[Marlin Democrat] -- Warrant nets guns, drugs

Warrant nets guns, drugs
by Denise Schoppe
Staff Writer

The Marlin Democrat
August 3, 2005

The Marlin Police Department, in conjunction with the district attorney's office, made two arrests and confiscated an assortment of guns and powder cocaine on Tuesday, June 16.

At 7:50 pm, 10 Marlin Police officers and the district attorneys office served a search warrant for narcotics to 321 Durr Street. Brian McCraw, 29, street name "Half Breed", was arrested for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. He also had a warrant out or his arrest for probation violation.

Also arrested was Aaron Shelley, 40, who was in the front yard at the time of the search. He was arrested for possession of crack cocaine and marijuana.

In the search of the house, the officers recovered eight guns of different sizes and calibers, as well as an ounce and a half of powder cocaine and scales.

"That amount of powder cocaine would yield approximately 8 - 10 ounces of crack cocaine," Marlin police officer Wesley Kingsley said.

Police Chief Kerry Blakemore explained that the warrant was issued after investigations by the police department as well as district attorney investigators.

"i know a lot of people think we aren't working the drugs in this town," Blakemore said. "We are, but we have to investigate first which takes time."

Blake more said the department plans on "opening eyes in Marlin."

"We're going to keep working on the problem," Blakemore said. "Those that doubt that we are doing anything will be surprised."

[Marlin Democrat] Column -- Music downloading illegal but common

Music downloading illegal but common

Nise's Notes
by Denise Schoppe

The Marlin Democrat
August 3, 2005

I have a confession to make.

I have downloaded music. Downloaded music that the courts now tell me is illegal to do. I confess that I've done it, and I confess that I didn't really feel bad about it.

In college, I took courses on media law. We studied copyrights and how intangible objects — such as music — can be stolen. We studied the laws, and yet I am certain that atleast 90% of my media law class had music downloaded off of programs such as Napster (back before Napster was turned into a pay-only program.)

As someone who has an interest in the music industry and how it all works, I find myself curious about the "stealing" of music.

Now, I may have downloaded music to listen to, but I also have over 200 CDs in my collection. Call me a music junkie, if you wish. When a CD comes out that I want, I purchase it. I want to support my favorite artists, and you really can't beat the quality of the real thing.

When downloading music, you run the risk of so many things. You run the risk of downloading a song that is named incorrectly. You're shooting for "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and instead get "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." File quality is not guaranteed. Pops, gaps or just low-quality mono sounds are all dangers of file sharing. These are problems you do not have when you buy a CD.

Viruses attached to the files, opening your computer up to others to poke around in there, and jail time or atleast hefty fines are also risks of downloading music. It could end up costing the downloader far more the download a "free" song than it would have to just go buy the album.

Nonetheless, thousands still staunchy go out and download free music. It's a lot like gambling, I suppose.

My opinion of music downloading is not fully formulated. I've done it myself, and as a result I see the draw and the merits of doing it.

I've discovered so many groups that I'd have never known about if not for music downloading. One group I discovered, I ended up running out and purchasing all three of their albums that had already been released. I've searched out old songs that are hard to find on CD today. At a concert I attended, the lead singer of the group encouraged everyone in the audience to go out and download their music because, "It means you're listening to us and having a good time. And that's why we do what we do."

So on one hand, I stand firmly on the side of the downloaders. However, on the other side, I stand beside those crying foul.

It costs a lot of money to produce even one song, and the music industry depends on fans to purchase albums and go see concerts to pay for those production costs. Getting a song for free puts a heavy burden on the record labels. Money lost means having to cut some of their artists and groups to survive. Which in the end only hurts the fans.

I also see how the music is their product. Seemingly intangible, it is their product that they produce to the masses. Getting it for free is indeed stealing, even if there are thousands more copies of the same product floating around.

It seems every day there is a new article about illegal file sharing and music downloading. Everyone is getting in on the paid-downloading... even McDonalds has offered music downloads. Albums now come with copyright protection to stop - or atleast slow - file sharing capabilities.

It's a war going on between consumers and producers of music. It is one that is gong to end up costing thousands of people a lot of money... all for the need of hearing a piece of music for free.