Maryland Police Look Into Death Inside Upscale Shop

BETHESDA, Md. –  Police say a woman employee at an upscale athletic apparel store in Bethesda has been killed and another woman worker was sexually assaulted after they were attacked during a robbery attempt.

Police said Saturday the woman who survived is talking to detectives. Montgomery County police spokesman Capt.

Paul Starks says two masked men in gloves entered the Lululemon Athletica shop Friday night about the time it was closing.

The women were found Saturday morning before the store opened.

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URGENT: Hundreds Of Thousands Ordered To Leave Nuclear Plant Areas

LATEST UPDATE: Nearly 170,000 people have been evacuated from areas around two damaged nuclear power plants as rescue teams have hard time looking for survivors because of aftershocks.

IWAKI, Japan –  A blast at a Japanese power station Saturday leveled a building housing its reactor and stoked fears of a nuclear meltdown, as officials searched for thousands of people missing more than a day after a devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says nearly 140,000 people have been evacuated from areas near two nuclear power plants.

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Accident

Crash at Jersey and Adventist. Road shut down in both directions.

SHOULD WICOMICO COUNTY “RECONSIDER” USING ALTERNATIVE FINANCING FOR BENNETT MIDDLE SCHOOL?

There has already been consideration of an alternative to issuing bonds to fund the construction of “BMS”, but it was dropped, quietly, a couple years ago. Since then nothing more was heard about it until the County Council voiced concern, due to the humongous cost of the proposed facility, which would require upwards of $50 Million, or more, as the County’s share. The Council has decided not to borrow more money for that purpose in the near future because of the cost and the County’s precarious financial situation. Now, despite those facts, Frederickson and Pollitt are pushing alternative financing of the school.

Alternative financing is a cutesy phrase for having a private investor fund the cost, which is repaid – with a substantial incentive kicker, as rent under a lease or some other arrangement. After a lengthy period of paying rent, the County gets to buy the then aged school for a small price (sometimes just $1). While there can be a public benefit in certain situations, there are substantial burdens as well with alternative financing. Because the investor is looking for a healthy and guaranteed return, the rent/purchase option usually costs considerably more than financing by issuing bonds.

According to an official publication, in early 2009 the Board of Education formed an “Alternative Finance Committee” composed of a variety of financial, political and school facility stakeholders to investigate alternative financing options.” Apparently these gurus produced nothing of significance, and nothing further was heard about it until the dynamic duo – Freddy and Ricky – resurrected it from the dustbin as their plan to have the school proceed without any significant review to eliminate unnecessary and exorbitant cost of construction.

Alternative financing has nothing to do with the design and specification of the facility or its cost. But, because the cost of financing is typically much greater with alternative financing (rather than issuing bonds), it may make the total cost of the school to the taxpayers even greater than that being touted now. It seems that the County’s poor fiscal picture is being completely disregarded by the officials named above, not to mention the cost of the facility as currently planned.

Wicomico County: you’ve been warned, again!

SHHHHHH, Mayor Ireton Doesn't Want You To Know............

Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton spent the good part of his day yesterday in Annapolis with his good buddy Governor Martin O'Malley. Why, might you ask. Well, Mayor Ireton was in Annapolis to testify on behalf of his support towards House Bill 1107, forcing every single property owner in Maryland on a septic system to spend tens of thousands of dollars upgrading their system. Better yet, Ireton wants YOU to be forced into the municipal Waste Water Treatment Plant, THAT DOESN'T WORK!

The Salisbury WWTP fails to meet MDE standards and is now in litigation to fight those involved in engineering it. The taxpayers of Salisbury will certainly be screwed but how shameful is it of Governor O'Malley to INVITE the Mayor  to speak on behalf of support HB 1107 when the City of Salisbury not only doesn't comply with such standards, they're one of the biggest polluters in the state of Maryland with polluting the Wicomico River.

No doubt, Mayor Ireton will be a one term Mayor, so why the picture below of former Council President Mike Dunn? It has been reported that Mike Dunn recently purchased a home on Forest Lane in the City Limits. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Mike Dunn will more than likely run for the next Mayor of Salisbury. You know, we're this close, I'm not talking this close, I'm talking this close Dunn! Growth pays for growth, Dunn. Sassafras Meadows, Dunn. Salisbury Waste Water Treatment Plant, Dunn. $14,000,000.00 Fir Palace, Dunn. Salisbury Mall TIF, Dunn. Shall I go on?

Yeah, let's bring it on right here and now because Mike Dunn personally told me he wanted to get back into local politics and when you've got a Mayor like jim Ireton trying to screw the rural residents of the Eastern Shore by forcing them into a municipalal WWTP when it doesn't even work, Dunn might just have a chance at winning and they know it.

