Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 1-26-14

On Sunday 1-26-2014 at about 1033 in the morning a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy was investigating a crash on Meadow Bridge where a vehicle overturned. A tow truck had arrived on the scene and the operator was in the process of removing the overturned vehicle. 

A red Ford Explorer, driven by Mr. Richard Potts of 62, of the Princess Anne area, crashed into the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. It then subsequently struck the tow truck driver Robert Webber 42 of the Princess Anne area. Mr. Webber was transported to PRMC in Salisbury for non life threatening injuries sustained in the crash. The Deputy was not injured

The investigation in continuing and charges are pending against Mr. Potts.

NATIONAL EPIDEMIC: PUBLIC EMPLOYEES 'SPIKING' PENSIONS

Just imagine, you’re already being paid a healthy $165,000 a year, but your retirement is looming and your pension will amount to only $110,000.

But you work under a public employee contract that allows you to count bonuses and other such income as salary, and you cash in $270,000 during your final year of work, bringing your pay to $435,000 for the year.

That, then, is used as the basis for your pension, which surges from $110,000, to $166,000, higher than your salary.
Read more

State’s Attorney Challenger Files

SNOW HILL — Local attorney Michael W. Farlow this week officially announced he is throwing his hat in the ring to run for Worcester County State’s Attorney, challenging incumbent Beau Oglesby in what will likely be a spirited election.

Farlow served as a prosecutor at the District Court level and later ascended to Deputy State’s Attorney under former Worcester County State’s Attorney Joel Todd. Oglesby, a Republican, filed for re-election in November.

Farlow, a Democrat, is the only candidate thus far to challenge Oglesby, and if the field remains the same, the two would square off in the general election next November.
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Just In: Shooting At The Columbia Mall

There are reports of a shooting at the Columbia Mall in the food court.  We will update this post as soon as we find out more information. 

Alertpage

Columbia,MD (Howard)*Fatal Mall Shooting* Columbia Mall - PD rpts shooter is fatally shot w/ victims fatally shot, checking for more victims

• Howard County Police ‏@HCPDNews
  Call came into 911 around 11:15 a.m. that shots were fired. Police made entry and found three dead, one found near a gun and ammunition.

• Howard County Police ‏@HCPDNews
  Some people are being released from the mall. They have been sheltering in place since the shooting around 11:15 a.m.

• Howard County Police ‏@HCPDNew
  There is NO confirmed motive in the shooting at this time.

• Howard County Police ‏@HCPDNews No additional info yet. Police are working to ID the victims and shooter. Hope to have more info about them by the 4pm media briefing.

• HoCo Gen Hospital ‏@HopkinsHowardC
  HCGH received 4 patients from the shooting at the Mall. All are being treated & in good condition.

• HoCo Gen Hospital ‏@HopkinsHowardC
  cont.: 1 patient is a shooting victim & 3 other patients sustained other injuries during the situation.

• Mary Bubala ‏@MaryWJZ
  @cbsbaltimore Eyewitness Chris says gunman with single barrel shotgun came out from storageroom and open fire on two employees of Zumiez

Swat at Columbia Mall

• wbaltv.com ‏@wbaltv11
  #BREAKING 3 people dead including shooter in #Columbia #mall shooting. Victims: Adult male & adult female store employees in their 20s.

• Howard County Police Department Five patients treated at hospital, all good condition. One gun shot to foot, other four medical or minor injuries due to falls Columbia Mall.

• Howard County Police Department
  Victim IDs: Brianna Benlolo, 21, of College Park, MD & Tyler Johnson, 25, of Ellicott City, MD. Both employees of Zumiez. Motive still unknown.

• HoCo Gen Hospital ‏@HopkinsHoward All 5 patients from the shooting at the Mall in Columbia have been treated and released.

• Howard County Police ‏@HCPDNews
  A search of the #ColumbiaMall shooter's bag revealed two crude devices that appeared to be attempt at making explosives. Both disabled.
   
• Fox News
  Breaking News: The gunman in Saturday's shooting at Mall in Columbia in Maryland has been identified as 19-year-old Darion Marcus Aguilar of College Park, Md, Howard County police say.

How Do You Feel About A County Employee Drinking And Driving Your County Vehicle?

Warnings to the County Executive Rick Pollitt have gone out about a particular County Employee regularly using a County vehicle to go out locally and openly drinking and driving. The original warning was ignored.

Another face to face attempt to discuss this matter happened soon after and once again Rick Pollitt brushed it off.

A third attempt was then taken directly to that County Employee in which that individual agreed that it was wrong and it would never happen again. 

Last night that very same County Employee was witnessed once again at the very same Bar drinking alcohol with icy road conditions. The Employee tried to disguise the vehicle behind a neighboring business but keen eyes picked up on the individual as well as the vehicle and photos were taken as evidence.

Mind you, there is no policy, (believe it or not) on the books for County Employees to NOT drink and drive County vehicles. Where does common sense prevail? However, there is language stating they can not use these vehicles for personal use.

