DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
BREAKING NEWS: Tropical Storm Arlene Forms
Tropical Storm Arlene forms in Atlantic, first of the season.
Ex-PG Police Officer Admits To Corruption Charges
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) -- A former Prince George's County police officer has pleaded guilty to selling cocaine to an undercover agent and protecting the transport of untaxed cigarettes.
Sinisa Simic pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Greenbelt, Md. The Woodbridge, Va., man is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 23.
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Sinisa Simic pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court in Greenbelt, Md. The Woodbridge, Va., man is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 23.
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Reusable Bags Don't Carry Contaminants
WASHINGTON - When word surfaced that a study found reusable bags to be contaminated, Consumer Reports decided to investigate.
First, they found the study to be nothing more than plastic bag propaganda: It was prepared by the American Chemistry Council, which is the trade group that advocates plastic bags.
Then they discovered only 84 bags were tested.
Consumer Reports took matters into their own hands and found there were few safety concerns with reusable bags.
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First, they found the study to be nothing more than plastic bag propaganda: It was prepared by the American Chemistry Council, which is the trade group that advocates plastic bags.
Then they discovered only 84 bags were tested.
Consumer Reports took matters into their own hands and found there were few safety concerns with reusable bags.
More
University Of Maryland, DARPA Partners
COLLEGE PARK, Md., June 27 (UPI) -- The University of Maryland and the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency are starting a pilot academic fellows program.
The program to generate new technologies by the university's James Clark School of Engineering and DARPA is will take a first step toward developing a new method for revolutionizing future defense technologies -- a method based on the interaction of people who normally work from different agendas and perspectives.
"The Clark School, by virtue of its proximity to and close relations with major federal agencies, is well prepared to assist DARPA in establishing a new basis for creating the advanced technologies our armed services will need in the future," said Clark School Dean Darryll Pines. "We are building a new way for military and academic personnel to interact that will challenge both and derive innovations neither would achieve by working alone."
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The program to generate new technologies by the university's James Clark School of Engineering and DARPA is will take a first step toward developing a new method for revolutionizing future defense technologies -- a method based on the interaction of people who normally work from different agendas and perspectives.
"The Clark School, by virtue of its proximity to and close relations with major federal agencies, is well prepared to assist DARPA in establishing a new basis for creating the advanced technologies our armed services will need in the future," said Clark School Dean Darryll Pines. "We are building a new way for military and academic personnel to interact that will challenge both and derive innovations neither would achieve by working alone."
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The USO Breaks Ground In Virginia
The USO has broken ground on the construction of the new USO Wounded Warrior and Family Center at Ft. Belvoir in Virginia. The center will provide non-critical care and support for wounded soldiers and their families as they transition from inpatient to outpatient care. The 25,000 square foot building will have family friendly rooms, classrooms, movie theaters, and healing gardens. It's supported in part by USO's Operation Enduring Care, a $100 million fundraising campaign to help build the Center at Ft. Belvoir. They also hope to build a Wounded Warrior and Family Center at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
St. Paul’s College Retains Accreditation, On Probation
Saint Paul's College has received a one-year reprieve to fix financial and other troubles that threaten its accreditation.
Citing continuing problems with financial stability and institutional effectiveness, the college's accrediting agency voted Thursday to extend probation for another year.
The action by the board of trustees of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges effectively gives the college a one-year deadline.
Under commission rules, the maximum consecutive time that an institution may be on probation is two years. Loss of accreditation would mean that students attending the college could no longer receive federal loans and grants.
Planting Sunflowers In Japan
Public servants and entrepreneurs in Japan are asking people to grow sunflowers help decontaminate radioactive soil around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. Breitbart reports volunteers are being asked to grow sunflowers this year, then send the seeds to the stricken area where they will be planted next year to help get rid of radioactive contaminants in the plant's fallout zone. The campaign aims to cover large areas in yellow blossoms as a symbol of hope and reconstruction and to lure back tourists.
Why Are Prayer and Pledge Being Run Out of Public Life?
Here in Salisbury, certain members of the City Council want to eliminate the Lord’s Prayer from council meetings. In Eugene, OR their council has chosen to eliminate the pledge of allegiance.
Ironically, in an op-ed from May 9 I asked the question:
Should the city end its practice of reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance”?
Well, Eugene it appears they have.
Why? For the same reasons that people cited in Salisbury while arguing FOR the end of the Lord’s Prayer.
- It’s DEVISIVE!
- It has nothing to do with council business.
Fortunately for us, none of our council members are as anti-America or anti-God as those in Eugene. Councilwoman Betty Taylor compared the Pledge to the Communist Manifesto. Councilman George Brown claimed that the Pledge has no place in City Hall:
People can say it in their front yard or backyard,” Brown says. “It really doesn’t help move the city business forward. It does not unite us.
To elect people like Brown or Taylor, you need an electorate that is nearly as bad:
Resident Anita Sullivan summed up a common viewpoint: “So you say I pledge allegiance and right there I don’t care for that language,” Sullivan says. “It sort of means loyalty to your country; well, I feel loyalty to the entire world.”
While we may have a few citizens as bizarrely left wing as those in Eugene, they aren’t the norm (fortunately). For people like Sullivan, I hope they become “citizens of the world.”
BREAKING NEWS: Afghanistan Hotel Under Attack
Multiple reports say Afghanistan's Intercontinental Hotel under attack by several suicide bombers, gunmen.
