Appeals Court: Military Can Reinstate Ban On Gays — For Now

9th Circuit ruling throws 'don't ask, don't tell' battle into further disarray

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that the Pentagon may temporarily reinstate a ban on openly gay men and women in uniform while a challenge to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy continues working its way through the judicial system.

The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco added to the disarray surrounding a landmark legal battle that already has forced the U.S. military to welcome openly gay recruits for the first time.

The panel instructed lawyers for the gay rights group that brought the lawsuit challenging the policy to file arguments in response to its ruling by Monday.

GO HERE to read more.

SBYNews Candidate Interview With Marty Pusey

Sby News Interview Marty Pusey from Jack Powell on Vimeo.

Mayor Announces Salisbury’s Police Chief

Mrs. Barbara Duncan will be relocating from Yonkers, NY where she served as Chief of Police for the City of Mount Vernon Police Department since 2008. The City of Mount Vernon is the third most densely populated city in New York State. It shares a border with Bronx County in New York City.


Mrs. Duncan is qualified and motivated with skills developed over a 21 year career in law enforcement with 14 of those years in the executive leadership level.


Since 1989 she served as a police officer for the City of Mount Vernon and created and implemented a Bicycle Patrol Unit, served as patrol Sergeant with overlapping duties to Organized Crime/ Internal Affairs.

Mrs. Duncan was instrumental in creating the Citizen Police Academy. She created a physical fitness component for the Probationary Police Officer in-house training segment. She also restructured and enhanced the department’s firearms training program by transitioning from static line firing to reality-based training. In 2003 she started out as Sergeant and then as Lieutenant and Executive Officer of the Support Services Division which included the oversight and management of all records, budget development, resources procurement, zoning, evidence, prisoner processing, animal shelter management, taxi regulations and physical plant maintenance. Just prior to becoming Chief of Police Mrs. Duncan was Captain and Commanding Officer of the Special Operations Division which included the administration of Internal Affairs and Community Outreach.


Mrs. Duncan has a vested interest in the Delmarva Peninsula because her siblings reside in Berlin, Maryland and Dover, Delaware where Mrs. Duncan grew up. She spent her young adult years in Ocean City, Maryland and looks forward to returning to the area to raise her young family.

Graduating with honors from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY, Mrs. Duncan obtained a Degree in Criminal Justice in 1988. In 1996 Mrs. Duncan graduated from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, NY with a Juris Doctorate.

"I am confident that with Chief Duncan, the Safe Streets Coalition, the Crime Task Force, the Neighborhood Associations, and the Safe Streets Legislative Package, we can continue to lower the crime rate and move forward together." Mayor Ireton said.

Don't Miss Our 6 PM Interview With Marty Pusey

Wicomico Neighborhood Congress - Wicomico County Council Forum

The Forum, held on October 18, will be rebroadcast on PAC 14 as follows:

Friday (Oct. 22) - 9:59 AM & 7:09 PM
Saturday (Oct. 23) - 8:12 PM

The program runs about 1 hour and 50 minutes and features the candidates
in the truly contested races, namely:

At Large (2 seats): 

        Republican - Bob Culver & Matt Holloway
        Democrat - Dave Cowall & Edward Taylor    

District One: 

        Republican - David Goslee
        Democrat - Sheree Sample-Hughes

District Four: 

        Republican - Bob Caldwell
        Democrat - David MacLeod 

Barbara Duncan Is Your New Police Chief Starting November 15, 2010

Mayor Ireton introduce Barbara Duncan as the new Police Chief of the Salisbury Police Department in a formal press conference today.

Mrs. Duncan was present with her Family and pretty much every department head within the City of Salisbury was also present. Only Councilwomen Debbie Campbell and Terry Cohen attended this momentous occasion.

Mrs. Duncan was the Police Chief in Mt. Vernon, New York and resided in Yonkers, New York. I'm sure a formal press release will soon follow to provide everyone with her formal background, (which is quite impressive).

Acting Chief Barkley assured the citizens of Salisbury, "I'm not leaving you, I'm not going anywhere." He congratulated the new Police Chief and looks forward to working with her. Mrs. Duncan had very nice things to say about Ivan and Mayor Ireton stated the vacancy had remained open for long enough.

One thing I can also inform you of, and it's official. Mayor Ireton NEVER intended to place Ivan Barkley in the running for Chief of Police. That's a fact, Folks.

KENDEL EHRLICH IN WEST OCEAN CITY TODAY

WHO: The Marty Pusey for Delegate Campaign

WHAT: Shrimp Feast Fundraiser for Marty Pusey’s Campaign

Guests include: Former First Lady Kendel Ehrlich, State Senator Lowell Stoltzfus and Former Delegate Carmen Amedori

WHERE: Trader Lee’s

Intersection of Route 50 and Route 611

West Ocean City, Maryland

WHEN: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

WHY: Former First Lady, Kendel Ehrlich, will be attending Marty Pusey’s fundraiser this evening to support Pusey’s bid for the Maryland House of Delegates. Mrs. Ehrlich is expected to be arriving at 6:30 pm. She will be introduced by Senator Lowell Stoltzfus. Candidate introductions will begin at about 7:30 pm. We hope you will join us for this exciting time as we begin to make history. The shrimp feast will include a live band. If you have questions, please contact Carmen Amedori at cmamedori@gmail.com or 443-340-8973.

