CHHS Football Star Dies

Chapel Hill High School Tigers defensive lineman Atlas Fraley, 17, died in his home on Tuesday August 12. He had called 911 before he died.

Atlas Fraley had played in a scrimmage early that day with Middle Creek High School in Wake County. He complained of a headache, and drove his car home after the bus took his team back to Chapel Hill.

His parents, David and Malinda Fraley, came home to find Atlas dead at 6:15 PM. It is still undetermined why his parents came home from work before emergency medical crew arrived, since Atlas called 911 hours before at 1:45.

911 call indicates Atlas called saying he just got back from football practice, was dehydrated, and in need of IV fluids. He has a history of dehydration.

Funeral Service will be held today, Saturday August 16, 3:00 PM, at the Chapel Hill Bible Church on Erwin Road. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sunday August 17
CORRECTION - with new information

Today I have read, on paper, the Chapel Hill News for Sunday.
It is indicated that Emergency Medical Service DID respond to 911 call made by Atlas Fraley on Tuesday, before his parents came home.
It seems that paramedics arrived at his house and stayed with him for 22 minutes before leaving again. It is not indicated what treatment they gave him, but that he did receive medical attention before he died. It is not yet determined why Atlas Fraley died after the crew left his house.

An autopsy has been performed before the funeral, which took place yesterday. The Medical Examiner has not yet released a statement. Emergency Medical Service is currently under internal investigation.

Orange County EMS was having a very busy day on Tuesday. Orange 911 received 11 calls between 5 and 7 PM. There was also an auto accident at the same time as another scrimmage game was taking place, between East Chapel Hill High School and Carrboro High School, when a player for the Carrboro HS team dislocated his knee. It was 23 minutes before a paramedic arrived, and another 20 minutes before an ambulance arrived, which made a lot of people very upset.

Orange EMS claims to be very short handed at this time.

Email Scam News Video

MISSING PERSONS EMAIL SCAM NEWS VIDEO
You've read the post. Now see the video.

Some people are sleazy enough to try to exploit those who are already grieving enough. What do you think we should do with people like this?

Please let it be known that FDK supports all families, websites, and organizations concerning missing persons.

Email Scam Alert

In the last 24 hours alone, I have received more than a dozen messages about some lowlife trying to swindle money from families of missing persons.

It seems this person has been browsing all the websites of missing persons, and collecting email addresses of the victims' family and friends. Emails have been widely circulated to such people, asking enormous sums of money, in exchange for information of the missing person's location.

It is believed there is one person doing this, and this person is wanted by the FBI, as well as the Missing Persons Network and all affiliates. If you receive an email from someone claiming to know where your missing loved one is, and will tell you if you pay him an outrageous fee, you are asked to report it to the FBI.

Judging by the high volume of information I've received, it seems to me that there are many who want this person caught really bad. I, personally, am appalled by this, and so I agreed to spread the word.

Rather than posting the long list of links I've got, which contain more info than I know what to do with, I'll just say that if you want more info, you won't have to look very far.

Let's catch this creep before some grieving family member decides to pay him.

Gordon Lightfoot - Don Quixote

In my life I have known a few good Canadians, and I have known of a few.
In the "known of" category, my favorites include Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell.

Since I started doing this website thing, I began to know a few more good Canadians in my life. Among them I've found the best supporters of my website efforts.

And among my favorite songs, since "Way back in the '70s, Man" is the one I've posted here, because it always reminds me, whenever I hear it, of every good person I have ever known.

Oh yes, there's another reason too why I decided to post this.
June and July were months of a lot of news stories to keep up with.
So I was thinking, 'Enough already! It's August now for gosh sakes! Let's put something nice up here - that's not about death!'

So I hope you approve of my decision, and that you enjoy this song.
The Wildman

PS -- My apple pie American self has never been North of the Border, but I've had the good fortune of meeting with those more widely traveled.

Where they were found

photo: Star News File

This is the place where the skeletons were found in Wilmington, NC, on April 26, 2008.

Memorial decorations have been placed by CUE Center for Missing Persons, and by Lisa Valentino, sister of Allison Jackson-Foy.

I wish to acknowledge Special Thanks to the following individuals who have helped me keep up with this case.
David Creech -- NC Wanted
Jim Ware -- Star News of Wilmington
Ellen Leach -- Porchlight USA
Alex Ross -- Local Computer Care

ID on Wilmington Bones

FINALLY! We have a preliminary ID on the "Bones" case in Wilmington, NC.

http://www.ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/3248495/?d_feature_story=1

It may not yet be official, as there are still some tests to be done, but for now it seems the human remains found off Carolina Beach Road are that of Allison Jackson-Foy and Angela Rothen.

Timothy Iannone is not yet officially a suspect, but he is in custody.
Closure to this case appears to be in sight. I hope so!

"Bones" Case Update

Still no progress to report on the DNA testing of the bones found in Wilmington, but police now have a man being questioned in connection to this case.

Some news stories do not give the man's name, as it is uncertain if he should be considered a suspect, a person of interest, or just some nasty-assed lowlife who likes to abuse prostitutes.

NC Wanted and WWAY have given his name, so I will too. He is Timothy Iannone, 47, a cab driver in Wilmington with a violent history, who has been seen in the area where the bones have been found. WWAY includes a photo of the man, who doesn't look much like the composite sketch, if you ask me.

Local ladies of the evening have identified him as a man who has committed all manner of evil things against them.

Allison Jackson Foy was last seen getting into a cab at the Junction Billiards parking lot, 3 miles away from where the skeletons were found.

Now I've got some links for you.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080717/NEWS28/807170302/1004&title=Police_investigating_deaths_of_two_women_search_home__other_sites

http://www.ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/3227884/

http://www.wwaytv3.com/node/9110

http://www.wect.com/global/story.asp?s=8693502

Thanks to Jim Ware for calling my attention to this development.

Cary Missing Person

Over the weekend, in Cary, NC, not so far from here, a woman went missing.
Nancy Cooper, 34, went jogging Saturday Morning at 7:AM, and was never seen again.
A friend expecting an afternoon visit from her reported her missing.

Nancy Cooper is a mother of two. She is originally from Canada. She often went jogging in the area of Lochmere Lake and Regency Park. She was training for a half marathon.

By 8:AM Sunday morning there was a large number of volunteers who showed up to join the search party, including police dogs and National Guard helicopters. Besides Lochmere Lake and Regency Park, they also searched Lake Wheeler and Lake Johnson.

This Monday morning the search continued, and 200 people showed up, including her parents and a twin sister, who arrived from Canada to assist in the efforts.

She seems to be a very popular person in her neighborhood. All of her neighbors have been very kind and supportive.

Nancy Cooper is white, 5'9", and 120 lbs, with hazel eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a t-shirt, jogging shorts, and running shoes. It is believed she carried no ID, keys, or money with her.

Anyone who sees her is asked to call the Cary Police Department.
(919) 469-4016

You can also use my "Crime Stoppers" link from the links list on the right of your screen. Click the "NC Wanted" link for more on this story.
--------------------------------------------------------------
This Just In!
You may think I'm crazy, and you may be right, but immediately after I finished posting this write-up, I got this incoming message.

Cary Police Department has reported a body found this evening.
They are hesitant to say if the body is of Nancy Cooper until it has been identified by the medical examiner.

A man walking his dog at 7:30 this evening called 911 after seeing a body floating in a pond on Fielding Dr. near Holly Springs Rd. The body is being sent to the state medical examiner in Chapel Hill for ID.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday July 15
Body is confirmed to be that of Nancy Cooper.
We no longer have to find a missing person. We have to find a killer.

Me Being Sarcastic

Can you imagine being a criminal defense attorney?
How would you feel if your job required you to defend someone you knew was guilty?
What would you do if the person you were trying to defend was guilty of the most horrific crime imaginable, and you knew you were sure to lose?

Whatever job it is that you have, I'm willing to bet you are much happier doing that.

So do I feel sorry for these people? Maybe I would, if it weren't for seeing how they perform in the courtroom.
I mean, if you were doing a job that you hate, wouldn't you want to get it done as soon as you could?

Well, they don't seem to think that way.

So it's day one of the Carson trial, and the judge orders the sealed warrants to be opened, and immediately the defense attorneys object.

Na, Man! We can't have that! Then everybody will already know they're guilty, and we aint got no defense!

I think the objection went something like that, or perhaps it was more like they were afraid the defendants would be convicted too quickly, before they even had a chance to attempt a defense. We sure don't want it to take any less time.

They say they want to see justice served in due process.
Does this mean they want to drag it out as long as they can?

Perhaps it's because they have so little to defend with, that they grab onto anything they've got, and milk it for all it's worth.

How would you defend these suspects, knowing that everywhere you look there are lynch mobs already gathering?

I have a suggestion.
Talk about how much they have contributed to our community.
No, really. Just think about it.
What have we learned about from these two young men?

For starters, we clearly see that it is completely uneffective to keep letting offenders get off on probation, when they keep on coming back for more crimes they get to do as soon as they're set loose.
After so many times, you'd think that one would eventually get the idea that this wasn't working.
We want to give them every chance to do better? That would work if they made use of the chances they got.

Yes, we should thank these young men for illustrating this point more elaborately than anyone in an NC courtroom has ever done before.

Now we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that cutting slack for a habitual offender only serves to allow them to offend some more.

