A Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows the debtor to retain certain exempt property, but the debtor’s remaining property is gathered and sold by a trustee from which credi-tors will receive payment. It may also be used by businesses which wish to termi-nate their business.A Chapter 13 bankruptcy enables debt-ors, through court supervision and pro-tection, to propose and carry out a repay-ment plan under which creditors are paid, in full or in part, in installments over a three-year period. During that time, debtors are prohibited from starting or continuing collection efforts. The following bankruptcies declared by Calhoun County residents were recorded by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern Dis-trict of Alabama last week:

Chapter 7• Justin R. Fox, Cedar Springs Road, Jack-sonville• Dennis L. Christopher, Tuckaway Drive, Piedmont• Charles M. Patton, Hollon Court, Oxford• Debra A. Fuller, Merimack Drive, Oxford• Linda Ann Callahan, Brenda Road, Anniston• Sherry Morgan, Jacksonville

Chapter 13• Felicia Stovall, Newborn Street, Annis-ton• Angela M. Bedwell, Homewood Acres Drive, Eastaboga• Richard N. Turner, Reaves Road, Annis-ton

Bonnie Evelyn Anderson, Heflin Bertha Louella Ansley, TalladegaJanice Clack Barnes, Smiths StationRev. Chester Hugh Beason, OxfordPhilip J. Beville, GeorgiaMary B. Blackerby, GeorgiaOliver Zane Brock, OxfordSandra Michell Petty Brown, CentreMelvin W. Brown, OhatcheeOra Brown, AnnistonWilliam Alford “Bill” Butler Jr., AnnistonLarry “Digem” Chesnut, LeesburgAnnie Ruth Cox, Hobson CityMartin Davis, AnnistonCharlsie Marie Dennis, RanburneMartha Lois Dunaway, OhatcheeJimmy W. Dunson, Auburn“Cricket” Dorothy Gardner, AnnistonFlorence Turner Genge, MadisonClyde Gibbs, RanburneErlene Riddle Gilbert, Rainbow CityImogene Coker Goza, Sand RockJuanita Gray-Roper, JacksonvilleRuby Hail, WeaverJura Mae Hanvey, AnnistonJeanette Hill, NewellMary M. Hill, AnnistonRobert Taft Holt, JacksonvilleKenneth Kilpatrick, PiedmontIsaac “Butch” Kohen Jr., AnnistonTucker Brian Laws, Roanoke

John Wilbur Clinton Mathews Jr., TennesseeLaura Diane McClanahan (Dee Dee Baxter), GeorgiaBarbara Jean Morgan, RoanokeGordon Luther Morgan, Sand RockTheodis Morris, AnnistonFred L. Parker, AnnistonOpal Owens Parker, RabbittownJames “Jim” Clayton Parris, JacksonvilleRoy L. Parrish, AnnistonFrances Pinkard , JacksonvilleClarence Patterson “Pat” Poland Jr., Lineville Robert D. Poore, OxfordElzon Antwon Rudolph, AnnistonLorene W. Sanford, PiedmontDr. Warren Glea Sarrell, Anniston Gary Wayne Smith, MunfordHelen Crowder Stephens, AnnistonHubert Stitts, PiedmontThomas Bryan Townsend, TalladegaClifford Clarence Ward, OxfordBetty Nell Hunter Wells, CentreWendell White, RanburneJohn O. Williams, Weaver Calvin B. Winn II, LinevilleDoris Molock Woolf, Piedmont

The material inside the Sunday Record is recorded by The Anniston Star from various institutions and government offices.

The public records are published as they appeared on the documents obtained by the newspaper. Direct questions and comments about Sunday Record to Isaac Godwin at jgodwin@jsu.edu.

EDITOR’S NOTE

SUNDAY RECORDYOUR GUIDE TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND VITAL STATISTICS IN CALHOUN COUNTY

The Anniston Star ● Sunday, October 7, 2012 ● Page 4F

• Lloyd Eldridge Ogle of Oxford to Angela Maria Crow Ogle of Oxford• Gregory Lee Morris of Wellington to Benita Faith Hammonds of Wellington• Matthew Ian Gid-dens of Martinez, Ga., to Laura Elyse Mankin of Martinez, Ga.• Richard Michael Brown of Jacksonville to Angel Lee Johnston of Jacksonville• Joel Eugene Carter of Jacksonville to Aman-da Lynn Ray of Jack-sonville• Joseph Allen Stuart of Piedmont to Lynita Dawn Burns of Pied-mont• Russell Allen Craig of Anniston to Kayla Ramsey Wilkerson of Anniston• Christopher Charles Palmore of Anniston to Roshon Lennette Johnson of Anniston

