Today in History ....April 30th

Today in History….

1803

France Sold Louisiana and adjoining lands in the land Deal known as the Louisiana Purchase

1812

Louisiana became 18^th State in the Union

1939

US Commercial Television made its debute at the New Yorks Worlds Fair the signal was transmitted from the Empire State Building.

1945

Adolf Hilter and his newly married bride Eva Braun committed suicide

1975

The Vietnam War ended with South Vietnams surrender to North Vietnam

1991

Over 131, 000 people were killed and over 9 million were left homeless, when a cyclone hit Bangladesh

2003

Libya accepted responsibility for bombing 1988 Pan Am Jet over Lockerbie Scottland

Maryland Gets An "F" Grade In Child Abuse Cases Involving Death & Severe Abuse

A national report has concluded that Maryland is among the 10 worst states when it comes to releasing information to the public about child abuse in cases involving death or serious injury.

GO HERE to read WBOC's version of this story.

The report found that Maryland policy is written in "severely restrictive conditional language."

OC Kids Beach Pass

A great friend and mentor of mine has a project in Ocean City. For MANY, MANY, MANY years he has looked after the interest of children in Ocean City that live there year round and come to visit our resort. As a youth, growing up in Ocean City, he was always there for me. Whether it was a ride home in the rain from a rec. dance or working on my batting stance on the ball fields @ 3rd Street during little league. This man has always been there.

It is my pleasure to endorse, promote and challenge you to purchase an Ocean City Kids Fun Pass or 2 or 3. This exciting chance to save money at a wide variety of places throughout and around Ocean City is an incredible value. $12 each with HUNDREDS in savings!

Please visit or call:

www.ockidsfunpass.com
(410) 422-1542

His name is Albin "Hondo" Handy... Tell 'em Giz sent you!

Easy payment options online so that your Fun Pass will arrive in a short time.

Thank you for your consideration.

Jeffrey

***PLEASE FORWARD to and parents you know****

Skipjack's Update

Now that the article has been produced, boy oh boy how the information is flying in! I'm told the a former inspector for the Liquor Board did in fact go to the location and measured the distance between the physical location of Skipjack's and the School and even with using the sidewalks on the path from one to the other it measured only 380 feet. The required minimum is 500 feet.

If you took the path by the way a crow flies it's around 300 feet! I'm also informed a second Inspector came out and measured and once again it did not qualify. It should be noted, I am NOT an expert and I have NOT measured this myself.

I have worked with the Wicomico County Liquor Licensing Commissioners and quite frankly I found them very professional and detailed. Some how someone dropped the ball on this one and I'm told anyone who attempts to measure this distance should get the same results as I've posted here.

I was also informed this business location, (Skipjack's) doesn't have enough parking for a restaurant anyway. That being said, unless they open a Beer & Wine Store, it's probably not going to happen anyway.

If Only The City Of Salisbury Would Do This!

From the Dorchester County Council minutes: View article HERE...

The Council introduced AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE MAKING OR AUTHORIZING OF AN EXPENDITURE FROM, OR CREATING OR AUTHORIZING AN OBLIGATION UNDER, ANY APPROPRIATION OR FUND IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE IN THE APPROPRIATE OR FUND UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY LAW Mr. Merryweather stated the legislation being introduced was to prohibit the making or authorizing of an expenditure from, or creating or authorizing an obligation under, any appropriation or fund in excess of the amount available in the appropriate fund unless authorized by law. Ms. Baynard clarified that the bill was the result of Council’s budget deliberations and would require that those individuals funded through County, and more particularly, County department heads would stay within budget and that it sets forth penalties for not doing so or entering into obligations without express approval. The Council agreed to proceed with publication of a public hearing on this matter.

Could The New Skipjack's Restaurant Be Too Close To Pemberton Elementary?

Not long ago I received a letter from a concerned taxpayer asking if I could help with one of their concerns. It seems the new restaurant Skipjack's applied for a liquor license and was accepted. However, the big question was, is the restaurant too close to Pemberton Elementary?

Letters were sent around to what I felt were the proper Departments and Politicians and after a short period of time a letter was in fact returned by the Wicomico County Liquor Licensing Commissioners.

"Thank you for your contact regarding Skipjack's liquor license. This application was heard at the advertised public hearing on February 20, 2008. The owner of Skipjacks is the only person that appeared at the public hearing. At the time, the construction of the building was just beginning and our inspectors did the best they could in determining the placement of the doors. Article 2-B allows a license to be issued no closer than 500 feet walking distance from door to door of a school or church.