Netanyahu: Hamas Anti-aircraft Missiles Restricting Israeli Air Ops

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas has obtained air defense systems that are hindering Israel Air Force operations. In the first such acknowledgement, Netanyahu said Hamas has acquired advanced surface-to-air missiles that prevented Israeli Air Force operations over the Gaza Strip.

In an address to his Likud Party on Oct. 18, Netanyahu outlined the Hamas military threat to Israel. The prime minister said Hamas' new SAMs, which he did not identify, have been deployed around the Gaza Strip.

Over the last month, Egypt was said to have captured at least two shipments of SAMs destined for the Gaza Strip. The SAMs were believed to have been Iranian variants of the Russian-origin SA-14 shoulder-fired, short-range SAM.

Netanyahu said Hamas has also acquired long-range surface-to-surface missiles and rockets. He said these weapons could strike Israeli cities as well as Ben-Gurion International Airport.

More

NASA Head’s Visit To China Makes Republican Lawmakers Uneasy

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden is in China this week, on a five-day visit that has drawn opposition from some Republican members of Congress unhappy about the prospect of U.S.-Chinese cooperation in space.

U.S. and Chinese leaders agreed late last year that Bolden and his Chinese counterpart should pay reciprocal visits during 2010.

In Beijing last November, President Obama and President Hu Jintao, in a joint communiqué, called for “expanding discussions on space science cooperation and starting a dialogue on human space flight and space exploration, based on the principles of transparency, reciprocity and mutual benefit.”

In one of the only Chinese media reports to appear ahead of Bolden’s visit, the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times quoted a Chinese astronautics specialist as saying areas of bilateral cooperation could include GPS data-sharing, environmental protection and climate monitoring.

On the eve of the trip, four GOP lawmakers asked Bolden to brief Congress when he returns.

“As you know, we have serious concerns about the nature and goals of China’s space program and strongly oppose any cooperation between NASA and China,” the four wrote in a letter. “In light of the short notice and scant information provided before your departure to China, we respectfully request a full briefing with you upon your return.”

Apart from details on subjects to be discussed and facilities visited, the members of Congress stressed that they wanted Bolden’s “personal assurance that at no time during your trip there were any discussions of cooperation on human space flight activities.”

In an exchange of letters earlier this month, US Rep. Frank Wolf (VA) told Bolden, “It should go without saying that NASA has no business cooperating with the Chinese regime on human spaceflight. China is taking an increasingly aggressive posture globally, and their interests rarely intersect with ours.”

“I need not remind you that no such planning or coordination has been approved by the Congress,” added the Virginia lawmaker, who stands in line to become the chairman of the Commerce, Justice and Science subcommittee should the Republicans win control of the House in next month’s election.

A 2009 Pentagon report to Congress on Chinese military power said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was acquiring technologies to improve its space-based “Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance” – elements that were important in winning modern wars.

“China is developing the ability to attack an adversary’s space assets,” the report said.

More here

The Tax Man

WBAL-TV QUESTIONS MONEY SPENT DURING EHRLICH'S '06 CAMPAIGN

Baltimore, MD (October 20, 2010) -- In case you missed it, Jayne Miller of WBAL-TV reported last night that former Governor Bob Ehrlich may have illegally contracted to bus in paid out-of-state workers, many of them African-American and homeless, in an attempt to improperly influence the 2006 election.

Asked about the more than $300,000 in payments to Allied Berton LLC, Ehrlich answered that he didn't recall the payments.  His campaign did not respond to a request for an explanation of those payments.  Asked if he would engage in such activities again, Ehrlich refused to answer the question, replying only that "Democrats do it all the time."

Watch the story here.

This is not the first time reporters have questioned Ehrlich's apparent attempts to deceive and mislead African-American voters.  In 2006, the Washington Post ran a series of stories on this very issue.  Ehrlich has refused to provide information about his campaign's activities and, perhaps more alarmingly, has refused to rule out using similar tactics this year.

Mayor To Announce Police Chief

Today, Wednesday, October 20th at 1:15 p.m. in front of the Police Station Mayor James Ireton, Jr. will announce the Police Chief for the City of Salisbury.

In the event of rain, we will move the press conference indoors to the first floor conference room at the Salisbury Police Station.

Unions Desperate For A Tax-Paid Pension Bailout

When it comes to accounting, the devil is in the details. A new Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) rule taking effect in December requires greater transparency for union pension plans and threatens to bankrupt organized labor.

In order to survive, unions need a bailout and fast. This presents a political problem -- if unions go bankrupt, so do Democrats. Eleven of the top 20 largest political contributors are labor unions, and nearly all of that money is spent campaigning against Republicans.

