crime

KN, p. 340 “Death by Holiday”

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An elderly family member passed away during last year’s holiday season and while searching through several funeral websites for information, I found out more than I expected. Nationwide stats and reasons for death are mixed in with casket choices and names of local florists.

Did you know that murder and violent crime can increase during the holidays? The underlying reasons listed below are a compilation from several different funeral home websites across the country, not limited to the South or Northeast where I have lived.

  • People tend to drink more at the holidays: Getting drunk can lead to dumb decisions, fights, and more deadly DUIs than at non-holiday times.

 

  • Tensions are higher: Not everyone is full of joy and laughter at the holidays. Reminders of disappointing or difficult previous holidays can trigger emotional reactions. In some cases, this can result in domestic violence against spouses or children.

 

  • Money troubles: It’s tough to enjoy the non-stop commercial display of excess on every corner when money is scarce during the holidays. Not being able to afford the glitz can give rise to an overwhelming feeling of failure. Theft and robbery of goods/money by desperate people can result in deadly force to protect those items.

 

  • Too much to do: Full-time jobs and party planning create conflict when the work falls to one person to do all the cooking, cleaning, decorating, and shopping before the events. Some people snap under the pressure and nothing good comes from that. Heart attacks, strokes, food binges, increased drinking – can all be elevated to an unhealthy level.

 

  • Too tired to do it all: There are only 24 hours in a day and just because we need more time to get all the prep done doesn’t mean we can change the clocks. BUT, being tired causes problems on the highway, at work, and on the holiday itself. Sleeplessness can lead to poor judgment and poor reaction time while driving, leading to lost tempers and more accidents. Research by insurance companies indicates that exhaustion on the road has the same result as being drunk.

Soooooo…. What can we do to prevent all that from happening to the people in our circles?

Drinking and driving don’t mix, so consider taking a taxi to your destination and home again. Or choose a designated driver in your group before the event, who will be willing to stay completely alcohol free during the event. YIKES stat: The weeks between turkey day and December 31st are when drinking is at an all-time high.

Avoiding stress is nearly impossible, so consider making a doable plan that paces the day and includes time in the gym or a massage or quiet time with a cup of tea and a book. WAIT-WHAT? Doesn’t that take time away from the tasks already on the list and even add to them? Sheila and I have each tried the quiet time scenario with no phones or TV on in the background. It’s amazing what 15 minutes away from ‘the list’ will do to increase focus and refresh the brain.

Money, money, money. We all need it but sometimes the money runs out before the month does. Even in a money-tight year, we tend to want the same celebrations as before, but that’s not realistic or practical. To keep from bouncing the credit cards at the holidays, use the old decorations, get a smaller tree, buy one or two presents for each other instead of five. Consider hand-made gifts, or gifts of chores around the house, or books, or performances for each other (Check out “The Twelve Days of Christmas”). Stay away from the high-priced hot-ticket items in the stores. Make a budget that realistically assesses what you can afford to spend and keep track of what you’re spending. When the money runs out, it’s gone, so spend thoughtfully.

To-Do List. There is not one single person I know who wants to do ALL the work while the spouse or children are on their phones or watching TV. The Resentment Meter can go off the charts and lead to work strikes in the kitchen and one or two murderous thoughts. The routine that Sheila and I have devised through the years is workable for anyone. We sit down a week or two before the event and make a list of everything that needs to be done, including the shopping, meal-planning, cooking, cleaning, special circumstances, decorations, gifts, setup, invitations, and transportation. We divide the responsibilities according to time needed and skill level required with a haggle here and there over the details. Flexibility is key. HINT: getting the kids involved in the list goes a long way to develop their sense of family participation.

Toooo Tired! Multiple gatherings can wear a person out and if adults don’t get at least six hours of sleep a night they put themselves at risk for heart attacks or strokes. Or car accidents. Or unfounded anger. If you’re exhausted, consider having a short nap. Less than half an hour in a dark, quiet room can refresh your brain and attitude.

 

Slow down and take a step back from the potential chaos. Above all, remember the Reason for the Season and enjoy it. The life you save may be your own.

 

KN, p. 340 “Death by Holiday” Read More »

Visiting Detective Ava Logan – “Crime in Appalachia”

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VisDetAvaSmokies

It’s no secret that Sheila and I like to take a week here and there and see the sights around this great country of ours. This past Fall, we took the scenic route through the Great Smoky Mountains (part of the Appalachian range) to see the North Carolina cousins. I know, really long way around from the New York area, but the weather was great and it was a “why not?” kind of week.

