DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Friday, June 17, 2011
Guerrero Loses By TKO In 4th Round
Fernando Guerrero LIVE TONIGHT On ESPN
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ON MAY’S JOBS REPORT
Fruitland Police Department Press Releases
INCIDENT: Possession of CDS
LOCATION: N. Fruitland Blvd
Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO.: 2011-640
PERSON CHARGED: JAMES MILLER BLOUNT M/B
AGE: 49
ADDRESS: Roger Street, Salisbury, Md.
CHARGES: Possession of CDS w/ intent to distribute
Possession of CDS
Possession of Paraphernalia
Numerous traffic charges
DISPOSITION: Released to custody of WCDC
Resume’
On the above date and time Fruitland officers conducted a traffic stop on a red motor scooter northbound on Rt 13. Subsequent inquiry revealed the operator, the above named subject, did not have an operator’s license and his driving privileges were suspended. A search revealed the subject to be in possession of CDS. He was charged accordingly and transported to WCDC where he was remanded to the custody of Central Booking.
DATE & TIME: Thursday, June 16, 2011 @ 11:31 a.m.
INCIDENT Possession of CDS
LOCATION: South Division Street and Liberty Way, Fruitland, Md.
CASE NO.: 2011-644
PERSON CHARGED: TRAVIS ANTIONO GIE M/B
AGE: 19
ADDRESS: Wellington Circle, Salisbury, Md.
CHARGES:
Possession of CDS w/intent to Distrubute: Narcotic
Possession of CDS w/intent to Distribute
Possession of CDS w/intent to Distribute: Schl Bus/Prop
Possession of CDS-not Marihuana
Possession of CDS Paraphernalia
DISPOSITION: Released to Custody of WCDC
Resume’
On the above date and time officers conducted a traffic stop on a 1997 Honda Accord operated by the above named subject. During the traffic stop a K-9 scan was conducted ; the result of which a quantity of CDS was discovered. The subject was arrested ,charged accordingly and transported to WCDC where he was remanded to the custody of Central Booking.
Missing Michigan Woman Found Dead In Suitcase
Dawn Fital, 45, of Pittsfield Township was reported missing Monday. Police arrested her boyfriend, Gregory Noack, the next day about 210 miles away after he was found acting suspiciously behind a bank in Merrillville, Ind.
But an open murder warrant wasn't filed for Noack until Thursday by prosecutors in Washtenaw County, Mich., said Pittsfield Township police Deputy Chief Gordon Schick. Noack, 44, shared a home with Fital.
Noack, who remained jailed in Indiana's Lake County, was expected to appear in court there Friday, Schick said.
Divers with the sheriff's department in Lake County discovered Fital's body about 10:15 a.m. EDT in a pond behind a Toys R Us store between the communities of Hobart and Merrillville, said Deputy Commander Rob Arnold.
Information from the boyfriend "led to the discovery of the body," Arnold said.
The body was inside a large suitcase, said chief deputy coroner T.J. Adams, who declined to disclose any other details. An autopsy was planned for Saturday so Michigan authorities can attend.
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DOWNTOWN PROPERTY REVITALIZATION
The prime objective of this pilot program is work with selected property owners to help them make their properties more marketable and more attractive to prospective tenants or purchasers.
To start the process, the Mayor’s Office will contact the owners of these Downtown properties:
• Alfirst Bank Building, 201 W. Main St.
• 113 W. Main St.
• Hess Building, 205 W. Main St.
• The Powell Building, 218-220 W. Main St.
• White & Leonard Building, 117 &119 W. Main St.
The process will begin with a meeting with each property owner to learn how the City can make the best use of its resources to bring the property back as a home of one or more viable businesses. It is hoped that by working together, the City and the property owners can use their talents and skills, plus established incentive programs to infuse new life into vacant spaces.
Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brad Bellacicco said, “The Salisbury downtown is a gem that needs some polishing. This effort to target a couple of properties is a good step forward in polishing our historic commercial core.”
Currently, the City of Salisbury offers the following incentives to Downtown properties owners:
- Enterprise Zone Tax Credits;
- Revolving Loan Funds;
- Arts & Entertainment District tax credits;
Urban Salisbury can support rehabilitation of Downtown properties through:
- Façade Grants;
- Access to the Neighborhood Business Works program;
- Low cost/no cost Architectural Design assistance;
- Marketing and Promotional support;
- Business Advisory services.
This is the first time the City has taken the lead by offering to partner with Downtown property owners. The Mayor expects to add other skills to the Task Force as time passes. The pilot program may also identify new tools to revitalize Downtown. If the pilot program is successful, it could be expanded to provide support and assistance to all Downtown properties.