Sure, you say, we already know that. It's common sense.
But hey. We're talking about court. We have a different set of rules here.

It's like, when you have to listen to someone lying his butt off, and you know damn well he's lying his butt off, but you still have to listen to him, because, hey, it's the rules.
Then, of course, you have to pretend that you don't know he's lying, and try to make up a reason to believe that he's not. Then, you have to pretend that the reason makes sense.

Not only do we have two young men here who have committed a crime most foul and inhuman, but they have given us the opportunity today to see what asses we really are!

Now that's got to be worth something. Don't you think?

Storm Front at Carrboro Day

Ladies and Gentlemen;
It gives me great pleasure to present Storm Front, my friends of many years, in their first YouTube video.
Special thanks to Alex Ross for making it happen.

Back to Eve

I apologize to my readers who were expecting me to blog the Eve Carson hearing. The truth is, I chickened out when we got to Day 2, when they unsealed the autopsy report.

I didn't know until then that she had been shot in the face with a shotgun. This struck me as a final insult, to rob us of her beautiful face, as well as her life.
That's where I lost it.
The report says that she was unrecognizable, that she was initially identified by her jewelry. I was outraged to think that Eve's loved ones were deprived of seeing her face one more time before burial.

SIGH!

I went to writing instead of 4th of July fireworks, taking advantage of the holiday to change the subject, after seeking comic relief from YouTube.
So there you have it. I see no way that I can write about Eve Carson objectively anymore.

Okay, I admit it. It's not like I knew her personally. I did not.
It's just that I have accepted her as "one of us."
It has been said by many that Eve Carson embodied the True Tarheel Spirit, and I myself am inclined to agree. I've always thought of her as Ms. UNC.

Just because I live outside the Chapel Hill city limits doesn't mean that I live outside Tarheel Country. Even in my rural Chatham neighborhood one still sees mailboxes of Carolina Blue, with either the "UNC" or the "Tarheel" logo on it.

Eve Carson was considered by me, my neighbors, and my friends, as a highly respected member of our community, and for good reasons.
Need I explain why?

I know I said this before. Humor me, okay?
Unlike Debbie Key and Kristin Lodge-Miller, Eve was someone we read about in the news before she became a murder victim, not just after.
We already knew she was a good person, and no one ever attempted to challenge that opinion. I'm glad.
Now I don't have to stand on a soapbox and preach about how good people can be victims of crime too. That point has been clearly made already.
That is what I appreciate most about Eve Carson.

I can tell you from personal experience that reading about her last moments alive is enough to make a grown man cry.

After confessing to a friend of my desire to execute her killers personally, I was told that this would make me no better than them.
I'm afraid I have only one defense against that, and that's this.
I'm sure I will be more easily forgiven for killing her killers, than for killing her.

Yes, I agree, the lesser of two evils is still an evil.
Still, I am willing to support any effort that promises to eliminate the greater evil, any way I can.

Fireworks

Once upon a time, in Washington, DC,
there lived a young boy who grew up to be me.
Washington DC was a fun place to be on the 4th of July
when they filled up the sky
with a bang and a boom and the great fluffy plumes
and the fountain of lights
that dance and delight in the eyes of a child.

My Mommy and Daddy took my brothers and me
to the Capitol Building where we could all see
the brilliant display taking place in the sky.
This we did every 4th of July.

The west side of the Capitol on terrace of steps
all the way down the hill
giving plenty of places to sit and be thrilled.
Facing the Monument, reaching up to the sky,
with pyramid cap and winking eyes,
that you see wherever you go in DC.

This I remember, as clear as can be,
the young boy I was growing up in DC.
And so to this day I continue to play with bright dancing lights
every year on this day.
This is the way I celebrate the day, and if you come out my way,
you will see a display.

I sit with my neighbors, the young and the old,
the shy and the bold.
Together we share in the dazzling glare.
With hot dogs and burgers, sodas and beer,
This I look forward to every year.

Mad TV Court Case

I hope and pray I'll see the day
when more trials will end this way.

Eve Carson Trial

The Eve Carson pre-trial hearing began today.
The sealed warrants were open, all 6 of them, having been sealed to protect the identity of the informant.

The attorneys for Lovette and Atwater objected to it.
Should we expect otherwise? Consider who they are defending. If it were my job to defend the likes of these, I think I would resign.

So now we get to learn the horrible details of the final moments of Carson's life, and I'm not sure I can take it. Next they will unseal the autopsy report. I'm beginning to wonder if such info as this will inspire more of us to support the death penalty.

After you read this, you might want to hang them yourself.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2811/story/1123431.html
------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE
Sorry about the confusion, Folks...
The trial date WAS set for Nov 2, 2009.
The trial date is NOW set for May 3, 2010.
(If they change it again I'm gonna scream!)
PLEASE NOTE: This is for the trial of Atwater. I still don't know when they will try Lovette. They are still saying prosecutors will be seeking the death penalty.

Digging Up Bones in Greensboro

Credit goes to NC Wanted for this one.
All I did was copy and paste.
----------------------------------

Human remains found in backyard Posted: Jun. 26, 2008 4:09 p.m.
Updated: Jun. 26, 2008 4:09 p.m.

GREENSBORO, N.C. Greensboro police have found human remains in the backyard of a home where local authorities were searching for the body of a pregnant woman reported missing in 2006.

The News & Record of Greensboro reported that police found the remains in a grave about 4-feet deep Thursday afternoon.

The discovery came just hours after 29-year-old DeCarlo R. Bennett pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend, Sherri Jackson. She was three-months pregnant when she disappeared.

Authorities believe Jackson was buried on the property where the remains were found. The home once belonged to Bennett's mother.

Police Capt. Janice Rogers said the remains would be sent to the state medical examiner's office in Chapel Hill for an autopsy Friday morning.

Bennett faces up to 40 years in prison when sentenced.
------------------------------------------
Here's where I got it from.
http://www.ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/3111840/

CSI : Sesame Street

Here's the latest story on our case from Star News in Wilmington, thanks to Jim Ware.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080621/ARTICLE/806210334/1004&title=Carrboro_victim_s_friends_keep_eye_on_bones_case

Here's a thought for the day.

"The person who killed my sister, he's in some ways a byproduct of the system that we live in, and we have to change it. You all have to make a difference now." -- Pavel Yarmolenko

Person of Interest in Wilmington Case

Jim Ware called me tonight to tell me Wilmington Police have released a sketch of a man seen by witnesses in the area where the skeletons were found. Police are saying this man is not a suspect, but a person of interest. Star-News Online has already run the story, and you can see it here.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080618/ARTICLE/108747802/1004&title=Police_release_sketch_of_man_seen_in_area_where_bones_were_found

While you have that page on screen, find the story titled, "Unsolved Mysteries: 5 Women Killed, Dumped" in the Related Links on the left, or you can go to it here.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080615/ARTICLE/806150301/1004

There are 5 other unsolved cases of murdered women in the Wilmington area going back to 1995.

We have a Full Moon tonight, Folks!
Is it starting to feel like it?

PS - I have already hit the Publish button when I got this incoming from NC Wanted.
http://ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/3068027/?d_feature_story=1

The Wilmington Connection?

On Thursday this week, I've had the pleasure of talking to Jim Ware of the Star-News in Wilmington. Jim works on the crime team with reporter Dave Reynolds, who writes these news stories I've been posting links for, about the skeletons found in Wilmington, and Allison Jackson-Foy.

This man wanted to talk to me about some possible connections between the cases of Allison Jackson-Foy and Debbie Key. So we did. First he mentioned that Debbie and Allison were both last seen leaving a bar where people played pool. Both were in their mid-30s. It is debated whether anyone actually saw Allison leave the parking lot.

Sometimes even a little bitty clue can go a long way, and I think we made a pretty good example of that. It is always interesting to compare the parellels and the contrasts of similar cases. Curiously, on that same day, John had written a very interesting post in the WKT? blog on that very subject.

The bones were found just 3 miles from where Allison was celebrating her recent job promotion, at Junction Billiards in Monkey Junction, on Carolina Beach Rd. Allison has been missing since the summer of 2006. Naturally, her name appeared at the top of the list of people these remains might belong to.

There is talk of the possibilty of a serial killer in Wilmington. The FBI says a killer must kill 3 or more times to make that classification, but it is apparent the 2 skeletons were not dumped there at the same time. Someone killed 2 women at 2 different times, and used the same hiding place for both of them.

So what's the connection between this and Debbie Key? I am told we will be reading about this in the Star-News in the near future. In the meantime, they want to talk to Joy. I am looking forward to hearing what she reports back to me.

Having even a rumor of a serial killer in Wilmington, at the beginning of the summer, must have a negative effect on their tourist season this year. Too bad. It really is a nice place to visit. Even Dalzell considers it his "happy place."

Yesterday was Friday the 13th. A man I had an appointment with yesterday afternoon never showed up. It is now 27 hours later, and I still haven't heard from him.
Gee, what do you suppose that means?

Today is Flag Day, June 14th.
I wonder how many people remember Flag Day anymore?
Today there is an American flag displayed in my front yard.
Who would have thought I'd remember that?

Tomorrow is Daddy's Day.

"I know NUT-ting!"

