Sangaree Connection

I just wanted to remind you that the Sangaree Crime Watch will be holding our monthly meeting at the Palmetto Land Baptist Church tonight, Thursday, June 21, 2007, at 7:00 p.m.

The updated agenda for this month’s meeting is:

• Moment of Silence for Fallen Firefighters
• New South Carolina Gang Law
• Community Event in August
• Sangaree Tax Increase

Please be sure to come down and join us for the meeting. We look forward to talking with you about how we can make our community safer.

We have all heard by now of the terrible murder of a beautiful young girl named Kelsey Smith. She was last seen leaving a Target store in Overland Park, Kansas. But do we realize how close to home this really is?

Kelsey Smith lived on Aberdeen Court in the Highland Village section of Sangaree from 1990 until 1993, along with her older sisters Stevie and Lindsey. Her father Greg was a Berkeley County Sheriff deputy and mother Missey worked for USA Today. They were like most of us in Sangaree–hard-working people wanting a safe home for their family. With all our efforts to make Sangaree a safer place we need to also remember to learn teach the children to be careful and aware at all times. Kelsey did nothing wrong. She was doing what she was supposed to be doing. Unfortunately for her, someone else was not.

Kelsey and her sisters were charming, polite, well-mannered children. They were children that Sangaree as a community could be proud of. Their last Christmas on Aberdeen Court, I remember all Kelsey wanted was a Dorothy Doll. Missey and Greg were searching everywhere for that doll, even having family in Kansas looking for it. I remember Kelsey got her doll. And I remember what great neighbors the Smiths were. Just as great as the ones we still have in Sangaree.

Thank you to one of our residents who alerted us to this news story of a missing Lincolnville Constable Robert Lee Bailey’s cruiser found burning in Sangaree.

Our prayers go out to the family of Constable Bailey and we wish for his safe return.

Yesterday evening, the third meeting of the Sangaree Crime Watch was held at the Palmetto
Land Baptist Church. The meeting was attended by approximately 50-60 residents.

Vice Chairman Joe Cornish opened the meeting by thanking everyone for coming. He invited the attendees to review flyers provided to the Sangaree Crime Watch by Berkeley County Sheriff department’s SGT Jackson. The flyers included information about gang awareness, safety tips for women and the effect of violent media on the human brain. Mr. Cornish then introduced Chairman Brad Green.

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