A Letter To The Editor 3-14-13

WHAT DOES JACOB DAY REALLY DO?

After looking into Mr. Day’s credentials, he seems scary as a potential elected official. He claims to be an architect, but has he ever practiced that trade? The Maryland Architect Board has nobody by that name in its online listing of licensed persons.

The organization that he works for seems to be primarily active in trying to block development on the Eastern Shore. He claims to be a city planner, but what does that entail besides more regulations.

Mr. Day has more academic degrees than my dog has fleas, but has he ever run a business. Why does he want to be on the Salisbury City Council, and should he be?

REWARD INCREASED FOR INFORMATION IN UMES MURDER INVESTIGATION

(PRINCESS, ANNE, MD) – The reward offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the murder of a University of Maryland Eastern Shore student last month has been increased and now totals $10,000.
Maryland State Police homicide investigators are continuing their investigation to identify who is responsible for the stabbing death of Edmond A. St. Clair, 21, who was murdered at the university on the night of February 16, 2013. St. Clair was a passenger in a car on campus at about 9:00 p.m., when they encountered several persons walking in the street. Some type of altercation ensued and St. Clair was stabbed. Police continue to search for three suspects who are described only as African American males in their late teens or early twenties. 

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has increased its reward for information to $8,000. An additional reward of $2,000 is being offered by the Crime Solvers program.

Anyone with information concerning this investigation is urged to call the Crime Solvers line at 410-548-1776, or the Maryland State Police Princess Anne Barrack at 443-260-3700. Callers may remain anonymous.

Structure Fire Reported In Onancock

ONANCOCK, Va. (WAVY) - Crews responded to a structure fire in Onancock late Thursday evening.

According to Accomack County dispatch, the fire was reported at approximately 10:40 p.m. at 15204 Cashville Road.

TROOPERS SEARCH FOR DRIVER & VEHICLE IN FATAL HIT AND RUN CRASH

(CATONSVILLE, MD) -- Maryland State Police are searching for the driver and vehicle that struck and killed a Baltimore County woman whose body was found along the center median of Interstate 695, early this morning.

The victim has been identified as Judith A. Hill, 62, of the 2800 block of Manoff Road, Halethorpe, Maryland. She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel from Baltimore County. Her body has been taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.

A preliminary investigation conducted by troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack, with assistance from the Maryland State Police CRASH Team, indicates that shortly after 7:30 a.m. this morning, troopers received a 9-1-1 call reporting a body lying against the center median on Interstate 695 in the area of Edmondson Avenue. For reasons unclear at this time, the victim’s 2007 Chevy pick-up was stopped on the right shoulder. She exited her vehicle at which time, investigators believe she was struck. The unknown striking vehicle failed to stop. Investigators believe the crash occurred around 5:00 a.m.

Due to the severity of the incident troopers closed the inner loop of I-695 in the area of Edmondson for several hours. State Highway Administration personnel are assisting with road closures and establishing detours for motorists.

Troopers are asking anyone with information relevant to this hit and run crash which took the life, to please contact the Golden Ring Barrack at 410-780-2700. All calls will remain confidential.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

DIANNE FEINSTEIN BATTLES TED CRUZ IN HEATED SENATE SHOWDOWN OVER GUNS: ‘I’M NOT A 6TH GRADER’

Senators Ted Cruz and Dianne Feinstein during a Senate Judiciary Hearing on Thursday got into heated exchange while discussing the California congresswoman’s proposed ban on so-called “assault” weapons.

“The question that I would pose to the senior senator from California is,” Cruz said, referring to Feinstein, “Would she deem it consistent with the Bill of Rights for Congress to engage in the same endeavor that we are contemplating doing with the Second Amendment in the context of the First or Fourth Amendment, namely, would she consider it constitutional for Congress to specify that the First Amendment shall apply only to the following books and shall not apply to the books that Congress has deemed outside the protection of the Bill of Rights?”

“Likewise, would she think that the Fourth Amendment’s protection against searches and seizures could properly apply only to the following specified individuals and not to the individuals that Congress has deemed outside the protection of the Bill of Rights?” he added.
More 

PUBLIC NOTICE

TO AFFORD THE ADMINISTRATION ADDITIONAL PREPARATION TIME FOR THE ITEMS ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA, THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2013 HAS BEEN CANCELED.