Wounded Warriors Get Another Chance
Congressman Joe Donnelly has reintroduced a bill aimed at speeding up the processing of VA disability claims. It's called the Rating and Processing Individuals' Disability or RAPID Claims Act. The Bill passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate. It would provide wounded warriors with faster response on their disability claims by setting into law a pilot program that pre-approves veterans of their eligibility. It also provides them with an appeal form. About 40,000 veterans appeal VA decisions each year.
Lawmakers May Have To Wait To Collect Pensions
Lawmakers might have to wait as long as the rest of us to retire and collect a pension. Proposed legislation from Illinois Republican Representative Bobby Schilling would prohibit lawmakers younger than the Social Security retirement age from tapping their pensions. GovExec reports members of Congress fall under Federal Employees Retirement System rules. That lets them get a full pension at 62 if they have at least five years of service. Under the proposed law, they'd have to wait at least another five years. Democrat Sherrod Brown of Ohio has introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
I Guess Some People Just Don't Get It!
Click on image to enlarge.
I'm not even going to waste my time explaining this one. Same location as the other day, different outcome.
New Book Teaches Men How To Cook To Get Sex
To show your lady love how just how much you care, get her fresh flowers, pour her a glass of wine, and serve her Miso Horny Cod. So says Spencer Walker, author of “Cook To Bang: The Lay Cook’s Guide to Getting Laid” (St. Martin’s Press).
Eye-on-the prize cooking is nothing new as his helpful chapter “Cooking to Bang Through History” points out. And it goes both ways. Glamour Magazine’s Engagement Chicken is a roast chicken recipe that an editorial assistant made for her boyfriend that resulted him in popping the question. Another assistant tried it and wham-o!, Her guy put a ring on it, too. Walker’s take, Roasted Chicken Rubdown, is similarly goal-oriented. Just with a different goal.
In terms of maturity, insight and sensitivity, “Cook To Bang” reads as if the guys from 40-Year-Old Virgin wrote it minus the sad, bag-of-sand guy. It’s part cookbook, part seduction manual with advice on food pairings, cocktails, music and aphrodisiacs. The “Sexual Profiling” chapter identifies and illustrates female archetypes, i.e., “Hippie Harlots,” “Holy Hotties” and “Sororiteases,” providing recipes customized to appeal to each type. “A hipster you find at an Indie rock show will have vastly different tastes than a redneck you meet at church,” Walker writes.
Some critics find the book anti-women and anti-feminist, but – writing from the point of view of a woman - it’s no more anti-women than most female-oriented magazines are anti-men. Walker writes of women in the same language and tone that they often write of his gender. “Cook To Bang” is a primer that tells guys that the best, and perhaps only way for them to get a girl who is clearly out of their league is to cook for her. As it turns out, the recipes are simple, clear and actually good.
Sweeping Changes At the Social Security Administration
Tight budgets are forcing sweeping organizational changes at the Social Security Administration. Congress cut the agency's IT budget by $300 million for fiscal 2011. In an e-mail obtained by Federal News Radio, Commissioner Michael Astrue said SSA's Innovation and Investment Management units are moving out of the CIO's office. They'll move to the Office of Systems. The SSA Office of Budget, Finance and Management is also getting a makeover. Its security and emergency preparedness functions will move to the newly created Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness, according to Astrue.
BREAKING NEWS: France's Lagarde Named IMF Chief
Christine Lagarde to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn as head of International Monetary Fund, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday named Christine Lagarde as its next director. Lagarde replaces Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned last month after being charged with sexual assault on a New York hotel maid.
From Fox News
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday named Christine Lagarde as its next director. Lagarde replaces Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned last month after being charged with sexual assault on a New York hotel maid.
From Fox News
James River Expedition Targets Civil War Shipwrecks
Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Navy embarked Monday on a two-day expedition to survey the wrecks of two famous Civil War vessels that have rested on the bottom of the lower James River for nearly 150 years.
Using sonar technology, the scientists hope to retrieve data that will enable them to create 3-dimensional maps of the USS Cumberland, which was sunk off Newport News Point by the ironclad warship CSS Virginia — also known as the Merrimack — during the March 8-9, 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads.
Their second target is the CSS Florida, a captured Confederate commerce raider that was lost nearby on Nov. 19, 1864, following a collision with a Navy troop ferry.
"The remains of the USS Cumberland and CSS Florida, preserved in the waters of Hampton Roads, remind us of the sacrifices made during the Civil War and give us a unique and rare opportunity to explore a pivotal chapter in our nation's history," said David Alberg, superintendent of NOAA's Newport News-based Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
New Film Tax Incentives Make Maryland More Competitive With Other States
A new $7.5 million tax credit for film productions in Maryland takes effect Friday, and with the industry professionals already here, the state is back in the game and ready for its close up.
“What it does first and foremost is creates jobs, provides revenue to Maryland businesses, and creates economic activity with a trickle-down effect,” said Maryland Film Office Director Jack Gerbes. The Maryland Film Office is a part of the state’s Department of Business and Economic Development.
The new tax credit, which will go into effect July 1, increases the annual state incentives for film productions from $1 million annually – or 650% each year. These funds are used to lure different production companies to Maryland locations to film movies, television programs or commercials, or to work on digital or animated projects. And the money Maryland is investing in the program, Gerbes and other supporters of the incentive said, will create larger revenues through salaries, local trade, tourism, and international exposure.