• Adam Nicholas Smith of Anniston to Julie Marie Rendino of Anniston• Sheldon David Hen-man II of Jacksonville to Jacinta Latrise Brock of Jacksonville• Andrew Christopher Mendez of Roanoke to Latasha Marie Neal of Monterey, Calif.• Phillip Jerome Lee of Anniston to Sonya Lor-raine Price of Annis-ton• Forrest Dewayne Hass of Anniston to Christina Louise Gra-ham of Anniston• James Adam Mize of Wellington to Suzanne Nichole Smitherman of Wellington• Thomas Maverick Gidley of Oxford to Katie Marie Carter of Oxford• Ralph Edward Thom-as of Anniston to Regi-na Ann Funchess of Anniston

MARRIAGE LICENSESBANKRUPTCIESDEATHS CATTLE SALE

Crimes are listed by location. Anonymous tips may be called in to Crime Stoppers at 256-238-1414. A reward of up to $1,000 may be given.

AnnistonThe following property crimes were reported to the Anniston Police Department during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.Burglaries• Residence, 300 block of East 15th Street: firearm, televisions.• Residence, 5200 block of Arrow Avenue: jewelry, laptop.• Residence, 300 block of East 15th Street: televisions.• Commercial site: 900 block of Old Gadsden Highway: copper wire, air-conditioning unit, water heater, conduit and wiring, office chair.• Residence, 1400 block of Chris-tine Avenue: television.• Residence, 1800 block of Ste-phens Avenue: iPad, laptop.• Unknown location, 200 block of K Street: hair flat iron, curlers, blow

dryer, hair dryer, shampoo and conditioner supplies, massage table, costume jewelry.• Residence, 300 block of 3rd Ave-nue: television.• Drug store, 1500 block of Leighton Avenue: computer.Thefts• Highway/Street, 1900 block of Parkwood Drive: cell phone.• Residence, 500 block of Sequoya Drive: jewelry.• Residence, 3500 block of Gur-nee Avenue: game console and games.• Residence, 400 block of West 29th Street: sofa and love seat.• Residence, 3300 block of West 14th Street: heating and air condi-tioning unit.• Residence, 3000 block of Griffis Street: surveillance cameras, shovels, drive shaft, tools.• Bank, 200 block of Greenbrier-Dear Road: currency.• Unknown location, 5700 block of Alabama 202: tires.• Service/Gas Station, 1200 block

of Wilmer Avenue: currency.• Unknown location, 3200 block of McClellan Boulevard.: currency.Auto-related thefts• Parking Lot/Garage, 900 block of South Quintard Avenue: hunt-ing knives, coins, backpack, CD receiver.• Highway/Street, 500 block of Leighton Avenue: checkbook, navigation system, currency. • Highway/Street, 1500 block of Leighton Avenue: stereo, battery.• Parking Lot/Garage, 1100 block of U.S. 431: Dodge Ram truck.• Residence, 6100 block of Weaver Road: Nissan truck, televisions, firearm.

Calhoun County The following property crimes were reported to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.Burglaries• Residence, Gate 5 Road, Alexan-

dria: plants, wreath, lawnmower.• Residence, Mahlep Lane, Alex-andria: checkbook, iPod Touch, firearm, cash, jewelry.• Residence, Gate 5 Road, Alexan-dria: men’s hats, medications, sun-glasses, television power cable.• Residence, Mountain Street, Jacksonville: currency, fraternity pin.Thefts• Unknown location, Sulphur Springs Road, Lincoln: cell phones, cell phone accounts.• Residence, Golden Valley Road, Ohatchee: I.D. theft.• Residence, South Harris Avenue, Piedmont: Coachman Catalina camper.• Unknown location, Gladden Lane, West, Alexandria: fraudulent use of a credit/debit card.• Unknown location, Gladden Lane, West, Alexandria: fraudulent use of a credit/debit card.• Residence, Robertson Road, Piedmont: negotiable checks (cashed).

Auto-related thefts• Residence, West Foster Road, Jacksonville: vehicle batteries.• Parking Lot/Garage: cell phone.• Construction site, U.S. 431, Alex-andria: heavy equipment battery and cables.