Rand Paul Filibuster Shockwaves Continue.Now The Democrats Are At War

Dear Mr. President:

In response to partial release of the Department of Justice memos describing the underlying legal justifications for the targeted killings of American citizens and others in the course of counterterrorism operations, we are writing to emphasize Congress’ vital oversight role in these matters. Every American has the right to know the underlying legal rationale that ensures due process.

Authorizing the killing of American citizens and others has profound implications for our Constitution, the core values of our nation, our national security and future international practice. The executive branch’s claim of authority to deprive citizens of life, and to do so without explaining the legal basis for doing so, set a dangerous precedent and is a model of behavior the United States would not want other nations to emulate.

Therefore, we ask that you release, in an unclassified form, the full legal basis of executive branch claims in the areas which are the subject of this letter. The Executive’s claims of authority need to be fully articulated to the whole of Congress and the American people.

More

The GOP Congressman Who Destroyed Obama’s Sequester Scare Story

The Obama administration has employed a variety of tactics to frighten the public about the possible consequences of sequestration. Air-traffic control towers will be shuttered. Children will be thrown off Head Start. The nation’s guard against terrorism will be lowered.

Republicans, and in some cases the press, have poked some pretty big holes in some of the administration’s most extravagant claims. But no one has done a better job than a little-known GOP congressman, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, who took on officials from the Centers for Disease Control at a House hearing last week.

The occasion was a meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. In questions directed toward Tom Frieden, who is director of the Centers for Disease Control, Harris brought up a White House estimate of the number of children in Maryland who would go without vaccinations if sequestration went into effect. The documentsaid clearly: “2,050 fewer children will get vaccines for diseases like measles and whooping cough.”

More

Pocomoke Robbery

DATE: March 13, 2013

CBI Case # 13-00068

INCIDENT: Armed Robbery

LOCATION: Plaza Tapatia

1621 Ocean Highway
Pocomoke, MD

SUSPECT: Described as an African American Male, approximately 5’-11”, wearing a Black Jacket, pants and bandana covering his face, suspect displayed a black handgun

NARRATIVE:

On March 13, 2013 at 12:09 A.M. the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (W.C.B.I.) was requested by the Pocomoke Police Department to assist them with an investigation into an alleged reported Armed Robbery occurring at the Plaza Tapatia Restaurant, 1621 Ocean Highway, Pocomoke, Maryland.

Detectives learned through interviews with the victim and a witness to the Armed Robbery that the victim was approached as he was entering his vehicle after closing the business for the evening. The suspect was described as an African American male, approximate height as 5’-11”, wearing a Black jacket, pants and bandana/mask covering his face. The suspect displayed a dark colored handgun and demanded money from the victim. The suspect had stolen an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim and fled on foot, South from the restaurant.

Pocomoke Police and Worcester County Sheriff’s Office utilized their K-9 dogs to initiate a K-9 scan tracking the direction the suspect fled.

The Worcester County Bureau of Investigations is actively working this case and they can be contacted at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office or the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations at 410-632-1111.