Continue Reading...
“What it does first and foremost is creates jobs, provides revenue to Maryland businesses, and creates economic activity with a trickle-down effect,” said Maryland Film Office Director Jack Gerbes. The Maryland Film Office is a part of the state’s Department of Business and Economic Development.
The new tax credit, which will go into effect July 1, increases the annual state incentives for film productions from $1 million annually – or 650% each year. These funds are used to lure different production companies to Maryland locations to film movies, television programs or commercials, or to work on digital or animated projects. And the money Maryland is investing in the program, Gerbes and other supporters of the incentive said, will create larger revenues through salaries, local trade, tourism, and international exposure.
Continue Reading...
Powerball Price To Double, Chance Of Winning Increases
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The price of a Powerball ticket will double next year, but the chances of winning will be easier and the starting jackpot will be going up, too.
The changes will coincide with the 20th anniversary of Powerball in 2012.
Lottery officials say starting Jan.15, the price of a Powerball ticket will go from $1 to $2.
The first five numbers will still be chosen from 1 to 59, but the Powerball number will shrink from 39 to 35 available numbers, giving players better odds.
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The changes will coincide with the 20th anniversary of Powerball in 2012.
Lottery officials say starting Jan.15, the price of a Powerball ticket will go from $1 to $2.
The first five numbers will still be chosen from 1 to 59, but the Powerball number will shrink from 39 to 35 available numbers, giving players better odds.
More
Right To Rent: Will The Obama Administration Finally Fix Housing?
The concept of "right to rent" has been floating around Washington for almost four years. Under this proposal, foreclosed homeowners would be allowed to remain in their house as renters, paying the market rent, for a substantial period of time (e.g. five years) following a foreclosure. While several bills have been introduced in Congress, President Obama may now have a new opportunity to take the lead on this issue.
The overwhelming majority of mortgages that have been issued since the financial meltdown in September of 2008 have been bought by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or insured by the Federal Housing Authority. This has led to an interesting, but predictable, outcome. The most recent data indicate that more than half of the new foreclosures are on houses where Fannie and Freddie either hold the mortgage or have insured the mortgage-backed security in which it sits.
Rather than being a problem for banks to deal with, the problem of foreclosures is now primarily a government problem, since the federal government now owns and controls Fannie and Freddie. This means that President Obama no longer has to beg the banks to allow people to stay in their homes. He can do it himself. And, he can show the banks how to do it right.
The main objection the banks continually raised when they were urged to make modifications rather than foreclose, was the one of moral hazard. If homeowners know that they can get both a lower interest rate and a big principle write-down by missing a few mortgage payments and pleading poverty, then you are giving them an enormous incentive to go this route. Millions of homeowners who are able to pay their mortgage will instead opt for modifications.
The banks did have a point on the policy side. While some of the mortgage debt was held by banks, mortgage-backed securities held by a wide range of investors including pension funds, mutual funds with 401(k) investments and university endowments. It's not obviously good to make these investors take a hit. And even with the banks, if their losses lead to more bailouts, it's the taxpayers who take the hit.
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The overwhelming majority of mortgages that have been issued since the financial meltdown in September of 2008 have been bought by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or insured by the Federal Housing Authority. This has led to an interesting, but predictable, outcome. The most recent data indicate that more than half of the new foreclosures are on houses where Fannie and Freddie either hold the mortgage or have insured the mortgage-backed security in which it sits.
Rather than being a problem for banks to deal with, the problem of foreclosures is now primarily a government problem, since the federal government now owns and controls Fannie and Freddie. This means that President Obama no longer has to beg the banks to allow people to stay in their homes. He can do it himself. And, he can show the banks how to do it right.
The main objection the banks continually raised when they were urged to make modifications rather than foreclose, was the one of moral hazard. If homeowners know that they can get both a lower interest rate and a big principle write-down by missing a few mortgage payments and pleading poverty, then you are giving them an enormous incentive to go this route. Millions of homeowners who are able to pay their mortgage will instead opt for modifications.
The banks did have a point on the policy side. While some of the mortgage debt was held by banks, mortgage-backed securities held by a wide range of investors including pension funds, mutual funds with 401(k) investments and university endowments. It's not obviously good to make these investors take a hit. And even with the banks, if their losses lead to more bailouts, it's the taxpayers who take the hit.
More
KNEE REPLACEMENTS LEAD TO ID OF UNIDENTIFIED BODY
(Catonsville, MD) – A man whose body was found in a state park in April during the search for a missing teenager has now been identified not through fingerprints, but through knee replacements.
The man has been identified as John H. Hagegeorge, 55, whose last known address was on Redcliffe Road in Catonsville, Md. An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined his death was from exposure and natural causes. There was no indication foul play was involved.
The body of a man, now identified as Hagegeorge, was found at about 12:30 p.m. on April 9, 2011, in the Baltimore County section of Patapsco Valley State Park. The body was located during a large-scale search of the park coordinated by the Baltimore Police Department for the body of Phylicia Barnes, a teenager who had gone missing in late December 2010, while visiting relatives in Baltimore.
The man’s body was dressed in several layers of clothing and was found at what appeared to be a makeshift campsite. No identification was found in the man’s clothing or around the campsite.