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN FREDERICK DOUGLASS STATUE UNVEILING
GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO KICK-OFF “CYCLE MARYLAND”
IRS Gives $110,000 To Wrong Guy, Now He's In Jail
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The Fountains Has Been Sold
The claim, "We'll have the finest food in the area" and quite frankly I wouldn't doubt it. They have the capability and kitchen to do so, we'll just have to see what happens when the time comes.
The restaurant/banquet hall was sold on May 17th to the Triantis Family.
Oprah: I want O.J. to confess to me
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Chicken Festival Kicks Off In Delaware
The 62nd edition of the annual Delmarva Chicken Festival kicks off in Georgetown, with festivities scheduled throughout Friday and Saturday on the campus of Delmarva Christian High School.
The event, which began in Georgetown in 1948, offers arts and crafts, a home and trade show, musical entertainment, and, of course, the popular giant fry pan.
The festival is sponsored annually by Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc. a trade group.
Organizers are expecting some 20,000 people for this year's event.
Admission is free.
Source
We're Back
While Salisbury News continues to grow, we felt it was time to get back into the swing of being in Downtown Salisbury.
That being said, next week we plan on moving back into 300 W. Main Street on the Downtown Plaza.
We're excited about the move as many people have asked if they could drop something off or simply stop in to discuss issues. Starting Monday you'll be able to do so and we look forward to seeing/meeting you.
A Comment Worthy Of A Post
America Is Being Raped ... Just Like Greece And Other Countries
But if they were purchased with our taxpayer funds and then sold to the big boys for cheap, that is looting.
Greece is thinking of selling some islands [12]. Austria is thinking of selling mountains [13] to pay off their national debt. Cities throughout the U.S. are thinking of privatizing their parking meters [14].
What's going on?
Well, as I predicted [15] in December 2008, bailing out the giant, insolvent banks would cause a global debt crisis:
Top independent experts say that the biggest banks are insolvent (see this [17], for example), as they have been many times before [18].The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is often called the "central banks' central bank", as it coordinates transactions between central banks.
BIS points out in a new report [16] that the bank rescue packages have transferred significant risks onto government balance sheets, which is reflected in the corresponding widening of sovereign credit default swaps:
In other words, by assuming huge portions of the risk from banks trading in toxic derivatives, and by spending trillions that they don't have, central banks have put their countries at risk from default.The scope and magnitude of the bank rescue packages also meant that significant risks had been transferred onto government balance sheets. This was particularly apparent in the market for CDS referencing sovereigns involved either in large individual bank rescues or in broad-based support packages for the financial sector, including the United States. While such CDS were thinly traded prior to the announced rescue packages, spreads widened suddenly on increased demand for credit protection, while corresponding financial sector spreads tightened.
And a study of 124 banking crises by the International Monetary Fund found [19] that propping banks which are only pretending to be solvent hurts the economy:
MoreExisting empirical research has shown that providing assistance to banks and their borrowers can be counterproductive, resulting in increased losses to banks, which often abuse forbearance to take unproductive risks at government expense. The typical result of forbearance is a deeper hole in the net worth of banks, crippling tax burdens to finance bank bailouts, and even more severe credit supply contraction and economic decline than would have occurred in the absence of forbearance.
Cross-country analysis to date also shows that accommodative policy measures (such as substantial liquidity support, explicit government guarantee on financial institutions’ liabilities and forbearance from prudential regulations) tend to be fiscally costly and that these particular policies do not necessarily accelerate the speed of economic recovery.
Code Enforcement Division Orders Removal Of Demolition Debris At Old Mall Property On Civic Avenue
The notice, which was issued on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, gives the owner until Wednesday, September 14, 2011 to remove the material. If the owner fails to comply with the order municipal citations will be issued. In addition to being fined the material can be removed by the City of Salisbury. All costs for such removal will be at the owner’s expense.
William Holland, Director of Building, Permits and Inspections stated that “according to our records there are no active building permits for that address and that the zoning designation does not allow prolonged storage of such aggregate material.”
Mayor Ireton added, “Business owners in the Twilley Center, and residents of the area have voiced concern over the huge pile of rubble. There are environmental risks as well. It is well past time that the pile be removed.”
Why Is Weiner’s Muslim Brotherhood Wife Not Resigning?