Shady Car Sales Practices At Frederick Ford In Seaford, DE

Hi Joe,I'd like to like to bring to light some shady car sales practices going on at Frederick Ford in Seaford, DE. My wife and I (who live in MD) attempted to purchase a used car from them on 3/2/13. We were a little leery on getting the vehicle that we were looking at because it was being sold for a few thousand below its retail value (I know that we may have simply been getting lucky, but there's also a chance something was wrong or had happened to it). Anyhow, we established a deal contingent upon the vehicle passing MD inspection (since it was being sold in DE, it obviously didn't have MD inspection). First off, we were surprised that there weren't offering right off the bat to have it inspected. They were originally going to make us get it inspected on our own after the sale, but I explained that I didn't want to do that if there was a chance that we'd run into problems and need to get something fixed. The sales manager then informed the that he guaranteed that there wasn't a problem with the vehicle and that it'd pass with no problems. He said that they would pick up the vehicle from us on Monday (3/4) for the inspection. So after that, my wife filled out the typical paperwork, we were sent on our way, and they let us take the new vehicle home. However, the sales manager did not want to give us any copies of the paperwork until after everything was situated. We thought that was strange, but since we never dealt with a dealership in Delaware. we thought that it might just be how they do things. So almost a week later (3/8) and after a big run around, they finally came to pick the vehicle up for the inspection. That evening, I received a voicemail advising that the new vehicle failed the inspection and was going to need a new windshield. They said that they would try to make arrangements to have it replaced this past Monday (3/11) and they would call back with details and to confirm...but they never called back. Late Monday afternoon, they called advising that if we brought the vehicle to them soon, they could have the work done. At this point, my wife and I were already at work, so that was not going to happen. Another message was then left stating that it could be brought in on Tuesday. I chose to take Tuesday (3/12) off from work, but at this point, I had decided to just scrap the entire deal (which I would be entitled to do since the vehicle didn't pass the inspection).
Prior to leaving my house, I had called Frederick Ford and left a message for the sales manager that I was coming up there with the new vehicle and asked to have our old vehicle ready so that we could exchange them back. Once I got there, the sales manager greeted me and asked if I got his voicemail advising that the windshield would have to be taken care of on Wednesday. I hadn't received this message, and at this point we getting really annoyed with all of this running around and dragging things out. I had asked him if he received my message that I was coming and intended to swap vehicles back and he told me that he did not. He tried informing me that the deal was done, and that there was nothing that we could do. I inquired as to how the deal was done, since the inspection hadn't passed & they did not have the title. Additionally, I informed him that the old vehicle was registered to both my wife & I. In order for a vehicle in registered in MD to be sold if it is registered in two names, is if both parties sign off on it. I never signed off on the "permission to trade" form, and neither of us have signed the title (please note, as I had mentioned earlier, they do not have the title, we still have it in out possession). At this point, I asked where the old vehicle was, since I hadn't seen it when I drove around the lot prior to going inside the store. He informed me that they had already gotten rid of it. So now at this point, not only was the deal not actually done, since all of the required paperwork had not yet been taken care of, but they had gotten rid of a vehicle that they do not own.
I know that a lot of people are going to read this and leave comments about "buyer's remorse" and things like that, or call us stupid and everything else. But I just wanted to bring it to everyone's attention about the shady practices used by this dealership. As of the writing of this message, the issue has not yet been resolved, and I tentatively still have the new vehicle. I'll be sure to keep you posted on what happens if you're interested.
Thanks!

Volunteers Needed!

OCFD Investigation Complete; City Council To Hear Findings Soon; Dead Cat Incident Not Part Of Inquiry

The Mayor and Council will soon hear the results of an internal inquiry involving the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD), but the allegation of a dead cat being placed outside the fire chief’s house after a stormy promotion process last year is not part of that probe.

Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Larmore confirmed to The Dispatch on Tuesday he discovered a dead cat outside his front door back on Nov. 30, 2012. Larmore stopped short of providing more details, such as whether it was his pet or if he thinks a member of the OCFD was behind the incident. When asked if law enforcement was notified of the incident, he said he could not comment further as a result of an ongoing probe.

“It occurred. It’s part of an ongoing investigation that as of this afternoon [Tuesday] I am prohibited from speaking about because it’s tied to a much larger investigation,” Larmore said.
More 

Unspoken Words Dance Ministry Presents Dancing For Healing On April 27

Event will Benefit Women Supporting Women

Salisbury, MD – Unspoken Words Dance Ministry will present Dancing for Healing: Breast Cancer on Saturday, April 27 at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. The event will benefit Women Supporting Women, a local outreach to support women and men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The event will begin at 2:00pm and will feature over 20 dance ministers, flaggers, mimes and two keynote speakers joining together to minister for the healing of breast cancer. Survivors, supporters and the community are welcome to attend this day of healing, restoration and fundraising. Refreshments will be served.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at www.dancingforhealing.com or by contacting Tamyra Hubbard at 410.330.3151 or dancingforhealing@gmail.com. Group ticket pricing is also available.

Md. Death Penalty Turnaround Underlines Democrats’ Leftward Shifts

Everybody knows the Republican Party has moved to the right in recent years with the tea party’s rise. Attracting less attention, however, is the Democratic Party’s shift to the left, especially on social issues.

The trend, which results partly from generational change, is highlighted this year by the Maryland General Assembly’s surprising move to repeal the death penalty. Opponents have been trying to get rid of it for decades, and a major repeal effort failed in Annapolis as recently as two years ago.