Maryland State Police criminal investigators from the Golden Ring Barrack assumed the investigation and began attempts to identify the man. Fingerprint checks and other forensic tests did not provide a match. He was not matched with any missing person reports. Investigators were quickly exhausting their normal methods of making an identification.
During the autopsy, the medical examiner told investigators the man had had knee replacement surgery. TFC Chris Taylor, a criminal investigator at the Golden Ring Barrack, did extensive research and was able to use the serial numbers on the knee replacements to track down the hospital that had used them. Ultimately, he was able to identify the patient the replacements had been used on. That patient name was matched to a photo and investigators were able to locate the man’s wife, from whom he had been estranged since 2006.
Hagegeorge’s wife said after the two had both moved from their former home in Catonsville, she had little contact with him. She did not file a missing persons report because she did not know he was missing.
The man has been identified as John H. Hagegeorge, 55, whose last known address was on Redcliffe Road in Catonsville, Md. An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined his death was from exposure and natural causes. There was no indication foul play was involved.
The body of a man, now identified as Hagegeorge, was found at about 12:30 p.m. on April 9, 2011, in the Baltimore County section of Patapsco Valley State Park. The body was located during a large-scale search of the park coordinated by the Baltimore Police Department for the body of Phylicia Barnes, a teenager who had gone missing in late December 2010, while visiting relatives in Baltimore.
The man’s body was dressed in several layers of clothing and was found at what appeared to be a makeshift campsite. No identification was found in the man’s clothing or around the campsite.
Maryland State Police criminal investigators from the Golden Ring Barrack assumed the investigation and began attempts to identify the man. Fingerprint checks and other forensic tests did not provide a match. He was not matched with any missing person reports. Investigators were quickly exhausting their normal methods of making an identification.
During the autopsy, the medical examiner told investigators the man had had knee replacement surgery. TFC Chris Taylor, a criminal investigator at the Golden Ring Barrack, did extensive research and was able to use the serial numbers on the knee replacements to track down the hospital that had used them. Ultimately, he was able to identify the patient the replacements had been used on. That patient name was matched to a photo and investigators were able to locate the man’s wife, from whom he had been estranged since 2006.
Hagegeorge’s wife said after the two had both moved from their former home in Catonsville, she had little contact with him. She did not file a missing persons report because she did not know he was missing.
Wicomico Schools’ Food Services Feeds Children In Summer Food Service Program
The Wicomico County Board of Education is participating in the Summer Food Service Program, with funding support from the Maryland State Department of Education.
Meals will be provided from June 16-Aug. 5 on all weekdays except July 4. Meals are available to all children without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows:
Wicomico County Housing Authority, 911 Booth St., Salisbury
Breakfast: 8:30-9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-noon
The Christian Shelter, 334 Barclay St., Salisbury
Breakfast: 8:30-9:15 a.m.
Lunch: 12-12:45 p.m.
Family Center @ East Salisbury Elementary School, 1201 Old Ocean City Road
Breakfast: 8:30-9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-noon
Contact the Wicomico County Board of Education Food and Nutrition Services at 410-677-4442 for more information.
Meals will be provided from June 16-Aug. 5 on all weekdays except July 4. Meals are available to all children without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows:
Wicomico County Housing Authority, 911 Booth St., Salisbury
Breakfast: 8:30-9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-noon
The Christian Shelter, 334 Barclay St., Salisbury
Breakfast: 8:30-9:15 a.m.
Lunch: 12-12:45 p.m.
Family Center @ East Salisbury Elementary School, 1201 Old Ocean City Road
Breakfast: 8:30-9 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-noon
Contact the Wicomico County Board of Education Food and Nutrition Services at 410-677-4442 for more information.
Fable Of The Porcupine
The real moral of the story......LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE PRICKS IN YOUR LIFE.
Office Humor
Every year, each employee at my company meets with his or her supervisor to review whether past goals have been met. A woman in the cubicle next to mine received an appointment time for her "Performance Management Schedule," as it's called, and highlighted it on her desktop calendar.
"Wow! I guess everyone knows when to avoid you," said a colleague who was passing by. Puzzled, my neighbor glanced at the calendar. She'd written: "PMS 1:00."
"Wow! I guess everyone knows when to avoid you," said a colleague who was passing by. Puzzled, my neighbor glanced at the calendar. She'd written: "PMS 1:00."
CASA Already Has The Names And Addresses Of Everyone Who Signed Petitions!
When I called the State Election Board last week it was to inquire about the allegations that they were going to give the illegal immigration advocate group, CASA, the original petitions to take with them to copy at a local copy center. (see previous blog post).
Little did I know what was to come of that inquiry. The election board personnel gave me the numbers of how many petitions names had been approved, as handwritten and how many were done on computers they also told me how many had been rejected and how gave me a brief explanation of the various reasons for rejecting signatures.I asked if I could get some information sent to me to explain that process, (thinking that when we ask for the copies of the petitions I would be able to translate what the notations in the margins of the petitions mean and why any particular signature had been rejected) I was told I would be sent a disk.
Imagine my surprise, Saturday evening, when I opened the mail from the election board and found a disk that not only contained the information about who was rejected and who was certified along with their addresses, 54,971 names and addresses arranged by counties in alphabetical order.
I just realized that there is no longer an issue of what CASA is going to do if they get the names and addresses of all those who signed petitions, CASA, who also received the disk, already has the information on all those who signed the petition.
