office.

Updated 8 August 2006:

George Simmons was charged with 11 additional counts of embezzlement of public funds Monday.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-08-07T21:24:00.000-04:00

Delivery Dog

Guardian Angels

2006-08-02T21:25:00.000-04:00

No matter how unlikely, I believe.

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side [a] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:23-34

Thwarted were the plans of Westboro Baptist Church.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-07-24T19:48:00.000-04:00

This heat is killin' me!

Highways and Byways: Defensive Driving in the South

2006-07-19T22:46:00.000-04:00

‘round here, you gotta be prepared. You never know what may cross your path.

That dually driver wasn’t a kamikaze determined to die and kill me in a head-on collision, he was merely trying to dispatch a sunbathing snake this morning.

Scared me for a minute, he did.

The Demeaning of an Institution

2006-07-18T21:34:00.000-04:00

Man...is a tame or civilized animal; never the less, he requires proper instruction and a fortunate nature, and then of all animals he becomes the most divine and most civilized; but if he be insufficiently or ill-educated he is the most savage of earthly creatures. -Plato

Steeped in historical significance, the halls and walls of Benedict College are falling due to poor financial management and below par graduation rates.

Perhaps the "Success Equals Effort" policy is responsible.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-07-17T07:11:00.000-04:00

Undercover Operative Exposed

Hate Crimes, or Crimes of Opportunity?

2006-07-10T21:53:00.000-04:00

The initial report:

MANNING — Authorities are looking for a second man who allegedly held a 15-year-old girl captive for more than 90 minutes early Monday morning, sexually assaulted her repeatedly and stabbed her numerous times before leaving her for dead in the bathtub of a mobile home at 1121 Quail Trail.

Jeremy Shay Sweat, 24, of 1121 Quail Trail was arrested at 1:50 p.m. Monday and charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and assault and battery with intent to kill.

Authorities are looking for 21-year-old Dustin L. Evans of 7780 Raccoon Road in connection with the incident.

"If anyone has contact with him or knows where he is, we're asking them to call 911 immediately," said Lt. Tommy Burgess of the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office.

Burgess said authorities were able to identify the men from information supplied by the teen.

"She said she was familiar with the home and who lived there," Burgess said. "She also said one of the men told her his name."

According to authorities, the ordeal began around 2:30 a.m. when the teenager said she received a call on her cell phone from three friends who wanted her to meet them at the end of her driveway to "hang out." The teen told deputies as she was waiting for her friends, two men drove up in a silver Mazda and told her they would take her to meet them.

The girl told authorities once they were inside the home one of the men grabbed her and put her in a choke hold. She said as she struggled and screamed, the men told her to shut up or they would kill her. One of the men put a knife to her throat and made a small cut in the lower part of her neck and then both men dragged her down a hallway to a back bedroom, the report said.

While the men held a knife to her throat, the men took turns having sex with the her, she told deputies. Afterward, they told her to take a shower. She told authorities while she was in the shower, the men entered the bathroom, told her to turn around, close her eyes and then started stabbing her. When she couldn't stand the pain any longer, she told deputies she fell into the bathtub and played dead.

As she was lying in the tub, she said she overheard the men saying, "She isn't looking good. Look at all the blood. Let's go to town and get some trash bags and my truck and dump her in the lake."

When the men left, the teen said she fled next door and the homeowner called for help.

Deputies said they found the teenager wrapped in a blanket and sitting on the floor covered in blood.

The teenager was transported to Clarendon Memorial Hospital and treated for numerous lacerations.

According to Burgess, the teen said the knife used in the stabbing looked like a pocket knife.

"This is an ongoing investigation," Burgess said. "There are still some areas we're looking at and we're still collecting evidence."

I reitterate:

Burgess said authorities were able to identify the men from information supplied by the teen.

"She said she was familiar with the home and who lived there," Burgess said. "She also said one of the men told her his name."

According to authorities, the ordeal began around 2:30 a.m. when the teenager said she received a call on her cell phone from three friends who wanted her to meet them at the end of her driveway to "hang out." The teen told deputies as she was waiting for her friends, two men drove up in a silver Mazda and told her they would take her to meet them.

Today's AP report:

Deputies: Assault of 15-year-old Clarendon County girl may be hate crime

KATRINA A. GOGGINS
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Deputies are investigating the kidnapping and sexual assault of a black 15-year-old Clarendon County girl by two white men as a hate crime, Chief Deputy Joe Bradham said Monday.

