LIVE

Here we go Folks. The Players have taken the field, the lights are on, some of us are pleasantly plump from all the food and the guys are ready to show us what tey've got.

Think of the possibilities......

LIVE From The Arthur Perdue Stadium

As I sit comfortable at the Shorebirds Stadium, it's a little nippy in the shade but the Team is in the Outfield warming up for their final practice before tomorrow nights game.

Upstairs in the Restaurant is Michael Shwartz and another 100+ people enjoying fine food and looking down upon the field in anticipation to seeing a few balls fly over the outfield fence.

It's exciting for this day to come and if you haven't been a part of the Shorbirds, it's the best deal in town! Tickets are cheap, the food is fairly reasonable but more importantly the Games are always exciting.

I'm going to attempt to post a few more pictures later tonight of the Team and perhaps some interior photos as well.

Remember, the first Game is tomorrow night at 7:05 PM. I'll be back.......

Requests From Anne Arundel County

If you didn't know, I spent quite a few years living in Anne Arundel County. Most probably do not know that Billy Gibbs also owns a Dough Rollers in Crofton, Maryland on Rt 3/301.

The news spread and I have been asked for permission to provide photos from that fire for their local paper. I agreed as long as they referenced www.sbynews.com. Looks like we're spreading further away and it would explain the massive hits every day.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO UNVEIL PRELIMINARY FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET AT PUBLIC MEETING

Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr., will welcome the public to an informational session about his proposed Fiscal Year 2009 Operating Budget on Thursday, April 10th at 7:00 P.M. in the Flanders Room at the Wicomico County

Youth & Civic Center. Under the new form of county government, this is the traditional first step on the way to eventual ratification of the operating budget that will be effective on July 1, 2008.

“While the Charter does not require me to hold a public hearing on the budget, my own standards do,” said the Executive. “I think it is extremely important for our ‘glass house’ concept of government that the public be involved in this important financial exercise.”

Per County Charter requirement, Mr. Pollitt will deliver his recommended operating budget to the Wicomico County Council on April 15th. The Council will hold an advertised public hearing on the operating budget at a later date. The Council may cut from but not add to the recommended budget.

More Hebron Fire Photos

LIVE From Old Railroad Road In Hebron

A 7 alarm fire broke out on Old Railroad Road in Hebron just moments ago. I was told directly by one of the construction workers that they all smoke and more than likely they started the fire. As you can see, the tall grass is very dry and would flare up in an instant. More photos to come as soon as I load them.

I Love My Firefighter

I've seen more "I want my vote back" Louise Smith bumper stickers and the "Enough is Enough" Barrie Tilghman bumper stickers than I have these "I Love My Firefighter" bumper sticker.

Blogging from 300 W. Main Street.

Don't Even Think Of Going To Canada, Eh?

I have several friends who recently went up to Upstate New York on business. While they're up there they decided last night to make a trip into Canada to take some pictures.

When they attempted to cross the Border they were asked for their Birth Certificates or Passports. Only one of them had a Passport but it was out of date. Canada didn't care about it being out of date. When the other two tried they only had drivers license's, so they did a background check on them. One of them had a DUI 25 years ago and has been completely 100% sober ever since. NOPE, they wouldn't let him in because of that.

So if you're thinking of going to Canada and you have ANY kind of record, Fagetaboutit! Eh? Me personally, I used to have an Office in Canada and let me tell you this, yes, it's very clean there but other than that, I'll never go back. Besides, with my Zoo background record, (ROTFLMAO) they probably wouldn't have me anyway.

Fruitland Police Chief To Retire

Although the Daily Times announced Fruitland's Police Chief Paul Jackson is retiring, they didn't mention the assistant Chief Sandy Bradley has NO INTEREST in the job.

Although she qualifies and although she could take the job over any man in that Department, Sandy is more interested in raising her three Boys and spending time as a Family. So to all those Bloggers out there who think they have the inside scoop on what's about to happen, YOU'RE WRONG!