Now here's where Dunn comes into the picture. Here's another growth pays for growth situation where, (without any doubt) Dunn would support the Governor as well because it means that everyone would soon be forced into connecting with Salisbury's WWTP as this may be one of the only ways to get $120,000,000.00 Salisbury taxpayers will be forced to pay.

Isn't it interesting how the State made it look like new codes and standards for municipal waste systems are necessary, the con everyone into supporting it and when they find themselves in a financial bind they find yet another way to create legislation to pay for it. Yeah, I'd say its a perfect match for Dunn and the old Tilghman Administration.

Here's what I also think. I think Salisbury is getting ready to crash in a bigger way than any of you realize. If you think the City is going to just pull money out of a hat to help pay for new Fire Stations, Fire Boats, WWTP, cleaning the river, (perhaps this is what Ireton meant by cleaning it) multi million dollar buildings at the FREE Zoo and the list just goes on and on, you'd be sadly mistaken. The ONLY way they're going to be able to continue paying for these things is by raising taxes and fees.

Fingers will be pointed in all directions as to who's fault it is. Unfortunately, NO ONE is looking deep enough into the future, (political candidate wise) to actually improve our situation. Not just locally but throughout the state as well. If someone, (ANYONE) builds a new Mall in Delmar, say goodbye to Salisbury all together.

Will your future choices be Mike Dunn vs. Jim Ireton in the next election. My guess is, yes. Is there one, just one individual stable enough with a successful business background who lives in the City of Salisbury with enough wisdom and experience to save the City before it becomes even more corrupt and desperate? OR, Can Salisbury even be saved at this point?

A Poem By Chuck Campbell: THE GIFT

Chuck wrote: "I began writing this poem when I was told by the hospital that I was considered a qualified applicant for their lung transplant program.

THE GIFT

My past has brought me to you. Your future will bring you to me. One of the hardest things for me to handle, Is not knowing just who you'll be. Your family has loved you. My family will. One thing I can promise you, Is that I will cherish you until... Your gift to me is a special one. My gift to you will be To take care of your gift until I am done. I wish we could have met in a different way. But meeting you now, I must say, Has given me a second chance at life. So, my new friend, You have left your family behind. But your gift will allow me More years with mine. God has always loved us all. And you're with Him now. So save me a place among the moon and the stars for when I get the call. And one day when we meet for a second time. A heavenly hug, Will be a gift of mine."

COMPUTER WORLD FIRE ON SNOW HILL RD 7:25 AM

Wicomico County Board of Education Seeks Input on Draft Calendar for 2011-12

The Wicomico County Board of Education is seeking input on its draft calendar for the 2011-2012 school year, prior to a final vote at the April 12 Board meeting.

Under the proposed calendar, the school year would begin Monday, Aug. 29 and end June 7, 2012. Students would be off Nov. 23-25 for the Thanksgiving break, Dec. 23-Jan. 2 for the winter holidays (schools would reopen Jan. 3), and April 5-9 for the spring holidays. June 5, 6 and 7 would be half-days with early dismissal.

Schools would also be closed Sept. 5 (Labor Day), Oct. 21 (MSEA Convention), Jan. 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday), Feb. 14 (Election Day), Feb. 20 (Presidents Day) and May 28 (Memorial Day). Schools would be closed for students (but open for teachers) for professional days on Sept. 28, Nov. 2, Jan. 23, Jan. 24, and April 20.

Under the proposed calendar, the five days listed as makeup days in case of school closings for inclement weather are listed in the order they would be used if needed: June 8, Apr. 5, Apr. 20, June 11, and June 12.

The Board approved the draft calendar on first reading at its March 8 meeting, and expects to adopt a final calendar at the April 12 meeting. Please share any comments with Stacy Messick, Coordinator of Employee Relations, at smessick@wcboe.org or 410-677-4421. These comments will be shared with the Board prior to its April 12 vote on the calendar.

Wisconsin Unions Threaten Business

March 10, 2011
Mr. Tom Ellis, President
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
770 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202

SENT VIA FASCIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL

Dear Mr. Ellis:

As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin. ..

As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table. Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.

In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer, at 608.273.3840.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

James L. Palmer, Executive Director
Wisconsin Professional Police Association
Mahlon Mitchell,President
Professional Professional Fire Fighters
Jim Conway, President
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311
John Matthews, Execuctive Director
Madison Teachers, Inc.
Keith Patt, Executive Director
Green Bay Education Association
Bob Richardson,  President
Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association
Dan Frei, Prersident
Madison Professional Police Officers Association

(Source- WTMJ)

King, Inhofe Push Bill Making English Official Language

Rep. Steve King and Sen. Jim Inhofe have introduced legislation to establish English as the official language of the United States government.

The English Language Unity Act of 2011 requires all official functions of the United States to be conducted in English, establishes a uniform language requirement for naturalization, and places an obligation on representatives of the federal government to encourage individuals to learn English.