Ms. Abedin’s mother, Saleha Mahmoud Abdeen, is reportedly part of a special woman’s unit known as the Muslim Sisterhood or the International Women’s Organization (IWO) which, according to a counter-terrorism report obtained by the Terrorism Committee of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, operates within the Brotherhood in Egypt and possibly other Arab nations as well. The Egyptian newspaper Al-Dostor confirms that the Sisterhood includes 63 international members in 16 different countries.
The group is being portrayed by Western media in a benign fashion, as noted in Der Spiegel and on its Facebook page. But a report by the Egyptian opposition newspaper Al-Liwa Al-Arabi paints a far more ominous picture. It reveals that these women, who are “the wives of some of the highest-ranking leaders in the Muslim Brotherhood” are being recruited to:
[S]muggle secret documents for the members since women go undetected by security surveillance…to spread the Brotherhood’s ideology by infiltrating universities, schools and homes…to lay the plans for the Sisterhood to work at the state level…[and]…to fulfill the interests of the Brotherhood and also to benefit from international women’s conferences and unify all efforts to benefit the Brotherhood globally.More
BREAKING NEWS: MD High Court Overturns Convictions in Vicious Child Murders
Maryland's highest court today overturned the murder convictions of two men accused of the vicious killings of three children in Northwest Baltimore in 2004, saying the judge who oversaw the lengthy trial had erred.
The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that the Baltimore Circuit Court judge failed to disclose to attorneys in the case the contents of six notes from jurors. Members of the jury had sent nearly 30 notes to the judge in the course of the two-month trial, and the legal issue on appeal was whether disclosure of all the notes might have altered the defense's trial strategy.
The defendants were Policarpio Espinoza Perez and Adan Canela, who were accused of the fatal throat-slashings of three young relatives in a Baltimore home in May 2004. The men, Mexican immigrants, are serving life sentences, but could face a third trial if the State's Attorney's Office decides to try again.
The victims were Lucero Espinoza, 8; her brother, Ricardo Espinoza, 9; and their male cousin, Alexis Espejo Quezada, 10. The first trial, in 2005, ended in a hung jury.
Penn National Sells Stake in Maryland Jockey Club
Penn National Gaming Inc. has reached a deal to sell its stake in the Maryland Jockey Club to its joint venture partner.
Penn National (NASDAQ: PENN) will shed its 49 percent stake in the Jockey Club — owner of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park — and hand it over to a limited partnership controlled by Frank Stronach, CEO of MI Developments (NYSE: MIM) for an undisclosed price. The sale is expected to close by the end of the month. Stronach and MID currently control 51 percent of the Jockey Club.
The deal brings to an end a rocky marriage between Ontario-based MI Developments and Penn National struck in mid-2010 for $26 million. Wyomissing, Pa.-based Penn National spent millions in a lobbying campaign in a failed bid to bring slot machine gaming to Laurel Park in Anne Arundel County.
Navy Surgeon General Honors Hospital Corps' 113th Birthday
"Today we celebrate the 113th birthday of our Hospital Corps," said Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Jr., Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. "Hospital Corpsmen deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, in wartime and in peacetime. From Khe Sanh to Kandahar, Iwo Jima to the Chosin Reservoir, the Hospital Corps has always been in the fight and on the battlefield."
With the Spanish-American War looming, Congress passed a bill authorizing establishment of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps, signed into law by President William McKinley June 15, 1898. Since then, services have often heard the call "Corpsman Up," a call which has been answered in every major battle since the Corps' founding, according to Robinson.
Robinson acknowledged the Navy Hospital Corps' dual mission at home and abroad, providing the same quality of care to service members and their families in military treatment facilities at home as well as overseas.
"It is no accident that the Navy and Marine Corps is experiencing the lowest battle mortality and non-battle injury rates in the history of armed conflict," said Robinson. "This is due in large part to our exceptional corpsmen and their training."
Today, more than 20,000 active duty and Reserve Navy Hospital Corpsmen serve with both the Navy and the Marine Corps throughout the world. The Hospital Corps is the largest rating in the Navy and the most decorated in the U.S. Twenty naval ships alone have been named after hospital corpsmen. Robinson said their personal sacrifices and valor in peace and combat, have earned them a prominent place in the proud history of the U.S. Navy.
"It is their honor, courage, and commitment that we honor today," said Robinson. "As the Hospital Corpsmen Pledge states, 'the care of the sick and injured…is a privilege and a sacred trust.' Today we honor and celebrate that sacred trust to ensure our Nation has a medically ready, fit, and fighting force; and that those who've served our Nation, along with their families, can always count on the Hospital Corps to help provide quality and compassionate patient- and family-centered health care."
Robinson oversees a global health care network of 63,000 Navy Medical personnel around the world who provide high quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.
