Ehrlich Says NO to Fee Increases

Former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich gave a big, fat, “NO!” when asked whether fee increases of any sort would be under consideration in an Ehrlich administration.  This is an answer to a big criticism leveled at Ehrlich by his primary opponent AND Democrats.

Incumbent Gov. Martin O’Malley states that he has no intention of raising taxes, but refused to sign a pledge to that effect.

from Delmarva Dealings

Chris Jakubiak To Hold Press Conference Tomorrow

Second Part of Jakubiak’s Legislative Agenda to be Released at Press Event

Salisbury Event Second of Four Across District 37

WHAT: A press event unveiling the Day 1 agenda on fiscal responsibility in State budgeting from State Senate candidate Chris Jakubiak

WHEN: August 27, 2010- 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Wicomico County Free Library, 122 South Division Street, Salisbury, MD 21801-4929

BACKGROUND:
Chris Jakubiak, candidate for State Senate in District 37, will unveil the second part of his Day 1 Legislative Agenda at a press event. This second event will deal with his legislative agenda on fiscal responsibility and will be held outside the Wicomico County Free Library in Salisbury.

For more information, see: http://www.jakubiakformdsenate.com

Meet Candidates For Worcester County Sheriff & States Attorney

Carroll Overholt


Dave Catrino


Bobby Brittingham


Beau Oglesby, (States Attorney)

Route 13 At Milford St. Closed

Salisbury City Public Works department has reported a sanitary sewer line collapsed at the entrance to Milford Street from Route 13. Currently Route 13 Northbound has one lane of traffic open and the entrance to Milford St. is closed.

The sewer collapse is contained and the issue is being corrected.

Do We “Terrorize” Muslims?

DelawareLiberal claims that we (Americans) terrorize Muslims.  Do we?

Let’s look at this example from our friends from the First State leftosphere:

In the latest in a spate of anti-Muslim incidents over the last two days, an intoxicated man entered a mosque in Queens on Wednesday evening and proceeded to urinate on prayer rugs, New York police officials said.

The man, identified as Omar Rivera, reportedly shouted anti-Muslim epithets and called worshippers who had gathered for evening prayer “terrorists.” One witness told the New York Post the man was “very clearly intoxicated” and had a beer bottle in his hand at the time.

“He stuck up his middle finger and cursed at everyone,” Mustapha Sadouki, who was at the mosque at the time, said. “He calls us terrorists, yet he comes into our mosque and terrorizes other people.”

Was Omar Rivera rude?  YES!  Should he be punished for his offense?  YES!  Is this terrorism against Muslims?  Give me a break!

Let’s face it, we live in the world we live in.  If a group of Episcopalians or lacrosse players were responsible for the largest terror attack in our nation’s history, many Americans might blame Episcopalians or lacrosse players.  It’s wrong, but it’s also human nature.

The left needs to quit portraying every distasteful incident of anti-Muslim bias as an act of terrorism or a major civil rights issue.  It’s a classic case of HATE AMERICA FIRST!

from Delmarva Dealings

Obama Education Grants Politicized, School Choice Advocates Say

Politics may have played a role in the awarding of some Obama administration education reform grants, say pro school-choice groups that believe the reforms did not go far enough.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Tuesday that nine states and Washington, D.C. qualified for “Race to the Top” grants in the second phase of a program that rewards states for promoting charter schools -- public schools run by non-governmental entities, which tie teacher evaluation to student performance.

With 18 states vying for a $3.4 billion pie, the department awarded grants to the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island. Only Delaware and Tennessee received grants in the first phase of the program.

“These states show what is possible when adults come together to do the right thing for children,” Duncan said. “Every state that applied showed a tremendous amount of leadership and a bold commitment to education reform. The creativity and innovation in each of these applications is breathtaking. We set a high bar and these states met the challenge.”

However, while accountability standards were raised, teacher unions have played an inordinate role in determining a state’s reform plan, said Robert Enlow, president of the Foundation for Educational Choice.

“(The Obama Education Department is) seeking plans with strong, clear support from teachers’ unions, which makes me think they are asking people who have been in charge of the poor quality of education to be in charge of the new reformed quality of education,” Enlow told CNSNews.com. “I applaud the intent of Race to the Top. But the devil is in the details. Can the current group of people who got us into this mess get us out?”

He cited Indiana, which had a strong reform plan, but failed to get the full support of the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA), despite a plea from Tony Bennett, the state superintendent for public instruction.

“It is clear – from the reviewers’ comments of the two RttT [Race to the Top] winners – that one factor is crucial to a successful application: Strong statewide support from the teachers’ union,” Bennett wrote in the April 8 letter.

More here

IHate2SayIToldYaSo

With his divorce now officially behind him, Tiger Woods played his best round of the year Thursday at The Barclays by missing only one fairway, putting for birdie on all but two holes and shooting a 6-under 65 for his lowest score all season.

He suddenly got his mojo back. Go figure.

GO HERE to see what I said.

10 Year Old Boy Attacked In Salisbury By Pit Bulls

Incident: Dog Bite
Date of Incident: 26 August 2010
Location: 300 block of Maple Way, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Pending

Narrative: On 26 August 2010 at 1:30 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported complaint of a juvenile being attacked by two dogs. Upon arrival, the deputy discovered that a ten year old boy who lived in the 300 block of Maple Way was in the front yard of the residence when two pit bulls escaped from the residence when the front door was opened. The two dogs immediately began attacking the young boy. Two adults walking in the area observed what was going on and attempted to assist with getting the dogs off the boy, but the dogs then turned on the adults.

The ten year old boy was transported to PRMC with a severe lacerated ear and serious facial lacerations. The boy was then flown by helicopter to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for specialized treatment.