This is Sgt. Schultz.
I have decided to appoint him in charge of my Q&A department.
Please refer all questions to him concerning recent cases currently under investigation by the Gaston County Police.
I'm sure he can answer your questions every bit as well as I can.
Thank you for your interest.
Wild Bill
---------------------------------------------------

About John Banner
Jan 28, 1910 - Jan 28, 1973
Born in Vienna, Austria, of a Jewish family, Banner was able to escape his homeland before Nazis began exterminating Jewish people.
In 1938 he went to Switzerland, where he joined an acting troupe, before coming to the United States later that year. At that time he weighed 180 lbs.
His Austrian accent and Germanic features got him typecast to play Nazi soldiers during WWII. It is ironic that he survived the war years playing the villains who were murdering his remaining family members back home.
Said Banner, "Who better to play Nazis than we Jews?"

By the 1950s, John Banner weighed 280 lbs. His roly-poly figure helped him get more roles. He had played in dozens of films, but never got to be a main character until 1965, when he was cast as Sgt. Schultz in 'Hogan's Heroes.' This is the character he is best remembered as.
'Hogan's Heroes' ran from 1965 to 1971.
Banner died of abdominal hemorrhage on his birthday in 1973, at the age of 63, having returned to live in his native Vienna. He is buried in Mauer in Liesing.

The murder of his former co-star, Bob Crane, who played Col. Hogan, remains an unsolved case.

Them Bones

We've all been waiting to hear the results on them bones found in Wilmington that they sent to Texas for DNA testing.

Thanks to a loyal reader in Montreal, I have received this link. It doesn't tell us who them bones belong to, but it does explain to us how come it's taking them so long to find out.

Here it is. It's a pretty long link now, so make sure you get it all.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080606/ARTICLE/806060333/1037/news05&title=Backlog_at_DNA_lab_keeps_families_waiting

Learn something new about forensics today. I know I did. Maybe them bones gonna rise again. Maybe they gonna tell us something when they do!

Today in History

It was one year ago today when this website, in its current version, made its first appearance on the 'Net. If you were to keep working back through the blog to the beginning, you will find this to be true. Those of us who can still remember past last year may recall the original Debbie Key website, in its one-page form.

The year 2007 was when we had the 10 year anniversary of Debbie's departure from us. I don't mind saying it was an honor for me to be managing the website at that time. I am pleased with the progress that has been made since then, and I'm feeling optimistic about the next year to come.

This year, the month of June began with a baking 88 degrees, making it really feel like summer. By evening we enjoyed a cooling rain.

The entire month of May, I've been hoping to get a report up here about the ID of the skeletons found in Wilmington. All I found was that they are still conducting the DNA test, and have sent the bones to a lab in Texas. Here it is.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080528/ARTICLE/576199540/0/NEWS 

Not saying that I was pleased with the murder of Eve Carson, but I was pleased with the fact that, this time, no one tried to blame the victim.
Unlike Debbie Key and Kristin Lodge-Miller, Eve Carson was someone we read about in the paper BEFORE she was killed. We already knew who she was when the tragic news was announced, and no one questioned her character as contributing to her death.
Honestly, I was glad to see that.
Ira Yarmolenko, just last month, provided another example of the same thing. I have not heard one single negative word about her, and believe me, I have heard a great deal of praise for this individual.

So have we destroyed the myth yet? You know, the one that says we should blame the victim? If not, I'd say, at least, that the myth has had a great big chunk taken out of it, and I'm glad of it.

One sure way to offend me is to blame the victim. Yea, it pisseth me verily!

I have had the pleasure of connecting with many praiseworthy individuals through the managing of this website, including John Allore, Todd Matthews, Doreen Prior, and my special Web Goddess, Judith Gadd. I have enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other families and friends of murder victims, and we have learned a lot from each other's stories.

Yeah, I'd say I'm ready for another year.

Memorial Day

Because today is Memorial Day, I've decided to write a letter to my ancestors, and ask them for advice on something,

Dear Ancestors:

I can remember when Chapel Hill was a place where people lived without fear.
Doors were never locked. Cars would be parked on the street with windows down on summer days. Bicycles were simply leaned against something when its owner went into a store. Wherever something was placed was where it was likely to be when looked for again. Parents were always sure their teenaged offspring would arrive home safely on their own, or would call if they needed a ride.
We used to hitchhike a lot.
No one was ever afraid of anyone.

This was the Chapel Hill that I discovered in 1970.
I was a 15 year old boy from Washington, DC.
I grew up where people were afraid of each other.
I fell in love with Chapel Hill at first sight.

Now I'm afraid to count how many years ago that was, but it's easy to count. My question is;
What happened?

Now if I can get an answer to that one, I'd like to ask another question, if I may.
What can I, as an individual, do about it?

Signed -- Wild Bill

Well, it wasn't until the wee hours of the next morning when the reply came back, and here it is.

Dear Bill:

We appreciate when you folks who are still living remember us.
Remember that we as a civilization have always made progress by adapting to changes. Change is inevitable.

The fact that a small North Carolina town can go from Mayberry to Gotham City in the course of a lifetime is indeed a disturbing sign of the times.

What you, as an individual, can do is always the same as what we, as a people, can do. And that is;
We can make choices.

We can choose to gripe and complain that nothing is the way it used to be, or we can choose to learn how to live in the world we have today.
Those who fear change go senile long before they die.
He not busy being born is busy dying.

When the world you live in goes into a direction you don't like, you might try calling attention to it. There's always the chance someone else will see it too, and respond to you.

While there are many terrible and frightening things in the 21st Century that we didn't have before, we can also use modern technology to our advantage. Blogging is a tool you have that we did not. Just having a newspaper was a major accomplishment for any human civilization. Think of the advances we've made since the printing press.

There are always a majority of people who see things going on that they don't understand, and so are afraid to mention them. When someone else says, "I see it too!" it assures us that we are not having a delusion. Get enough people talking about what needs to be fixed. and it's more likely to get fixed. Communication has always been humanity's greatest ally.
See if you can make it work for you.

Remember the little boy in "The Emperor's New Clothes"? Mention something you see, (or don't see) and maybe others will have the confidence to see it too.

Humans work like that, you know?
We can't help it. We are a social creature. It's in our nature. Modern technology cannot take that away from us, but it can provide us with another way to communicate.

"Stop, Hey! What's that sound? Everybody look what's going down!"
You get the idea.

Whenever you do cross over to the other side to join us, we'd like for you to tell us how it worked.

Signed -- Rolling in our graves

Ira Y - Amazing Journey

Now lookie here what I found on YouTube.

What I've Learned about "Ira"

Yesterday I went to the memorial service at CHHS.
It lasted between 10:30 and 2:30.
That was 2 hours longer than I expected, but it was all good!
What I saw was an inspirational presentation of the life of Irina Yarmolenko, told in slideshow, song, and poetry.
I consider the time very well spent!

What have I learned about Irina Yarmolenko?
I learned that the people who knew her called her Ira. (pronounced, sort of like, EE-ra)
That she was a beautiful child, whose smile could melt the hardest heart.
That her life reigned from May 2, 1988 to May 5, 2008.
Adding to the tragedy is that she was killed 3 days after her birthday, when she turned 20 years old.

This is where she has lived, since she was born.
1988 - 1996 -- Kharkov, Ukraine
1996 - 1997 -- Greensboro, NC
1998 - 2006 -- Chapel Hill, NC

Ira was very popular in Chapel Hill, and still has a lot of friends in the area. She graduated from CHHS before attending college at UNC-Charlotte.
She was the kind of girl who made friends instantly wherever she went.
She was known for her charm, her spunk, her playful spirit, and generous nature.
Ira excelled in theater, photography, and poetry, as well as in winning people's hearts.

Ira was a strong advocate of non-violence. This makes some people ask why she died the way she did. Some say perhaps this is a part of her message to us.

I was left very impressed with the impact her life has left in the world she lived in, for only 20 years, and the influence she still has on the people who knew her.

A man who spoke about her said that her name, IRA, means "Is Really Awesome."
Another person said, "Hope is the world that Ira lived in."

There is some speculation that her murder could be related to the missing persons case of Jamie Fraley, missing from Gastonia, NC, since April 8
See Jamie's story here.

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/gastonia_19299___article.html/april_missing.html

After the service, I had the honor of shaking the hand of Ira's brother, Pavel Yarmolenko. I told him I hope to meet him again.

I also enjoyed the opportunity of meeting with some young people I was introduced to, thanks to Joy, who was there with me, who told me about stories they want to share, that I look forward to sharing with readers of this blog, hopefully soon!

Remember that guestbook I told you about? It's full of personal testimonies like these, and I have since then discovered another cool thing about it. You can enter your e-mail address, and be notified whenever a new entry is made in it. It's still fairly new, and bound to fill up pretty fast.
Here it is again.

http://www.legacy.com/charlotte/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=109250336

I plan on following this story closely, and sharing what I find.
Some of Ira's friends I've spoken to have indicated some interesting parallels between her story, and the story of Debbie Key. I get the feeling that the more we look into these parallels, the more interesting this case will become.

If you knew Ira when she was still with us, I ask that you please share your stories with me, either here, or in her guestbook.

It does my heart good to know this beautiful person will always be remembered.

Memorial for Irina at CHHS

For those who have missed the funeral, here's another chance.

There will be a memorial service for Irina Yarmolenko at Chapel Hill High School on Saturday May 17 at 10:AM. (or 10:30, I'm not sure.)

