Right Out Of The Gate, States Attorneys Office Delivers Today!

The Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office is pleased to report that on January 4, 2011, newly appointed Assistant State’s Attorney, Karen M. Dean secured a jury verdict in favor of the State after trial by jury in the case of State v. Brett Evans, Sr.  A Wicomico County jury found Evans guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession of Cocaine.  Evans’ charges stemmed from a December 2009 arrest.

The Delmar Police had received numerous complaints about illegal drug sales in their community and arrested Evans after he sold cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer.  Notably, Evans is registered as a sex offender in the State of Delaware.

Newly sworn Wicomico County State’s Attorney, Matthew A. Maciarello, stated that this successful prosecution by Mrs. Dean is a testament to this office’s commitment to vigorously prosecute drug dealers in our community.  Maciarello congratulated Dean and the officers of the Delmar Police Department.  Maciarello continued that this will be the first of many successful prosecutions for Mrs. Dean and the office as a whole.

Evans is scheduled to be sentenced by the Court later this month. 

Verizon Voicemail Problems

Joe,

I spoke with Verizon today and they said that their business voicemail was down for a large part of the region. A client of mine talked to them and said it was down for the entire Eastern Shore. This happened a few months ago with my office and we didn’t discover for several days that the voicemail was off.

I wonder if any other businesses are experiencing the same difficulty with Verizon voicemail service? What’s Verizon’s plan to refund customers for the cost of a service that they didn’t provide? What about lost sales calls or client leads that were caused by this outage. My office has been out for at least three full days now with no sign of repair on the horizon.

Your readers who are Verizon customers may want to call their own number to see if this is happening.

I Told You It Was Serious

As you can see, the original hole swallowed up the old steel plate put out there originally to cover the large pot hole. You can expect some very serious delays in that area and you may want to tell people to find an alternative route for this evening. There is only one lane going through that area. The middle lane, (with the hole) and right lane are closed.

Massive Sink Hole On N. Rt 13

Last week I received a call about a pot hole on Rt. 13 that was growing. I contacted a Councilman and they contacted State Highway to put a steel plate over the hole.

Today I received another call referencing this pot hole. The person told me it was the size of a pickup truck. Of course I thought, can't be.

Give me 10 minutes and I'll provide photos of this massive sink hole across from the construction at the College in the North bound lane on Rt. 13. The hold is 13' wide and 20' long. It's at least 3' to 4' deep too.

There are no pipes underneath the hole, so the State Highway people are at a loss as to how the hold started and then ultimately grew to the size that it is now.

Salisbury Police Department Press Releases

On January 3, 2011 at approximately 7:40 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a residence on the five hundred (500) block of East Isabella Street for the report of shots fired. Upon arrival the officers met with witnesses who advised that the below listed suspect, who was known to several of the witnesses, had fired several shots toward them and the residence. The witnesses advised that the suspect arrived in a vehicle that parked in the intersection of East Isabella Street and Tilghman Street. The suspect exited the vehicle then produced a handgun and fired five (5) to six (6) shots. The witnesses advised that this assault was the result of an earlier altercation involving the suspect and an occupant of the residence. The suspect then reentered the vehicle and fled from the area. Salisbury detectives located the suspect and placed the suspect under arrest for the assault. Search and seizure warrants were executed at the suspect’s residence and vehicle in Parsonsburg with the assistance of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office. There were no injuries in this assault. This investigation is continuing.

ARRESTED: Anthony Dashaun White, 16 years of age Parsonsburg, Maryland

CHARGES:
Attempted first degree murder
Attempted second degree murder
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Handgun on person
Handgun in a vehicle
Handgun use in a violent crime
Reckless endangerment

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201100000325

On January 3, 2011 at approximately 1:37 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to the Target Department Store on East North Pointe Drive for the report of a theft. Upon arrival the officers met with store security who advised that the below listed suspect had been observed on several occasions taking electronic merchandise from the store without making payment.

ARRESTED: Donald Michael Gravesande, 27 years of age Seaford, Delaware

CHARGES:
Theft (under $1,000) – (2 counts)
Theft (under $ 100)
Theft scheme

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201100000293

On January 3, 2011 at approximately 3:47 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding warrant for an assault that occurred on November 20, 2010. On that date, Salisbury Officers responded to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center to meet with the victim of the assault. The victim advised that he had earlier been involved in an argument with the below listed suspect, who was known to him. During the argument the suspect produced a bottle and chased the victim, striking him with the bottle. The suspect struck the victim repeatedly, causing deep lacerations and swelling to his facial area.

ARRESTED: Deandre Thomas Ballard, 24 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES:
Arrest Warrant-
First degree assault
Second degree assault
Possession of a dangerous weapon
Reckless endangerment

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201000045852

Three Separate Murders In PG County

Three separate killings occurred in Prince George’s County early Tuesday morning.

The first incident happened shortly after midnight, when officers responded to a report of gunshots on the 3900 block of Bexley Place in Suitland. Investigators discovered an unresponsive man suffering from gunshot wounds. He later expired.

Two more shootings occurred several hours later in Fort Washington.

A man, also unresponsive, was found on the 7200 block of Crafford Place around 2:30 a.m. The man died of his injuries.

Police discovered a third shooting victim, who was already dead when they arrived. The body was found at the intersection of Tucker and Palmer roads, in Fort Washington.