By bailing out unions, Democrats are bailing out themselves.

Unions have known for years that their multiemployer pension plans have unfunded liabilities that could run hundreds of billions of dollars.

That's why unions have been loath to accurately report their pension liabilities -- requiring transparency could devastate whole industries as banks and creditors will likely refuse to lend money to companies on the hook for such outrageous pension obligations.

Fortunately for them, it's much cheaper for unions to buy the White House and Congress than to fund their pensions properly. Even by their normally profligate standards, unions went for broke in 2008, spending $400 million electing Democrats. In 2010, "Democrats are relying more than ever this year on another outside force to help even the playing field: organized labor," reports the New York Times.

Despite being beholden, Democrats have been unable to enact the two laws unions most desire.

Democrats pushed hard but unsuccessfully for Card Check. That legislation would remove the secret ballot in union elections. By making union votes public, labor organizers would know who to target and intimidate in order to pressure them to change their vote.

With new unions, they could use mandatory binding arbitration to force additional businesses to infuse cash into their failing multiemployer pension plans.

The other piece of legislation is, not surprisingly, a bailout bill offered by Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and co-sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill. (A similar piece of legislation is being offered in the House by Rep. Earl Pomery, D-N.D.) The bill would make failing union pension plans fully backed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., a government-sponsored entity.

In the plain language of the bill, "obligations of the corporation which are financed by the fund created by this subsection shall be obligations of the United States." It creates a fund that these pension plans will be able to go to that will be filled by taxpayer funds as needed through the normal appropriations process.

In this sense, Casey's bill is an entitlement for the 7 percent of Americans still in labor unions. There is literally no dollar figure in the bill, but the PBGC had a deficit of $21 billion last year and it's estimated that shoring up failing union pension plans could cost taxpayers another $165 billion.


Read more at the Washington Examiner

Today's Survey Question

Do You Believe Mayor Ireton Should Have Replaced Chief Ivan Barkley?

Officers Denied Immunity For Strip-Searching Protesters

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has denied police officers immunity from a lawsuit alleging they violated the rights of two young women who were arrested, put in leg irons and strip-searched for conducting a pro-life demonstration.

As WND reported, Angela Swagler and Elizabeth Walsh were among 18 demonstrators arrested on Aug. 1, 2008, charged with loitering and other minor crimes for standing along a roadside in Harford County, Maryland, bearing pro-life T-shirts and signs, some of which showed pictures of aborted fetuses.

Though all charges were later dropped against the demonstrators, they allege officials cast the pro-life participants – two of whom were teenage girls – in leg irons, denied them permission to call parents until after midnight, conducted non-private "sexually invasive" strip-searches and jailed them until the next day.

Furthermore, the case contends, the demonstrators were not arrested for lawful reasons, but because of the content of their signs, a violation of First Amendment free speech rights.

"The state shouldn't persecute Christians for expressing their beliefs on important social issues, nor deny them their constitutional rights," said Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot of the Alliance Defense Fund, which is representing the women. "This incident paints an ugly picture of the state of religious freedom and free speech in America today."

More here

30% See No Point In Contacting Their Senator Or Congressman

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe it isn't worth the effort trying to contact their senator or congressman, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

Fifty-six percent (56%) disagree and think it is worth the effort, while 14% more aren't sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
 
But then only 28% of voters think most members of Congress care what their constituents think. Fifty-one percent (51%) say most congressmen don't care what the voters at home think, and another 22% are not sure. Still, that's an improvement from mid-August when 60% said most members of Congress don't care.
 
No wonder that just 23% of voters think the federal government today has the consent of the governed.

More here

Maryland Environment Endorses Martin O'Malley

Barbara Duncan To Be Named Salisbury Police Chief Today

Well, Mayor Ireton and the City Council have gone and done it. The next Police Chief will be Barbara Duncan from New York. A Press Conference will be held today at 12:30 to formally announce her being hired. Unfortunately I will be in candidate interviews and I will not be able to attend.

Senators Seek Data On Secret U.S.-Russia Missile Talks

Six Republican senators have asked Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to provide documents on secret talks between U.S. and Russian officials on missile defenses, amid conflicting reports that a deal with Moscow is close to completion.

"We are writing to request information pertaining to press reports suggesting the imminent conclusion of a missile defense agreement between Russia and the United States," the senators stated in the letter sent Monday.

The senators asked Mrs. Clinton to turn over for review documents and transcripts of talks at the Arms Control and International Security Working Group headed by Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.

The group of senators, led by Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican, suggested in the letter that a failure to provide the documents could affect the upcoming Senate debate on the ratification of the New START, the strategic arms treaty with Russia signed in April.

"Senators must be assured that these talks and potential missile defense agreements will not limit U.S. and allied missile defense development and deployment in any fashion whatsoever," they stated.More

U.S. Does Not Have ‘Effective Control’ Of 1,081 Miles Of The U.S.-Mexico Border

The U.S. government does not have “effective control” of 1,081 miles of the 1,954-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for securing the border.