Rep. King, an Iowa Republican, said in a statement: "A common language is the most powerful unifying force known throughout history. We need to encourage assimilation of all legal immigrants in each generation. A nation divided by language cannot pull together as effectively as a people."

King led a successful effort to enact legislation establishing English as Iowa's official language.

More here

Quake Moved Japan Coast 8 Feet; Shifted Earth's Axis

The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis.

"At this point, we know that one GPS station moved (8 feet), and we have seen a map from GSI (Geospatial Information Authority) in Japan showing the pattern of shift over a large area is consistent with about that much shift of the land mass," said Kenneth Hudnut, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Reports from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy estimated the 8.9-magnitude quake shifted the planet on its axis by nearly 4 inches (10 centimeters).

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Civility: 18 Wisc Republican Senators Report Death Threats

State Sens. Joe Leibham and Glenn Grothman said they are among as many as 18 Republican senators who received a death threat following their votes to eliminate most collective bargaining powers for public workers.

The threat was sent in an e-mail late Wednesday, according to a copy of the letter released by Grothman's office. The e-mail also was addressed to Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau.

Grothman, R-West Bend, said the e-mail is the latest example of "a new height in incivility." He said in recent weeks he has received obscene phone calls at all hours of the night, been jostled at the Capitol and has been shouted down during interviews.

"This is another example of the anger which is being spewed by the government unions," Grothman said. "This has been all about intimidating … Republican legislators into bowing to the public unions, and it has only steeled our resolve."

Grothman said he is hesitant to completely disregard the threat given the volatile atmosphere in Madison.

A note shoved under his door Wednesday night said, "The only good Republican is a dead Republican."

More here

Bill Clinton: Drilling Delays 'Ridiculous'

Former President Bill Clinton said Friday that delays in offshore oil and gas drilling permits are “ridiculous” at a time when the economy is still rebuilding, according to attendees at the IHS CERAWeek conference.

Clinton spoke on a panel with former President George W. Bush that was closed to the media. Video of their moderated talk with IHS CERA Chairman Daniel Yergin was also prohibited.

But according to multiple people in the room, Clinton, surprisingly, agreed with Bush on many oil and gas issues, including criticism of delays in permitting offshore since last year’s Gulf of Mexico spill.

“Bush said all the things you’d expect him to say” on oil and gas issues, said Jim Noe, senior vice president at Hercules Offshore and executive director of the pro-drilling Shallow Water Energy Security Coalition.

But Clinton added, “You’d be surprised to know that I agree with all that,” according to Noe and others in the room.

Clinton said there are “ridiculous delays in permitting when our economy doesn’t need it,” according to Noe and others.

The two former presidents both generally agreed on the need to get offshore drilling workers back on the job.

Clinton and Bush also agreed on the need for more domestic shale gas production, with Clinton noting that it has been done safely for years in his home state of Arkansas.

Bush — who referred to oil and gas in the discussion as “hydrocarbons” — described the anti-hydrocarbon sentiment in Washington as “dangerous.” He said while there is a need to develop new energy technologies, “we have to be prosperous in order to afford those technologies and, in order to be prosperous, we need to drill,” according to Noe.

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Newsmax Poll: Scott Walker Has Overwhelming Support

An Internet poll sponsored by Newsmax.com reveals that Americans overwhelmingly support Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s efforts to reduce the power of public employee unions in his state.

Participants in the poll, which drew more than 700,000 responses, also believe those unions have become too powerful, and say President Barack Obama was wrong when he came out against Gov. Walker.

The outcome of the battle in Wisconsin has implications for many other states, the federal government, President Obama and even the 2012 elections.

The poll is not scientific. But Newsmax will provide the results to major media outlets. Newsmax reports have been cited on media outlets such as CNN, ABC News, Fox News, CBS, and MSNBC, as well as other other major networks.

Details

Oil Plunges As Japan’s Refiners Shut Plants

Oil fell, helping reverse a slide in global stocks, as crude demand weakened after Japan’s worst earthquake on record forced refineries to close. The yen gained as investors bought the domestic currency as a haven.

Oil slumped 1.5 percent to $101.16 a barrel at 3:09 p.m. in New York and earlier fell 3.6 percent for its biggest drop since November. The MSCI World Index erased a loss of as much as 0.5 percent and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.9 percent to 1,306.49 as higher-than-estimated profit forecasts from Steel Dynamics Inc. and Pall Corp. lifted commodity and industrial shares. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average slid 1.7 percent. The yen rose 1.3 percent versus the dollar, the most since August.

The Bank of Japan pledged to ensure financial stability after as hundreds of people were killed in the 8.9-magnitude quake that triggered a tsunami that engulfed towns on the northern coast. Losses in oil and the rebound in stocks also came as protesters in Saudi Arabia stayed away from a so-called Day of Rage as police were deployed in force to deter activists.