Prince George’s County authorities report that all three cases are being investigated as homicides, but they do not believe the killings are linked.

Source

Texan Declared Innocent After 30 Years In Prison

Dallas court overturns his conviction after DNA evidence clears him

DALLAS — A man who served 30 years in prison for a rape and robbery he did not commit had his conviction overturned Tuesday after having served 30 years in prison, more time than any other DNA exoneree in his state.

Cornelius Dupree Jr., 51, was formally cleared of the aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon conviction that had kept him behind bars from December 1979 until July 2010. He served 30 years of his 75-year sentence before making parole in July. About a week later, DNA test results came back proving his innocence.

"It's a joy to be free again," Dupree said after the ruling in a Dallas courtroom.

Dupree is the longest-serving DNA exoneree in Texas, which has freed 41 wrongly convicted inmates through DNA since 2001 — more than any other state.

Nationally, only two other DNA exonerees spent more time in prison, according to the Innocence Project, a New York-based legal center representing Dupree that specializes in wrongful conviction cases. James Bain was wrongly imprisoned for 35 years in Florida, and Lawrence McKinney spent more than 31 years in a Tennessee prison.

The DNA testing in Dupree's case also excluded a second defendant, Anthony Massingill, who was subsequently convicted in another sexual assault case and sentenced to life in prison. Massingill remains in prison but maintains his innocence. DNA testing in that second case is ongoing.

GO HERE to read more.

Deputy: Guns On Bed Of Boy Charged In Mom's Death

MILLERSBURG, Ohio -- An investigator says two loaded guns were found on the bed of a 10-year-old Ohio boy charged as a juvenile with murder in the shooting death of his mother.

Chief Deputy Nathan Fritz of the Holmes County Sheriff's Office says one weapon was a .22-caliber rifle investigators believe was used to fire the fatal shot. Fritz tells The Daily Record of Wooster the other was a 12-gauge shotgun.

The newspaper reports investigators think the guns were given to the child by his now-deceased grandfather

.

Mother Deborah McVay was found dead Sunday night of a single gunshot wound to the head at the home in Big Prairie, about midway between Cleveland and Columbus. Her son's attorney on Monday entered the juvenile equivalent of a not guilty plea.

Source

Man Charged In Deaths Of 3 Found In Tree In Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio –  The only suspect in a kidnapping and triple-slaying in Ohio has been indicted on charges of aggravated murder and rape.

The indictment alleges that 30-year-old Matthew Hoffman killed Tina Herrmann, Herrmann's son Kody Maynard and neighbor Stephanie Sprang during a Nov. 10 burglary. Their dismembered bodies were found days later inside a tree using information provided by Hoffman.

Hoffman is also accused of kidnapped a 13-year-old girl during the burglary and raping her at his home.

The indictment issued in central Ohio's Knox County on Tuesday carries a possible penalty of life in prison without parole.

Hoffman's lawyer said last month that his client had been taken off suicide watch in jail and was maintaining a positive attitude.

Source

Biden Chief Of Staff To Step Down

Per senior administration sources, Vice President Chief of Staff Ron Klain will announce his departure today.

More information to come.

*** UPDATE *** The New York Times has more: "Mr. Klain will become president of Case Holdings, the parent company of the investment company named for his old boss, former AOL chief Steve Case, the official said."

"Mr. Klain had been mentioned as a possibility to replace Rahm Emanuel as Mr. Obama’s chief of staff. But the president is now in talks with former Clinton administration Commerce Secretary William Daley. In any event, Mr. Klain decided to take Mr. Case’s job offer in part because it was the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come along often, the official said."

*** UPDATE II *** Here's Biden's statement on the departure: "For 25 years, Ron Klain has been my friend and advisor. As my chief of staff in the White House, Ron has done an exceptional job of building my team, implementing my direction on top priorities, and providing invaluable counsel. He has also played a key role in establishing the strong, positive relationship that exists between my staff and the President's team. I am proud of the successes we have had over these two years, and am grateful for the role Ron played in achieving them. I wish him the best of luck as he takes this next step in his career."

Source

Slain Filipino Official Caught Suspect On Camera

Cops say suspect likely sought revenge against politician for ordering his arrest last year

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine police investigating the New Year's Eve shooting death of a local councilman did not have to look further than the last photograph the victim took. That photo led to the arrest of two suspects.

The picture, taken outside the councilman's house in metropolitan Manila, clearly shows a man aiming his gun from behind the victim's smiling three-member family, seconds before he was shot.

The relatives — Councilman Reynaldo Dagsa's wife, daughter and mother-in-law — are seen standing beside the family's car, which has lights on, and the gunman, wearing a baseball cap, is bracing himself against the vehicle and pointing his gun at Dagsa. His face is slightly obscured by the gun.

GO HERE to read more.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

On 12-31-2010 I was traveling up Rt. 13 when several pedestrians were walking in the road on the R/R overpass. It took me a few seconds but I was able to grab my camera and take some shots of the sidewalks.

Now I know the road is owned by the state but business locations down Rt. 13 have been forced to manage the sidewalks during these storms, so should the City.

So the big question is, were any of YOU fined by the City for not clearing your sidewalks?

Are You Feeling Lucky Today? You May Want To Buy A Mega Millions Lottery Ticket.