“Border miles under effective control” is a metric DHS uses in its annual performance reports to measure the performance of the Border Patrol.

As defined by DHS, a mile of the border is under the “effective control” of the U.S. government “when the appropriate mix of personnel, equipment, technology and tactical infrastructure has been deployed to reasonably ensure that when an attempted illegal entry is detected, the Border Patrol has the ability to identify, classify and respond to bring the attempted illegal entry to a satisfactory law enforcement resolution.”

Simply put, a border mile under “effective control” is a place on the border where the U.S. government can be reasonably expected to intercept an illegal crosser.

The Border Patrol, a division of CBP, is responsible for securing a total of 8,607 miles of the U.S. border. This includes all 1,954 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, approximately 4,000 miles of the U.S.-Canada border, plus sectors of coastline in the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

As of Sept. 30 (the end of fiscal year 2010), the Border Patrol had established “effective control” over 1,107 miles of the 8,607 miles it is responsible for securing, a CPB spokesperson told CNSNews.com on Monday.

Of these 1,107 miles that are now under “effective control,” 69 miles are on the U.S.-Canada border, 165 miles are in the coastal sectors covered by the Border Patrol, and 873 are on the U.S.-Mexico border.

That means the U.S. government does not have “effective control” over 1,081 miles of the 1,954-mile-long U.S.-Mexico border.More on this story here

Midterms 'Tipping Point' Election To Stop Socialism

Republican congressional candidate Allen West tells Newsmax that the nation is nearing a “tipping point” toward socialism when more than half of all Americans are dependent on the government for financial support.

The retired Army lieutenant colonel also says the Democrats and his opponent Ron Klein committed a “despicable act” by sending West’s Social Security number to tens of thousands of people, vows to work to defund Obamacare if he is elected, and scoffs at a report that he is associated with the Outlaws motorcycle gang.

NBC’s Lisa Myers recently filed a report suggesting that West is associated with the Outlaws, which has a history of criminal activity, and said that association has cost West support in Florida’s law enforcement community.

West comments: “Her report is based on the fact that I ride a motorcycle and someone asked me about associating with the Outlaws gang, which I have no association with.

“What Lisa Myers needs to understand is I do have the endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police, and I don’t think there’s any problem as far as my relationship with law enforcement.”

West is running against two-term Democratic Rep. Ron Klein in Florida’s 22nd congressional district, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. West served more than 20 years in the Army with postings in several combat zones, including Iraq and Afghanistan. He has received military awards including the Bronze Star, and holds two Masters Degrees.

West has said the 2010 elections are crucial to halting the growth of the public sector in spending and employment, noting that 47 percent of American households already pay no income taxes.

“Right now we are at a tipping point, a decisive point, and I think that‘s what makes the 2010 election cycle so important,” he says.

“Because if we get to the point in the United States where there are a majority of people that are wedded to the government by subsistence check or by employment check — public sector outpaces private sector two to one in compensation — if the government grows and has more Americans tied to it, then as Margaret Thatcher said, socialism works very well until you run out of other people’s money. And that is truly the tipping point we are at.”

More here

U.S. Military Open To Gays After Judge Affirms Order

The military is accepting openly gay recruits for the first time in U.S. history after the federal judge who overturned the 17-year policy last week rejected the government's latest effort, but an appeal is in the works.

GO HERE to read more.

Pelosi Expected To Run Again For Speaker If Dems Control House

According to a piece in the The Hill newspaper, Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC) told a local North Carolina TV station that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will not seek another term as Speaker: "From what we're hearing, she's probably not going to run for Speaker again," he said.

McIntyre then pledged to vote for somebody who would oppose Pelosi, "I'm confident she's going to have opposition," he said, "and I look forward to supporting that opposition."

GO HERE to read more.

OCPD UNDERCOVER OFFICER HONORED BY ELKS WITH CAMARENA AWARD

The Maryland, Delaware and District of Columbia Elks Regional Association recently honored Ocean City Police Narcotics Corporal James Schwartz with the Enrique S. Camarena Award. Enrique S. Camarena was a DEA agent who lost his life during his crusade to lead Americans to drug-free communities. Each year, the Elks present the Enrique S. Camarena Award to a member of law enforcement who best exemplifies the qualities and principles for which Agent Camarena gave his life.

 

Continue reading →

Wuerl Named Cardinal

Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, 69, is the fifth Archbishop of Washington to be named a cardinal.

GO HERE to read more.

WWE Is bringing The RAW World Tour To The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center

(Salisbury, MD) The RAW Superstars are returning to Salisbury when WWE presents the RAW World Tour at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center on Sunday, November 28^th at 5:00pm.  Tickets go on sale this Friday, October 22^nd at 10:00am.  See some of your favorite RAW Superstars including John Cena; Randy Orton; Sheamus; Nexus; the Miz; the WWE Divas and more.

