DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Attention
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Report Of Overturned Vessel Results In Missing Persons Investigation
Location: Delaware Bay in the area of Port Mahon, Kent County, Delaware
Date of Occurrence: Saturday, April 24, 2010, reported at approximately 4:45 p.m.
Missing Persons:
David Whitehair, 40, of Felton, Delaware
David Whitehair, Jr., 17, of Felton, Delaware
Resume: In the mid afternoon hours of today’s date, a 16 – 18 foot vessel was spotted overturned in the Delaware Bay in the area of Port Mahon.
U.S. Coast Guard personnel, Little Creek Fire Company, the DSP Dive Team and DNREC Fish and Wildlife responded to the area. Upon locating the boat, they found it void of any occupants. A search and rescue operation ensued and no one was located. This operation has been shut down this evening and will resume during daylight hours tomorrow.
This investigation revealed the boat was recently purchased by David Whitehair of Felton. Allegedly, Mr. Whitehair and his 17-year-old son were supposed to go on a chartered fishing trip yesterday; however, the trip was cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Mr. Whitehair decided to go anyway on his own boat and he took his son. He was last seen yesterday at 5:00 p.m. This information was not learned until today when investigators went to his home looking for him.
At this point, the Delaware State Police is handling this as a missing persons investigation.
Should anyone spot Mr. Whitehair or his son, they are asked to contact DSP Troop 3 at 302-697-4455 or 911.
6-Year-Old Injured In Golf Cart Accident
Date of Occurrence: Saturday, April 24, 2010, at 11:36 a.m.
Resume: At 11:36 a.m. today, Troopers and emergency personnel were called to a private residence along the unit block of Sand Hill Road in Georgetown, Delaware.
The location where this incident occurred is comprised of several acres. A 10-year-old girl who lives at this location was operating the family’s golf cart on the property. The girls little brother, a 6-year-old boy, was sitting on the back of the cart.
The girl accidentally ran into a tree with the cart and the little boy was thrown forward striking his head. He was seriously injured and was flown from the scene by State Police Helicopter to A.I. DuPont Hospital. He was last listed in critical but stable condition.
This incident remains under investigation. An updated news release will only be provided should the condition of the child change.
Obama's Buddy Andy Stern Swims Away While His Organization Sinks
SEIU has seen its liabilities skyrocket during the past decade. The union's liabilities totaled $7,625,832 in 2000. By 2009, they had increased almost by a factor of 16, to $120,893,259. Meanwhile, SEIU's assets barely tripled, growing from $66,632,631 in 2000 to $187,664,763 in 2009. A significant portion of SEIU's current assets are from IOUs from hard-up locals.
SEIU is $85 million in debt, down from its 2008 high of $102 million, and has been forced to lay off employees. Mr. Stern has led protests against Bank of America, calling for the firing of Chief Executive Ken Lewis. Yet the union owes $80 million to Bank of America and $5 million to Amalgamated Bank, which is owned by the rival union Unite-Here.
SEIU's pensions are in even worse shape. Both of SEIU's two national pension plans, the SEIU National Industry Pension Fund and the Pension Plan for Employees of the SEIU, issued critical-status letters last year. The Pension Protection Act requires any pension fund that is funded below 65 percent of what it needs to pay its obligations to inform its beneficiaries of the deficit.
Many SEIU local pension plans are in as bad a shape as the national plans - if not worse. In 2007, well before the financial meltdown, the SEIU Local 32BJ Building Maintenance Contractors Association Pension Plan was funded at an anemic 41 percent, the SEIU 1199 Greater New York Pension Fund at 58 percent, the 32BJ District Building Operators Pension Trust Fund at 56 percent, and the Service Employees 32BJ North Pension Fund at 68 percent.
An underfunded pension plan does not have enough assets to meet its obligations to retirees in the future. Recovery is difficult if plans are significantly underfunded, as is the case with the SEIU plans. The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. (PBGC) insures only a portion of promised benefits to retirees in union multiemployer pension plans. If one of those plans goes bankrupt, the PBGC will guarantee only up to $12,870 in benefits.