BREAKING NEWS: Wicomico County Forecasts 3.47 Million Dollar Loss in Income Tax Revenues

At today's Wicomico County Council meeting the County Administrator's office disclosed that a revision should be made to adjust their Income Tax Revenue Estimates.  The Department's presentation showed a dramatic decline in anticipated Income Tax Revenues for Wicomico County.  According to their report - Wicomico will end the year with an average of about 47,600 - a miss of 1,400 workers.  Their original 2014 Income Tax revenue estimate - estimated growth at 1.1% for a total increase of 540 jobs or a total of 49,000 jobs.  In this author's humble opinion - they were far to optimistic and have missed the mark. 

Here at SBYnews we have provided our readers with the most up to date and accurate information as it relates to our local employment scene.  We have been posting monthly labor information for several years now and by all of the indicators - WICOMICO COUNTY IS IN AN ECONOMIC DEPRESSION. 

According to the dictionary definition of a Depression - 

'In economics, a depression is a sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies.'

Here in Wicomico our residents have experienced, both, a dramatic decline in real property values, coupled with lackluster employment numbers. 

What does this mean for Wicomico's residents:

1. According to the Administration's plan - it calls for merging the Roads Fund into the General Fund beginning with the FY15 budget cycle.  Then, they propose to increase the use of prior year fund balance by 2.7M and decrease the inter-fund transfer from the general fund by the same amount, thus depleting the Roads fund balance prior to merger with the GF.  (Author's note - in layman's terms, 'Robbing Peter to Pay Paul')  According to their report - this should create a cushion against the anticipated shortfall in income tax revenues.

Author's Interpretation

2.  Higher taxes.  Since the annual operating budget is not being reduced commensurate to the declines in revenues, then the County will no doubt have to increase property taxes to make up for the short fall.  A brief review of the past few budget cycles reveals that the operating budget has been steadily increasing.

Bottom line - Wicomico County's economy is stagnant.  Nationally, Regionally, and Locally - the growth in GDP is simply not enough to grow our economies.  A paltry 2.4% GDP increase is simply not enough to sustain our nations population growth.  The long term implications as to what has transpired continues to drain our residents resources.  The structural imbalances have not been rectified and thus we are experiencing economic hardships.

Stay tuned to Local Impact from the School Teachers Pension Shift Onto the Counties - (Recent Martin O'Malley Proposed Equation) - Future Impact!  

   

YOU MAKE THE CALL

After much discussion the decision was made to put together a team of attorneys to challenge Wicomico County's rules to qualify to run for County Executive. The rules state you must be a County resident for at least 5 years. I say that's a load of crap, how about you?

So You Make The Call. Should we move forward and challenge the County? Keep in mind, my Attorneys are researching the matter to see if we'd be wasting the Courts time, something I/We refuse to do. 

Nevertheless, let's see what the residents of Wicomico County would like. I can tell you as of today Rick Pollitt has not filed. 

Let's hear your thoughts on this matter.

PENDING ECONOMIC DISASTER - SCHOOL TEACHER PENSION SHIFT - O'MALLEY RAIDING FUND

Hello Joe, Recently I made some comments on this coming election being about issues. I believe there is an issue out there that is being brushed aside in hopes that somehow it will just magically go away. It won't.  As important as the issue is, the people involved are just as important because this is an election year. It's important to know what your representatives have been voting on that directly impacts you.

TEACHER PENSION LIABILITY NOW BEING SHIFTED OVER TO THE COUNTY'S BALANCE SHEET - NEW FEDERAL DISCLOSURE RULES TO TAKE EFFECT - GASB NOW TO REQUIRE A CLEARER PICTURE :

Teachers, have your union reps been keeping you informed on how your representatives have been voting on bills and budgets and how it's going to affect you? Has anyone taken notice of some major large city bankruptcies that is leaving teachers with a retirement value of $.16 on the dollar? Did you know that even now with your retirement costs up to 7% that your retirement fund is only 65% funded and that your governor is still proposing to take another 100 million dollars out to go into the general fund to be used for: (Okay, test question: what is our county road taxes, Chesapeake Bay Fund, sales tax and whatever other funds he can get hold of going towards? Answer: the Governor's Legacy Project The Four County Western Shore Rapid Rail System ).

Yes, your hard earned dollars and your union dues are being used to elect him, regardless of what you think of him, are backing this project that will give him the biggest number of voters for his presidential bid! Teachers, I would be really ticked if my union dues were being spent supporting someone who doesn't support me and on top of that is endangering my retirement fund. As important as that issue is what about your local representatives who have supported the Governor in this policy?  Does this concern you yet?  Has your union reps emphasized as to how these local officials are voting in Annapolis, while you are working, is affecting you and your families? Here's something I would like one of you readers to verify. Over the last few State Budgets, passed by our local representatives, the Teacher's Pension Fund has been severely underfunded to the point that the Governor was warned about it by the major credit rating agencies. Now from what I can find it seems that Delegate Conway, Delegate Cane and Senator Mathias voted in favor of these budgets. So to me if they voted in favor of the budgets they were okay with underfunding your retirement. Well, when everyone thought the Governor couldn't get any more funds from the Teacher's Pension  a bill (originally HB863 and SB836 that turned into HB1801 and SB1301 during a first 2012 Special Session) that passed about 50% of the costs back to Wicomico taxpayers along with what was being taken from the general fund to pay for the Rapid Rail that should have been going  to the Teacher's Retirement Fund. (Sometimes these bills get really difficult to follow so if anyone can show me where I went off track please jump right in).

