Hebron Fire Department In The News Again

I'm told there was a huge fire in Hebron this past weekend and allegedly their Fire Chief showed up in nothing more than a pair of shorts. No sox, no shoes, no shirt, just shorts. I also heard there was a softball tournament going on where CERTAIN people had been drinking quite a bit.

While all the fun was going on and things turned serious, I'm told SOMEONE started making judgment calls electing to call in additional help from Sharptown and Laurel rather than calling into local Station 16 only 6 miles away to help assist in the fire?????

Alcohol and fire don't mix. And guess what, I didn't need a Big Bear to tell me that either.

If YOU really want to get to know the Chief of the Hebron Fire Department, GO HERE and see what everyone is saying about his behavior and his ability to lead, while allegedly drinking at the same time? Be sure to go about 1/2 way down the page to see the comments on this particular fire. Then be sure to continue following the pages to read more by clicking on 17 on the bottom right corner of the page. The comments referencing this particular fire starts on the name Tick Spray about 1/2 way down the page provided.

Comments

One of the downfalls of switching back to Blogger is the inability to simply create a name and comment. Therefore I have removed that portion of comments and have opened it up to allow anonymous comments.

That being said as well, I will remove any and all comments that get out of line and or use extremely foul language. So please don't abuse it and we'll all get along just fine. I hope this helps everyone.

Reagan's Last Words

I don't know whether or not you watched the memorial service for Ronald Reagan, but if you did, you probably noticed that Bill and Hillary were both dozing off.

President Ronald Reagan, who never missed a chance for a good one-liner, raised his head out of his casket and said...

"I see the Clinton's are finally sleeping together!"

O'Malley & The Wall Street Journal

Every state has its problems, but we're especially glad this month that
we don't live in Maryland, where Governor Martin O'Malley has been
undertaking something close to a tax-increase-a-day tour.

In Ellicott City he proposed raising the sales tax to a rate of 6% from
a nickel. The next day in suburban Baltimore he unveiled his plan to
raise the top income tax rate to 6.5% from 4.75%. Last Wednesday in
Landover he called for a doubling of the cigarette tax to $2 a pack. He
has also endorsed a one percentage point hike in the state corporate
income tax to 8%, new commercial real estate taxes, and a 12 cent hike
in the gasoline tax to 35.5 cents a gallon. The Tax Foundation says
Maryland already has the 23rd highest tax burden among the 50 states,
but the Governor seems to be aiming for the top 10.

In all, Mr. O'Malley hopes to wrench $2 billion a year from Maryland
workers - in the name of filling a $1.5 billion gap in the state's $30
billion budget. The extra $500 million will finance new spending. "This
is the biggest tax increase in Maryland history, by far," says
Christopher Summers, president of the Maryland Public Policy Institute.
But like a dentist with a drill in his hand, Mr. O'Malley says this
won't hurt a bit.
He claims his "reforms" will reduce the tax burden on 95% of state
taxpayers, thanks to a lower tax rate on incomes below $15,000 and some
tax credits. But of course everyone will pay the higher sales tax,
unless they decide to shop in neighboring Delaware, which has no sales
levy.

Mr. O'Malley's income tax plan is consistent with the Democratic Party's
nationwide revival of its New Deal theme of the tax code as a tool for
income redistribution. While nations over the globe move to flatter,
simpler, pro-growth tax systems, the Governor is selling his proposal as
a pain-free whack at the rich.

Trouble is, there aren't enough truly rich to finance his spending
goals, so his real target is the not-so-upper middle class. His two new
tax brackets of 6% and 6.5% will kick in at incomes of $200,000 and
$500,000, respectively, for couples. We doubt many families in suburbs
like Bethesda or Towson think an income of $200,000 makes them "rich."

The Governor also fails to mention that about two-thirds of the people
he wants to hammer are small business owners - the major employers in
the state. He might acquaint himself with a new study by Barry Poulson
of the University of Colorado which finds that states with either no
income tax, or low flat-rate structures, have significantly higher
income growth rates than states with steeply progressive tax rates.

It's a testament to Maryland's spendthrift ways that Mr. O'Malley is
doing this in the sixth year of a national economic expansion. Most
states have budget surpluses, and two years ago under Republican
Governor Robert Ehrlich even Annapolis was $1 billion in the black. But
state spending has since exploded by nearly 18%, according to figures
from the Maryland Taxpayers Association. Maryland spends $11,000 per
student in the public schools, and $13,000 in the woeful Baltimore
school district. In five years the legislature has fattened school
budgets by 59%, yet Mr. O'Malley and the education lobby are claiming
poverty if taxes aren't raised.

