Court Delays And Roaming Bears

By Bristol Herald Courier Editorial Board

Published: May 31, 2008

THUMBS UP TO:

No more delays
Howard Hawk Willis, accused of killing and dismembering two Georgia teenagers in Johnson City in 2002, will go to trial in July in spite of his latest effort to postpone his date with justice. Over the years, Willis has clashed with nine sets of court-appointed lawyers, including some of the region’s most seasoned legal minds. His antics have delayed his case well beyond the ordinary; he’s abused the court system and prolonged the agony for his victims’ families.
Judge Lynn Brown, who has done everything humanly possible to ensure that Willis is treated fairly, finally said enough this week. He refused to delay the case again. It was a decision whose time had come. Willis is accused of serious crimes; it is past time for him to face a jury of his peers. Justice can be delayed, but not denied.

More time for driving drunk
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen made it official this week. Those who are convicted of drunken driving in the state will serve a minimum of 48 hours in jail rather than a mere 24 hours. It’s a small change, but an important recognition that drunken driving isn’t a trivial crime. Kudos to the legislature for pushing the change and to the governor for signing it into law.

Perseverance in the face of adversity
Daniel McConnell, a 30-year-old Army veteran who lost his arm in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, is a profile in courage and perseverance. Despite his life-changing injury, he’s a medical student at East Tennessee State University and he’s setting out on a cross-country journey to see the nation before returning to his studies. McConnell will blog about his trip and hopes to write a book. We wish him safe travels.

Pageant’s return
After two years away from home, the Miss Virginia USA and Miss Teen Virginia USA pageants return to Bristol in October. The competitions will take place at Virginia Intermont College – a further sign of the college’s resurgence after the financial uncertainty that clouded its future not so long ago. The pageants draw competitors and their families from across the state to Bristol. This positive exposure is good for the city and for Virginia Intermont.

Books in the hands of youngsters
The Imagination Library program was conceived as a way to get books into the hands of very young children – before they are old enough to read alone – across all demographic categories. The hope was that the books would inspire a love of reading and learning that would translate into higher literacy rates and better performance in school. It will be several years before those sorts of outcomes are known.
However, the program is already a success in the eyes of the children and families who participate in it. They can’t wait to get their hands on the latest book. This week, the Sullivan County program reached a milestone. It had put 150,000 books in the hands of children, from babies to big kids (up to the age of 5). Kudos to those who have worked and donated to bring the program to this point.

THUMBS DOWN TO:

Too close for comfort
We’re as fond of bears as the next person, but we prefer that they be in the region’s wild areas, not roaming residential neighborhoods. Bear sightings in a Bristol Virginia neighborhood near Virginia High School are a reminder that we live in the mountains. Nature is never too far away. Police urge caution. Give bears (or any wild animal) some distance and keep food and garbage secure. Good advice.