Deep sadness

Two ladies from Gowensville were selling vegetables from their garden at the crossroads nearly two years ago, one September evening. Jim Cockman was there, meeting folks who had called about his white SUV, an old truck which he had parked there with a For Sale sign in the window. As he always did, Cockman sought to make new friends. He chatted with the produce sales ladies, and bought some okra.

A Tennessee man named David Edens had the truck out for a test drive. Edens’ common law wife, Jennifer Holloway, told Cockman she was taking her child in their car to Landrum for a hamburger. For awhile that evening, the two would-be murderers were both gone from the scene, with the truck they had come to steal.

Why not take it then? Why return the next day to abduct and murder a gentle man, such an outstanding man?

It is the absurd, unexplainable meanness and stupidity of this horrible crime which sticks in the throat. Holloway and Edens barely mounted a defense this past week. There were no real questions as to the facts. They very likely will pay with their lives. The jury began considering their life stories Sunday and, of course, Jim’s life story.

Jim’s widow, Cathy Cockman, told of her life with Jim, his children, his many civic and business involvements. She recalled last seeing him on the morning of his murder. He was washing some floor mats he had taken out of his pick-up, planning to throw them in with the SUV as a gesture of kindness to the poisonous couple who had given their names as Charlotte and Greg Hemlock. The cruelty which he met in return that morning defies understanding.

What can we take awayfrom this tragedy other than deep sadness that such cruelty exists, and anger at such mindless, seven-minded, or mind-numbing stupidity?
Nothing can be done. That two wasted lives may also now end abruptly is no consolation. — JB

Advocating for abused children

By Jeff Byrd - Editor & Publisher of the Tryon Daily Bulletin

There is a volunteer opportunity available in Polk County for those who care about children.

The N.C. Guardian ad Litem program needs volunteers to plead for the cause of neglected and abused children. Forty-three abuse and neglect cases were heard in juvenile court last month in Polk County. Polk has 11 active Guardian ad Litems, volunteers who step into the morass – courts, counselors, attorneys, social services case workers, therapists, and family networks, just to name a few stops in the journey. The Guardian ad Litem’s one and only focus is to advocate for the child and his "best interests."

We can think of few human tragedies greater than that of a child who suffers at the hands of the very adults who are supposed to be his protectors. Yet, there is no denying that such tragedies are playing out all around us, every five minutes, according to the statistics.

In 2002-2003, in North Carolina, 107,157 children were reported to be abused or neglected, and 30,016 of those were confirmed as victims. In 2001-2002, in Polk County, 194 children were reported to the Polk County Department of Social Services.

Guardian ad Litem volunteers are trained to investigate the facts in cases assigned to them. They must sort out the truth from murky circumstances and less than trustworthy sources – "the father’s new girlfriend started this whole mess" – and attempt to help guide the child’s progress through the court proceedings. The "best interests of the child" is a murky concept in itself, but one which has three primary goals: a safe home, a permanent home and that to be found as quickly as possible.

Where does one turn to find sanity, safety for such a child? What is "the least detrimental alternative?"

If you have a desire to help abused and neglected children, and a stout heart, here is an opportunity. Call the program office in Hendersonville, (828) 697-4894.