Mr. O'Malley's fellow Democrats dominate the Legislature, so there isn't
much doubt most of this will pass. The losers will be Maryland citizens,
unless they move to another state, which we'd guess some of them will.

You've Got A Giant On Your Side??????

Handicapped Or Full Of Crap?

I have been asked so many times to go by the Post Office on Rt. 50 in Salisbury any day of the week and it's a guarantee someone will be illegally parked at that location. Obviously they were right because no sooner did I show up I found this car parked in a Handicapped spot with no proper tags and or anything hanging from their rear view mirror. If only Chiefy knew what PROACTIVE Policing was. Besides, the fines for parking in one of these spots is HUGE! Ah, what does he know anyway. I take that back. I guarantee he can tell you what a drink costs anywhere in Ocean City. While you're NOT policing behind the old Union Station and letting the State Police and County Sheriffs Department doing so, perhaps you could send a few Officers over to the Post Office to cover some of the expense the taxpayers just gave the Salisbury Police Department in raises?

Bubba & His Campaign Manager

Gary Comegys will soon announce he is jockeying for his position in the race for the Mayor of Salisbury. Unofficially, I recently heard through great sources that Gary Comegys will run for Mayor and Donnie Williams will be his Campaign Manager. OH BOY!

Today's Wildlife Photo

How Do You Make A 6 Year Olds Dreams Come True?

You bring him/her to Disney World and stay off the Blogs for a week. Soon enough I'll put together a detailed Post about The Money Pit.

The Hearne Annexation, Bill Duvall & The Daily Times

One thing most of you know about me is that I don't normally agree all too often with Bill Duvall & The Daily Times. However, in this case, (other than name calling) I happen to agree with Bill Duvall on this morning's article on the Hearne Annexation.

As I have been working on something for several days on this matter, I'm glad to see the old Bill Duvall is back on track the way he used to write. Short and to the point. We tend to get this with the elderly as they feel they don't have much time left in life for the details.

Nevertheless, I too agree that everyone is going way over the top on this particular situation. The property was annexed with the intent for apartments, period. The words "Bait & Switch" keep coming about on this project and quite frankly that's not how it happened. The Developers never even thought of Student Housing when they purchased the property. Current conditions don't favor their original project and quite frankly no financial institution will finance such a project right now anyway. Everyone is tightening their belts right now with the belief the economy is NOT going to get any better any time soon.

Oh, some will argue that but in all reality there is only ONE person who started this rampage and that's Dot Truitt. She lives one the property's edge and will not stand for such a development. I was there when she & Comegys discussed this mater and Gary was taking it on like this was the ticket item he needed to go after a Developer and RUN FOR MAYOR!

That's right Ladies & Gentlemen, Gary Comegys is in fact going to run for Mayor. I got it through an extremely reliable source that Gary is in fact going to run for Mayor and he wants to use this tool, (although extremely stupid) as his ticket item to show he loves Salisbury.

Well Dee, Dee, Deeee, (I mean Gary/Bubba) when you and Dunn and Cathcart were voting to accept this annexation and Debbie Campbell was trying to fight it, what makes you think all of us are going to forget that? These Developers didn't trick you Gary. The ONLY trick I recall seeing was called Sasafras and Westwood, remember that, you Idiot? Now THAT was a trick! I don't blame Dot Truitt's attempt to salvage her investment locally but everyone also has to keep in mind that this is quite a large parcel of property and only a very select few will be impacted by such a project. As a matter of fact, I believe at the other end of the project there's already Government Subsidised Homes in place.

Nevertheless, by the letter of the law, (how do you like that language Billy) these Developers are zoned properly for these apartments and even back in the Work Session Gary Comegys stated he simply wanted a letter of support from the Council telling their disapproval of such a project. Now just what the hell is that going to do Gary? The City Council has no say any more about this project. YOU were the Idiot that pushed the project through in the first place and while Campbell was trying to get specific details put into place, You, Dunn & Cathcart were rubber stamping the project to force it through.

