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Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Man Washed Ashore Today

Paul Collins from Seaford, Delaware washed ashore today in Phillips Landing. Mr.Collins has been missing since before Halloween. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

Official Press Release To Follow....

Breaking News

There are several emergency trucks at the Main Street waste water treatment plant along with Station 16 hazmat tractor trailer. We have heard it may be a chlorine leak.

More to Come....

Two people are having difficultly breathing and are being decontaminated at PRMC. Chlorine is a very toxic gas, the Fire Department is assessing the situation and we will update you as soon as we receive more information.

UPDATE: Just heard med report. PRMC was not ready. They had no idea what was coming. They should have been setting up their decon system.

They are now stopping traffic around PRMC.

Please Let Sarah Foxwell R.I.P.


Mr.Albero,

I writing you regarding an issue that is deeply bothering me. I am a family member of Sarah Foxwell and I have just come to learn that there is an event in her name this Saturday at the Powellville VFW. The problem I am having is that the event is from 8pm to midnight, with alcohol and a rock band,and of all things it is called Sarah Foxwell "Kick Off" Event. Sarah was an 11 year old girl and how on earth is this a benefit to her. Who gives these people permission to use her name in this way.

I will add this as well. I have come to learn that some family members are planning a Candle Light Vigil very near Christmas Day. I am appalled that we would ask this community to live this tragedy over again especially at Christmas time. Enough is Enough!! I know everyone in this community will be thinking of her and how we lost our "Christmas Angel". I will not be attending either event. My mourning will be done in private.

I would like to take this moment to say Thank You to everyone who searched and prayed for Sarah. I would also like to Thank You Joe for your work in Annapolis. You helped to make sure that our children are better protected in the future.

I will close with this, I wish everyone a Safe and Merry Christmas.

Signed,
Missing You "Haleybug"

Natural Born Citizen

In an Auburn University classroom, they were discussing the qualifications to be President of the United States. It was pretty simple — the candidate must
be a natural born citizen of at least 35 years of age.

However, one girl in the class immediately started in on how unfair was the requirement to be a natural born citizen. In short, her opinion was that this requirement prevented many capable individuals from becoming president.

The class was taking it in and letting her rant, but everyone’s jaw hit the floor when she wrapped up her argument by stating,‘What makes a natural born citizen any more qualified to lead this country than one born by C-section?

Yep, these are the same 18 year olds that just elected the new President of the United States!!?

WBOC Delivers Powerful Story


Salisbury Homeless Upset Over Collection of Belongings

On Saturday night, Salisbury police officers were ordered to collect the items stored under a city bridge, something they mayor says they do a few times every year. Many of the items collected, and allegedly thrown away, were blankets donated by the church that hosted the men over Thanksgiving. There are accusations that police officers took the belongings and chucked them into a dumpster. As WBOC's Lisa Bryant reports, city leaders deny that.

GO HERE TO VIEW VIDEO.

Salvation Army Volunteer Gives A Bonus Package


Last night if you were lucky enough to visit Sam's Club, this Volunteer was playing an instrument and people were coming out stopping dead in their tracks to listen. This guy was good!

If you're interested in volunteering, please call 410-749-7464 and see what they have available to fit your wants and needs. Together we can make an unbelievable difference here on the Eastern Shore. Thank You!

Agenda 21 And Carroll County Maryland

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/10/un_agenda_21_coming_to_a_neigh.html

The author describes buzz words like "smart growth", "sustainable growth", etc as disguises for Agenda 21 of the United Nations. Local officials (like Bubba?) have "bought into the ideas" given them by their local brotherhood branches. There is a massive conspiracy against the people of the United States and its roots are in small towns and cities brotherhood meeting rooms like the PNC building downtown.

Brew River Special

Pentagon Report On 'Gays' Rigged?

'This is a profoundly radical experiment with the military'

WASHINGTON
– Critics are charging that the Pentagon report on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was rigged to come to conclusions preordained by the Obama administration, which promised to lift the policy in order to attract homosexual supporters during the 2008 presidential campaign.

"That was the mandate that was given to the Department of Defense, to make that outcome occur," said retired Army Col. Dick Black.

"Can we trust the government under Obama to have asked fair questions? Not a chance," said Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. "It was a fait accompli if there ever was one. The whole project was stacked in favor of Obama's agenda. It was not a matter of 'if,' but 'how' the change should go forward. I wouldn't call the numbers trustworthy."