I have heard from dozens of people this last weekend who had two concerns:
“Do I have to worry about someone calling to harass me about signing the petition?” and
“How do I find out if my name is one of the more than 7,000 that was rejected and why it was rejected?”
It is my opinion that the actions of CASA to date would give petition signers legitimate reason to be concerned about what CASA may do with the lists of names. We know that CASA has been posting phone numbers to call if you see people out exercising their Constitutional duties per Article 16 of the State Constitution, collection signatures. CASA would then send people out to the location to intimidate and harass people coming to sign as well as those collecting signatures.
More
Little did I know what was to come of that inquiry. The election board personnel gave me the numbers of how many petitions names had been approved, as handwritten and how many were done on computers they also told me how many had been rejected and how gave me a brief explanation of the various reasons for rejecting signatures.I asked if I could get some information sent to me to explain that process, (thinking that when we ask for the copies of the petitions I would be able to translate what the notations in the margins of the petitions mean and why any particular signature had been rejected) I was told I would be sent a disk.
Imagine my surprise, Saturday evening, when I opened the mail from the election board and found a disk that not only contained the information about who was rejected and who was certified along with their addresses, 54,971 names and addresses arranged by counties in alphabetical order.
I just realized that there is no longer an issue of what CASA is going to do if they get the names and addresses of all those who signed petitions, CASA, who also received the disk, already has the information on all those who signed the petition.
I have heard from dozens of people this last weekend who had two concerns:
“Do I have to worry about someone calling to harass me about signing the petition?” and
“How do I find out if my name is one of the more than 7,000 that was rejected and why it was rejected?”
It is my opinion that the actions of CASA to date would give petition signers legitimate reason to be concerned about what CASA may do with the lists of names. We know that CASA has been posting phone numbers to call if you see people out exercising their Constitutional duties per Article 16 of the State Constitution, collection signatures. CASA would then send people out to the location to intimidate and harass people coming to sign as well as those collecting signatures.
More
Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases
Incident: Disorderly Conduct
Date of Incident: 26 June 2011
Location: 1500 block of South Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD
Suspect: John E. Shelton, 50, No fixed address
Narrative: On 26 June 2011 at 11:53 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Temple Hill Motel in the 1500 block of South Salisbury Blvd. for a reported disorderly subject. Motel management reported that John Shelton was on the property intoxicated, banging on doors and generally causing a disturbance. Shelton reportedly refused repeated requests to leave the property. When the deputy located Shelton, the deputy observed him urinating in a parking lot. The deputy also observed that Shelton appeared highly intoxicated.
Charges: Disorderly Conduct
Trespass
Date: 27 June 2011
**************************************************
Incident: Motor Vehicle Theft
Date of Incident: 24 June 2011
Location: East Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Tasha Allen, 32, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 24 June 2011 at 8:31 PM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office on patrol observed a reported stolen vehicle being driven on East Road in the area of Booth Street in Salisbury. Upon stopping the vehicle operated by Tasha Allen, the deputy learned that Tasha did not have a driver’s license and was also driving the vehicle with a four year old not restrained in a child safety seat. When inquired about the vehicle, Allen told the deputy that the vehicle could not be stolen as she was loaned it by her ex-boyfriend and had the key to it. The vehicle was owned by her ex-boyfriend’s current girlfriend.
The deputy placed Allen under arrest and transported her to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Allen on Personal Recognizance.
Charges: Motor Vehicle Theft
Unauthorized Use
Driving Without a License
Transporting a Child without a safety seat
Date: 27 June 2011
**************************************************
Incident: Assault
Date of Incident: 24 June 2011
Location: 20000 block of Nanticoke Road, Bivalve, MD
Suspect: Tory D. Schevel, 18, Bivalve, MD
Narrative: On 24 June 2011 at 8:52 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office
responded for a reported altercation inside a residence in the 20000 block of Nanticoke Rd. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a male victim who advised that he had been assaulted by his grandson, Tory Schevel, during an argument. The deputy observed that the victim had a gash above his eye which was bleeding. Based on the investigation and what the deputy observed, he went to find Tory who had left and was at a different residence.
The deputy managed to locate Tory at another residence and took him into custody. Tory was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner released Tory on Personal Recognizance.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree
Date: 27 June 2011
RSC Update: End The Debt Addiction - Cut, Cap, & Balance
From the Chairman
In finance, the term “underwater” means you owe more money on something than it’s actually worth. It’s a phrase that many Americans have sadly come to know all-too-well in the wake of the housing bubble, but they may soon hear it in another context. By the end of the year, our national debt will be bigger than our Gross Domestic Product.
The only way to permanently end this debt addiction is through a Constitutional amendment to balance the budget. Pair that with immediate cuts and caps strong enough to keep spending down until the states ratify the Balanced Budget Amendment, and you’ve got a solution that can actually fix the problem. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the only solution worth mentioning.
As I promised when taking the Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge, I will not consider letting Washington borrow another dime unless the House and Senate have passed a Balanced Budget Amendment. The House is scheduled to vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment during the week of July 25, and Senator Mitch McConnell says he’ll attempt to force a Senate vote the week of July 18. Tinkering around the edges will not keep the U.S. out of bankruptcy. We need bold, historic changes, and we need them soon.