The two adults, both in their 60’s, suffered lacerations to their arms and hands in their attempt to draw the dogs off of the boy.

The Wicomico County Humane Society has taken both dogs into custody.

The investigation into this incident is pending and charges are possible against the dog’s owner.

Two Press Releases From The City Of Salisbury

Grant Awarded to City andPhase One of Board of Zoning Appeals Database Development Completed

Recently the City of Salisbury was awarded the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $81,362.00.

Of the $81,362.00, the Salisbury Police Department will use their portion, $65,308, for network and server upgrades; back-up storage devices; desktop computers, mobile computers, and printers; and radar & laser speed measurement devices. The Radar devices are approximately 6-8 years old and the laser device is approximately 12-15 years old.

“This Department of Justice grant will ensure that Salisbury has the up-to-date equipment that is necessary so that law enforcement officers can respond quickly and timely to calls,” said Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Small communities often don’t have the resources that are needed for equipment upgrades and this grant will help ensure greater public safety for the residents of Salisbury.”

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department intends to utilize their portion, $16,054.00, for network and server upgrades.

First Phase of Database Development for Board of Zoning Appeals Completed
The City of Salisbury has completed the first phase of database development for Board of Zoning Appeals records from May 1983 to the present. This work was completed by staff of the Salisbury-Wicomico Department of Planning, Zoning, and Community Development. This information was previously retained in individual paper files, and can now be accessed in its electronic format and mapped for numerous City purposes. According to Mayor Ireton, “the conversion of property related information into a form that can be readily shared and accessed by local agencies has been a key initiative of this administration. Continual improvement in record keeping and information sharing is essential to the functioning of City government. The update of 27 years of Zoning Board records is just one of many such projects underway in the City.”

A Letter To The Editor

Did you read Earl Holland's, front page Sports Section article regarding UMES HAWKS Volleyball team, "Favored to win MEAC North".., well, get a load of this:


Earlier this week, not sure what day, four UMES girl students were caught red handed and on tape, shop lifting less than $100 each of items from the Wal Mart store. Three and maybe four of them were on the UMES Women's volleyball team, to include some of their BEST players.

These perpetrators and UMES students have been dismissed from the school... Some were on full scholarship at UMES. What a brainless thing for these young women to do, something that will live with them for the rest of their lives.

Don't Miss Our 6 PM News Broadcast Tonight

Burn Ban?

"Hello Wicomico,

there is deception afoot. I spoke with Jim Finneran today and asked him about the burn ban. He told me that at a meeting of all fire depts. last night, he and Rick were advised that it was still too dry to burn. So today I contacted 3 of these depts. about this. I was told by all three, they have no idea why the ban is still on. Now what does that tell us? There is dirty work afoot. Residents, get involved, ask questions."

Voting Taxpayer

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Reminds You That Schools Are Opening On Delmarva- Drive Safely

On Average Two School Aged Pedestrians are Killed Every School Year During Arrival and Dismissal Times in Maryland.*

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office offers the following tips:
Schools open August 30 in Wicomico County.

Drivers need to plan ahead to allow for the extra school bus traffic that will be on the road.
Leave a few minutes early for work so that you are not frustrated by delays.

Do not tailgate school buses. Remember they are carrying precious cargo. Do not pass a school bus with its red lights flashing. Not only do you risk a fine of up to $500 you risk hitting a child.

Slow down in school zones and watch for children crossing the street. Obey the Crossing Guard when he or she signals for you to stop. Maryland Law states that you must stop for a pedestrian who has entered a crosswalk. The fine is $90 and One (1) Point on your MD Driver’s License.

Students should get up in plenty of time to get to the bus stop safely.

They should wear bright clothes or jackets so you can be seen by the bus driver and other drivers on the road.

You need to stay a safe distance from the road while waiting for the bus and not play around near cars.

Young children should have an adult wait at the bus stop with them.

Remember to wait until the school bus has come to a complete stop before you get on or off.
Students who walk and ride bikes to school should be sure to use crosswalks.

Bike riders and Skateboard riders need to wear helmets to prevent head injury. Maryland law states that children up to age 16 are required to wear helmets while riding a bicycle.

The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting School Bus Enforcement and watch for drivers who pass and tailgate School Buses. They will also patrol School Zones to ensure the safety of Wicomico County’s children.

For more information about getting Back to School Safely, Contact Karen Waggoner kwaggoner@wicomicocounty.org or 410-548-4892 or go to http://www.wicomicosheriff.com/

*According the Maryland State Highway Administration

Taking Salisbury News To Another Level

Look, Salisbury News has come a long way over the past 6 years. There's one topic in which I know many of you have discussed with me personally and that's cursing. While we have eliminates curse words from Posts and Comments, I'm going to take it to yet another level and eliminate the A$$ type of comments, as an example.

If I can create Posts without using curse words, you can create comments without them. So from this point forward, if your comment has curse words with *&%#$ and so forth in them, they will be rejected, period.

Believe me, coming from Da Bronx, I know what it means to use such language as an expression. However, we have to respect all of the other people who choose not to participate with such language and we all know what those &%@*! words mean.

So you know, I'll be spending the rest of my day rejecting probably a hundred of more comments from JT, JR, TM, BB, SB and so forth just because they'll think it gets under my skin. Just like all the racial comments they send in every day trying to get them past us so they can claim we're racist. Maybe one day they'll grow up but somehow I doubt it.

There will be ONE exception to this rule. Every once in a while I publish some, (very few, mind you) comments where there's a threat on my life or a personal attack I feel the need to publish. In some cases these people use their name but think I won't publish it. To expose these people for who they are, I may choose once in a while to publish it. In order to reduce the number of bogus comments sent in every single day, I may choose to publish these every so often in the hopes they'll know I'm capable of doing so. I'm sure you'll understand.