Dustin L. Evans, 21, and Jeremy Shay Sweat, 24, have also been charged with sexually assaulting another black woman last month and appeared to be targeting the victims because of their race, Bradham said.

"Over the weekend we've had others come to us saying they were approached but did not go with them," Bradham said. "All four of those women were black."

Evans and Sweat have been charged with kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and assault and battery with intent to kill in the attack on the 15-year-old girl.

They also will be charged with sexually assaulting a 45-year-old woman on June 20, Bradham said.

At least one of the men appeared to have some involvement with a white supremacist group, Bradham said.

Investigators have obtained letters written by Sweat in which he claims to be linked with the Ku Klux Klan, Bradham said.

A counselor at a behavioral facility in Louisiana, where Sweat received treatment as a teen, also wrote that Sweat talked about involvement with the Klan, the chief deputy said.

Investigators haven't found any information to connect Evans to white supremacist groups, Bradham said.

Evans' wife, Crystal, said her husband is not a racist.

"He has colored friends," Crystal Evans said in a phone interview Monday with The Associated Press.

"We have so many people of all kinds of races that would vouch that Dustin is not racist. Friends of color would come over here to eat the meals I cook. Dustin would go eat meals with them ... go buy them food. I can't see my husband being called a racist," she said.

Both men are known to deputies. Sweat has been involved in other sexual crimes, but none of those were believed to be hate crimes, while Dustin Evans has been reported as a suspect at least 21 times since 2001 in other crimes, including cases involving harassment and threats to individuals, Bradham said.

Crystal Evans said she and her husband knew Sweat only briefly.

"He seemed very weird to me. I told Justin I just don't think this is the type of person that needs to be around our family or around you," she said.

Sweat's last known address has an unpublished phone number.

The 15-year-old victim told deputies two men offered her a ride home on July 3, but instead they took her to a mobile home and repeatedly raped her, authorities said.

The victim said the men then told her to get in the shower and began stabbing her. She fell into the bathtub and played dead, deputies said.

As she was lying in the tub, she said she overheard the men talk about getting trash bags and dumping her body in a lake, deputies said.

When the men left, the girl ran to the home next door to get help, authorities said. The victim has been released from the hospital.

The 45-year-old woman also said the men offered her a ride home, then took her to a home and raped her, authorities said.

South Carolina does not have a state statute for hate crimes, the state attorney general's office said.

A call to the U.S. attorney's office was not immediately returned Monday.

Again, I reitterate:

The 15-year-old victim told deputies two men offered her a ride home on July 3, but instead they took her to a mobile home and repeatedly raped her, authorities said.

I fear a feeding frenzy and pray justice for the only victim that matters.

Irony Personified

2006-07-10T20:30:00.000-04:00

"What you say is gonna come back", Cottageville Police Chief Ray Taylor.

Words Cottageville Mayor, Bert Reeves, probably should have heeded.

(Cottageville-AP) July 8, 2006 - Cottageville Police Chief Ray Taylor says he has no quotas on the number of traffic tickets his officers write.

Taylor was responding to a videotape that was recorded two years ago. He can be heard on the tape telling a young officer writing tickets was necessary to pay officers' salaries. Taylor suggested the officer write one ticket per hour.

Taylor was out of country last month when the tape was obtained by the The Post and Courier newspaper in Charleston.

The officer on the tape, Jeremy Shomber, no longer works for the department.

WISTV

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-07-10T07:33:00.000-04:00

I thought I saw...

Summer Redneck Games

2006-07-09T08:08:00.000-04:00

Official Site

A Walking Miracle

2006-07-05T21:05:00.000-04:00

An Update on Camp Ross:

Wesley "Camp" Ross can readily identify with the sacrifices made by those who fought for America's independence during the Revolutionary War.

Some 231 years later, the 21-year-old Marine almost made the supreme sacrifice in Iraq during the second assault on Fallujah on Nov. 10, 2004. He was the crew chief of a 26-ton amphibious assault vehicle. It was being refueled in a staging area, and Ross was standing behind it when an explosive device hit the engine. Shrapnel sprayed in every direction. The driver was killed.