The scenery was breathtaking and we pulled over lots of times to take pictures and soak it all in. When we finally left the Smokies, we stopped at a little spot called Minnie’s Diner in Jackson Creek, North Carolina. The parking lot was packed, but that’s usually a good sign, and we looked forward to mouth-watering, down-home cooking.

As we waited for the waitress to lead us to the only open booth, another couple came in behind us. She grabbed two menus from the counter for us, and spoke to the couple in typical small-town fashion. “Sheriff. Ava. Y’all doing okay?”

I glanced at the guy—long sleeve black shirt, rugby-type, tucked into black utility pants, a round patch on the shirt front reading Jackson County Sheriff. Below that, a bar with G. Ridge inscribed.

“Doing good,” he answered the waitress for both of them. “Looks like it’s standing room only today.”

“The wait shouldn’t be too long.”

The waitress turned to lead me and Sheila to the booth, but I stopped and turned toward the couple. The badge meant he was okay with me. “Want to join us?” They looked surprised, but agreed right away.

We all slid into the booth – Ridge and Ava sitting across from us – and introduced ourselves. Ava and Ridge lived in the next town.

I’ll let Ava Logan tell their story.

*****

 “So let me get this straight,” Charlie said, wagging a finger between Ridge and me. “You’re the sheriff, and you’re the publisher of the town newspaper?”

“Yes,” we both answered.

Charlie nodded and asked, “Does it ever cause a problem?”

“Not at all.” I must have answered too quickly because Ridge jerked his head around to glare at me. “Maybe. Sometimes,” I conceded.

While Ridge and Charlie talked shop, Sheila and I chatted about their trip through the mountains. Born and raised in western North Carolina, I love hearing others’ take on my part of the Appalachians. I smiled and declared that the scenic beauty is matched only by the people who called these hills and hollows home.

 Highway-SmokiesIMG_3611

Although engaged in conversation with Sheila, I couldn’t help but overhear Charlie ask, “So how many residents are there in Jackson Creek?”

“4,327,” I answered. A hot blush crept up my cheeks as the Kerrians and Ridge looked at me like I always went around spouting random numbers. I mumbled a clarification, “Jackson Creek proper. I’m not sure about Jackson County.” Somewhere near the fifty-thousand range, but it was Ridge’s county. I thought he might want to answer.

The corner of Ridge’s mouth arched upward in a slight grin. He turned back to Charlie. “Fifty-three thousand. Jackson Creek is the county seat. I’m sure that’s a lot smaller than what you’re used to.”

Charlie answered with a smile, then turned to me. “Is there enough news in a town of four thousand to sustain a newspaper?”

“Oh, yeah. We do a lot of human interest features. And the occasional crime wave public service announcement.”

He and Sheila laughed. Ridge didn’t. He pressed his tongue to the inside of his cheek, a sign I knew all too well. We’d ridden this merry-go-round before. We rode it every day. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department wasn’t large enough to hire a media liaison so as Sheriff, Ridge filled that role. He was quick to feed me information when he needed to get the word out, and got especially tight-lipped when he didn’t want the press involved.

To be fair, Ridge was a good sheriff. And the fact that extracting information from him was like pulling the proverbial teeth, probably made him an even better one. It did make my job more difficult, though. And, sometimes caused me to do a little detecting in search of the facts behind the crimes.

“Don’t get me wrong,” I said, spitting the words out like I was in a hurry to defend him, or explain my earlier words. “We had a rash of car break-ins a few weeks ago and I was happy to put a warning out to residents. And we always have ginseng poaching that sometimes gets out-of-hand. And of course, the…occasional murder.”

 

VisDetAvaBloodyFootprint

I stared at the trail of condensation snaking its way down my water glass, remembering every detail of that recent murder, the scene stamped into my brain forever. The victim had been a good friend. It was hard to forget, no matter how many times I’d tried, when you were the one to find the body. I’d never in my life been more glad to have a conversation interrupted by a waitress delivering food.

“So, Charlie,” I said, diving into a chicken wrap. “How’d you like the Smokies?” 

“Wait!” He and Sheila chimed in together. Charlie laughed, “You can’t leave us hanging like that! What poaching? What murder? Tell me no lies!”

 

VisDetAvaGinseng

“The poaching was a big deal around here!” I launched into my tale, but left out a few details about the danger we were all in, knowing that Ridge was still not happy about how that had played out. Charlie shook his head. “That’s a case we’d never get in the city.” The waitress delivered some warm apple pie and Charlie nudged, “Tell us about the murder. Don’t leave anything out.”