Pushy Comcast Salesman
Joe-
A guy just came to my house ("Harry Wilson," I think he said), driving a black Toyota Matrix and when she answered the door, he told my wife he was there to hook us up to Comcast.
I told him we hadn't ordered cable.. he said he knew that, but was there to hook us up anyway.. it was 'free'.
I told him we weren't interested, but he kept pushing.. I told him no at least 4 times, but he kept insisting on installing it.
I had to get VERY direct with him in order to get him to leave my house.
I hate to think what might have happened if my wife had been here alone.
I don't know how many others have had this experience, but I'd strongly recommend locking the door and refusing to let him in if he shows up.
A guy just came to my house ("Harry Wilson," I think he said), driving a black Toyota Matrix and when she answered the door, he told my wife he was there to hook us up to Comcast.
I told him we hadn't ordered cable.. he said he knew that, but was there to hook us up anyway.. it was 'free'.
I told him we weren't interested, but he kept pushing.. I told him no at least 4 times, but he kept insisting on installing it.
I had to get VERY direct with him in order to get him to leave my house.
I hate to think what might have happened if my wife had been here alone.
I don't know how many others have had this experience, but I'd strongly recommend locking the door and refusing to let him in if he shows up.
Crabs Plentiful, But Pricey
Crabs are plentiful so far this year in Maryland, but that doesn't mean there'll be enough to go around on Independence Day weekend, when nearly every patriotic Marylander, it seems, dreams of feasting on the state's official crustacean. Nor will they be cheap — with the price for a bushel of big Jimmies, or male crabs, topping $200 in some places.
Seafood dealers, restaurateurs and watermen say there's a good supply of blue crabs coming out of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries right now, despite the cold snap last winter that scientists say killed roughly a third of the population. Even with that apparent die-off, state biologists say the annual baywide survey tallied the second highest count since the late 1990s.
"It's plenty of crabs everywhere," said Janet Ruark of Rippons Brothers Seafood on Hoopers Island, a hotbed of crabbing in Dorchester County. "God's good," she said. "He always provides when it's needed."
Gay Marriage Advocates Want O’Malley to Step Up Role
With New York’s embrace of same-sex marriage last week, advocates of gay nuptials in Maryland are pressing Gov. Martin O’Malley to play a more vigorous role as state lawmakers prepare to push the issue again.
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, another Democrat whose national profile is on the rise, is widely credited with getting a bill through his divided legislature with a well-funded lobbying campaign to persuade conflicted lawmakers.
In Maryland, O’Malley supported a similar measure that fell short during this year’s legislative session but, unlike Cuomo, largely limited his advocacy to private conversations.
O’Malley made no mention of same-sex marriage in his agenda-setting State of the State speech in early February and did not highlight his support in news conferences, as he did with legislation to jump-start Maryland’s wind-energy industry and other priorities.
Virginia Inmate to be Executed on August 18th
A Virginia inmate who was sentenced to death for raping and killing an elderly woman in 2001 is facing an August execution.
Jerry Terrell Jackson, 29, is scheduled to be executed Aug. 18 for the murder of 88-year-old Ruth Phillips of Williamsburg.
If Jackson chooses lethal injection over electrocution, he would be the first Virginia inmate executed under a new drug protocol that replaces the sedative sodium thiopental in the three-drug cocktail with pentobarbital.
A nationwide shortage of sodium thiopental forced many states to substitute pentobarbital, but some have questioned its use. Defense attorneys called for an investigation after a Georgia inmate executed last week using the new drug appeared to struggle during the lethal injection.
Georgia House Restaurant Coming To Salisbury
Chef Fred's will close their doors June 30th and the Grand Opening to the Georgia House Restaurant will happen on July 15th.
This is exciting for those people looking for a really good meal. More to come...
BREAKING NEWS: Consumer Confidence Falls To Lowest Level Since November
The Conference Board says its consumer confidence fell to 58.5 in June from a revised 61.7 in May, its lowest level since November.
From Fox News
From Fox News
Retiree Loses Everything When Bank Mistakes His House for Foreclosure
An eighty-two year old Tampa Bay man has lost everything he owns, including pictures of his dead wife, after a clean-out crew hired by Bank of America mistook his house for the foreclosure next door.
The St. Petersburg Times reports that Benito Sr. came back from vacation to find that his house was padlocked and everything inside was gone. A sign outside taped to his window was for a company that cleans out foreclosed houses.
When he first called the number, an employee said it was probably their fault, saying, "It had to be us. We had a work order to go out to 4255."
Virginia Congressmen Criticize Senators Over Carrier Relocation to Florida
Hampton Roads' four congressmen don't think Virginia's two senators are doing enough to block the Navy's plans to move a Norfolk-based aircraft carrier to Mayport, Fla.
The four House members recently sent a letter expressing concern that while the House's approved 2012 defense budget specifically prohibits spending money to prepare the Florida naval station to base a nuclear carrier, a proposed Senate budget does not.
The Senate version, which was approved by the chamber's Armed Services Committee this month and is headed to the full body, includes $15 million for Mayport improvements in advance of the proposed 2019 carrier relocation. The total cost of a carrier move is expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars.
BREAKING NEWS: April Home Prices Data Better Than Expected
The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas shows home prices rose 0.7% in April on a non-seasonally-adjusted basis, topping estimates of a 0.3% gain. With seasonal adjustments, the gauge ticked lower by 0.1%, a shallower loss than the 0.2% Wall Street expected.