A panel will be created of at least three people from outside the County to search for a new Chief and more than likely, (99% sure) they will NOT hire from within. Heck, they're not even going to hire someone from within the County. So for any of those out there thinking they might have a shot, NOT!

Mr. Jackson, you're a VERY smart man and you have the interest of the Citizens in mind. I know and understand how and why you've made the moves you have and my hat is tipped to you.

Will The Real Barrie Tilghman Please Stand Up?

Boy oh boy, I just can't tell who Barrie Tilghman is any more. At least in the Real Estate Industry they FORCE you to use a current photo of yourself or you get fined.

I wonder where the Daily Times got that Glamour Shot of Barrie and how long ago it was?

Caps Win Must Win Game 4-1

Cristobal Huet dominated the net only giving up one goal as the Capitals continue their filibuster to reach the postseason. The win gives the Capitals a tie for the Divisional lead with the Hurricanes and are now only 1 point behind Boston and Philly for the at large playoff spots. Matt Cooke and Brooks Laich scored in the first to set the pace. Scott Walker scored at the 2:38 mark to cut the lead to one but towards the end of the period Alexander Semin scored a power play goal to put the lead back to 2.

Ovechkin scored late in the third to put a comeback completely out of reach of the Hurricanes. Ovechkin has 110 points this season, 63 goals and 47 assists and the numbers are good enough for third all time in total points for left wings. Luc Robitaille has the record with 125 points with the L.A. Kings in the 1992-93 season.

Washington has done what it has needed to do by winning the last 9 out of 11 games.

The Caps play Tampa Bay Thursday at 7pm. The Caps beat the Lightning 4-3 last thursday

Manufactured News?

One of two things are happening here. Either someone at the Daily Times has decided they don't like this water tower and they want it removed OR Barrie Tilghman is once again using the Front Page of the Daily Times to market her new strategy of tearing down the properties near the end of the River to revitalize everything at taxpayers expense.

Now look, I'm not saying that one day that old water tower should come down. I'm saying. LOOK YOU IDIOT, we're not only in a recession, we're in a Depression! Hell, even Shanie Shields on the City Council is losing her home to this fallen economy!

One way or the other, no other source of media got this information and quite frankly, even if they did, it's not news unless people recognize THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT!

I told ALL of you long ago, Mayor Tilghman is attempting to drive the Blacks out of that area and the west side of Salisbury. The real estate is cheap and while the Mayor stated in her State of the Screwed Up City Address that "cleaning up this area was said to be impossible," WHO said that Mayor? That was a manufactured statement and some might call that a LIE! YOU just want to control every neighborhood and decide what's livable and not livable to YOUR standards.

I can assure you, no one in that neighborhood is complaining about that water tower. Actually, I think the Adult Book Store on Rt. 13 looks far worse than that water tower, to be quite frank. I guarantee you the graffiti all over the place is far worse, yet you've done nothing about that either.

The taxpayers are sick and tired of you BS schemes of paying for everything YOU want and they're tired of your lies about someone else saying, (like it was a lot of people) it's impossible to clean up the north prong. Show me the video of it. Show me the newspaper articles showing someone in fact made that statement. Then I want to see it not being ONE person, I want to see a crowd of people with signs saying, WE JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE!

It's not there because it's MANUFACTURED.

Wicomico Liquor Dispensaries Are For the Children?

I don't think so; but that seems to be one of only two arguments to keep the antiquated Wicomico County Liquor Control Board (LCB). The other argument appears to be one of money.

LCB chair Stewart Haemel painted pictures of little kids walking to school and buying liquor on the way. Could it happen? Sure. Will it? Probably not. Despite LCB supporters claims that there will be a liquor store on every corner, this wouldn't be the case if the legislature abolished the LCB. The number of liquor stores would be limited. In addition, the market will regulate the behavior of license holders.