Now the Senate, which historically has supported the death penalty, has voted 27 to 20 to end it. The House is expected to follow suit easily, and Gov. Martin O’Malley is certain to sign the bill. Voters still might decide to preserve executions as an option if the bill goes to referendum next year, but opponents are confident they can win that battle. 
More 

County To Keep Berlin Liquor Store Open For Now

BERLIN -- Worcester County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) officials confirmed this week that contrary to rumors there are currently no immediate plans to close the county Liquor Mart located in Berlin.

DLC Director Bob Cowger said Wednesday that the fate of the Berlin location will not be decided until after the upcoming tourism season.

“The Berlin store is scheduled to stay open at least through the summer,” he said. “We just want to see what kind of impact the new store is going to have on it before we make any decision.”
More 

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY ON THE PASSING OF LARRY SIMNS

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 14, 2013) – Governor Martin O’Malley today issued the following statement on the passing of Larry Simns:

“For more than four decades, Larry Simns served as the voice of the men and women who tirelessly work our magnificent waterways, bringing Maryland’s storied seafood to market and table.

“It is difficult to picture the Maryland Watermen’s Association without Larry at the helm or to imagine our watermen’s community or seafood industry without his leadership. It is impossible to put into words the deep personal loss being felt by so many across our State, including our staff at the Department of Natural Resources, where Larry was a revered partner for so many years.

“Today our prayers are with Larry’s family and all of those who called him a friend. May he fall gently into the arms of He who once gathered fishermen in Galilee. Larry will be loved among them.”

The Red Roost Is Back

The Time Has Arrived!

Join us in kicking off the 2013 Season!

Doors open TONIGHT, Thursday March 14th, at 5:30!
Check out all your Red Roost favorites and discover all that's new... we've been hard at work! And your friendly Red Roost staff is ready to see you back!

Backfin Banjo Band will help us kick things off, singing and playing us into the new season!

See you TONIGHT!!!!
2670 Clara Road, Whitehaven, MD, 21830
410.546.5443
www.theredroost.com

Poll: Slight Majority Still Supports Death Penalty; Overwhelming Support For Gun Control Measures

As delegates debate a bill abolishing the death penalty already passed in the Senate, a new Goucher College poll finds a slight majority of Marylanders (51%) oppose ending executions — even though many overestimate how often it is used and a majority says it does not deter murder and would prefer life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

On the other hot issue still awaiting action by the House Judiciary Committee, an overwhelming majority of Marylanders — more than four out of five — support the major provisions of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s gun control proposal, despite the fierce opposition of a gun-owning minority that has flooded Annapolis hearing rooms.

Surprisingly, even in the one-third of households that have a gun owner, there was majority support for the most controversial provisions of the O’Malley package — requiring a license and fingerprinting to get a handgun.
More 

NJ MOTHER PRESSURED TO TURN OVER HER GUNS, CHARGED WITH ‘TERRORISTIC THREATS’ AFTER READING THE CONSTITUTION AT TAX DISPUTE ASSEMBLY

Key Points:
Eileen Hart objected to a mandatory re-evaluation of her property value that would drastically increase her tax rates
She read the Constitution at a tax dispute forum and called one of the appraisers a “pencil-pusher”
One of tax officials called 911 saying Hart threatened to return with a gun, but she unequivocally denies the claim

Hart was charged with making “terroristic threats” and told that if she didn’t turn over her weapons, her bail would be prohibitively high and it was unclear how long she would have to remain in jail

A New Jersey mother was arrested and told to turn over her guns after reading the Constitution and peacefully protesting at a tax dispute forum, she says.

Eileen Hart was with her husband Keith and her 7-year-old daughter on Saturday at the Gloucester Community Center to dispute a mandatory home re-evaluation that would roughly double her property value (and therefore dramatically increase her rates), objecting on multiple grounds. As an Orthodox Jew, she refused to have the inspectors in her home when her husband was away at work. As an American citizen, she objected to the seemingly arbitrary reappraisal, noting that she is not planning on selling her home and hasn’t renovated her kitchen in 30 years.

But at the forum, Hart was allegedly told that since she didn’t let the inspectors into her home, they had a right to “assume” its value under the New Jersey state constitution.