HOW THEY VOTED:

Guess who voted in favor of that bill (click here) SB1301/HB1801? Delegates Conway, Cane and Senator Mathias. Now we all know there is no way this County is going to be able to fund the amounts of money this is going to require. Heck, wait until you see the new taxes and fees the County Executive will be proposing because they misread information right in front of them. I know he will be asking for new taxes because of the questions he was asking at the legislative Breakfast and now with what just hit the County Council today. Teachers, taxpayers why should any of you want to vote for these incumbents?

I believe Mr. Pollitt, Delegate Conway, Delegate Cane and Senator Mathias have been around long enough and should have a nice retirement.

John Palmer, Delmar Maryland.

A Prominent Local Person Sent The Following Message To Me

"I hate when you post negative things about our county or city. As long as you spew negativity in cyberspace every other citizen has to work ten times as hard to get positive info out there to counter balance it. How will we ever become the town we all invision with you working against everyone ? I thought you had changed and didn't have an ax to grind anymore....."

It absolutely amazes me how some people think. First of all, I'M IN THE NEWS BUSINESS. It's my JOB to expose these issues, WITHOUT any outside influence.

Have we lied, no. Have we mislead you, no. Have we exaggerated, no. In each and every article we have delivered FACTS, photos and evidence. Now you have to ask yourself, WHY didn't the rest of the local media tell you these very same stories?

I'll tell you why. Because they're influenced by big business and elected officials. These big businesses and elected officials don't want negative information going out there and the above message is yet again EVIDENCE of how they work.

I'm supposed to be intimidated. I'm supposed to walk around bowing down to these people because they're important, respected and looked up to in this community.

I didn't retire at 40 years old because I won the Lottery. I worked my rear end off and was able to afford to retire because I EARNED IT. I'll be DAMNED if I'm going to sit back and take messages like the one above lightly and this is EXACTLY why I now do what I do.

I am the go to guy for the little guys, YOU! I've been at the bottom and rose to the very top, much higher than a lot of those people living in fancy expensive homes with massive mortgages and debt. I got to the top and paid off EVERYTHING. So when I say something to people like this, they better damn well listen and show some respect for what I/We do here because as I am no better than them, THEY are no better than ME. 

These are the same people you would NEVER hear being out physically shoveling driveways for the elderly or handicapped. Oh sure, they might reach into their pockets and PAY someone to do it but these very people are too afraid to be seen in public with a baseball cap on and rubber boots.

I have not forgotten where I came from and I prove it each and every day I get up at 5 AM, start publishing daily articles and retire at the end of the evening around 10 PM. The Eastern Shore has never been afforded such exposure and your local media has absolutely failed you. Our traffic here proves that we have risen to the top and more than likely will remain there for many years to come. Why, because bullies like the message above will NOT influence the type of information we provide on a daily basis. 

I experienced this very same thing when I ran for Mayor and guess what, I refused to follow their command. Every day someone new hears about us. Every day we continue to grow. We're not on Facebook, Twitter and whatever other chat room website is out there begging for you to come here. We EARN our traffic by word of mouth. We grow because we DELIVER. Because we're CONSISTENT and because you can DEPEND on the fact that we'll deliver fresh news and information daily. Because you WON'T get it anywhere else.

More importantly, we grow each day because we are JUST LIKE YOU. We're tired of the BULLIES out there who want to keep things hush for their own special interest. 

Keep Salisbury News growing. Tell a friend, a coworker, a neighbor, family. We don't want national traffic. We want LOCALS who can understand and appreciate what we do here every day. 

Do you want a better Eastern Shore? Then it's time we get rid of the bullies and crooked elected officials with special interests. These people wouldn't have to work ten times harder to make the City or County a better place IF they simply acted more responsible and accountable. Heck, more than a DOZEN people can get arrested for robbing the County at the Landfill and only a couple go to jail and the majority of the admitted thieves still work for the County. Get my drift people?

SOLD! But Wait... Is This The Beginning Of The End?

Owned - RIVERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT PROPERTY 

Sale Price $500,000 / 3.04 Acres Direct Wicomico Riverfront / Zoned Central Business 

"New owner plans to redevelop for student housing".

They say, "build it and they will come". This land was up for sale for $4,000,000.00 and sold for $500,000.00. The condo units next door still aren't sold and guess what they'll be worth when student housing goes in. Where will they park? Then there's the subsidized/affordable housing going in at River's Edge just across the river. 

Oh, if you haven't seen the LIGHT yet, there's NO interest in the Downtown Parking Lots and Mayor Ireton is FURIOUS with local Developers for not putting in RFP's for those lots. In fact, Jimmy is labeling developers anti supporters of his Downtown revitalization plans. 

What Jimmy doesn't realize is, (for example) Lot 1 will cost somewhere close to $30,000,000.00 to redevelop. I just don't know where Jimmy gets the idea that this is easy money but would YOU take a risk on $30,000,000.00 in the HOPE Downtown Salisbury will come back to life? No, neither will ANY developer. 

So what YOU WILL see in the end with these parking lots is, yep, STUDENT HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 

Oh, you'll hear, we tried so hard. We did our very best, BUT... 