A license to sell liquor isn't cheap. If a license holder is caught selling to minors they can lose their license, possibly forever. This is not the case with the LCB. Despite the arguments of Haemel and fellow board member Ron Alessi to the contrary, the LCB's record on this issue isn't spotless. The LCB has been caught selling to minors. Of course the Liquor Licensing Board can't take the LCB's license away.

LCB proponents also claim that Wicomico County would lose too much money by abolishing the LCB. This is only true in a vacuum. License fees would need to be increased. Current license holders appear to be willing to pay extra for the privilege of other cost savings (and efficiencies) inherent in the abolition of the LCB. Liquor will cost less (to license holders). They can have their product delivered and even get emergency deliveries if necessary.

What really amazes me in this whole affair is how Republicans like Haemel and Alessi can claim that the government not only should compete against private business, but that they are more efficient in doing so.

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

Technorati Tags: Maryland, Wicomico, politics, Wicomico politics, Stevie Prettyman, Joe Holloway, Rick Pollitt, liquor licensing

County Loses $1,000,000.00 In Tax Revenue

During yesterday's County Council Work Session, Joe Halloway made mention that the County lost $1,000,000.00 worth of taxable revenue because of sales dropping so low. Considering they're so early into their fiscal year, this is a major impact towards the outlook of economical growth in Wicomico County for the year.

This is one reason why they could clearly see the impact the Liquor Dispensary System is hurting the Bar/Restaurant business. Every little bit helps, they claimed.

One Council Member asked, how is the smoking ban affecting you? They replied, it's not. It's actually helped our businesses. OK, cut the crap! I'm confident that's a direct quote from the Maryland Restaurant Association. The reason I say that is, while they were complaining about business dropping so much, they want to buy direct from the Liquor Distributors so they can save more money. Which is it? Business is either up, or it's not. So far as I can tell, business is down, period.

In Memory of Lon Chaney

Lon Chaney as Phantom of the Opera

I almost let today go by without mentioning that it is Lon Chaney's birthday(April 1,1883).Not to be confused with his son,Lon Chaney Jr.,also a horror actor,Lon Chaney Sr. was best known for his role in "Phantom of the Opera". A century later,his silent horror films are still chilling.

The Kids Are Alright?

A plot by several third-graders to attack and "overthrow" one of their teachers was foiled Tuesday at a school in Waycross,Georgia after a student reported one of her classmates brought a weapon to school.Police seized a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape, electrical and transparent tape, ribbons and a crystal paperweight from the students, who apparently intended to use them against the teacher, and all kids involved were either 8 or 9 years old!WTF???While school admininstration said all students involved in the scheme have been indefinitely suspended,they cannot be charged with a crime under state law because they are under 13!Mothers of other 3rd grade students have joined forces to demand the participants be expelled for the safety of their own kids.Chillingly,they had the whole thing planned out-even conspiring to cover the windows so nobody could see in and witness the impending attack.The teacher reportedly was a 3rd grade"special ed" teacher,and instructed children with ADD,and other developmental problems.The plot was in retaliation to her disciplining a classmate for standing on a chair.While some people may find this amusing,I think it is extremely disturbing.Had these kids had the opportunity to set their plan in motion they could have seriously injured or even killed the teacher.(and in accordance to Georgia law,gotten away with murder!)There is nothing "special" about these special ed kids,they demonstrated that by working in tandem to cook up an ambush!Is this what schools are coming to?What about the kids with learning disabilities who truly need special education?They clearly are not getting the attention they require if the teacher is pre-occupied with controlling kids who have severe personality disorders.And just because they under 13 and cannot be prosecuted does not mean it is out of the states hands.Social Services should do independent investigations into each of these children because plotting to kill an adult,a teacher no less,is NOT normal!Are they growing up in homes with domestic violence,sexual abuse,substance abuse,or mental illness?We cannot sit back and wait until they older and not intervene.Incidents like Jonesboro prove that even young kids can pull off school massacres and they did not just "snap" one day-there were signs of trouble before they decided to shoot up the school.