Soaking it all in

I’m addicted to watching shows on Food Network and Travel Channel. Guy Fieri is funny and engaging touring across America on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Anthony Bourdain is not only a true chef but a pure storyteller and what I like to classify as a real food journalist. There are truly some things Andrew Zimmern puts in his mouth that make me question his sanity, but there is something distinctly clear when watching their shows. They have a passion for the foods they eat and cook as well as a desire to understand the culture the recipes come from. I have a passion too, a pure joy and passion of eating but sometimes I find myself limited to what and where I can eat due to budget constraints. I think many people during this tough economy can probably say the same thing. But every once in a while I get those few extra bucks and once I’ve made sure the bills are paid and I have enough gas in the car to last for the week I will allow myself to indulge. One of those opportunities happened ...

Rape and other forms of sexually violent crimes continue to be an ever-present problem that affects hundreds in our community every year. More often than not the victims of these crimes do not report or speak about the incident due to fear, shock, disbelief, denial, anxiety, guilt and self blame. The Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire is well established as a comprehensive agency serving Savannah and the surrounding area. Each year, the Rape Crisis Center reaches approximately 700 victims including adults, children and the family members of victims. Their crisis intervention programs include SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) and SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners), which makes the reporting process much more responsive to the victim. An additional 15,000 people are reached each year with the various prevention programs for all ages, such as Good Touch/Bad Touch, Bullying Prevention, Rape Awareness, and self-defense classes. Through it all the Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal...

Crowder’s file up for parole review Long County case became infamously known as Tomato Patch Murders Patty Leon After serving 14 years of a life sentence Billy Crowder has become eligible and is currently under review by the Georgia Department of Pardon and Paroles Board. Crowder garnered unwanted notoriety during his murder trial held in the summer of 1998 in Long County Superior Court. He, his family and his friend Jason Jordan stood accused of a heinous crime against his grandfather, Thurman Martin. The trial and subsequent series of events placed the small community of Ludowici on the map as events unfolded on the local news and later became a national sensation when a documentary about the family, murder and trial aired on A&E, Court TV and even 20/20. The story involved the alleged abuse of an entire family, a murder and a cover-up; all culminating to Crowder’s verdict and what even some of the jurors called a miscarriage of justice in the sentencing. Crow...