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Wednesday, July 01, 2009

This Just In From A Reader

Joe, it was on the scanner tonight that the royal farms was robbed on dykes rd have you herd anything about that?

Not yet but I'm sure we'll hear more about it in the morning.

DOJ COMMENDS CORRECTIONS

Jim,.

I am disappointed that Rick Pollitt is taking 100% credit for a "key move in achieving compliance" of the Dentention Center Settlement Agreement. First rule I learned as a Council Person is that Department Heads know more and understand more than I do. Second rule is that I would not accept acknowledgment for the achievement of a County Department Head.

Gail M. Bartkovich
Wicomico County Council
District 3

Heart Breaking News

Jack Willing, head of the Somerset County Planning & Zoning has passed away this evening. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his Friends and Family as this is a very trying time for all.

Cambridge Woman Gives Birth In Portable Toilet



From WBOC
Written by Kye Parsons

CAMBRIDGE, Md.- Authorities say a 44-year-old Cambridge woman is facing child abuse and related charges after giving birth to a baby girl in a portable toilet and then abandoning her.

On Monday at around 9:39 a.m., Cambridge police officers and Cambridge EMS responded to Long Wharf Park for a 911 call regarding a childbirth incident.

According to police, officers learned that 44-year-old Candy Michelle Vigneri gave birth to a baby girl in a portable toilet located on the east side of Long Wharf Park. Police say that after giving birth, Vigneri left the infant in the portable toilet. A short time later a witness arrived in the area and was able to dial for emergency assistance. Both Vigneri and the infant were transported by ambulance to Easton Memorial Hospital for treatment.
The infant is listed in stable condition and will be released to the custody of Social Services, according to police.

GO HERE to read more.

Chairman Obama Is Running A "Gangster" Government

Cash For Clunkers


Joe,

The cash for clunkers law went into effect today. People who own vehicles that are older, and get below 18mpg may qualify for up to $4500 in free money from Uncle Same with the purchase or lease of a NEW VEHICLE (Used vehicles do not Qualify) The program runs today, through November 1st, or until the $1billion dollars the government has allocated runs out. If people would like to see if they qualify, they can go to http://www.delmarvacashforclunkers.com/ and enter the “clunker” vehicle info, and what new vehicle they would like to purchase/lease.


You can visit http://www.cars.gov/ to see more about the cash for clunkers program.

Thanks

Dan Fitzgerald
Pohanka of Salisbury

The Schaefer & Strominger Fallout Continues


A local Delmar resident went to Schaefer & Strominger Dodge some time ago and traded in their 2002 Dodge Ram Pickup Truck for a 2008. They consummated the deal and took their new vehicle home and left their trade in behind, as they sold it to the Dealer.

Now, months later, the former owner of the Dodge Truck that had been traded in received a call from someone stating there are Court Documents telling them they owe $2,000.00 in storage fees for their vehicle.

They claimed that they found the vehicle abandoned on the side of the road, this company got the vehicle and have had it in storage ever since. They instructed the former owner to simply sign the court documents and pay the fees.

You have to wonder just how many people out there that are getting the very same phone calls? I instructed this person to call the Police, (since they have documents proving they traded it in) and then contact the States Attorney's Office.

Not that there will be a whole lot of people experiencing this same situation, you just never know, therefore we're exposing it.

Who Am I?

* I was born in one country, raised in another. My father was born in another country. I was not his only child. He fathered several children with numerous women.


* I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me. My mother died at an early age from cancer.


* Later in life, questions arose over my real name.


* My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.


* I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my country, but I practiced non-traditional beliefs & didn't follow Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.


* I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them.


* That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.


* I wrote a book about my struggles growing up. It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.


* I became active in local politics in my 30's then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s. They said I had a golden tongue and could talk anyone into anything. That reinforced my conceit.


* I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization. Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.


* I drew incredibly large crowds during my public appearances. This bolstered my ego.


* At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy. I was very critical of my country in the last war and seized every opportunity to bash my country.


* But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy. I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better and every poor person would be fed & housed for free.


* I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess. It was the free market, banks & corporations. I decided to start making citizens hate them and if they were envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.


* I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that sounded good to all people.


* I was the surprise candidate because I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics & was able to gain widespread popular support.


* I knew that, if I merely offered the people 'hope' , together we could change our country and the world.


* So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include "persecuted minorities" like the Jews. My true views were not widely known & I needed to keep them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.


* I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with.


* I'm glad they didn't. Then I became the most powerful man in the world. And the world learned the truth.