The service will be held in the CHHS Auditorium, which is the big building on the left of the school, if coming from Homestead Rd.
If coming from Seawell School Rd., it is the big building across from the baseball fields.
Saturday is not a school day, so parking should not be a problem. However, I have been warned there may be a big crowd.
Well I hope so!

Hope to see you there!

Irina Yarmolenko

When I received the news of Irina Yarmolenko, I was not ready for it.

Oh God! Not Again!

It wasn't until last Saturday morning that I got the news, and only because I went to Who Killed Theresa? that morning. (Thank you, John!)

Oh God! Her funeral is today! Why didn't I know about this before?
Brain goes into spin while processing all the events of the passed week.
I was looking forward to a nice quiet weekend, with nothing more important to do, after some errands, than to write something about Debbie in Chris's Crime Forum, and check on the progress of my video project.

I was not ready to deal with yet another beautiful young woman from Chapel Hill being murdered, for no apparent reason.

My God! Haven't we had enough!?
(deep breath and chill out)

I kick myself for not picking up the story when her body was found on Monday.
It was in Mt. Holly, NC. I know someone who lives there. I have been there a couple of times. Her body was found next to her car on the bank of the Catawba River. It sounds like someone tried to drive her car into the river, but was defeated by a stump.

Then I remind myself of what I had going on that week. Would I have been in a better place to deal with it then? I also remind myself that murder very rarely, if ever, occurs at a convenient time for us.

All this spins through my head, but with a lot more detail, as I go through my morning coffee and e-mail ritual. I'm still in "wake up" mode, and asking myself if I can include a funeral in my plans for today.

As the coffee takes its effect, I then reflect upon a pleasant interview I've had with this nice lady, talking about Debbie Key.
At the time, I was collecting personal testimonies from people who knew Debbie, which I used to compose "My Eulogy to Debbie."
It was this lady who gave me the "She had a great talent for cheering people up, making people laugh, and inspiring people to get off their butts..."

I decide immediately that this is the very inspiration that I need right now.

Long story short, I compromise my plans for the day to include a drive down Legion Road, which runs behind the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery, at the time the graveside service was taking place.
At least I get a view of how many people showed up.
Looks like a pretty good number to me.
Driving to my final errand of the day, I wish I could do more.

Since last weekend, I've been looking for something about Irina Yarmolenko to post in here. I've also had the opportunity to talk to some young people who knew her. It's a familiar story, perhaps too familiar.

Good person, never did any harm, loved by everyone, witty, charming, good natured, and why the hell would anyone want to kill her?

Way too close to home for us, for sure!
Now check out this cool guestbook I found for Irina on the 'Net.

http://www.legacy.com/charlotte/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=109250336

Skeletons Found in Wilmington

Two human skeletons were found in Wilmington, NC on Saturday April 26.
Both are believed to be white, female, and murdered.
Efforts are now being made to ID the discoverd remains.
One is believed to be a woman in her 30s, and the other to be in her 50s.
Both skeletons were found in a wooded area near Carolina Beach Rd. and Raleigh St.

There are a number of missing women in the Wilmington area. Among them is Allison Jackson Foy. Several families are awaiting the results of ID testing.

Sources
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=8235243&nav=157_2

http://ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/2836302/

http://www.wect.com/global/story.asp?s=8285883

That Time Again

I love North Carolina in the springtime!
Oh how I love driving down that road going home in the afternoon, observing azaleas, redbuds, dogwoods, fruit trees, and all manner of botanical wonders that decorate our roadsides every spring.

Lately there's something new. Every few years it happens. These flat rectangular plants on two stems, with people's names on them, appear on lawns and roadsides. They seem to pop up overnight, like mushrooms, but two dimensional.

So I come in my door with my groceries, and I see the red light blinking on my answering machine. There are 4 messages.
The first one is from Hillary Clinton. She's reminding me of everything I value and believe in, and why I've gotta go vote on Tuesday.
The second message is from Jeremiah. Nevermind.
The third one is from Bill Clinton, reminding me to vote for Hillary. Haven't heard from Bill in a while. He's the last presidential candidate I voted for who actually won.
Now are you ready for this?
The fourth message is from, no, not Chelsea, but Andy Griffith. He wants me to vote for Perdue for governor.

How does that song go?
"Always something there to remind me..."

I wanted to write about the beautiful Sunday afternoon I had yesterday at Carrboro Day. I went to see my favorite local rock 'n' roll band, Storm Front, performing like they do every year at Carrboro Day, except they keep on getting better. With me is Alex, a teenaged wizard who knows more about computers, CDs, and video equipment than I ever will know about politics. We get footage of Storm Front doing what they do best.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear but one of Carrboro's most popular living citizens, Ellie Kinnaird. Ellie used to be mayor of Carrboro. Now she's our senator. We are all so proud of her. She's here to remind us that she's running for re-election, and I want to remind everyone of all the great things she's done for us, so I walk with her.
I can't help it. I love this lady a lot, and I don't mind saying so.

I love my community. I love my friends and neighbors. I love our country and our planet.
But Lord! our government sure scares the hell out of me!
Let's hope we do better next year.
Let's hope we can still afford to drive.

Please remember that the road to hell is paved with republicans.
I'm still not convinced Carl Fox really is a democrat.

Check out www.elliekinnaird.org and see why Ellie Kinnaird is so special to us.

Yep, it's that time again;
and the seasons, they go round and round,
and the painted ponies go up and down.

Response to John Hawthorne

While we respectfully acknowledge the good service to NC given by John Hawthorne as special agent with the SBI, we feel that we must protest his description of Debbie Key, as he had presented in the NC Wanted production, "The Disappearance of Debbie Key."

Mr. Hawthorne describes Debbie as a woman who may be bribed by the offering of alcoholic beverages by strange men in a bar, into granting favors of accompaniment.

Those of us who knew Debbie Key when she was still with us feel this description is unfair and inaccurate. We know this person to be of a more ladylike character, who maintained strict sexual boundaries, even among her closest friends. She was not at all the kind of person who would use her feminine charms to solicit drinks from strangers, but quite the contrary.

Debbie was a lady in many ways. She did not even approve of having "salty" language spoken in her presence, and had gotten her friends used to saying things like, "gosh darn it."
All the single guys in our circle of friends knew that it was okay to ask her to dance, to enjoy a hug now and then, but not to expect it to go any further than that.

Friends of Debbie Key have not attempted to paint Debbie up as an angel, though she was angelic at times, but have always admitted that Debbie liked to drink.
This to us did not make her a bad person, and certainly not a person who deserved to die for saying "no."
Please do not punish us for our honesty, but try to give our friend more credit than that.

Readers and viewers of Debbie's story are advised to wear filters concerning such descriptions of her character.
Debbie was a lady, and she did not practice such habits at the bar, or anywhere else.
We see this as just another example of the "blame the victim" syndrome.
We do not, however, blame Mr. Hawthorne as the originator of this interpretation
Your comments are welcome.

Video Now Available

For those who have missed it --
A video of NC Wanted's "The Disappearance of Debbie Key - Part One" is now available on the NC Wanted website. Use link from the links list.
Part Two is on Saturday April 26

Message from NC Wanted

-NC WANTED INSIDER-
04/18/2008

Programming Alert: For the next two Saturday nights, see the stunning results of NC WANTED's year-long investigation into Carrboro's unsolved case of Debbie Key. NC WANTED was granted exclusive access to three of the principal figures in this controversial case, including the lead investigator, the former D.A. and the primary suspect.

For anyone who tracks high-profile controversial cases, these next two shows are a must-see.

For more, go to www.ncwanted.com

NC WANTED airs Saturday nights after the 10 O'clock News on FOX50,
and after WRAL's 11 O'clock News on WILM-TV in Wilmington.

CALL 1.866.43.WANTED to Report A Tip, hotline specialists are available day or night
---

Debbie Key on TV

The Debbie Key episode of NC Wanted will be aired next Saturday, April 19.
This episode will feature interviews with several friends, music by Storm Front, our candlelight vigil, and, as a special surprise, an interview with our suspect.

Any NC Wanted Alert I have posted will show the times for watching it. Have your VCR ready. We be on TV!
------------------------------
April 14 - Have just received word from NC Wanted that this will be a two part story.

Cesar Laurean Arrested

http://ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/2719002/?d_feature_story=1

Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean was arrested in Mexico Thursday night April 10 at 7:00 PM EDT.
Lauren is charged in the murder of Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach.
A press conference will be held 2:00 PM Friday April 11.

Here's another link
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080411/ap_on_re_us/missing_marine

More Good News!

You may not believe this, but soon after posting the above message, the following alert from NC Wanted arrived in my inbox. A BIG SURPRISE for all of us apprears at the bottom!
----------------------------------------------------
-NC WANTED INSIDER-
04/11/2008

CAPTURE ALERT: The international manhunt is over. Target Twenty fugitive Cesar Laurean has been captured on a street in the small town of Tacambaro, Michoacan in Mexico.

One report indicates Laurean told police he had been sleeping in fields and eating avocados.

Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson immediately cautioned that "it could be a year or two" for authorities to bring Laurean back to North Carolina if he decides to fight the extradition process.

A press conference is scheduled for 2p.m. today at the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.

For more on this developing story, go to www.ncwanted.com and www.wral.com

NC WANTED will be pre-empted this Saturday due to NASCAR on FOX Network. NC WANTED returns next week with an all-new episode covering the controversial case of Debbie Key in Carrboro. The primary suspect in the case has granted NC WANTED an exclusive interview.