No one won the New Year's Eve drawing, so tonight’s jackpot is worth an estimated $330 million. You can buy Mega Millions Lottery tickets in the District, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This is the sixth largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. And if you win, well, you can get a one-time cash payout of $208 million.

GO HERE to read more.

2-Month-Old Starves To Death At Philly Shelter

PHILADELPHIA –  Two family caseworkers have been suspended after a 2-month-old boy starved to death at a Philadelphia homeless shelter.

Tanya Williams, 32, is charged with murder in last month's death of her son, Quasir Alexander. Police, though, say they are exploring whether criminal charges should be filed against any social-service workers involved with the family.

"Even though there's been an arrest, someone's been charged, we're also internally looking at some of the establishments that were involved in overseeing their case," Homicide Sgt. Tim Cooney told The Associated Press on Monday.

The infant, a twin, weighed less when he died on Dec. 23 than he did at birth, and had nothing in his belly, Cooney said. An autopsy concluded that he died of both starvation and dehydration.

His twin also was malnourished and treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for several days after the death, police said.

GO HERE to read more.

Allegations Of Overtime Abuse In DC Fire And EMS Department

WASHINGTON - There are new allegations of overtime abuse in the D.C. Fire and EMS Department. It comes at a time when the city is strapped for cash.

One firefighter has earned more than $300,000 with the overtime he earned, more than three times his base salary.

Last year, 25 firefighters racked up more than a million dollars in overtime.

FOX 5 has found one person, a commanding officer, who has earned overtime nearly every pay period in the last two years. The firefighter has earned nearly $100,000 in overtime each year.

At times, Lt. Richard Lehan has racked up 90 hours of overtime when others complain they are getting very little. Documents show at least two other firefighters earned $100,000 in overtime last year.

These documents obtained by FOX 5 show that since 2008, Lehan stands out as one of the top overtime earners in the department.

According to payroll records, Lehan has worked nearly 2,500 hours in overtime since 2009. It shows month after month, Lehan is averaging 45 hours of overtime per pay period. Department policy dictates that there should be no more than 36 hours overtime per pay period.

D.C. Council Member Phil Mendelson wants accountability and says it is overtime abuse at its worst.

GO HERE to read more.

Today's Survey Question

Should Congress Raise the Nation's Debt Ceiling?

New York Murderer To Inherit Victim's Fortune

A convicted killer in New York is set to inherit a quarter-million dollars upon his release -- from his victim.

Brandon Palladino, 24, admitted to killing his 59-year-old mother-in-law Dianne Edwards in 2008, after she caught him trying to steal jewelry from her Long Island home, the New York Post reported. He was sentenced to 25 years in jail, minus time served, in a plea deal.

Edwards' only daughter, Deanna Palladino, 23, inherited all of her mother's worldly possessions -- worth roughly $431,000 -- but after using roughly $190,000 of her mother's money on her husband's defense, Deanna died in February, leaving everything to Brandon, the Post reported. 

GO HERE to read more.

Former Bush Official Killed, Found In Landfill

Delaware Police are investigating the apparent murder of a former Bush official who also championed the fund-raising effort to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C.

John P. Wheeler III, 66, was found dead in a Delaware landfill, and his death has been ruled a homicide by Newark, Del., police. They are asking the public for leads in the case.

Wheeler’s body was found in Wilmington on Friday. According to police, somebody initially reported that the body was dumped out of a refuse truck, which would have been coming from Newark, onto the landfill. Newark Police spokesman Lt. Mark Farrall told Fox News that nobody had reported Wheeler missing before he was found. 

The Wilmington News Journal reported that Wheeler was last seen riding an Amtrak train from Washington to Wilmington, Del., last Tuesday. 

GO HERE to read more.

The Last Ride Of Peggy Pusey

FRUITLAND -- Peggy Pusey could hardly hold back the tears as she listened to driving instructor and secretary Tammy Wheatley talk about the sad news heard from her boss just a few days ago.

Pusey told her six employees that her business, Peggy Pusey's Driving School, would close its doors forever after almost 45 years this weekend. Wheatley, with misting eyes, had been here for seven years and said that hers was not a "normal job."

"Peggy is like my grandmother and she means so much to me," Wheatley said, her voice breaking.

It seems like just yesterday that Pusey stood in her horse pasture, which also served as a driving range, having her photo taken for a newspaper story in 1966. When she opened, she was the first woman instructor in Wicomico County and the second driving school business in the county at the time.

[READ FULL ARTICLE]

Random Bag Checks Frustrating Some Metro Riders

It's been a month since Metro started conducting random bag searches, and it seems some riders are not happy about it.

So far, Metro says that no one has refused a search and that the feedback has been fairly positive. But Monday night, dozens of people showed up at a Metro Riders Advisory Council meeting to object to the screenings.

Some said that unless the officers are checking every person's bag, it's not doing any good. Another rider said that every time Metro checks an innocent person’s bag, “the terrorists win.”

The random bag checks take place outside the station turnstiles. Any rider who refuses the inspection is allowed to leave, and cannot bring those items into the station.

Similar bag searches are also taking place in other large cities like Boston and New York.

Source

Can Blue Dog Democrats Survive The 112th Congress?

Washington - As the 112th Congress dawns this week, North Carolina's trio of conservative Democrats find themselves not only a minority within the U.S. House of Representatives, but within their own party as well.