I visited the site yesterday and I have asked our inspectors to revisit and measure the distance again. I also have been in contact with our attorney who is reviewing this application and Article 2-B.

As soon as we receive the additional information, I will be in contact with you.

Thanks again,

Wicomico County Liquor Licensing Commissioners.

A. Kaye Kenney
Chair"

I'd like to thank Mr. Pollitt, Mr. Fineran and the Liquor Commission for their attention on this matter. It clearly shows Wicomico County will do what is right/legal. I'm just disappointed this wasn't further researched so as it didn't bring any hardship to the property owner as losing their ability to serve liquor could be critical to their success and they may have chosen another location to build their establishment.

So You Want To Know How Things Work In Annapolis, Eh?

Paper, Scissors, Rock, ready?

Salisbury Police Press Releases

On April 25, 2008 at approximately 11:30 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department were called to respond to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center to meet with a victim of a shooting. Upon arrival, the officers were told by the victim that while walking earlier on Fitzwater St., the victim had been confronted by two (2) unknown suspects, one of which who produced a handgun. The suspects took an amount of U.S. currency from the victim then fired a single shot from the handgun, striking the victim in the upper left leg. The victim, identified as 22 year old Orlando Fraisi Colon of Salisbury, was treated then released from the hospital. The investigation is continuing, and the suspects were described as:

1. black male, 20 years of age, 5’08”, 170 lbs, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

2. black male, 20 years of age, 6’02”, 200 lbs, mustache, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black jeans.

If anyone has any information concerning this incident, they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165. CC # 200800014546

On April 25, 2008 at approximately 5:27 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department responded to the intersection of Parsons Road and Pemberton Drive for a motor vehicle accident. During the investigation of the accident, the driver (listed below) of one of the vehicles was found to be wanted on an outstanding warrant. The driver was arrested, and a search of the suspect’s person incident to arrest revealed a quantity of suspected cocaine.

ARRESTED: James Lee Travis, 27 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Possession of cocaine

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200800014503

On April 26, 2008 at approximately 3:42 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to respond to the

Salisbury City Park for the report of a suspicious vehicle. Upon arrival, the officers located the vehicle which was occupied by below listed suspect #1. Suspect #1 was found to be wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant and was taken into custody. The vehicle was searched, incident to arrest, and suspected heroin and heroin paraphernalia were

recovered. As a result of the recovery of the heroin, the owner of the vehicle (suspect #2) was also arrested.

ARRESTED #1: Bobbi Lynn Parsons, 27 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Active Retake Warrant

Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking

ARRESTED #2: Shushen (nmn) Joshi, 44 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Possession of heroin

Possession of CDS/Paraphernalia (5 counts)

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200800014616, 200800014620

On April 27, 2008 at approximately 5:50 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Brew River Restaurant for the report of an alarm. Upon arrival, the officers found that a suspect had broken into the dock bar of the restaurant. An investigation of the burglary resulted in the arrest of the below listed suspect.

ARRESTED: Brian Palmer Drury, 18 years of age Forrest Hill, Maryland



CHARGES: Fourth degree burglary

Theft (under $ 500)

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200800014715

On April 28, 2008 at approximately 2:36 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department were on routine patrol in the area of Davis St. and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by the below listed suspect. During the traffic stop, the officer found that the suspect was driving without a license. The suspect was arrested, and a search of the suspect incident to arrest revealed a quantity of suspected crack/cocaine and a quantity of suspected marijuana.

ARRESTED: Qumain Christopher Kenney, 18 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Driving without a license

Possession of cocaine

Possession of marijuana

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 200800014814

Update On Our Daughter Susan

Good Morning Joe,

I want to personally thank you and all your readers for the support. prayers and being on the look out for the girls. I also want to take this opportunity to thanks WGMD radio 92.7, the local Moms playgroups I belong to Just Moms of Delmarva and The Mommy & Me Club of Sussex County, Delmarva Moms & Delaware Moms. These ladies made sure they were in contact with me at all times and made sure my family had meals while we waited for news. These woman posted her flyer from DE to MD!