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Release

Incident: Graveyard Desecration
Date of Incident: 26 August 2010
Location: Riverside Drive, Fruitland. MD
Suspect: Pending

Narrative: On 26 August 2010 at 2:35 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of headstones lying in the roadway on Riverside Drive just south of Shad Point Road. Upon arrival, the deputy observed ten tombstones side by side across the roadway. It appeared that the headstones were removed from the graveyard on Riverside Drive at Shad Point before being lined up across the roadway. The suspect (s) had also removed decorative sculptures from the fence that surrounded the cemetery and also placed them in the roadway.

Most of the headstone were from the nineteenth century/

The investigation is actively on going at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office at 410-548-4890 or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.
Charges: Malicious Destruction of Property
Desecration of a Graveyard

Bipartisan Child Support Protection Act (S. 1859

Please call Senator Mikulski’s office today to urge her to cosponsor the bipartisan Child Support Protection Act (S. 1859). If you are a government employee, please take action through the appropriate channels in your agency as soon as possible.

As you may know, child support program funding will be cut on October 1, 2010 if Congress does not act. Without action, the law will revert back to the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act which removed the long standing authority of states to use earned performance incentives as a match for federal funds. The combination of incentives and federal funds provides a majority of funding for the child support program throughout the United States.

The NCSEA leadership and staff have been working very hard in conjunction with the entire child support community and a number of other strategic partners to urge Congress to continue current funding for the program. Given the current economic environment – it is critical that all voices, including yours, are heard on this issue. These cuts will probably mean severe staff reductions, reductions in programs, elimination of innovative programs that assist families, and of course, most critically, a cut in child support collections.

We need at least 40 Senators to co-sponsor S 1859 introduced by Senators Rockefeller (D-WV), Cornyn (R-TX), Snowe (R-ME) and Kohl (D-WI) last year. The bill restores the cuts to the program. Getting 40 co-sponsors will help signal to Congressional leaders that funding for child support must be a high legislative priority this fall.

Senator Mikulski was a co-sponsor of an identical bill in the previous Congress but has not yet signed on as a co-sponsor of S. 1859. Phone calls to the Senator’s Washington DC office and local office from constituents in her state is the most effective way of getting her support on this critical effort.

In addition to your call, we would greatly appreciate it if you could pass this call to action on to advocates and other organizations with whom you work who have a stake in the child support program. The Senator’s Washington DC office phone number is (202) 224-4654 and the staff member who works on human services issues is Mario Cardona. The Senator’s local (Maryland) office phone number is (410) 962-4510 and the staff member there is Lucy Snodgrass. Every phone call will make a difference and we are running out of time to get the funding cuts restored.

We have listed some Talking Points below to assist you in educating the Senator and others about this important issue. If you need any additional information, please feel free to contact us.

Regards,

Kim Newsom Bridges, Esq. Colleen Delaney Eubanks, CAEPresident Executive Director

National Child Support Enforcement Association
1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500
McLean, VA 22102
703-506-2880
www.ncsea.org

“NCSEA is the voice for the child support community”

Child Support Talking Points

If Congress does not act this fall, funding will be cut for the child support enforcement program.

· Since the enactment of the program in 1974, child support has enjoyed bipartisan support, due to its innovative and results-oriented funding structure.

· A key feature of the child support program’s funding structure is earned performance incentives. This incentive structure is innovative and rewards efficient, results-oriented programs and includes a penalty for not meeting standards.

· States earn incentives based on 5 measures. One of every four dollars for state expenditures to fund the child support program comes from those incentives which, by law, must be used for the program and are eligible for federal matching.

The program serves all families.

· This proven and very effective program serves 17.4 million children by establishing paternity, support obligations, enforcing and collecting support.

· The program has matured in recent years and works more closely with families, especially fathers, to assist parents in obtaining work; modifying existing support orders if employment status has changed; opens opportunities to engage with their children; and supports healthy parenting.

The program collected about $20 billion in FY 2009 with 80% of those payments being made for families not receiving TANF.

Child support collections account for 13% of the income for single parent households and 38% of the income for families below the poverty level.

· Child support program saves government funds otherwise spent on programs providing housing, cash assistance, and medical services as it provides a regular source of income to families.

Given the economy, continuing a strong child support program is needed more than ever.

· Caseloads increased in FFY 2009 to 15.8 million, the first increase in two years. During FFY 2009, the numbers of new orders established increased by 6.3 percent, the largest one year increase in over a decade.

· In FFY 2009, the program collected $26.4 billion in payments, including those in arrears, returning $4.78 for every dollar invested in the program.

What should Congress do?

· Adopt provisions similar to the bipartisan bill S. 1859, sponsored by Senators Rockefeller (D-WV) and Cornyn (R-TX) and 35 of their colleagues.

· The measure would continue the long-standing policy a Republican House and Senate and Democratic Administration created in 1998 to provide performance incentives rewarding efficient, results-oriented programs.

· Without action, that policy will be rescinded and families will lose up to $1 billion every year in support payments, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

· States will reduce innovative customer service operations, eliminate or reduce work with fathers including programs to assist in job placement and opportunities to engage with their children.

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Incident: Burglary /Assault
Date of Incident: 25 August 2010
Location: 400 block of Pacific Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Denise C. Carter, 42, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 25 August 2010 at 6:08 PM, deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a residence in the 400 block of Pacific Avenue. The caller advised that help was needed immediately and a lot of commotion was heard in the background before the line went dead. Upon the arrival of the deputies, they met with a female victim who advised that she was in her bedroom when she was confronted by one of her neighbors, Denise Carter, who had walked into the residence without permission. According to the victim, Carter began yelling at the victim over a cat and grabbed the victim by the hair and repeatedly punched her in the face.