U.S. Reps. Heath Shuler, Larry Kissell and Mike McIntyre represent a breed of Democrat that got hurt badly in the November election. Conservative Southerners fell in droves, with the Blue Dog Caucus losing half its members.

Kissell, Shuler and McIntyre squeaked through, but the coming changes in both population patterns and re-districting by state legislatures with new Republican majorities mean they, and others like them, will likely have to fight harder than ever to keep their seats two years from now.

It's a scenario playing out across the South. U.S. Census numbers released in late December show that red states gained more congressional seats, and Republicans are expecting more clout in the U.S. House of Representatives.

That leaves North Carolina's conservatives struggling to bring their voices to the Democratic caucus and remain relevant in House votes even as they find themselves in the minority. In separate interviews, all three of North Carolina's blue dogs said there is a feeling that if the Democrats don't recruit more candidates like themselves, the future looks grim.

"There simply is not a voice being heard for moderates in this country," Shuler said. "You see the fringes, the outer edges of the political spectrum. We need a voice in the middle, where we think 80percent of Americans are."

GO HERE to read more.

Right-Wing Bloggers Use Terror Attack To Launch Another False Attack Against Obama

Conservative bloggers are denouncing President Obama for his statement condemning a terrorist attack against a church in Egypt on New Year's Day. These bloggers are falsely claiming that, in the words of Jim Hoft, "Obama is making up Muslim victims" of the attack. In fact, there were reportedly Muslims wounded in the attack.

Ace of Spades' Gabriel Malor followed up on Hoft's attack, claiming that Obama "create[d] Muslim victims" of the bombing. And Pam Geller wrote today that the president's statement "was grotesque, misleading, and deceptive."

All three blogs quoted Obama's statement that "[t]he attack on a church in Alexandria, Egypt caused 21 reported deaths and dozens of injured from both the Christian and Muslim communities." Hoft explicitly drew the conclusion that Obama had falsely claimed that there were Muslims among the fatalities saying of Obama's statement: "Not true. All 21 of the victims in the attack were Christian. No Muslims died in the attack."

Of course, only people intentionally trying to gin up phony outrage would read that sentence and argue that Obama was trying to claim that there were Muslim fatalities and hoping that no one would fact-check the claim. Who knows? Maybe Hoft really believes what he wrote. But a rational person would see that Obama was saying that there the injured came from both the Christian and Muslim communities.

GO HERE to read more.

10 New Car Companies Aiming For The Big Leagues

10 new car companies aiming for the big leagues

Like a big-budget sports team on a free-agent acquisition binge, the car industry has been rapidly acquiring new players. And as there’s no overpriced ball park program for car buyers to work from, we thought we had better put together a guide to the rookies.

As usual, not all of these newcomers are going to make it in the league, but the season is young, optimism is in the air and we will soon see which of them has what it takes to compete in the major leagues.

Here’s a guide to the newest crop of car companies.

GO HERE to read more.

Perry Stands Up To Obama And EPA

The question of who regulates pollution in Texas -- the state itself or the federal government -- could be decided by the Supreme Court just in time to create political fallout for the 2012 presidential election, the National Journal reports. Texas, led by Republican Gov. Rick Perry, is suing President Barack Obama's Environmental Protection Agency to overturn new greenhouse-gas limits which the federal government is enforcing by taking over the state's pollution permitting process.

"Texas, it may or may not win the lawsuit -- it probably won't," says National Journal correspondent Coral Davenport. "But it's just taking a stand. It's just refusing to comply. I think behind the scenes there are a lot of Republicans and certainly many leaders in the oil industry who are going to give . . . Gov. Perry a lot of support for what he's doing."

There's more here

Governor Scott Vowing To Cut Florida’s Work Force

Rick Scott, a former health-care executive who spent a record $78 million running for Florida governor, takes office vowing to cut the state workforce by 5 percent to help close a $3.5 billion budget deficit.

Scott, 58, also plans to lower pension costs by $1.4 billion and slash $1.8 billion in expenses for Medicaid, the government health program for the poor. The Republican, who’ll be sworn in today in Tallahassee, promises to reduce property levies by 19 percent and phase out the business-income tax over seven years.

“Our government has grown too fast compared to the private sector,” Scott said in an interview on Bloomberg Television last month. “When that happens, jobs go away, so we have to reduce the size of government.”

Florida and other U.S. states face a combined $140 billion in budget deficits next fiscal year, the Washington-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said Dec. 16, as tax collections remain below pre-recession levels, according to the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government.

Florida’s projected 2012 budget gap has grown $1 billion from the $2.5 billion when Scott was elected in November. Unemployment that month of 12 percent was fourth-highest in the country and 2.2 percentage points higher than the national average. That and a 41 percent decline in home values from 2006, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, have curbed tax collections.

The state, which has no personal-income levy, last month reduced its revenue forecasts for this fiscal year. General revenue in the year that ends June 30 will be 2.6 percent less than projected in August and 2.5 percent less in fiscal 2012.

Read more

Matt Maciarello Sworn In As Wicomico States Attorney

In a informal public ceremony States Attorney Matt Maciarello was sworn in yesterday. The official swearing in was held earlier yesterday morning at the States Attorney's Office.

