Operation’s Foundation:
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 was enacted on July 27, 2006. In addition to establishing a national sex offender registry law, the Act made significant changes to sexual abuse, exploitation, and transportation crimes. The Act created new substantive crimes, expanded federal jurisdiction over existing crimes, and increased statutory minimum and/or maximum sentences.
Operation’s Goal and Objective:
Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement team up and perform compliance checks on Tier II Registered Sex Offenders in New Castle County Operation as first phase in a statewide effort.
Participating Law Enforcement Agencies:
Delaware State Police Sex Offenders Apprehension and Registration Unit
Delaware Attorney General’s Office
New County Police Department
Wilmington Police Department
Department of Corrections - Delaware Probation and Parole
University of Delaware Police Department
Newark Police Department
Middletown Police Department
Elsmere Police Department
United States Marshals Service District of Delaware
"Operation Second Wind" was the result of a collaborative effort of numerous Law Enforcement organizations throughout New Castle County.
The joint compliance initiative combined approximately 48 Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Officers in New Castle County and took place randomly over a four month period beginning in January, 2012. The Operation culminated in a sex offender wanted persons round up the week of April 2, 2012.
During Operation Second Wind, 710 compliance checks were conducted in New Castle County of Tier 2 Sex Offenders. A total of 29 offenders were found to be non-compliant for a compliance rate of 96%. The focus of the enforcement phase of the operation included any wanted sex offender in the state of Delaware.
As a result of these enforcement efforts, there were 31 total arrests made during the operation. 27 sex offenders were arrested for Failure to Register/Failure to Verify; 2 sex offenders were arrested for Violation of Probation of prior sex offenses and 2 arrests were made for subjects with Capias’ on Failure to Appear for previous court appearances.
The U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Delaware opened 13 federal cases under provision of the Adam Walsh Act for ongoing investigation and potential prosecution based on information obtained during this operation.
Operation Second Wind demonstrates how through the collaborative efforts of all Law Enforcement agencies, when working together, can assist in making Delaware a safer place for our children to live and grow.
This is part of the Delaware State Police’s Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit's (SOAR) ongoing effort to ensure our sex offender population is doing what they are legally required to do.
A 97 percent compliance rate from a previous operation targeting Tier 3 offenders statewide coupled with a 96 percent compliance rate for this Tier 2 operation for New Castle County is indicative that the system and its inherent safeguards/checks and balances are lending themselves to knowing where the population of Sex Offenders is residing within our community. Similar operations for Kent and Sussex Counties are in the planning stages at this time.
U. S. Marshals Office Comments: “The Marshals Service for the District of Delaware was glad to be a participant in this operation with our State and Local Law Enforcement partners, in making sure that all provisions of laws regarding sex offender’s registration compliance were being met. We will continue to assist our law enforcement partners with apprehending those non-compliant and wanted sex offenders so they will be held accountable for their actions. The Marshals Service is committed to making our communities and neighborhoods safer places to live”.
Comments from Attorney General Beau Biden: “Sex Offenders have forfeited their right to be anonymous. Thanks to the constant efforts of the Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit, and periodic compliance checks like this, we’re ensuring that predators register and verify their location as required with the State. Knowing where predators are helps law enforcement and families keep our kids and communities safe.”
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Think You Know George Zimmerman? This New Timeline And Profile Could Change The Perception (and the Case)
When the Trayvon Martin case first started garnering national attention, there were many that thought they knew who George Zimmerman was: an overzealous racist with a vendetta against young black men who was on a mission to assert power with his gun. But then little details started emerging, such as pictures of Zimmerman’s bloody head that could bolster his self-defense claim; CNN even backtracked and said the tape it once suggested showed Zimmerman uttering a racist slur was actually him most likely saying it was “cold.”
And now, Reuters has put together a detailed profile of Zimmerman that seems to suggest he was a concerned citizen that was trying to help fix his community and those in it reeling from recent crime. He was a compassionate neighbor, it seems, not a lunatic with a gun.
“During the time Zimmerman was in hiding, his detractors defined him as a vigilante who had decided Martin was suspicious merely because he was black,” Reuters reports. “After Zimmerman was finally arrested on a charge of second-degree murder more than six weeks after the shooting, prosecutors portrayed him as a violent and angry man who disregarded authority by pursuing the 17-year-old.
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And now, Reuters has put together a detailed profile of Zimmerman that seems to suggest he was a concerned citizen that was trying to help fix his community and those in it reeling from recent crime. He was a compassionate neighbor, it seems, not a lunatic with a gun.
“During the time Zimmerman was in hiding, his detractors defined him as a vigilante who had decided Martin was suspicious merely because he was black,” Reuters reports. “After Zimmerman was finally arrested on a charge of second-degree murder more than six weeks after the shooting, prosecutors portrayed him as a violent and angry man who disregarded authority by pursuing the 17-year-old.
More
Fox News Poll: 45 Percent Approve of Obama, as 83 Percent Say Country Still in Recession
President Barack Obama’s job approval rating remains in negative
territory -- unwelcome news for an incumbent running for re-election.
Even so, the president’s regained some ground from earlier this month.
While 45 percent of American voters approve of the president’s performance, a 51-percent majority disapproves, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday. That’s a bit of an improvement from two weeks ago when 42 percent approved and 51 percent disapproved (April 9-11).
One reason the president’s job approval suffers: 83 percent of voters think the country is still in a recession -- including 35 percent who think things could get worse. That’s little changed from a year ago, when 82 percent thought the country was still in a recession (with 38 percent saying things could get worse).
Overall, 15 percent of voters believe the recession is over. That’s mostly unchanged from 16 percent last year (April 2011).
While 45 percent of American voters approve of the president’s performance, a 51-percent majority disapproves, according to a Fox News poll released Wednesday. That’s a bit of an improvement from two weeks ago when 42 percent approved and 51 percent disapproved (April 9-11).
One reason the president’s job approval suffers: 83 percent of voters think the country is still in a recession -- including 35 percent who think things could get worse. That’s little changed from a year ago, when 82 percent thought the country was still in a recession (with 38 percent saying things could get worse).
Overall, 15 percent of voters believe the recession is over. That’s mostly unchanged from 16 percent last year (April 2011).
German Shepherd Fetches Ball, Returns to Find His Soldier Home from Deployment
Here is Ranger, a beautiful German Shepherd, fetching his favorite toy... the "green monster." After running after the toy, Ranger comes back to find his owner home from deployment. The excited barks are enough to let you know that this is one happy little dog!
Suspect Claims He Attacked White Teen Because He Was Angry Over Trayvon Case, Police Say
Alton Hayes III was charged with a hate crime after he and a 15-year-old attacked the 19-year-old man at about 1:00 a.m. on April 17 in Oak Park, a Chicago suburb.
Police say Hayes and his teenage partner, who has not been named since he is a juvenile, picked the man apparently at random and pinned his arms to the side.
Hayes allegedly then picked up a tree branch and demanded the victim give them his belongings, saying, "Empty your pockets, white boy."
WallBuilders’ Tim Barton To Address National Day Of Prayer Breakfast
Tim Barton, of WallBuilders, will address this year's National Day of Prayer Breakfast, Thursday, May 3, in the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. Organized by community leaders, this event is the Lower Shore's annual regional prayer breakfast. WallBuilders is a pro-family organization that presents America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on the nation’s religious, moral and constitutional heritage. WallBuilders has been nationally recognized for its work in education, history, law and public policy, integrating elements of biblical faith and morality throughout all aspects of American life and culture.
Barton presents the historical basis for the nation's godly heritage, inspiring with well-documented information and a lively style of communicating. He is an ordained minister who has worked in a variety of church staff positions, including youth minister, worship leader and assistant pastor. He also serves as a coach and has taught at a Christian school in Texas, where he resides.
