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Current County records show that there are currently 12 convicted sex offenders that live within 5 blocks of a Greenville school. I attended Greenville City Council last week speaking as a grandmother that will protect her grandchildren at no cost. I started with City council to speak about what our city can do to clean up and stop the facilities from bringing in out of the area offenders.
A new group has been formed called “Citizens4Change” Unity in our Community. We are a group of lifelong citizens that have a common interest in seeing our communities safe and to have a clean place to call home. Greenville has its share of problems and this group intends to clean up one step at a time. We will be holding many town hall meetings and we invite you to come forward and serve with us to bring the excitement and fun back to our community. We all complain at times about our city leaders that they don’t do enough, so join us in making something happen; I am putting my work where my mouth is….. Join us!
Greenville City Park Shelter House # 3
jackpriceblog 
#1 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 1:35 am
>great idea. i'll be there!
#2 by Foreigner on June 8, 2010 - 1:53 am
>Only natives? I'm a transplant, but I care.
#3 by 88 on June 8, 2010 - 2:08 am
>I think caring is the first step. I'm sure you will be welcomed.This may really be what we need for our community right now to stand up and be heard and that we are not going to take it anymore.This could be a great start for putting Greenville back on track.
#4 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 2:42 am
>All are welcome we need all the support and help we can get!!
#5 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 2:42 am
>This is good stuff, we need to get the word out.
#6 by Kathy on June 8, 2010 - 2:44 am
>This towne hall meeting is for ALL CITIZENS THAT WANT TO SEE CHANGE! Success comes in numbers…
#7 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 3:09 am
>I will be there.
#8 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 11:07 am
>the sex offenders need somewhere to live,i guess you want them to live right beside you,as you neighbor.if not let, them shack up in one building,so you will know where there all at!can people change after a crime they committed? yes,they can.but the public always thinks the worst for the defendent.
#9 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 11:38 am
>Who are the organizers behind this?
#10 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 11:54 am
>Great, and I hope that this gets our community to wake up. We certainly do not need these perverts (most of them from other counties anyway) in our downtown area, and near our schools.I have no sympathy for them. I will give them no respect-ditto for Mr. Graham. I will not give them a "second chance".Call me cold, but I just believe that sex offenders shold be locked up 24-7, period. What they do to children is unexcusable.
#11 by "Malone" on June 8, 2010 - 1:19 pm
>I can understand the reasons why people would be upset with this. I can also understand the other side of the argument arguing for trying to help. What has been interesting to read, with all these comments, is how quick people are to render judgment and throw stones. A good example is the comment left at 7:54am, "What they do to children is unexcusable." Maybe this isn't obvious, or maybe it's just the kneejerk reaction when someone says sex offender, but there are varying degrees to this. Having this label does not necessarily mean they ever touched a child. In addition, there are kids who got this label because they were barely over 18 and they were accused of something with someone under 18 (even if that person was 17). Sometimes these allegations are dead on but sometimes they are not. To say these people need help is an understatement but it seems as though people are much more willing to help someone struggling with a different addiction, say alcoholism, which can be just as dangerous to others (abuse, drunk driving, etc.). And as to no respect for Mr. Graham….well, I cannot make such a bold judgment call because I have never met the man. I do not know why he is doing this. I do find it difficult to believe his motive would be to put someone in harm's way or make as many people angry as he could. It would seems as though he might be trying to help those that are genuinely trying to work through the crime they committed so that they can become better individuals. Like I said I don't know the man so I cannot say why he is doing this or what his character is. I realize this type of post has the possibility of generating emotional response because I am not saying crucify them. I guess my point is that it always seems so easy to throw stones and ignore the flaws within ourselves because they either aren't as blatant or flamboyant. If someone commits a crime, whatever it is, and they genuinely are repentant, want to serve their time/make amends, and work to never be involved in their crime again should we just say "tough"? If that's the case then why even bother with prison at all, why not just kill them after they are found guilty of their crime? Isn't it possible that there are people that make truly horrendous, stupid mistakes that hurt others but aren't horrific monsters from that point forward for the rest of their life?
