News 12 First @ Five, March 10, 2010

AIKEN CTY, S.C. --- From drugs to shootings, the small community of Monetta, South Carolina is seeing it's share of troubles. And now with one man shot, once again, it's the center of attention. The latest shooting on Elderberry lane has people in town wanting to put a stop to the crime. The question is where do they start?

The small Aiken County community of Monetta, South Carolina is home to less than 300 people. It's mostly known for it's peaches and drive in theater; is now becoming known as a hot bed for crime.

"It helps us realize bad things happen in small communities and we're not exempt. We would like to be but we're not," said Monetta native Raymond Bodie.

Since June 2009 Raymond Bodie says police lights and crime tape are becoming all too common. The town which doesn't have local law enforcement has had a murder, multiple shootings and multiple drug raids. One of those raids and now a shooting, happened on Elderberry Lane. Investigators believe the road is a high traffic area for drug activity and they're cracking down.

"The drug deals that's happened, it's sad to say many young adults that they get hooked and it costs them everything they can make for the rest of their life. Some end up in jail and some end up in jail," said Bodie.

And now as this town reaches out to find help to cut crime in their community. Neighbors like Raymond say one way to start is by setting the right example.

"Make a positive influence on somebody rather than a negative.Whenever you go into drugs or shooting people, that's negative. Monetta is a quiet community. We'd enjoy keeping it that way," said Bodie.

News 12 did talk to Monetta Mayor Charles McCormick. He says the town has been working closely with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office to add more patrols to the area because they don't have law enforcement of their own.