I have to say that I am a little disappointed about the way some things were handled. My family & friends had to do 95% of the work. In DE it isn't against the law to runaway and the police here really can't do much, except talk to the families. It's mostly a parent issue (this is what we were told). The Millsboro Public Library would not even take a flyer or her picture. They told us, that they would not call us if she happened to go in there, because it was a privacy issue. I almost fell in the floor. Can you believe that?? I spoke with a gentleman in the news room at WBOC and he told me to email news@wboc.com to asked for their help, they never even contacted me back. Not a return email or a phone call. I can't tell you what a let down that was.

As far as what happened with Susan. We got a call around 1:30 Monday afternoon they the girls had been picked up in Lewes, Delaware. They were stopped when a they were seen walking down HWY 1. At that time they had set up camp in an old abandoned trailer. Before that they were with some friends on and off. They also camped out in the woods for a night or 2. When the girls were found they were not harmed or hurt in anyway. The reasoning for them taking off was because Casey's Mom was moving to AZ and the girls just could not bare to be separated.

We have a lot of healing to do as a family, some counseling just a long road ahead of us. But she is home and I am having a hard time letting her out of my sight.

Casey's family did indeed leave yesterday for AZ and Susan spoke to her yesterday and she is ok.

I do ask that you still keep us in your thoughts as we try and heal from this. I also ask that if you have a teenager don't second guess their feelings for someone. We think as parents oh teenage love it will pass. These kids aren't like we were when we were 16. Emotions, hormones and all kinds of things I didn't know about came into play when they decided to run. Susan & I had a wonderful relationship, she came to us and told us when she came out about her sexuality. But she felt she couldn't tell us about their plans or how she really truly felt about Casey. So please, listen to your children, I mean really hear them when they talk. Take notice of all their actions, even the littlest things. Her Dad & I didn't see this coming, but it was the little things that could have told us something was slightly off.

I pray none of you ever have to go through what we went through for 5 days. Hug your children, tell them you love them and always, always have an open mind and give them your undivided attention when they talk.

Again Joe, I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your effort in the search and rescue of our Daughter. Your kindness and the kindness of others will never be forgotten.

Sincerely,
Patricia & Dale

Dear Patricia & Dale,

It was our pleasure to help in any way we could. We're familiar with the Delaware System. We're simply pleased your Daughter is home safe and time will heal those wounds.

Does WHS.MIL Stand For White House?

13 whs.mil Washington, District of... 9:07:27 am. Good Morning President Bush. Now go away.

Gary Comegys & Mayor Text Messaging?

Click on image above.



I encourage each and every one of you to please click on the first photo and enlarge it. It clearly shows Gary's cell phone in his hand and as he hears my camera clicking away, he looks up and gives me one of those, (I'm going to kill you) looks.

At this point in time, the Mayor left the meeting and there's no doubt in my mind she was texting Gary to tell him what to say and do. This went on for quite some time and perhaps we've cornered their scheme to actually help Gary come off more intelligent?

Nevertheless, cell phones MUST be banned by Council Members during Council Meetings.

The Laurel Fire

Just after 7:30 PM last night the Laurel Fire Department spread some gasoline on the interior of this building and used a flare to kick off this controlled burn.

There were around 50 people standing around watching this massive fire with Firefighters from all over the Eastern Shore participating and or taking pictures and video.

I finally strolled out of there around 9:30 PM hoping one of the silo's would drop but it just didn't happen. Not while we were there anyway. This group of photos were somewhat special to me as they show walls or buildings falling down from the fire. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the photos?

Laurel Fire II

Laurel Fire III

Realty agent nominated for a Darwin Award (realtard)

Here is a reader comment from another board about a "smart real estate investor" who happens to be a realt0r.

Regarding "More homeowners are mailing keys to lenders" (Republic, Monday):

The article about "jingle mail" was a perfect example of the Darwin Award.

The article told of a home buyer who put nothing down on the home, took out a negative amortization loan, and now owes $200,000 more than the house is worth.

The buyer now whines that no one told her the market was peaking.

But get this: She is a professional real-estate agent!

The Darwin Awards are given annually to those people who do things so dumb that they deserve to be removed from the gene pool. If this real-estate agent so misread her own industry and lending practices, imagine the buyers she advised to do the same.

- Edward F. Muhlenfeld, Scottsdale

****************

New York Times: Americans’ confidence in the economy continued to plunge this month as their homes lost value at the fastest rate in two decades, according to reports released on Tuesday.

The data suggested that the housing slump was far from a recovery and the job market might continue to weaken, ratcheting up pressure on the Federal Reserve, which began a two-day meeting on Tuesday, to take steps to stave off a prolonged slowdown.