Ross suffered massive injuries and would have died had nine hospital corpsmen not been in the staging area. He was kept in a coma for three weeks for the swelling to go down in his head. He was airlifted to a military hospital in Germany and then flown to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md.

Ross has undergone five different surgeries since 2004. He's got at least two more to go.

"He had shrapnel everywhere," said his father, Clyde Ross, who along with his wife, Renette, have been by his side constantly. "I counted 15 pieces still in his brain and multiple pieces in his back, wrists, arms and feet. He even has some in his lower gum. He's a walking miracle."

President George W. Bush personally pinned the Purple Heart on Ross at Bethesda on Dec. 11, 2004. Ross weighed 130 pounds at the time.

Then in August of 2005, during a follow-up visit at Bethesda, Ross saw the president again.

"I weighed 230 pounds then," Ross said. "President Bush told me, ‘You've put on a lot of weight since the last time I saw you.' So I went on a diet and lost 100 pounds."

Clyde Ross said, "President Bush is a super-nice guy. He's personable. After you've been around him for two seconds, you feel like he's your next-door neighbor. He just puts you at ease and takes all the time in the world with you."

An especially emotional time for Camp Ross was when the members of his Marine battalion returned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., last spring. Ross met them as they stepped off the bus. He was the most severely injured Marine in his company.

"They had no idea I was going to be there," he said. "I got a standing ovation at the company formation the next day. I still say ‘It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the fight in the dog.'"

All of this took on new meaning when Ross got hurt. He had no idea who the people were around him when he woke up. He tried to fight them off because he thought his unit might have been overrun.

"I didn't know any of what went on until they came back and started talking to me," he said. "I got to meet the corpsmen who saved my life. It wasn't just a special day for me, it was a special day for my parents, too."

Ross said a couple of his buddies signed up to go back to Iraq with a different company before going on leave.

"I think it speaks volumes for them," he said. "It says we do make a difference. We wrote history is what I think."

Ross returns to Bethesda for additional cosmetic surgery in August. Later he will have surgery to replace his left eardrum. While it won't help his hearing, he hopes it will help quell the ringing in his ear.

Once the surgeries are completed, he will be separated from the Marines. That could come later this year.

Meanwhile, the Ross family remains indebted to the community.

"We want to thank everyone, the businesses, churches, just everybody," Renette Ross said. "We've been overwhelmed by their support and prayers. God has taken care of us every step along the way."

Florence Morning News

Happy Birthday, America

2006-07-04T20:01:00.000-04:00

Plainly, Simply, Land that I Love

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-07-03T23:55:00.000-04:00

Out of Kilter

Words of a Predator

2006-06-28T09:44:00.000-04:00

Oliver O'Grady

Rob

2006-06-27T21:51:00.000-04:00

An Epic Tragedy, or so it seemed was Rob’s life.

Cancer and its curse upon his virility, divorce and the destruction of his home and relationship with his son, the added emasculation of termination from the job he’d taken great pride in for years, alcoholism and the losses associated with the addiction, were merely a few of the obstacles he encountered.

He wrote of his pain, his anger, his frustration, his love, his devotion, and his great appreciation for the little things that brought him happiness, never hesitating to bear his soul to complete strangers.

Perhaps Rob was hardened by all he endured, but hidden beneath that thick exterior was a kind heart which beat loudly and strongly enough to permit the brave and public pondering of thoughts that most dare not speak of.

I hope a divine hand joined mine and the countless others reaching out to him in his last days, intervening and rebuking the hands that seemed to push him towards taking his own life, for I can not believe he succumbed to the pain after all he endured.

Godspeed, Rob

The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering. – Ben Okri

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-06-26T08:30:00.000-04:00

A duet with Mr. Darcy

Sometimes, You Just Gotta Tap That Thing

2006-06-23T21:20:00.000-04:00

Or so I recall being told.

After quite the while out of doors this morning, I was glistenin' (we Southern women do not sweat), and longing for a lukewarm shower.

Only a drip or two escaped when I turned the faucet on.

When you live Next Door to Nowhere, there is no water bill. There are a well, pump and septic tank, so a phone call will not provide a prompt return of service.

I don't do cold, so I tolerate the heat. Hawt is one thing. Hawt 'n Glistenin' is something entirely different.

I ran through the usual checklist (flipping switches in case of a tripped circuit breaker) with no luck.