More here

Rep. Allen West Slams Military Diversity Report

The Military Leadership Diversity Commission’s (MLDC) conclusion this week that there are too many white men in senior positions in the military “is a slap in the face” to those minorities who have achieved seniority, according to retired Lt. Colonel and Florida Republican Rep. Allen West.

According to the MLDC’s report, released Monday, 77 percent of active duty senior officers are white, 8 percent are black, 5 percent are Hispanic and 16 percent are women. The report suggested the lack of minorities in military leadership is something that needs to change. To that end, the commission’s report includes 20 recommendations on how to increase the proportion of minority officers in the military in order to create a fighting force that better represents the make up of the population it defends.

In an interview with The Daily Caller, West, who is black, was not pleased with the report, saying that the military is not a social experiment for outside groups to impose their theories. Rather, he said, it is a merit based organization where anybody can succeed.

“Everyone that comes into the military has an equal opportunity to get promoted to the next level. It is not about outside entities trying to engineer and design results and outcomes or create a sense of equal achievement...” West said.

West suspects that the military as an institution is targeted by liberals because of the things it represents.

“The military stands for things that liberals don’t care for: standards, discipline, honor, character. And those are things they don’t like because they believe everyone should be equal…that is not what the military is all about.”

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With Deepest Respect

Lindsay Lohan is 24 and her story is all over the news because she's a celebrity drug addict and allegedly,  a thief.

Charlie Sheen is 45 and you would have been under a rock all week if you hadn't heard about his antics.

While................

Justin Allen 23,
Brett Linley 29,
Matthew Weikert 29,
Justus Bartett 27,
Dave Santos 21,
Jesse Reed 26,
Matthew Johnson 21,
Zachary Fisher 24,
Brandon King 23,
Christopher Goeke 23, and
Sheldon Tate 27..........

are all Marines that gave their lives this week for you. There is no media for them; not even a mention of their names. 

Obama And Holder Taking On Arizona's SB1070

HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER

Salisbury Tokens

Collecting Salisbury tokens can be an interesting hobby. You have to be prepared to not find a lot of tokens available. Usually, they are issued these days to commemorate an historical event or to commemorate an historical event of the past. There can be of any number of varieties. The best are struck metal, but that doesn’t preclude the inclusion of wooden nickels or plastic discs.

I think the best are the ones issued by businesses either for a redeemable amount or just to advertise the business. I have seen tokens from confectioneries, clothing stores, banks, insurance companies, taxis, the electric company, food distributors, laundries, a car wash, gaming tokens, the local pump company, the zoo and fraternal organizations.

Salisbury had six different bus tokens issued in the 1960’s and 1970’s. There was one that instead of Salisbury, Md. it was struck as Salisbury, Mo. None of them are particularly scarce, but you rarely see them around here.

I also include dog tags issued either by Salisbury or Wicomico County in this category. They make nice mementos of the past, even though they are still issued every year now.

The most interesting one I have is from the Jackson Lumber Company. Actually it is from Riderwood, Alabama. I saw it in an auction from California years ago and researched it. It seems that Riderwood is named for Noah Rider, the brother of Nannie Rider Jackson. She was married to Elihu Jackson, and Noah’s job was to look after his brother-in-law’s lumber interests in Alabama. The town that sprang up around the lumber mill became Riderwood. It was a most unusual auction in that what you bid was what you bid. They didn’t reduce the highest bid to a notch over the second highest bid. I knew the fellow running the auction and phoned him to tell him of my intense interest in the token. He knew by my telling him of the research I had done that I really wanted the token. He said that he didn’t give out any knowledge of bids during the auction but that he would make an exception for me and tell me on the last day how I stood. I agreed. When I called him on the last day, he said he could tell me two things. First, he said I had the highest bid. And second, that I had the highest bid “by a long shot”. I ended up with the token, but I exited that organization because of their bid process. Still and all, I added a nice token.

The only qualification necessary to collect Salisbury tokens is that “Salisbury, Md.” is on the token. “Wicomico” is also acceptable. The Riderwood token is an exception, but the connection is undeniable and makes for a good story.