The "Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Issues Associated with a Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" is based on extensive surveys of U.S. troops.

"One hundred forty-five thousand people in uniform answered the questionnaire, and tens of thousands were reached in other ways," said Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at a Pentagon news conference yesterday.

MORE

Santa's Workshop At NSCC

The City of Salisbury Neighborhood Services & Code Compliance staff will be hosting the 5th Annual Santa’s Workshop on
Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 7pm
Santa will be handing out gifts to children living
in the Doverdale/Church St. neighborhoods.
We are asking for toy donations for children ranging in age from newborn to 12 years old. Monetary donations will also be accepted and will be used to supply refreshments and gifts for the children.
Donations may be dropped off at the NSCC facility located at
501B E.Church Street. All donations must be received no later than Friday December 10, 2010.
If you have questions or would like to get more information please feel free to contact us @ (410) 341-9550
Thank you for your support!
Happy Holidays

Coming: Gov't By Regulation Instead Of Law

Republicans are assuming that cap-and-trade (aka cap-and-tax) is dead because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid lacks the votes to bring up the House-passed bill and because this issue proved a loser in the 2010 House races. Like the famous Mark Twain saying, its death may be exaggerated.

The Senate's environmentalism expert, Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., warns us that the Obama administration is trying to implement cap-and-trade anyway by bureaucratic regulations. Directives issued by the Environmental Protection Agency are coming down the pike to increase energy costs and kill jobs.

Last May, the EPA issued what it called a tailoring rule to govern new power plants, oil refineries and factories that yearly emit 100,000 tons or more of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons or sulfur hexafluoride. Inhofe reports that this tailoring rule will further reduce our manufacturing base and especially hurt the poor and elderly.

Inhofe predicts that the EPA standards planned for commercial and industrial boilers will cost 798,000 jobs. He also warns about the harmful effects on jobs caused by new rules on ozone emissions.

Since Barack Obama moved into the White House, the EPA has proposed or finalized 29 major regulations and 172 major policy rules. The EPA is, for the first time, simultaneously toughening the regulations on all six major traditional pollutants such as ozone and sulfur dioxide.

Before Climate-gate exposed the politics behind the "science" of global warming, a 5-to-4 Supreme Court ordered the EPA to consider regulating emissions based on that unsubstantiated and now largely discredited theory.

Despite a long record of supporting Obama stimulus and spending legislation, the expected chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., says, "We are not going to allow this administration to regulate what they have been unable to legislate."

Opposition to EPA's new rules is remarkably bipartisan. Seventeen Democrats signed a letter to EPA Director Lisa Jackson opposing them.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was elected after running a TV ad showing himself firing a rifle to put a bullet through a copy of the cap-and-trade bill, and he promised to fight EPA attempts to curb greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. He may have a difficult task because Jackson is plotting to force mass retirements of the coal plants that provide half of U.S. electricity.

More here

Gen Y Puts Brakes On Car Ownership - Looks To Public Transit

Wilmington -- The American youth-driven obsession with cars goes way back to well before rebels were without causes. And it has transmogrified over the years from muscle cars to vans to the import-craze that has fueled franchises like Hot Import Nights and the rise of drifting in the U.S. But a new survey suggests the engine could be stalling out.

A study by Washington, D.C.-based KRC Research -- commissioned by car-rental company Zipcar -- says half of all 18- to-34-year-old drivers are driving less, and nearly two-thirds would drive less if alternative transportation options were available.

KRC Research, which conducted the survey of licensed drivers last month, found that 45% of Millennials said they had "consciously made an effort to reduce how much they drive," and 64% said they would drive less if alternative options including public transportation, car sharing or carpooling were available in their area.

Cost of ownership was the biggest reason respondents gave for wanting to give up wheels. Eighty percent of the Millennial respondents said ownership is unattractive because of car payments, gas, parking and maintenance.

The study -- based on a pool of 1,025 adults age 18 and over, of which 966 were licensed drivers -- said social media are responsible for less driving by 18- to-34-year-olds because they are visiting friends virtually. Fifty-four percent of respondents said they choose to spend time online in social networks with friends instead of driving to see them, versus 46% for 35- to-44-year-olds, 34% for 45- to-55-year-olds, and 18% for 55-year-olds and older.