I glanced at Ridge, not at all sure he wanted to talk about that case. Yup, he was scowling. I quickly changed the subject and we continued our lunch over more pleasant conversation, laughter, and a promise to keep in touch. I had no doubt we would.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Lynn Chandler Willis created the newspaper owner Ava Logan character, based in no small part on her own experience in the news biz. “Tell Me No Lies,” the first in the series, debuted in February, 2017, and explained all about the ginseng poaching as well as the murder, and Ava Logan’s part in both.   🙂

 

 

 

Amazon link

 

 

“Tell Me No Secrets” and “Tell Me You Love Me” are available as well.
“Tell Me Where You Are” will be available in the Spring of 2026.

Take a look at www.lynnchandlerwillis.com for updates about the series and Ms. Willis’ other Award Winning work.

Ms. Willis’ Facebook Author Page

*Photo credits:

 Smokies, Ginseng, Footprint – Google

 Lynn Chandler Willis, Blue Ridge Highway – Patti Phillips

 

 

 

 

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Visiting Detective Ava Logan – “Crime in Appalachia” Read More »

KN, p. 334 “What Does the Secret Service Do?

The United States has a federal agency called the Secret Service, tasked with the job of protecting the sitting President and Vice-President (and their families) along with other government leaders, past Presidents, and major Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. If there are visiting Heads-of-State, it falls to the Secret Service to provide security for them while in the USA.

Vice-Presidents, their spouses and children, are protected for an additional six months after leaving office, unless the sitting President feels they need additional protection by the Secret Service. Children of former Presidents have a Secret Service detail until they reach the age of 16.

One aspect of the protection part of the job is to provide security for various federal buildings in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., as well as the officials in them. The vice-president’s residence as well as embassies fall into that category.

Now under the umbrella of Homeland Security, the Secret Service was created in 1865 within the Treasury Department to investigate counterfeiting and other financial crimes. Today, the investigations might include work to combat credit card and bank fraud, stop identity theft, and defeat computer fraud.

Cybercrime is a major focus for several federal agencies and with the Secret Service mission mandate of “protecting the integrity of our U.S. currency” and “safeguard America’s financial infrastructure,” agents can specialize in several areas. Some might do deep dives into computer investigations, find and create code in order to further those investigations, while others use that information to interview witnesses in person and gather physical evidence.

Among other activities, Secret Service agents carry firearms, have arrest powers, and can pay rewards for information germane to an investigation. It’s important to note that interfering with a Secret Service investigation can lead to hefty fines and time in jail.

It’s up to Homeland Security to organize protection for national events where government leaders will be present, and generally the Secret Service will be the agency in charge of the planning and execution of those procedures.

Training to become a Secret Service agent starts with eleven weeks at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, where other Law Enforcement Officers also train. They study basic police skills, the law, undergo firearms and defensive training, and learn how to craft clear and concise reports.

When that training is complete, the agents move on to a Secret-Service-only training facility, where they spend four months honing their skills. This is where they will study counterfeit money detection, and investigate the methods used in credit card fraud by ‘bad actors’ in the world. There will be classes in self-preservation and special driving techniques to be used in possible high speed chases or Presidential protection details.

Training never stops. Periodically, experts in any given field applicable to the Secret Service work will conduct intensive instruction, either to update or reinforce what was taught in the past.

Recognized as a source of state-of-the-art forensic assistance for their own cases as well as those of other law enforcement agencies, the Secret Service Forensic Sciences Lab helps with document and fingerprint analysis, targeting cybercrime and financial incidents. Polygraphs, securities fraud, DNA analysis, forensic photography, forensic accounting – all might be areas of interest for the Lab. And it’s not just big business, or the country’s leaders that capture the Secret Service time and energy. They also delve into crimes against missing or exploited children, lending forensic assistance and actual investigative support when needed.

“The Secret Service employs approximately 3,600 special agents, 1,600 Uniformed Division officers, and more than 2,000 other specialized administrative, professional and technical support staff.” *

Special agents protect top U.S. and visiting foreign officials, and investigate financial crimes.

The Uniformed Division officers guard facilities in which the Secret Service protected persons reside or work.

The Technical Law Enforcement group lends support to the special agents as well as the Uniformed Division officers. 

The Civil Service Professionals support the overall protective and investigative missions.

Is there an area that interests you? *

 

*Data and categories from secretservice.gov

Up next: Qualifications needed to become part of the Secret Service.

Stay tuned.

 

KN, p. 334 “What Does the Secret Service Do? Read More »

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