Now, let's talk about what this Mayor and Council President have done. Have you ever wondered WHY WBOC, WMDT and the Daily Times NEVER speak of the Old Mall property. Oh, those horrible "Council Of No" people who were actually trying to PROTECT YOU. I'm just going to boldly tell each and every citizen of Salisbury what I would have done as your Mayor. Because I have a business background, I would have made it my #1 priority to FINISH what was started. I would have, #1, FIXED the Waste Water Treatment Plant and told you the TRUTH about why it will or won't work, something Barrie Tilghman, Jim Ireton and others do NOT want you to know about. I would have FINISHED the old Mall project BEFORE I would have sold a Fire House or ANYTHING else. Oh, how we have so conveniently forgotten that mess and the $14,000,000.00 TIF.

Salisbury is NOT moving forward. Salisbury is in DENIAL. Salisbury has FAILED the taxpayers. Your leaders simply want you to forget about the past and the local press is helping them. I don't care if the old Mall or WWTP was under Barrie Tilghman, Ireton pledged to FIX the past and move forward. Do you really want to hand over your Parking Lots now, when they can't even complete what they had started some 8 years ago and have failed at? Yeah, we have new bike paths though, aren't you excited!

Mayor Ireton and Jake Day, STOP the BS and start telling the TRUTH for once in your lives. No different then telling people you WILL clean the River in 10 years so everyone can swim in it again. Your Downtown plan is a load of crap and I said it long ago, it's the cart before the horse. It's time you resolve PAST issues FIRST before taking on ANYTHING else. I don't care what anyone says, I am right and Jim and Jake are wrong. This is the beginning of the end. 

I want to close with this. Around 2 years ago I met Jim Ireton at the Salisbury Festival and I asked him what his intentions were with the upcoming election. He said, If I can get the Council to move forward with the parking lots and get them to give me the EDU's, I won't run again. He went on to say HE COULDN'T FINANCIALLY AFFORD TO BE MAYOR ANY LONGER. 

Don't you find it interesting how Mayor Ireton is now VERY UPSET with the local Developers who are NOT interested in the Downtown Parking Lots????? Could it be that Jim ran again because there was something in it for him and now that has all but disappeared? 

Don't let your Mayor and elected officials give away ANYTHING more until they FINISH what they started or inherited. Finish the WWTP and the Old Mall and then come talk to us. We've lost enough money under your leadership and Barrie Tilghman's. 

Update From Yesterdays River Front Condo Flooding: CONDEMNED, GET OUT!

Basically I feel like this issue could have been prevented. The control box that monitors the sprinkler systems in the lobby has been beeping almost daily in the 7 months that I have been there. This makes me wonder if there was an indication of what was to come and if something needed attention of the maintenance crew. Also, the fire Knox box keys for the penthouse units didn’t work and this slowed the fire department down. After the fire department left Global maintenance was just chilling drinking coffee and didn't seem concerned about the ice forming on the walkways with everyone slipping. 

I asked my property manager Debbie Wolf at Caldwell Banker about a hotel and she said “save your receipts and the condo associations insurance will reimburse you”. I inquired about a max daily limit and pre-approved amount of days and she said to ask Global maintenance. Brendan at global maintenance confirmed what Debbie said .

Once it was clear it would be months of repairs and we inquired about reimbursement for the months rent our property manager ignored us and had the town condemned our unit. Just our unit and that's crazy considering the damage. 

Paul Davis restoration came in with no respect for our personal belongings. They used some of our items and we now have some items missing. Our property Manager emailed us on the 16th saying we had to be out by the 18th at 5 PM. She claimed to send us a letter but have no proof and we received no such letter. We felt pressured and harassed. We got out and found a new place so we didn’t have to deal with these jokers. 

We still have not received our rent money back for January, our security deposit and the landlord can no longer provide us housing so the lease is constructively broken. We also have paid over a thousand dollars on moving supplies, u-haul , hotel, and food since we were in a hotel and needed to move.

Publishers Notes: It's been reported they couldn't turn the water flow off immediately because they needed access to the attic. They called to get a responder to come and allow them access. It took 45 minutes to get someone over there and whoever showed up still couldn't get into the attic. Apparently, the place has switched properly management companies a couple of times and nobody knew who's responsibility it was to show up.

Another Comment Worthy Of A Post 1-25-14

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WITH MINIMUM WAGE DEBATE SET TO TAKE CENTER STAGE,...":

1:51 to Annie

Actually I have more than a clue. Have a combination of academics and decades of experience wrestling with these topics for demanding employers, both privately and publicly held, in for profit and not for profit segments. Explaining facts to employees, P&L responsibility and working the spreadsheets to convince VPs of what we could afford, and where we should pay more, or less. Been there, done that.

In 1938 my late Dad was working p/t in a butcher shop for $.10 per hour while in college; he graduated with a hard science degree at 19. In 1968 MW was $1.60/hr when I graduated HS at 16. I also worked my way through college; got raises from MW jobs based on performance. Usually paid .21 to .23 per gallon of gas then.

The MW took effect Oct 24, 1938 at .25/hr and a year later was bumped to .30/hr; six months after your hero FDR passed it went to .40/hr. (Don’t know if the 1945 bump was passed before he died; please feel free to disparage me for that omission). Here is the DOL page with the actual information http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/chart.htmBut check the 5 footnotes as you do your research; the first two are most germane to this discussion. 1 The 1938 Act was applicable generally to employees engaged in interstate commerce or in the production of goods for interstate commerce.
2 The 1961 Amendments extended coverage primarily to employees in large retail and service enterprises as well as to local transit, construction, and gasoline service station employees.