May 3, 2012, marks the 61st annual National Day of Prayer. The theme for this year is “One Nation Under God,” inspired by Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Civic center doors open at 6:45 a.m., with breakfast served at 7:30. The program lasts until 9 a.m. Tickets are $20, available at The Country House and the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce. Tables of 9 are available for $180.
Following the prayer breakfast, a noon National Day of Prayer observance will take place in front of the City-County Government Building in Salisbury. The prayer breakfast is being cosponsored by Joy! 102.5 WOLC-FM. For more information, contact Bonnie Luna at 410-749-1633.
Barton presents the historical basis for the nation's godly heritage, inspiring with well-documented information and a lively style of communicating. He is an ordained minister who has worked in a variety of church staff positions, including youth minister, worship leader and assistant pastor. He also serves as a coach and has taught at a Christian school in Texas, where he resides.
May 3, 2012, marks the 61st annual National Day of Prayer. The theme for this year is “One Nation Under God,” inspired by Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Civic center doors open at 6:45 a.m., with breakfast served at 7:30. The program lasts until 9 a.m. Tickets are $20, available at The Country House and the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce. Tables of 9 are available for $180.
Following the prayer breakfast, a noon National Day of Prayer observance will take place in front of the City-County Government Building in Salisbury. The prayer breakfast is being cosponsored by Joy! 102.5 WOLC-FM. For more information, contact Bonnie Luna at 410-749-1633.
Conservative Consumers: Stand Your Ground
Who is Rashad Robinson? And why has his fringe, race-baiting
organization been able to pressure several major corporations into
abandoning a pro-limited-government legislative association — all for a
few cheap social-justice brownie points?
Conservative consumers need to get informed, get active and stand their ground against free speech-squelching progressive activists who have demonized the American Legislative Exchange Council. This isn't just a battle over ALEC. It's a war against the left's shakedown artists taking aim at our freedoms of speech and association.
ALEC, as I reported last week, is the four-decade-old policy organization of state legislators and like-minded business people who believe in "the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty." They are under fire from a longstanding network of liberal groups — tied to the Democratic Party — that are unhappy with effective conservative opposition at the state and federal legislative levels.
More
Conservative consumers need to get informed, get active and stand their ground against free speech-squelching progressive activists who have demonized the American Legislative Exchange Council. This isn't just a battle over ALEC. It's a war against the left's shakedown artists taking aim at our freedoms of speech and association.
ALEC, as I reported last week, is the four-decade-old policy organization of state legislators and like-minded business people who believe in "the Jeffersonian principles of free markets, limited government, federalism, and individual liberty." They are under fire from a longstanding network of liberal groups — tied to the Democratic Party — that are unhappy with effective conservative opposition at the state and federal legislative levels.
More
Got Bigotry?: CNN's Soledad O'Brien Stars In Skit Ripping 'Rednecks'
Monday, Soledad O'Brien's "Starting Point" couldn't clear 100k viewers in the coveted 25-54 demo or even a half-million total viewers.
"The Daily Show" itself came in at #23 in the cable rankings with only 1.54 million total viewers.You think maybe part of their viewership problem might have something to do with the cultural bigotry and intolerance displayed below?
So here you have Soledad O'Brien, a CNN anchor and star, in a skit stereotyping and mocking "rednecks." Sure, she can put on Jon Stewart's clown nose as a defense, but would she ever participate in a skit that portrayed Blacks, gays, or Muslims in a derogatory fashion.
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Ron Paul Wins More Delegates: Romney Nomination In Doubt
Two networks yesterday, CNBC and MSNBC, broadcast a little known fact – Dr. Ron Paul appears to be winning the Republican nomination for President.
After three more states locked in delegates to the GOP nominating convention – CO, MN and IA – indicators point to a brokered convention with a possible, even probable, Ron Paul victory.
Source
After three more states locked in delegates to the GOP nominating convention – CO, MN and IA – indicators point to a brokered convention with a possible, even probable, Ron Paul victory.
Source
What Really Happens When You Swallow Your Gum?
If you look at its ingredients — a delicious mix of indigestible compounds — it certainly seems possible. And if you look at the medical books, swallowed gum has caused some serious problems. Is it possible that your mom’s crazy warnings were right?
The Worst Cases
A 1998 article in the journal Pediatrics discussed three cases in which kids took the act of gum-swallowing to Intervention-like extremes. (Warning: What follows is not for the squeamish!)
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Senate OKs Postal Reform Bill, Clearing Way For Workforce Reduction
The Senate approved a bipartisan bill Wednesday aiming to restructure the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service. The final bill refunds USPS overpayments to the federal retirement system and clears the way for the agency to reduce its workforce by 100,000 positions but throws several hurdles in the agency's path toward closing underused postal facilities.
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Parents Wire Kids To Prove Teachers' Verbal Abuse
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (AP) - Teachers hurled insults like "bastard,"
"tard," "damn dumb" and "a hippo in a ballerina suit." A bus driver
threatened to slap one child, while a bus monitor told another, "Shut
up, you little dog."
They were all special needs students, and their parents all learned about the verbal abuse the same way _ by planting audio recorders on them before sending them off to school.
In cases around the country, suspicious parents have been taking advantage of convenient, inexpensive technology to tell them what children, because of their disabilities, are not able to express on their own. It's a practice that can help expose abuses, but it comes with some dangers.
More
They were all special needs students, and their parents all learned about the verbal abuse the same way _ by planting audio recorders on them before sending them off to school.
In cases around the country, suspicious parents have been taking advantage of convenient, inexpensive technology to tell them what children, because of their disabilities, are not able to express on their own. It's a practice that can help expose abuses, but it comes with some dangers.
More
Baltimore Lawmakers’ Concerns Complicate Gambling Compromise
Any compromise on a 6th slots casino at National Harbor in Prince George’s County is complicated by strong regional interests of those jurisdictions like Baltimore City that already are supposed to have one of five casinos. Continue Reading...
More
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Hope Goins Gives The Gift of Life
A little girl from Hagerstown who lost her life in a fire is giving hope to two other families.
Hagerstown firefighter John Murray first discovered Hope cradled in her mother’s arms and carried her to paramedics.
“Her and her mother were together,” Murray says. “(I) reached down and put Hope in my arms and down the steps"
The mother, Patricia Goins, was pronounced dead at the scene. But after nearly an hour of CPR, the little girl's heart miraculously started beating again and her family had renewed hope she would survive.
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Three-year-old Hope Goins was rescued from a fire at
her Hagerstown home last Wednesday, deprived of oxygen and with no
heartbeat.
Hagerstown firefighter John Murray first discovered Hope cradled in her mother’s arms and carried her to paramedics.
“Her and her mother were together,” Murray says. “(I) reached down and put Hope in my arms and down the steps"
The mother, Patricia Goins, was pronounced dead at the scene. But after nearly an hour of CPR, the little girl's heart miraculously started beating again and her family had renewed hope she would survive.
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Atheist Group Demands Rhode Island City Remove Cross From Atop War Memorial
Although the memorial has stood in the parking lot of the Woonsocket fire station for decades with no complaints, the Freedom from Religion Foundation is now calling for it to be stripped of the cross that sits atop it, claiming it violates the First Amendment's freedom of religion clause. The group also wants the Woonsocket Fire Department to remove “The Firefighter’s Prayer” and a picture of an angel from its website.
Not Kidding: Obama Has New 'Atrocities Czar'
Look what's on Samantha Power's to-do list
President Obama’s National Security Adviser Samantha Power will head the new White House Atrocities Prevention Board, which is tasked with formulating a response to war crimes, crimes against humanity and mass atrocities.