The study also found that Millennials are more likely than other age groups to be influenced in their driving habits by environmental concerns around global warming and pollution. Forty-five percent of respondents said as much versus 39% of 35- to-44-year-olds and 37% of 45- to-54-year-olds. The study found that paradoxically, 42% of over-55-year-olds said they would drive less to protect the environment.

The study found other hurdles for new car ownership by Gen Y. About 37% of 18- to-29-year-olds have been unemployed or underemployed lately -- the highest share of that age group with that status in three decades. Only 58% pay bills on time each month, 70% of them are not building up their savings, and nearly half are digging themselves into a credit hole, starting with a $23,000 post-college student debt. Only 61% said they were covered by any kind of health plan.

Fruitland Christmas Lighting Event Last Night


The line to see Santa stretched across the parking lot.

Superintendent Of Schools Dr. John E. Fredericksen Part Of U.S. Education Delegation To China

Wicomico County Superintendent of Schools Dr. John E. Fredericksen will be part of a Dec. 2-10 U.S. education delegation to China with the goal of expanding student access to world language instruction.

The planning for this trip involved Maryland Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick, Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Betty Morgan, University of Maryland College of Education Dean Dr. Donna Wiseman, Dr. Fredericksen and other educators. The delegation includes a spectrum of world language educators and leaders of the Board of Visitors of the Confucius Institute of the University of Maryland.

Members of the delegation will explore educational exchange opportunities, share best practices, and apply for Maryland to secure Chinese language/culture classroom teachers and resources. One program of particular interest: China has the Confucius classroom program where China funds a teacher and equipment for American students.

During its visit to China, the delegation will be hosted by Hanban and the Confucius Institute (Chinese Language Council International Inc.). The tentative itinerary includes stops at Hanban and the Confucius Institute Headquarters, China’s Ministry of Education, and major universities, schools and education districts. Dr. Fredericksen and other delegates will travel to Beijing, Tianjin and possibly Shanghai.

“This trip will put Wicomico County and Maryland Public Schools at the forefront of making world language contacts and exploring language opportunities that will benefit our students,” Dr. Fredericksen said. “I am honored to be a part of this delegation, and will share my experiences with the Board of Education and the community when I return.”

The trip to China is being made at no cost to Wicomico County Public Schools.

Virginia Lawmaker Claims Pat-Downs Part Of 'Homosexual Agenda'

WASHINGTON - A conservative Loudoun County lawmaker says controversial airport pat-downs by the Transportation Security Administration are part of a "wide-scale homosexual agenda."

Eugene Delgaudio, a Republican representing Sterling on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, made the comments in a widely distributed e-mail sent in his capacity as president of the conservative nonprofit Public Advocate of the United States.

In the e-mail -- reported by WUSA9 -- Delgaudio also says the TSA's non-discrimination hiring policy is "the federal employee's version of the Gay Bill of Special rights."

"That means the next TSA official that gives you an enhanced pat-down could be a practicing homosexual secretly getting pleasure from your submission," he wrote.

MORE

Virginia Man Indicted For Predatory Home Loans

WASHINGTON - A former attorney has been indicted on charges he preyed on struggling Maryland and Virginia homeowners.

A Prince George's County grand jury indicted 67-year-old Howard Shmuckler of Virginia Beach on a total of 30 counts: 10 counts of aggregate theft over $500, 10 counts of conspiracy to commit theft and 10 violations of operating as a credit business without a license.

Christy Ramero, chief of staff for the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, says The Shmuckler Group promised hundreds of homeowners loan modifications, lower interest rates and lower principals for a fee. Those homeowners never received those modifications.

Ramero says victims were told they had to pay the fee upfront, ranging from $1,500 to $7,000 per person.

MORE

On Pay Raises, It's Google Or Bust

Google's recent 10 percent pay raise shows the accelerating split between knowledge work and everything else, says Chris Farrell
The split between the haves and have-nots of the workplace couldn't be more dramatic.

On Nov. 29, President Obama announced a two-year pay freeze for non-military federal workers. And on Dec. 3, the government is expected to confirm that the U.S. unemployment rate remains stuck at 9.6 percent, according to the median estimate of 57 economists surveyed by Bloomberg, which will translate to anemic pay gains. But not at Google (GOOG). The search-engine behemoth, looking to stem the defection of key workers to other hot Silicon Valley employers, announced last month that its 20,300 employees will get a 10 percent wage hike starting in 2011. (Imagine, when will the average employee feel it's a reasonable gamble to walk into the boss' office and demand a 10 percent raise or threaten to walk?) "Google has to preempt the desire for its talented employees to seek work elsewhere," says Richard Florida, director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto. "I've seen talented employees flee the previous employer of the moment for the next employer of the moment—just ask Microsoft (MSFT)."