More

WCSO Press Release 3-14-13

• 3/13/2013 Driving While Suspended Arrest - Daniels
• 3/13/2013 Violation of Protective Order Arrest - Vollmer
• 3/13/2013 Warrant Arrest - Collins
• 3/13/2013 Assault Arrest - Waters

NFIB: "No Sign Of A Surge In Confidence"

The latest release of the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Survey was a bit of dichotomy of interpretation. Econoday stated the following:
Optimism is up among small business owners based on a solid 1.9 point gain in the small business optimism index to 90.8 in February. Inventory building, which is often a sign of optimism, leads February's gain followed by plans to increase capital outlays which is another sign of optimism. Gains are wide across components and also include a rise in current job openings. Despite the month's strengths, the report notes that the index level remains in recessionary ground.

However, while Econoday's economists interpreted the report as primarily optimistic, the NFIB's Chief Economist Bill Dunkleberg had this to say:
"While the Fortune 500 are enjoying record high earnings, Main Street earnings remain depressed. Far more firms report sales down quarter over quarter than up. Washington is manufacturing one crisis after another—the debt ceiling, the fiscal cliff and the sequester. Spreading fear and instability are certainly not a strategy to encourage investment and entrepreneurship. Three-quarters of small-business owners think that business conditions will be the same or worse in six months. The Index gained almost 2 points last month; that was good news. But, until owners' forecast for the economy improves substantially, there will be little boost to hiring and spending from the small business half of the economy."

More

Hey You!!! You Need To Watch This

Educational Rot

American education is in a sorry state of affairs, and there's enough blame for all participants to have their fair share. They include students who are hostile and alien to the education process, uninterested parents, teachers and administrators who either are incompetent or have been beaten down by the system, and politicians who've become handmaidens for teachers unions. There's another education issue that's neither flattering nor comfortable to confront and talk about. That's the low academic preparation of many teachers. That's an issue that must be confronted and dealt with if we're to improve the quality of education. Let's look at it.

Schools of education, whether graduate or undergraduate, tend to represent the academic slums of most college campuses. They tend to be home to students who have the lowest academic achievement test scores when they enter college, such as SAT scores. They have the lowest scores when they graduate and choose to take postgraduate admissions tests – such as the GRE, the MCAT and the LSAT.

More

Maryland Airports Make Plea To Keep Control Towers

McLEAN, Va. (AP) — Five airports in Maryland are making their case to the Federal Aviation Administration to keep their air traffic control towers.

The airports in Hagerstown, Frederick, Easton, Salisbury and Middle River are on a list of 238 small and mid-size airports across the country that might lose their control towers. The FAA is looking to cut costs after automatic federal budget cuts went into effect earlier this week.
More 

Senate Committee Hears Bill That Would Force Elected Officials To Pay Back Legal Fees

A State Senate panel on Wednesday heard a bill that would force any future John Leopolds to pay back legal fees.

Senate Bill 210, introduced by Sen. Bryan Simonaire, R-Pasadena, would hold elected officials in Maryland liable for costs associated with breaking the law.

Leopold resigned as county executive in February after being convicted of criminal misconduct. He also faces two federal lawsuits from former county employees who allege they were wrongfully terminated from their jobs.

Leopold said he will pay for his legal defense if found guilty but he will not pay any settlements without his consent. He paid for his own counsel in the criminal misconduct trial.
More 

THE GREAT DEFORMATION

The fiscal cliff is permanent and insurmountable. It stands at the edge of a $20 trillion abyss of deficits over the next decade. And this estimation is conservative, based on sober economic assumptions and the dug-in tax and spending positions of the two parties, both powerfully abetted by lobbies and special interests which fight for every paragraph of loophole ridden tax code and each line of a grossly bloated budget.

Fiscal cliffs as far as the eye can see are the deeply troubling outcome of the Great Deformation. They are the result of capture of the state, especially its central bank, the Federal Reserve, by crony capitalist forces deeply inimical to free markets and democracy.

Why we are mired in this virtually unsolvable problem is the reason I wrote this book. It originated in my being flabbergasted when the Republican White House in September 2008 proposed the $700 billion TARP bailout of Wall Street. When the courageous House Republicans who voted it down were forced to walk the plank a second time in betrayal of their principled stand, my sense of disbelief turned into a not-inconsiderable outrage. Likewise, I was shocked to read of the blatant deal making, bribing, and bullying of the troubled big banks being conducted out of the treasury secretary’s office, as if it were the M&A department of Goldman Sachs.