Power helped to found a global military doctrine called Responsibility to Protect that was also devised by several controversial characters, including Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi, a staunch denier of the Holocaust who long served as the deputy of late Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat.
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President Obama’s National Security Adviser Samantha Power will head the new White House Atrocities Prevention Board, which is tasked with formulating a response to war crimes, crimes against humanity and mass atrocities.
Power helped to found a global military doctrine called Responsibility to Protect that was also devised by several controversial characters, including Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi, a staunch denier of the Holocaust who long served as the deputy of late Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat.
More
Mich. ‘Feral Swine’ Farmer Calls for Resignation of DNR Officials and Others
Farmer Mark Baker was on Doc Thompson‘s radio show today and he has a
message he hopes will shake those in Michigan’s state capital. It is:
“We’re not letting up. We’re not letting our family farms go.”
If you’re wondering what Baker, who runs the farm Bakers Green Acres in Michigan, is referring to, he’s talking with Thompson – a man whose voice you may recognize as a fill-in for Glenn Beck at times – about the recent enactment of the “feral swine” ban within the state. As of April 1, those in Michigan raising certain species of pigs deemed non-native for meat or for sport hunting were required to have disposed of their livestock, according to the Invasive Species Order passed in 2010.
On the show, Baker calls for Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Environment officials to resign and also for the Invasive Species Order to be canceled. He says, “I want it done by the end of the week.”
More
If you’re wondering what Baker, who runs the farm Bakers Green Acres in Michigan, is referring to, he’s talking with Thompson – a man whose voice you may recognize as a fill-in for Glenn Beck at times – about the recent enactment of the “feral swine” ban within the state. As of April 1, those in Michigan raising certain species of pigs deemed non-native for meat or for sport hunting were required to have disposed of their livestock, according to the Invasive Species Order passed in 2010.
On the show, Baker calls for Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Environment officials to resign and also for the Invasive Species Order to be canceled. He says, “I want it done by the end of the week.”
More
Top 10 Percent Of Earners Paid 71 Percent Of Federal Income Taxes
Top earners are the target for new tax increases, but the federal income tax system is already highly progressive. The top 10 percent of income earners paid 71 percent of all federal income taxes in 2009 though they earned 43 percent of all income. The bottom 50 percent paid 2 percent of income taxes but earned 13 percent of total income. About half of tax filers paid no federal income tax at all.
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Blogger Could Be Thrown in Jail for…Writing About His Diet?
It’s the sort of story you expect to come from a third world
superstitious kleptopcracy – yet it happened here on American soil, in
North Carolina, thanks to good old fashioned state-level bureaucracy.
Reason Magazine brings us the bizarre and senseless story of a Steve
Cooksey, a former diabetic who put himself on the popular “Paleo” diet
and decided to tell the world about his experiences, only to have the
North Carolina Board of Dietetics and Nutrition (yes, that exists) come down on him:
This past January the state diatetics and nutrition board decided Cooksey’s blog — Diabetes-Warrior.net — violated state law. The nutritional advice Cooksey provides on the site amounts to “practicing nutrition,” the board’s director says, and in North Carolina that’s something you need a license to do.
Unless Cooksey completely rewrites his 3-year-old blog, he could be sued by the licensing board. If he loses the lawsuit and refuses to take down the blog, he could face up to 120 days in jail.
The board’s director says Cooksey has a First Amendment right to blog about his diet, but he can’t encourage others to adopt it unless the state has certified him as a dietitian or nutritionist.More
Tarp Overseer Debunks Bailout Myths: Big Companies HAVEN'T Repaid Tarp Funds . And Funds To Help Homeowners HAVEN'T Been Paid
Apologists for government bailouts push two main myths:
•That all of the bailout funds have been repaid
•That the bailouts helped the average American
But the official government overseer of the Tarp bailout program – the special inspector general for TARP, Christy L. Romero – has debunked both myths.
Today, Romero wrote [10] the following to Congress:
After 3½ years, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) continues to be an active and significant part of the Government’s response to the financial crisis. It is a widely held misconception that TARP will make a profit. The most recent cost estimate for TARP is a loss of $60 billion. Taxpayers are still owed $118.5 billion (including $14 billion written off or otherwise lost).
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•That all of the bailout funds have been repaid
•That the bailouts helped the average American
But the official government overseer of the Tarp bailout program – the special inspector general for TARP, Christy L. Romero – has debunked both myths.
Today, Romero wrote [10] the following to Congress:
After 3½ years, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) continues to be an active and significant part of the Government’s response to the financial crisis. It is a widely held misconception that TARP will make a profit. The most recent cost estimate for TARP is a loss of $60 billion. Taxpayers are still owed $118.5 billion (including $14 billion written off or otherwise lost).
More
House to Vote on Student Loans
An electoral battle between President Obama and Republicans over
young voters escalated Wednesday when Speaker John Boehner scheduled a
Friday vote to stop interest rates on student loans from doubling this
summer.
Boehner (R-Ohio) coupled the vote with an attack on Obama’s healthcare law, announcing he would pay the $5.9 billion cost of extending the loans with funds from what he called a healthcare “slush fund” set up for preventive care.
The Speaker’s surprise move is a GOP push against Obama’s efforts to lock up student voters, a constituency that was vital to his 2008 election.
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Boehner (R-Ohio) coupled the vote with an attack on Obama’s healthcare law, announcing he would pay the $5.9 billion cost of extending the loans with funds from what he called a healthcare “slush fund” set up for preventive care.
The Speaker’s surprise move is a GOP push against Obama’s efforts to lock up student voters, a constituency that was vital to his 2008 election.
More
THE SHEEPLE HAVE SPOKEN - OR NOT
Ron Paul vs. Mitt Romney: Voters Choose Paul as the True Conservative in 2012
As expected, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remains the clear Republican frontrunner after five more GOP primary victories in Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Texas Representative Ron Paul, however, continues to improve upon his 2008 election bid, pushing his total delegate count (which stood at 72 prior to Tuesday’s primaries) well past the 40 Republican delegates he won in his 2008 presidential bid.
Even while Romney inches closer to achieving the total number of delegates he needs to win the Republican nomination, Paul’s prominence in the primaries thus far has accentuated the ideological differences between the two candidates. Paul’s success in 2012 demonstrates the growing appeal of truly limited government and devotion to the protection of individual rights, which distinguish Paul’s libertarianism from Romney’s more traditional Republican conservatism.
More
As expected, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remains the clear Republican frontrunner after five more GOP primary victories in Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Texas Representative Ron Paul, however, continues to improve upon his 2008 election bid, pushing his total delegate count (which stood at 72 prior to Tuesday’s primaries) well past the 40 Republican delegates he won in his 2008 presidential bid.
Even while Romney inches closer to achieving the total number of delegates he needs to win the Republican nomination, Paul’s prominence in the primaries thus far has accentuated the ideological differences between the two candidates. Paul’s success in 2012 demonstrates the growing appeal of truly limited government and devotion to the protection of individual rights, which distinguish Paul’s libertarianism from Romney’s more traditional Republican conservatism.
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Time-Lapse Video Shows One World Trade Construction; Tower Could Surpass Empire State Building in Height
The building is expected to be taller than New York’s iconic Empire State Building, which currently rises 1,250 feet to the 102nd floor observation deck.
One World Trade is being built on the site of the original World Trade Center towers – or Twin Towers. They were the tallest buildings in the city, but were destroyed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, in which an estimated 3,000 people were killed.
The progression of construction on One World Trade can be seen in a two-minute, time-lapse video from EarthCam, the international webcam technology company.
Video Here
Is The Tea Party Waning?