Carter was still present upon the arrival of the deputies who observed that she appeared intoxicated. Carter continued to be loud and belligerent to the point where other neighbors began to hear the commotion.

The investigating deputy placed Carter under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit. While en-route Carter became verbally abusive to the deputy, threatening to assault him once the handcuffs were removed. Carter was transferred to the Detention Center without further incident where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Carter was detained in the Detention Center in lieu of $7,500.00 bond by the Commissioner.

Charges: Burglary / Trespass / Assault 2nd Degree / Disorderly Conduct


Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 25 August 2010
Location: 600 block of Pacific Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Andrew S. Davidson, 49, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 25 August 2010 at 1:21 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate an altercation in the 600 block of Pacific Avenue. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a female victim who advised that she had become embroiled in a verbal argument with a male subject she cohabitates with, Andrew Davidson. The deputy observed signs of physical injury on the victim who also complained of being in pain as a result of the assault.

The deputy placed Davidson under arrest and transported him 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 Davidson in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond.

Charges: Assault 2nd degree





Incident: Driving Under the Influence / Leaving the Scene of an Accident
Date of Incident: 25 August 2010
Location: Churchill Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Jeffrey Lee King, 43, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 25 August 2010 at 3:41 PM, a deputy responded to the Elks on Churchill Avenue in reference to a Hit and Run Accident. Upon arrival, the deputy learned that Jeffrey Lee King was driving his vehicle through the property of the Elks when King collided with the maintenance building for the golf course. King then left the scene without making contact with anyone. Armed with a partial tag number and description provided by a witness; the deputy located the offending vehicle in a parking lot of an apartment building in the 300 block of Glen Avenue, just around the corner. The vehicle had signs of recent damage on its front end.

The deputy located the driver of the vehicle, Jeffrey Lee King, who appeared visibly under the influence of alcohol. During the ensuing investigation, the deputy charged King with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and leaving the Scene of a Property damage Accident.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Leaving the Scene of an Accident

Ground Zero Mosque Imam: Obama Took Speech From Me

Rauf claims his book forms heart of Cairo address to Muslim world

JERUSALEM – Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the controversial Islamic leader behind the proposed Ground Zero mosque, has claimed President Obama's historic address to Muslim world was "all taken" from Rauf's book.

"If you examine this chapter you will find that the (Obama) speech in Cairo was all taken from this section," Rauf stated in a February recording, which was first posted by Islam critic Walid Shoebat.

Rauf mistakenly referred to Obama as "Bush" but was clearly speaking about Obama's address to the Islamic world from Cairo, Egypt June 4, 2009.

The dots are finally connected! Find out what Islam has planned for you: Get "Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America."

Speaking in a combination of Arabic and English, Rauf was describing chapter six of his 2004 book, "What's Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West."

That chapter, entitled "Toward a New Cordoba," presents the strategies of Rauf's organization, the Cordoba Initiative, for "healing" the relationship between the Islamic World and the West.
The same book was translated into Arabic under a different title, "The Call From the WTC Rubble: Islamic Dawah From the Heart of America Post–Sept. 11." Dawah refers to the preaching of Islam.

In the February recording, Rauf said the book "taken" by Obama mapped out a "blueprint" outlining how the West and Islam can reconcile.

GO HERE to read more.

The Economy Is Finally Looking Up

A friend of mine just started his own business, making landmines that look like prayermats. It’s doing well. He says Prophets are going through the roof.

Nail Salon Charges Her $5 Extra For Being Overweight

Weighty issue: Georgia woman ‘humiliated’ by surcharge for broken chairs

Michelle Fonville went from being pampered to put down, with one swipe of a pen.

When this DeKalb County, Ga., woman received the bill from Natural Nails, a local nail salon, for her manicure, pedicure and eyebrow shaping, there was a $5 surcharge.

“I said, ‘I’ve been overcharged,’ ” Fonville told WSB-TV in Atlanta. “[The manager] broke it down, then told me she charged me $5 more because I was overweight.”

The salon manager, Kim Tran, told WSB-TV that she added the surcharge to compensate for chairs broken by overweight customers. Her pedicure chairs have a weight limit of 200 pounds and cost $2,500 to fix.

“Do you think that’s fair when we take $24 [for manicure and pedicure] and we have to pay $2,500? No,” Tran told WSB-TV.

While it’s debatable whether obesity is a disability protected by the law (it is in health-related cases), on the face of it, there’s not a chance Tran would have been able to know the reason for Fonville’s being overweight. And without that knowledge, any kind of discrimination is a problem and potentially legally actionable.

GO HERE to read more.

Poland Arrests U.S. Citizen Wanted For Pedophilia

Suspect was a baseball and basketball coach in Virginia, Interpol says

WARSAW, Poland — A U.S. citizen wanted for allegedly sexually abusing five boys in Virginia has been arrested in Poland, authorities there said.

According to Interpol, 39-year-old John Edward Hamilton fled to Europe in late 2009.

Polish border guard spokesman Cezary Zaborski said Thursday that Hamilton was apprehended Wednesday afternoon on a bus as he was heading from Poland to Denmark.

He was handed over to police pending a court decision whether to extradite him to the U.S.
Interpol says Hamilton is a former baseball and basketball coach accused of sexually abusing the boys, ages 10 to 16, between 1992 and 2008.

Hamilton had been scheduled to plead guilty to a series of offenses before he fled, according to the international police agency.