The water pump of the Humble Home is UNDER the Humble Home. Where the creepy-crawlies live.

I was on the verge of soliciting the services of a pro (I was GLISTENIN', y'all - money didn't matter), when I remembered that just such a thing had occurred in the past.

The last time the water pump failed, the President of Neighborhood Watch was home and was kind enough to give it a "look-see" for me.

He was able to get that pump up and running again in no time. I vaguely remember him saying something about dust or spider webs interfering with electrical contacts.

I definitely remember him saying, "Sometimes, you just gotta tap that thing".

I didn't know which thing to tap, but I got all brave and stuff, crawled under the Humble Home where the creepy-crawlies live with a screwdriver in hand, and I tapped that damn water pump 'till it started working again!

Firsts

2006-06-19T21:44:00.000-04:00

There are so few firsts in our lives.

Often we don’t realize just how few there are until age and wisdom allow for reflection but, be it the first word of an infant, the first step of a toddler, or the first award bestowed an elementary student, mothers have the innate ability to recognize the significance of firsts.

The Kid spent a great deal of time and money last week shopping for the perfect wardrobe for the long-awaited, much anticipated cruise.

The Preteen is an elusive, emotional creature, and so it was no surprise when the two or three things she needed multiplied exponentially while shopping with her grandmother this weekend, just as it was no surprise to me or her grandmother that The Kid was reduced to tears of regret tonight for refusing what we thought was The Perfect Sundress for the cruise.

Her grandmother will spend part of her lunch hour in search of The Perfect Sundress tomorrow, and I will journey home tomorrow night to retrieve it, simply because Mamas know how important firsts are.

The Volunteer

2006-06-19T20:32:00.000-04:00

Honoring a soldier and volunteer , Sgt. Joseph Derrick

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-06-19T20:13:00.000-04:00

Scheming Stowaway

Pirates, Hijackers & Plane Crashes

2006-06-17T07:40:00.000-04:00

Oh My!

Casting Suspicion

2006-06-14T21:38:00.000-04:00

Each and every time I read an article reporting the tragic, accidental death of a child, I am provoked; for such articles invariably close with a sentence that casts suspicion:

Deputies and coroner's officials continue to investigate.

If compassion prevailed, perhaps the reasons for the continued investigation would be elaborated:

When a child dies, the response by the State and the community to the death must include an accurate and complete determination of the cause of death, the provision of services to surviving family members, and the development and implementation of measures to prevent future deaths from similar causes and may include court action, including prosecution of persons who may be responsible for the death and family court proceedings to protect other children in the care of the responsible person; Section 20-7-5902(3)SC Code of Laws, 1976 (as amended)

Happy Birthday, Army

2006-06-14T20:57:00.000-04:00

We're here for a very special reason, obviously, and that's to celebrate the birth on June 14th, of 1775, of the United States Army. And since that day, it's had one overriding mission, to fight and to win America's wars.

From the Revolution to the current war on terror, wherever our soldiers have fought, they have maintained the highest standards of professionalism, of honor, and of courage.

The fundamental interest of this nation requires that we confront and defeat aggressive threats whenever they arise. Yet we find our greatest security in the advance of human freedom.

Throughout its history, the United States Army has served and defended the cause of freedom. And many brave Americans have laid down their lives so that liberty could triumph. America seeks a world at peace, but we know that the best way to keep the peace is to make sure that our military power is second to none.

Vice President Dick Cheney, June 14, 2006

Flag Day

2006-06-14T20:51:00.000-04:00

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that "the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field." As States have been added to the Union, the flag has been modified to reflect their addition to our Nation. Today, the appearance of our flag is based on President Eisenhower's Executive Order of August 21, 1959, to include a star for all 50 States together with 13 stripes representing the original 13 American colonies.

Generations of Americans in uniform have carried the Stars and Stripes into battle so that our citizens can live in freedom. Across the globe, a new generation of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen has stepped forward to serve under our flag, defending America from our enemies. We are grateful to them and their families for defending our flag and the values of our great Nation.

On this Flag Day,we recall the rich history of Old Glory, and we remember our duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-06-12T07:13:00.000-04:00

Home at Last

2006-06-11T08:07:00.000-04:00

Lt. Robert Cunningham, Cpl. George Cunningham and Capt. Vladimir Sasko

The Face of a Predator

2006-06-09T22:19:00.000-04:00

Jerry Buck Inman

June 6, 1944

2006-06-06T19:58:00.000-04:00

The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! Dwight D. Eisenhower

D-Day as told by those who were there.