Matt held a moment of silence for Sam Vincent and then spent some time thanking Davis Ruark for his service of more than 20+ years as States Attorney. He thanked his supporters and Family and today Wicomico County is under new leadership.

While I witnessed many comments on the immediate  changes Mr. Maciarello made yesterday when he was sworn in, this is now his Office and he is going to make sure things run his way from here on out.

While I too was a bit surprised at the hiring of Joel Todd, it makes a lot of sense. Many of the attorneys in that office are young and lack experience. It's important to have WISDOM, much of which disappeared when Sam Vincent passed away. I truly believe Joel will be that wisdom and help guide many in the right direction. Some might claim bad habits will follow instead, I don't believe that to be true. Joel is now working for someone else and if there's any sign of such he will be terminated. Matt is a confident leader and he has a goal and vision.

Change, (in many cases) is hard to accept. Give Matt time and I'm sure you'll see where he's headed.

Jerry Brown Returns To Lead A Troubled California

Governor predicts grim future for financially beleaguered state

AMENTO, Calif. — Democrat Jerry Brown was sworn in Monday as California's 39th governor, returning to the office he left 28 years ago but inheriting a much different and more troubled state than the one he led then.

The man who once was California's most famous bachelor took the oath of office after being introduced by his wife of five years, former Gap Inc. executive Anne Gust Brown, inside Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.

She held a Bible that was her grandfather's and was used during her wedding with Brown.

Brown has predicted a grim future for the financially beleaguered state. Where his predecessor, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, expressed optimism at every turn, Brown has been realistic since winning the Nov. 2 election. California has faced several years of deep budget deficits and is confronting another estimated at $28 billion through June 2012.

Its general fund is $15 billion less than it was just three years ago, reflecting a sharp drop in tax revenue from a recession that has battered the economy of the nation's most populous state. Brown, 72, said the choices facing California's 38.8 million people are painful

.

"The year ahead will demand courage and sacrifice," he said after taking the oath from California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.

Brown noted the recession has taken a toll on California and polls show most voters believe the state is on the wrong track. He urged lawmakers with both political parties to get out of what he called their "comfort zones" and to "rise above ideology" for the good of the state.

GO HERE to read more.

'Impressive Job': Thieves Tunnel Into Bank

Gang spent months digging after renting neighboring building, officials say

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Thieves dug a 100-foot-long ventilated and lit tunnel from a neighboring building into a bank and emptied the contents of up to 140 safety deposit boxes, officials said Monday.

Authorities said three thieves entered a Banco Provincia branch in the Buenos Aires district of Belgrano on New Year's Eve when it was closed and spent the weekend opening and emptying between 130 and 140 of the branch's 1,408 boxes.

The robbery wasn't discovered until the bank opened Monday.

Bank executives didn't say how much the thieves got away with because clients are not obliged to tell authorities what was in their safety deposit boxes. InfoBAE reported that the contents of each safety deposit box were valued at at 50,000 Argentine pesos (about $12,600).

The thieves rented a building next to the bank in June and spent months digging the tunnel, which emerged in an area where safety deposit boxes are located, prosecutor Martin Niklison said.

The bank's cameras filmed the robbers, thought to have been at least three, loading bags into a car before fleeing, Argentine news agency Telam quoted Niklison as saying.

GO HERE to read more.

Judge: Donald Duck groping lawsuit can go forward

PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania woman who claims Donald Duck groped her at Disney's Epcot theme park can have her day in court, a federal judge has ruled.

Disney must defend itself against April Magolon's claims that the character grabbed her breast as she held her child at the Walt Disney World park and then joked about it.

Magolon, 27, of Upper Darby, claims the May 2008 encounter left her with post-traumatic stress in the form of nightmares, digestive problems and other permanent injuries.

Her lawsuit also charges that Disney parks have a history of fondling complaints involving workers, and that Disney has "condoned" their actions, putting profits over public safety.

In court papers, the defense argued that Magolon sued the wrong Disney corporate entity and asked the judge to dismiss the suit or move it to Florida, where the encounter took place.

GO HERE to read more.

14 States May Target Birthright Citizenship

Arizona state politicians will introduce model legislation this week to encourage states to prevent children of illegal immigrants from being granted citizenship under the 14th Amendment.

Lawmakers in at least 14 states have said they are committed to passing the legislation targeting birthright citizenship. Arizona's anti-illegal-immigrant bill, SB-1070, was also based on model legislation that could be easily copied by states, and at least seven states are likely to pass bills similar to the first Arizona immigration overhaul this year.

Arizona state Senator Russell Pearce will unveil the bill Jan. 5 in Washington, D.C., the Arizona Capital Times reports. The paper says lawmakers in Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah have said they want to introduce similar legislation this year.

More here

Waste Water Treatment Plant Spill

Joe

Guess you heard about another spill into the beautiful Wicomico River. The city claims it was partially treated and no big deal --so why was the river closed to all boaters and fisherman ? This is getting old --reading about spill after spill. Why is no one ever held accountable?????? Ever think all these spills might just be a health hazard to folks on or near the river? Your thoughts????

Capt Bruce

OCEAN CITY & OCEAN PINES TAXICAB ROBBERY – UPDATE

Ocean City Police have identified and charged a suspect in the taxicab robberies that took place on December 30, 2010. On January 1, 2011, Ocean City Police arrested Thomas Scaniffe, 17, of Ocean Pines.