For more news from Navy Medicine, visit www.navy.mil/local/mednews/.
Somerset County Sheriff's Office Press Release
Jim Ireton – Apologize or Resign
Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton didn’t step over a line during yesterday’s press conference; he leaped into a different universe. Threatening council members and promoting the nastiest kind of racial division is neither good public policy nor effective politics.
When Ireton ran for mayor in 2009, SbyNEWS supported him. When he went a tad “over-the-top” in his veto message, we argued against his reasoning but gave him an A+ for rhetoric. We didn’t even bother criticizing the wasted tax dollars expended having city employees prep a site expressly for political theater.
On Thursday, Jim Ireton did what no good politician ever does – he burned every bridge in sight. We understand that Ireton is a reading teacher. Evidently mathematics is not his strong suit. Why else would he declare a holy war on three members of a five member council?
Does Ireton believe that he is somehow weakening the council majority? He should be reminded that the next two councilmembers up for re-election are Shanie Shields and Debbie Campbell. When Campbell ran for re-election in 2009 she won significantly more votes in District 2 than Ireton did. He may find that refusing to put city tax dollars behind an obviously overpriced project helps the council majority with the very voters who turn out to participate in city races – OVERWHELMINGLY Christian, OVERWHELMINGLY senior, OVERWHELMINGLY homeowners. You know, conservative.
We have always considered Ireton to be an honorable man; whether we agreed with him or not. We hope that he will be honorable in this case. This means that Ireton should either apologize to the three council members who he threatened or he should resign from office.
Why, you may ask, have we not called on Shields to resign as well?
The answer is simple. Shanie Shields was a woman without honor before this incident and will remain one. We do not expect her to either apologize or to resign. Shanie is having too much trouble trying sitting at the “cool kids’ table”.
Jim needs to decide. Should he swallow a little pride and apologize, or is he going to throw away what may be his last opportunity to accomplish something meaningful as mayor? The choice is simple – APOLOGIZE OR RESIGN!
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Anti-Union Republicans Seize Their Moment
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As Number Of Medicaid Patients Goes Up, Their Benefits Are About To Drop
POLICE SECURITY DETAIL PROVIDES CPR AT US OPEN
At about 10:30 a.m. today, Maryland State Police Trooper First Class Paul Zimmerman and Montgomery County Police Officer Deirdre Sugrue were on their assigned player escort security detail on the course at the US Open. Both were approached by spectators near the 11th tee and alerted to a man in his thirties lying on the cart path in obvious distress.
After assessing the man’s condition, the trooper and county officer immediately began CPR. In between supplying emergency breaths, the county officer called the joint operations command center at the event and requested EMS personnel. Montgomery County EMS personnel responded and took over chest compressions. The patient was transported to Suburban Hospital.
TFC Zimmerman had just completed CPR refresher training last week.
Ireton, Shields Want to “Take It To the Streets”
As noted yesterday, Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton and Councilwoman Shanie Shields are sowing the seeds of racial discord for political gain. In an attempt to garner support from at least one more councilmember, Ireton has resorted to threats that, at best, show poor judgment and display a dangerous willingness to place political opportunism over what is best for the city. At the worst, the Mayor is being a political opportunist that borders on being a thug.
Rather than my words, I suggest that you watch this video:
NOTE: There appears to be a problem embedding the video. CLICK HERE to view the video of Ireton's and Shield's remarks.
At 6:11 in, Ireton states:
I say this out loud to all of you. Council members are going to have a problem with the minority community; and I'm going to make sure the minority community knows this.
Ireton’s remarks are filled with inaccuracy and innuendo. It is simply not true that the council twice approved this project. In fact, they never approved it once. The legal advice which Ireton berates the council majority for seeking revolves around this very thing. The city council NEVER voted on accepting this project. Yes, a previous council did approve seeking a grant. That is a far cry from agreeing to have the city actively involved in building $179,000 condos (actually 1 bedroom apartments). Yes, a contract was awarded, but it was never approved by council.
Ireton sows the seeds of racial discord by implying that the African-American community is not part of the city’s revitalization; and that three council members in particular are at fault. If Ireton were a little older, and a little wiser, he would understand that riots have been sparked with words like his. Of course, if violence did erupt it would somehow be the fault of others – certainly not Jim Ireton.
Shields, ever the hypocrite, even applauds the city’s crime prevention efforts at the beginning of her remarks. She has been one of the most vocal opponents of the efforts to fight crime and the council’s greatest proponent of protecting the city’s landlords. During her tenure on council, she has NEVER been an advocate for the city’s African-American community. The only minority she advocates for is SAPOA!