With $33 billion in cash and a stock market capitalization of almost $180 billion, Google can afford to throw money and shares at its employees. Yet the significance of Google's across-the-board pay raise extends far beyond corporate competition. It reflects a war for brains and talent that is heating up throughout the information technology ecosystem. Web-based search engine companies, mobile Internet providers, application developers, wireless companies, and other innovative communication businesses are jockeying for position in growing, and profitable, markets. And while the implosion of housing, the bank bailouts, and the divisive politics of fiscal and monetary policy received most of the headlines since 2007, those years also marked the acceleration of the information-intensive creative economy. Google's growth and shared prosperity serve as a punctuation point. "I have been convinced for some time that we are going through a major restructuring of the economy that is much bigger than the difficult time we are going through right now," says Erik Brynjolfsson, director of the MIT Center for Digital Business.

MORE

Police Dog Disappears During Search

A Michigan State Police dog searching for a missing dementia patient has become the subject of a search himself.

Bane, a 4-year-old German shepherd, disappeared November 13, according to a website set up by his handler, Michigan State Trooper Jamie Bullis.

The two were part of a group looking for the missing man in a swamp near Alpena in northern lower Michigan when the dog's lead got tangled in brush, Bullis wrote.

"I dropped the lead to untangle him. About the time I got him free, a deer that had been bedded and was less than five yards from me jumped up and ran directly in front of Bane. Bane gave chase," Bullis wrote. "He was out of sight in about a second and I have not seen him since."

MORE

Taking A Blog Kickback? Slap A Cmp.ly On It


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- It's been exactly one year since the Federal Trade Commission implemented a new set of rules intended to crack down on bloggers who don't disclose that they've received freebies or money from brands.

How many investigations has this regulatory crusade launched so far? Two.

MORE

Interpol Puts Assange On Most-Wanted List

Interpol has put WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on its most-wanted list at the request of a Swedish court looking into alleged sex crimes from this year.

The Stockholm Criminal Court issued an international arrest warrant for Assange two weeks ago on probable cause, saying he is suspected of rape, sexual molestation and illegal use of force in August incidents.

Sweden asked Interpol, the international police organization, to post a "Red Notice" after a judge approved a motion to bring him into custody.

The "Red Notice" is not an international arrest warrant. It is an advisory and request, issued to 188 member countries "to assist the national police forces in identifying or locating those persons with a view to their arrest and extradition," according to Interpol.

MORE

Planned Job Cuts At 8-Month High

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The number of planned job cuts announced in November surged to its highest level in eight months, as companies made year-end adjustments to staff levels, according to a report Wednesday.

Employers announced plans to reduce payrolls by 48,711 jobs last month, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based outplacement firm. The figure was up 28% from October, but down 3.3% compared with November 2009.

MORE

Health Care Costs For Retirees Could Top $100,000

Even with Medicare coverage, new research finds that 65-year-olds who retire this year could need more than $100,000 to cover co-pays, premiums and other non-reimbursed medical expenses through retirement.

MORE

Rep. Conyers: Son 'Inappropriately' Used Gov't Vehicle

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, has called his son's use of his congressional vehicle over the Thanksgiving holiday "inappropriate" after the SUV was broken into and items were stolen.

The longtime congressman released the statement from Washington after news broke of his son, John Conyers III, filing a police report early Thanksgiving morning that the 2010 Cadillac Escalade registered to his dad's Detroit office had two laptops and $27,500 worth of concert tickets stolen from it. The SUV was parked at the corner of Brush and Congress.

"I am sorry it happened and will make sure that it does not happen again," Conyers said in a statement. "I will review the full circumstances of the use of this vehicle and make restitution to the Treasury for any non-official use."

A phone call to Conyers III was not returned.

Conyers, 81, who is the House Judiciary Committee chairman, did not address why his son was driving the vehicle or whether he was in town when the break-in occurred while the car was parked.