JacksonvilleThe following property crimes were reported to the Jackson-ville Police Department during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.Burglaries• Residence, 300 block of College Street, SE: game consoles and remotes, television, Thefts• Department store, 1600 block of Pelham Road, S.: merchandise.Robbery• Residence, 1500 block of Church Avenue: I.D. card, currency, cell phone.

BLOTTER

WILLS PROBATED

Here is the livestock mar-ket report for the Tuesday sale. Receipts for this week 700 compared to 864 last week. Receipts a year ago 848.FEEDER CLASSES:Bulls and steers (Medium and Large No. 1 and No. 2): 200-300 lbs. Too Few; 300-400 lbs. 153.00 to 200.00; 400-500 lbs. 138.00 to 177.00; 500-600 lbs. 120.00 to 155.00; 600-700 lbs. 106.00 to 136.00.Heifers (Medium and Large No. 1 and No. 2): 200-300 lbs. Too Few; 300-400 lbs. 131.00 to 165.00; 400-500 lbs. 123.00 to 135.00; 500-600 lbs. 114.00 to 131.00; 600-700 lbs. 105.00 to 124.00.SLAUGHTER CLASSES:Cows: Breakers 71.00 to 75.00; Boners 76.00 to 80.00; Lean 68.00 to 70.00.Bulls: Normal Dressing 54-58% 91.50 to 96.50; Low Dressing

• James A. Mills• Elaine F. Salter• Debra Leonard• Eddie Frank Payne• Raymond E. Smith

• Allen Dean Shaffer• Nellwyn Clark Smith• Charlie Hutchison• Josephine Tatum

ARRESTS

The people listed in this arrest report, whose names and charges are obtained from public records, are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

AnnistonThe following felony arrests were reported by the Anniston Police Department (addresses not provided) during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.• Trisceana Gevonda Thomas, 41: obstructing justice by using a false I.D.• DeAngelo Cantrez Jackson, 22: violation of the Community Notification Act.• Corey Darnell Groce, 35: obstructing justice by using a false I.D.• Maurice Simmons, 39: first-degree theft.• Kimberly Dingler Livingston, 37: first-degree theft.• Robin Michelle Simmons, 34: first-degree theft.•Jonathan Lee Bloodworth, 31: third-degree burglary.• James David McDonald, 28: third-degree burglary.• Angelia Gwyenn Christopher, 53: second-degree domestic violence.• Arlene M. Elliott, 54: possession of a controlled sub-

stance.• Demris Devon Almon, 36: third-degree domestic vio-lence.• Stephan Shaquille Wilson, 19: third-degree burglary.• Dennis Bernard Duke, 37: possession of a controlled substance.• Eli Kasseed Quick, 24: second-degree possession of a forged instrument.

Calhoun CountyThe following felony arrests were reported by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday • Shanda Denise Petroff, 42, of Anniston: alteration of an insurance card.• Charles Ray Blackwell, 29, of Heflin: first-degree escape, probation revocation.• Kevin Scott Lawrence, 23, of Pell City: probation violation.• Layla Rae Webb, 25, of Heflin: four counts of failure to appear.• DeAngelo Cantrez Jackson, 22, of Anniston: probation violation.

• Iris Starlene Ledbetter, 46, of Anniston: unlawful distribu-tion of a controlled substance.• Alonzo Miller, 29, of Anniston: contempt of court.• Kevin Scott Lawrence, 23, of Pell City: third-degree bur-glary.• Chrystal Michelle Slayton, 35, of Piedmont: second-degree receiving stolen property.

Drug Task ForceThe following felony arrests were reported by the Calhoun-Cleburne Drug and Violent Crime Task Force during the seven-day period ending Thursday at 7 a.m. • Jennifer L. Brown, 24: chemical endangerment of a child.

Pardon and Parole BoardThe following felony arrests were reported by the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole during the seven-day period ending Thursday at 7 a.m. • Iris Ledbetter, 46, of Anniston: probation violation.• Brandon King, 31, of Nauvoo: probation violation.