Yet, Shields argues here that minority residents should protest and “take to the streets”. Unlike Ireton, Shields is old enough to know that people fought and even died to attain civil rights for African-Americans in this country. Playing the “race card” in order to score cheap political points cheapens the sacrifice made by the very people that fought to allow Shields the opportunity to hold office.
Ultimately the battle over “The Bricks” is simple. Do Salisbury taxpayers believe that their city should be in the business of renovating and renting the building. Given that one can currently purchase a condo of similar size in Ocean City for less than 1/2 the price of the projected unit cost of $179,000, it is obvious why Ireton and Shields have resorted to threats and attempts at intimidation. This is their only shot at winning the argument.
To date, the facts are on the side of the EVIL council majority Ireton refers to. Ireton, Shields (and evidently, councilwoman Laura Mitchell) are supporting a project that can best be describe as “leftism run amok”. It would be far cheaper to have the government purchase condos for these proposed tenants of this project. Given former councilwoman Louise Smith’s great support for this project (she went so far as to sign a change order, falsely attesting that the council had agreed to the matter), perhaps Ireton can just buy some condos down at Canal Woods. In this market, it would definitely be cheaper.
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Woman Gets Jail Time For Extortion Over Lost Dog
Fifty-seven-year-old Elena Vatamaniuc of Hagerstown was also fined $500 at sentencing on Tuesday. She had pleaded guilty extortion of less than $500.
According to court documents, a 1-year-old dog escaped from its owners in August. The owners posted signs in their neighborhood seeking the animal.
Two days later, a woman called, said she had the dog and asked if there was a reward. The owners offered $50, but the woman said she wanted $200 and they could get the dog back when they had the money.
The owners called police, who found the dog at the woman’s home.
Source
'No Higher Tolls'
About 1,000 people protest bridge toll increases at hearing in Perryville
Hundreds of people packed the auditorium, cafeteria and hallways of Perryville High School on Thursday night to make their opposition to proposed Susquehanna River bridges toll increases be heard loud and clear by the Maryland Transportation Authority.About 120 people had signed up to testify at the public hearing an hour after the start of the public hearing, one of many the MdTA has been holding around the state.
An hour and a half into the meeting, the speakers had only been state and local government officials.
The overflowing crowd, however, which comprised about 1,000 people at its peak, made its views known by its presence alone.
People seated in the auditorium waved signs demanding "No Higher Tolls Hatem Bridge" and cheered and shouted throughout the testimonies of the government speakers.
Outside, signs on vehicles included messages like "MTA = Money Taking [Expletive]."
A smaller rally also took advantage of the crowds to collect signatures for a petition to repeal a state bill that would give tuition breaks to illegal immigrants. That tent also attracted a steady flow of people.
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D.C. Safeway cashier fired following homophobic slur
WASHINGTON - A supermarket cashier has been fired after swearing at and using a homophobic slur toward a gay D.C. couple.
In a statement, Safeway's Eastern Division President Steven Neibergall said, "We were shocked and appalled to learn of the statements made to two of our valued customers by one of our employees."
"This incident is personally offensive to me and to the rest of the men and women who proudly represent us in our stories."
Neibergall noted the cashier had been on the job for less than a month.
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YARD SALES
If you have a yard sale you would like posted, it's free! Please email me, SunnyInOC, at atlanticjw@aol.com. Please have all requests sent by Thursday evening for Friday's posting.
Have a safe weekend!
Arts Alive Celebration This Weekend in Ocean City
Ocean City, MD — Art’s Alive celebrates its 11th year of offering fabulous fine arts in the beautiful setting of Ocean City’s Northside Park on Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19. Admission is free. Northside Park is the perfect setting for an art show with winding paths around a beautiful lagoon. Stroll along the paths to see beautiful works in the artist tents. Browse through more than 100 artist tents, listen to the music of Silver, Wood & Ivory, and enjoy lunch at the Artists’ Café.
Children can participate in free artistic activities while parents shop for art treasures.
Painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, glass, graphics, mixed media, fiber, furniture, jewelry and fine wood are among the fine art categories. All artwork is available for purchase. Artists compete for $5,250 in prizes awarded to the “Best in Show” and seven other categories.
Northside Park is located on 127th St. and the bay. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, call the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department at 410-250-0125 or visit http://www.ococean.com/.
Adoptions By Gay Couples Rise, Despite Barriers
Same-sex couples are explicitly prohibited from adopting in only two states — Utah and Mississippi — but they face significant legal hurdles in about half of all other states, particularly because they cannot legally marry in those states.