NC WANTED airs again on Saturday night, April 19, after the 10 O'clock News on FOX 50,
and after WRAL's 11 O'clock News on WILM-TV in Wilmington.

Eve Carson Memorial Concert

Eve Carson Memorial Concert is this Saturday, April 12, at the Wilson Library on UNC Campus in Chapel Hill, NC, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.
info on the concert here
http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2008/04/11/Arts/Concert.To.Benefit.Carsons.Fund-3319010.shtml


More News

Members of Friends of Debbie Key got married.
Joy Preslar and Steve Moriarty were married on Feb 29 of this year, but have been keeping it secret until now. Joy and Steve both sing and play for "Storm Front," a popular local rock 'n' roll band, and will be performing for Carrboro Day on May 4.
Joy has a birthday this month on April 26.

My wonderful niece, Julie Higgins, also has a birthday this month on April 23.

Has it become a fad for people on probation to see how much more trouble they can get into? Check out the clowns who shot at a Raleigh police officer to get out of a ticket for littering.
http://ncwanted.com/ncwanted_home/story/2689048/
They could have just paid a fine.

Missing Pieces

Spring Cleaning for DOC

Robert Lee Guy, director of the Division of Community Corrections, has described the situation as "Flat-Out Embarrassing."

The NC Department of Corrections is under investigation due to the tragic loss of Eve Carson, and it doesn't look good for them.
So far, the top 3 managers have already been removed from Wake County Probation Dept., and it looks like many more will lose jobs before this investigation is over.

It appears that Lovette was released from jail 2 days before the shooting death of Abhijit Mahato, which was just 6 weeks before the death of Eve Carson. During this time, Lovette has never once met with his probation officer.

According to Mr. Guy, Lovette's probation officer should not even have been working as a probation officer, as she had not completed her basic training.

See my sources here,
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2665364/
and here
http://www.newsobserver.com/2811/story/1022005.html/

A trial date has been set for May 5.
Chances seem to be rather slim they will get out on probation again.
Meanwhile...
Last Sunday night in Durham, another murder has occured. This one also was by a man who was on probation, Cory Anthony Jiggets.

Remembering Sharron Prior

SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1975

It was 33 years ago today that Sharron Prior was brutally murdered.
It was a Saturday, same as this year, but it was Easter Weekend, in Point St. Charles, Montreal, Quebec.

Sharron Prior was a beautiful 16 year old angel of a girl who was getting ready for Easter when she was raped and beaten to death. The Prior family has never been able to enjoy Easter since then. Her killer(s) has never been found. Her family remains without closure.

Sharron's sister, Doreen Prior, maintains a website in her memory.
I have met Doreen through the blog of Who Killed Theresa?, and we have become pen pals. Doreen has never given up on bringing her sister's case to a close.
Today she is very active in the efforts of helping to solve cold cases, finding missing persons, and lending support to grieving families.

I am asking all visitors to this blog to visit the Sharron Prior Website today. This time of year is a very difficult time for this family. Please remember Sharron, and help to make this day a little less painful for the Prior family, who have all done so much to serve others in need.

Please refer to the Sharron Prior link on the Links List on the right of this page.
Thank you very much.
Bill

Missing Pieces Interviews Bill Widman

Click Here For the Interview

I wish to thank all of my friends here in NC for the moral support and encouragement to pull this off.
I also wish to thank Todd Matthews and the blogging team of "Who Killed Theresa?" for being there for me.
I love you all! --BW--

Peter Cottontail

Now let's take the old Bunny Trail down to Memory Lane and see how many of us remember this cartoon from the 1950's.
Let's see some hands! Oh come on, now. I know some of you are old enough.
Happy Easter from Bill and all his friends!

Another Killer Busted in Durham

CHRISTMAS MURDER MYSTERY SOLVED!
Those who were around this part of NC during Christmas may remember there was a murder in Durham on the morning of Christmas day. Way to mess up the holiday, I thought. Well, today an arrest was made by Durham Police, and the suspect's name is Kenneth Lamont Lunsford.

"Police could not confirm whether the incident was gang related, but told NC WANTED that the crime was not random."

Now here we have in one sentence an attempt to answer two questions that everyone seems to be asking these days whenever an arrest is made.
1 - Was the crime gang related?
2 - What exactly is a "random" crime?
--------------------------------------------------------
NC WANTED INSIDER-
03/20/2008

ALERT: In the early morning hours of December 25, 2007, Durham Police officers found a 1992 white Lincoln Town Car pinned against a guardrail.

They also found a bullet hole in the car. The driver – Jalil Stokes, 21, of North Elizabeth Street – had been shot. He soon died.

Durham PD has just announced an arrest in this murder case. NC WANTED is investigating the possibility of gang ties.

For more, go to www.ncwanted.com


THIS SATURDAY NIGHT ON NC WANTED: They were once labeled as 'Missing and Endangered.' Now, authorities in both cases suspect murder. This Saturday night, join NC WANTED for the latest on the death investigations of Pamela Mikels Waldher of Fayetteville, and Jimmy Nelson Davis of Dunn.


NC WANTED airs Saturday night after the 10 O'Clock News on FOX50, and after WRAL's 11 O'Clock News on WILM-TV in Wilmington
---------------------------------------------
Thanks, NC Wanted. Now tell us when you'll be showing the Debbie Key episode. I'm sure we're all looking forward to that.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Judge Craig Brown says, "NC Needs Anti-Gang Laws Now."
Check him out at
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2581231/

And in the News and Observer, staff writer Ruth Sheehan has written an article comparing the murders of Eve Carson and Kristin Lodge-Miller. This one is certainly worth checking out.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/987355.html

We have a Full Moon in Libra, Good Friday, Purim, and First Day of Spring, all happening on the same day. Now let's get ready for Easter!

Kiss Me I'm Irish

I promised a friend of mine that if the murder suspects were arrested by March 17, I would get back to the subject of St. Patrick's Day. This is what I started out with on March 1, but we know what happened after that. So may I present, through the courtesy of YouTube, my favorite song by Gaelic Storm.

For Want of a Nail

John Brownstone of Mt. Holly, NC, who wants me to mention his name, has submitted this statement to me.

"If Atwater and Lovette had been put in jail instead of on probation, Eve Carson would be alive today."

I could not get that statement out of my mind.

While pondering this I came across this information in the NC Wanted website. There is a link provided on this page for your convenience if you want to check it out.

An arrest in 2005 earned Atwater a sentence of 3 years probation. In June of 2007 Atwater had violated his probation by possession of a firearm. But it took until November of 2007 for his probation officer to process the charge for this offense. This should have placed Atwater in jail, as per the terms of his probation, but many clerical errors worked to prevent that from happening. He wasn't arrested for this violation until last month, on February 20.

On March 3 of this year Atwater and his probation officer showed up for court, where he was to be tried and sentenced for violation of probation. But yet another clerical error kept him from going to jail.
They could not find the court records in the 3rd floor courtroom of the county courthouse, and had determined the records were sent to the wrong courtroom, so the trial was rescheduled for March 31.
Where were the court records sent to?
Get ready for this.
To the 4th floor courtroom of the same building.

If you think I'm making this up, check out "MURDER SUSPECT WAS IN COURT 2 DAYS BEFORE CARSON'S DEATH" Posted March 13, 2008, Updated March 14, 2008, in the NC Wanted website at www.ncwanted.com.
There is was, right before my eyes. I couldn't believe it.

Again, instead of being put in jail, Atwater was turned loose, and Eve Carson was killed 2 days later on March 5.
One floor above the courtroom was the nail that was needed to shoe the horse for the rider who was needed to win the battle.

It is this writer's opinion that too many nonviolent offenders are in prison, while too many violent offenders are not.
Which would you rather have locked away?

Letter From a Reader

Not all visitors to this website are registered bloggers, and many of the comments I receive arrive via e-mail by clicking on the "Contact" tab. Since the murder of Eve Carson my inbox has been getting flooded. I have decided I should be posting some of the better messages I've been getting, and would like to start with this one.
-BW-
------------------------

In all branches of the US Armed Forces, military personnel are sworn in "To defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
Gangs are to be considered as domestic enemies of our nation, and dealt with as such.
If America is to declare war on terrorists, criminal gangs are to be included.
Gangs are terrorists by definition. They rule by force and fear. They deprive us of our freedom to walk our own streets, to feel safe in our own homes, and in Chapel Hill, our right to have our traditional Apple Chill Fair.
It is not the organizers of Apple Chill, nor the participants, who are responsible for the shoot-out that occurred on Franklin Street after the fair was over. It was a Durham street gang who was responsible. Yet it was decided to cancel the Apple Chill Fair because of this.
This is not the American way.
America does not surrender to terrorists.
Gangs of criminal nature should be regarded as domestic enemies and not as citizens.
They contribute nothing to our community but fear, death, and destruction. It is time we take steps to reclaim our right to live as a free and peaceful community in our own country.

-------------------------------
Would anyone care to comment?

Both Suspects Now In Custody!

Can you believe it only took a week?
Early this morning Lawrence Alvin Lovette Jr. surrendered to a heavily armed Durham Police Selective Enforcement Team, just 24 hours after capturing Demario James Atwater. See story here -- http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2561551/

As well as for the murder of Eve Carson, Lawrence Alvin Lovette is also a suspect (one of three) in the murder of Duke University graduate student Abhijit Mahato from Tatangar, India, on January 18, 2008.
See story here -- http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2569358/

Both Lovette and Atwater have heavy criminal records, were both on probation at the time of the murder, and were both already scheduled to appear in court this month.