#12 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 1:53 pm
>7:54 – you are not "cold"…I think that you're right. Sex offenders tend to repeat their crimes, and no one, especailly children, deserve that.I'll be at this meeting!
#13 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 4:01 pm
>Reply to "Foreigner". I am also a transplant and something I have found a losing battle with Darke County. Too many "lifelong residents" that will not open up to the "transplants" to welcome them. Lifelong residents= small mindedness.
#14 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 5:25 pm
>Anonymous at 12:01: Then you have obviously been talking to the wrong people. If you have so many ideas on how to change the thinking of people in this city, the bring your ideas to the table. Go the meeting, and talk about it, then DO something about it. Just don't sit around and talk on message boards about this county is this and that, and then sit on our recliner and watch TV all day. There are many City's across the this great Country of ours that have (Transplants, as you call them) Citizens that care about there community in which they live and raise there family. You have to speak to be heard, you have to act to be seen. We can't change this community with just life long residents, we will change this community with EVERYONE.
#15 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 6:39 pm
>I want to know "who are the organizers" and I am interested in a general outline of exactly what they hope to accomplish????????
#16 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 6:56 pm
>Why does it matter who the organizers are in order to find out what they want to accomplish? you can find that out without knowing who organizes it. It sounds like what the want to accomplish is uniting this community for the betterment of everyone! It wont take just one person, it will take the community as a whole. Therefore i don't understand why it matters to the organizers are. If you have ideas, and think you can help unit this community and make it a better place, then you should go to the meeting.
#17 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 7:01 pm
>the organizers are the Citizens of Greenville and success will be over a period of time on different projects that will help the citizens of Greenville and build this town back with heart and soul! Does it really matter who is organizing it? I think what matters is that they are doing something that most people have been afraid to do!
#18 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 8:05 pm
>@2:56Much like the "Sex offenders" mentioned above, the organizers of this movement also have histories that need to be shared… If they have nothing to hide than they have nothing to fear. Fair enough?9:19 is the only one posting logically.
#19 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 8:28 pm
>Wow – are you worried – you have no idea who these citizens are and what they can accomplish with the help of our community…. If you are so positive about histories – then share. I can tell you this much – this is not about one person or one project – this is a community wanting to come together to make our city better – can you argue with that?
#20 by Jeff on June 8, 2010 - 9:16 pm
>Sad… like every other comment board, it just gets out of hand and people start saying stuff that is so far off what the original intent was in the first place.DJ, you might as well just stop the comment boards and report the news, meetings, etc. People just don't understand what comment boards are supposed to be.
#21 by Anonymous on June 8, 2010 - 9:43 pm
>I would also like to know who is organizing this group. If it's the same characters who organized the TEA party the wise people will have nothing to do with it. I plan to attend but if the TEA crew organizers are there – I will wash my hands of it.Here's hoping this meeting will offer solutions not just complaints.
#22 by Kathy on June 8, 2010 - 10:04 pm
>I can assure you that the TEA party organizers or the CO2 organizers are not involved with this grass root efforts.
#23 by Guest#1 on June 8, 2010 - 10:46 pm
>If you are so worried about who the organizers are than simply don't show up.
#24 by Craig A Francis on June 8, 2010 - 11:31 pm
>It would be different if they were from our county but they're not and if the guy that's bringing them to greenville cared so much he wouldn't be making big money off of it…
#25 by Alex B on June 9, 2010 - 1:18 am
>To Jeff: I disagree with stopping the comment boards because generally they provide a barometer as to what and how others feel and think about our local hot-button issues. It really is no different that someone writing a letter to the editor and said editor does have the option as to whether or not to publish them. In the case of the Darke Journal, just consider DJ as the editor – he does screen all comments, but to omit the ability to post them altogether, is I think, a mistake.
#26 by Darke Journal on June 9, 2010 - 1:26 am
>I screen all the comments, and reject probably about 5% – most of which are potentially slanderous or just crude or nasty. Sometimes I just get ticked and reject a comment (website operator's prerogative). I usually take a a lot of crap whenever I reject a comment, though, so I don't do it very much.I'll remind all of you that you are personally responsible for your own comments, and if you think posting as "anonymous" allows you to slander other people without being traced, you are sorely mistaken.