Why Home Improvements are Hell

2006-06-05T22:32:00.000-04:00

Even the most minor of repairs required in the Humble Home are referred to as Home Improvement Hell because: (1) I ain’t “Handy”; and, (2) they often require a foray into the strange and foreign land of hardware/lumber supply.

The second unnerves me, because I know full well that I will be treated like an imbecile when I patron such businesses. I also know that I must be brave and confront the inevitable in order to accomplish my tasks, so I mustered the courage to go forth and seek supplies for the makings of two thresholds today.

I am very aware that thresholds are prefabricated, but therein laid my problem, for the thresholds I need are not of a standard size. I sought a hardwood (oak, cherry, walnut, ash, maple…whatever) board of a width and density which would allow for the routing of rounded edges and partial ripping necessary to provide a level surface.

I was referred to the employee purported to be most knowledgeable of such matters, who immediately tried to sell me several substitutions. When he pointed to a ½-inch thick wood trim strip designed to cover paneling-to-sheetrock transitions, my Intermittent Tourette’s Syndrome kicked in.

I got my board.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-06-05T07:07:00.000-04:00

Mmmm...Boiled Peanuts!

Home Improvement Hell

2006-06-04T18:30:00.000-04:00

I ain't "Handy", but that ain't never stopped me from trying.

The latest installment of Home Improvement Hell: Replacing screen in a screen door.

One of the more severe thunderstorms of late tossed about the wicker porch furniture, leaving a noticeable bulge in the bottom of the screen door. The bulge became a tear last weekend when I managed to put a broom through the screen door.

While there are far more pressing repairs needed around the Humble Home, this one provoked the obsessive-compulsive in me. I blame the internet. The internet led me to believe I could replace the screen in that door with ease.

Trust me, y'all. The internet is a dangerous, deceptive place.

Taking the door down was simple enough.

Removing the framing and lattice strips required more time and patience than I'd imagined.

Learn from my mistake: when framing and lattice strips have staples in them, put them where you won't be likely to step on one, or at least wear shoes.

Removing the old screen wire was, as mildly as I can type, a female dog. The sharp, protruding, rusting edges tore into my fingers and hundreds, nay, a thousand staples had to be removed with needlenose pliers.

The was a brief pause for a dance with a wood boring bee. He was not pleased with my efforts to improve his home and came out to put up a quite a resistance.

Dispatched he was.

Stubbornness is a quality both good and bad, y'all.

In spite of pricked, sore fingertips and an impaled and bleeding foot, I was determined to finish that which I'd started.

I leave it to you to imagine the foul curses which erupted when the last piece of framing broke as I was tacking it on.

With a little chiseling, the broken piece of framework was made to fit. Does this happen only to me or do things never fit back like they're supposed to?

Given the cost of replacement screen, spline, tools, supplies, the injuries and the time involved, it probably would've been more efficient for me to invest $24.00 in a new screen door.

Stil and all, there is great satisfaction in being able to accomplish at least on of the many tasks on the To-Do List of the Humble Home all by myself.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-05-29T19:44:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day

2006-05-29T19:42:00.000-04:00

Pausing to Remember

Unconscionable

2006-05-23T21:26:00.000-04:00

SYLVA, N.C. -- A mother whose son died of heat exposure in her car while she worked a double shift at nursing home was found not guilty Monday of charges related to his death.

A jury deliberated about four hours before returning the not guilty verdict in the case of Michelle Gibson of Asheville on Monday, the one-year anniversary of the death of her 8-year-old son, Devin Gibson.

"My heart, my soul and my mind is grateful," Gibson said after the verdict. " ... I want to go on and rest and let my son rest."

They jury considered charges of second-degree murder or involuntary manslaughter. The jury also considered two counts of felony child abuse or two counts of misdemeanor child abuse.

Prosecutors said that for at least some of the time that Gibson worked, Devin was kept in the trunk of her 2001 Ford Escort. Gibson testified Thursday, denying that she locked Devin in the trunk of her car but saying she was responsible for his death.

Gibson told investigators that she had no one to care for Devin while she worked a 16-hour shift as a nursing assistant at the Jackson County nursing home, so she took him to work with her that day.