Do not worry about Mr. Stern and other high-ranking SEIU officials, though. At age 59, he has 37 years of service in the SEIU and is entitled to a full pension and lifetime health benefits. Unlike SEIU's pension plans for rank-and-file members and union employees, SEIU's officer pension plan, the SEIU Affiliates Officers and Employees Pension Plan, was funded at 102 percent in 2007.
While SEIU's pension plans were failing and its liabilities growing, Mr. Stern seemed more concerned with electoral politics than with the internal workings of the union. Indeed, politics can account for much of SEIU's lavish spending in recent years. "We spent a fortune to elect Barack Obama - $60.7 million to be exact - and we're proud of it," he boasted to the Las Vegas Sun last year. In all, under Mr. Stern, SEIU spent more than $85 million to elect President Obama and give Democrats control of Congress.
[Repeating two facts set forth above: 1) SEIU is $85 million in debt. 2) SEIU spent more than $85 million to elect President Obama and give Democrats control of Congress. We report, you decide-- Editor]
From the "Bought-and-paid-for" file:
What has been Mr. Stern's reward?
It is often said that in politics, personnel is policy. By that measure, SEIU carries considerable weight within the Obama administration. Patrick Gaspard, formerly the executive vice president of politics and legislation for the powerful Local 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, is now the political director at the White House.
Craig Becker, formerly SEIU's associate general counsel and adviser to the ACORN affiliate SEIU 800 in Chicago, is now on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Mr. Obama made a recess appointment of Mr. Becker after he failed to be confirmed by the Senate. This was a significant win for organized labor. Mr. Becker has hinted at having the NLRB enact card check without a vote in Congress.
SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger sits on the Obama administration's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. Mr. Stern himself was appointed by Mr. Obama to its deficit commission. (Mr. Stern has said he will stay in that post after he steps down from SEIU.)
More here
SHOREBIRDS TRIPPED UP IN EXTRA INNINGS IN SERIES FINALE
Salisbury, Md. – The Delmarva Shorebirds surrendered an 11th inning home run as the Greensboro Grasshoppers took the series finale, 3-2, at Perdue Stadium on Friday night. Shorebirds starter Ryan Berry was excellent in seven shutout innings.
The Shorebirds scored the game’s first runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. T.J. Baxter set the table with a base hit. Two batters later, Mikey Planeta reached on an error by shortstop Jose Torres. A wild pitch by Greensboro starter Matt Montgomery advanced both runners into scoring position. Tyler Stampone delivered a flare into left-center field to score Baxter and Planeta.
The Grasshoppers were held scoreless until the eighth inning. Randy Henry issued walks to Terrence Dayleg and Jose Torres. Two batters later, Kyle Jensen drove in both runners to tie the game at 2-2.
After both teams went quietly in the first extra inning, Brent Weaver hit a one out homer to left-center field in the top of the 11th inning.
Jose Alvarez earned the win in three innings. He did not allow a hit or a run. The loss was tagged to Ryan Palsha.
The Shorebirds open an eight-game road trip on Saturday against the Hagerstown Suns.
A Message From 95.9 The Sports Animal
As someone who was born and raised in Salisbury, I appreciate the open forum you have developed and provided for Delmarva.
I write today because I recently read a number of posts regarding Delmarva’s new home for sports radio, 95.9 The Sports Animal, specifically in regard to the Baltimore Orioles broadcasts. Although there have been posts from appreciative listeners about our new station, there have also been posts with questions, speculation, and even misinformation. Most of that involves our not carrying Baltimore Orioles’ baseball. I have read about and understand the frustration and hope I can clear some of that up.
95.9 The Sports Animal launched April 1st. Our goal is simple: to provide a place on the FM dial for avid and passionate sports fans and deliver the absolute best sports radio programming possible from a national to a local level. We are proud to have partnered with the best and most recognizable sports brand in the world, ESPN, as well as The Dan Patrick Show and our own local show, Off the Bench with Whiskey and Randy.