The political class first sat up and paid real attention to the tea-party movement two years ago, when its acolytes in Utah ended the career of Bob Bennett, a venerable Republican senator, by denying him the party's nomination for his re- election bid. If Bob Bennett is not conservative enough, incredulous congressmen asked, who is? One person assumed to have dwelt long and hard on that question is the other, even more venerable Republican senator from Utah, Orrin Hatch, who has been in office since 1977. – The Economist
Dominant Social Theme: It's over now. Let business-as-usual begin.
Free-Market Analysis: This article from the Economist – a full-fledged mainstream mouthpiece – predicts, hopefully, the demise of the Tea Party movement in the US.
But those who run the Economist and hope for world government should be careful of what they wish for. The Tea Party movement was born of frustration with the current system and the idea that it is subsiding is probably a bit off the mark.
This is probably part of a larger dominant social theme – a kind of lulling meme – that as the recession eases in the West, frustrations are lessened and "normal" life resumes. The mechanisms of democratic life prove resilient: The system works.
More
Dominant Social Theme: It's over now. Let business-as-usual begin.
Free-Market Analysis: This article from the Economist – a full-fledged mainstream mouthpiece – predicts, hopefully, the demise of the Tea Party movement in the US.
But those who run the Economist and hope for world government should be careful of what they wish for. The Tea Party movement was born of frustration with the current system and the idea that it is subsiding is probably a bit off the mark.
This is probably part of a larger dominant social theme – a kind of lulling meme – that as the recession eases in the West, frustrations are lessened and "normal" life resumes. The mechanisms of democratic life prove resilient: The system works.
More
Tennessee Girl Barred From Prom For Wearing Confederate Flag Dress
Texanna Edwards, 18, of Trenton, Tenn., said she wasn't allowed inside Gibson County High School's prom on Saturday because officials deemed the knee-length red dress trimmed with the stars and bars was "offensive and inappropriate," she told the Tennessean.
The controversial flag is seen as a symbol of slavery-era racism by many, though others believe it stands for the heritage of the South.
We're All Nixonians Now
"People have got to know whether their President is a crook [12]"
Richard M. Nixon
I often wonder who is worse: George W. Bush — the man who turned a projected trillion dollar surplus into the greatest deficits in world history, who bailed out the profligate Wall Street algos and arbitrageurs, who proceeded with two needless, pointless and absurdly costly military occupations (even though he had initially campaigned on the promise of a humble foreign policy), who ignored Michael Scheuer’s warnings about al-Qaeda previous to 9/11, who signed the Constitution-trashing PATRIOT Act (etc etc ad infinitum) or his successor Barack Obama, the man who retained and expanded the PATRIOT Act powers under the NDAA (2011), who claimed the right to extrajudicially kill American citizens using predator drones, who expanded Bush’s expensive and pointless occupations (all the while having run on a promise to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre and reverse Bush’s civil liberties incursions), who proceeded with Paulson’s Wall Street bailouts, authorised the NSA to record all phone calls and internet activity [13], and continued the destructive War on Drugs (even though he had in the past been a drug user).
The answer, by the way, is Richard Nixon. For almost forty years after that man’s resignation, it is arguable that almost every single administration (with the possible exception of Carter as well as Reagan’s first year in office) — but especially that of Bush and Obama — has been cut from his cloth. It was Richard Nixon who inaugurated the War on Drugs — that despicable policy that has empowered the drug gangs and obliterated much of Latin America. It was Richard Nixon who so brazenly corrupted the White House and tarnished the office of the Presidency through the Watergate wiretapping scandal. It was Nixon’s administration that created the culture of government surveillance that led directly to the PATRIOT Act. It was Nixon who internationalised the fiat dollar, so trampling George Washington’s warnings about not entangling alliances, and of course setting the stage for the gradual destruction of American industry [14] that continued apace under NAFTA and into the present day, where America runs the greatest trade deficits in human history. It was Richard Nixon who set the precedent of pointless, stupid, blowback-inducing militarism, by continuing and expanding the Vietnam war. It was Richard Nixon whose administration authorised the use of chemical weapons (or as George W. Bush might have put it, “weapons of mass destruction”) against the Vietcong.
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Richard M. Nixon
I often wonder who is worse: George W. Bush — the man who turned a projected trillion dollar surplus into the greatest deficits in world history, who bailed out the profligate Wall Street algos and arbitrageurs, who proceeded with two needless, pointless and absurdly costly military occupations (even though he had initially campaigned on the promise of a humble foreign policy), who ignored Michael Scheuer’s warnings about al-Qaeda previous to 9/11, who signed the Constitution-trashing PATRIOT Act (etc etc ad infinitum) or his successor Barack Obama, the man who retained and expanded the PATRIOT Act powers under the NDAA (2011), who claimed the right to extrajudicially kill American citizens using predator drones, who expanded Bush’s expensive and pointless occupations (all the while having run on a promise to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre and reverse Bush’s civil liberties incursions), who proceeded with Paulson’s Wall Street bailouts, authorised the NSA to record all phone calls and internet activity [13], and continued the destructive War on Drugs (even though he had in the past been a drug user).
The answer, by the way, is Richard Nixon. For almost forty years after that man’s resignation, it is arguable that almost every single administration (with the possible exception of Carter as well as Reagan’s first year in office) — but especially that of Bush and Obama — has been cut from his cloth. It was Richard Nixon who inaugurated the War on Drugs — that despicable policy that has empowered the drug gangs and obliterated much of Latin America. It was Richard Nixon who so brazenly corrupted the White House and tarnished the office of the Presidency through the Watergate wiretapping scandal. It was Nixon’s administration that created the culture of government surveillance that led directly to the PATRIOT Act. It was Nixon who internationalised the fiat dollar, so trampling George Washington’s warnings about not entangling alliances, and of course setting the stage for the gradual destruction of American industry [14] that continued apace under NAFTA and into the present day, where America runs the greatest trade deficits in human history. It was Richard Nixon who set the precedent of pointless, stupid, blowback-inducing militarism, by continuing and expanding the Vietnam war. It was Richard Nixon whose administration authorised the use of chemical weapons (or as George W. Bush might have put it, “weapons of mass destruction”) against the Vietcong.
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March Radio Ratings In For Rush Limbaugh
PALM BEACH, Fla. – Radio host Rush Limbaugh says ratings are in for
March, the month during which he faced severe criticism after calling a
Georgetown University graduate student pushing insurance-covered birth
control a “slut,” and he claims the news is good.
“For those of you new to the program, and by the way, we now know,” Limbaugh said this afternoon, “we got numbers in from March. Through the roof. Skyrocketing. All kinds of new people here.”
While the remark was just an aside thought from another issue he was discussing, it reveals Limbaugh has been tracking the size of his audience since last month’s national uproar in which some sponsors departed his program and other new ones joined.
More
“For those of you new to the program, and by the way, we now know,” Limbaugh said this afternoon, “we got numbers in from March. Through the roof. Skyrocketing. All kinds of new people here.”
While the remark was just an aside thought from another issue he was discussing, it reveals Limbaugh has been tracking the size of his audience since last month’s national uproar in which some sponsors departed his program and other new ones joined.
More
Women Supporting Women Check
Scott Wisniewski presents a $650 donation from the proceeds of a fund-raiser party to Rota Knott, Worcester County Chapter coordinator, for Women Supporting Women, the local breast cancer support and awareness organization.
RNC Chief Accuses Obama of Campaigning on Taxpayer's Dime
The Republican National Committee is asking the Government
Accountability Office to examine President Obama's "misuse" of
government funds to benefit his reelection campaign.