Another exception I have made is canning house tokens. These are fascinating because of the research involved in identifying them. I have six that can attributed to Salisbury, although only The Pratt Company, which operated in Salisbury from 1942-1945, has “Salisbury, Md.” on it. Canneries were often catalogued by the owner’s name and they were usually only the money behind the operation. Such examples for Salisbury are the William H. Jackson cannery from 1901 and the W. F. Messick cannery. The Messick cannery was located in Allen, but the office was in his ice house in Salisbury. Actually, W. F. Messick’s brother ran the cannery in Allen.The noteworthy firm of John H. Dulany in Fruitland operated a cannery with a man named Hastings in Salisbury from 1919-1926. Insley and Mitchell had a cannery on Truitt Street in Salisbury from 1917-1950. I grew up a half block from this cannery. With the smells generated by the heat of the summer, I was well-grown before I could eat a tomato. W. K. Leatherbury operated a cannery on the river from 1908-1927. He also had an oyster operation in the winter and had tokens for both his cannery in the summer and another for the oysters in the winter. Another oyster shucker operated on S. Division Street. His name was W. D. Turner and the token reveals that his son was in business with him. His tokens were given out for the number of gallons shucked. The Turners are listed in the 1907 Salisbury City Directory.

Same-Sex Marriage Bill To Return In 2012

ANNAPOLIS — With a vow of wait ‘til next year, supporters of same-sex marriage said they were disappointed but not discouraged by the failure of the historic legislation to win approval in the House of Delegates on Friday.

The reason for their optimism comes from the Senate, where — for the first time — a chamber of the Maryland General Assembly voted to permit gay and lesbian couples to lawfully wed.

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New Pistol

Ruger is coming out with a new pistol in honor of Obama.
It will be named the “Union Worker”.

It doesn’t work and you can’t fire it.

Dems At Radicalization Hearings Recite Muslim Brotherhood-Affiliated Group’s Talking Points

The Daily Caller has acquired the talking points that the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), a group with deep ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, supplied to its supporters as an aid in attacking the Muslim radicalization hearing New York Republican Rep. Peter King held Thursday.

Save for Texas Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s incoherent ramblings on Thursday, Democrats’ statements and testimony against King’s hearing, whether intentionally or unintentionally, largely mirrored MPAC’s talking points.

MPAC recommended that its supporters accuse King of “pure political posturing,” and told them to say, “these hearings appear little more than a political circus with Rep. King as the ringleader.”

MPAC also recommended supporters say that the “hearings hurt our national security” because of their “narrow scope.”

Finally, it said supporters should say that the hearings were unnecessary because “active” partnerships between law enforcement and the American Muslim community already exist.

California Democratic Rep. Laura Richardson hit on the “pure political posturing” point in the MPAC memo. She compared King’s hearings to those of the McCarthy era.

Rep. Al Green, Texas Democrat, asked why King wasn’t investigating the Ku Klux Klan, something that plays right into the MPAC “suggested message” that the “hearings hurt our national security” because of a “narrow scope.”


Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison regurgitated all the MPAC talking points in his testimony at the beginning of the hearing.

“Ascribing the evil acts of a few individuals to an entire community is wrong; it is ineffective; and it risks making our country less secure,” Ellison said. “Targeting the Muslim American community for the actions of a few is unjust. Actually all of us–all communities–are responsible for combating violent extremism. Singling out one community focuses our analysis in the wrong direction.”

A spokesman for Ellison told TheDC that the congressman didn’t receive the MPAC talking points and “wrote his testimony himself.” A spokesman for Green did not immediately respond to TheDC’s request for comment.

More from the Daily Caller

2010 Teacher Actual Wages - Govt Wages Exposed

This will explain in a nutshell what all the 'hoopy doo' is all about in wisconsin....

   AVERAGE  WAGE AND BENEFITS  (remember this is for about 9 months of  work) 
   TEACHERS: 
   Milwaukee         $86,297  Elmbrook           $91,065  Germantown      $83,818  Hartland  Arrwhd    $90,285      (highest teacher was $122,952-lowest was  $64,942)  Men  Falls           $81,099  West  Bend        $82,153  Waukesha        $92,902  Sussex            $82,956  Mequon            $95,297  Kettle  Mor        $87,676  Muskego         $91,341 
   STAFF: 
   Arrowhead  - Bus Mng - Kopecky -  $169,525  Arrowhead  - Principal - Wieczorek -    $152,519  Grmtwn  -  Asst Princ - Dave Towers -  $123,222  Elmbrk   -  Burliegh Elemetary - Principal Zahn-   $142,315 (for a primary  school!!)  Madison  - Asst Principal - McGrath -  $127,835 
  
   UNIVERSITY  of WISCONSIN STAFF (2009) (salary  alone): 
   Michael  Knetter - Prof of Bus  -   $327,828  Carolyn  Martin -Chancellor Mad-   $437,000  Hector  Deluca - Prof of Nutritional Science - $254,877  (really??) 
   (source:Madison.com " target=_blank<http://madison.com/>   -as the UW removed salaries from being posted online in  2007- why if they are so  low?) 
  
   How  about some other "public servant job" ???  What do  they make? 
  