While we're on this subject, let's get a few things perfectly clear. Matt Tilghman has absolutely no say and or ties in this project and or with the Bank of Delmarva. NO, my attorneys didn't tell me to make that statement. I still think the guy is a puppet. Remember Frank & Hot Lips from M.A.S.H.? Now you know what I think of the Mayor and her Husband. On that note, the Mayor sent out a letter showing her undying support towards this project and IMO she is completely out of line. One of the principals of this Project is a V.P. of the Bank of Delmarva. Barrie & Matt Tilghman need to remove ANY opinion on this project as, (IMO) this is a conflict of interest.

Anyhow, here's a project at hand that, (IMO) is very close to the College and in which the College has already agreed to deliver three buses a day to this location to pick up and drop off Students. I'm also told the traffic impact will be at least 40% less than the originally proposed project as Students wouldn't be driving as often.

Some of the additional impacts I believe Debbie Campbell & Gary Comegys have forgotten is the impact on Schools. THERE IS NONE! In other words, this entire project has zero children impacting elementary, middle and high schools. It will additionally bring in a HUGE tax base for the City as this project is independently owned. Usually when projects have to do with the College there's no taxes collected. This project is NOT owned by the College.

They have agreed to do about $600,000.00 worth of improvements on Dykes Road & S. Division Street, adding a traffic light as well. The mere fact that this project brings Students together into a concentrated area makes it a positive idea. Removing Students from the Camden Neighborhoods helping to relieve the stress so many have complained about seems to be the right move. I was also told they went from 550 original units down to 411 units on this project location.

The City Council already made their decision on this project and their work is DONE! Gary Comegys has NO RIGHT, (IMO) to bring this to the table, especially AFTER the fact that he already supported the annexation in the first place with the language already stated. While I'm on that, allow me to state a sentence straight from the original agreement. "The aplicants have already met with the Board of Education regarding potential school impacts and have indicated that this development will target empty-nesters and retirees as occupants but will not be an age-restricted community."

Now I'm told there is additional language that may contradict this language but I have yet to see it. That being said, this agreement clearly states that it will not be age restricted and since it has been approved for apartments already, they may change it to Student Housing if they so choose.

I also believe if this were challenged in Court the property owners would be in the drivers seat. With elections coming up once again, some might want to look hard at this issue before running into place to jockey a position. The City Council needs to stay out of it and allow the Planning & Zoning people walk it through the system. Planing & Zoning doesn't tell the City Council how to do their job. Comegys needs to shut his mouth and not abuse his position any further.

I'm sure there will be more to come on this matter and I expect there to be some serious debate over it.

Missouri Deputy Killed In Crash While Responding

GO HERE for the official article.

JAIME BARANYAI
Courtesy of the News-Leader

A Greene County sheriff's deputy killed this morning while responding to a crash was hit broadside by a volunteer firefighter responding to the same call, Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Dan Bracker said at an 11 a.m. news conference at the sheriff's department.

Gary D. McCormack, 33, of Republic died in the collision with a pickup truck driven by Joshua Douglas, a volunteer firefighter with the Ebenezer Fire District, Bracker said. McCormack was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident occurred on Farm Road 145 at Greene County WW north of Springfield, officials said. McCormack was apparently westbound on WW when he was hit broadside, Bracker said at the news conference.

Douglas was taken to St. John's Hospital in Springfield and admitted to the intensive care unit, Ebenezer Fire Chief Leonard Smith said.

Bracker said McCormack's emergency lights were on at the time of the crash, and that it was too early to assign blame to either driver. No further details were given about the crash due to the ongoing investigation.

McCormack, who is survived by a wife and two kids, had been a deputy with the sheriff's department for four months, Greene County Sheriff Jack Merritt said. He was a Republic police officer for seven years prior to joining the sheriff's department, Merritt said.

"This is the darkest moment in the life of the Greene County Sheriff's Department and the family of Greene County," Merritt said with tears in his eyes. "It's been my prayer that as sheriff I would never have to deal with this."

Merritt also spoke of McCormack's wife and two children, a 1-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son. "...Daddy's not coming home..."

It's the first time a Greene County deputy has died in the line of duty in 40 years, the last death being in 1967, Bracker said. The last death happened when a deputy was shot while responding to a robbery, Merritt said.

"Our hearts go out to the family of the deputy and we ask everyone to keep us in their prayers," Smith said.

The accident the two men were responding to was never found, Bracker said. He said officials are still investigating that incident.

Reporter Dirk VanderHart contributed to this story.

Off-Duty Wis. Deputy Sheriff Kills 6

GO HERE to read the Associated Press Article.