So DOL’s first footnote shows the initial MW was narrowly applied to only a subset of jobs rather than your expansive interpretation. And in 1938, under FDR the top Federal income tax rate was 79%; it had risen to 94% when he passed. (Mr. Big would only retain $60/day of his $1,000 pay; still pretty fair but less impressive sounding). In that era executives making $260K annually would have been very few and far between so it was just the class envy demagoguery FDR and his acolytes OweBama, OweMalley and OweBrown run with 24/7. The 1938 Federal rate would have been 4% or less for MW earners.

In earlier posts you’ve claimed to be controller for several companies. I’m curious to know what your lowest paid employee makes and what the range is to your top paid official. I sleep peacefully safe in the knowledge that your staff is so well, fairly and evenly compensated that the proposed 39% increase won’t upset your applecart.

Some corporations are posting higher profits; those that don’t are savaged by the market, pension funds, etc and they recruit replacements for fired big-wigs. So pleased your response to a decline in revenue or dramatically increased costs at your job would be to hold steady; you are blessed with a deep pocketed, understanding boss.

Not adverse ever to anyone earning more provided it arises from their efforts in conjunction with their employer, as opposed to OweMalley etc ‘awarding’ an increase.

I will agree that there is a perverse effect also because larger operators have more resources to work with in dealing with these costs, but they cannot subsidize every store and every product. They are in the market’s cross hairs if their numbers backslide; the smaller operator is just out of business when sales lag or margins disappear. I lived through the Carter years and don’t want a return ticket; in some cases we were changing prices weekly in reaction to cost changes from suppliers on that frequency. With today’s computer links every transaction could become akin to buying an airline ticket.

When you kill the goose the golden eggs cease.

In closing, the article we are referring to was penned by a graduate student in journalism, an academic pursuit generally long on verbiage and rhetoric while dramatically short on math skills. However adept they maybe at googling this or that, they have scant life experience to bring to the equation.

Being rude is not the same as marshalling facts to make a point.

LOST DOG 1-21-14: UPDATE!!!!!

I can't believe it! Johnson-McKee animal hospital called. He was spotted at E.D. Supply and Debbie found him in their warehouse about 10 minutes ago!! Thank you again for your help and support. We are all so happy!
Charlie, a chihuahua, ran off from his home near the park in Salisbury last night. No collar. If you see him, please call Debbie at 443-669-3402. Any help will be most appreciated!

Publishers Notes: We are very disappointed about this particular lost animal. Usually we see pets reunited within hours but in this case 24 hours have passed and something just isn't right.

Please keep an eye on neighbors as someone has more than likely taken this pet in and has not seen it here on SBYNews. 

WITH MINIMUM WAGE DEBATE SET TO TAKE CENTER STAGE, SOME BELIEVE THE COUNTY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

ANNAPOLIS – America’s wealthiest state, and one of its most expensive to live in, is primed for a battle between lawmakers who are pushing a statewide increase of the minimum wage and others who believe that one comprehensive hike doesn’t make sense in economically disparate Maryland.

Gov. Martin O’Malley earlier this week announced his support of a bill that would gradually increase Maryland’s minimum wage from the federal standard of $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour by 2016, indexing it to the cost of living starting in 2017 and raising the base rate for tipped workers from 50 to 70 percent of the minimum wage.

“The minimum wage in Maryland is no longer a wage that anyone can live on,” O’Malley said during his State of the State address Thursday.
More 

Why Isn't Local Law Enforcement Telling Us Everything We Should Know?

For many years we have been a sole source in sharing ALL Press Releases made public by Law Enforcement.

However, being a victim of a few recent break inn's and not seeing Press Releases come forth, we now know for a fact that we are NOT being told everything.

We feel it is important the public have access to ALL crime. It gives us a better idea as to where we should live, invest and or to protect ourselves.

On another note, how do we know IF what we are being told through statistics IF the information we see is actually accurate. As many of you know, Salisbury News exposed, (years ago) all of the Gang issues in Salisbury, yet the former Mayor and Chief implied there are NO GANGS in Salisbury. Yeah, we were the bad guys once again for exposing the TRUTH.

Then there was the article in which we published Salisbury being the 4th Most Dangerous City in America, (per capita) and they once again came back and said we were full of crap. Funny how years later the rest of the local Media finally agreed and started publishing information we had provided years before. 

Today we get challenged regularly by the local Fire Department simply because we are now publishing their daily calls for service. We get bullied and people run around saying Joe Albero hates Firefighters, which is completely not true. 

The powers to be want us to keep quit. They want us to censor information and not make it so public, hence the first Post of the day yesterday. The Fire Department is no different and let's not forget the fact that I was sued by the Chief of Police, the Mayor and even the Warden of the Detention Center. They wanted Salisbury News shut down.

We are not only fighting for our rights, we have been fighting all along for yours as well. Meanwhile the rest of the local media stands by and does stories on behalf of those suing me and barely in defense of our First Amendment Rights. 

Go back to the alleged phone spoof a while ago. Not only are we news media, I was an alleged victim and yet the powers to be never informed me of the Pres Conference being held defending the Mayor. Even after I showed up, (uninvited) they refused to give me the paperwork from their investigation and told me I needed to file a Freedom of Information Act to access it.