   Madison  Garbage men (2009) (salary  only): 
   Garbageman,  Mr. Nelson earned $159,258 in 2009, including $109,892  in overtime and other pay. Garbageman, Greg Tatman, who  earned $125,598 7 Madison garbage men made over $100,000  30 Madison garbage men made over  $70,000 
  
   MILWAUKEE  CITY BUS DRIVERS (salary  only): 
  
   136  Drivers made more than   $70,000     54 Drivers made more than   $80,000     18 Drivers made more than   $90,000      8 Drivers made more than   $100,000            Top Driver made   $117,000  (Source  WTMJ) 
   (The  average private bus driver makes $9-13 an  hour (about 20,000 yr) with no pension, or  healthcare.) 
  
  
   AND  WE ARE SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE PAYING 100% OF THEIR  GENEROUS RETIREMENT ? THEY HAVE SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS AS  THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY 5.8% OF IT THEMSELVES  ....REALLY?

Update: Nuclear Power Plant Blast

A large explosion occurred at the Fukushima-Daiichi - or Fukushima I - nuclear power plant in north-eastern Japan, close to the epicenter of Friday's earthquake. Officials fear a meltdown at one of the plant's reactors. Tens of thousands of people in the surrounding area have been urged to evacuate.

Government spokesman Yukio Edano says the pressure as well as the radiation at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant has now fallen following this  explosion.

It seems clear now from Mr Edano's comments that the nuclear plant building that was blown apart earlier did house a reactor, but the reactor was protected by its metal casing.

Noriyuki Shikata, deputy cabinet secretary for public relations for the Japanese prime minister tweets: "Blast was caused by accumulated hydrogen combined with oxygen in the space between container and outer structure. No damage to container."

"TEPCO's [Tokyo Electric Power Company] efforts to de-pressurize the container were successful. Additional measures are now being taken using sea water and boric acid. "

As a precaution, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Japanese authorities are making preparations to distribute iodine to residents in the area of both the Fukushima nuclear plants. The IAEA has reiterated its offer of technical assistance to Japan, should the government request this.

BBC

Subject Arrested For Numerious Burglaries

Worcester County Bureau of Investigation
13070 St. Martins Neck Road     Post Office Box 199         Bishopville,
Maryland 21813
Office: 410-352-3476                   Fax: 410-352-3053          Out of Area
Toll Free: 1-800-811-8396

NEWS RELEASE

Date & Time: Numerous Dates in 2010     CASE #:  10-0072
Location Occurred: 1924 Unionville Rd, Pocomoke, Worcester County, Maryland    
Crime or Violation:  First Degree Burglary/Fourth Degree Burglary/ Theft Less
1,000/Theft $1,000 to $10,000

Victim:  Numerous victim's located in Worcester Co. MD.

Accused:  Brad David Donaway 12/17/1979  8738 Gumboro Rd, Pittsville MD
Charges:  30 Counts Various Burglary and Theft Charges

Narrative:  
The Worcester County Bureau of Investigation handled approximately eight separate burglary investigations during the early year of 2010.  These burglaries were linked together during the investigation and revealed that the suspect, Donaway, had been involved.  Donaway was later detained on an unrelated burglary in the state of Delaware and has been incarcerated since.  On 03/11/2011, Donaway was extradited back to the State of Maryland and taken to the court commissioner, where Donaway was held on on $250,000 bond.

Slots -- More Good News

commentary by Joe Reynolds

Contrary to publicly expressed opinions of some present and past members of the Ocean Pines Board of Directors, most notably current OPA Treasurer Pete Gomsak, regarding the Local Development Council (LDC) created under the slots legislation, the LDC's role is purely advisory. In other words, the LDC has no regulatory authority to tell Worcester County, Ocean City, Berlin or OPA how it must spend any slots impact funds.

This information comes directly from County Attorney and LDC attorney Sonny Bloxom. More importantly, in a telephone conversation today, Bloxom also said the LDC has no purview over OPA under the slots legislation and OPA does not have to submit a spending plan to the LDC for review as do Worcester County, Ocean City and Berlin. "The law regarding the LDC's review role mentions only municipalities and governments, and OPA is neither."

While Ocean City, Worcester County, and Berlin must submit spending plans to the LDC, the LDC lacks any regulatory authority, according to Bloxom. "It is purely an advisory body, " he said.

The long and short of this is OPA is only obligated to spend the slots impact money on "public infrastructure," per the language in the legislation. Bloxom also indicated the definition of "public infrastructure" under the legislation is probably much broader than the average layman might believe, and certainly much broader than many OPA board members believed.

OPA's public roads and bridges would certainly be public infrastructure. However, under a broader definition those funds could be spent on things like fire and police protection, not to mention OPA facilities open to the general public. Such facilities might include parks and pools.

Beyond the "more good news" aspect, this is yet another example of why the Board of Directors should have counsel present at OPA Board meetings.

OPA's slots impact funds are currently about $17,000 per month, and the monthly income could easily be $50,000 or more during the area's busy tourist season. Yearly income could top $400,000.