*Who am I? *

VA UR TXT MSG BAN IS ON

Just in case you are or will be traveling by car in Virginia and missed this:

Effective July 1, 2009, a new law in Virginia states that it is unlawful for any person to operate a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth of Virginia while using any handheld personal communications device to.

1) Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person

2) Read any email or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device. This prohibition does NOT apply to names or numbers stored in the device nor to caller identification information.

EXCEPTIONS: The law does NOT apply to the operator of any emergency vehicle; an operator who is lawfully parked or stopped; the use of factory-installed or aftermarket global positioning systems (GPS) or wireless communications devices used to transmit or receive data as part of a digital dispatch system; or any person using a handheld personal communications device to report an emergency.

ENFORCEMENT: A citation for a violation of law will only be issued when the officer issuing the citation has a cause to stop or arrest the driver of the motor vehicle for the violation of some other provision of this Code or local ordinance relating to the operation, ownership, or maintenance of a motor vehicle or any criminal statute.

Obama Tossing Middle Income Earners To Tax Wolves

By Bob Unruh© 2009

WorldNetDaily

Dropping pledge to impose no new levies on those making $250,000 or less

President Obama apparently is trashing his oft-repeated campaign promise that middle income Americans with annual pay of $250,000 or less would see no tax increases under his administration.


There are the new energy taxes under cap-and-trade that would hit every American resident, plans for taxes on health benefits and a wide range of other proposals being developed. The results are that even mainstream reporters have begun grilling Obama's chief spokesman, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, on the issue.


According to White House transcripts, for two days in a row he's been asked what's going on, prompting one blogger to defend him: "What's he supposed to say? Obama pounded McCain for wanting to pay for health care by taxing benefits, rode into D.C. promising Change, and now he's … reversing himself because it turns out personal charisma doesn't work on hard economic numbers."


The first round of questions to Gibbs took place yesterday: GO HERE to read more.

New Fiscal Year Begins July 1 For Wicomico County Board of Education

New Fiscal Year Begins July 1 for Wicomico County Board of Education and Wicomico County Public Schools

Wicomico's two new assistant superintendents, Margo Handy, assistant superintendent of instruction and student services, and William Cain, assistant superintendent for administrative services, began their new duties Wednesday, July 1, with the start of the new fiscal year. A number of other administrators are also taking on new responsibilities in new places or posts effective July 1.

As the fiscal year 2009-2010 begins, the Board and school system are waiting on Maryland's Attorney General to rule on the financing plan that is part of the budget. Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen said the Maryland Senate Budget and Tax Committee heard all about it in a public hearing last week.

The financing plan is very similar to a plan used by another county. The money being provided would have otherwise been returned to Wicomico County and would have been held in their fund balances for just such a purpose. Some of the additional money will be used to fund the capital projects previously planned for the School Construction Savings Plan fund, keeping the list intact and on schedule.

"While it would be nice to have the entire boost of the additional funds for increased enrollment and poverty, we are all in this extremely challenging economic situation together. We have a responsibility to share the load of keeping our community services afloat," Dr. Fredericksen said.

Have a Ball This Fall With Men's Softball And Coed Leagues

Have a Ball This Fall: Men’s Softball & Coed Softball Leagues to Begin in August
Registration is Now Open for the Fall Men’s Slow Pitch and Coed Softball Programs

(Salisbury, MD
) As the summer winds down, the action will heat up in the adult slow pitch softball programs at the Wicomico Department of Recreation & Parks.

The Men’s Slow Pitch Fall Softball league will begin play on August 17 and continue into the cool months of September and October. The registration process has begun and the deadline for team registration is Friday, July 31st. Registration includes a player contract fee of $37. There is a team fee of $380. Registrations and player contracts must be dropped off at the Civic Center Box Office by 5:00 pm on July 31st. Games will be played on weeknights and the season will conclude in mid-October.

The men’s league will likely consist of four divisions based on level of play. Games will take place at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury and other Wicomico County facilities. The season includes 16 regular season games and league playoffs.

The fall coed softball program will also be back this year, with competitive and non-competitive divisions. The coed league will take place primarily on Friday evenings with alternate weeknight dates possible based on the number of teams. The fall coed league includes 9 regular season games and league playoffs. The deadline for team registration is Tuesday, August 18th at 5:00 pm. Registration includes a $21 player contract fee. The team fee is $280. Games are scheduled to begin on Friday, August 28 and the season will conclude in October.

For more information contact program director Steve Miller at 410-548-4900 ext. 105 or email smiller@wicomicocounty.org.