In an official complaint filed with the GAO, a watchdog agency, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus accuses Obama of "passing off campaign travel as official events," using taxpayer money to fund his reelection efforts.
"Given the recent excesses, waste and abuse uncovered in the General Services Administration, the GAO should be particularly sensitive to misuse of taxpayer dollars," Preibus wrote in a letter to Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro. More
In an official complaint filed with the GAO, a watchdog agency, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus accuses Obama of "passing off campaign travel as official events," using taxpayer money to fund his reelection efforts.
"Given the recent excesses, waste and abuse uncovered in the General Services Administration, the GAO should be particularly sensitive to misuse of taxpayer dollars," Preibus wrote in a letter to Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro. More
BIKES TO BEACH EVENT COINCIDES WITH MAY’S MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH; OCPD REMINDING MOTORISTS TO “SHARE THE ROAD”
This weekend thousands of motorcyclists are anticipated to visit OceanCity, as the 2nd Annual Bikes to the Beach Spring Rally is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 26. In correlation with Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which begins May 1, the Ocean City Police Department is reminding motorists and motorcyclists to “share the road” with each other and be extra alert to keep motorcyclists safe.
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Centre Branch Now Open Longer
WHAT: Hours Change - Center Branch
WHO: Everyone
WHEN: Beginning May 4, 2012
WHERE: Centre Branch of the Wicomico Public Library
SALISBURY, MD – Beginning May 4, 2012, the Centre Branch of the Wicomico Public Library will be open three hours later on Fridays, with new hours from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sundays the branch will open one hour earlier, at 11 a.m. when the mall opens.
The Centre Branch is located in the Centre at Salisbury mall, near the Chuck E. Cheese’s entrance. Visit us on the web at www.wicomicolibrary.org or call 410-546-5397 for more information.
WHO: Everyone
WHEN: Beginning May 4, 2012
WHERE: Centre Branch of the Wicomico Public Library
SALISBURY, MD – Beginning May 4, 2012, the Centre Branch of the Wicomico Public Library will be open three hours later on Fridays, with new hours from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sundays the branch will open one hour earlier, at 11 a.m. when the mall opens.
The Centre Branch is located in the Centre at Salisbury mall, near the Chuck E. Cheese’s entrance. Visit us on the web at www.wicomicolibrary.org or call 410-546-5397 for more information.
Vandals Target Historic Building In Downtown Salisbury
Once again, I'll repeat, I'd LOVE nothing more than to publish uplifting stories every single day here on Salisbury News. However, even though I am asked by many to do so, am I to HIDE things like the images above? Am I supposed to keep quiet about what SOME are capable of?
Does the current administration care that those of us paying seven or eight thousand a year in taxes are getting absolutely NO SERVICES for the massive amounts of money we pay.
Now we all know the Salisbury Police Department is overwhelmed with phone calls on a daily basis. The College hasn't helped curb the abnormal volume of calls to the Police Department wither. In my opinion, this is why things are so out of control.
People don't care about their City. This isn't 12 or 13 year old kids causing such mischief, it's grown adults so out of control they'll even go so far as attempt to destroy a historic building, animals at the Zoo, heck, they'll even throw beer bottles at Police Officers.
I'd say things are out of control, yet have you seen the Mayor confront any of this? No, Help Is NOT On The Way Mayor Ireton. Help closed its eyes long ago and I think it's time for a whole new kind of vision for Salisbury.
Put your seat belts on Folks, I hear rumor there's going to be a big announcement coming very soon.
New Posts to fall below.
Technology Bar Coming May 4
WHAT: Technology Bar – Try out New Tech Items
WHO: Anyone interested in trying out the new equipment
WHEN: Starting May 4, 2012
WHERE: Near the Adult Information Desk in the Main Library
SALISBURY, MD – 2012 – Starting May 4th, Wicomico Public Library members will be able to try out the Nook, Color Nook, Kindle, and iPad in a no-pressure environment. These items are part of the new Technology Bar, which will be located next to the Adult Information Desk inside the Main Library. The items were acquired through a grant from the Department of Library Development Services and will be available for use during regular library hours.
WHO: Anyone interested in trying out the new equipment
WHEN: Starting May 4, 2012
WHERE: Near the Adult Information Desk in the Main Library
SALISBURY, MD – 2012 – Starting May 4th, Wicomico Public Library members will be able to try out the Nook, Color Nook, Kindle, and iPad in a no-pressure environment. These items are part of the new Technology Bar, which will be located next to the Adult Information Desk inside the Main Library. The items were acquired through a grant from the Department of Library Development Services and will be available for use during regular library hours.
Plan to Fix Postal Service Passes Senate
The Senate on Wednesday passed a plan to save the struggling U.S.
Postal Service, an effort that could save thousands of jobs and 100 mail
processing plants now slated to be closed or consolidated next month.
In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, the Senate voted 62-37 to throw a lifeline to the indebted Postal Service. Without help, the Postal Service would otherwise cut Saturday service, delay mail delivery and close hundreds of postal processing plants and post offices, triggering thousands of job cuts nationwide.
"My hope is that our friends over in the U.S. House, given our bipartisan steps we took this week, will feel a sense of urgency," said Sen. Tom Carper, a Delaware Democrat, one of the Senate bill's co-sponsors. "The situation is not hopeless, the situation is dire."
In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, the Senate voted 62-37 to throw a lifeline to the indebted Postal Service. Without help, the Postal Service would otherwise cut Saturday service, delay mail delivery and close hundreds of postal processing plants and post offices, triggering thousands of job cuts nationwide.
"My hope is that our friends over in the U.S. House, given our bipartisan steps we took this week, will feel a sense of urgency," said Sen. Tom Carper, a Delaware Democrat, one of the Senate bill's co-sponsors. "The situation is not hopeless, the situation is dire."
The Bailout Of The US Postal Service Begins: Cost To Taxpayers - $110,000 Per Union Vote "Saved Or Gained"
A week ago, when reading between the lines of what had heretofore been considered an inevitable USPS episode of austerity in which hundreds of thousands of labor union workers would lose their jobs but in the process would streamline a thoroughly outdated and inefficient US Postal Office bureaucracy, we asked if a US Postal Service bailout was imminent, focusing on the following: "Enter Ron Bloom, Lazard, and the very same crew that ended up getting a taxpayer funded bailout for GM. From the WSJ: "The Postal Service's proposal to close thousands of post offices and cut back on the number of days that mail is delivered "won't work" and would accelerate the agency's decline, according to the six-page report by Ron Bloom, President Barack Obama's former auto czar, and investment bank Lazard Ltd., LAZ who were hired by the union in October." That's right: after all the huffing and puffing about "sacrifice" and austerity, the labor union took one long look at the only option... and asked what other option is there." The other option, it turns out courtesy of news from AP, is the first of many incremental bail outs of the US Postal Office, better known in pre-election circles as hundreds of thousands of unionized votes up for the taking, and which could be bought for the low low price of $11 billion in taxpayer money, or $110,000 per vote! And so the latest bailout of yet another terminally inefficient and outdated government entity begins.
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"MAKING MARYLAND SAFER WITH THE APPROPRIATE USE OF DNA"
A lot of smart people came together in 2008 to determine how we could more effectively use DNA technology to make Maryland safer. They included veteran prosecutors, experienced criminal justice professionals, and concerned legislators. They agreed with Governor O’Malley’s vision and worked on a fair, practical, and reasonable approach to better protection for our citizens with DNA evidence.
Criminal justice professionals examined the impact the legislation could have on reducing crime in Maryland. One review focused on three violent crime offenders in Baltimore County and Baltimore City and found that, if the law had been in effect when they were arrested, at least 19 other violent crimes they were charged with would likely have been prevented.