Source

Pack Of Dogs Maul 7-Year-Old To Death

Child found fatally wounded on driveway of neighbor's house in rural Illinois

A 7-year-old boy was mauled to death by four dogs at the home of a neighbor in Illinois, according to news reports.

Residents told NBC's News25 channel that the child, Jason Walter, his mother and brother would regularly visit the nearby home of Eric Shanklin in rural Marshall County, where the incident took place.

Sheriff Rob Russell told the NBC affiliate that the second grader at Northwest School in La Salle was attacked by a mixed-breed Shepherd and three pit-bulls in Shanklin's driveway Wednesday morning.

Emergency services were called and the boy was taken to a firehouse at Varna, but he died before a helicopter arrived to take him to a hospital, the TV station reported.

Sheriff Russell told the news channel that the mixed-breed dog belonged to Shanklin and the three pit-bulls were owned by a person staying in a trailer on the property.

"The four dogs were indeed taken to the veterinary clinic where they were euthanized and taken down to Galesburg for testing," Russell said.

GO HERE to read more.

False Amber Alert

To the many of you who have been sending me an alleged Amber Alert, I have confirmed through several police agencies that this alert is not true.

Please reply to those sending you these messages that they are in fact not true.

Salisbury Mayor Joins Mayors For Peace

The City of Salisbury is proud to announce that Mayor Ireton has recently joined Mayors for Peace. The largest, fastest-growing international municipal organization now has over 4000 city members in 144 countries. Mayors for Peace was founded in 1982 by the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a mission of the abolition of nuclear weapons. The goal is to ensure that no city ever has to suffer the way those cities did.

The Mayors For Peace 2020Vision (elimination of nuclear weapons by 2020) has been supported by five strong resolutions adopted by the U.S. Council of Mayors, the most recent of which focused on the fact that the $62 billion budget set aside for nuclear weapons could be better used to support our cities during these challenging economic times. The organization is working to have the international community take the next step with nuclear weapons, that is, a nuclear weapons convention, like the treaties already adopted to ban chemical and biological weapons, landmines and cluster munitions.

Mayor Ireton recognizes that the detonation of a nuclear bomb over Salisbury would be the ultimate disaster for its citizens, and being a part of this organization is his way of helping to prevent this 100% preventable disaster. We hope his constituency will praise him for this enlightened step. For more information, you can Google Mayors For Peace, 2020Vision Campaign, or contact Harvey Zendt at hzendt@yahoo.com.

Caption This Photo

Afghan Outrage: U.S. Troops Scrounge for Blankets, Bullets

The parents of an American soldier in Afghanistan have accused the U.S. government of leaving defenders of its freedoms without basics such as blankets, food, feminine hygiene supplies and even bullets, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

"One of my soldiers went without ammo for five weeks once they got to Afghanistan because of shortages. I can't reveal the name, because they are frightened of reprisals. If they can do what they did to a four star general like [Gen. Stanley A.] McChrystal, what would they do to a buck private?"

That comes from a woman who, with her husband, has taken it upon herself to adopt soldiers and provide them with many of the needed basics.

The woman, assigned a pseudonym of "Beth," insisted her name not be used because of the possibility of reprisals against her or the soldiers.

But she told WND she received a report that a U.S. soldier bought a $15 knife "and slept with their hand on the handle in the waist of their pants because it was all they had for the moment to protect themselves."

The woman confirmed she and her husband are involved in supplying the basic necessities for some 50 soldiers – because the military isn't.

More here

[ Editor's Note: The recently-passed Union bailout bill was partially funded by significant raids on defense budget funds, including money for weapons and ammunition.]

Politicians Gone Wild - Frank Kratovil Edition

Today's Wildlife Photo

Two Years Ago Today

Gary Comegys was sporting around in his SHA vehicle.

Solar Power: Brighter Long-Term Investment Outlook

Energy standards requiring U.S. utilities to use solar power could drive growth for companies ranging from inverter makers to installation financiers

With utilities adopting standards to increase the amount of solar-generated electricity in coming years, the U.S. could bolster its presence in the global solar-power market. The quickening growth pace could present attractive opportunities for investors, according to some professionals.

At the end of 2009, the U.S. ranked fourth in total solar capacity, with 2.09 gigawatts installed, behind Germany with 9.79Gw, Spain with 4.01Gw, and Japan with 2.68Gw, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. With U.S. installed capacity growing at a faster pace than that of the international market, the country may be on track to become a more dominant market by 2014, according to Larry Sherwood, an analyst at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

Some 23Gw of solar capacity are under development in the U.S., enough to provide electricity for 4.4 million households, according to the Solar Energy Industries Assn. (SEIA). Solar demand in the U.S. is expected to grow 75 percent in 2011, compared with 2010. About 1.5Gw to 2.0Gw of capacity—1.36Gw in California alone—is scheduled to be installed next year.

GO HERE to read more.

New Treatment For Advanced Melanoma Shrinks Tumors

Drug reduced tumors in 80 percent of patients, study says, but effect may be fleeting

BOSTON — An experimental targeted cancer drug shrank advanced melanoma tumors in 81 percent of patients with the deadly and hard-to-treat cancer, doctors said Wednesday.

The findings were part of an early phase study used to determine the best dose of the experimental drug PLX4032, now in late-stage clinical trials. It is designed to target tumor cells with a mutation in a gene called BRAF. The drug is made by Roche and privately held Plexxikon.
In two patients, tumors went away completely. In 24 others, the tumors shrank by more than 30 percent, the team reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The team said 81 percent of 32 patients with a BRAF mutation showed complete or partial shrinkage of their tumors.

"We can see the improvement in patients and it's happening quite rapidly, within a week or two of starting treatment," Dr. Keith Flaherty of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston said in a telephone interview.