More here
[Was it 'inappropriate' before, or only after he got caught? Well, never mind. He said he was sorry. --Editor]

US Cuts Access To Files After Leak Embarrassment

The State Department severed its computer files from the government's classified network, officials said Tuesday, as U.S. and world leaders tried to clean up from the embarrassing leak that spilled America's sensitive documents onto screens around the globe.

By temporarily pulling the plug, the U.S. significantly reduced the number of government employees who can read important diplomatic messages. It was an extraordinary hunkering down, prompted by the disclosure of hundreds of thousands of those messages this week by WikiLeaks, the self-styled whistleblower organization.

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[If this follows the administration's new 'Reactive Security' paradigm, State Dept. employees can plan on daily crotch checks in the near future. -- Editor]

Scott Statement On O’Malley As Potential DGA Head


ANNAPOLIS – Maryland Republican Party Chairman Audrey Scott issued the following statement today in response to rumors that Governor O’Malley will be tapped to head the Democrat Governor’s Association:

“With a historic number of Marylanders still unemployed and a budget crisis looming, I would hope Governor O’Malley would focus on fixing Maryland instead of gallivanting around the country, raising money on behalf of other Democrat governors. Unfortunately, it has been clear for some time now that Martin O’Malley is more concerned with furthering his own political aspirations than doing what is in the best interest of Marylanders.”

USE YOUR MOUSE TO SCAN AROUND THIS PLANE REALLY SOMETHING

A P51 cockpit, you can scan around and see everything - even the missing bolt on the floor…. zoom in......zoom out...... move any direction with the mouse.

http://www.stclairphoto-imaging.com/360/P51-Mustang/P51_swf.html

NOTE THE SALVATION ARMY SALARY AND COMPARE IT WITH THE OTHERS


Keep these facts in mind when "donating".

As you open your pockets for yet another natural disaster, keep these facts in mind:

Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross... Salary for year ending 06/30/03 was $651,957 plus expenses. (That's $74.42 an hour For EVERY hour of EVERY day.)

Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits. (That's $42.80 an hour for EVERY Hour of EVERY day.)

UNICEF CEO receives $1,200,000 per year plus all expenses and a ROLLS ROYCE car where ever he goes and only cents of your dollar goes to the cause. (That's $1369.86 an hour for EVERY hour of EVERY day)

The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization.

No further comment necessary. Please share this with everyone you can think of, know or meet!

2 Million Lose Jobless Benefits As Holidays Loom

Nearly half of unemployed in U.S. have been out of work for more than six months
Extended unemployment benefits for nearly 2 million Americans begin to run out Wednesday, cutting off a steady stream of income and guaranteeing a dismal holiday season for people already struggling with bills they cannot pay.

Unless Congress changes its mind, benefits that had been extended up to 99 weeks will end this month.

Hours before beefed-up benefits were set to expire at midnight on Tuesday, Democrats sought to extend them for another year. But they were blocked by Republican Senator Scott Brown, who said Democrats should have taken time to work out a compromise.

"It's not the way to do business in the United States Senate, and if it is it needs to change," Brown said.

MORE

U.S. And S. Korea Plan More Military Exercises

The U.S. and South Korea are planning more joint military exercises as early as this month, South Korea's military said Wednesday, as the two sides wrapped up four days of war maneuvers aimed at North Korea after a deadly attack.

A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff officer said that Seoul and Washington are discussing when to conduct the new joint drills. The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing agency rules, would only say that the drills would take place off South Korea's west coast.

"Discussions are still under way on when and where the drill would take place and on what scale," a spokesman told AFP.

MORE

Duchess Of Windsor’s Jewels Sell For $12.5 Million

Gems belonged to American socialite who wooed King Edward VIII from British throne

LONDON
— A set of jewels once owned by American socialite Wallis Simpson — the woman who wooed King Edward VIII from the British throne and became the Duchess of Windsor — fetched nearly $12.5 million at auction late Tuesday.

Sotheby's said it sold the entire complement of 20 brooches, bracelets and other gems, highlights of which included an onyx and diamond Cartier bracelet in the shape of a panther; a jewel-encrusted flamingo clip and a heart-shaped brooch with the initials W.E. — Wallis and Edward — commissioned for the couple's 20th wedding anniversary.