DIVORCES

• Donald Green and Marion Green• Jeffrey Bradshaw and Kimberly Brad-shaw• Teresa Lewallen and Gerald Lee Lewal-len• Brigget Diane Patton and David Lee Batchelor Jr.• Alice Lee Saboley and Edward Saboley

The Anniston StarAward-winning sports coverage

HAUTE HOMEMADE THE CRAFTER’S CORNER IN SUNDAY’S LIFE SECTION▶

For the latest in local news, visit www.AnnistonStar.com

4F

WE BUY GOLDSilver and Diamonds

DIAMOND DEPOT • Snow St., Oxford - Across from Cheaha Bank • (256) 365-2087284436

The Anniston Star Sunday, October 7, 2012 Page 5FSUNDAY RECORD

CALENDAR: AnnistonStar.com/calendar

• Louise A. Williams to Deborah Jo Edge and Louise A. Williams, Church Hill Downs, phase 2, lot 2, $10.• Frances Camp to Reba Graham and Ann Wooldridge, Piedmont Land & Improvement Co., block 25, lots 12-14, $10.• Tammy D. Steelman to Eric A. Free and Kayla K. Free, Corning addition to the City of Anniston, block B, lots 19 and 20, $10.• Johnny S. Abernathy and Elaine Abernathy to John Kochan and Reva F. Kochan, a parcel of land in section 35, township 12, range 9, $10.• Jim Douthit and Judy B. Douthit to Phillip C. Boozer and Michele B. Boozer, a parcel of land in section 9, township 13, range 8, $10.• Cenlar FSB to Freddie Mac, S. E. Boozer’s subdivision, lots 18 and 19.• Ronald Troy Smith to Ronald Troy Smith and Bobby T. Smith, a parcel of land in section 35, township 13, range 9, $10.• Ronald Troy Smith and Bobby T. Smith to Sara Smith, a parcel of land in section 35, township 13, range 9, $10.• Johnny Warren and Margaret P. Warren to Johnny Warren and Margaret P. Warren, a parcel of land in section 16/17, township 16, range 7, $10.• Wesley Bittles and Charlotte Bit-tles to Paige Krutulis, Shady Hills subdivision, block 2, lot 7, $45,000.• Roger D. Holman and Beatrice Holman to Mike Stallings and Carla Stallings, Westwood sub-division, 2nd addition, block C, lot 2, $10.• Arvid Leon Padgett to Arvid Leon Padgett and Sharon A. Padgett, a parcel of land in section 35, town-ship 13, range 7, $10.• Clemment Enterprises LLC to Bonita Ford, Western Hills subdi-vision, lots 24 and 25, $10.

• Barbara Gayle Gossett, Dean Ashley, James Ronald Ashley and Patricia Carol Hightower to Mark Gaines, a parcel of land in section 24, township 16, range 8, $10.• Margaret Gilley to Jascelynne Gilley, Williams Coopertown Prop-erty, block B, lot 7, $10.• Mable S. Bryant to Doris Adkin-son, a parcel of land in section 6, township 15, range 8, $10.• Robert Andrew Wolfe to Andrea Jo Wolfe, Westwood subdivision, block C, lot 8, $10.• Karla Williams to Clifton W. Wil-liams and Kasey V. Williams, a parcel of land in section 22, town-ship 13, range 8, $10.• Elaine Courtney Rhodes to Charles G. Fowler and Hannah E. Fowler, Weaver North subdivision, 1st addition, block E, lot 3, $10.• Jamestown Development Co. LLC to Nicholas W. Mundy and Emily P. Mundy, Colony at Jamestown, lot 7, $10.• Casey B. Abernathy and Michael C. Abernathy to Bridges Proper-ties LLC, a parcel of land in section 6, township 15, range 6, $10.• Landon Sims to Regina Sims, a parcel of land in section 19, town-ship 14, range 8, $10.• Inez B. Reaves-Estate to William G. Dulaney, a parcel of land in sec-tion 17, township 16, range 6, $10.• Jessica U. Hoyle to Rebecca Spears Jenkins, Cynthia, Crescent addition, block 3, lot 11, $10.• Ronald K. Gallahar and Betty Griffin Gallahar to Alex K. Galla-har and Brittany Gallahar, a parcel of land in section 24, township 14, range 6, $100.• Hattye A. Peters to Phillip Peters, Golden Springs subdivision, 1st addition, block D, lot 2, $10.• Billy Partridge, Andrea Ray and Larry Ray to Billy Partridge, Hid-den Meadow, block 1, lot 11, $1.• William Leon Dodd to Carolyn Lee and Michael Kent Lee, a par-