"For patients without symptoms, the hope is that it delays the time it takes for them to develop symptoms, and we have some belief that that is happening as we speak," said Flaherty, who worked on the study.

But the effect appears to be fleeting.

GO HERE to read more.

Body Found In Burning Car

A body has been found in a burning car in Prince George's County.

Firefighters and paramedics responded at about 8 a.m. to a crash on Martin Luther King Highway at Route 50 in Lanham, Md. The found a vehicle overturned and on fire. After extinguishing the flames, they found a body inside.

Source

Proof That Men Have Better Friends...

Friendship among Women:

A woman didn't come home one night. The next morning she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it.

Friendship among Men:

A man didn't come home one night. The next morning he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house. The woman called her husband's 10 best friends. Eight confirmed that he had slept over, and two said he was still there.

Somerset County Sheriff's Office Reports Most Recent Arrests

8-19-10 Beverly Nichole Dorsey of Westover, arrested on a contempt of court bench warrant. Dorsey was held on a $1,500 bond.
8-24-10 Deondre Lamonte Brown of Crisfield, arrested on a warrant regarding failing to appear in court for child support. Brown was released after posting $500.00 bond.
8-24-10 Moleake khalee Salaam of Princess Anne, arrested on a warrant regarding violation of probation. Salaam was later held on a $50,000 bond.

THEFT REPORT; On 8-23-10 deputies responded to 11510 Pine Pole Rd. regarding a theft of electric services complaint. It was later learned that an occupant of the house tampered and damaged an electric meter after it was turned off for non payment. Deputies charged John Clark with theft of services, and malicious destruction of property. Clark was released pending trial.

THEFT REPORT; On On 8-23-10 deputies investigated a theft of a mail box on LQ Powell Rd. The investigation showed that a unknown person stole a white metal mail box and post from that residence. The Sheriff's Office is asking residence's to report any suspicious persons or vehicles in their neighborhood.

New Orleans Cops Told They Could Shoot Looters

After Katrina, New Orleans police officers circulated orders authorizing them to shoot looters and "take back the city," but it remains unclear who issued them.

Read more...

GOP Embracing Gay Marriage

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Prominent conservatives are coming out in support of same-sex marriage. And gay issues haven’t played a central issue in the 2010 election cycle. Is this a change of course for the GOP?

Are Bars Right To Refuse To Serve Pregnant Women?

In terms of pregnancy, there are few topics more likely to spark debate than the question of expectant mothers consuming alcohol. While roundly considered a taboo, some medical experts maintain that the odd glass of wine is perfectly OK. Both The New York Post and Jezebel.com ran pieces on the controversial subject recently. Here, one blogging mother shares her perspective.

A pregnant woman walks into a bar... It sounds like the start of a joke, but what actually transpired when an expectant mother ordered a glass of wine at a New Orleans restaurant isn't a joke at all.

GO HERE to read more.

Beck Rally On MLK Anniversary Draws Ire

Glenn Beck's rally on the anniversary and at the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech is drawing criticism, protests and questions about his intentions.

GO HERE to read more.

Brand Name Drug Prices Rise Significantly In Past Year

Here's yet another reason to go for generic drugs when you can: drug makers keep raising prices on brand name products. If you group generics and brand names together, drug prices rose by 3.4% in 2009, according to an industry report. However, if you look at just brand name drugs as the AARP did in a new report, the average price hike was 8.3%. An earlier AARP report from May points out that if you look at specialty drugs "widely used by people in Medicare" then the hike jumps to 9.2%.

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Fire Chief: Most Smoke Alarms Are Useless, Endanger Users

Fire alarms make you feel safe, but an Albany, Calif. fire chief says it's a false sense of security. Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, the chief says most people equip their homes with cheaper ionization alarms, which detect smoke via an electric current and can lead to false alarms (such as reacting to overcooked food) while missing genuine dangers until it's too late. The chief says people should opt for slightly more expensive photoelectric alarms, which use more accurate light beams to alert fire victims.

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Salisbury Police Department Press Release

On August 20, 2010 at approximately 9:48pm, officers responded to 516 Wicomico Street for an unknown problem. On arrival, officers located Kenneth Lee Burke Jr, 31yoa, of 516 Wicomico Street in the front yard bleeding profusely from the chin. It was determined that Burke’s injury is the result of a gunshot. Burke was transported to PRMC-ER by Salisbury EMS and later transferred to Shock Trauma. No further information is available concerning Burke’s injuries at this time.

As the officers secured the scene, a female was found deceased in the kitchen of the downstairs apartment of 516 Wicomico Street. The female has been identified as 27yo Taheerah Naimah Sabr of Salisbury, MD. Sabr was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the investigation is continuing.

MARYLAND STATE POLICE ARREST ARMED ROBBERS IN CECIL COUNTY

(Darlington, Maryland) – Maryland State Police apprehended two suspects early this morning following an armed robbery of a pharmacy in Harford County.

The accused are identified as John Collins, Jr., 19, of the unit block of Peacock Lane in Port Deposit, Maryland and Joshua A. Dietz, 20, of the 700-block of Dr. Jack Road in Port Deposit, Maryland. They are charged with armed robbery, first and second degree assault, weapons violations, theft over $10,000, and reckless endangerment. Both are being held at the Harford County Detention Center awaiting bond review.

Collins was arrested around midnight, without incident, when police located him inside an apartment building near Perryville. Collins also had an open arrest warrant through the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a prior burglary.

Dietz was arrested around 4:00 a.m. today, without incident, at the home of his grandparents near Port Deposit. Dietz had been released on bail after being served an arrest warrant by the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the same prior burglary in which Collins was charged.