#27 by Terence Keaser II on June 9, 2010 - 4:17 pm
>haha you get them DJ I'll put my name on anything I say I have no problem with that!! and for a comment to this article it simply amazes me people want to know who organizes the group, in fact that sounds like same old Greenville… WHEN IS IT EVER GOING TO CHANGE TO DO THINGS FOR THE BETTER OF THE COMMUNITY NO MATTER WHO LEADS IT…. I JUST GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND I AM TIRED OF WATCHING MY HOMETOWN BE UNPRODUCTIVE BASED ON THE LEADERS AND POLITICS….P.S. I'll step up to the plate if I have too I'll run for anything and take a spot in public office who is being unproductive to this amazing community because there are people who care…. Thanks
#28 by Anonymous on June 10, 2010 - 10:00 am
>@ Malone, Tier 3 sex offenders are most likely to reoffend. Just ask the families of sexually assaulted & murdered teens Chelsey King & Amber Dubois (among many others)from out west. Their rapist/murderer was a convicted sex offender. They cannot be rehabilitated. They are likely to have comorbidities such as mental illness, drug & alcohol abuse as well. Graham's motive is plain & simple, money, money & more money. Wake up people!
#29 by Anonymous on June 10, 2010 - 10:07 am
>@ 4:05pm, Let John Graham & his Tier 3 sex offenders live next to you, your child & your loved ones. They are downright creepy. What does Greenville have to offer these kind of people in the way of support, jobs? Nothing. This is an incident waiting to happen. I hope there is a stop to it. I wouldn't be surprised if Graham's biggest supporters aren't receiving some $ kick backs &/or hush money.
#30 by Anonymous on June 10, 2010 - 10:11 am
>@ Foreigner, please do come to the meeting. "Transplants" (not my words) are often great for bringing change & concerns due to the fact that you have fresh eyes & different perspectives. Some people that have lived here their entire lives don't know what the rest of the world is like, can be naive & resistant to change. There is power in numbers & your input is very welcomed!
#31 by Anonymous on June 10, 2010 - 10:24 am
>If Graham, his loved ones or any of his supporters have ever been sexually assaulted, I'm not so sure they'd be on board. As an RN I've done sexual assault exams, detailed sexual assault victim interviews & evidence collection. It's absolutely horrific what these victims have to go through to try & get justice.
#32 by CS on June 10, 2010 - 7:40 pm
>One of the many things that bother me about this whole John Graham thing is, why are these doggone people that come to his so called samaratin home from other counties no less get to get a job in OUR town when people that live here, have led productive lives worked all their lives and done everything right cannot even find a job, that is just BS, shame on John Graham. These men are taking OUR jobs away from us, the people that were born here and lived here our entire lives! It just isn't right!
#33 by "Malone" on June 10, 2010 - 8:31 pm
>To Anonomous @ 6:00am: Again I am not trying to say this type of crime isn't horrible but your comments aren't entirely accurate. If you were to research some peer-reviewed journals in the psychological field you would see that recidivism rates for sexual offenders is not a given. In fact, based on different types of treatment, most relapse rates are below 25%. Do some re-offend? Most definitely but certainly not all, in fact not even close. As to having a co-morbidity diagnosis this can often be the case, sometimes as high as 60% – 70%. Again, a high percentage to be sure but not all.I only mention these things in an attempt to maintain some degree of balance. Yes, when this happens it is horrible and some of these people deserve to be locked up for life. However, despite your assertion that they can't be rehabilitated, some of them can be. I know someone who was raised in an alcoholic home (her dad). Physical abuse – on occasion, emotional abuse – without a doubt. Eventually, he got sober (after she had grown up) and never touched it again. From that point on he was more loving and truly sorry for his alcohol years and they ended up with a great relationship. So, is it possible for someone with this type of problem to change, despite having inflicted various forms of abuse over a period of years, but not someone involved in a sex crime, which may have occurred only once? Why is it always so easy for us as society to judge and condemn and not help? I'm not saying I am in favor of this house or against it. I've just read a lot of emotional remarks from people reflecting one side of the argument. Obviously there is another side too but, due to the nature of the issue, it would not seem to have any merit to it, based on what has been said.
