Tern Persico Record Staff Reporter Yulee resident Ronald Wayne Clark, 22, convicted for first-degree premeditated murder Nov. 2, was sentenced to death Dec. 13 at the Nassau County Courthouse. Judge Henry Adams granted the death penalty for the first time in his 11 years as a judge on the Fourth Circuit Court. Clark was convicted on the murder charge for the October 1989 murder of transient Charles McElroy Carter, 37. A jury found Clark shot Carter twice, once in the chest and once in the face with a 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun. Prosecuters said Clark shot Carter S after driving with two friends to an abandoned area on County Road 108 by the McQueen Swamp Hunting Club following a night of drinking. Tetimony showed that Clark shot Carter in the chest, reloaded the gun, leaned over him and shot him again in the head. The two friends, Brian Corbitt and David Hatch, who were present at the shooting were not charged with participating in the murder. Prosecuto
Courtroom sketch artists unfold the history of some of the most famous trials with the stroke of lead across a page. Heavy black satchels full of over 200 markers make up their professional lives. In the wake of more cameras in the courtroom some people believe that these unusual artists will disappear in the name of progress. Outlines become faces as testimonies emerge. Witnesses or defendants are often cartoons in themselves, so how do you draw a cartoon of a caricature? In between drawing, artists listen to details coming from the lips of those on the witness stand. Five years ago these artists made a couple of hundred bucks a day or more. Courtroom sketch artists fill the empty space where cameras are sometimes not allowed and they even have their own fraternity. Their work often promotes laughter among their own little group, more so than tears. Speed is also a factor if you want to be a courtroom sketch artist and their work can sell for as much as $10,000 a piece. Gary M
On March 19, 2008 I found out my oldest sister Joy has Stage One breast cancer. I was going to wait to write about this. It seems that I’m being insensitive (maybe I am) by going ahead and writing about Joy’s diagnosis. Those last two words in that sentence I just wrote look like a foreign language to me. Joy’s Diagnosis. It doesn’t seem real. I’ve always been one to have delayed reactions to things. When my parents told me they were getting divorced as a child I didn’t cry right away, but retreated to my room. I’ve been that way ever since. On the surface I guess it would appear that I am cold but that is hardly the truth at all. I just have always used writing to deal with tragedies and problems in my life. Joy, 52, didn’t get her mammogram done last year because she was busy although she had gotten it the year before. Five years ago her husband of 25 years died in a car accident. She still has her grown daughters (my nieces) and her four grand
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