Scaniffe was charged as an adult with armed robbery, robbery, first degree assault, second degree assault, two counts of theft less than $1,000 and resisting/interfering with an arrest. After his initial appearance by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner, Scaniffe was held on a $250,000 bond and transferred to Worcester County Jail.

On December 30, 2010, at approximately 1:15 a.m., the Ocean City Police responded to the area of 5th Street and Edgewater Avenue in reference to an armed robbery. Officers interviewed the victim of the robbery, who was an on-duty taxicab driver. The victim told officers he received a call from a restricted phone number requesting a cab ride from Ocean Pines to Ocean City. The cab driver picked up two males at approximately 12:50 a.m. on Marview Drive and brought them to Ocean City. Once at 5th Street, the two males assaulted the taxicab driver, taking money and other items.

A second similar incident took place on December 30, 2010 at 9:30 p.m. A taxicab driver responded to Brandywine Drive in Ocean Pines. Two males entered the cab, demanded money, and assaulted the driver with a weapon.
The investigation is ongoing. Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police ask anyone with knowledge about the incident or the suspects to contact the Ocean City Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6604.

PRMC

Hi Joe,

Just wanted to tell you about a situation at PRMC last night. One of the call center operators was leaving through the front entrance and was attacked by a man who was trying to steal her pocketbook. She was screaming for help and everyone was running in different directions (visitors leaving, other employees, etc) Security was called and the guy ran off and the security gaurd (Officer Howard) didnt do a thing. Told the operator that if she sees the guy again, give her a call but since he was gone there was nothing she could do.. WOW! Makes me feel real safe to go there to visit people and I feel sorry for the employees who have to work there when even their own security doesn't care about them!

Sincerely,
Annonymous

DELMAR POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE

Incident: Drug Arrest

Location: Ocean Hwy, Delmar, MD

Date: 01-03-11

Arrested: Jeremy Joseph Ross, white male, 30 Y.O.A., Portsmouth, VA

On 01-03-11 an officer of the Delmar Police Department conducted a traffic stop for a speeding violation on Ocean Hwy., Delmar MD. The driver of the vehicle was identified at Jeremy Ross of Portsmouth, VA. A Delmar Police K-9 officer subsequently responded to the location to conduct a K-9 scan of the vehicle. The K-9 alerted to the odor of Controlled Dangerous Substances. Subsequent search revealed suspected heroin, marijuana, and numerous controlled prescription drugs, along with approx. $7,000.00 U.S. Currency. Ross is being held at the Wicomico County Detention Center on $200,000 secured bond.

Charges:

Poss. with Intent to Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substance

Poss. of Controlled Dangerous Substance Schedule I (2 counts)

Poss. of Controlled Dangerous Substance, Schedule II (2 counts)

Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia (3 counts)

Massage Therapists Object To Proposed Regs That Will Add Training And Costs

Massage therapists are balking at proposed changes to their continuing education requirements, which they say would increase the cost of licensing by adding additional training requirements.

The changes were approved last month by the Maryland Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners. The required 30-day public comment period ends Jan. 18.

“There is widespread opposition to the changes within the massage therapy community,” said Cher Hunter, a licensed massage therapist and member of the board of the Maryland Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association. The group is spearheading a letter-writing campaign to get the department to reject the changes.

Hunter contended that the proposed changes would limit the options for continuing education. “The Maryland changes are much stricter than most states’ requirements,” Hunter said. But regulators say the regulations are consistent with a 2008 law.

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Metro Operators Are Peeing On The Tracks

Metro train operators say they don't have enough time to take bathroom breaks, so they're answering nature's call on the tracks, an inspector general's report finds.

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Maryland To Open Second Slots Parlor

BERLIN, Md. (AP) - Maryland's second casino is opening.

Gov. Martin O'Malley will attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Casino at Ocean Downs in Berlin on Tuesday on the Eastern Shore. The site is the first casino to be placed at a horse racing track in the state.

The 34,000-square-foot facility will hold 750 slot machines.

Maryland's first casino opened in Perryville in September.

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NY Regulates Tipping For First Time

The New York Department of Labor has issued rules on what until now has walked a gray line between custom and law: the tip.

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DirecTV To Raise Rates Feb. 1 -- Can I Get Out?

Chris wants out of his DirecTV contract, and hopes that the upcoming rate increase (PDF link) will let him run free.

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Dog That Escaped From Delta Flight Found Dead

Right before Christmas, we brought you the story of a dog that had escaped from its crate while being transferred between two Delta flights in Atlanta. Unfortunately, news reports say the dog was discovered dead near a highway over the weekend.

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iRobot's Toilet-Scrubbing Robot Is The #1 Thing I Want To See At CES

Forget 3D TVs, tablets, smartphones, streaming video devices and hoverboards. They might get all the big headlines at this week's Consumer Electronics Show, but they'll all also be obsolete by next year's CES. But a robot that not only mops the floor on its own, but can also scrub around the toilet? Now that's something I want to see in person.

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Reasons It's Not So Great To Own A Home Free And Clear

If you've signed your life away on a mortgage, you've probably dreamed of tossing that paperwork into the shredder after you've made the final payment. But outright ownership isn't all positive.