#34 by G.J.P. on June 10, 2010 - 9:09 pm
>Thank you Malone. And yes Darke Journal censers what they want you to read. They blocked my right to speak out……
#35 by Darke Journal on June 10, 2010 - 9:23 pm
>What did you want to say? i don't remember ever seeing a GJP before.
#36 by G.J.P. was Anonymous on June 10, 2010 - 11:38 pm
>Why repeat it. You'll just block it again. Some people in this town don't like the truth. Or to hear the good and the bad. I'm one of Greenville's poor people. So if you want block this too. I won't know because I'm unsubscribing From Darke Journal…… I'll get my new's from somewhere else.
#37 by Anonymous on June 11, 2010 - 2:01 am
>@ Malone, I said "most likely" to reoffend. I've read research. Having comorbidities adds to the likelihood to reoffend. I see this in everyday life in ER's when I've done sexual assault exams, evidence collection & interviews in women that have been sexually assaulted with foreign objects, have vaginal lacerations and many other graphic things that I cannot write. I'm glad for your friend's father & that he was able to get sober. Addictions are a disease, just like any other chronic condition such as hypertension or diabetes. There is never a guarantee for sobriety. Violent offenders with comorbidities are more likely to reoffend due to the fact that they lack impulse control. I've seen & treated sexual assault victims first hand. I'm interested in helping the victims that are physically, mentally & emotionally scarred & traumatized for the rest of their lives. There is a reason that some violent sex offenders in prison are segregated from the other general prison population. It's for their own safety from the other prisoners.
#38 by Anonymous on June 11, 2010 - 2:06 am
>@ GJP, I'm pretty sure that if you make your point without being profane,foul or rude, it would be posted. No one wants to read that kind of filth regardless of your opinion. It seems you're the only one that "blocked your right to speak out." Think before you post. This is a public forum. Regardless of your point of view, use your common sense when writing publicly.
#39 by Alex B on June 11, 2010 - 2:10 am
>Malone:You refer to people on this site as making "a lot of emotional remarks".Did you ever stop to consider that these people are just passionate in their beliefs? You seem to want to put a negative spin on anyone who is opposed to housing sexual offenders in our immediate downtown area….. Your so-called "degree of balance" is way off balance.
#40 by "Malone" on June 11, 2010 - 2:13 pm
>@ 10:01 – Great post. I agree with your statements. In your post, though, you highlight sexual assault and violent offenders, two criteria that don't apply to all sex offenders. If a person has violent tendencies, additional mental issues, and the sexual crimes revolve around assault then I understand keeping them under a more secure setting than a halfway house. From what I've read it does not appear that these are not the type of people residing in these houses. My point was simply to point out that not all sex offenders are beyond help.@ 10:10 Maybe my comment was misunderstood. Yes, people have made some emotional (passionate) remarks, as is often the case regarding certain topics. However, just because I point out that not all sex offenders are monsters for life, I fail to see how that is putting a negative spin on something. Balance involves acknowledging both sides of an issue. A lot of people were posting what seemed to me as one side of the argument, sex offenders are all horrible and should be banished from society. My goal was only to point out that this is not always the case, thus the other side of the argument. At no point did I criticize someone for how they felt or claim their feeling was unfounded. I just pointed out another possibility. How is that negative or off balance?
#41 by Anonymous on June 11, 2010 - 3:00 pm
>@ Malone, I do agree with some of your statements & acknowledging both sides of the story. However one of the main points of contention is that John Graham specifically stated publicly & person to person that he would not house Tier 3 sex offenders in these properties. Seeing that my parents, my son & I are neighbors with Graham & his properties, I'm concerned for my son's, parent's & my own personal safety. I don't know where you live, but when Tier 3 sex offenders (or sex offenders in general) have a direct view to our back door & can see our comings & goings, it's extremely unnerving. I'm just asking people to consider how they'd feel if this were going on in their neighborhoods. I'm not opposed to helping people because that's what I do for a living & I'm very open minded. However when deceit & greed come into play for personal gain & potentially poses a threat to the community, I have to draw the line.