Careful study of existing laws was conducted to ensure Maryland’s law was focused and fair. Maryland’s statute requires that a person must be both arrested and charged with a qualifying crime before a sample can be taken. In addition, the sample cannot be analyzed for entry into the arrestee/charged database until the suspect has had his or her first arraignment. Since then, 13 additional states have passed similar laws, bringing the total number of states with laws like ours to 26.
The Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and law enforcement professionals across our state supported this legislation. In the past three years, they have witnessed its effectiveness and continue to support its purpose. This Association is also in support of an appeal of the decision rendered yesterday.
Since January 1, 2009, we have used this law to take dozens of violent offenders off Maryland streets. A Baltimore County man was arrested, convicted of first degree rape, and sentenced to life in prison in October 2010, due to DNA evidence originally collected after he was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his seven and eight-year-old female cousins in 2008.
The DNA evidence collected from this arrest matched the DNA collected at the scene of a 2004 rape of a 13-year-old girl at a bus stop as well as a another 2000 rape of a 14-year-old girl. The 42-year-old suspect became the first person arrested and convicted in Baltimore under the DNA arrestee collection law. This man was a career offender with an extensive list of drug and robbery arrests.
In the case ruled on by the Court of Appeals yesterday, a Salisbury man was arrested and convicted of first degree rape and sentenced to life in prison in October 2010, due to DNA evidence originally collected from a previous assault charge in 2009. This collected DNA was linked to DNA taken from an unsolved case in September 2003, when a woman was raped and robbed at gunpoint in her home.
A man from Weyworth, Massachusetts, was arrested by the Weyworth Police on September 21, 2010, for the brutal rape of a 17-year-old girl in the basement of a church in 1995––a case that had remained unsolved for 16 years. This offender had DNA taken in Maryland for a homicide arrest and was incarcerated in Maryland at the time. Maryland officials contacted Weyworth police and they came to Maryland to swab his DNA. He was arrested after the positive match. This offender is a career criminal and was already serving a life sentence in Maryland for two other rapes. He will now have additional time added to this sentence. Police could not have made an arrest without the positive DNA comparison.
Since the arrestee/charged database law is only three years old, we are nowhere near reaching its full potential as a crime fighting tool. As we have seen with the convicted offender database, as the number of samples in the database expands, the number of positive comparisons and identified offenders increases exponentially.
Any experienced public safety professional knows the majority of violent crimes are committed by a small group of repeat offenders. Even while awaiting trial on one offense, these individuals are not hesitant to prey upon our citizens and commit additional crimes. It is just common sense to believe that if we can take a criminal off the street sooner, we will reduce the chances that he or she will commit additional crimes.
While nationally, Maryland is viewed as a leader in crime fighting innovation, our streets are still far too violent. When courts fail to recognize the need of our people to be protected in a fair and just manner, we go backwards, not forwards. That is something we cannot afford to do, given our responsibility to protect human life.
Criminal justice professionals examined the impact the legislation could have on reducing crime in Maryland. One review focused on three violent crime offenders in Baltimore County and Baltimore City and found that, if the law had been in effect when they were arrested, at least 19 other violent crimes they were charged with would likely have been prevented.
Careful study of existing laws was conducted to ensure Maryland’s law was focused and fair. Maryland’s statute requires that a person must be both arrested and charged with a qualifying crime before a sample can be taken. In addition, the sample cannot be analyzed for entry into the arrestee/charged database until the suspect has had his or her first arraignment. Since then, 13 additional states have passed similar laws, bringing the total number of states with laws like ours to 26.
The Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and law enforcement professionals across our state supported this legislation. In the past three years, they have witnessed its effectiveness and continue to support its purpose. This Association is also in support of an appeal of the decision rendered yesterday.
Since January 1, 2009, we have used this law to take dozens of violent offenders off Maryland streets. A Baltimore County man was arrested, convicted of first degree rape, and sentenced to life in prison in October 2010, due to DNA evidence originally collected after he was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his seven and eight-year-old female cousins in 2008.
The DNA evidence collected from this arrest matched the DNA collected at the scene of a 2004 rape of a 13-year-old girl at a bus stop as well as a another 2000 rape of a 14-year-old girl. The 42-year-old suspect became the first person arrested and convicted in Baltimore under the DNA arrestee collection law. This man was a career offender with an extensive list of drug and robbery arrests.
In the case ruled on by the Court of Appeals yesterday, a Salisbury man was arrested and convicted of first degree rape and sentenced to life in prison in October 2010, due to DNA evidence originally collected from a previous assault charge in 2009. This collected DNA was linked to DNA taken from an unsolved case in September 2003, when a woman was raped and robbed at gunpoint in her home.
A man from Weyworth, Massachusetts, was arrested by the Weyworth Police on September 21, 2010, for the brutal rape of a 17-year-old girl in the basement of a church in 1995––a case that had remained unsolved for 16 years. This offender had DNA taken in Maryland for a homicide arrest and was incarcerated in Maryland at the time. Maryland officials contacted Weyworth police and they came to Maryland to swab his DNA. He was arrested after the positive match. This offender is a career criminal and was already serving a life sentence in Maryland for two other rapes. He will now have additional time added to this sentence. Police could not have made an arrest without the positive DNA comparison.
Since the arrestee/charged database law is only three years old, we are nowhere near reaching its full potential as a crime fighting tool. As we have seen with the convicted offender database, as the number of samples in the database expands, the number of positive comparisons and identified offenders increases exponentially.
Any experienced public safety professional knows the majority of violent crimes are committed by a small group of repeat offenders. Even while awaiting trial on one offense, these individuals are not hesitant to prey upon our citizens and commit additional crimes. It is just common sense to believe that if we can take a criminal off the street sooner, we will reduce the chances that he or she will commit additional crimes.
While nationally, Maryland is viewed as a leader in crime fighting innovation, our streets are still far too violent. When courts fail to recognize the need of our people to be protected in a fair and just manner, we go backwards, not forwards. That is something we cannot afford to do, given our responsibility to protect human life.
MARYLAND STATE POLICE 2011 TROOPER OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED
(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown has announced the statewide 2011 Trooper of the Year for the Department.
In a ceremony that recognized the local winners from each barrack and division, Colonel Brown congratulated Trooper First Class Michael J. Bonczewski of the Bel Air Barrack as the 2011 Trooper of the Year.
The following narrative describes some of the work TFC Bonczewski performed during 2011 which led to his award:
TROOPER FIRST CLASS MICHAEL J. BONCZEWSKI
BEL AIR BARRACK
During 2011, TFC Bonczewski continued the record of outstanding performance as a state trooper he began only four years ago when he joined the Maryland State Police. “Impressive, incredible and impeccable” are just three of the terms used by his supervisors to describe him. He led the barrack, or was second, in nearly every performance category. In some categories, his performance exceeded entire Bel Air Barrack work group performances. He was the top producer at the barrack for seven months of 2011.
TFC Bonczewski made 2,585 traffic stops and issued more than 2,700 citations and almost 1,800 warnings. He issued more traffic citations than any other trooper in the Maryland State Police. He led the barrack in DUI arrests with 46 and was second in drug arrests with 23. He led the barrack in overall criminal arrests with 41 and was second in warrant arrests with 26. He led the barrack with 50 criminal investigations.
According to supervisors, TFC Bonczewski often worked past normally assigned shifts to ensure all his duties were completed. He often volunteered to work beyond his tour of duty to support barrack manpower needs. His uniform, equipment and attitude are always impeccable. He serves as a field training trooper and those he trains turn out to be top performers as well. He was chosen last year to serve on the Harford County Traffic Task Force, which has already impacted traffic safety in the county, thanks in no small part to the efforts of TFC Bonczewski.