cel of land in section 3, township 15, range 7, $10.• Charles C. Redmon and Karen M. Redmon to Thomas E. McKle-roy and Linda K. McKleroy, Over-brooke Forest subdivision, lot 5, $10.• Thomas E. McKleroy and Linda K. McKleroy to Jeffrey L. Cockrell and Cary W. Cockrell, Pinewood subdivision, Nelson’s addition, lot 2, $10.• Alice G. Lennon-Estate to Lisa M. Pruitt and Roger D. Pruitt, Tim-beridge subdivision, block A, lot 29, $10.• Eldon F. Gillispie and E. Joye Gillispie to April C. Whaley, Indi-an Oak Estates, section 2, lot 72, $128,500.• Cynthia Slaton to Cynthia Slaton and Jessica Stewart, fractional section A of a parcel of land in section 20/29, township 15, range 5, $10.• Vickie Marie Mundy to Robin L. Hunt, a parcel of land in section 18, township 14, range 8, $10.• Michael T. Crowe and Tammy L. Crowe to Michael T. Crowe, Valley Land Corp., 4th addition, block M, lot 9, $10.• P. D. Pritchett to Equity Trust Co. and Richard L. Mayfield, Jackson-ville, Matthews addition, block N, lot 1, $10.• Barry Smith to Omega Homes Inc., Pinehurst subdivision, lot 12, $10.• Rosemary Wessinger Garza to Erin Hines and Jeffrey R. Hines, a parcel of land in section 12, town-ship 16, range 8, $10.• First Alvernon Properties LLC to George M. Dudchock Jr. and Pamela M. Dudchock, Indian Oaks Estates, section 2, lot 77, $10.• Housing & Urban Development to Ohio Investments LLC, a parcel of land in section 35, township 13, range 7, $12,744.• Calhoun Development Co. Inc.

to Joseph A. Cash and Marga-ret Cash, Buckhorn subdivision, phase 7, 3rd addition, lot 203, $10.• Jerry Houck-Estate to Nathaniel H. Ponder and Agnes Nell Ponder, a parcel of land in section 24, town-ship 13, range 9, $10.• P & G Legacy LLC to Christiane G. Branche, Greenleaf Heritage subdivision, 1st addition, block B, lot 11, $10.• Bismark LLC to Jonathan Mark Box, Whispering Oaks subdivision, 1st addition, lot 20, $83,900.• Lisa Pruitt and Roger D. Pruitt to Patricia Ortega, Lenlock sub-division, 2nd section, 1st addition, block 3, lot 10, $10.• Longleaf Development LLC to Rosemary Olivares, Hickory Hills, lots 8 and 9, $1.• JPMorgan Chase Bank to Hous-ing & Urban Development, Kara-Lyn Heights, 2nd addition, block 2, lots 2 and 4.• Fannie Mae to Rex D. Newton and Ashley D. Newton, a parcel of land in section 5, township 14, range 8, $54,000.• Joyce A. Heckel to Ed Hise, Car-riage Hills subdivision, 1st addi-tion, block 3, lot 14, $1.• Kenneth Hise to Ed Hise, Car-riage Hills subdivision, 1st addi-tion, block 3, lot 14, $1.• Connie Pierce to Millie G. Smith, a parcel of land in section 22, town-ship 16, range 6, $10.• Mary Carter to Millie G. Smith, a parcel of land in section 22, town-ship 16, range 6, $10.• Michael L. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, a parcel of land in section 1, township 13, range 10, $10.• Michael L. Smith and Stephen M. Smith to Stephen M. Smith, fractional section 8 of a parcel of land in section 35, township 12, range 9, $10.• Richard McMurtry to Millie G. Smith, a parcel of land in section 22, township 16, range 6, $10.