If you would like to learn about other upcoming programs offered by Wicomico County Recreation, Parks and Tourism sign up for email announcements at www.wicomicorecandparks.org.

News From The June 30 Special Meeting Of The WCBOE

News from the June 30 Special Meeting of the Wicomico County Board of Education
The Wicomico County Board of Education at a special meeting Tuesday, June 30:

Negotiated Agreements


Ratified annual updates to the negotiated agreements with the Wicomico County Education Association (Unit I), Association of Public School Administrators and Supervisors (Unit II), and the Wicomico Education Support Personnel Association (Units III and IV), for the 2009-2010 school year.

Updated Monthly Reports

Approved the latest update to the June Personnel Matters report for certificated employees, and received for information an update to the June Personnel Matters report for classified employees.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONGRATULATES DIRECTOR OF WICOMICO COUNTY DETENTION CENTER


Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr. announced today that the United States Department of Justice (D.O.J.) has closed its investigation of the Wicomico County Detention Center. Pollitt noted that Shanetta Y. Cutlar, Chief of the D.O.J. Special Litigation Session, offered “congratulations” to Director Devenyns and staff for “this significant accomplishment.”

On July 16, 2004, the D.O.J. entered into a Settlement Agreement with Wicomico County following several years of negotiations brought about by allegations that the Department of Corrections had violated inmate rights in numerous areas. The Settlement Agreement contained specific provisions and stipulations for the resolution and/or correction of the situations cited. According to the Department of Justice, the County has now fulfilled all terms of the Settlement Agreement.

A key move in achieving compliance was taken by Executive Pollitt in October, 2007. Responding to various negative reports indicating that inmate health care remained as the last unsatisfactory compliance area following the implementation of the Settlement Agreement, Pollitt facilitated a change in medical contractors. In a little more than 18 months, the new contractor resolved all medical issues resulting in the D.O.J.’s commendation.

Last December 18th, the D.O. J. said that the County was in “substantial compliance with all provisions except those dealing with the care and treatment of inmates with chronic illnesses.” Then, in a letter dated May 29, 2009, the D.O.J. stated that, “Based upon our review of your revised policies and procedures for chronic care along with medical charts and records of inmates within your chronic care program, we find that the County is in substantial compliance with all remaining provisions of the Settlement Agreement.”

Reacting to the letter of commendation, Executive Pollitt said, “I echo Ms. Cutlar’s sentiment that ‘this accomplishment demonstrates our commitment to provide appropriate and constitutional conditions of confinement to our inmates.’ I join in offering congratulations to Director Devenyns and his staff.”

Editors Note: I will make my comment under comments.

Did Salisbury News Break Site Meter?

Last Hour 0

Today 0


After AOL picked up on our Sam's Club article yesterday, our numbers had skyrocketed, as expected. However, today we tried to take a look at what our current numbers are for the day and this is what we got, (above).

OK Nay Sayers, it's a joke. We don't believe Salisbury News broke Site Meter but you never know, do you. I'm sure when each and every Blog Owner using Site Meter takes a look at their own numbers they'll get the same results.

For that, (should we have caused the problem) we're very sorry. LOL

Salisbury Police Department Press Release


On June 29, 2009 at approximately 10:48 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Shore Store Convenience Store on Mt. Hermon Road for the report of a robbery.



Upon arrival the officers met with the store clerk who advised that she had been robbed at gunpoint. The clerk advised that she had been located at the front of the store when she was approached by two (2) suspects. The suspects produced handguns and forced the clerk behind the counter to the area of the cash register. One of the suspects vaulted the counter then removed the U.S. Currency from the register. Both suspects then fled from the store. There were no injuries. The suspects were described as:

1. Black male, late teens to early twenties, wearing blue jeans, a winter coat, a camouflage bandanna and black Nike brand tennis shoes with a white Nike symbol.

2. Black male, late teens to early twenties, wearing blue jeans with a white design on the rear pocket area, a dark shirt, tan Timberland boots a black cap and a white t-shirt around his face. CC # 200900022829


If anyone has any information regarding this incident they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165 or to contact Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

Sotomayor Achilles' Heel? Wrongly Imprisoned Man


Jailed for 16 years, he blames Supreme Court nominee for 6


By Bob Unruh© 2009 WorldNetDaily


The nomination by President Obama of 2nd Circuit Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court is more than alarming to an innocent man who was convicted of murder and spent 16 years in prison before being cleared and released.