Ticket prices begin at $15 (additional taxes/fees may apply).  Tickets will be available at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.  Tickets can also be purchased online at http://www.wicomicociviccenter.org/ or by phone at 410.548.4911.

Voters Favor Combination Of Tax Hikes And Budget Cuts To Solve Budget Deficits

Almost half of Maryland voters favor a combination of tax hikes and budget cuts to solve the $6 billion in budget deficits the state faces in the coming four years, according to an exclusive poll done last week for MarylandReporter.com.

The voters polled by Gonzales Research prefer the combination of taxes and cuts by a wide margin over four other budget options. The least popular choices were reducing state aid to counties and tax increases by themselves. Less than 10% of survey respondents favored cutting salaries and pensions benefits to state workers as a potential budget solution, and fewer than one in five said budget cuts alone would do the trick.

The survey of 816 likely voters contacted last week also found they were evenly split over which candidate for governor is best equipped to handle the coming deficits, Democratic incumbent Martin O’Malley or Republican Bob Ehrlich, with 44% favoring each candidate.

GO HERE to read more.

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Kohls: [Intimates] Kohl's sale: Women's panties from $1 + $1 s&h, bras from $4

More »

17,000 Docs, Some Who Had Sex With Patients, Scarf Big Pharma Payola

Big pharmaceutical companies say they only pick the saintliest docs to be "their boys," getting paid into the six figures to "teach" fellow doctors about the companies' latest wunder-pills. But a major investigation into disciplinary action against these docs on the take reveals that some of them have splotchy pasts, from having sex with patients, to criminal convictions, to research misconduct and revoked licenses. The history included:

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Confessions Of Walmart Employees

Over at our former sister site Gawker.com, several Walmart employees open up about everything from the reality of "rollbacks" to the poo problem. They also share a handful of helpful tips for Walmart shoppers.

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The Real Underemployment Figure Is 22.5%

Ever get the feeling that things are a lot worse than everyone is letting on? More »

6 Nasty Things The FDA Found At Facility Behind Recalled Eggs

The FDA has released the warning letter it recently sent to Quality Egg, one of the facilities behind the massive egg recall in August. And while some things are redacted -- mostly details from Quality's plan to get back up to snuff -- the letter contains more than its fair share of stomach-churning imagery.

More »

Look Up Your Doctor In Our "Dollars For Docs" Database

We compiled data from seven companies, covering $257.8 million in payouts since 2009 for speaking, consulting and other duties. See if your doctor is in our data. Go to the database »

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE HOME INVASION IN CECIL COUNTY & MAKE ARREST

(North East, MD) – Maryland State Police make an arrest and continue the investigation into a home invasion that left one man critically injured yesterday evening.

One of the accused is a juvenile and is not being identified at this time. After consultation with a Cecil County State’s Attorney, he was released into the custody of his mother.

The second accused is identified as Amanda Joyce Coffin, 19, of the unit block of Brookside Drive in Perryville, Maryland. Coffin is being detained in Delaware as a fugitive while awaiting extradition to Maryland. Coffin is being charged with attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, burglary, first degree assault, reckless endangerment and handgun violations.

The victims are identified as Larry Crowder, 59, and Judy Heck, 60, of the unit block of West Cecil Avenue in North East, Maryland. Crowder is being treated at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma where he is listed in serious, but stable condition. Heck did not sustain significant injuries during the altercation.

The preliminary investigation indicates that Coffin and her juvenile accomplice burst through the front door of the victims’ apartment at around 7:00 p.m. yesterday evening. Police believe Coffin was wearing a mask and armed with a handgun. Officers from the North East Police Department responded initially and then later requested the assistance of the Maryland State Police for the criminal investigation.

At 7:30 p.m., criminal investigators from the North East Barrack responded to the apartment where Crowder and Heck reside. Investigators received information that revealed Crowder had emerged from the bedroom with a knife after hearing the commotion at the front door. Fearing for their lives, Crowder became engaged in a confrontation with the two teenagers in the hallway when shots were fired from Coffin’s handgun. Crowder suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and to his leg. It is believed that the two suspects may have sustained minor lacerations.

During the altercation, Coffin’s mask and some clothing were removed, enabling Crowder and Heck to obtain a physical description of both intruders. Both Coffin and her accomplice fled the scene on foot.

Based on the evidence gathered at the scene, police believed the suspects may have been injured during the altercation. Investigators immediately began checking nearby hospitals and found two individuals, matching the descriptions of Coffin and the juvenile, had been admitted for non life-threatening injuries at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Investigators responded to the hospital and positively identified the suspects. Both suspects were treated and released from the hospital, and detained by Delaware State Police.

Crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division responded and processed the scene at the apartment. Members of the North East Barracks Criminal Investigation Section responded to lead the criminal investigation.

