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Saturday, June 09, 2012

Breaking News

An aircraft piloted by Bobby Enghler has allegedly crashed into the river near the Whitehaven Ferry.  Reports have said he is fine. More to come

Did You Know?


Hollywood Legend Don Rickles Makes Fun of…Obama?!

How many times have you watched one of the modern world’s supposed comedy geniuses and wondered frustratedly to yourself, “Why are all the jokes about Republicans? When are they going to catch on that the Democrats are worthy of mockery, too?” Well, look no further – Hollywood comedian Don Rickles, who roasted Ronald Reagan to his face while Reagan was still governor of California – is apparently more than willing to be an equal opportunity offender. From the Hollywood Reporter:

Don Rickles nearly hijacked the American Film Institute’s tribute to Shirley MacLaine on Thursday night at Sony Pictures Studios, unleashing a trademark barrage of insults that took aim at President Obama, Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson and the honoree herself.

“I shouldn’t make fun of the blacks,” Rickles said, and then proceeded to do just that: “President Obama is a personal friend of mine. He was over to the house yesterday, but the mop broke.”

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Editors Note: At the bottom of the page there is a video worth watching of Don Rickles roasting Governor Ronald Reagan

Americans Storm Streets Against Obamacare

Tens of thousands of Americans stormed as many as 164 U.S. cities in nationwide rallies against Obamacare and its contraception mandate today.

The “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” protests come as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to make its decision this month on the constitutionality of the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act.

As many church leaders and outspoken critics have warned, Obamacare mandates that all institutions – including religious schools and hospitals – offer employees and students with health care that offers contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs.

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Chuck Norris Warns of New U.S. Border Invasion

Mr. Norris, your recent “C-Force” articles on the diseases caused by deer ticks (Lyme disease) and tapeworms (neurocysticercosis) were very enlightening. However, I just read a new health alert from England about another rapidly growing disease in North America: Chagas’ disease. Heard of it? – Sincerely, Sean R., Wisconsin
 
Yes. Chagas’ disease is another parasite-based disease, and it is so pervasive here and in South America that Baylor College of Medicine’s Peter J. Hotez and his colleagues are calling it “the new AIDS of the Americas.”

Chagas’ disease got its name from the Brazilian physician Charles Chagas, who first recognized the disease in 1909 – though it had been around for more than 9,000 years (even discovered in mummies from the ancient Chinchorro culture of South America).

WebMD has just posted an excellent article on Chagas’ disease, explaining that it is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. Once human cells are infected by the parasite and it multiplies within them, those cells burst and deploy the parasites into the bloodstream.

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Traffic

If you were planning to head to Ocean City today you might want to check out the traffic cameras first.


Route 90 at 589  HERE


Route 50 at 611 HERE


All Maryland traffic Cams  HERE


Other Maryland Web Cams  HERE

Cable TV, painting classes, DVDs and a brand-new soccer pitch

Gitmo detainees treated to pricey improvements costing tax-payers $800,000 PER prisoner annually

Prisoners at Guantanemo Bay prison are being treated to cable television, a new sports center, painting 'life enrichment' classes, and extensive library with a wide selection of DVDs, newspapers, and best-selling books like Harry Potter in a number of languages.

Rather than closing the controversial detention center for terrorist, as he said he would on his first day in office, President Obama approved millions of dollars in improvements to the facility.

All told, the prison costs $140million per year to operate, paid through U.S. taxes.

And considering that there are only 169 men being held at 'Gitmo', they each run up a bill of about $800,000 per year.

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Addressing High Tuition Costs, Denver College Cuts Tuition in Half… For Illegal Immigrants

The cost of college tuition has skyrocketed in recent years and the issue has become a leading cause among members of the Occupy Wall Street movement, who claim education is fundamental right. They might be happy to know that help is finally on the way… for illegal immigrants.