Jeff Deskovic, whose pursuit of freedom has been chronicled by the New York Times and others, told WND that the last six of those years are directly attributable to decisions endorsed by Sotomayor.



"I'm very alarmed," he said. "The rest of my life, as a result of my ordeal, is dedicated to preventing this from happening to other people."



Sotomayor in her 2nd Circuit position repeatedly put "procedure over innocence" and rejected appeals that could have provided Deskovic with his freedom much earlier than it actually happened, he told WND.



He blames the prosecutors and others in his original case for getting his conviction and sentence, but he blames Sotomayor – and the other judge on the 2nd Circuit panel – for the last six years he remained in prison.


GO HERE to read more.

Obamanation

4th Of July Tea Party

U.S. Department Of Justice Awards "EXILE" Officers And Prosecutors





Yesterday the U.S. Department of Justice came to Salisbury and awarded several Officers and Prosecutors for their outstanding work arresting and prosecuting several criminals.

Among the dignitaries was none other than U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein. States Attorney Davis Ruark thanked the U.S. Department of Justice for allowing Wicomico County to be a partner and truly EXILING these hard criminals out of Wicomico County and the state of Maryland all together and placing them in Federal Prisons in the middle of nowhere, where they belong, far away from society.

Davis went on to mention something that blew me away! He said that Wicomico County was #2 in the entire State of Maryland in violent hand gun crime! Not a number anyone is proud of, that's for sure but having this partnership allows Wicomico County to have better resources to capture these criminals.

Awards went to:

Wicomico County States Attorneys Office:
Sam Vincent
Dan Dougherty
Patrizia Coletta
Carolyn Widdowson

Salisbury Police Department:
Corporal Jason King
Detective Dan Parsons
Officer Troy Underwood
Officer Chad Crocket

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office:
Corporal Kelly Mathews
Deputy First Class Lee Stevens
Trooper First Class Otis Elzey

Maryland State Police:
Sgt. Chris Davala
Corporal Lee Hagel
Trooper First Class Jason Smullen
Trooper First Class Carlisle Todd Widdowson

Other:
Agent Heather Hall (Division of Parole and Probation)
Intelligence Officer Oscar Arce (Department of Corrections)*

Drug Enforcement Administration:
Special Agent Dave Rivello

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives:
Special Agent Matthew Beccio

Congratulations to all of these recipients. Wicomico County is a safer place because of the Brotherhood/Partnership of ALL of these agencies working together. The EXILE Program strongly expresses you will do hard time for gun crime.

I Think This Image Speaks For Itself


Caption This Photo


Date Set For 3rd Annual Summer Poker Classic


Date Set for the 3rd Annual Summer Poker ClassicBuy-In Early and Save!

(Salisbury, MD) The Summer Poker Classic No Limit Texas Hold’Em Poker Tournament will return to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Saturday, August 22. Doors will open at 8:00am and the main event will begin at 10:00am.

Proceeds from the one day tournament will benefit the Friends of Wicomico Recreation, Parks & Tourism’s “Tomorrow Fund”. This fund provides scholarships to families in need for county run after-school child care, summer day camps and youth recreational programs.

The game is No Limit Texas Hold’em and each buy-in includes $20,000 in tournament chips. The first place prize will be nearly $25,000 if all seats are sold. Thirty minute levels and blinds starting at $25/$50 will offer additional chances to win.

The buy-in for the Summer Poker Classic is $300, but early registration discounts are offered. Those registering prior to 5:00pm Friday, August 7 will receive a $50 discount, making the buy-in $250. After August 7, the early registration discount will decrease to $25, making the buy-in $275 until August 21.

Registration is open to participants 18+ and is currently being accepted at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office, open Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Forms may also be downloaded from http://www.easternshorepokerclassic.org/ and mailed to the Civic Center at 500 Glen Avenue Salisbury, MD 21804. Payment must accompany registration. Cash, checks and money orders are accepted (please do not mail cash) as forms of payment.

Satellite tournaments are taking place throughout the region. Visit http://www.easternshorepokerclassic.org/ for a schedule of local tournaments. For more information please contact 410-548-4911 or visit http://www.easternshorepokerclassic.org/.

Hey, If Obama Can Do It, Why Can't I?


Don't Forget This 4th Of July Event


If'n Ur Pickamup Truck Won't Fit, Make Er Fit!

Have I Missed Something?

Since I don't subscribe to the Daily Times and sometimes go for days not reading their on line version, did the Daily Times actually announce publicly that there will be no fireworks at the Shorebirds Stadium this year?