This investigation is ongoing…

All 2010 Maryland Report Card Results On MSA, HSA, AYP And More Now Available

While there is good news to tell about Wicomico students’ progress on state assessments, as a system, the Wicomico County Public Schools did not meet the increasingly challenging state targets for improvement in 2010 and did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

The state must identify for School Improvement any school system that does not meet the Annual Measurable Objective (AMO) for two consecutive years in the same reported area for the elementary, middle and high school levels. Wicomico is in System Improvement Year 1, which will require the system to provide information to the state on how it plans to exit System Improvement status and to set aside 10 percent of its regular Title I allocation for professional development.

System AYP status was one of a number of new pieces of information, along with high school AYP and HSA (High School Assessment) results, made available on mdreportcard.org. Data for elementary and middle schools on AYP and the MSA (Maryland School Assessment) for 2010 were released last summer and were already available.

Many Wicomico schools made AYP in 2010. In elementary, schools making AYP included Northwestern Elementary, a Maryland and National Blue Ribbon School, and Beaver Run Elementary, Delmar Elementary, East Salisbury Elementary, Fruitland Intermediate, North Salisbury Elementary, Pemberton Elementary, Pinehurst Elementary, West Salisbury Elementary, Westside Primary, Westside Intermediate and Willards Elementary. At the secondary level, Mardela Middle and High and Salisbury Middle met AYP. Wicomico County was pleased this year to have Salisbury Middle make the progress needed in two consecutive years to exit School Improvement.

At the high school level, Wicomico is meeting the challenge of ensuring that no student is denied a diploma due only to not meeting the state’s HSA requirement, said Dr. John Fredericksen, Superintendent of Schools. In the two years in which students have been required to fulfill the HSA requirement to graduate, every Wicomico student who also met the other graduation requirements (for service-learning hours and credits earned), met the state HSA requirement by passing all four tests, achieving a combined score of 1602, or completing one or more approved Bridge projects.

A student who meets the HSA requirement by the 1602 combined score or Bridge projects is considered to be at Basic level on the HSA, however. That is a factor in some of the high schools not making AYP because the goal is to have all students scoring at the Proficient or Advanced levels by 2014 in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act. James M. Bennett High, Parkside High and Wicomico High all missed the state target for percentage of students at Proficient or higher in one or more subgroups. All three schools have been identified for local attention this year.

At the middle school level, the challenge to improve remains for some schools. Wicomico Middle, in year 4 as a Comprehensive Needs School, is engaged in comprehensive planning and restructuring. Bennett Middle is in Year 1 as a Developing Comprehensive Needs School. These are the only two Wicomico schools in School Improvement.

At the elementary and elementary/middle level, five schools did not make AYP and have been identified for local attention this year. Those schools are Charles H. Chipman Elementary, Fruitland Primary, Glen Avenue Elementary, Prince Street Elementary, and Pittsville Elementary and Middle.

One-third of Maryland’s school systems, including Wicomico, are in School Improvement. Statewide, 68 percent of Maryland schools met AYP this year and 32 percent did not. At the high school level, 61.3 percent met AYP and 38 percent did not. In Wicomico, 14 schools (58 percent) met AYP and 10 (42 percent) did not. Wicomico shared in the statewide trait of having difficulty ensuring that students in the Special Education subgroup score Proficient or higher. When Maryland schools did not make AYP, 79 percent of the time the schools did not make AYP for the Special Education subgroup, according to MSDE.

Statewide, the graduation rate increased and the dropout rate fell to an 11-year low. In Wicomico, the dropout rate declined for a second straight year. The graduation rate increased for the second straight year but did not increase enough to make the AMO.

Community Invited To Informational Work Session Rn Race To The Top Grant Tuesday, Oct. 26

An informational work session on Wicomico County’s Race to the Top grant plans will be held at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, in the Board of Education Auditorium for the Board of Education, elected officials, business leaders, and other community stakeholders. This will be an opportunity for the community to learn what plans the school system has developed for putting the four-year, $3.1 million Race to the Top federal grant to work for students. The Scope of Work Plan must be submitted to the Maryland State Department of Education by Nov. 3, and information must be shared with the community prior to that date. 410-677-4561.

Football Cheerleaders

You don't have to live in the U.S to know that FOOTBALL IS KING! But the game wouldn't be complete without the cheerleaders, and here are some of footballs finest:

The LSU'S Golden Girls! 


The Alabama Crimsonettes 


The   Greenbay Packer Gals

Rules To Live By

Pemberton Historical Park Offers Spooktacular Celebration October 29

(Salisbury, MD) Things are getting spooky at Pemberton Historical Park this Halloween season as they prepare for their Spooktacular Celebration on Friday, October 29^th from 7pm to 9pm.

Children and families can celebrate Halloween in a safe, family-friendly environment offering crafts, pumpkin decorating contests, face painting, costume contests and more.  Those interested in a little more spooky fun can enjoy listening to Eastern Shore folk tales and seeing some of the parks live reptiles.  Bring your already carved pumpkin to the Spooktacular Celebration and inter it into a competition for a chance to win fun prizes. 