After the verdict was returned, Gibson said she would work as an advocate for child care for the working poor.

Assistant District Attorney Roy Wijewickrama said Gibson used her words -- not a lock or restraints -- to make Devin stay in the car.

"She told him to stay in the vehicle and use the diapers if he needed to go to the bathroom," Wijewickrama said. "And he did. He died listening to his mom."

The murder charge carried a sentence of up to 16 years in prison.

NBC17

Not Guilty? Responsibility was admitted? How oh how could such a verdict be just?

Surpassing a Goal

2006-05-23T21:09:00.000-04:00

Relay for Life, 2006

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-05-23T21:04:00.000-04:00

2006-05-20T17:37:00.000-04:00

"... Our Servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of peace--many of them away from their homes, their friends and their families. They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of a harsh but inescapable truth--that the survival of freedom requires great cost and commitment, and great personal sacrifice."

President John F. Kennedy, 1963

Duct Tape: One of the Lesser Known Uses

2006-05-18T21:13:00.000-04:00

Muzzling a 12-foot, 700-pound alligator

National Police Officer's Memorial

2006-05-17T22:10:00.000-04:00

Remembering Jon

I wish there was a way that we could help dry up the tears. I guess the best way I can help is to say, we love you and we thank you for the sacrifice of your loved ones.

Monday Mutt Shot: Hide'n Go Seek

2006-05-15T19:27:00.000-04:00

Turning Points

2006-05-10T18:42:00.000-04:00

Benefits and compensation have been discontinued for indicted/suspended Mayor LaRue Alford.

His henchman, [former] City Administrator, George Simmons, has been terminated.

Previous efforts by council members to terminate the administrator were thwarted by an executive decision of Alford's...a decision made in error according to the Office of the Attorney General of South Carolina.

Previous Posts

Dependance

2006-05-09T20:44:00.000-04:00

There are days when I realize we a far too dependant on modern conveniences.

I really should know better than to confuse the grocery cashier by using a coupon for a free item…especially when the free item is subject to a “two for” sale.

The coupon is scanned, and the computer instructs the cashier to enter the amount of the item.

Verbatim:

She says, “Like, there’s no price tag.”

I say, “They’re on sale. Two for $5.00”

She displays a blank stare for a moment, then reviews the printed receipt and says, “Yeah, but like…” and offers another blank stare.

I say, “Yeah, like $2.50 each”.

She says, “Like, oh my gawd, thanks!”

The Kid, having quietly observed this interaction, waits until we’re in the parking lot before erupting into a laughing, sing-song imitation, “Like. Oh. My. Gawd. I’m only like, in high school. Like, how was I supposed to know half of 5 is 2 1/2!”

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-05-08T18:34:00.000-04:00

No Pictures, Please

Show Me the Money

2006-05-04T21:14:00.000-04:00

A mother who works outside the home would earn an extra $85,876 annually on top of her actual wages for the work she does at home, according to the study by Waltham, Massachusetts-based compensation experts Salary.com.

Yahoo

In Memory

2006-05-03T22:25:00.000-04:00

EarlWoods

...when I talk about Tiger [tears fill his eyes], sometimes I do get emotional. That's the deep, personal love that we have for each other. The respect and trust that we have and we've earned it. It's just a bond.

How well I understand.

Godspeed, Proud Parent, Godspeed.

Wal-Mart Verdict

2006-05-02T21:16:00.000-04:00

A jury has determined Wal-Mart was not negligent in hiring a registered sex offender who fondled a child.

The claim of damages was exorbitant and exaggerated.

Massey [the Plaintiff's attorney]told jurors that, based on Randall’s hiring wage of $8.75 per hour, his client would be entitled to actual damages ranging from $1.7 million to $5.3 million over an expected 70-year life span.

Using another model, Massey suggested a figure of at least $1.3 million, though he added any lower award would be a “half-cup of injustice.”

Using a computer video presentation, Massey told jurors the girl remains withdrawn, fears men, has never had a boyfriend and wears oversize clothes to “draw attention away from her female features.”

Morrison [the Defendant, Wal-Mart's attorney]told jurors the girl hasn’t been in counseling for several years and is active in church and school. He also pointed out she didn’t appear to be traumatized when interviewed last year during a videotaped deposition that was played for jurors.