I ask because I haven't noticed it, for one. Again, I could have easily missed it. However, today they ran an article about Firework Companies being off by only 10% this year and featured a specific article on a Town in Ohio not being able to afford it. Ultimately a Radio Show was able to help the Town raise enough funds to pull it off this year, so why not Salisbury?

Considering their a local Newspaper, one would think they could have told that same story right here in Salisbury and not have to head into the Mid West and use an AP article. Why isn't the Daily Times rallying along with the rest of the MSM to help save Salisbury Fireworks like Salisbury News did last year getting Rick Pollitt and Wicomico County involved. I know it's too late to get a Fireworks Company to pull off a show this late in the game but everyone seems to be a day late and a dollar short.

I personally have run at least two articles on Fireworks and you know what, at least I found there weren't that many people this year complaining that the event wasn't going to happen. Last year there was a major outcry but this year very few people seemed to be upset. Considering other municipalities and groups like the Wicomico East Side Chamber of Commerce have worked tirelessly to pull of their 2nd annual event in Willards this year and Hebron will be jammed packed this year with an overflow from Salisbury. Both events are FREE.

The Daily Times did not offer a schedule in their article showing where Fireworks can be seen here in the Eastern Shore, which also seemed odd to me. I guess it's just easier to take an AP article and run with it and not have to put ANY work into it for the readers that are paying for their newspaper.

If you missed it the article is titled, Firework shows get the axe.

Women Supporting Women 5th Annual “Ride For Awareness”

Women Supporting Women is holding their 5th Annual “Ride For Awareness”, breast cancer poker run, on Saturday, July 11, 2009.

This is a 3hour/80 mile ride starting and ending at the Redmen Tony Tank Lodge #149 located at 103 Clyde Ave., Fruitland, MD (North of Food Lion).

Registration is from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with the last bike out at 11:00 a.m.. Registration fees are $20 per rider and $10 per passenger which includes lunch for all and a commemorative pin to the first 300 bikes. All bikes welcome, with 3 cash prizes for the top poker hands.

There will be entertainment, live auction, 50/50 and T-shirts for sale. All proceeds to benefit Women Supporting Women, a local grass roots non-profit breast cancer organization on the Eastern Shore. For further information, call (410)548-7880.

Store BOUGHT, Not Brought.


Bagels: Which is cheaper? Homemade or store-brought?

Editor's note: This is the first in a twice-monthly series of cooking experiments determining the cost-effectiveness, based on price, effort and taste, of making "pantry staples" from scratch at home.

We ALL make mistakes. Lord knows I lead the pack when it comes to spelling. I just thought this one was kind of funny. Can you tell it's early in the morning. LOL

UPDATE: The Daily Times has corrected the mistake. Bagels: Which is cheaper? Homemade or store-bought?

Thanks for reading Salisbury News, where you get the news first.

DART Introduces NEW Rt. 43 Middletown-Odessa Bus Service

Wilmington -- On Monday, June 22, 2009, DART First State replaced the Middletown Shuttle, with the new, greatly expanded Route 43. The new service connects both Middletown and Odessa with the Route 299 Park & Ride facility, also known as the Odessa Park & Ride. The Route 43 service was designed with input from our partners at the Towns of Middletown and Odessa, DelDOT and area developers.

Offering 25 weekday round-trips from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the new Route 43 enhances the levels of transit service previously available throughout the Middletown area, while maintaining convenient connections with DART Intercounty Route 301, with service between Wilmington and Dover, and the Route 45 traveling between Odessa and Wilmington.

The service area of the new Route 43 extends from the intersection of US 13 and Route 299 in Odessa to the Wal-Mart on US 301 at the west end. Along the way, the bus serves residential, retail and educational sites including the Appoquinimink Library, Middletown Crossing, Bethesda United Methodist Church, downtown Middletown, South Ridge, Bunker Hill, Middletown Village and the Kohls Department Store.

The week before service implementation, DART representatives conducted outreach to over 180 businesses along the route path. Each business received bus schedules, and in some cases, a supply of flyers and posters.

The Route 43 is the first step from DART in a plan to serve Middletown as a local destination. Work will soon begin on step two, a project to expand the Route 299 Park & Ride facility in Odessa, which is currently in excess of capacity. The project will be funded through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and includes the relocation of the entrance, a new signal and a pedestrian and bike path. Also, other Park & Ride sites are being planned through DelDOT Project Development.

To learn more about the route, schedule and fare information for the new Middletown and Odessa Route 43, call DART Customer Service at 1-800-652-DART or visit www.DartFirstState.com.