• Peggy H. Crow to Geoff H. Smith, a parcel of land in section 21, town-ship 16, range 7, $135,000.• Allie Stewart to Lula L. Carpen-ter, Thomas Hampson’s subdivi-sion, block C, lot 1, $30,600.• Patricia G. Koors, Mary G. Monk, Martha G. Norton and KMN Prop-erties to Mayer Properties LLC, South Anniston Land Co., 1st divi-sion, block 25, lots 9-14, $320,000.• Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust to Calhoun County Community Development Corp., Anniston Land Co., block 442, lot 13, $500.• Andria Strickland Perry to Nan-nie Ruth Brewster, Anniston Land Co., block 102, lots 3-5, $10.• Billy Joe McFall and Linda McFall to Gregory King and Teresa King, a parcel of land in section 19, town-ship 14, range 7, $10.• Property Investment Group LLC to Timothy Shadrick and Carol Shadrick, Jacksonville Mining & Manufacturing Co., block 396, lots 6-8; Jacksonville Mining & Manu-facturing Co., block 400, lots 3-5; Quail Run subdivision, 1st addition, block F, lot 5, $10.• Christy R. Dille to Eric J. Barnes, a parcel of land in section 4, town-ship 15, range 6, $10.• Adam S. Johnson to Angela Darlene Chandler, Seven Springs Estates, 1st addition, block B, lot 18, $10.• Warren D. Preskitt and Sheena Preskitt to Warren D. Preskitt and Sheena Preskitt, 5-W Ranch sub-division, block 1, lot 6, $100.• Rudolph M. Coleman to Deborah E. Fancher, Golden Springs subdi-vision, block B, lot 6, $100.• Calhoun Development Co. Inc, to Edward A. Quinn and Marybeth C. Quinn, a parcel of land in section 32, township 14, range 8, $10.• Calhoun Development Co. Inc, to Edward A. Quinn and Marybeth C. Quinn, a parcel of land in section 32, township 14, range 8, $10.

PROPERTY TRANSFERRED

RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS

Here are food service establishments recently inspected by the Calhoun County Health Department, along with scores. A score of 100 indicates the inspec-tor found no deficiencies. Potentially hazardous defi-ciencies (four- or five-point demerit items) are noted. These must be corrected immediately and inspectors say they are often corrected while the inspection is underway. Restaurants earning below 70 must raise their scores within seven days or face closure.

NO MAJOR DEMERITS

• Brother’s, 206 S. Pelham Road, Jacksonville — 96.

• Red Lobster, 515 Quintard Drive, Oxford — 99.

• Tokyo Express, 1801 Quintard Ave., Anniston — 96.

• Waffle House, 545 Quintard Drive, Oxford — 96.

FORECLOSURES

• April S. Smallwood and Michael L. Floyd, North Anniston Realty, Saks addition, block 29, lots 8-10.• Jo Lynn Heath, a parcel of land in section 5, township 15, range 8.

• Brenda Faye Crook, Woodchase subdivision, 3rd addition, block D, lot 14.• Virginia Johnson, Quail Run sub-division, block A, lot 4.

AnnistonStar.com

BY HAL BOEDEKER AND MARTIN E. COMAS

Orlando Sentinel

ORLANDO, Fla. — Robert Zimmerman Sr. arrived at the Orlando Sentinel lobby alone March 15.

He was so nervous that he was trem-bling. Sad and resigned, he discussed death threats his family had received.

But the father of George Zimmerman also was determined as he demanded that the Sentinel print a typed, one-page letter with the message: “The media portrayal of George as a racist could not be further from the truth.”

The newspaper published the letter online later that day, as well as in the next day’s edition.

His media critique came a week after Trayvon Martin’s dad, Tracy, first spoke out about his son’s fatal shooting Feb. 26. Tracy Martin demanded that Sanford police arrest George Zimmerman — a demand that echoed across the country.

Since the shooting, the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman story line has been shaped, in large part, by those dueling sce-narios as both sides have used the media to present their version of the truth.

Race has been a driving force. The Martin team has highlighted profiling and unequal justice, while the Zimmer-man camp has countered that race was a red herring that clouded the central issue: Zimmerman acted in self-defense.

Martin was black. Neighborhood watch volunteer Zimmerman was initially described as white.

But other issues also propelled the story atop the national news. The public debated the merits of Florida’s “stand your ground” law; the rules of neighborhood watch and how far its volunteers can go in protecting their neighborhoods; and even the advis-ability of wearing hoodies.

“It was a cultural story about race, about state laws. There were a lot of components that elevated it above just another crime story,” said Tom Rosenstiel, director of the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excel-lence in Journalism.

“That’s what journalism has always been about: stories that can provoke a deeper conversation about issues. You don’t have to live in Florida to know the details of the case.”

In the court of public opinion, the Zim-merman side initially suffered one mis-step after another while trying to get its message out. The Martin side, meanwhile, shared its version of the story early, clearly and frequently.