When he was dispatched to an assault call in Edgewood last year, TFC Bonczewski employed his exceptional investigative intuition. While interviewing the suspect of an assault in a domestic violence case, he saw numerous gang tattoos . He developed a rapport with the man who eventually provided a wealth of information involving gang related crimes and member identifications. He also provided the only known copy of the “Blood Bible,” in the region. This is an extremely valuable aid for gang investigators working the Bloods gang in Maryland.
Another call involved a prescription fraud at an Abingdon pharmacy. The diligent investigation of TFC Bonczewski led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of hundreds of prescription medications.
He also recovered numerous fraudulent prescription slips and computer equipment used to make fake prescriptions and military documents. His investigation ultimately closed a tri-state crime spree involving forged prescriptions and a lucrative narcotics ring. The suspect he arrested was estimated to have passed over 5,000 illegal prescriptions.
In the words of his supervisor, Cpl. Ray Domico, “Trooper First Class Bonczewski’s ability and performance as a Maryland state trooper can be summed up as extraordinary. His overwhelming dedication, work ethic, and acts of self-sacrifice are the ultimate model that other Department and allied agency personnel should emulate. His level of performance and service has unquestionably made Harford County and our state a safer place to live.”
During his short career, TFC Bonczewski has accumulated an impressive list of awards. He was Trooper of the Year at the La Plata Barrack in 2009. That same year he was Trooper of the Year for the Southern Region. In 2010, he won Trooper of the Year for the Bel Air Barrack and won the same award that year for the Northern Region. He was the State Police recipient of the International Association of Chiefs of Police “Trooper of the Year” Award for 2010. He won the 2011 American Legion Officer of the Year.
In a ceremony that recognized the local winners from each barrack and division, Colonel Brown congratulated Trooper First Class Michael J. Bonczewski of the Bel Air Barrack as the 2011 Trooper of the Year.
The following narrative describes some of the work TFC Bonczewski performed during 2011 which led to his award:
TROOPER FIRST CLASS MICHAEL J. BONCZEWSKI
BEL AIR BARRACK
During 2011, TFC Bonczewski continued the record of outstanding performance as a state trooper he began only four years ago when he joined the Maryland State Police. “Impressive, incredible and impeccable” are just three of the terms used by his supervisors to describe him. He led the barrack, or was second, in nearly every performance category. In some categories, his performance exceeded entire Bel Air Barrack work group performances. He was the top producer at the barrack for seven months of 2011.
TFC Bonczewski made 2,585 traffic stops and issued more than 2,700 citations and almost 1,800 warnings. He issued more traffic citations than any other trooper in the Maryland State Police. He led the barrack in DUI arrests with 46 and was second in drug arrests with 23. He led the barrack in overall criminal arrests with 41 and was second in warrant arrests with 26. He led the barrack with 50 criminal investigations.
According to supervisors, TFC Bonczewski often worked past normally assigned shifts to ensure all his duties were completed. He often volunteered to work beyond his tour of duty to support barrack manpower needs. His uniform, equipment and attitude are always impeccable. He serves as a field training trooper and those he trains turn out to be top performers as well. He was chosen last year to serve on the Harford County Traffic Task Force, which has already impacted traffic safety in the county, thanks in no small part to the efforts of TFC Bonczewski.
When he was dispatched to an assault call in Edgewood last year, TFC Bonczewski employed his exceptional investigative intuition. While interviewing the suspect of an assault in a domestic violence case, he saw numerous gang tattoos . He developed a rapport with the man who eventually provided a wealth of information involving gang related crimes and member identifications. He also provided the only known copy of the “Blood Bible,” in the region. This is an extremely valuable aid for gang investigators working the Bloods gang in Maryland.
Another call involved a prescription fraud at an Abingdon pharmacy. The diligent investigation of TFC Bonczewski led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of hundreds of prescription medications.
He also recovered numerous fraudulent prescription slips and computer equipment used to make fake prescriptions and military documents. His investigation ultimately closed a tri-state crime spree involving forged prescriptions and a lucrative narcotics ring. The suspect he arrested was estimated to have passed over 5,000 illegal prescriptions.
In the words of his supervisor, Cpl. Ray Domico, “Trooper First Class Bonczewski’s ability and performance as a Maryland state trooper can be summed up as extraordinary. His overwhelming dedication, work ethic, and acts of self-sacrifice are the ultimate model that other Department and allied agency personnel should emulate. His level of performance and service has unquestionably made Harford County and our state a safer place to live.”
During his short career, TFC Bonczewski has accumulated an impressive list of awards. He was Trooper of the Year at the La Plata Barrack in 2009. That same year he was Trooper of the Year for the Southern Region. In 2010, he won Trooper of the Year for the Bel Air Barrack and won the same award that year for the Northern Region. He was the State Police recipient of the International Association of Chiefs of Police “Trooper of the Year” Award for 2010. He won the 2011 American Legion Officer of the Year.
Even After Bankruptcy, Trapped By Student Debt
The misfortunes that brought schoolteachers Devin and Sarah Stang
and their four young children to bankruptcy _ and the loss of their
house and a car in the process _ were their own unique story.
They bought the house at just the wrong time. There were heavy medical expenses when, at five months pregnant, she delivered stillborn twins. And their money woes go back further: When Sarah's college softball team pressured her to drop classes she wanted to take, she quit, lost her scholarship and had to make up the difference with loans. Devin, too, borrowed to get a master's degree. Then they struggled amid school layoffs near their Sandusky, Ohio, home.
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They bought the house at just the wrong time. There were heavy medical expenses when, at five months pregnant, she delivered stillborn twins. And their money woes go back further: When Sarah's college softball team pressured her to drop classes she wanted to take, she quit, lost her scholarship and had to make up the difference with loans. Devin, too, borrowed to get a master's degree. Then they struggled amid school layoffs near their Sandusky, Ohio, home.
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Division of Fish and Wildlife Seeks Reports from Public for Annual Bald Eagle Survey
DOVER - Each year, with soaring expectations, the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife monitors Delaware’s bald eagle population statewide. By conducting aerial surveys from February through May, wildlife biologists examine resident bald eagle territories for active nesting and productivity. The Division also encourages Delawareans to assist biologists with their work by reporting bald eagle sightings to help track resident eagles and locate possible new nest sites.
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Obama's Fallon Appearance Violated Campaign Law
Last night, President Obama appeared on Jimmy Fallon’s unwatchable show to “slow-jam the news.” By this, Fallon meant that Obama would read a campaign speech about student loans, Fallon would utter a few lines to back him up every so often, and his lead band singer would warble in support of Obama’s propaganda.
Only one problem, aside from the fact that this was possibly the worst “comedy” segment in the history of mankind: it violated campaign finance law.
The equal time rule states that if a licensee permits a person “who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station.”
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Honor An Educator Tree
Delmarva Education Foundation booth at the Salisbury Festival
The public is invited to stop by the Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF) table at the Salisbury Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 28 in Downtown Salisbury to recognize someone special in their life by participating in DEF’s new “Honor an Educator” program. Participants can pay tribute to a person who taught them well by hanging an “apple” with the honoree’s name on it, on the DEF "Honor an Educator Tree.” The person recognized could be a teacher, mentor, relative, friend, coach, advisor, scoutmaster, counselor, or other individual who was especially inspirational, motivating, or supportive. The charge is only $1 per “apple” and DEF will publicize the honorees throughout 2012. Proceeds from the “Honor an Educator” program will further DEF's mission to improve college access and success for residents on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. DEF helps people find money to continue their education. For more information about DEF’s “Honor an Educator” program, call the Salisbury office at 410-219-3336. DEF is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland. Its free, searchable, online database contains information on more than 500 local-priority scholarships totaling well over a million dollars. Assistance on a wide range of topics relating to post-secondary education is available for individuals, families, and groups from DEF’s trained college access advisors. DEF’s website is at www.delmarvaed.org.