Despite this legal patchwork, the percentage of same-sex parents with adopted children has risen sharply. About 19 percent of same-sex couples raising children reported having an adopted child in the house in 2009, up from just 8 percent in 2000, according to Gary Gates, a demographer at the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"The trend line is absolutely straight up," said Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a nonprofit organization working to change adoption policy and practice. "It's now a reality on the ground."
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Explore Worcester County Parks
Worcester County parks offer residents and visitors plenty of family friendly places to recreate this summer and the whole year round. We invite you to spend some time exploring these natural wonders. From a leisurely picnic next to the bay at Isle of Wight Park to a day of baseball at the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex, Worcester County provides those of all ages 883 acres of scenic parklands to explore.
Homer Gudelsky Park, a one-acre stretch of bayside beach in West Ocean City, overlooks Ocean City and attracts more than just land dwellers. Those of all ages are sure to be delighted by the aquatic life that comes ashore on this beach in the spring, particularly the starfish! If you happen to see that one of these little creatures has been tossed ashore by the waves, be sure to follow the advice of the anonymous author of The Starfish Poem and throw it back. Named for an area philanthropist whose family has long supported the community, Homer Gudelsky Park has been a favorite among locals for decades.
West Ocean City is graced with a second park as well, the Herring Creek Nature Park, a 44-acre wildlife sanctuary located on Keyser Point Road. This park, which includes manicured lawns and natural woodlands, and trails surrounding a picturesque pond, has provided passive recreation to the surrounding community since 1998. It’s a great place to exercise, play or just relax and enjoy nature.
BREAKING NEWS: Marine Corps Reservist ID'd As Pentagon Suspect
Seven Things You Should Know About The National Debt
- The national debt is not literally a generational transfer
- The high dollar, not the budget deficit is what causes the trade deficit and foreign borrowing
- A large trade deficit requires that we have a very large budget deficit, extremely low private savings, or some combination thereof
- The stock and housing bubbles led to an enormous reduction in private savings through the wealth effect
- In times of economic weakness like the nation is experiencing now, deficit spending actually helps the economy to grow
- High and rising private sector health care costs in the United States are responsible for the bulk of the federal budget deficit
- Social Security has a dedicated stream of financing and does not directly contribute to the federal debt
RUSSIAN NAVY CAPTURES SOMALI PIRATES
All explanations are in Russian with a single exception of when a wounded pirate says something in English and the Russian soldier says "This is not a fishing boat". All conversations between the commandos are in Russian. If you don't understand Russian, the pictures speak for themselves.
The soldiers freed their compatriots and the tanker. The Russian Navy Commandos moved the pirates back to their own (pirate) ship, searched the pirate ship for weapons and explosives and then they left the ship and exploded it with all remaining pirates hand-cuffed to it.
The commandos sank the pirate ship along with the pirates and without any court proceedings, lawyers etc. That is, they used the anti-piracy laws of the 18th and 19th centuries where the captain of the rescuing ship has the right to decide what to do with the pirates. Usually, they were hung.
I would think from now on, Russian ships will not be targets for Somali pirates.
Coastal Bays to Celebrate 15 Years of Conservation Work
The Coastal Bays Program will celebrate its 15th year of conservation work and release the 2010 Coastal Bays report card this afternoon at 4:30 PM at Fager’s Island on 60th Street in Ocean City. The party is open to the public.
NIST Holds NSTIC Privacy Workshop June 27-28
Snow Hill Students Donate to Animal Shelter
Snow Hill Middle School (SHMS) teacher MaryAnn Cooperand students Heather Bolley, Katlyn Parsons and Ian Whisner distribute food,treats, leashes and other supplies to Worcester County Animal Control. SHMS After School Academy students in grades 4-8 collected the supplies to help care for abused and neglected animals rescued by Animal Control.
Frederick Douglass Statue Arrives After Years of Debate
Abolitionist Frederick Douglass is finally getting a homecoming celebration in his native Maryland county with a statue honoring him, after years of work by local residents to recognize him in a prominent place — on the same courthouse grounds where he gave a speech in 1878 and where a monument to local men who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War now stands.
For supporters who have worked on the project, it’s a long-overdue monument to an important American, and they view the diversity of people supporting the effort as a sign of how far race relations have come in a county where the location of the statue stirred debate as recently as the last decade.
“I think it shows how this community has changed from a time when black people weren’t allowed to even be on the courthouse lawn, and now we have a monument to a black man who was one of the most prominent figures of the 19th century,” said Eric Lowery, president of the Frederick Douglass Honor Society, which worked on bringing the monument to Easton. “It’s truly a community project.”