More

Feds Bust Up $100M N.C. Crop Insurance Fraud Ring

Federal investigators have unraveled a massive scheme among dozens of insurance agents, claims adjusters, brokers and farmers in eastern North Carolina to steal at least $100 million from the government-backed program that insures crops.

Authorities say the ongoing investigation is already the largest such ring uncovered in the country.

Forty-one defendants have either pleaded guilty or reached plea agreements after profiting from false insurance claims for losses of tobacco, soybeans, wheat and corn. Often, the crops weren't damaged at all, with farmers using aliases to sell their written-off harvests for cash.

More

Top American CEOs About Job Creation: Not Happening Here

CEOs of the largest American corporations, without aiming at it, shot barn-door-size holes through the rosy jobs picture. Rosy on the surface: unemployment down to 7.7% with 236,000 new jobs created last month. A picture the White House held up as proof of its success. But these CEOs didn’t see it. Not in the US. Though prospects were rosy in low-wage countries.

Last week it was Honeywell CEO David Cote who said that they’d been cutting headcount through attrition, instead of adding to it, at the rate of hiring only two to three people as four or five leave. He expected hiring to slow even more, based on economic uncertainty in the US.

Economic uncertainty! A term that’s now showing up frequently. But one of the things the company didn’t appear to fret about? The Sequester. With the government portion of total revenues being about 11%, the company expected only a minor dent from it in 2013. The problems were elsewhere. As a conglomerate and Fortune 100 company active in a wide variety of industries, Honeywell sees first-hand what’s going on.

“We’ve become more concerned recently,” Cote said. “If we want employment to grow, we have to have GDP growing more like 3%, not 2% or less.” Though growth had stalled altogether last quarter, Cote hasn’t given up hope for growth this year, expecting 1.9%. Yet even 3% growth might not do much for hiring—because Honeywell has been adding plenty of jobs overseas while cutting them in the US. As the Wall Street Journal reported:
Since 2009, Honeywell, which gets 46% of its sales from business in the US, has added 10,000 jobs globally, boosting its employee count to 132,000, while eliminating 2,000 positions in the U.S. Last year, Honeywell trimmed its US workforce by 1,000 jobs to 52,000 employees.

More

Fruitland Easter Parade

Come out for a fun morning in Fruitland, MD

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Easter Parade Breakfast

St. John's United Methodist Church

Main St. Fruitland

7:00 am - 10:00 am

Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Scrapple, Hash Browns, Biscuits

Juice, Milk & Coffee

$7.00

Fruitland Chamber Easter Parade - 10th Anniversary!

10:00 am

Starts on Division St and ends at the Fruitland Sports Complex

Grand Marshall will be our very own Randy Lee Ashcraft!

Lots of surprises this year.

The Fruitland Fire Dept will bring the guest of honor, the Easter Bunny!

Fruitland Recreation Easter Egg Hunt

Immediately following the parade

Fruitland Little League Fields

There will be a special egg on each field with a special surprise inside!

Have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny!

Sign up for a library card at the Book Mobile

(bring your parent, ID and proof of address for the card)

The Fruitland Little League concession stand will be open!

Driver: Too Slow in Left Lane Ticket Dismissed

A Maryland woman ticketed for driving too slowly in the left lane on Interstate 95 said Wednesday that Maryland State Police told her they dismissed the ticket because it doesn't apply to her, News4's Darcy Spencer reported.

The woman, who didn't want her name used, said she was pulled over in Laurel Friday and cited for failing to move right.

According to the citation, she had been driving 63 mph in the left hand lane in a 65 mph zone. The citation read, "Failure of driver, driving below speed limit, 63 in a 65, to keep right."
More 

House of Delegates Rejects Proposal To Return $1 Billion Taken From Highway Funds

During floor debate over the state budget, the Maryland House of Delegates rejected an amendment that would restore $1.1 billion in funds that had been taken from highway user revenues to pay the state’s bills during budget shortfalls since 2003.