************

CNN Reports: Foreclosures up 112 percent
The latest report shows that foreclosures in the first 3 months of the year have sky rocketed compared to 2007

***********************

The European Press tells it like it really is.

18.6 million U.S. homes stood empty in Q1 !!!

Who can possibly claim with a straight face that there's a shortage of houses out there??

When prices drop dramatically, so will the tsunami of inventory.

Read all about it this will blow your mind.

Now lets give some sympathy...

The homeowners who gambled on double digit price increases are not to blame.

They called me a 'naysayer' in 2005 when we saw the writing on the wall with property values plunging right here on the shore.

Heres your sign.

Latest on the Pocomoke City Skate Board Park

It is here at last...something fun, free and exciting for the young people of Pocomoke City to do in their spare time. That's right Pocomoke City has a Skate Board Park!

During the first few months of Mayor McDermotts office Mr. Tucker the developer of Butlers Village had money set aside to build a 'tot lot' for the kids who lived there.

Unfortunately/Fortunately depending on your view Mr. Tuckers insurance company advised that he present the amount of money that he had set aside for the construction of a 'tot lot' and gift it to the city for the city's open space projects, and this way Mr. Tucker wouldn't have to bear the responsibility if anyone were to become injured on equipment that was on his property.

The city agreed to this and matched the amount I believe it was in the $25K range and held a meeting and decided they would put in a skateboard park.

To make a long story short the park is now in and will be open sometime this week.

According to the Mayors blog dated April 22, he stated the park would be opening this week. We still do not have confirmation on the opening date but will let you know as soon as we find out.

Here is the list of what you need to do in order to have your child participate in this activity.

1) Go to City Hall or download the Application Simple an Easy by clicking HERE:

The P-city City website has the application posted if you dig hard enough but you need a $400 program to open it, lucky we have that $400 special program.

Click here to download the rules and regulations in the government standard PDF format.

2) The application requires both parents to sign this form granting their child permission. If both parents are unable to come to City Hall during normal business hours you can take this form and sign it in front of a Notary and have your signature notarized.



3) The application also requires a signature by the child that they understand and agree to the rules and regulation set forth by the city.

4) Park use is free to all Pocomoke City residents. There is however a $25. per child fee for all non residents.



5) If you are having out of town guests it is suggested that you download the application and rules from the city our website and forward them to your friends so that they can be signed and notarized and sent in with their check, then when they arrive photo's can be taken and cards can be issued.

6) Photo's are by appointment only at the Pocomoke City Police Department between the hours of 8am and 2pm Mon-Fri. A signed copy of your application will be faxed to the station and your child will be photographed by an officer in the basement where they process people who are arrested. (you may find some free drugs on the floor so keep a sharp eye out)

7) Angel said that they don't have the ability to make the cards right then and there so they will be mailed as soon as they are ready or she will call and let you know when they are ready so that you can pick them up.

8) Use of safety equipment is absolutely mandatory at all times while inside the fence of the skate park this includes, Helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. Skaters 18 years and older are allowed to wear only a helmet.

9) Children 12 and under must be supervised, and a child must be at least 8 years old to participate at all.



At this time this is the way it is going to be handled. We received a couple of phone calls this morning asking questions about the policies and forwarded them to the Mayor.

One of the questions was regarding the scheduled hours of operation. At this time the park is open on school holidays and weekends from 10am to 5pm, and after school 3pm to 1/2 hour before sunset.

In the summer from 6-15 to 9-1, the park will be open from 10am to 1/2 hour before sunset.

Winter hours (weather permitting) Weekends and school holidays only 12noon to 4pm.

Skate boards, in-line skates and old school roller skates will be permitted. BMX style bikes will be permitted on certain days at certain times but those have not yet been established.

We have heard a lot of negative comments and there are quite a few bugs to work out on the logistics of all of these previously mentioned items, but it is a start. We have a Skate Park, and the kids in P-City can move forward from here.
The Mayor, has been offered serveral volunteers on Saturday's if necessary to get people signed up like they do on the little league teams, and I'm sure there are many more who are willing to do the same.

Lets see what happens and make suggestions as we go. It's a new thing for Pocomoke, so let's give it a whirl.



Remember, to go to the City website download the forms courtesy of the Pocomoke Tattler and download the complete information package as soon as possible that way when the City opens the gate your Skate Rat's will be ready.


It's Pocomoke...