This "live" blog is pre-recorded

Couldn’t get the Star Car wireless connection to get me online. Pulled a few hairs out trying to get that remedied. So I apologize for promising a live blog from the meeting and not delivering.

Here is a pre-taped blog from said meeting…

Food for the meeting was donated by Chen’s.

12:10 p.m.: Chairman Gary Staymate opens the meeting by asking Commissioner Jo Boggs to give a prayer

Nineteen tips came in since the January meeting. Eleven were to the Shelby Police Department. The remaining eight were to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.

Three tips were recommended for pay outs. Each involved the serving of warrants on individuals police were looking for.

The main pay out of the day was regarding the arrest of Roderick Bernard Wray, in connection with a county shooting. That tipster was awarded $200.

"They have been looking for him a few weeks," said Lt. Tammy Endicott.

The two remaining pay outs involved the arrest of a man wanted for felony breaking and entering ($100) and a man on the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Top 10 wanted on probation violation regarding driving charges ($100).

"That’s pretty good," Endicott said of the number of tips that came in over the past month.

Donations and pay outs since Dec. 31, 2007

Dec. 31 – Balance: $14,528.09

Jan. 14 – Pay Out - $100 – Balance: $14,428.09

Jan. 14 – Pay Out - $100 – Balance: $14,328.09

Jan. 28 – Donation: Mountain 1st Bank - $500 – Balance: $14,828.09

Jan. 31 – Interest Earned - $31.35 – Balance: $14,859.44

Feb. 1 – Donation: Fidelity Bank - $1,000 – Balance: $15,859.44

Board member M. A. Andrews said the bumper stickers obtained for the group – to spread the word of CrimeStoppers – came out to less than four cents apiece. He said a recent customer of his called from his office after seeing the bumper sticker. Andrews said, with the added publicity of the bumper stickers, he hoped to see 250 tips come in by the end of the year.

Andrews also pushed to have two monthly meetings at the Kings Mountain and Boiling Springs police departments to establish the group as a countywide effort.

"We can’t do it by ourselves but it’s working," he said.

Staymate said the CrimeStoppers logo appearing in the print and online versions of The Star has aided the effort.

"We basically had very little money, very little participation. And in the past three years … we’re having more calls than ever before. We’ve increased … the amount of money we have available. Hopefully that will grow," Staymate said.

"For us to be partnering with local banks, that’s good," he said. "We appreciate all that."

"We’re still working on it," said board member Cecil M. Burton regarding he and Michael Chen’s fundraising efforts.

"I’m more comfortable seeing $15,000 instead of $5,000," Staymate said.

"The more activity we show, it makes their jobs ten times easier," Andrews said of keeping the group in the public eye to aid with the fundraising effort.

Staymate said he wants to elect new officers in April but hoped that secretary Karen Rhyne remain in her role and Verna McCluney remain as treasurer, as she works at Fidelity Bank, a close partner of the group.

"I feel like I have served my commitment and I feel I’m satisfied with it," he said of his term as chair.

The formation of a nomination committee was discussed and members of the committee were decided.

The group then discussed meeting outside the city limits to spread the word of the group.

"I think it’s important we go out to the other law enforcement agencies," said board member Ellis Noell.

"I see benefits to doing that," Staymate said, adding he would like to go to Kings Mountain and Boiling Springs once a year. And, with help of the sheriff’s office, meet in Lawndale or another part of the northern area of the county.

"My question is do we want to hold our business meeting at these locations three times a year?" he asked.

Staymate said he was concerned that by holding the meeting in an irregular place could confuse those who want to attend but aren’t on the board.

"The general public isn’t going to come to our meetings and I don’t think they ever have," Burton said.

"I think if we go there and show them we’re interested, it would revitalize the police department," Andrews said of holding a meeting in Kings Mountain. "Just like politicians looking for votes, we’re looking for support. I think there’s a perception this is strictly a Shelby thing and we need to broaden out."

"I think (Kings Mountain Police Chief) Melvin (Proctor) would be thrilled to host a meeting there," Noell said.

The group then agreed to visit Kings Mountain, Boiling Springs and – at a later date – hit other parts of the county.

The group then discussed recent purse snatchings, including one recently at Cleveland Mall in which a car dragged a woman until she released the purse. Staymate said there were three purse snatchings at Wal-Mart lately involving the same suspect. He said employees kept the suspect from escaping the store.

The meeting was closed at 1:19 p.m.