Are you seeing now how Salisbury and Wicomico County works? YOU are paying incredible taxes and THEY are covering up what is really going on. YOU make an investment into a home here only to come to find out this area is NOT what you were lead to believe it actually is. 

Salisbury and Wicomico County have many incredible people in it. However, they also have a LOT of people working very hard to bully some to make sure YOU don't know the TRUTH.

WE feel we should have the right and access to ALL information involving crime and our way of life. Don't hate me just because I disagree that Firefighters shouldn't be taking million dollar vehicles to lunch or dinner. Don't hate me because we feel it is wrong for a county employee to drink and drive in a county owned vehicle. Don't have me because we publish photos of police vehicles in a non emergency situation parking in handicapped spots for their personal use. Don't hate us because we have risen to the very top because we are the only ones actually informing the public what is really going on. 

Recognize the fact that SOME people and businesses are failing because the TRUTH is finally being exposed. Because "We The People" are fighting back because we are NOT stupid. Are we the most educated, no. Funny how all those people with degrees can't keep up with one little BLOG though. Together WE are stronger! Go back to my New Years Post and read it again. WE are only successful because of all of YOU.

How many forums have we all been to where candidates that we have ultimately elected assured us we would see more open government. How's It Working For You Now?

Will Maryland Tax Ammo?

Read More HERE

HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER 1-25-14

Salisbury

We have recently been subjected to a big flap about a nickname for Salisbury. Some think “da bury” sounds more contemporary and the other short form is SBY. Salisbury is, or should be; better than some slang name or the designated letters used at the airport.

Our name is SALISBURY. While there are many other cities named Salisburyboth here in the United States and around the world, our fair city has the distinction of being the first to use it.

There are two theories about the origin of the name Salisbury. One is that it was used by the early settlers of Salisbury because a majority of them came from the area of Salisbury in Wiltshire, southern England. The second is that we were named after the Earl of Salisbury. His name was Sir Robert Cecil, the Prime Minister under Elizabeth I. A protégé of Sir Robert Cecil was the young George Calvert, later named Lord Baltimore. At one time he owned all of the land that is now Maryland, including Salisbury.

As you can see from looking at the license tag add-ons, we were known as the “Hub of Delmarva” because of our geographic location. To refer to our fair city as “da bury” is both insulting to our heritage and projects the wrong image in this day and age. While we should have been honoring our past, we did everything we could to sell off our history.

Salisbury is about 75% rentals, so the amount of people who are laying down roots here is dwindling. We should have done something about preserving our past years ago. Now most of it is gone, never to be enjoyed by the present or future generations. We should make our city something to be proud of, a destination that people want to come to. Other towns on the Shore have revived their heritage. In the modern world, we are a small town and we should make every effort to make it a great small town. In the 1950’s the “powers that be” were determined to compete in the modern world and obliterated most of the old charm that used to be Salisbury. Except for the Poplar Hill Mansion and a few old restored Victorian homes, there is very little to attract people to Salisbury. The best repository for anything old relating to Salisbury is the Nabb Center at Salisbury University. Their staff does a wonderful job and anyone wanting to know something about genealogy or the history of the area should pay them a visit.

Forget “da bury” and SBY. Our city is named SALISBURY and should be referred to as such.

Question Of The Day 1-25-14

"It's so cold _______"
Fill In The Blank 

A Comment Worthy Of A Post 1-24-14

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "SFD Calls For Service 1-23-14":

I was listening to the scanner today and an ambulance got dispatched to Salisbury Nursing home for an elderly person with difficulty breathing. The ambulance responded and then about a minute later Truck 2 responded. They weren't even dispatched and they responded to the nursing home. Let me get this straight now. A nursing home is full of nursing staff and possibly a doctor or two. So with all that medical staff there can you tell me what a fire truck with a few firemen are going to do that the medical staff at the nursing home can't do? While the ambulance and fire truck were at the nursing home another ambulance call was dispatched to the same nursing home for a patient with a distended abdomen. Well guess what there was nothing for them to do at the first call so the paid fireman went to see the patient with the distended abdomen and they got a second incident number for that call. Two incident numbers on one call that they weren't even needed or dispatched on. How much did that unnecessary fire truck response cost the tax payers? Jim Ireton needs to put a stop to this wasteful spending in the fire department like he promised.

City Wins WWTP case

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                       Contact: Mayor’s Office

January 24, 2014                                                                                                410-548-3100

Court of Special Appeals Rules for Salisbury for 2M

Additional Funds Recovered in Waste Water Treatment Plant Litigation

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals (On January 23, 2014) has affirmed the $1,968,417.43 jury verdict in favor of the City of Salisbury in the Wicomico County Circuit Court against Construction Dynamics Group, Inc. The case was the last in a long line revolving around the Salisbury Wastewater Treatment Plant. The total amount collected by the city was just under 13 million dollars.  CDG has 30 days to request that Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, hear another appeal of this case. If CDG does file such a request within 30 days from the date of this decision, then the Court of Appeals will decide whether to hear the appeal or not. 

If CDG takes no further action, then the case is concluded after 30 days, and the City of Salisbury may proceed to budget the money for appropriate purposes. 