Keep track of the income via a link on the OceanPinesForum.com home page to Maryland's reporting site. OPA receives 10% of the local impact funds shown for the Casino Ocean Downs operation.

Discuss all this and add your own comments via the link below:

  Slots - More Good News
Aside from the amount of money coming to OPA, there is more good news

Finally, don't forget our weekly Forum Coffee Klatch – social get-together at Java Bay Café 9 A.M. every Thursday. Everyone welcome.

Delmar High School Giving Back

Delmar Girls Basketball presented a check for $555.00 to to Women Supporting Women in Salisbury.  The girls raised the money during their Hoops for A Cure Week in February.    Great to see athletes giving back.  Go Wildcats!

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TESTIFIES IN SUPPORT OF THE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION ACT

Legislation would restrict polluting septic systems on new, major subdivisions in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Just days after wading into a polluted lake in Goldsboro to demonstrate the damage that pollution from failing septic systems can have on our ecosystem, Governor Martin O'Malley today testified before the House Environmental Matters Committee and the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee in support of restricting septic systems on new, major subdivisions in Maryland. 

“By turning a blind eye to the proliferation of septic McMansions, as a State we are in essence feeding donuts to a patient with a heart condition,” said Governor O’Malley.  “Septic systems, by their very design, are intended to leak sewage into our Bay and into our water tables.  Because they require large lots, their proliferation has the effect of carving up our agricultural and rural land.”

He added, “With the reforms we are proposing, we don’t seek to ban these systems or force homeowners to convert their existing systems.  Rather, we aim to rationally curtail their expansion.”

In Governor O’Malley’s presentation before each committee today, he urged committee members not to jeopardize the progress we’ve made together on restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Currently, approximately 411,000 Maryland households are on septic systems.  If nothing is done, total nitrogen load from septic systems will increase by 36 percent over the next 25 years.  Nitrogen is the most damaging pollutant in the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's waterways. To comply with the EPA’s Bay “pollution diet” Maryland must reduce nitrogen 21 percent by 2020.

The Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2011 (HB 1107/SB 846), as amended, does the following:

• Allow new residential minor subdivisions (development on four or fewer new lots, five lots total) to use individual on-site septic systems if they use nitrogen removal technology;
• Prohibit new residential major subdivisions (five or more new lots) from using on-site septic systems - but has options: new residential major subdivisions (five or more new lots) can use shared or multi-use sewerage systems (above ground discharge) or connect to existing sewer; and
• As a proposed amendment to the bill, allow a farm family to create the individual four lots over time so they wouldn't have to subdivide all four at once.

Failing septic systems can present an imminent threat to public health and to safe drinking water. There is potential for human contact with sewage through a system that directly discharges to the ground or to surface water, backs up into a building, or contaminates drinking water supplies, such as a home drinking well.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY ANNOUNCES HBO TO SHOOT GAME CHANGE FILM IN MARYLAND

BALTIMORE, MD – Governor Martin O'Malley today announced that HBO will shoot the film Game Change in Maryland this spring.  The film is estimated to create jobs for approximately 160 local production crew and 1,800 local actors and extras.

Game Change follows John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate to their ultimate defeat in the general election. Based on the bestselling book of the same name by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, the film is directed and executive produced by Jay Roach and written and co-executive produced by Danny Strong, whose previous collaboration was HBO’s Emmy Award winning film, Recount.  The 2008 film also earned an Emmy and DGA Award for Roach and an Emmy nomination and WGA Award for Strong.

Game Change will star Academy Award nominated actress Julianne Moore as Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

HBO and Maryland have had a long and successful relationship. HBO recently wrapped shooting the pilot episode for the series VEEP in Maryland.  Previous award-winning HBO productions that were filmed in Maryland include Shot in the Heart, Something the Lord Made, The Corner and The Wire. 

“HBO produces the highest quality and most-acclaimed films and series on television. The talent involved in Game Change once again proves their commitment to entertainment excellence. We are very pleased to welcome HBO back,” said Governor O'Malley.

 “We’ve had great experiences filming in Maryland,” said HBO Films president Len Amato. “The state offers a strong local base of talented crew and actors, and we are very grateful for the generous cooperation of the Governor and the Film Office.”

The Maryland Film Office, located in Baltimore and part of the Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts, is an agency of the state's Department of Business and Economic Development. It provides location scouting and pre-production research, in addition to acting as a government and community liaison throughout film production. For more information, visit www.marylandfilm.org.  

ANNAPOLIS, MD  – Governor Martin O’Malley issued this statement today following the vote in the Maryland House of Delegates on SB 116 – the Civil Marriage Protection Act:

“It is my firm belief that equality under the law means equality for everyone, and our laws should reflect that fundamental principle. Together, we’ve worked hard to protect and expand these rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered citizens in our state.  It was my hope to sign a marriage equality act consistent with these progressive reforms, while protecting religious freedom in our state.   