The Spooktacular Celebration is geared towards children ages six to twelve years old.  The Celebration is $7 per person or $20 for a family of four.  Friends of Pemberton Park receive a discounted price of $5 per person or $15 for a family of four.  Advanced registration is requested. 

For more information or to register please contact Kerri Liming at (410)860-2447 or email pembertonpark@wicomicocounty.org.   Pemberton Historical Park is located at 5561 Plantation Lane in Salisbury, MD. 

Being Elderly

An elderly gentleman...
Had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%
The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again."
The gentleman replied, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet.
I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!" 

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: "Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"
Slim says, "I feel just like a newborn baby."
"Really!? Like a newborn baby!?"
"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants." 

An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen.
The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly."
The other man said, "What is the name of the restaurant?"
The first man thought and thought and finally said, "What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love?
You know... The one that's red and has thorns."
"Do you mean a rose?"
"Yes, that's the one," replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?" 

Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he! Didn't need my help to leave the hospital.
After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator.
On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him.
"I don't know," he said. "She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown." 
A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy:
"So I hear you're getting married?"
"Yep!"
"Do I know her?"
"Nope!"
"This woman, is she good looking?"
"Not really."
"Is she a good cook?"
"Naw, she can't cook too well."
"Does she have lots of money?"
"Nope! Poor as a church mouse."
"Well, then, is she good in bed?"
"I don't know."
"Why in the world do you want to marry her then?"
"Because she can still drive!" 

Three old guys are out walking.
First one says, "Windy, isn't it?"
Second one says, "No, it's Thursday!"
Third one says, "So am I. Let's go get a beer." 
A man was telling his neighbor, "I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art. It's perfect."
"Really," answered the neighbor . "What kind is it?"
"Twelve thirty." 

Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical.
A few days later, the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm.
A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to Morris and said, "You're really doing great, aren't you?"
Morris replied, "Just doing what you said, Doc: 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.'"
The doctor said, "I didn't say that. I said, 'You've got a heart murmur; be careful." 

One more. ! 
  A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool. After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split.
The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?"
"No," he replied, "Arthritis."

A New Slant

One 82-year-old lady loves Obama and she may have a very good point. She says that Obama is amazing, and is rebuilding the American dream! She gives us an entirely new slant on the "amazing" job Obama is doing, and she says that she will thank God for the President. Keep reading for her additional comments and an explanation.

When discussing Obama, she says:

1. Obama destroyed the Clinton Political Machine, driving a stake through the heart of Hillary's presidential aspirations - something no Republican was ever able to do.

2. Obama killed off the Kennedy Dynasty - no more Kennedys trolling Washington looking for booze and women wanting rides home.

3. Obama is destroying the Democratic Party before our eyes! Dennis Moore had never lost a race. Evan Bayh had never lost a race. Byron Dorgan had never lost a race. Harry Reid - soon to be GONE! These are just a handful of the Democrats whose political careers Obama has destroyed. By the end of 2010, dozens more will be gone. Just think, in December of 2008 the Democrats were on the rise. In the last two election cycles, they had picked up 14 Senate seats and 52 House seats. The press was touting the death of the Conservative Movement and the Republican Party. However, in just one year, Obama put a stop to all of this and will probably give the House - if not the Senate - back to the Republicans.

4. Obama has completely exposed liberals and progressives for what they are. Sadly, every generation seems to need to re-learn the lesson on why they should never actually put liberals in charge. Obama is bringing home the lesson very well:

Liberals tax, borrow and spend.
Liberals won't bring themselves to protect America.
Liberals want to take over the economy.
Liberals think they know what is best for everyone.
Liberals are not happy until they are running YOUR life.

5. Obama has brought more Americans back to conservatism than anyone since Reagan. In one year, he has rejuvenated the Conservative Movement and brought out to the streets millions of freedom loving Americans. Name one other time when you saw your friends and neighbors this interested in taking back America!

6. Obama, with his "amazing leadership," has sparked the greatest period of sales of firearms and ammunition this country has seen. Law abiding citizens have rallied and have provided a "stimulus" to the sporting goods field while other industries have failed, faded, or moved off-shore.

7. In all honesty, one year ago I was more afraid than I have been in my life. Not afraid of the economy, but afraid of the direction our country was going. I thought, Americans have forgotten what this country is all about. My neighbors and friends, even strangers, have proved to me that my lack of confidence in the greatness and wisdom of the American people has been flat wrong.

8. When the American people wake up, no smooth talking teleprompter reader can fool them! Barack Obama has served to wake up these great Americans!

Again, I want to say: "Thank you, Barack Obama!" After all, this is exactly the kind of hope and change we desperately needed!!

November 2nd is HUGE!!!!

FIRST LADY KATIE O'MALLEY TO HONOR 10 LEGENDARY LADIES

First Lady to Join Maryland Life Magazine and the Maryland Women's Heritage Center in Honoring 10 Women who have changed the face of Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD – First Lady Katie O’Malley today will join Maryland Life magazine and the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center in honoring ten women who have changed the face of Maryland, at the Heritage Center’s annual “10 Legendary Ladies” recognition ceremony.
 