There will be a memorial service for Eve Carson on Tuesday March 18 at the Dean Smith Center at 4:PM. For more information on this go to -- http://universityrelations.unc.edu/alert/carson/

It is still being debated if this crime is gang related or not. Readers are invited to respond. Thanks to all who have done so already.

And Another One!

Good news, if you ask me, but now these alerts just keep on coming in! I'll just post one more here for you, and remind you to look to the right of your screen, to the Links List, where you can click on NC Wanted to get to the website and read the latest updates. --- Bill W --
---------------------------------------
NC WANTED INSIDER-
3/12/2008

ALERT: Sources confirm that Demario James Atwater, 21, has been charged in the murder of UNC student body president Eve Marie Carson.

For more on this story, go to www.ncwanted.com and www.wral.com Updates will be made available throughout the evening.


SATURDAY NIGHT: The manhunts for the killers of Eve Carson, Maria Lauterbach and Jenna Nielsen.

NC WANTED airs Saturday night after the 10 O'Clock News on FOX50, and after WRAL's 11 O'Clock News on WILM-TV in Wilmington

More from NC Wanted

-NC WANTED INSIDER-
03/12/2008

ALERT: Sources close to the investigation have just confirmed to NC WANTED that Durham PD has detained a person of interest and turned over this person to the Chapel Hill Police Department. This person is now in the custody of Chapel Hill PD and being questioned at this very moment about the murder of Eve Carson.

For more on this story, go to www.ncwanted.com and www.wral.com throughout the day.

THIS SATURDAY: NC WANTED brings you the latest on the manhunts in the cases of Eve Carson, Maria Lauterbach and Jenna Nielsen.


NC WANTED airs Saturday nights, after the 10 O'Clock News on FOX50, and after WRAL's 11 O'Clock News on WILM-TV in Wilmington

Remembering Eve Carson

Message from NC Wanted

-NC WANTED INSIDER-
03/07/2008

ALERT: Chapel Hill PD just announced there is a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the murder case of Eve Marie Carson. Chapel Hill PD also released the photo of her vehicle, and will soon release the 911 call. They said they do not have the keys to her car, but do have her laptop. They believe she was shot at the location she was found. Investigators could not release other sensitive specifics regarding evidence such as bullet shell casings, etc. They still do not believe the murder case of the other northern Georgia woman attending Auburn is related at this time.

For more on this story, go to www.ncwanted.com Updates will be posted as available.

Call 1.866.43.WANTED to Report A Tip, or go to www.ncwanted.com and click 'Report A Tip.' Your identity can remain confidential.


NC WANTED airs Saturday nights after the 10 O'Clock News on FOX50,
and after WRAL's 11 O'Clock News on WILM-TV in Wilmington

Sad Day in Chapel Hill

Yesterday at 5:AM, at the Hillcrest neighborhood on the east side of Chapel Hill, NC, a dead body was found. There was no ID on it, and it was described as a white female aged 18 to 25 years old. Police arrived in response to calls from neighborhood residents reporting sounds of gunshots when the body was found.

This morning Chapel Hill Police announced they had identified the body. It was 22 year old Eve Carson, student body president at UNC - Chapel Hill. She had died of multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head. They were still looking for her car, which was found today at 2:PM on North Street.

The entire day today was a very sad one on the UNC campus. Eve Carson was the 4th female student body president in UNC history, and easily one of the best loved. There were tears and hugs everywhere. A memorial service was held at The Pit, and was attended by literally thousands of students. There will be a candlelight vigil on campus tonight at 7:PM.

Eve Carson was loved by everyone, or so it seems today. It is hard to imagine she had any enemies. Yet two disturbing questions remain.
Who killed Eve Carson, and WHY?

Irish Scenes

Allow me to introduce to you the true spirit of Ireland.
My mother's maiden name was O'Bryan. Her father came to America from County Cork.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Brianna Denison 1988 - 2008

Brianna Denison is not a person I know personally, and I'm sorry to say I never will. But what I do know about her is this.

She was a beautiful 19 year old woman who's body was found recently in Reno, Nevada, about a month after she went missing in January.
She is loved by many, and you can tell.

Type the name "Brianna Denison" into any search engine, and you may be surprised how many pages you will find about her.
Or go to YouTube and enter her name, and you will find a few pages of videos about her in there too.
She is all over the news, and all over the Internet.

You won't have to look far to learn her story, but I suggest you go to http://bringbriback.blogspot.com/

Her killer is still at large, but I am glad to see that so many people have come forward to pay such loving tribute to this beautiful soul who has lived in our world.
I am sure she will forever be remembered.
And I believe that as long as a person is remembered, they will always be with us in spirit.

I don't have to tell the story of Brianna Denison, because her story has already been told. But I do feel compelled to mention her at this time.
There are lessons to be learned here,
but you don't need me to tell you that.

Objectivity Vs. Subjectivity

Objectivity Vs. Subjectivity - a study in philosophy and journalism.
by Bill Widman

Perhaps it was Socrates who introduced the concept of objective perspective to western thought. If not the originator, he was certainly a powerful advocate. Socrates argued that reality is in no way dependent on our ability to perceive it in order to exist. Instead, reality exists far beyond our perception. If a tree falls in the forest and no one's around to hear it, the same vibrations occur whether they are perceived or not. The universe does not revolve around the human mind, and this is fortunate because no one knows how to direct the life forces which govern the universe.
Thus spoke Socrates, "The true lover of knowledge, whose nature is to strive toward reality, shall not tarry among the objects of opinion which the many believe to be real."
The idea that reality revolves around a certain individual (such as one's self) is considered delusional, and referred to as "self centered." This is perhaps the most irrational of all delusions. Socrates is considered a rationalist. He taught that there is a whole lot more going on outside our awareness than within it, and probably more than we will ever know.
Thus it has long been considered that being objective is relative to being rational.

Ask any police officer about what happens when a number of witnesses are being questioned who all saw the same accident, and he will probably tell you that each witness gives a different account. That's because each person sees things in his/her own unique way. Here we have an example of people being subjective. These people are not just telling about what they saw, but also the impressions it has made on them, often with more emphasis on the latter.

Since the early days of American journalism, it has been a rule that a reporter must not give his/her opinion or any personal thoughts on the story he/she was reporting, and give only a completely objective account. There are professional people in this world who are referred to as "a trained observer." It is widely believed that a human being cannot be completely objective, so one must be specially trained for it. We are all personally affected by whatever we experience.
As Jack Webb was famous for saying, "Just the facts, Ma'am."

On May 6, 1937, in Lakehurst, NJ, radio announcer Herb Morrison gave one of the most famous news reports in American history, the Hindenburg Disaster. This announcer had never covered a disaster before, when one occurred during his announcement on the arrival of the famous zeppelin. His emotional reaction to the scene has made him famous, and the recording of it is still very popular. Urban legend has it that Morrison was fired from his job with radio station WLS in Chicago for going so emotional on his coverage, but this was denied by Morrison and the radio station. On the contrary, he was highly commended for his conduct, as he continued with his story with accurate description.

Perhaps the most notorious name in American journalism is Hunter Thompson. He had long held a reputation for breaking all the rules. Thompson was discharged from the Air Force, where he was writing for the base newspaper, for his controversial opinions. Later, he was writing a sports column for a Kentucky newspaper, where he continued to express his strong anti-republican views. This made him offensive to some, but endearing to others. Letters to the editor from people who have enjoyed reading his column have kept him from getting fired, and in some cases, got him hired back. Thompson is credited for introducing what he called, "Gonzo Journalism." It was his well demonstrated opinion that a good writer must put himself in the story, get involved in it, and write from that perspective. I believe that the success of Thompson as an author lends strong support for his theory.

When responding to an emergency situation, the first thing we are taught is, "stay calm, don't panic." Emergency medical technicians, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals, all know very well that emotion can "cloud your judgment," and only by maintaining an objective perspective can you "see through" the crisis at hand, and focus your attention on what needs to be done.

Psychologists divide human behavior into two bodies, Reason and Emotion. Emotion may be allowed to go out and play sometimes, but Reason must always be in charge. Reason is the responsible adult who sits in the driver's seat, and commands obedience. Emotion is the fussy child who sits in the back seat, and is told to behave. Emotion must never be allowed to drive, as the results could be dangerous. When Reason is negligent of maintaining command, the individual may get into trouble with those in proximity, or even harm himself.

No philosopher in his right mind (or left one either) would dare suggest that we do away with emotion, as it is the very source of connecting with the world we live in, and those we share it with. It is what every artist strives to effect.

A good writer must know that the best way to get people to read what one writes, is to write what people want to read. Emotion may be used to get in touch with the reader. I believe that a writer's greatest challenge is to establish a personal connection with the reader, with the inscribed words being one's only source of contact.

In closing, Dear Reader, I leave you with a quote from one of my favorite writers, Dr. Ben Franklin.
"If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins!"

Little Arrows for V-Day

Jeremiah the Bullfrog, who is an authority on groovy tunes of the 60's, has recommended this gem from 1968 for Valentine's Day.
The video part should catch us up with the present decade. -- Enjoy!