In addition, we will be carrying Washington Redskins football in 2010 and had hoped to work with the Orioles as well. Our initial plan was to be Delmarva’s exclusive radio home for Baltimore Orioles baseball and felt we were the perfect fit for their organization. After providing all 162 games of the 2009 season on our sister station News Talk 1470/WJDY, we made the decision to increase our commitment to Delmarva fans and to the team itself by shifting the entire Orioles broadcasts in 2010 to 95.9 The Sports Animal. Unfortunately we learned that we were not alone in our affiliation with the Orioles in the Salisbury/Ocean City radio market and discussed the matter with their radio network representatives. It would be fair to say that our frustration about their decision to carry their games elsewhere is at the very least equal to the frustration I have read in some of the posts. But, the decision was not ours. It was the Orioles. And, so our affiliation with the team ended abruptly.
As a related note, it is worthwhile addressing speculation about the on field performance being a factor in the sequence of events. This had nothing to do with the Orioles win/loss record. It was a decision by Orioles management. We embraced the team the very first day we launched 95.9 The Sports Animal and continue to report on the team. The Orioles have a rich history of success and we look forward to the team returning to that form.
Baseball fans should be glad to know that we will be airing ESPN’s coverage of Sunday night baseball all season long, in addition to being the home for the MLB All Star Game on Tuesday July 13th, the MLB play-offs and the World Series this fall.
There’s more to say, but this e-mail/posting is to help address some of the matters discussed and to make an open invitation for anyone to write or call me directly. It has been tremendous to already be hearing from sports fans and listeners alike and we encourage them to openly give their feedback and opinions to their station. Thank you for allowing us to clear things up and please feel free to call or contact me anytime with your comments or questions about 95.9 The Sports Animal.
Thanks,
Randy Scott
PD- 959 The Sports Animal, WOSC
PD-Sports Talk 960, WTGM
PD- News Talk 1470, WJDY
Co-Host of Off The Bench with Whiskey & Randy, WOSC 4PM-7PM
Direct Line- 410-572-6717
randy@959thesportsanimal.com
State Police Warns About Copper Thefts From Irrigation Systems
Date of Occurrence: Ongoing
Suspect(s): Unknown
Resume: State Troopers from Troop 7 responded to a residence in Frankford Yesterday at which time the homeowner reported and unknown suspect(s) attempted to steal the copper tubing / wiring from his irrigation system. This is the third report in recent weeks of the same type of theft in the Frankford area.
Because of the nature of this particular crime, it is difficult for homeowners to secure their property. The best prevention is to have homeowners and neighbors look out for one another. Should someone plan on having work done on their irrigation system, they should let their neighbors know so that one would expect workers on the property. This way, if an unfamiliar or unexpected subject is seen in the area pulling from an irrigation system, the police can be called.
As always, tips regarding this type of crime can be submitted directly to any State Police Troop or via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.
WALL STREET MAINTAINS WICOMICO COUNTY’S STRONG BOND RATING
On Wicomico County’s outlook, S & P’s report “… reflects the expectation that the county will continue to effectively manage its budget in response to economic conditions and maintain its strong financial position.”
Pollitt planned to conduct a new bond sale last week to refinance existing county debt at lower interest rates. However, the sale was postponed when it was found that interest rates have begun to climb, thereby negating any potential savings. Pollitt said that the bond sale may be re-scheduled once the market becomes more favorable.
A similar exercise a year ago, netted the county approximately $700,000 in savings on bond payments.
GOP Sez: Prove It!!
“Just think about some of the things Americans have been told,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said on Thursday. “As a senator, the current President railed against deficits and debt. He said America has a debt problem and that it was a failure of leadership not to address it. Yet last year his administration released a budget that doubles the debt in five years and triples it in 10. The debt has increased over $2 trillion since he took office. And in February, the federal government ran the largest monthly deficit in history.”
“There’s a lot of skepticism” among the American people about what Washington is promising these days, a senior GOP leadership aide tells ABC News.