Metro State College of Denver trustees on Thursday voted 7-1 in favor of a plan that will give illegal aliens a 58 percent tuition break, making them the first college in the country to lower tuition for non-citizens, CBS4 in Denver reports. The state legislature could decide to reduce state funding as a result, one Colorado lawmaker says.

State lawmakers shot-down a bill that would have lowered tuition for illegal immigrations during their last session. Further, CBS4 reports similar laws have been defeated five times in the last nine sessions.

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Troopers Investigate Fatal Motorcycle Crash

Location: 3352 Andrews Lake Road, Frederica, DE

Date of Occurrence: Friday June 8, 2012

Operator and Vehicle Information:
Operator #1: Rudy B. Rouse, 46, Milton, DE
Vehicle #1: 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle

Resume:
Frederica, DE-The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash involving a motorcycle that occurred sometime through night.

Troopers were called to the scene of a motorcycle crash at 5:13 a.m. this morning, as a passer-by reported a motorcycle light off the side of the roadway. The investigation revealed, Rudy B. Rouse, 46, of Milton was operating a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle eastbound on Andrews Lake Road approaching a sharp curve to the right. Rouse applied his brake prior to the curve, skidding over 150 feet before leaving the north edge of the roadway and striking a tree. Rouse, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries he sustained in the crash.

Andrews Lake Road was closed between Robbins Road and McGinnis Pond Road for two and a half hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.

The investigation is ongoing and the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is asking anyone who may have information on this crash to contact Cpl. Lane at 302-697-4454 ext. 215 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com

Send an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

Salisbury Chamber Of Commerce Press Release

This organization has been a community and regional leader for 92 years. We represent 800 area businesses, organizations and individuals working together to make Salisbury, Wicomico County and the Lower Shore a better place to live, work and visit. This organization has a tradition of service and excellence.

I am Sandy Fitzgerald-Angello of the Pohanka Automotive Group of Salisbury and a Chamber Patron Sponsor. I have been involved with this organization for ten years and the great things it has done has inspired me to seek the position of President of the Chamber this year. Even in the hard economic times, our Chamber continues to be a resource and asset to the businesses of this area.

We strive to be a great fraternal organization and just last month we added the Salisbury University President's Distinguished Community Leadership Award. I want to thank Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach for recognizing what she called our "extraordinary contributions to the community and people of the Lower Eastern Shore."

This Chamber is also recognized nationally as a superior organization. I am proud to announce the United States Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday notified us of the results of our five year Accreditation review. Our Chamber has participated in the US Chamber systematic assessment of our organization since 1966. The United States Chamber of Commerce Accreditation Board has awarded the Salisbury Area Chamber Accreditation with four stars. This a great honor. Only 223 of the 6,936 Chambers of Commerce in America have submitted to the difficult accreditation process. The four star level puts us in the top 2% of all Chambers.

Brad our Executive Director can explain the process and answer questions later, but I want to emphasize this is an honor earned by all the people involved in this organization. The Accreditation process looks at everything we do and found us to be doing it better than most.

Some of the people who made this award possible are here today. An Accreditation committee was established by our past president Ernie Colburn last year. Chamber Vice President Tony Nichols of BBSI chaired the effort. The process involved nine areas for review and our committee had a sub-committee for each area. This self-assessment was a major undertaking. We reviewed ourselves against the US Chamber Standard while continuing our busy schedule of events.

Will those who helped with compiling the report please stand. These people and many other who could not be here put many hours into looking at the operations, activities, finances and facilities of our Chamber. Their report was huge and thorough. Many Thanks to all of you!

There report was reviewed over the last two months by a special board at the US Chamber. We were told this year’s report scored higher than five years ago.

The journey to excellence is never ending and requires more than a period complete review. I pledge we will take the recommendations of the committee and the US Chamber and use them to make this Chamber the best it can be.

Just before this meeting our Executive Committee had a meeting to review our mission statement to insure we are relevant in these challenging times. We are planning an upgrade to our website. All while continuing to provide member support, job training, networking events and next week the Delmarva Chicken Festival.