From Fox News
From Fox News
Frederick Should Move Cautiously Into Privatization
Whether it favors traditional government or not, Commissioner Paul Smith's memo cautioning his colleagues to thoroughly analyze any move toward privatizing government contains some wise advice.
As it considers privatizing certain services,Frederick County is treading into dark territory, a domain of so many unknowns that the kind of incremental steps Smith flags as necessary make solid sense, using "facts and sound reasons," as Smith terms it.
The county, should it take this course, could well be the first established government to create public-private partnerships. So far, this type of government-by-corporation has been adopted by communities being established, not those with hundreds of years of history.
Since their election last year, the commissioners have been moving at a hectic pace to cut spending and enact a slate of measures (and treading dangerously close to ignoring public involvement in the process).
While we do not fully agree with this op-ed, we feel that any proponent of privatizing segments of state and local government should examine these arguments in addition to the arguments FOR privatization – Ed.
Re-Districting Has Some VA Legislators House Hunting
Although the real estate market remains shaky, there's one category of home hunters checking property listings this summer: candidates for legislative office.
Several General Assembly candidates have acknowledged they're planning to move to meet state residency requirements, and others have pondered it.
While it's not uncommon for prospective office holders to move into a favorable district, the trend seems more pronounced this year because of redistricting.
In that process, some legislators were taken out of districts they now represent, separated from some of the constituents who helped put them in office, or placed in the same district as another legislator.
Over 1,000 Turn Out for MDTA Hearing in Havre de Grace
More than 1,000 people from the northeast corner of the state came out Monday evening to tell state officials not to raise the toll on the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge, which they say connects them to their churches, shopping centers, doctors and friends on the other side of the Susquehanna River.
The toll rate is slated to rise from $10 a year for area residents who sign up for a special decal to $36 in October and $72 in 2013. It's part of a larger plan to raise maintenance and repair money from tolls across the state for bridges, tunnels and roads.
"Stick with $10!" demanded Hilda Joy Mathis of Havre de Grace, who came to a public hearing held by the Maryland Transportation Authority, one of many hearings planned ahead of the increases.
She was joined by her neighbor Sarah Morris, who said the historic hikes were too much for many people to handle in a tough economy. She said, "I understand they need to go up, but I'd like to see a smaller increase and none of those on-going fees."
Morris and many others objected to the state authority's plan to swap out the decals locals have used since 1976 for an EZPass, which comes with monthly fees and a one-time cost for the transponders.
Delaware Charter School FAQ
Not sure how charter schools work in Delaware? DFM News provides a quick primer on the basics:
What is a charter school?
According to state law, a charter school is an independent public school, free of most state and school district rules and regulations, that is encouraged to use different, innovative or proven teaching and learning methods. Their goal is to provide improved school and student performance and to give parents and students greater opportunities in choosing public schools..
How many charter schools are authorized in Delaware?
There were 18 authorized charter schools operating during the 2010-11 school year, 14 chartered by the State Board of Education and four by the Red Clay Consolidated School District. Three more state-approved charters are scheduled to open in August. A school’s initial charter is renewable after four years. Subsequent renewals are five years apart.
Who manages charter schools?
Charter schools are managed by a board of directors, similar to the way a board of education manages a school district. The school’s day-to-day leader, comparable to a principal in a traditional school, might be designated as the director, headmaster, school leader or principal..
Where does the money to operate charter schools come from?.
Since they are public schools, charter schools may not charge tuition. They receive state funding based on the same unit-count formula that applies to traditional school district. They receive local funds, based on the student’s district of residence, under a complex formula that provides a little less than the local district’s average cost per student for the previous school year. (For 2011-2012, the payment will be based on costs for the 2010-2011 school year.) Charter school operators may apply for federal grants to cover some start-up costs.
One big difference: unlike traditional public schools, charter schools do not receive capital funds for construction or purchase of buildings.
How do I enroll my child in a charter school?
The charter school enrollment cycle parallels enrollments in the public school choice program. Contact the school for application details. Charter schools may give preference to siblings of current students, children of staff members, and students who live within the district where the school is located or within five miles of the building. For schools chartered by the state, if applications exceed spaces available, a lottery must be used to determine who is admitted.
Martin, Houck to Seek Re-Election to Virginia Senate
Two veteran state senators, including the Richmond area's Stephen H. Martin, are running for re-election.
Also running is R. Edward Houck, a Spotsylvania County Democrat.
Martin, R-Chesterfield, has served in the Senate since 1994 and was in the House of Delegates for six years before that. He is a senior member of several committees, including the Education and Health and Privileges and Elections committees.
The 11th District consists of Amelia County, Colonial Heights and most of Chesterfield.
The 17th District that Houck represents consists of Albemarle, Culpeper, Louisa, Orange and Spotsylvania counties and Fredericksburg.
Houck has a Republican opponent, Bryce Reeves of Spotsylvania. As yet, Martin has no opponent.
Salisbury Welcomes The Return Of Gaither Homecoming Music Spectacular
Salisbury, MD - Multi-Grammy Award winning recording artist, Bill Gaither will present the Gaither Homecoming music spectacular at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center (WY&CC) in Salisbury, MD on Friday, September 9, 2011. The legendary recording artist will present an exciting celebration, filled with the very best in Christian music, including Gaither’s own multi-award winning group, The Gaither Vocal Band. This special event will begin at 7:00pm.