The most recent exhibit in this prosecution in the court of public opinion: analyses of the new health care reform law from the Medicare Actuaries at the Department of Health and Human Services. The studies, issued Thursday night, conclude that the law will mean 34 million Americans currently uninsured will be covered.
But the report by Richard Foster, chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, forecasts a rocky and uncertain path to that end.
Increased demand for services from so many new patients is expected to tax “existing providers resources and could lead to price increases, cost-shifting, and/or changes in providers’ willingness to treat patients with low-reimbursement health coverage.” And provisions in the law meant to get federal health spending into the black would be “outweighed by the increased costs” until beyond 2020.
More here
Poll Shows Support For Tea Party Movement Continues To Grow
A new Rasmussen Report survey conducted on the eve of the Tea Party movement’s first anniversary found that U.S. voters who self-identify as part of the Tea Party movement jumped eight points since the previous month. April 15, 2010 marked the one-year anniversary of the movement, which has been a lightning rod for political controversy since its inception.
In March 2010, 16 percent of American voters surveyed identified themselves as Tea Partiers. That number leapt to 24 percent in the most recent poll with another 10 percent saying they are not part of the movement but have close friends or family who are.
Of those surveyed, 55 percent said they are not part of the movement or do not have any ties to the Tea Party, while 11 percent said they are unsure.
The rise in Tea Party support comes as more voters than ever – 58 percent – favor the repeal of Obama’s healthcare reform. Those surveyed say they are convinced that the so-called reform will require all Americans to pay higher taxes to fund the program at a time when 66 percent of voters believe that we are already overtaxed by the government.
The largest discrepancy found in the report was the disparity between how the political class, or political elite, views the movement versus that of mainstream voters. Not surprisingly, 98 percent of the political elite have an unfavorable view of the Tea Party movement.
Conversely, 58 percent of mainstream voters held a favorable opinion of Tea Partiers. It should be noted only four percent of American voters support the Political Class over the people.
GM Repaid TARP Loans With TARP Money, Republican Senator Says
Senator Chuck Grassley is asking Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to justify those claims. According to the Iowa Republican, GM has repaid its TARP (taxpayer-funded bailout) loans using other TARP funds.
The automaker – which is 61 percent owned by the U.S. and 12 percent owned by Canada -- announced on Wednesday that it has fully repaid the $6.7-billion in loans it received from the U.S. and Canadian governments.
“GM is able to repay the taxpayers in full, with interest, ahead of schedule, because more customers are buying vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse we build here in Fairfax,” said GM Chairman Ed Whitacre during a visit to an auto plant in Fairfax, Kansas on Wednesday.
But as the Associated Press reported, GM received a total of $52 billion from the U.S. government and $9.5 billion from the Canadian and Ontario governments as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. The U.S. considered $6.7 billion of the $52 billion as a loan.
In fact, GM still owes $45.3 billion to the U.S. and $8.1 billion to Canada, money it received in exchange for shares in the company. GM said it hopes to repay those amounts with an eventual public stock offering, the AP reported.
“It looks like [GM’s] announcement is really just an elaborate TARP money shuffle,” Grassley said in an April 22 letter to Treasury Secretary Geithner. “The repayment dollars haven’t come from GM selling cars but, instead, from a TARP account at the Treasury Department.”
Grassley pointed to the most recent quarterly report from Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general for TARP.
Barofsky testified before the Senate Finance Committee this week that the funds GM used to repay its TARP debt are not coming from GM earnings.
“Instead, GM seems to be using TARP funds from an escrow account at Treasury to make the debt repayments,” Grassley said. The senator noted that according to Barafsky's testimony, "Treasury had supervisory authority over GM’s use of these TARP escrow funds."
Read more
City Employee Named Administrative Professional Of The Year
Ms. Clendenin has been employed with the City of Salisbury NSCC for over two (2) years as an Administrative Office Associate, Codes Processor. She was recently promoted to the position of Code Enforcement Officer due to her hard work and outstanding work ethic.
NSCC is very proud of Ms. Clendenin for her accomplishment.
HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER
There were no listed dairies in Salisbury before 1900 and only three by 1907. They were the Oak Lawn Dairy Co. which was owned by a Mr. Case and a Mr. Baysinger, Byrd’s Homestead Dairy, Harvey Morris, proprietor, and Grant Sexton whose home place became the Children’s Home out on old Ocean City Road (pictured in the postcard above). There is no mention of any dairy in either the 1916 or 1921 City Directories but in 1934 there were two listings under “dairy products”. They were the Purity Creamery on S. Division St and Southern Dairies, Fred Battle, mgr., which advertised they served the Salisbury-Ocean City area with both milk and ice cream. The 1940 Directory gives additional information on Purity Creamery in that H.A. Torry was the manager. Fred Battle still ran the Southern Dairies milk and ice cream operation. Two new dairies emerged at this time – City Dairy (Koontz), which carried a more extensive line to include chocolate milk, buttermilk, cottage cheese, sour cream, eggs, along with pasteurized milk and cream, and the Homestead Dairy out on Quantico Rd. (now Nanticoke Rd.) which advertised Golden Guernsey Milk.
For the milk bottle collector, there are no fewer than 25 different local bottles to collect. The rarest ones are Cedarhurst, Hickory Ridge, Archie Humphreys, Lakeview, Maple Shade, Pleasant View, Riverview, A. E. Shockley, Springfield and Sunnyside. Each of these in top shape could bring upwards of $200 so keep a lookout. The bottles of Koontz, City Dairy and Homestead are readily available and make a nice collectible. Some of the other dairies were Brown, Cherry Hill, Eastside, Fairview, Hillside, Maple Leaf, Peninsula Ice Cream Company, Herman Pryor, J. L. Smith, Purity Creamery, Sunayr and Walnut Lane.
Milk bottles come in all sizes from quarts right on down to a gill, which is about a serving in a cup of coffee or tea. Years ago, restaurants would serve coffee or tea with cubes of sugar in a bowl and a gill of milk or cream alongside.
How many remember home delivery when your mom would leave the empties out front with a note in one of the bottles with her order? I vividly remember my mom having to scrape the cream off the top to get to the milk. I always thought that was disgusting and carefully avoided any little piece of the cream. Now I crave sour cream on a nice baked potato. Maybe it’s not the same, or maybe my taste buds have changed over time. In any event, home delivery is a thing of the past. Those were the days.
KUHNER: Smearing The Tea Party
Of course, sedition is a crime. It is the revolt or inciting of revolt against the authority of the government. Mr. Klein's message was clear: Conservative critics of President Obama are committing treason, especially the Tea Partiers who express their disapproval through rallies and protests.
Not to be outdone, former President Bill Clinton seized on the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing to compare Tea Party participants to potential Timothy McVeighs.
"Have at it, go fight, go do whatever you want," Mr. Clinton said in a speech. "You don't have to be nice; you can be harsh. But you've got to be very careful not to advocate violence or cross the line."
In an Op-Ed column in the New York Times, he wrote: "There is a big difference between criticizing a policy or a politician and demonizing the government."
The comments from Mr. Klein and Mr. Clinton are disconnected from reality. The men are either ignoramuses or cheap propagandists, deliberately smearing Tea Party activists. The Tea Party movement has been peaceful and law-abiding. It is a public manifestation of anger at Mr. Obama's unprecedented expansion of government power. This legal, nonviolent freedom of association is as American as mom and apple pie.
The charges against Tea Partiers are not only false, but brazenly hypocritical. During the presidency of George W. Bush, the left's mantra was "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." Apparently, that only applies when a Republican occupies the White House.
Moreover, the antiwar left engaged in hateful vitriol that makes Tea Party rallies seem like Sunday picnics. Mr. Bush routinely was compared to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. He was denounced as a war criminal. Code Pink protesters held up signs urging that Mr. Bush be shot. He was slandered regularly as a liar, imperialist and fascist. The left's narrative was that the Republican Party had erected a right-wing military junta: "Bush-Cheney-Hitler-Halliburton" was the antiwar movement's cry. "Bush lied, people died," was another slogan. It was not conservatives, but Bush-bashing progressives who espoused incendiary, violent rhetoric.