The Wizard of Blogs - Part 4

So spoke the Wizard --

"For thousands of years, Humanity has never realized itself as a whole, except in the visions of great seers. Humans have always identified themselves by their race or tribe, their faith or nationality. For thousands of years humans have maintained the delusion that their customs and beliefs make them right, and all those who do not practice the same are wrong. Tragically, the enlightened teachings of the great seers have been used, by their supposed followers, to maintain this division."

"It is the Internet that has eliminated national boundaries between people, and has made distances between them irrelevant. For the first time in human history, individuals throughout the world are able to communicate freely with one another."

"While there are those who continue to send false messages of fear and hate, we can use this same medium to promote world peace. We CAN do this, and we WILL!"

"Let us remember that the flying monkeys are still out there. Although they no longer have a leader to unite them, they are still capable of damage on their own."

"But for now, let us celebrate our newfound victory. The Wicked Witch of the West is no longer a threat to us, thanks to the efforts of Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, and C-Lion."

There is an applause in the Wizard's great hall, as he steps down and approaches the table where our friends are seated. He then talks directly to them.

"Scarecrow," he says, "tell us what you've learned since you've teamed up with Dorothy."
"That although no one knows everything, everyone learns something that others do not, so everyone has something to teach us."

"Tinman, what have you learned?"
"That even though the enlightened teachings I have read have been around for centuries, there are always those who need to be reminded."

"And you, C-Lion?"
"The more that we share, the more we become aware."

"And you, Dorothy, I know that it was your work that has brought this team together, and that it was your inspiration to bring your message of happiness to the World Wide Web, so that others may find the happiness you've found. This I wish to support, and I promised to reward you all, so let me show you what I have for you."

"Now when you get home, you will find you have a new house, with rooms for all of you, so that you can continue working together. There will be new computers for you, equipped with the best security systems available. It is my hope that you will continue your great service to humanity."

As Wizard spoke, he went over to where he had longest instrument panel any of them had ever seen. Walking along and typing on keys, he continues addressing his audience.

"Blogs have been created so that people can share what they've learned with each other. They give each of us a forum to speak in, allowing us to express what we feel and believe in. This is good! As long as positive energy is being transmitted, I will be there to support you. Wherever there is clear communication, mutual respect, and good intentions, the seeds of peace are sown.
Now take a look at the new website I have made for you."

On a large screen that covered the entire wall, the most fantastic image appeared. A magnificent rainbow arched across the sky, with sparkling letters in bright colors, along with singing birds, fluttering butterflies, and flowers everywhere. It had happiness written all over it.

"And this is just the home page!" Wizard said.

Dorothy and her friends get out of their seats and walk up to the screen. They are speechless. Finally C-Lion breaks the silence.
"So what do you think, Dorothy?"
She replies,
"There's no place like our home page!"

And so it was, my dear readers, that I have come across this story of Dorothy and her friends, who have since then been busy looking for other websites that bring positive messages to us, and linking up with them, creating a network.
Every now and then I get a ping from Dorothy, reminding me of the importance of transmitting positive energy with every message we send, in hope of bringing peace to the world.
Now I pass this on to you. May you do the same.

Wishing you peace and happiness;
Wild Bill

The Wizard of Blogs - Part 3

Some wizards are known to be such pompous megalomaniacs, but our Wizard is not one of them. This one is as kind and gentle as he is wise and powerful. He welcomes his visitors most graciously, seeing to their comfort.

"I hope my gatekeeper didn't give you much trouble." says Wizard.
"Well, he was kind of an ass." says Scarecrow.
"Um, yes, well, sorry about that. You see, my people are always careful about who they open the door to."
It is not until after his guests have assured him they are good with their offered refreshments that our Wizard opens with his presentation.

"You are here because I need your help. The Internet is in danger. As we speak, malicious software runs unchecked throughout cyberspace.
The Internet was created as a service to humanity, as an instrument of peace, to unite the people of the world by providing a medium in which to communicate freely with one another.
But predators of every description have found their foothold, and the Internet is not safe anymore. They must be removed, or at least, held in check."

"The leader of all these evil forces is the Triple W Witch. I wish to see her defeated once and for all. This, my friends, is where you come in."

Dorothy and her friends look to each other in astonishment.
"What can we do?" they all ask.
"Yeah, how can people like us defeat the Wicked Witch of the West?"

"It's quite simple really, although it will require every bit of courage you've got, and more than a little bit of sacrifice. You must enter her Domain without firewall protection. There you will be immediately captured by the flying monkeys, who will bring you to Witch's castle. Once inside, you can gain access to her master computer."

"If she doesn't decide to kill us!" says C-Lion.
"Not likely," says Wizard. " I understand she lives in a dark and gloomy castle, and spends most of her time scanning the Net. That means she probably doesn't keep up with her housekeeping very well. So it is more likely she will keep you as slaves to clean her castle. I doubt her flying monkeys can do a good job of that."

Our friends spend the next hour or so discussing the risks involved, the inevitable discomfort they must suffer, and the slim possibility of success.
But Dorothy had succeeded before in inspiring confidence in Scarecrow, Tinman, and C-Lion, and in the end, was able to do so again. Besides, they all agreed, it was for the good of all humanity.

"Bring me the hard drive of Witch's master computer," declares Wizard, " and I promise you, you will all be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams!"

Our brave and determined friends set out for the Witch's Domain, where, just as they had planned, they are captured by the flying monkeys, brought to Witch's castle, and put to work on cleaning her awful mess. Witch cackled and shrieked with sheer delight, thinking victory was hers.

The dark and gloomy castle had been sadly neglected in it's upkeep for years, and their enslavement was anything but pleasant. But our friends were encouraged by the fact that they had access to plenty of water, as was necessary for mopping floors, washing dishes, and cleaning most everything else in there.
All they needed was to find a way to channel water from the kitchen to the master computer, and for Witch to leave the castle long enough to give them a chance.

Sure enough, the time had come when Witch had found that she had run out of cookies. So she got out her broom to head to Munchie Land to replenish her supply, as her sister was doing on that fateful day when a house fell on her.

Our friends worked fast, hooking up a hose to the kitchen faucet that they had made during their stay. Then they ran down the hall with it to the computer room. The flying monkey guarding the door hissed and snarled as they approached. C-Lion distracted him by giving him a cookie, the last of which he had carefully hidden until that time. Scarecrow and C-Lion held the hose, aiming it at the master computer, while Tinman ran down the hall to tell Dorothy to turn on the water.

As the water let loose from the hose, there were sparks flying everywhere, popping and zapping in a cloud of steam, while the monitors blew out, along with all the lights on the control panel. Witch returned just in time to see what they had done. And then, to everyone's surprise, she began to melt. It seemed she was a product of her own creation, and couldn't exist without her instruments of evil.

The flying monkeys, seeing their leader melted into a puddle on the floor, with their little brains unable to think for themselves, took off as fast as they could, each one through the nearest window. Their dark wings filled the sky, before scattering in all directions.

Tinman, who always carried an ax, walked along the wreckage to determine where the hard drive must be housed. Then he swung his ax. Reaching into the hole he had made, he then deftly extracted the hard drive from its housing.

With no one there to stop them, our friends left the castle. Stepping outside, the world looked brighter and more beautiful than it did before.

to be continued...

"Wizard" - Uriah Heep

The Wizard of Blogs - Part 2

Our friends have been walking along the Micro Chip Road for quite some time, with little more to eat than the chocolates and chips they've packed along from Munchie Land.
Considering the circumstances, they were fairing pretty well, until the sun began to set. Then it got a little spooky.
"Do you suppose there may be dangers in the night here?" asked Dorothy.
"Well, there are viruses," said C-Lion.
"And spyware." said Scarecrow.
"And spam." said Tinman.

The group picked up their pace, chanting,
"Viruses, spyware, and spam!, Oh my! Viruses, spyware, and spam! Oh my!"
The chant, along with the pace, continued to rise in tempo, until our friends were confronted by a flash of light and a puff of smoke, before the frightful form of Witch appeared in their path.
"So you thought you could escape my clutches, did you?" cackled Witch.
"Aw shut up you stupid witch!" an unknown voice was heard.
The voice came from an apple tree, who was throwing apples at Witch. Other apple trees were doing the same, shouting,
"Get out of here, you dirty stinking witch!"
"Yeah! Go on! Beat it!"
Bombarded by apples, Witch disappeared in a flash and a puff of smoke.
"Oh thank you for saving us!" said Dorothy to the trees.
"Yes, thank you!" said the others each in turn.
"We are your pop-up blockers. We were planted here to help you." said the apple trees.
"Would you like some apples to take with you?"
"I've always been a PC man, myself, but I'm sure the fresh fruit would do us some good!" said Scarecrow.

Glad to have something more substantial in their bellies, our friends continued their onward pace through the night. By dawn, as the group topped the crest of a hill, the bright colorful spires of Cyber City could be seen on the horizon.
"Almost there!" cheered Dorothy.
"Yes, but look what we have to go through to get there!" said Tinman.
As the daylight increased, endless fields of poppies could be seen on each side of the road. Having been walking all night, our friends passed out one by one.

Scarecrow opened his eyes. He could hear someone singing.

"He was the Wizard of a thousand kings.
and I chanced to meet him one night wandering.
He told me tales and he drank my wine.
Me and my magic man kind of feeling fine."