“If she was guided into having those kinds of symptoms for the benefit of a lawsuit, she has been wrongly labeled,” Morrison said.

Massey says the girl's mother, Maria Hollins, is "devastated" by the verdict.

I think she is, but sadly, I believe her devastation to be based on greed, not fact.

"Slurpy, Soggy" State Snack

2006-05-02T21:07:00.000-04:00

The Boiled Peanut

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-05-01T20:38:00.000-04:00

Another Chapter

2006-04-26T21:10:00.000-04:00

Updated: Suspended

United States Attorney Reginald Lloyd says a Federal Grand Jury has indicted Lake City Mayor Larue Alford on 1 count of dealing in counterfeit obligations.
You may remember... last week the Florence County Sheriff's Department arrested Alford.

Right now... Alford is out of jail on bond... from charges of obstruction of justice and misconduct in office.

Authorities say Alford willfully used fake money and helped a fugitive escape police.

The Governor's office said last week... if Alford is indicted the Governor will suspend Alford from his position as mayor.

Joel Sawyer with the Governor Sanford's Office says they are waiting on a "certified copy" of the indictment.. and that usually takes a day or two.

When that happens the Governor's legal advisors have advised Sanford to remove Alford from office.

WBTW

Previous

Negligence

2006-04-25T21:42:00.000-04:00

neg·li·gence (ngl-jns) n.

Law. Failure to exercise the degree of care considered reasonable under the circumstances, resulting in an unintended injury to another party.

As a parent, I can not help but wonder if the parent of this 10-year-old was negligent in leaving her alone in a department store...the employee who perpetrated the crime could very well have been a customer.

Monday Mutt Shot

2006-04-24T19:53:00.000-04:00

Veggin'

Stowaway Squirrel

2006-04-21T20:28:00.000-04:00

Image Credit:The Item

Power, Greed & Corruption

2006-04-19T20:35:00.000-04:00

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Mother Goose rhyme

Broached here and chronicled throughout the month of July, I have not forgotten those in the little town and tonight, I celebrate with them.

LAKE CITY – Mayor LaRue Alford has been arrested by Florence County Sheriff’s deputies and charged with misconduct in office following a 14-month investigation, WBTW News13 and the Morning News are reporting.

According to a press release issued by the sheriff's office, Alford "failed to properly and faithfully discharge the duties of his office by willfully and knowingly possessing counterfeit U.S. currency."

Alford also, according to the press release, he "also helped a suspect elude police."

He is currently in custody at the Florence County Detention Center in Effingham.

He was booked about 2 p.m.

The arrest follows a 14-month investigation into corruption in Lake City and the surrounding area by the Florence County Sheriff's Office, SLED, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Secret Service, Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said.

More charges may be filed in the case, Boone said.

"There is some public corruption here and we're not going to tolerate it," he said.

Phones

2006-04-17T21:32:00.000-04:00

I do not wish to blame, condescend, or unleash my wrath upon anyone, but I gotta tell ya'...

Today I was subjected to two ranting and raving voice mails: one on my cell phone; the other on my home phone, and I was hurt by the virulent words.

'twould appear the caller attempted more than once to contact me by phone during the holiday weekend and instead of leaving a message, chose to call repeatedly, waiting until reaching the boiling point before leaving a message on each phone, accusing me of avoidance, call screening, and neglect.

For the record:

(1) I consider Caller ID and Call Return frivolous wastes of money. If I don't answer the phone, it is because I can't. Please leave a message. I will return your call.

(2) I have a life. I don't sit by the phone, waiting for it to ring, and I do not consider the phone an accessory to whatever outfit I choose to wear every single time I walk out the door. I have a cell phone for three specific reasons: (a) In case of emergency; (b) So The Kid can contact me if need be while she is away from home; and, (c) To save a little on the costs of long distance calls. If I don't answer, please leave a message. I will return your call.

(3) I understand that much of today's society expects us to be immediately available due to technology. While I'm all about keeping in touch (I do call and e-mail regularly, don't I?), I have boundaries y'all, and I will not sacrifice the limited time I have away from work, the stresses of everyday life, or common courtesy because it may be convenient for you should I do so. If I don't answer, please leave a message. I will return your call; and,

(4) If you choose not to leave a message, I will be unable to return your call. If you leave a berating, accusatory message, I will most likely choose not to return your call