“As One Maryland we must work together to respect the dignity of every individual.  I remain committed to working with all Marylanders to ensure that rights are protected for equally for everyone.”

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO DISCUSS JOBS, ECONOMY IN WESTERN MARYLAND

Governor to convene “Maryland Forward” forum on job creation with Western Maryland stakeholders

ANNAPOLIS, MD  – Governor Martin O’Malley will travel to Western Maryland Monday to convene discussions on job creation and economic development in the mountain region of our state.  The Governor will hold a discussion on tourism and State Parks at New Germany State Park in the morning, and later convene a “Maryland Forward” forward on job creation at Allegany College in Cumberland.

Garrett and Allegany Counties combine for over $288 million in annual visitor expenditures, making tourism the region’s largest industry.  The Governor will discuss continued opportunities for state and local partnerships to strengthen the region’s ability to create and save jobs in Western Maryland.

Following the State of the State address, Governor O’Malley announced a series of “Maryland Forward” local policy forums to advance many of those initiatives, serving as a continuation of the “Maryland Forward” forum series before the 2011 Inauguration.  Tomorrow’s afternoon forum is the fourth in a series of smaller groups of local stakeholders throughout the 2011 legislative session focused on specific policy areas that will help Maryland be a winner in the new economy, protect our neighborhoods, and create jobs.

Stephen Decatur High School NJROTC

Hi Joe! I am writing everybody and any body that can help us keep our Navy JROTC Program at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin Maryland. Listed below are the names of officials that we are emailing to hopefully get a reversal of the decision to cancel our program. 

U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin

U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski

U.S. Congressman Andy Harris

You probably have seen it on the news or read about it in the paper recently we are desperately trying to keep our program going. The NJROTC has helped so many kids and you can see the pride that they wear on their faces and when they are in uniform. It would be a total shame to lose the program because we were 6 students short this year. Next years numbers are about 125 students. We need 100 minimum. 

If you have a moment to read the letter on the Stephen Decatur HS Website and put in a good word for us it would be greatly appreciate.    http://www.stephendecatur.org/

Stephen Decatur HS also hosts Drill Meets and Competitions that JROTC Schools attend from all over the state, so this would not just be a loss for Stephen Decatur it would also be a loss to the Maryland State Community.

Explosion At Japan Nuclear Power Plant

A massive explosion has rocked a Japanese nuclear power plant after Friday's devastating earthquake.

A huge pall of smoke was seen coming from the plant at Fukushima and several workers were injured.

Japanese officials fear a meltdown at one of the plant's reactors but say the container housing it was not damaged.

A huge relief operation is under way after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and the tsunami it triggered, which is thought to have killed at least 1,000.

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan declared a state of emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini (also known as Fukushima 1 and 2) power plants as engineers try to confirm whether a reactor at one of the stations has gone into meltdown.

Television pictures showed a massive blast at one of the buildings of the Fukushima-Daiichi plant, about 250km (160 miles) north-east of Tokyo.

A huge cloud of smoke billows out and large bits of debris are flung far from the building.

Japan's NHK TV showed before and after pictures of the plant. They appeared to show that the outer structure of one of four buildings at the plant had collapsed after the explosion.

The Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), the plant's operator, said four workers had been injured.

It is not yet clear in exactly what part of the plant the explosion occurred or what caused it.

The government of Fukushima prefecture said radiation levels at the plant over one hour were equivalent to the annual allowable exposure.

Officials ordered the evacuation zone around the plant expanded from a 10km radius to 20km. BBC correspondent Nick Ravenscroft said police stopped him 60km from the Fukushima-Daiichi plant.

Japan's nuclear agency said on Saturday that radioactive caesium and iodine had been detected near the number one reactor of the power station.

The agency said this may indicate that containers of uranium fuel inside the reactor may have begun melting.

Nuclear reactors at four power plants in the earthquake-struck zone automatically shut down on Friday.

In several of the reactors at the two Fukushima plants the cooling systems, which should keep operating on emergency power supplies, failed.

Without cooling, the temperature in the reactor core builds, with the risk that it could melt through its container into the building housing the system.

Pressure also builds in the containers housing the reactor.

Tepco said it was pumping water into the Fukushima-Daiichi's number one reactor in a bid to cool it down.

Analysts say a meltdown would not necessarily lead to a major disaster because light-water reactors would not explode even if they overheated.

But Walt Patterson, of the London research institute Chatham House, said "this is starting to look a lot like Chernobyl".

He said it was too early to tell if the explosion's aftermath would result in the same extreme level of radioactive contamination that occurred at Chernobyl.

The explosion was most likely caused by melting fuel coming into contact with water, he told the BBC.

BBC