The Maryland Heritage Center is the first comprehensive state-based center and museum of its kind in the nation.  The mission of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center is to preserve the past, understand the present, and shape the future by recognizing, respecting, and transmitting the experiences and contributions of Maryland women and girls of diverse backgrounds and regions.

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY CONTINUES “JOBS ACROSS MARYLAND” TOUR, TOURS MEDIMMUNE’S HEADQUARTERS, RESEARCH LABS

ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 19, 2010) – Continuing his “Jobs Across Maryland” tour today, Governor Martin O’Malley joined MedImmune executives on a tour of the Gaithersburg-based biopharmaceutical company’s research labs and global headquarters.  The company is in the process of expanding its research and development facilities to support a growing portfolio of new drug candidates.  MedImmune has been consistently expanding its presence in Maryland since the company’s founding in 1988, and anticipates hiring hundreds more new employees in the State over the next year.  MedImmune, which became the biologics unit of AstraZeneca in 2007, also has a manufacturing facility in Frederick and has 3,500 employees worldwide.

“MedImmune’s commitment to invest and expand in Maryland reaffirms the State’s position as one of the world’s leading locations for biotechnology innovation,” said Governor O’Malley. “Building on our BioMaryland 2020 initiative, Maryland continues to foster a supportive environment for innovative biotech companies like MedImmune and hundreds of others to ensure that we are well positioned for tomorrow’s economy. The important work that MedImmune is doing right here in Maryland is making important advancements against diseases impacting millions around the globe.” 

“MedImmune is proud of our long history of innovation and growth in the biotechnology arena, which has contributed positively over the years to Maryland’s economy,” said William C. (“Bill”) Bertrand, Jr., MedImmune’s Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel, and Corporate Compliance Officer.   “Maryland is a great place to call home for our business and our employees, who commit themselves every day to helping improve the lives of patients with unmet medical needs.”    

MedImmune is known as a company of firsts, with a number of significant accomplishments in the field of biotechnology, including the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA for an infectious disease, and the first innovation in flu vaccine delivery technology in 50 years in the form of a nasal spray.

In 2009, Governor O’Malley launched BioMaryland 2020, a 10-year, $1.3 billion strategy for moving Maryland’s bioscience industry forward. To date, more than $100 million has been spent, or approved for spending, on BioMaryland initiatives, not including $70 million in science and technology related infrastructure at the State’s universities and community colleges. One of the first key deliverables was the launch in September 2009 of the Maryland Biotechnology Center. Home to nearly 500 bioscience companies and 50 research-intense federal institutes and centers, Maryland is well positioned in the global bioscience industry and has been recognized by the Milken Institute as one of the top tier states highly specialized in overall bioscience development. Since the early 1990s, Maryland has focused on bioscience development and was one of the first states to develop a strategic plan for the industry.

In the past year, the O’Malley-Brown Administration has implemented an aggressive agenda of new and expanded programs to create jobs, retain jobs and improve the conditions that allow businesses large and small to create and save jobs, including: 

·         Increasing the biotech tax credit to $8 million in fiscal year 2011;

·         Pioneering the Jobs Creation and Recovery Tax Credit;

·         Expanding the Small Business Loan Guaranty program to increase access to credit; and

·         Creating InvestMaryland, an administrative and legislative proposal designed to support the growth of the state’s knowledge based industries by stimulating investment in the Maryland Venture Fund. 

2 Weeks - Let's Take Back The House

This campaign is based on the simple goal of defeating an incumbent Congressman who forgot the reason he was sent to Washington.  When I started my 2010 campaign, many people said Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama’s support for Frank Kratovil made him unbeatable. But I held strong to my belief that Washington D.C. is broken and that we need someone to step up and do their part to change things.

We've come a long way since those early days, and now we finally have the chance to cast our vote and break up the team we have in Washington.  We're now two weeks away from Election Day – and I need you to stand with me in this fight.

As I travel around the District, it's clear our campaign has the momentum and enthusiasm to win this election.  To keep this momentum going, it's vitally important you stand with me and do your part for this campaign.  Below, you will find the three things you can do right now to help the campaign.
My opponent has grown desperate.  He and his Democrat friends are spending millions of dollars to attack me.  Despite these phony attacks, Frank Kratovil knows that he can't run away from his record of lost jobs and a stalled economy.

Our campaign has been endorsed by several prominent organizations – Vets for Freedom, The Trust in Small Business, Gun Owners of America, Associated Gun Clubs and many of Maryland’s leaders.  You can view all of my endorsements on my campaign website.

I've always maintained that this campaign is not about me, it’s about the people of Maryland’s First District.  Now is your chance to stand with me – let's send a new team to Washington and get our country back on track!

Thank you for your support.

Andy Harris, M.D.

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR STEP FORWARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley today will announce a major step forward regarding public safety following the Board of Public Works meeting.  The Governor will join legislative leaders, and other public safety officials at Lee Airport.