Yesterday evening, Collins was recognized by witnesses as the suspect who allegedly entered a Harford County pharmacy in the 1100-block of Main Street in Darlington, shortly before 6:00 p.m. with a loaded revolver. Collins ordered the employees to place over 100 bottles of prescription pharmaceuticals into a bag, demanded money from the cash register and directed the two employees into the restrooms. He then exited the building, allegedly walking southbound on Main Street where witnesses told police he was picked up by a dark colored vehicle.

State Police investigators worked throughout the night attempting to apprehend both suspects involved in the armed robbery. Investigators were led to identifying the two suspects through the use of surveillance, witness information, and relevant data obtained in the Regional Automated Property Information Database, known as RAPID. RAPID is a database managed by the Maryland State Police which provides law enforcement immediate access to timely information about property that has been sold to pawnbrokers, precious metal dealers, and vehicle salvage yards.

Investigators believe Collins entered the store with the loaded revolver, while Dietz remained outside behind the wheel of their getaway vehicle. The getaway vehicle has been identified as a black Mercedes with Maryland tags.

Troopers obtained a search warrant for a Conowingo-area home. More than 100 bottles of prescription medications, US Currency and the firearm used in the armed robbery were recovered.

State police investigators from the Bel Air Barrack were assisted by troopers from the North East and JFK Highway Barracks. Maryland State Police and Perryville Police K-9 Units assisted in the apprehension of the two suspects. Deputies from the Harford County and Cecil County Sheriff’s Offices also responded to assist.

Statement From Superintendent Dr. John Fredericksen On Student Transportation Discussions

The Center for Conflict Resolution at Salisbury University hosted a meeting at on Tuesday, Aug. 24 with representatives of the Transportation Advisory Group for Wicomico County Public Schools. The meeting was scheduled at the request of the Wicomico County School Bus Contractors Association, which asked the Board of Education on Aug. 10 for an opportunity to meet and discuss concerns about student transportation.

Those invited to participate in the discussion on student transportation issues included staff members (superintendent, assistant superintendent for administrative services and Transportation staff), 10 school bus contractors (five selected by the Wicomico County School Bus Contractors Association, five selected by the Transportation Office), two members of the Wicomico County Board of Education, and Wicomico County Council President Gail Bartkovich.

While eight of the 10 school bus contractors committed on Monday to attend the meeting, on Tuesday morning the contractors who had committed said they would not attend on advice of the attorney for the Wicomico County School Bus Contractors Association. One contractor did attend the meeting. The other invitees who had committed to attend were present for the meeting, working toward a speedy resolution to issues about student transportation.

Good progress was made at the meeting, with all parties listening to concerns and discussing new ideas. A second meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug. 26, with the Center for Conflict Resolution again hosting the discussion.

The school system is working to ensure that safe, efficient and effective, and on time transportation for students will be affected as little as possible by the decisions of contractors not to take extra trips. While transportation to and from school is required under the contract, almost all school bus contractors have been declining extra trips for after-school activities and field trips. The school system currently has 80 trips available between now and Sept. 30.

The school system’s No. 1 goal is to ensure that no student is denied the opportunity to participate in a school-related activity due to transportation issues. Every student who has practiced and prepared for an activity, whether it be athletics or band or some other area, should have the opportunity to participate. For some students, a pre-season scrimmage may be their only chance to shine.

So far, several away scrimmages have been changed to home scrimmages to eliminate the need for transportation, but some other scrimmages have been canceled, costing 60 or more students to miss an opportunity to participate.

Private coach buses or out-of-county school buses have also been hired as needed, at greater cost. A handful of Wicomico County bus contractors have accepted trips, too.

Trips for extracurricular activities and field trips are paid for in a variety of ways: from the school system budget, by families, and sometimes by the school system and families.A limited amount of money is available for student transportation, so in the end the higher cost of trips now could mean fewer trips and/or higher cost to families during this school year.

Rape Investigation From 2008

INCIDENT: Rape 2nd DATE: May 17, 2008
LOCATION: 31000 block of Mount Hermon Road, Salisbury, Maryland

NARRATIVE: On May 19, 2008 Detective’s with the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation began an investigation of a reported rape that had occurred on May 17, 2008. The investigation developed a suspect identified as Alonzo Jay King Jr. Alonzo Jay King’s known DNA sample was compared to the evidence in this case by the Maryland State Police Biology Lab. Test results revealed that King’s DNA was a match to the evidence in this case. Investigators were then able to obtain an arrest warrant for King in this case.

SUSPECTS*: Alonzo Jay King Jr., black male, 27 years old, of Salisbury Maryland. CHARGES: Rape 2nd degree, Sex Offense 2nd degree , Sex Offense 3rd degree, Sex Offense 4th degree, Assault 2nd degree
DISPOSITION: King is currently incarcerated in the Wicomico County Detention Center.

'Homegrown' Terrorists Are Working Within U.S.

Republican U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick warned a Huntersville audience Tuesday about the dangers of "homegrown terrorism" and new Iranian inroads into the Americas.

Myrick made her comments during a meeting with about 60 members of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce in Huntersville.

The appearance was one of several Myrick has made during the August congressional recess. She hosted a town meeting in Cornelius on Tuesday night and is scheduled to address a GOP women's group today in Charlotte.

In Huntersville, Myrick criticized spending by the Obama administration. She said she believes that raising taxes - some Democrats want to end the Bush-era tax cuts for wealthier Americans - will further hurt the economy.

She answered questions about health care, mortgage deductions and immigration and decried partisanship in Congress.

"People sent us there to be Americans," she said, "They didn't send us there to be Republicans or Democrats."