The public is invited to stop by the Delmarva Education Foundation (DEF) table at the Salisbury Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 28 in Downtown Salisbury to recognize someone special in their life by participating in DEF’s new “Honor an Educator” program. Participants can pay tribute to a person who taught them well by hanging an “apple” with the honoree’s name on it, on the DEF "Honor an Educator Tree.” The person recognized could be a teacher, mentor, relative, friend, coach, advisor, scoutmaster, counselor, or other individual who was especially inspirational, motivating, or supportive. The charge is only $1 per “apple” and DEF will publicize the honorees throughout 2012. Proceeds from the “Honor an Educator” program will further DEF's mission to improve college access and success for residents on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. DEF helps people find money to continue their education. For more information about DEF’s “Honor an Educator” program, call the Salisbury office at 410-219-3336. DEF is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland. Its free, searchable, online database contains information on more than 500 local-priority scholarships totaling well over a million dollars. Assistance on a wide range of topics relating to post-secondary education is available for individuals, families, and groups from DEF’s trained college access advisors. DEF’s website is at www.delmarvaed.org.
Iran Readying Hacker Attacks on U.S. Infrastructure, Specialists Say
Iran
is recruiting a hacker army to target the U.S. power grid, water
systems and other vital infrastructure for cyberattack in a future
confrontation with the United States, security specialists will warn Congress Thursday.
“Elements of the IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps] have openly sought to pull hackers into the fold” of a religiously motivated cyberarmy, according to Frank J. Cilluffo, director of the Homeland
Security Policy Institute at George Washington University.
Lawmakers from two House Homeland Security subcommittees will hold a joint hearing Thursday about the cyberthreat posed by Iran, as tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program continue at a high level, and a possible Israeli strike looms.
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“Elements of the IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps] have openly sought to pull hackers into the fold” of a religiously motivated cyberarmy, according to Frank J. Cilluffo, director of the Homeland
Security Policy Institute at George Washington University.
Lawmakers from two House Homeland Security subcommittees will hold a joint hearing Thursday about the cyberthreat posed by Iran, as tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program continue at a high level, and a possible Israeli strike looms.
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34th Annual Wicomico County Elementary & Secondary Student Art Show Wicomico Public Library
The 34th annual Wicomico County Elementary & Secondary Student Art Show, featuring more than 1,000 works from students in every Wicomico school, opens Friday, April 27, at the Wicomico Public Library in Salisbury. Art teachers have elected 20 to 50 pieces per school, including paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture, to represent the creative efforts of Wicomico students. Art teachers will install the exhibit in the lobby and throughout the children and adult sides of the library. The exhibit will be available for viewing during library hours through Saturday, May 5. The library is open 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 12-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The library is closed on Sunday. A reception for student artists and their families will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 4. For information about the Wicomico County Student Art Show, please call Gary Beauchamp, supervisor of Music/Visual Art and Special Projects, at 410-677-4573.
Romney fundraiser: Donors 'Coming Out Of The Woodwork'
Mitt Romney's fundraising has skyrocketed since he became the de
facto nominee, a top Romney fundraiser told The Hill Wednesday evening.
"People are coming out of the woodwork," said the fundraiser, who requested not to be named. "A number of my friends who didn't want to get involved in the primary are now coming off the sidelines for the general election."
The Romney supporter told The Hill that two recent fundraisers in Florida had netted more than $3 million combined, and said the moment Romney and the Republican National Committee entered into a joint fundraising operation a number of top GOP donors who had been resistant to giving decided to make major donations.
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"People are coming out of the woodwork," said the fundraiser, who requested not to be named. "A number of my friends who didn't want to get involved in the primary are now coming off the sidelines for the general election."
The Romney supporter told The Hill that two recent fundraisers in Florida had netted more than $3 million combined, and said the moment Romney and the Republican National Committee entered into a joint fundraising operation a number of top GOP donors who had been resistant to giving decided to make major donations.
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Reminder
Glen Avenue Closed
A section of Glen Avenue is closed through 6 p.m. Friday, April 27 to allow safe crossing for the many participants and spectators attending the 80th annual Poodle Club of America National Specialty Show at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Visitors travel from as far as Japan to attend this annual Poodle ‘Super Bowl.” Wicomico County has played host to the event for the past 8 years. The annual event provides a generous economic impact for the county bringing in an estimated $2 million. This year, organizers are anticipating more than 450 dogs and more than 1,400 spectators and participants to attend.
A section of Glen Avenue is closed through 6 p.m. Friday, April 27 to allow safe crossing for the many participants and spectators attending the 80th annual Poodle Club of America National Specialty Show at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Visitors travel from as far as Japan to attend this annual Poodle ‘Super Bowl.” Wicomico County has played host to the event for the past 8 years. The annual event provides a generous economic impact for the county bringing in an estimated $2 million. This year, organizers are anticipating more than 450 dogs and more than 1,400 spectators and participants to attend.
Trial Begins in Md. Neighborhood Watch Beating
An attorney for one of two brothers charged in a neighborhood watch
beating case in Baltimore that drew comparisons with the Trayvon Martin
shooting told a judge Wednesday he'll show the Maryland case is about
self-defense, not vigilantism.
Brothers Eliyahu and Avi Werdesheim, who are Jewish and white, are accused in the beating of a black teen while patrolling for an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood watch group on Nov. 19, 2010. Their bench trial opened Wednesday on charges of second-degree assault, false imprisonment and carrying a deadly weapon.
The Werdesheim brothers opted Tuesday for a bench trial after their lawyer said publicity surrounding the Martin case would have made it impossible to find an impartial jury. Their attorney said he believed a judge could conduct a fair trial.
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Brothers Eliyahu and Avi Werdesheim, who are Jewish and white, are accused in the beating of a black teen while patrolling for an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood watch group on Nov. 19, 2010. Their bench trial opened Wednesday on charges of second-degree assault, false imprisonment and carrying a deadly weapon.
The Werdesheim brothers opted Tuesday for a bench trial after their lawyer said publicity surrounding the Martin case would have made it impossible to find an impartial jury. Their attorney said he believed a judge could conduct a fair trial.
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Supreme Court Hints OK on Ariz. Immigration Law
Bucking the Obama administration, Supreme Court justices seemed to find little trouble Wednesday with major parts of Arizona's tough immigration law that require police to check the legal status of people they stop for other reasons.
But the fate of other provisions that make Arizona state crimes out of immigration violations was unclear in the court's final argument of the term.
The latest clash between states and the administration turns on the extent of individual states' roles in dealing with the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants. Immigration policy is essentially under the federal government's control, but a half-dozen Republican-dominated states have passed their own restrictions out of frustration with what they call Washington's inaction to combat an illegal flood.
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But the fate of other provisions that make Arizona state crimes out of immigration violations was unclear in the court's final argument of the term.
The latest clash between states and the administration turns on the extent of individual states' roles in dealing with the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants. Immigration policy is essentially under the federal government's control, but a half-dozen Republican-dominated states have passed their own restrictions out of frustration with what they call Washington's inaction to combat an illegal flood.
More
Would $81 For A Pack Of Cigarettes Put An End To Smoking?
While lawmakers here in the U.S. have developed a habit in recent years of raising taxes on cigarettes as a way to curb smoking while increasing tax revenue from those who continue to inhale, officials in New Zealand are giving some thought to what they would need to charge in order to make people quit smoking once and for all.
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