Del. Susan Krebs, R- Carroll, who introduced the amendment, argued Wednesday that the state had an obligation to restore these highway revenues before asking motorists to pay additional tolls and gas taxes. The state has historically shared a portion of its transportation revenue, highway user funds, with local governments to pay for road projects.

“We need to pay it back before we ask our motorists for another penny,” Krebs said.

Minority Whip Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, R-Talbot, agreed.
More 

Don't Force Drivers To Subsidize Transit

Once again, Virginia has beaten Maryland to the punch regarding taxes on business and consumers. Virginia eliminated its gas tax completely and replaced it with a 3.5 percent sales tax on the wholesale price of gasoline. Gov. Martin O'Malley's new tax increase proposal would reduce the gas tax rate 5 cents but add a sales tax to the retail price of gasoline and diesel, resulting in a 63 percent increase in the tax on gas and a 90 percent increase in the diesel tax.

Only in Maryland would we claim to "reduce" taxes in a way that results in increases — and leaves Maryland retailers at a devastating competitive disadvantage. The Virginia tax rate in particular will be almost 28 cents per gallon less than Maryland's, and we will have the highest fuel tax rate compared to all our surrounding states. Most of Maryland's approximately 2,300 gas stations are operated by small businesses, and many are located within close proximity to our neighboring states. These increases will make our small businesses uncompetitive with their nearby, out of state competitors.
More 

Eastern Shore Student Business Plan Competition

What: Eastern Shore Business Plan Competition 2013

When: Application Deadline: March 22nd 2013

Business Ideas Submission: April 12, 2013

Semi-Finals: April 25th, 2013

Re-Submission Due: May 3rd, 2013

Finals: TBD

Where: Application Deadline & All Submissions – Online

Semi-Finals – Wor-Wic Community College (Guerrieri Hall – Theater)

Finals: TBD

Cost: FREE

Registration: To Register, Please Visit www.shorebizplan.com
MCE (Maryland Capital Enterprises) and ESEC (Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center) are excited to once again hold a Student Business Plan Competition on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The purpose of this competition is to promote and encourage the idea of starting or owning a business among college and high school students. The competition is intended to motivate students to assess their own skill sets and characteristics in relation to areas of existing personal interest or knowledge in which they could successfully make a living and possibly create jobs for themselves and others on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Open to individuals or teams, the competition seeks unique, innovative, and scalable business plans that could be fundable for any idea of a commercial endeavor. All submissions must be the original work of those making the submission and must describe a new or early-stage company. Semi-Final judges will occur by district (Chesapeake – Upper and Mid-Shore Counties; Wor-Wic – Lower Shore Counties). All winners from each district advance to an Eastern Shore Final Judging. 
Semi-Finalist Awards in each District Include: 

First Place - $500 Cash

Second Place - $250 Cash

Third Place - $100 Cash

Eastern Shore Finalist Awards Include:

First Place - $1,000 Cash

Second Place - $500 Cash

Third Place - $250 Cash
Complete details about eligibility, rules, and submission are available at www.shorebizplan.com.

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On 03/09/2013 at 0126 hrs. a Worcester County Sheriff's Office Deputy responded to AGH ER in reference to a fight. Upon arrival DFC Rhode observed a Female in the parking lot being disorderly. After a several chances of trying to get her to leave she was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. Jessica Erin Bradshaw 31 of Ocean City, she was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. She was released on a Uniform Criminal Citation.

On 03/09/2013 Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputies stopped a SUV for a traffic violation. The driver, Roger Vincent Welton of Berlin 24 years old, appeared to have been was drinking an alcoholic beverage while driving a vehicle. Mr. Welton did poor on field tests and was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and driving while suspended.

On 03/10/2013 at 0341 hours A Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stopped a vehicle on Rt. 50 in the area of Hall Rd. for speed. The Driver, Roger William Upole JR 19 of Mardela Springs, and a juvenile were in possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. The driver was charged with possession of C.D.S. paraphernalia. The passenger was a juvenile and was also charged with possession of paraphernalia and released to the custody of his mother.

On 03/11/2013, a Worcester County Sheriff's Office Deputy conducted a traffic stop on Greenbackville Road in the area of George Island Landing Rd in Stockton Md. Upon approach the Deputy observed marihuana in plain view at the driver's feet. The driver, Benjamin Poole 31 of Salisbury, was placed under arrest for possession of marihuana. Poole was later released on a criminal citation.