Scarecrow shook the cobwebs from his head and raised up on his elbow. He could see his friends waking up around him. In their midst there was a big singing frog. He continued his song.

"He had a cloak of gold and eyes of fire,
and as he spoke I felt a deep desire,
to free the world of its fear and pain,
and help the people to be free again."

By this time they were all awake.
"Who are you?" said Dorothy.
"Jeremiah the Bullfrog, at your service. I have breakfast for you." came the reply.
Jeremiah handed out sandwiches and opened a bottle.
"Isn't it a little early for wine?" asked C-Lion.
"This is something to combat the effect of the poppies." said Jeremiah.
"Oh God! Real Food!" said Scarecrow as he buried his face in it.
"I am the Wizard's troubadour, and I have come to make sure you arrive safely to see him." Jeremiah continues. "I have brought you groovy tunes from the 60's and 70's to help you along. The music of the Beatles is well known to keep the Meanies away."
Jeremiah presents a basket of CD's and a portable player.
"3 Dog Night is pretty cool, too!" said C-Lion
"Thank you" said Jeremiah. "They created me, you know."
"We all know that." said C-Lion." But tell me, how come you were singing a Uriah Heep song?"
"This is a multi-dimensional world here, and we've learned to harmonize quite well."
"Oh my!" said Dorothy. "Look what we've got here! Jefferson Airplane, Buffalo Springfield, Grateful Dead..."

After they had revived and were back on their feet, they packed up for the remainder of their journey. Jeremiah explains that he won't be coming with them. He assures our friends that while armed with the music of a generation inspired to bring peace to the world, they would be safe from any bad vibes that could bring negative manifestations.
"Will we ever see you again, Jeremiah?" Dorothy asked.
"You can find me on YouTube." he says.
Then with thanks and hugs, our friends proceed merrily on their way, singing,

"Joy to the world, all the boys and girls. Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea. Joy to you and me."

to be continued...

The Wizard of Blogs - Part 1

Dorothy was a sweet and innocent farm girl from Kansas.
Dorothy was a happy person. She loved her home, her family, and her dog Toto, who were always there for her.
While growing up, Dorothy became aware that others were not so happy, and she always wished she could do something about it.
So when Dorothy got her first computer, she created a website, and called it "Over the Rainbow."

One of the first visitors to her blog was Scarecrow.
Scarecrow was a modest fellow who seemed to think that everyone else was smarter than he was. He never said much, until he met Dorothy on her blog page.

"I don't know very much," Scarecrow said, "so I always listen to what others have to say."
"That means you're smart." Dorothy told him.
"If you're smart enough to listen, you're smarter than most everyone else."
Scarecrow soon became a team mate in Dorothy's blog.

Another visitor who joined the team was Tinman. He too felt low in self-esteem until his first visit to "Over the Rainbow." Tinman's complaint was that he felt old and rusty. Everything that he wanted to say had already been said. He felt that he had learned all the important lessons in life, but all these lessons were already written in books he had read, and he really didn't have anything to add.

Dorothy convinced him he had plenty to add. She assured him that everyone in the world needed to be reminded of all the great teachings he had learned about. So he too, joined the team.

Finally, there was C-Lion. His name used to be Cowardly Lion, but later became Courageous Lion. He decided to shorten it to C-Lion. The name brought pleasant memories of the California coast, and he liked that.

C-Lion's problem was that he was shy. He never thought that anything he had to say was of any interest to anyone. Dorothy convinced him otherwise. After that he developed great confidence in himself, and also joined the team of happy bloggers.

Together they maintained a blog where people could visit whenever they needed a lifting of spirits. People who were bummed out and depressed could stop in "Over the Rainbow" and get rejuvenated. Dorothy and her friends felt they were providing a great service to humanity.

But there was an evil stalker of the Internet who didn't like what they were doing.
She was known as the Wicked Witch of the West, or more simply, "WWW." This name was a clever disguise for her, as it appeared on every website address.
She hated the influence that Dorothy and her friends had on people, of whom she was seeking to take advantage of their fear and ignorance. So she devised her evil plan to destroy them.

Witch lived in a dark and gloomy castle that was lit only by the eerie glow of an elaborate instrument panel and some screens. From this room she monitored Internet activity around the world, preying on the unsuspecting and the vulnerable.
One day she pressed the button that said, " Summon Flying Monkeys."
When they appeared she commanded them,
"Destroy Dorothy and all her friends! Destroy their work, and every positive influence they have made!"
The flying monkeys took off at her command, filling the sky with their dark wings, in search of the website called "Over the Rainbow."

They proceeded to hack their computers and infect them with viruses, causing all programs to crash. The impact was so great it not only blew up the computers, but blew up Dorothy's house as well. And by "blew up" I mean that the house literally blew way up into the sky, yet somehow remained intact.

When the house landed with a crash, and the shaken but curious occupants came outside, they quickly realized they were far from home. Nothing looked familiar. Dorothy noticed a pair of feet protruding out from under the house.
"Oh My!" she said.

Soon they were greeted by a good witch named Glinda, who was kind enough to explain to them what the hell was going on.
"Now what you see here," she says, "is an example of how bad karma always comes back to you." indicating the feet under the house.
"That's the sister of the Witch who attacked you. Her attack backfired, as what always happens to doers of evil deeds!"

Dorothy and her friends look at Glinda with expressions of bewilderment, telling her she needs to explain a lot more than that.
"Someone attacked us? Why?" asked Dorothy.
Glinda explains how evil always seeks to destroy good, assuring them that it was their good work that made them targets of such destruction.
"But fear not, for everything happens for a purpose, and your purpose now is to find the Wizard, who will repair the damage and restore things back into order."

"But where are we?" asked Dorothy and her friends all at the same time.
"You are in Munchie Land" says Glinda.

Scarecrow, Tinman, and C-Lion step cautiously as they examine their strange surroundings. Tinman looks curiously at the leaves on a bush. Plucking a leaf, he finds it is really a potato chip in his hand.
Scarecrow taps a round paving stone with his foot, than stoops down to pick it up. He finds it is a big chocolate chip cookie.
C-Lion checks out the flowers. The leaves are green spear shaped gum drops. The petals are sweet-tarts.
Dorothy notices the people, who are called Munchkins. They all appear to be fat and lazy. She thinks she knows why.

"Unfortunately," says Glinda, "the only food here is junk food, but it grows everywhere."
"Well, I don't think we should stay here very long." says Scarecrow.
"Me neither" says C-Lion.
"No matter," says Glinda, "for you must now prepare for a very long walk. You must go to Cyber City to see the great Wizard."
"Who is this 'Wizard' ?" asked Tinman.
"Well, besides being your only way back home," says Glinda, "he is the great Internet master who will tell you what you must do to undo the great damage that has been done. He is the Wonderful Wizard of Blogs!"

"So how do we get to Cyber City?" asks Dorothy.
"You must follow the Micro Chip Road."

The Munchkins, one by one, repeat the words.
"Follow the Micro Chip Road"
before breaking out into song.

to be continued...

"Birthday" - Paul McCartney

Dr. King and Me

There were two people in my life that I shared a January birthday with, who have been a major influence in my growing up
The first one was my brother, Rick Widman, who's birthday is in the same week as mine. Rick's birthday on Jan 20, and mine on Jan 25.
The other one was Dr. Martin Luther King, who's birthday is really on Jan 15, though it's often observed around Jan 20.

Yours Truly was born January 25, 1955, in Washington, DC.
When Dr. King came to DC with his large following in 1963, I was 8 years old and, believe it or not, I remember it.
On live TV I watched, while safe at home, the man everyone was talking about giving his famous "I have a dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I knew where that place was. My little legs have climbed up those very steps holding my Daddy's hand.

I remember hearing this man referred to as "Martin Luther Coon" and about the day "the niggers marched on Washington." I heard a lot of things from grown-ups who thought I wasn't listening.

In 1968 I was 13 years old. It was in April of that year, shortly before Easter, when Dr. King was assassinated. There were riots in DC. I stayed home from school and watched soldiers patrolling the streets from our window.

That same year, just two months later, on June 5, 1968, Robert Kennedy was assassinated. It was at the Ambassador Hotel, a building in DC I was very familiar with. He died the following morning. It was noted the date of his death had three sixes in it, 6/6/68.
Somehow my young mind was able to grasp that the whole world as I knew it had experienced an impact that will never go away.

In 1969, at the age of 14, I had the honor of signing a petition that went around in my school to make the birthday of Martin Luther King a national holiday.

Eventually they did make it a holiday, but they don't call it MLK's Birthday anymore, but MLK Day. Rather than the birthday proper of Jan 15, it is dated each year to fall on a Monday, in order to give us a 3 day weekend, usually around the 20th.

In 1970, at the age of 15, I came to Chapel Hill, NC for my first time. I decided I wanted to live here. I felt a lot safer here. People in Chapel Hill did not get shot for talking about peace.

My brother Rick and I used to celebrate our birthdays together, as they were so close together. Now I get to celebrate it in the same week as Dr. King. I consider this a great honor.

So for me and Dr. King, through the courtesy of YouTube, I have asked Paul McCartney to play a birthday song for us. Now wasn't it nice of him to comply?

Todd Matthews

I'd like to introduce my readers to Todd Matthews, who has recently become a hero to me. His work is very impressive. I am looking forward to working with this man in the near future. Watch and Learn! - BW -