New group takes aim at crime

Bill Poole helped organize the Central Historic Crime Watch Group after noticing an increase in vandalism and more serious crimes in the historic district of Gaffney.

He hopes the crime watch group will slow down the trend.

Poole has been living in his Union Street home since 1964 and never noticed a problem with crime until lately. In addition to vandalism and drugs, fear from a serial rapist struck the historic district as two of three sexual assaults occurred on Union Street and Victoria Lane. Jonathan Leon Byers, 18, of 201 First St., Gaffney, has been arrested for the assaults.

"We're beginning to have more crime in the area," Poole said. "Everybody has been very receptive. We have a lot of elderly and the younger ones are concerned about them."

Fliers about an organizational meeting scheduled for Monday, March 19, have been distributed throughout the Union Street, Johnson Street and College Drive areas, but Poole said residents of all areas are welcome.

The meeting is planned for 6:30 p.m. at the Cherokee History Museum in the Old Central School.

A representative from the Gaffney Police Department is expected to attend the meeting and give pointers on crime prevention.

For more information, call Poole at 489-5108.