Md. House Amends Budget Bill For Sued Farmers

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland House of Delegates has changed a budget bill to make up to $300,000 available to help a farm family pay its legal bills after it was sued for alleged pollution.

The amendment was accepted Wednesday.

Delegate Norman Conway, D-Wicomico, says the Hudson family was put under tremendous stress that should have ended with a decision by the Maryland Department of Environment. He says court battles carried the family almost to the brink of losing everything.
More 

Cell Phone Alert System To Supplement Delaware’s Amber Alert Program

Dover-The Delaware Amber Alert Program will now be supplemented by the utilization of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system to send Amber Alert notifications to WEA compliant cell phones Statewide. Previously, Amber Alerts were only received on cell phones if the user visited a website and chose to participate. This no longer applies to the new Amber Alert cell phone notification system.

The wireless emergency alert uses a loud tone, similar to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages on radio and television, to notify the public. In addition to the loud audible tone, the system will send a text message with general information specific to the Amber Alert. If you travel outside of Delaware, you will continue to receive alerts issued in the areas you visit as the WEA system broadcasts the alert for mobile devices within the range of the cellular towers in the affected area.

Cell phone users who choose not to receive the Amber Alert can contact their cell phone service provider or turn the alert notification off in the “notifications” settings area of the cellular phone. If the phone is placed in the vibrate mode, the tone will not be heard.

The FCC, FEMA, and the Wireless Association (CTIA) assisted in the development of this new “Commercial Mobile Alert System”, to notify the public of certain emergencies, which included Amber Alerts.

The Amber (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Plan was
originally started in Texas in 1996 after the abduction and murder of nine-year-old, Amber Hagerman. Responding to this tragedy, the Dallas/Fort Worth law
enforcement community and the Association of Radio Managers pioneered the
Amber Plan. The Amber Plan is an early warning system available for use by law
enforcement to alert the public, through the Emergency Alert System, when a child has been abducted and the police believe that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death. Under the Plan, radio and television stations immediately broadcast information about the child abduction so that the general public may assist in the child’s recovery.

“Time is critical when it comes to finding abducted children,” said Sergeant Paul G. Shavack, Amber Alert Coordinator for Delaware. “When a child’s life is in danger, spreading the word quickly can often mean the difference between life and death. The public’s awareness and input acts as a powerful force multiplier for law enforcement and helps tremendously in contributing to the successful recovery of missing and abducted children.”

Delaware instituted its Amber Alert Program in January 2003 and to date has issued 8 Amber Alerts. Amber Alerts are issued for abducted children only, and must meet strict criteria and can only be requested by law enforcement. To date there have been 602 children rescued and returned nationwide specifically because of the Amber Alert Program.

For FAQ’s and more information:

FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/commercial-mobile-alert-system

DOJ: http://amberalert.gov/

CTIA: http://ctia.org/consumer_info/safety/index.cfm/AID/12082

Happy Pi Day!

Irish Block Party

IRS: Tax Glitch Affects About 660K Returns

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A tax-preparation glitch affecting about 660,000 tax returns will delay refunds by as long as six weeks, with customers of the nation's largest tax preparer among those affected.

The Internal Revenue Service said in a statement that a problem with a "limited number of software company products" affected some taxpayers filing a form used to claim educational credits between Feb. 14 and Feb. 22.

The agency didn't name any companies in the statement, which it released Tuesday, but Kansas City-based H&R Block has been informing customers about problems. H&R Block spokesman Gene King said Wednesday that the company isn't saying how many of its customers were affected by the problems with Form 8863.
More 

Second Annual Bag Piper’s March Between MoJo’s And MSI Benefitting The Humane Society

Eastern Shore Arsons Now Up To 67

Eastern Shore arsons now up to 67

ONANCOCK, Va. (WAVY) - Crews from six volunteer fire departments battled a new arson on the Eastern Shore Wednesday night.

Sgt. Michelle Anaya with the Virginia State Police said the fire sparked around 11:15 p.m. in the 22000 block of Bayside Road in Onancock. No one was injured.

WAVY News’ Andy Fox was on scene when the old Mallards Restaurant building burned and spoke to a resident who reported the fire to authorities.
More