The WWTP Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) Upgrade design is in progress.  The WWTP will be upgraded to meet the State’s effluent requirements by December 31, 2017.

Tourism Officials To Discuss School Start With Super

OCEAN CITY – Local tourism officials will discuss the benefits of having schools open after Labor Day with the Worcester County Public Schools Superintendent next month.

During last Monday afternoon’s Tourism Commission Meeting Michael James, Carousel Hotel and Resort managing partner and Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) Chairman reported the EDC will be meeting in February with Superintendent of Worcester County Public Schools Dr. Jerry B. Wilson.

The commission is interested in what the superintendent’s official opinion is over the current proposed legislation to have Maryland public schools start the school year after Labor Day, but it’s not a secret most school officials opposed a shift in the calendar, according to one ranking tourism official.
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Our Version Of The BURY

‘The Horror’: Al Qaeda Commits ‘Medieval’ Massacre In Syrian Village; Mounts Severed Heads On Spikes, Mows Down Children

Karkamis, Turkey - Al-Qaeda fighters have struck a bloody blow in scenes of medieval violence in Syria’s northern border-town of Jarabulus. Fighting came to a head on January 17, between rebel groups Liwa al-Tawhid Brigade and the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the town, when reinforcements arrived from Raqqa and reclaimed the city in a brutal four-hour battle.

By nightfall, at least 10 men had been beheaded, their heads mounted on spikes, and more than 1,000 refugees fled the 3kms across the border to Turkey.

It’s a shocking turn of events for residents and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters alike, who just a week ago believed they were hours away from expelling the al-Qaeda group from their city altogether after surrounding the last 40 fighters in the city’s cultural centre.

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US Military To Allow Turbans, Other Religious Clothing, Observances

The Pentagon has approved a new policy that will allow troops to seek waivers to wear religious clothing, seek prayer time or engage in religious practices.

Defense officials say the waivers will be decided on a case-by-case basis and will depend on where the service member is stationed and whether the change would affect military readiness or the mission.

Until now there has been no consistent policy across the military to allow accommodations for religion. Now, for example, Jewish troops can seek a waiver to wear a yarmulke, or Sikhs can seek waivers to wear a turban and grow a beard.

Others can request specific prayer times or ask that they be allowed to carry prayer beads or other items.

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Jobless In America

Allen West: Obama May Actually Want His Policies To Fail

How bad is Obama’s performance as President? There’s a legitimate debate about whether he’s destroying the nation accidentally or on purpose and Allen West seems to be leaning towards the former.

With a record 20 percent of households on food stamps, former Florida Rep. Allen West says it’s time to stop saying President Barack Obama’s policies are failing.

They may be performing exactly as intended, he says.

West, a Republican, said he recently reread the Cloward-Piven strategy, proposed by two sociologists and political activists in 1966. The purpose of the strategy, offered to Democrats at the time, was to overload the welfare system so that people could be given “a guaranteed annual income and thus an end to poverty.”

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Do You Agree Or Disagree With This?

Tonight's WBOC Broadcast

What's the point of even saying Delmarva?

Upper East Side in Brooklyn? Have we NOT delivered enough LOCAL news over the past few WEEK to help you talk about Delmarva issues. No, instead of LOCAL news they went everywhere else. How about an update on Brooke? How about the Mayor allegedly not even clearing HIS sidewalks in front of his home, yet everyone else is going to get fined. 

WBOC did a story in Wilmington Delaware this morning talking about an APARTMENT building who's pipes froze and people were displaced. REALLY, SERIOUSLY! The residents of Riverside Drive Condos delivered you photos and video of their massive situation/problem and you ignore them?

I truly do not know who is actually running the show there any more but they SUCK. Still no news about the $3.5 million dollar shortfall in the County, go figure!

Barack Hussein Soebarkah?

One of the unexplained mysteries in the scanty documentation of the early life of the 44th President of the United States is the appearance of the name Soebarkah as his last name on an official document filled out by his mother.

In a recent contribution to American Thinker, Nick Chase offers very persuasive evidence that the long-form birth certificate released by Obama is a forgery.

While in the midst of developing an argument supporting the idea that Obama was adopted by the Indonesian Lolo Soetoro, Chase states:

Finally, we have Stanley Ann Soetoro's 1968 application to extend her 1965 passport (now destroyed) for an additional two years, as shown in Figure PPA.

On the second page of the application, Ann moved to exclude her son Barack Hussein Obama (Soebarkah) from her passport, but the item has been crossed out -- perhaps on the advice of the consulate in Jakarta, as this would have left seven-year-old Barry passportless -- so it didn't happen.

The appendage "(Soebarkah)" has never been satisfactorily explained by anyone, and I certainly don't know what "Soebarkah" means, but it does seem to indicate a name change or change in citizenship status for the boy.

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New Trial Sought For George Stinney, Executed At 14

Almost 70 years ago, South Carolina electrocuted 14-year-old George Stinney, the youngest person to be executed by an American state since the 1800s. Family members today say he's innocent, and while they can't bring him back, they want his name cleared.

A black teen in the Jim Crow South, Stinney was accused of murdering two white girls, ages 7 and 11, as they hunted for wildflowers in Alcolu, about 50 miles southeast of Columbia.