For nearly half a century, multiple Grammy and Dove award winner Bill Gaither has been a musical trailblazer. His reputation as a performer, songwriter and mentor for newly-discovered artists is known world-wide. Gaither’s beloved series of Homecoming CDs and DVDs continues to top the sales charts and attract an ever-increasing audience. Whether you are a brand new fan or a longtime lover of feel-good Gospel music, don’t miss this incredible concert experience. "In times like these we must reflect on what is most important in our lives...faith, family and friends," explains Gaither. "I invite everyone to join me and my special ‘friends’ for an uplifting musical extravaganza filled with joy, laughter, good music and great memories."
The roster of talented ‘friends’ taking the stage with Gaither and the Gaither Vocal Band, featuring Mark Lowry, David Phelps, Michael English and Wes Hampton, includes The Isaacs, The Martins, Gordon Mote, Charlotte Ritchie, Gene McDonald and Kevin Williams.
Additional information regarding the Gaither Homecoming Tour stop at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury, MD, on Friday, September 9 is available online at www.premierproductions.com or www.gaither.com. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.wicomicociviccenter.org/, in person at the WY&CC Box Office or by phone at 410.548.4911. Special group rates are available. All ticket prices may include additional taxes and or fees.
Increase In Shoplifting May Be Sign of Economic Recovery
While one might initially expect an increase in shoplifting to be a sign that more people are facing dire financial straits, there are those who believe the recent uptick in retail theft could actually be a hint that the economy is improving.
The National Retail Federation recently announced that losses from retail theft totaled $37.1 billion in 2010, up from $33.5 billion in 2009. How could this increase hint at good things to come?
Well, a good chunk of retail theft is done by employees — like the Office Depot manager accused of stealing millions of dollars in supplies — and when the economy bottomed out a few years back, many retail workers put a priority on keeping their jobs over their unofficial five-finger employee discounts.
Vote Would Allow Obama To Appoint Without Senate Consent
S.697 Allows Obama to Appoint Labor Bosses to DOL positions bypassing Senate Approval
OPPOSE this Cronyism. Ask Mikulski and Cardin to vote NO on today's vote.
Tuesday's vote on Senate Bill 697 would allow President Obama to apoint Labor bosses and partisans to key Department of Labor positions without "the advice and consent" of the Senate. S. 697 put forth by Sen. Schumer would allow the President to install whomever he wants to these positions without so much as a Senate hearing or vote.
When Obama's pick for the Labor Relations Board, Labor attorney Craig Becker, met with resistance that made Senate confirmation unlikely, Obama skirted the opposition with a recess appointment not requiring Senate approval. Since being on the Labor Board, Becker has refused to recuse himself on several critical cases in which he had prior involvement. This should not happen again, however, S.697 would negate Senate approval allowing Obama free reign to appoint labor zealots to key DOL positions.
Contact Senators Mikulski and Cardin NOW and ask that they oppose S.697 on all votes including today's cloture vote.
Senator Mikulski at 202.224.4654 www.mikulski.senate.gov/contact
Senator Cardin at 202.224.4524 www.cardin.senate.gov/contact
NASA to Launch DOD Rocket
WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (AP) — NASA is preparing to launch a Department of Defense satellite from the Wallops Flight Facility at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.
The Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket is scheduled for launch on Tuesday.
The rocket will carry the first operational satellite for the Department of Defense's Operationally Responsive Space Office.
The Minotaur 1 rocket is about 70 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
It is set for launch between 8:28 p.m. and 11:28 p.m. The backup launch days are Wednesday through July 10.
The launch may be visible from southern New York to North Carolina. It may be seen as far west from the Atlantic Coast as West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.
This will be the fourth Minotaur 1 rocket launched from Wallops Flight Facility and the spaceport since December 2006.
Editor’s Choice – 06/28/2011
These were the five (5) best, or most important, posts for Monday, June 27th as judged by the editors of Salisbury News.
Reader’s Choice – 06/28/2011
These were the most popular posts for Monday, June 27th, judged by the most approved comments.
- A Comment Worthy of a Post
- Georgia Program Replaces Migrant Workers with Ex-Cons
- Obama Administration Reportedly Considering 56.2 MPG Fuel Economy Standard
- Today's Survey Question - Should the Constitution Be Amended?
- Today's Survey Question #2 - Bachmann's In, Will Palin Stay Out?
Seldom will you see a post authored by G. A. Harrison be a Reader’s Choice. Thanks to the antics of Alex Adams this Monday morning post received the most comments by nearly a 4 – 1 margin. – Ed.
MD Board of Public Works Did Not Monitor Grant Money
A state board composed of Maryland's top elected officials failed to monitor $200,000 in grant money given to an unnamed recipient and did not produce legally required procurement reports to state lawmakers for at least seven straight years, according to a new audit.
The report by the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits shows that the state's Board of Public Works -- made up of Gov. Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp -- doled out $5.1 million to an individual grantee during fiscal 2009. Yet the financial statement for the transaction reflected only $4.9 million in grant money, leaving $200,000 unaccounted for.
"BPW did not adequately monitor a grantee's financial activity to ensure state funds were accounted for and used in accordance with related grant agreements," the report states. It does not name the recipient of the $5.1 million in taxpayer money.
MSP Helicopter to Re-Locate to Cecil County During Peak Service Times
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