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Kardashians Terminate Krap Kard


After just 3 weeks, the Kardashian Kard is canceled. Lawyers for the K sisters sent a termination letter to the bank that had licensed their likenesses and slapped them on its hidden fee-laden debit card targeted at children. Seems they don't want to be associated with a card that was almost immediately after it launched the source of an AG investigation. See the full letter, after the jump.

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Getting Drunk And Releasing The Anchor On Your Cruise Ship Is Not Hilarious

Drunken antics aboard a cruise ship are nothing new. But some intoxicated chicanery goes beyond trashing your stateroom after a few too many tequila sunrises on the Lido deck. Take for example the moron aboard a Holland Cruise ship who thought it would be all laugh-tastic to release the ship's anchor while the vessel was cruising in international waters.

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NFL Will Refund Most Tickets If Lockout Occurs Next Season

Even as NFL fans are enjoying this season, the specter of a lockout for the 2011 season looms large. With that work stoppage looking more and more possible every day, the league has had to make a decision on how to deal with ticket refunds should the league come to a grinding halt next year. And for most people, it's not horrible news.

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Fancy Colleges Don't Matter

Smart and ambitious students should go to community college and state school, and save their money for funding their dreams. At least that's one way to look at a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research that found going to a college where kids have higher SAT scores doesn't result in more money after they graduate.

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How I Saved $145 At Sears By Checking In-Store Computer Kiosk

Leigh made the most of her idle time while waiting in line to buy a dishwasher at Sears. On a lark, she pulled up the product she was going to buy at a nearby kiosk and found it was listed $145 cheaper online than she was about to pay. She confronted the salesman, who was stunned by the price difference but gave her the lower price.

GO HERE to read more.

Man Trampled In Target On Black Friday Thought He Was Going To Die

A man with a herniated disk who became trapped on the ground as shoppers raced into a Target on Black Friday says that while he lay there, he thought he was going to die. You can hear his pitched screams on the surveillance video.

GO HERE to read more.

Brides-To-Be Compete For Plastic Surgery On 'Bridalplasty'

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

Ready For The Snow

DelDOT changes snow removal program and lists the resources available

Dover
-- The Snow Removal Reimbursement Program has changed this year, as Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) seeks to make the program more efficient and more beneficial for those civic associations using the program.

One of the changes to the program is the method by which snowfall is measured. Previously, snow was measured over a small square of black asphalt. Starting this winter, however, snow will be measured over a white board, using procedures that closely mirror those of the National Weather Service.

In addition, six new automated snow monitoring stations have been added to the system, bringing the total to eighteen statewide. Additional monitoring locations will better represent snowfall totals across a geographic region. The stations are maintained and monitored by the University of Delaware.

As in previous years, when snowfall measurements reach four inches, those measurements will be posted on www.deldot.gov. DelDOT will update snowfall totals every hour during daylight hours, and depending on the timing and severity of the storm, totals will be updated periodically during the evening hours. Updates are also available by calling 800-652-5600.

New Reimbursement Rates
DelDOT is also increasing many of the rates paid to civic associations. These increased reimbursement rates will lessen the gap in the amount paid by civic associations to snow removal contractors, reducing the association's out-of-pocket expense.

The rate increases are in response to the requests of civic associations who pointed out that the fees paid to the contractors has risen dramatically in recent years. Through the program, civic associations are reimbursed for 75 percent of their snow removal cost, or 75 percent of the amount that DelDOT calculates it would cost to have the roads cleared of snow, whichever is less. To calculate the estimated cost of clearing the roads in subdivisions, DelDOT uses a system based on road miles, and types of roads. Only civic associations with state-maintained streets are eligible for the program. Civic associations wishing to participate in the Snow Removal Reimbursement Program should contact DelDOT to determine eligibility.

A Sample Contract
Last Spring, many officers of civic associations said they would like a sample contract that they could use with the contractor that removes their snow. The civic association officers said they would like to see a sample contract that ties the amount paid to the contractor to the amount reimbursed by DelDOT. In response the requests from civic associations, DelDOT officials drafted a sample contract that civic associations may use when contracting with snow removal contractors.

DelDOT Snow Facts
Equipment: Statewide, there are 446 vehicles available for snow operations. Prior to snow and ice events, the Department pre-treats the highways across the state with liquid salt brine by tankers to reduce bonding of the snow to the pavement at the beginning of the storm event. To plow the roads and spread salt and sand, after snow has accumulated, DelDOT uses heavy-duty snow plows of various types and sizes attached to six and 10-wheeled dump trucks. Other equipment includes snow blowers, road graders and front-end loaders, which are used to clear the many different road conditions in the state system. To ensure that all equipment is in peak condition for winter weather, a thorough inspection of all snow equipment is completed every year in late October and early November.