Local High School Student Gets Drafted
Hope you're doing well, love your site. Since you're the best source for the public to learn of news in our area I thought everyone would enjoy hearing a local guy, Ben Tate, from Stephen Decatur & Snow Hill schools was drafted in the 2nd round of the NFL draft last night by the Houston Texans. The 'experts' were projecting him to be a high 3rd to 5th round pick.
Attempted Murder
Incident: Attempted Murder
Date of Incident: 14 April 2010
Location: 1200 block of Pocahontas Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Dwight Arvine Nichols Jr., 29, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 14 April 2010 at 2:39 PM, a deputy from the Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into an assault that had occurred in the 1200 block of Pocahontas Avenue in Salisbury. The female victim stated that her boyfriend, Dwight Nichols Jr., arrived at her residence and began accusing her of infidelity and threatened to kill her if she did not identify the other man. Nichols then allegedly grabbed her cell phone and began examining her list of contacts before disabling her phone rendering it useless. Later that same evening, Nichols jumped on the victim while she lay in bed, grabbed her by the throat and attempted to choke her. The victim told the deputy that she believed Nichols would kill her. According to the victim, Nichols released his grip, removed his belt, and then began using that around her neck in an attempt to choke her.
After stopping his attempts to choke her, the victim informed the deputy that Nichols forced her to perform sexually related acts on him. During this entire incident, the five young children of the victim were present in the residence.
The deputy was unable to locate Nichols after initiating this investigation so a warrant for his arrest was obtained. Deputies managed to locate him on 19 April and take him into custody. After an initial appearance in front of a District Court Commissioner, Nichols was detained in the Detention Center without bond.
Charges: Attempted 2nd degree murder / First Degree Assault / Reckless Endangerment /
First Degree Sex offense / Perverted Practice / Contribute to the Condition of a Child
Possession Of Marijuana With The Intent To Distribute
Incident: Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute
Date of Incident: 22 April 2010
Location: Ocean Gateway at Memory Gardens Lane, Hebron, MD
Suspect: Charles Johnson, 22, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 22 April 2010 at 1:51 PM a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for speeding on Ocean Gateway in the Hebron area. While deputies were speaking with one of the passengers, Charles Johnson, the deputies noticed a bulge in his mouth and noticed that he was having trouble speaking normally, indicative that he was attempting to conceal something. One of the deputies managed to assist Johnson with removing the substance secreted in his mouth and discovered it to be marijuana. Johnson was placed under arrest and while being walked to a patrol vehicle, an additional baggie of marijuana fell from Johnson’s pants.
Upon being searched, the deputies recovered a substantial amount of U.S. Currency from Johnson and subsequently discovered that he was unemployed.
Because of the amount of marijuana located, along with the cash and statements made by Johnson, the deputies charged Johnson with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana. Johnson was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Johnson in lieu of $50,000.00 bond in the Detention Center.
Charges:
Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Edit Draft PUBLIC NOTICE DELAWARE STATE POLICE ANNUAL AUCTION
Date of Occurrence: May 1, 2010
Resume:
The Annual Delaware State Police Auction will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the Headquarters facility located on Route 13, in front of the Dover Mall. The auction will be held regardless of weather conditions.
The auction will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. All property will be available for inspection between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Auctioned items include clothing, bicycles, tools, small appliances, jewelry and other miscellaneous property. Items of interest include diamond jewelry; Rolex, Movado & Tag Hauer watches; Barry Bonds signed baseball & bat; Pete Rose signed bat; 50-piece Cambridge silverware set; Ibenez left-handed guitar; Bose DVD home theatre system; Video Jukebox; Power Washer; Air Compressor; Power Nailers; concrete Cutter TJ 400; Scooters; and TV’s from 7-inches to 62-inches. No firearms or vehicles will be sold.
Terms of the sale will be cash or check. All sales will be final.