She may be a wee little lass, but Denise Grollmus reports like a middle linebacker
Scene staff writer Denise Grollmus makes an appearance in the recently released Best American Crime Writing 2006. Her story, “Sex Thief” [September 14, 2005], the tale of an Akron man who invented the perfect crime by raping strippers, was chosen by editor Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk Down and Killing Pablo, for this year’s installment of the HarperCollins anthology.
The book also includes such notables as Jimmy Breslin and Jeffrey Toobin, and 14 sordid tales from publications like The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times.
Not bad for a 70-pound woman with Raggedy Ann tattoos, eh?
This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2006.
As a former reporter from Cleveland (editor Cincinnati Call & Post and general assignment Indianapolis Star) I generally think Denise is great. We have indirectly crossed paths by virtue of her being an Oberlin grad: I clerked for Terry Gilbert in ’91 on the Oberlin 5 Dan Kiss et al. who got railroaded on a First Amendment candle vigil at President Starr’s house. She was also awarded a fellowship at Medill, where I spent a lot of time as my cousin, ESPN’s Mike Wilbon, is an Alumnus. More on Chicago (and another Mike, as in Royko — shortly).
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However I need to pull her coat tail to an incorrect implication in last year’s Scene Story I just read about the Tattoo/HIV issue involving John Napier and Body Revolution.
http://blogs.clevescene.com/cnotes/2007/12/can_tat_artists_turn_down_hivp.php
I was lead counsel for 8 Ball Tattoo whose owner was otherwise an AIDS activist and my co-counsel is in fact also a phlebotomist. No bigots or dummies allowed here. In this blawg post:
http://christopher-king.blogspot.com/2008/07/kingcast-has-one-question-on-fourth-of.html
I thoroughly debunked the notion that we were in some ways ignorant about the facts of HIV and/or AIDS when we defended Adam Gray and 8 Ball Tattoo 10 years ago.
What was appalling was the State ignoring a valid First Amendment argument and the risk to the recipient. That issue was IN FACT addressed by REGULATIONS after I and many others lobbied for them (as our client had BEFORE THE CASE) specifically
3701-9-04 General safety and sanitation standards
….which is now missing in action but obviously it is a valid concern. You need to read the whole blawg post for the full story, but Chicagoan Mike Royko wrote not one but two stories about it.
http://christopher-king.blogspot.com/2005/08/mike-royko-on-kings-cases.html
At any rate, there is more than meets the eye here and I’ll be following up with the State House to find out w’happened to the Regulation.
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http://tattoojoy.com/tattoo_laws/united_states,ohio,1.htm
3701-9-04 General safety and sanitation standards.
(A) A business offering tattoo or body piercing services shall comply with the following provisions.
(3) Prior to tattooing or body piercing, the operator who will be performing the procedure shall inquire of a patron for conditions which could affect the healing process. The operator shall not perform a tattoo or body piercing procedure on patrons indicating the presence of such a condition without documentation from a licensed physician indicating acceptance of the patient for appropriate care following the procedure.
Eff 4-30-98
Rule promulgated under: RC Chapter 119.
Rule authorized by: RC 3730.10
Rule amplifies: RC 3730.06, 3730.07, 3730.08, 3730.09
R.C. 119.032 Review Date: 4/30/03
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PS Denise I dig the Tats…. if we ever get to Cleveland you’ll dig my girlfriend’s entire back tattoo: It’s a pair of wings.
Peace.
-c