GO HERE to read more.

Obama’s Beltway Chainsaw Massacre

Building on my continuing War on the West/War on Jobs series, today’s column initiates an Obama jobs death toll. The social justice Left has always used Alinskyite story-telling to get its way. Time for the Right to better tell the stories of the forgotten victims of the Obama job-killing machine.

Regarding the new CBO report on the stimulus (coincidentally — or maybe not coincidentally — released on the same days as GOP leader John Boehner’s jobs speech), McQ says pointedly: “Of course it boosted the GDP by a sizeable amount. When you pour almost a trillion dollars out of the government bucket and that is part of the calculation of GDP, then naturally the GDP is going to be ‘boosted’. The question is, what good did it do. Claims of ‘increasing the number of people employed’ is, as is obvious, a guess cranked out by an economic model. But look around you. When what the bucket has dumped out drains away, what do we have? 9.5% unemployment – at least at an official level – 1.5% higher than what was promised if the “stimulus” wasn’t passed. A stagnant economy. Businesses neither expanding nor hiring. Car sales – down. Housing sales – way down. Consumer confidence – in the tank. Expanded regulation, increased taxation and a war on business…So let the left and the media try their best to make this more than it is – the effect on GDP calculation that absurd levels of governmental deficit spending will have. Take that out and there isn’t much to shout about, is there?”

GO HERE to read more.

REPEAL OBAMACARE

Although Rep Kratovil voted against Obamacare, he has not signed the 'Discharge Petition' to repeal Obamacare. Obamacare will limit choice, increase the deficit, raise health care costs, expand government bureaucracy, discriminate against low-income workers, mandate insurance coverage and stunt economic growth. It is no wonder that 60% of Americans are in favor of repealing Obamacare. Ask Kratovil to sign this Discharge Petition for a full repeal.

Will Obamacare actually reduce the deficit? President Obama promised his government takeover of health care would not add “one dime to the deficit.” On paper, Obamacare was deficit neutral and only cost $940 billion. However, those estimates relied on questionable budget gimmicks. As it turns out, Obamacare will add to the deficit, increase taxes and, by one estimate, spend nearly $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years.

Does Obamacare bend the cost curve? Despite all the promises that this “reform” would reduce health care costs, the exact opposite is true. The law will increase overall health care spending in the U.S. by $222 billion between now and 2019. Even worse, the law will cause premiums in the non-group market to increase by 10 –13 percent.

Is Obamacare a good deal for seniors? Seniors will suffer under Obamacare. They will have fewer plans and physicians to choose from while paying higher taxes. Amazingly, Obamacare levies a multi-billion dollar tax on many of the brand name prescription drugs that seniors rely upon.

How do doctors fare under Obamacare? No class of American professionals will be more negatively impacted by Obamacare than doctors. They will be subjected to increased regulation from a vast, powerful new health care bureaucracy while becoming increasingly dependent on an unreliable government reimbursement system. Recent polling suggests physicians are increasingly pessimistic about the future, which should concern anyone who goes to the doctor’s office.

Is Obamacare constitutional? A mandate requiring individuals to purchase health insurance is an unprecedented form of federal action. The government has never required people to buy a good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States. Such a mandate is unconstitutional. Legal challenges, spearheaded by law-abiding Attorneys General, are moving forward.

In June, Congressman Steve King of Iowa filed a petition that would force the U.S. House of Representatives to vote on repealing Obamacare. We must repeal Obamacare, now! Tell your Member of Congress to sign the petition to repeal Obamacare.

‘BIRDS SQUEEZE PAST SUNS IN GAME ONE, 4-3

Will Startup Earns First Win of Season

Hagerstown, Md. – The Delmarva Shorebirds bullpen silenced the Hagerstown Suns in the final four innings to lead the ‘Birds to a 4-3 win at Municipal Stadium on Wednesday night. Three Shorebirds pitchers combined to strike out ten batters without issuing a walk. The Shorebirds have won back-to-back games for the first time since August 7th and 8th. Trent Mummey, Mike Flacco and Levi Carolus each recorded three hits.

The Suns grabbed the early lead in the first inning. Rick Hague hit a lead off double. He moved to third on a ground out by Adrian Sanchez. Then, J.P. Ramirez scorched a liner up the middle to plate Hague.

The Shorebirds erased the deficit in the second. Mike Flacco led off with a single and advanced to second on a misplay by left fielder J.P. Ramirez. Levi Carolus singled to move Flacco to third. Then, Omar Casamayor singled through the right side of the infield to knot the score at 1-1.

In the third, the Shorebirds took their first lead of the night. T.J. Baxter led off with a bunt single to the right side. Baxter then stole his 34th base of the season. Trent Mummey followed with a triple ripped down the right field line to plate Baxter. With Mummey at third, Kelly hit a grounder to short to plate Mummey and give the ‘Birds a 3-1 edge.

The Suns chipped into the deficit in the third inning. Eury Perez led off with a single and stole his 52nd base of the season. Later in the inning, Perez scored on a groundout by Adrian Sanchez to cut the deficit to 3-2.

In the fourth, the Shorebirds added a run to build a 4-2 lead. Rosa started the frame with a single. Kyle Moore followed with a single to advance Rosa to third. Trent Mummey reached on a fielder’s choice and Rosa scored.

The Suns moved within one in the fifth inning on an RBI single by J.P. Ramirez, who finished 4-for-5.

Will Startup earned his first win of the season in three shutout innings. He allowed five hits and only one run. Startup struck out six and did not walk a batter.

James Brandhorst came on in the eighth inning and tossed two scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit. Brandhorst has not allowed a run in eight straight outings.

The Shorebirds and Suns play game two of the series on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.