I am very honored to make this announcement, but let me close by repeating, this is a great tribute to our members and staff who work tirelessly to make our community a better place to live, work and raise our families.

Worcester County Bureau of Investigation Press Release 6-9-12

DATE: June 7, 2012
CBI Case # 12-0108
LOCATION: RT 90 E/O RT 589
CHARGES: Two Counts Malicious Destruction of Property -$500
Two Counts Reckless Endangerment
ACCUSED: Timothy Xavier Fitzgerald W/M 18 yoa
Ocean Pines, MD

NARRATIVE: On May 2, 2012, the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack received a complaint from a motorist who advised that while she was traveling eastbound on RT 90 east of RT 589, the rear window to her 2009 Ford Explorer was broken by an unknown object. Shortly after receiving the initial complaint, the Maryland State Police received a call from a second subject, who advised that in the same area of RT 90 the passenger side window of her 2006 Honda Civic was broken by an unknown object.

The Maryland State Police, Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, and Ocean Pines Police Department conducted checks in the area but were unable to locate any suspects. Detectives from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation were contacted to investigate the case.

During the investigation, Detectives found that a subject, identified as Timothy Xavier Fitzgerald, was responsible for breaking the windows. A Detective contacted Fitzgerald and questioned him regarding his involvement in the case, at which time Fitzgerald acknowledged that he was the one who had shot out the windows of the vehicles using a CO2 powered BB pistol.

Based upon these facts an Application for Charges was prepared and taken before a District Court Commissioner’s review and consideration. As a result, a Criminal Summons was issued, charging Fitzgerald with two counts of Malicious Destruction of Property and two counts of Reckless Endangerment.

Department of Justice Names Two Special Prosecutors in Leak Case

Apparently the pre-emptive statements by the Department of Justice that they would not be doing probes into the recent leaks of sensitive national security information were premature. Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that he would be appointing not one, but two special prosecutors to lead probes into the leaks. Politico reports:

Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday named two federal prosecutors to oversee investigations into leaks of classified information that have roiled Congress and led to calls for a special prosecutor.

His decision came hours after President Barack Obama denounced the notion that the White House was engaging in politically motivated leaks and declared that he had “zero tolerance” for such national security breaches.

Holder tapped U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C,. Ronald Machen and U.S. attorney for Maryland Rod Rosenstein to head up the probes.

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Shopping

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. Calls on President to Raise National Minimum Wage to $10

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) is calling on President Obama to keep his 2008 campaign promise to “stand behind” legislation that would raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10 per hour, reports The Daily Caller’s Nicholas Ballasy.

“In 2011, he wanted to see the minimum wage raised to $9.50. It is now 2012,” Rep. Jackson said as he announced his Catching Up to 1968 Act of 2012 bill Wednesday outside of the Capitol building.

“I’m calling on President Barack Obama to honor his campaign commitment of 2008 to stand behind legislation that raises the minimum wage for the American people a little more than he requested in 2008 because the numbers and the economy reflect that $10 is not an unreasonable starting point,” the Democrat state representative added.

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EURO 2012 Soccer Matches




Greetings!

Join us Saturday for the EURO 2012 Soccer matches. 12pm Netherlands vs Denmark and
3pm Germany vs Portugal

Prizes will ge given away at the end of each match by Carlsburg.

Next Saturday we will be featuring Estrella and prize giveaways! Join us each Saturday and enter for your chance to win while enjoying the matches.

Sincerely,
Specific Gravity Staff

Montgomery Co. Has Nation's Highest Graduation Rate

Montgomery County is the top of the pack out of the nation's large school districts, with an 87 percent graduation rate, according to Education Week's recently published 2012 Diplomas Count report.

Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Dana Tofig says the school system wants to see an increased push to get graduation rates higher.

"We're not going to stop working until we know 100 percent of our kids are graduating on-time and that they're ready for whatever comes next," Tofig says.

