For What It's Worth
06/14/08

Let's Pause and Take a Breath.....

Yes, you read correctly. I said "let's pause and take a breath."

I'm the first one to tell you that pausing anything is something I don't do often. Since I've started working for WSOC-TV on their assignment desk, I've learned a whole new facet of news that's exciting.

It's exciting when everything breaks loose then, at a moments notice, stops all at once.

For Lincoln County, it's been that kind of week.

First was the freak accident that was the explosion of Cliff Champion's 80-foot houseboat, "Championship II." A spark caused the explosion that cost the life of a highly-regarded Nate Coppick. The 19-year old loved working at Westport Marina -- he enjoyed the outdoors -- and was preparing to go to college. A bright future cut tragically short because despite following all procedures correctly in refueling the boat, it was his time to go.

Folks, when God calls you home, there's no room for discussion.

People really thought a lot of this kid. I talked to his old high school bus driver. She told me he was the best and I believe it. People can say they were better for knowing Nate.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in the Coppick family for your loss.

Then, two days later, another "family" was dealt a crushing blow.

Thursday morning was also a trying time for the Emergency Services family in Lincoln County with the arrest of Noel Morrision, a lieutenant with Lincoln Rescue and part-time EMT.

He was charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl. And while reports say the girl was a member of the junior rescue team and Morrison was one of her trainers, my sources at rescue say neither statement is true.

As families do in times of tragedy, I found many of the Lincoln Rescue members at the central base on Academy Street. They're grieving -- not because a member of their family has died -- but because a member of their family evidently made a bad judgement error.

Sgt. Matt Painter told The Carolina Scoop newspartner WSOC-TV that there's evidence in letters and other communications between Morrison and the girl that a relationship had been going on for awhile. Two of Painter's comments really got my attention Friday night:

"You don't wake up one morning and decide you're a pedophile."

and

"It's someone who should have known better."

Both statements are true. And before anyone says "innocent until proven guilty," I've known Sgt. Painter and all of the guys at the Lincolnton Police for a long time. They wouldn't even think of pressing charges unless they had sufficient and credible evidence to do so. In other words, it wasn't a witch-hunt.

It was simply law enforcement doing their jobs. My heart goes out to the Morrison family, too, because it's hard to face major felony criminal charges of that nature.

My heart also goes out to the family of the 14-year-old because now, a little girl is scarred -- maybe for a lifetime -- as a result of someone else's bad judgement.

And while it's been a newsworthy week for Lincoln County, it's also been a challenging one as well.

So again, let's all stop and take a breath.

For What It's Worth is a weekly editorial by The Carolina Scoop publisher Jon Mayhew. The opinion in For What It's Worth is Jon's only and doesn't reflect the opinions of the ownership, management or staff of The Carolina Scoop. Feedback is welcomed at mayhew.jon@gmail.com and letters may be subject to publication. Please include a name and telephone number to verify submissions.