Materials: An important facet of DelDOT's work is the application of salt and/or sand to road surfaces to prevent or reduce icing, and to provide traction. DelDOT primarily uses salt, along with salt/brine and salt/sand mixtures.
* Approximately 65,000 tons of salt are stockpiled in more than 20 locations throughout the state.
* Due to constant replenishment, the stockpiles are currently full.

Personnel: During significant snow or ice events, nearly 500 employees take part in snow removal operations. This includes drivers, mechanics, dispatchers, and office personnel to handle scheduling of staff, ordering of materials, and reporting of conditions. During particularly lengthy or difficult storms, private contractors, under contract with the Department, may be called upon to assist with snow removal on bus routes, along highway shoulders, and with the clearing of crossover areas and intersections.

Method of Operation: Each of DelDOT's four Maintenance Districts has its own snow removal plan. All roadways are divided into categories with primary/arterial roads and transit routes receiving first and continuous attention (I-95, Route 13, Route 1, Route 202 etc.) Only after the primary/arterial roads are open and passable, will crews move to the secondary/collector, and local roads. "Passable" means that roads can be driven upon, but are not necessarily clear of snow and ice. Changing weather conditions including freezing/thawing, additional accumulation, or drifting, may force crews to return to primary roads even after operations have started on secondary roads. DelDOT maintains 89 percent of all roadways in Delaware. That equals approximately 12,900 total lane miles.

WARNING TO VETERANS

Forwarded by Kevin Secor, VSO Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans.
This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way. http://www.vaservices.org/us/index.html

VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal. Our Legal Counsel has requested that we coordinate with DoD to inform military installations, particularly mobilization sites, of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services.

In addition, GC requests that if you have any examples of VAS acts that violate chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please pass any additional information to Mr.Daugherty at the address below.

Michael G. Daugherty
Staff Attorney
Department of Veterans Affairs

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE HOMICIDE IN CALVERT COUNTY

(Lusby, MD) – Maryland State Police are conducting an investigation into the death of a 41-year old woman found inside her car in a parking lot of a state park in Calvert County.

The deceased is identified as Sandra Renee Long, 41, of the 11,000 block of H.G. Trueman Road in Lusby, Maryland. Long was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause and manner of death are unknown at this time.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. today, an emergency phone call was received by the Calvert Control Center. The call came from a group of three hunters who discovered Long, apparently unconscious and unresponsive inside her parked car.

Long was found in the front seat of her silver 2009 Ford Focus with Maryland tags. The car was parked in a lot bordering Calvert Cliffs State Park, at the intersection of Camp Canoy Road and H.G. Trueman Road in Lusby.

Maryland State Troopers, Calvert County Sheriff’s Deputies, Maryland Natural Resources Police and Emergency Medical Service personnel immediately responded to the scene. Long was pronounced dead by EMS personnel. She was taken to the Office of the State Medical Examiner for an autopsy.

Troopers and Sheriff’s Deputies secured the surrounding area. Investigators from the Calvert County Investigative Team, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit and the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office immediately initiated a death investigation. State police crime scene technicians processed the scene for evidence.

Due to the suspicious nature of the crime scene, investigators are treating this case as a homicide. A motive for the murder has not been determined.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen Long on the morning of Monday, November 29, 2010 or who may have information regarding this case, to please call the Maryland State Police at the Prince Frederick Barrack at 410-535-1400.

The investigation continues…

Found Dog


I found an adult male beagle on Tuesday December 30th around 630am on Dove Point Lane which is in the Silver Run community off of Riverside Drive Ext. Salisbury. Please contact me via email snieberd@hotmail.com or 301-502-2332 if you are the dog's owner.

WCSO Missing Person FOUND

This morning a press release was faxed out to some media outlets in regards to an 11 year old missing person. Please cancel any further look out, the young man has been located and reunited with his family.

Tornado Watch Posted For Southern Maryland

Wicked weather is pounding the area. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Southern Maryland until 7:30 a.m. A tornado watch is in effect 10 a.m. for D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. Heavy rain, hail, wind gusts up to 70 mph and dangerous lightning are possible.