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SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA JUNE 11, 2012

6:00 p.m.
Government Office Building Room 301

Times shown for agenda items are estimates only.
6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER
6:01 p.m. WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
6:06 p.m. INVOCATION/MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
6:08 p.m. ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
6:10 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA – City Clerk Kim Nichols
 April 2, 2012 work session minutes 1a
 Manufacturing Exemption request for Viskon Air
6:13 p.m. AWARD OF BIDS – Assistant Internal Services Director – Procurement Catrice 2
Parsons
 Award Contract #111-12 Market Street Sewer Lateral
 Change Order #4 Contract Number A-7-09 R2 Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk Program
 Award Contract RFP 10-12 Property & Casualty Insurance
 Award Contract 103-12 Salisbury WWTP Plant Drain Pump Station
6:33 p.m. RESOLUTIONS – City Administrator John Pick
 Resolution No. 2169 - accepting a grant from Salisbury University for 3 Streetscape Improvements (Onley/Bateman project)
6:43 p.m. ORDINANCES – City Attorney Mark Tilghman
 Ordinance No. 2202 – 2nd reading - FY12 budget amendment to purchase properties at tax sale, along with associated costs
 Ordinance No. 2204 – 2nd reading - FY12 budget amendment to appropriate funds received from MEMA
7:00 p.m. CHARTER AMENDMENT – City Attorney Mark Tilghman
 Resolution No. 2170 – amending the City of Salisbury Charter Sections § SC1-20 (Article I Incorporation and General Government), § SC2-1, § SC2-2 (Article II The Council) , § SC3-1 (Article III The Mayor), § SC6-7, § SC6-9, § SC6-15 (Article VI Elections) to eliminate staggered elections in the City of Salisbury such that in November 2015 all five (5) councilmembers and the mayor shall be elected at the same time to serve four-year terms, to provide for the election of the mayor for a term to run until November 2015; to enlarge Election District 1 pursuant to the 2010
census and to provide for the election of one (1) councilmember from that district for a term to run until November 2015; to reduce Election District 2 pursuant to the 2010 census and to provide for the election of one (1) councilmember from that district for a term to run until November 2015; to provide that as of the General Election of November 2015 District 1 shall be further increased in size and District 2 shall be further decreased in size such that two (2) councilmembers shall be elected from District 1 and three (3) councilmembers shall be elected from District 2; and to update the charter language and eliminate inconsistency in the sections amended.
7:45 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS
8:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT

ACORN Official Grabs $445 Million Grant From Obama Admin

ACORN, the supposedly defunct organization defunded by Congress in the aftermath of James O’Keefe’s video exposing ACORN employees’ willingness to help out pimps and prostitutes attain government benefits, is back. As Judicial Watch has uncovered, the Obama administration offered $445 million to a former ACORN official as part of a $7.6 billion government program designed to help “unemployed or substantially underemployed” Americans make their mortgage payments.

The ACORN official, Joe McGavin, is director of Hardest Hit, an Illinois program that received that massive Treasury infusion. Prior to his time at Hardest Hit, McGaven was director of counseling for ACORN Housing in Chicago, and the operations manager for Affordable Housing Centers of America (AHCOA), an ACORN affiliate.

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Fruitland Police Department Press Release 6-9-12

DATE & TIME: Tuesday May 22, 2012 @ 1700 hours

INCIDENT: Theft over $1,000.00 (Shoplifting)

LOCATION: Aaron’s Rentals 206 N. Fruitland Blvd

CASE NO.: 2012-0710

PERSON (s) CHARGED: Stephanie Evans (Age 50)

ADDRESS: Princess Anne, Maryland

CHARGES:
Theft over $1,000.00
Conspiracy to Commit Theft

DISPOSITION: Released to custody of Central Booking at WCDC

SYNOPSIS: On the above date and time, Fruitland Police were dispatched to Aaron’s Rentals regarding a theft of 2 laptop computers. Officers obtained video that shows the above named suspect concealing 2 laptop computers under her skirt. Detectives distributed the suspect’s photograph to local media and Aaron’s offered a cash reward for information leading to the suspect’s identity. Information was received and an arrest warrant was obtained. On June 7, 2012 Fruitland Detectives, along with Princess Anne Police located the suspect at her home in Princess Anne and placed her under arrest. The suspect was transported back to Wicomico County and released to Central Booking.