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NFL Commissioner's Open Letter To Fans Has Lots Of Words, Little Information

Wondering if there will be football next year? As the NFL gets ready for the playoffs, commissioner Roger Goodell took some time to pen an open letter to fans in which he does a spin-move away from the whole potential 2011 work stoppage issue. According to USAToday, the NFL Players Association has said that the league is intent on a work stoppage, and the NFL has acknowledged one could occur.

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Outrage As Schwarzenegger Cuts Sentence Of Ally's Son

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

On his last day in office, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced the manslaughter sentence of Esteban Nunez from 16 years to seven.

Blood Test for Cancer Called 'Revolutionary'

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

Researchers in Massachusetts have developed a non-invasive blood test for cancer cells.

Administration Prepares To Defy Efforts To Limit Obama’s Options For Guantanamo

Senior officials are advising President Obama to reject provisions of a military spending bill that limits his handling of Guantanamo. Aides are urging him to sign the bill but issue a signing statement rejecting the Guantanamo provisions as unacceptable limits on his authority.

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Williams Pond Spillway Construction Begins

Seaford -- The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) conducted a "draw down" of Williams Pond in late summer 2010, where the water level in Williams Pond was incrementally decreased by a few inches, to examine the condition of the existing spillway. It was determined that the condition of the existing spillway was such that it was beyond repair and it was more cost-effective to build a new spillway.

Therefore, DelDOT announces that a new spillway will be constructed beginning January 10, 2011.

Under an existing bridge maintenance contract, Mumford & Miller will build the new 120-foot long semi-circular spillway. It will be constructed of steel sheet piling with a concrete cap. This is similar to other spillways at Betts Pond and Reynolds Pond. In addition, a gate with removable boards will be placed on each end of the semi-circle. This will allow more water to pass over the spillway under the bridge.

The work will occur during daytime hours, and will take approximately 90 calendar days to complete. During construction Poplar Street will be closed. The established detour route is to take Middleford Road to Front Street to Poplar Street. Route 13 traffic will not be impacted by this work.

Message boards will be placed in the area approximately one week before construction begins, and will be used to assist motorists through the area during construction.

DelDOT has secured the necessary permits via environmental agencies to minimize any impact to fisheries, birds, wildlife and the environment.

Troopers on Scene Of Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident

Location: DE Rt. 4 at Prides Crossing Drive, Newark, DE

 

Date of Occurrence: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 at approximately 6:30 a.m.

 

Resume:   

 

Newark- The Delaware State Police are currently on the scene of a two vehicle fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. this morning. The accident occurred on DE Rt. 4 at Prides Crossing Drive and has Rt. 4 closed in both directions. Commuters are asked to use alternate routes of travel. Preliminary information is that one person has died in the crash.

 

Investigators are still on the scene. More information will be released after it is received.

Complete Listing of Winter Concerts in Community for Wicomico Schools

Thursday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m.
[RESCHEDULED FROM Thursday, Dec. 16 due to snow day]
Mardela High School Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, & Warrior Marching Band

The Mardela High School Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, & Warrior Marching Band will present the 2010 winter concert, with special feature the Mardela High School Chime Choir, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6. Free admission. 410-677-5170.

Thursday, Jan. 13, 7 p.m.
Strings Concert
At Salisbury Middle School

The fall strings concert for students from Mardela Middle and High, Northwestern Elementary, Salisbury Middle and Westside Intermediate has been rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. at Salisbury Middle School. 410-677-5149.

Nominations For Wicomico Teacher Of The Year Accepted Until Jan. 28

Nominations for 2011-2012 Wicomico Teacher of the Year may now be made and will be accepted until Jan. 28. Anyone in the community is invited to seek recognition for a current Wicomico teacher who has taught full-time for at least five years.

Nomination forms will be sent home with students. They are also available in schools and at the Board of Education Office, and on line at www.wcboe.org.

The Wicomico County Teacher of the Year Program annually solicits nominations from parents, students, the community and fellow educators to recognize Wicomico teachers with exceptional qualities and characteristics that make them shining examples of teaching in Wicomico County. Nominations come from many different people; a student who treasures a special teacher, a parent who sees the benefits of all that a teacher does, someone who recalls an outstanding experience in the classroom of a teacher who is still teaching, or a coworker who sees the value of a fellow teacher’s work every day.

“Teachers considered as nominees for recognition as Teacher of the Year should exemplify the traits associated with master teachers. They should be skillful and dedicated teachers who plan to continue their teaching careers,” said Karen Leimann, coordinator of the Wicomico County Teacher of the Year Program.

Wicomico Teachers of the Year, including the current Teacher of the Year, Lisa E. King (Grade 3, Delmar Elementary), model teaching excellence. Wicomico has had a number of finalists for Maryland Teacher of the Year, and has two past Maryland Teachers of the Year on staff, Bonnie Walston, now the director of special education (1994), and Aaron Deal, a computer education teacher at Salisbury Middle School (2004).

Semifinalists for the Wicomico award will be interviewed by a blue ribbon panel of judges (March 1-2). On March 24, during the Teacher of the Year Banquet at Salisbury University’s Commons, the finalists at the primary, intermediate, middle and high school levels will be named, and the new 2011-12 Wicomico Teacher of the Year will be announced.

For more information, please call Karen Leimann at 410-677-4462 or e-mail her at kleimann@wcboe.org. 