Stinney, according to police, confessed to the crime. No witness or evidence that might vindicate him was presented during a trial that was over in fewer than three hours. An all-white jury convicted him in a flash, 10 minutes, and he was sentenced to "be electrocuted, until your body be dead in accordance with law. And may God have mercy on your soul," court documents say.
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Michelle Obama: Hanoi Jane Fonda Is My Role Model

First Lady Michelle Obama says Jane Fonda is one of her role models, and that she admires her political savviness.

During an interview with People Magazine, Obama listed "Hanoi Jane" as one of the people she would like to look and live like when she's "70 or 80" years old.

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Just So You Know...........

VIP Status Granted to Muslim Brotherhood by Obama Administration

While the Transportation Security Administration has become notorious around the world for abusing air travelers and infringing on the unalienable rights of Americans — many critics even compare TSA tactics to “sexual molestation” and “assault” — members of at least one group were spared the humiliating Homeland Security “theater” humiliation by orders from unnamed Obama administration officials. No, it was not young children, grandmothers, or even nuns.

Instead, newly released documents confirm that the radical Muslim Brotherhood got VIP treatment from federal bureaucrats at U.S. airports. Of course, the radical Islamist outfit, admittedly dedicated to a establishing a global Muslim caliphate, has myriad connections to terrorism and jihad that have been documented by multiple governments — and even the U.S. government itself. It also has multiple connections to the Obama administration, which has become one of its chief global defenders and enablers.

According to records in a document obtained via Freedom of Information Act request by the Investigative Project on Terrorism, the special treatment for Muslim Brotherhood operatives was orchestrated by the U.S. State Department, at the time under the leadership of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Anonymous bureaucrats ordered the controversial Department of Homeland Security to have the TSA “escort” members of the delegation through security at multiple airports
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Did You See WBOC's Commercial Tonight

WBOC is looking for someone to handle their On Line Website, go figure!

Look at the timing. We publish our On Line Traffic on New Years Day and WBOC goes, OH CRAP! Searching to see if we were telling the truth they went into damage control mode and created a commercial for television in PRIME TIME to hopefully get immediate help.

So here it is. If ANYONE would like to take on the challenge and think they can out do Salisbury News, contact WBOC.

Heck, I'll even help them.

Director of Digital Media

Draper Holdings is searching for a Director of Digital Media to lead our growing digital team. The ideal candidate will bring a history of proven leadership in the digital field, knowledge of online ad operations, social media and a deep technical understanding of all things digital including video and mobile applications.

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I Am Overwhelmed By 55 Million Babies Killed Since Roe v. Wade

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about today?

Yesterday evening, I was sitting in my living room working while watching my sons play. I began to think about what my life would have been without them. How different I would be. How their lives have already made this world a different place since they were born. How much I would hurt if I had chosen abortion.

Then, I thought of the more than 55,000,000 lives that have been taken in the U.S. since 1973, and I became overwhelmed at the tragedy. Tragedy for the babies, their mothers, their fathers, families, and us.

Who is our nation missing? What price is our society paying for the ultimate deceit of abortion?

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A Comment Worthy Of A Post 1-22-14

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Letter To The Editor: Why Perdue Can Poison You ...":

"You better watch your ass Albero. There are plenty of people who work for Perdue who will bust you in the mouth for stuff like this."

Is this how it works at Perdue? If you disagree with them they threaten to harm you. 

Study: Nearly Half Of Black Men Arrested By Age 23

NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly 50 percent of black men and 40 percent of white men are arrested at least once on non-traffic-related crimes by the time they turn 23, according to a new study.

One of the authors of the study published this month in the journal "Crime & Delinquency" said the statistics could be useful in shaping policy so that people aren't haunted by arrests when they apply for jobs, schools or public housing.

"Many, many people are involved with the criminal justice system at this level," said Shawn Bushway, a University at Albany criminologist. "And treating them all as if they're hardened criminals is a serious mistake."

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I'm Just About Ready To Go

2 years ago in Fruitland.

I've cleared my long driveway at home and I'll be heading off to Downtown Salisbury to get things right there. Once I'm done I'll be available to help others in need. If you are a Senior or Handicapped I will come to your home and clear your path at no charge. If you need me please call 410-430-5349 and leave a message if I can't hear the phone. I will do my very best to help all I can.  

Flood At River Place Condos-100,000+ Gallons Of Water Destroys 18 Condos

Last Tuesday night, over 100,000 gallons of water flooded the River Place Condominiums in Salisbury. The fire sprinkler pipe burst and the water immediately began to flood 18 of the units as well as the covered parking area. 

The damage was devastating and resulted in a family of a single Mom with three children being put out of their home as well as a young couple who recently relocated to Salisbury. The family's unit has been deemed unlivable and the other couple's condo has been condemned. Both parties were forced to live in a hotel for over a week and have not been advised to what actions to take for insurance guidance. 

The fire department was on scene and many officials have come out to assess some of the damage. Reports of the sprinkler system being shut down, possible closings on some of the floors and excessive mold problems are among some of the issues the tenants are having to live with. 

Apparently this story has not been shared with the media and many are concerned as to why information is not being shared with others. 

The damage was as severe as a raging fire and demolition crews have been on scene in the affected units since January 15th tearing apart all of the inside damage.

To see all of the photos and video of this disaster, GO HERE.