“Their goal was simply to keep this case in the public forefront and not let it

get swept under the rug, and they did that excellently,” said Orlando attorney Mark NeJame, a legal analyst for CNN. “Mar-tin’s team adopted a philosophy of simply repeating their position as if it were a man-tra.”

That mantra: Martin, just 17, was an innocent child walking home in his hoodie when he was shot in cold blood, armed only with Skittles and iced tea. Zimmer-man should be arrested.

The mantra for Mark O’Mara, Zimmer-man’s attorney: “Wait until you know the facts of the case.”

“This case has gotten skewed way off the base of what I think it should be on, because people are not listening to and seeing facts,” O’Mara said in a recent inter-view with the Orlando Sentinel.

“A lot of people ran with the idea that this was a racially motivated case when there was no support to it.”

That was hard to see in the beginning, when protesters joined the Martin family’s demand that Zimmerman be charged with killing Martin. After weeks of national out-cry, an arrest happened April 11 when a special prosecutor charged him with sec-ond-degree murder.

“The narrative plays toward the mob

in a case like this,” said Al Tompkins, an instructor at the Poynter Institute, a school for journalists in St. Petersburg. “The story is easy to understand. The youth is inno-cent, and the youth is the victim. What happens is a complex narrative that’s much more difficult to get your arms around and sort out how you should feel.

“It’s not as simple as man shoots teen. There appears to have been some struggle. Once you know the narrative, the facts change. The man (Zimmerman) did have injuries. The youth actually fought back somehow. It’s difficult for the public to stop in its tracks and alter its thinking in any way.”

The Sanford shooting has been one of the biggest stories this year, and one that reflects how today’s fragmented news cul-ture works across blogs, websites and talk shows. Many in the media seized on emo-tion, not facts.

The key ingredient helping the story gain traction was Zimmerman’s call to a dispatcher who told him to back off before Martin was killed, Rosenstiel said.

“It was after that tape was released that the story became much larger,” Rosenstiel said. “That was one of the propulsive ele-ments along with social media.”

But both sides also used traditional media. Benjamin Crump and Natalie Jack-son, lawyers for the Martin family, became frequent TV guests on morning programs, cable news and local newscasts.

At a March 16 news conference, Crump said, “Thank God for the media, because I’m not sure we ever would have gotten the truth out.” Crump even flew to London with Martin’s parents for a hoodie march.

“Most lawyers prefer to try their cases in the courtroom,” Crump said in an inter-view with the Orlando Sentinel. “But in my experience, in civil rights cases, if you don’t present your case in the court of public opinion and get media coverage, there’s no guarantee — no matter how egregious the facts are — you’ll be able to present your case in a court of law.”

In his 17 years of practicing law, Crump has become well known for taking on cases of poor minorities — and presenting them to the media before they reach the court-room.

Crump took the case after several requests from those in the Martin camp, including Tracy Martin. He sees a societal benefit in his TV appearances with Mar-tin’s parents.

“It kept mushrooming to the point that people started talking about it with their children,” Crump said. “It became a debat-ed issue at dinner tables around America. It was a phenomenon in every sense of the word.”

Meanwhile, Zimmerman’s side of the story remained largely untold: George’s brother talked with CNN’s Piers Morgan on March 29. Zimmerman talked with Sean Hannity on July 18 on Fox News Channel.

“Are we playing catch-up? They’re eons ahead of us,” O’Mara said. “They’re run-ning around the country just saying what-ever they want.”

O’Mara questions Crump’s approach.“If he believes he wants to take on as a

crusade the plight of the way young black males are treated in the criminal justice system — ‘call me, and I will help you,’ ” O’Mara said.

“What they’re saying is, ‘Let’s have a conversation.’ Go right ahead, but don’t make it a media frenzy about a case that doesn’t involve that.”

To O’Mara, the central legal issue will rest on his client’s insistence that he was defending himself when Martin was shot.

“The reality is, this case is supposed to be judged upon George’s belief, whether it was reasonable, that he was in fear of great bodily injury at Martin’s hands,” O’Mara said. “To that, we look at some of the evi-dence. That’s what we need to focus on. To turn George into something he’s not for an ulterior motive is frustrating.”

Dueling scenarios helped shape Martin story in media

Walter Michot/Miami Herald/MCT

Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, surrounded by family and fellow employees, receives hugs and well wishes before the Miami-Dade commission Tuesday, May 15, 2012, to thank commissioners and county employees for donating vacation time to her and to Trayvon’s aunt.