Bill to Limit DE Lawmakers Job Options Fizzling
The political desire to stop future lawmakers from getting second jobs in state government is fading quickly in the General Assembly.
A bill sponsored by House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf and Speaker Robert Gilligan lost support of Democratic co-sponsors this week after concerns were raised about limiting employment opportunities for Delaware's 62 part-time legislators.
House Bill 75 was introduced in direct response to News Journal stories about Senate President Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca's second job as a full-time administrator at the Department of Labor, where he has split his time as a senator since 2005. Other lawmakers have cited Sussex Technical School District's eyebrow-raising decision to hire Sen. Joseph Booth into a newly created job last year as a reason to end the decades-long practice.
DMV Cracks Down On Toll Violators
Dover -- As the summer travel season moves forward, the Department of Transportation's (DelDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the division in charge of toll operations and oversight of violations, is announcing new efforts aimed at collecting money that is owed by Route 1 and I-95 toll violators. Nearly $8 million is owed by both in-state and out-of-state toll violators in an equal split. A first round of notices has been mailed out to approximately 400 violators who account for almost $600,000 in violations. Plans for the remaining notices to be sent in groups are expected to be finished by the end of the summer. This process will be put in place for all violators moving forward as well.
"We are putting toll violators on notice that if they owe money for a violation, they will be hearing from us," said DMV Director Jennifer Cohan. "We take these violations very seriously and are making every effort to collect the monies that are owed to the state."
For in-state drivers who have unpaid toll violations, a hold will be placed on their vehicle registration. This hold will prevent them from registering their vehicle until the fine is paid. For those drivers with unpaid fines totaling $1,000 or more, the DMV will also turn their case over to the Tax and Lottery Intercept Programs operated by the Department of Finance's Division of Revenue. For out-of-state violators, the cases are currently turned over to collection agencies, but the DMV is moving forward with plans that would also implement measures similar to those used for Delaware residents. DMV already has reciprocity agreements with many other state and local entities that prevent drivers from those states from renewing their registrations if they owe outstanding tolls to Delaware. Agreements with additional agencies and surrounding states are currently being discussed.
DuPont Family Contests Will
Relatives are contesting the will of John du Pont, the chemical fortune heir who died in a Pennsylvania prison after killing an Olympic wrestler.
The lawsuit says du Pont left 80 percent of his multimillion-dollar estate near Philadelphia to a Bulgarian man and his family.
Du Pont's niece and nephew, Beverly du Pont Gaugger and William du Pont, filed a petition contesting the will June 8 in Common Pleas Court.
They allege Valentin Dimitrov and his relatives coerced du Pont into drafting a new will before his death last year. They say their uncle was not of sound mind.
Dimitrov, a former wrestler, once lived on the estate. His phone was disconnected.
Du Pont was found guilty but mentally ill of killing wrestler David Schultz in 1996. He died in December.
No Decision on Deputies in Wicomico Schools
The Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) met yesterday to discuss additional budget cuts to cover the additional $2 million taken from their proposed budget by the Wicomico County Council. Among the proposals discussed were reductions in funding to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office for “School Resource Officers” (Sheriff’s Deputies stationed in individual schools).
WCBOE Superintendent John Fredericksen proposed that $180,970 be cut from the budget for School Resource Officers (SRO’s). He also proposed a series of other cuts to make up the shortfall in revenue.
Sheriff Mike Lewis has spoken to most, if not all, of the board members. The board members appear reluctant to accept Fredericksen’s proposal to cut the SRO’s budget. One member requested that Fredericksen offer other alternatives to the $181,000 being cut from SRO’s. At yesterday’s meeting Fredericksen refused to provide any alternatives.
The board has decided to meet again next Tuesday at 7:30 AM to re-visit the issue.
Troopers On Scene Of Two I-95 Accidents
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University of Maryland Tuition Vote Today
The University System of Maryland Board of Regents will meet today to vote on the fiscal year 2012 schedule of tuition and mandatory fees.
The regents are meeting at Bowie State University.
The board also will vote on several new academic proposals. The regents also will vote on the proposed work plan to guide the study on the potential merger of the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
GOT SENSE?? STATE POLICE VOLUNTEER AUTHORS COMMON SENSE GUIDE
“Warning! Common Sense Ahead,” is the title of a new book authored by Norman Greenberg, of Westminster, Maryland, who hopes this collection of sage advice will help anyone navigate life easier and more effectively. “This book is all about the choices, solutions, and consequences of everyday life,” Greenberg said. “Often, people of all ages react too quickly to situations, instead of thinking through the consequences of their actions. With a good foundation of common sense, people can avoid many difficult situations that impact everything from their self-esteem, relationships, and financial security, to their overall success in life.”