Virginia Beach Student Suspended for Allegedly Using American Flag to Wipe Hands

A 13-year-old boy in the gifted program at Plaza Middle School in Virginia Beach served an in-school suspension Wednesday after teachers said he used the American flag in the school’s auditorium to wipe his hands after leaving the bathroom.

However, Moses Hinton’s parents told NewsChannel 3 the incident did not happen, and they believe their boy was harshly punished because he is the only African-American seventh grade student in the school’s gifted program, even though the school’s principal is black.

“[This has been] very traumatic,” said Victoria Hinton, Moses’ mother.  “It has had an emotional impact on my son’s education.”

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Cost to Lunch With Warren Buffett: $3.5 Million

The cost to dine with investor Warren Buffett has apparently spiked in value, with one deep-pocketed bidder forking over nearly $3.5 million during a charity auction Friday night.

The annual auction for a private lunch with the Nebraska billionaire closed following a flurry of activity in the final hours. In the end, the highest bid was a record-breaking $3,456,789.

The auction benefits the Glide Foundation, which helps the homeless in San Francisco. Buffett has raised more than $11.5 million for the group in 13 past auctions. The event provides a significant portion of Glide's roughly $17 million annual budget that pays for social services to the poor and homeless.

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MSP CLOSES COLD CASE INVESTIGATION REUNITING A MISSING CHILD WITH HER FATHER EIGHT YEARS LATER

(Newark, NJ)— The Maryland State Police Child Recovery Unit closes a cold case investigation and reunites a missing child with her father after an eight year search.
On Monday, June 4, 2012, Kyle Hogan, 43, of the 7000 block of Harmans Road in Hanover, Maryland, reunited with his now twelve year old daughter at Newark International Airport. After an eight year search and with police assistance, Hogan and his daughter are together.

Hogan reported his four year old daughter missing in 2004 after his estranged wife took her on a family visit to the Philippines. The mother and the child never returned.

Due to an unsettled custody dispute at the time of the abduction, Hogan found it difficult to find assistance through official channels. Two years later in 2006, while continuing his legal battle and the search for his daughter, an Anne Arundel County Court awarded Hogan full custody of his daughter. Subsequently, a misdemeanor bench warrant was issued for the wife.

In May 2010 the wife was stopped by police at the Philadelphia International Airport based on the Maryland warrant, but the warrant was non-extraditable allowing for her release. Police advised her of the outstanding warrant and of the latest custody order.

In January 2012, the Maryland State Police Child Recovery Unit (CRU) was requested to assist with the “cold case” investigation by Anne Arundel County Police Department. The CRU coordinated its efforts with the Anne Arundel County Police Missing Persons Unit, the Anne Arundel County State Attorney’s Office and Mr. Hogan in an attempt to locate his daughter. The CRU obtained an extraditable warrant, followed leads through five states and eventually learned of an exact address for the wife in Georgia.

Maryland State Police investigators from the Child Recovery Unit coordinated with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office and the wife was arrested and a subsequent search warrant was executed at her Georgia home. The child was not found.

Upon the wife’s return to Maryland, police learned the child was still secreted in the Philippines which resulted in a court order from an Anne Arundel County judge. The wife was ordered to arrange for the child’s return to Maryland.

Because the child no longer had a valid passport, temporary travel documents had to be obtained through the Office of Children’s Issues at the State Department. State Police investigators from the CRU coordinated the young girl’s exhaustive trip back to Maryland with officials from the Customs and Border Patrol,the Baltimore Office of Homeland Security Investigations and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

When the wife and daughter landed at Newark International Airport they were met by officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and by Kyle Hogan. Hogan and his daughter immediately returned to Maryland.