Holiday Giving In Wicomico County Public Schools

Before heading home from school for the start of the winter break Wednesday, Dec. 22, many Wicomico students and staff took time to ensure a better holiday for families, students and even pets in the community.

Giving by Wicomico students, families, staff and schools will brighten the holidays for many in Wicomico this year. Here is a sampling of the many special efforts and activities.

All Wicomico elementary schools participated in the 2010 Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign by sending students home with specially printed paper milk cartons to fill with coins or bills and return to school. The Salvation Army picked up the cartons this week and will add the amount in the cartons to its tally for the 2010 campaign.

Fruitland Primary guidance counselor Diane Washington-White coordinated with the Jaycees, The Elks, and other community organizations to ensure that school families in need were helped. The staff held a casual day to assist a family in need.

Pemberton Elementary did "Pandas for Paws," a drive which collected items for the Humane Society of Wicomico County. Classroom ambassadors helped load the donated items on Dec. 1 at Pemberton.

North Salisbury Elementary third-grade Magnet students rang the bells at a Salvation Army kettle for five hours on Dec. 10. Students in grade 5 Magnet made holiday cards for the children at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, brought in donations for the Christian Shelter, Maryland Food Bank and Humane Society of Wicomico County, as well as Secret Santa gifts that the school counselor can tuck into the book bags of students. Classes also made holiday cards for veterans at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington. STARS after-school students made holiday thank you cards to give to the local volunteer firefighters for their help in keeping families safe during the holidays. Staff members donated funds to help provide food, clothing and toys for NSS students and families. Mentors made special gift purchases to surprise the students they mentor. In January, the school will promote a campaign to donate hats, scarves and gloves to give to students who don’t have these cold weather items.

West Salisbury Elementary’s two faith-based partners, Wesley Temple United Methodist Church and St. Paul AME Zion Church, adopted a West Salisbury family.

The Salisbury Middle School A-Team, students and staff collected $874.06 for the Salvation Army through an in-school kettle drive. Students were able to donate their Eagle bucks. For every 10 eagle bucks an outside sponsor donated $1. Staff and students worked together to collect for this most needed cause. Salisbury Middle’s CARES Department assisted multiple families through a grant given by the Community Foundation. More than 50 individuals were assisted with Christmas gifts. Salisbury Middle’s Art and Crafts Club created stockings for the nearby nursing home, and the Ladies Club created flower arrangements for the nursing home at Thanksgiving time.

Wicomico Middle’s Students for Service (SFS) is a new club at Wicomico Middle for students who want to help make a difference in our school, community and the world. Students have an opportunity to bring others together for projects of their interest. Douglas B., a member of SFS, shared with others that his older brother is a soldier serving in Afghanistan. He suggested collecting items and sending them to the soldiers who are willing to risk their lives to support our country. SFS implemented Project CARE, which encouraged all Wi Middle school students, families and staff to bring in items to send to his brother's troop, to make sure the soldiers know how much Wicomico Middle School appreciates them. Coming together, to make a difference is what Students for Service is all about. SFS looks forward to many other projects. Elsewhere at Wicomico Middle, the newly founded SGA held a canned food drive in November that collected more than 500 canned goods, which were donated to the local Christian Shelter. The SGA sold "Candy Grams" during lunch – 50 cents for students to write a message to a friend on a candy cane, with proceeds going toward the needs of a student and family for the holidays. The Guidance Office is continued its annual Angel Tree campaign, where staff chose a needy WMS student and bought gifts for him or her.

James M. Bennett High School’s Club Hope (Environmental Club) made holiday cards and sent them to an alumnus serving in Afghanistan, for him to share with his buddies. The Child Development Class at JMB is collecting new infant care items for the Life Crisis Shelter, to deliver in January. Also in January, the Technology Management for Family Wellness Course will create fleece hats to donate to a local shelter for homeless people. Her students will vote on what shelter they will "adopt". Media Center Specialist Angie Langan coordinated a staff effort to collect six copier boxes of edible and nonedible items to send to alumnus Brian Engler and his troops in Afghanistan.

Parkside High School collected $1,152 for the Bless Our Children campaign, getting students in on the action of dropping coins into jars to reach this all-time high. The SkillsUSA Organization conducted its annual food drive throughout Parkside High from Dec. 6-17 with the food going to the Redman Lodge in Fruitland for its Christmas Basket give away for needy families in the Wicomico County area. In 2009, SkillsUSA collected almost 4,000 items through the drive, enough for the Redmen to increase giving to 100 Christmas baskets, and the need this year was even greater.

Wicomico High participated in many activities to support the community during the holidays, including a food drive by Mu Alpha Theta, but WiHi is saving one big project for January. The SGA will do a school-wide service-learning project called "Shoe Boxes for Salisbury." The students would like to address a need in the community for hygiene supplies and toiletry items at our local shelters and safe houses. The students will collect travel size shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. and wrap them in a shoe box to present as a gift to the shelters and safe houses.

Central Office staff turned out with checkbooks in hand for the annual holiday auction and raised approximately $2,100 for Wicomico school families in need. Six families received gift cards and food donations to help them have a happier holiday. The Central Office also held a casual day for the Maryland Food Bank, and Administration bypassed an office gift swap in favor of donations to Operation Outreach, sending $250 to this effort to send care packages to front line soldiers hospitalized in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.