Greenberg writes based upon his personal life experiences and observations. His topics in the section, “What You Should Pass On To Your Children,” include accountability, attitude, bullying, character, courtesy, gossip, ethics, money, responsibility, revenge, selfishness, and worry.
In the section, “What You Should Be Aware Of,” Greenberg covers a range of topics that include, car emergencies, communication, divorce, maintenance contracts, tipping, and wills. The third section of the book, “Checklists To Use For Reference,” covers travel lists for children and adults and provides a guide for building a house, buying a home, or going into business.
Discussing scores of issues we encounter each day, Greenberg writes in a style that he hopes conveys information clearly and in a way everyone can understand. “If just one person is helped and comes to understand that everything we do has consequences, then this book was worth writing,” Greenberg said.
Norman Greenberg has been a volunteer with the Maryland State Police for more than six years. He currently performs administrative duties at the Westminster Barrack, where he is a valued co-worker of the troopers and civilian employees there. He graciously dedicated his book to the men and women of the Maryland State Police.
“Warning! Common Sense Ahead,” is available on Amazon.com. Greenberg intends to donate the proceeds of the book to charity.
WICOMICO BURN BAN EXTENDED TILL FURTHER NOTICE
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Cuccinelli Urges Clergy to Speak Out
Virginia's attorney general Thursday urged pastors and other church leaders to speak out politically, telling them that failure to do so concedes the battle over Christian values to "the other side."
"You can speak to any issue in America from the pulpit, full-throated, ears pinned back," Ken Cuccinelli told about 250 clergy at a "Christian Citizenship and Godly Government" breakfast.
The event was sponsored by the Virginia Christian Alliance. Donald Blake, chairman of the Richmond-based conservative organization, said Cuccinelli was invited to speak because church leaders are looking for assurance that they can talk about political issues without risking their tax-exempt status.
Bill Bolsters DE Non-Profits
Nonprofit agencies that have suffered from tight state funding over the last several years got an early Christmas present Thursday when the Joint Finance Committee added $6 million to the $35.2 million grant-in-aid bill for the coming fiscal year.
The extra $6 million allowed the budget-writing committee to raise the amounts received by individual agencies by an overall 20 percent, although some received more and some less. The bill still needs approval by the General Assembly and Gov. Jack Markell, but the Legislature rarely alters JFC-authored financial bills.
The $6 million bonus, made possible by improved state revenue forecasts, will help the nonprofits regain some of the ground they lost in the last few years, but not entirely, according to Controller General Russ Larson.
The biggest winner in the grant-in-aid sweepstakes was the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware, which is getting $1 million over the $357,360 it is slated to receive for running individual programs.
Over 1,000 Protest Toll Hikes at Perryville Public Hearing
Hundreds of people packed the auditorium, cafeteria and hallways of Perryville High School on Thursday night to make their opposition to proposed Susquehanna River bridges toll increases be heard loud and clear by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
About 120 people had signed up to testify at the public hearing an hour after the start of the public hearing, one of many the MdTA has been holding around the state.
An hour and a half into the meeting, the speakers had only been state and local government officials.
The overflowing crowd, however, which comprised about 1,000 people at its peak, made its views known by its presence alone.
People seated in the auditorium waved signs demanding "No Higher Tolls Hatem Bridge" and cheered and shouted throughout the testimonies of the government speakers.
Outside, signs on vehicles included messages like "MTA = Money Taking [Expletive]."
A smaller rally also took advantage of the crowds to collect signatures for a petition to repeal a state bill that would give tuition breaks to illegal immigrants. That tent also attracted a steady flow of people.
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Couple Pleads Guilty to Bribing PG County Exec, Cop
A Clarksville man pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges Thursday in a scheme in which he paid off the former's Prince George's County Executive and a county police officer for favors to benefit his liquor stores, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office.
Amrik Singh Melhi, 51, admitted to extortion, while his wife, Ravinder Kaur Melhi, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Prosecutors said her charges involved illegally accessing protected Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration records.
According to his plea agreement, Amrik Melhi paid off the county executive with money and campaign donations in exchange for licenses, permit inspections, and influencing legislation to benefit his liquor stores Prince George's County.
Melhi also paid off Prince George's County Police officer Richard Delabrer to protect the shipments of contraband goods. Delabrer pleaded guilty to extortion in May for purchasing alcohol from an undercover agent and selling it to Melhi.