FOUR INJURED IN HARFORD CO. CRASH INVOLVING A STATE TROOPER

Maryland State Police Press Release
05/10/2015

FOUR INJURED IN HARFORD CO. CRASH INVOLVING A STATE TROOPER

(BEL AIR, MD) -- Four people are being treated at area hospitals after a Maryland State Police patrol car and another vehicle collided in a Harford County intersection this afternoon as the trooper was responding to a call.

Preliminary information available at this time indicates that shortly after 4:00 p.m. today, a state trooper assigned to the JFK Highway Barrack was responding to a call for service with lights and siren activated. The trooper's patrol car and a civilian vehicle with three occupants collided in the intersection of Rt. 543 and Rt. 7.

The trooper and one of the occupants of the other vehicle were flown to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The other two occupants of the other vehicle were transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital for treatment.

Maryland State Police Crash Team investigators are on the scene conducting the investigation. Traffic will be delayed in the area as the investigation continues.

Additional information will be provided later this evening when it is available.

MSP Press Release 5-10-15 (Berlin Barrack)

Hurricane Update

Garth Brooks Surprises a Deserving Mother for Mother's Day

It was a surprise she never anticipated. A Wisconsin woman was left stunned Friday after a “Good Morning America” camera crew knocked on her door and praised her on national television for being a great mother. 

In shock, tears immediately started streaming down Karen Garrison’s face. 

But, that wasn’t all.
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A Letter To The Motherless On Mother’s Day

May 10th, 2015

Today sucks, I know. It’s going to be hard. But so is every other day since you have lost your mother. There is absolutely no love in this world like the love of a mother. There is a void that cannot and will not ever be filled, no matter what anybody tells you. You don’t miss her today any more than you will tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that. Today, Mother’s day, is just another painful reminder that she is no longer physically here. As you watch friends celebrate with their moms, please remember that yours is tucked away deep down in your heart where she will forever stay. As the wind blows through your hair, know that it is her gentle and loving touch. As the warmth of the sun shines on your face please remember the warmth in your mother’s heart through all of the days she had on this earth. She didn’t want to ever leave you and she still hasn’t left you. Your mother was greater than this world. I know sometimes life just doesn’t seem fair and it never will but please, please don’t cry today, for your mother would want nothing more than to see you smile. I feel the pain within your heart as another day passes by without her. She doesn’t want you to be sad. She wants you to honor her life in the best way possible, and that way is to live it. Live it for you. Live it for her. I know it is sometimes easier said than done and sometimes words just don’t help and I know this because I lost my beautiful 48-year-old mother almost two years ago when I was 24.

I have come to find that the best way to heal is to remember. Remember her. Remember the sorrow, remember the love, remember everything. Talk to her, she’s always listening. And simply cherish the time you did have with her and the memories you have made.

I want you to know that on this day, you are not alone. You are never alone. All of our mother’s are watching over us from heaven this Mother’s Day… and every day, for the rest of our lives.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the motherless children out there. Today is your day too. Celebrate her, start a new tradition, live life to the fullest, and most importantly remember that even through the darkest of days, life still goes on.

-Jenna Rose Lowthert / Connect with me on Facebook

Happy Mother's Day

BREAKING NEWS: Wicomico County Board of Ed to spend millions on renting office space

It has been disclosed that our prudent BOE has signed a deal to rent office space to move the Long Ave. operation to offices behind the Lowe's building. That's right $320.000.00 a year for a ten year lease. 

For those of you that follow the happenings in Wicomico County you would know that just a few weeks ago 6 of the 7 members of the county council voted no to remodeling the Bennett Middle School to use for office space. The citizens of Wicomico County should be outraged and call for the BOE members to resign.

BREAKING NEWS: Wicomico County Board of Education Signs TWENTY Year Lease, Not Ten! More Than $5 Million Dollars

Central Offices, Annexes of Wicomico County Public Schools Moving

All of the services currently located in the Central Office complex of Wicomico County Public Schools – in the main building and the annexes – will be moving from Long Avenue to the Northgate Business Park in north Salisbury this summer.

This move will place nearly all Central Office service operations in one location, under one roof. This will allow for greater efficiency in services and operations, while resolving longstanding facility issues with the annex portable buildings in a cost-conscious manner.

The Board of Education this week approved a 20-year lease agreement for Building Three, Suite #100 at Northgate Business Park on Northgate Drive. There is enough space at the new location to house offices currently in the main building on Long Avenue as well as in Annexes 1, 2, 3 and 4, and to hold Board of Education meetings. Some 150 employees will be housed together at the new location. Planning for the move to the new location sometime this summer is underway.

The new Central Office location makes good fiscal and operational sense in three key areas:

• Fiscal responsibility
• Health and safety
• Efficiency

“We are pleased on behalf of our students, families and staff to have this affordable opportunity to relocate into a new Central Office,” said Dr. John Fredericksen, Superintendent. “In addition to being the fiscally responsible option, the new location will be better for operational efficiency, and better for the health and safety of our staff and those we serve.”

• Fiscal responsibility:

The new location comes at a much lower cost than other options that were looked at by the school system. For what the school system would have needed to spend on office renovations and annex replacements, the new facility can be leased for nearly a century.

As an example: A preliminary estimate of the cost to partially renovate Wicomico Middle into offices was $24 to $30 million in capital expenditure, not to mention the need to redistrict and consolidate. The conversion of other schools or buildings into office-type use would be similar in cost, requiring additional accommodations to address codes and ordinances. And, since such a project would not be a renovation of instructional space, there would be no matching state funds. That would mean 100% of the cost would have had to come from local bonds.

The lease on the new location is $8.45 per square foot for 30,000 square feet of finished, furnished office space. The annual lease cost for the Northgate location will be $253,500, with the monthly payments coming from the school system’s ongoing Operating Budget. No additional local funding is being sought for this. It is important to note that this relocation will have no impact whatsoever on the planned replacement of West Salisbury Elementary School, since school construction projects are funded through the Capital Budget.

This relocation will allow the Board to remove the Central Office Administration project from its Capital Plan. That project was slated to be addressed in needs in Fiscal Year 2020, at a cost of $6.5 million. This change to the Capital Plan is extremely beneficial for Wicomico County Public Schools since those dollars would have been in direct competition with other capital projects needed for schools.

• Health and Safety:

The Board of Education put a high priority on vacating the aging annexes for health and safety reasons. The annexes are portable buildings located between the original Board of Education Building and Wicomico High School and house many key support offices. Perdue Farms Inc. generously donated these portables to the school system once it had finished its headquarters project more than two decades ago; the school system used the portables for the phased renovation of Wicomico High School and since then for instruction and offices. These “temporary” structures have long since outlived their useful life and require frequent, costly repairs. The condition of the structures has become a real concern for employee, student, and visitor health and safety.

“For several years the Board has expressed concern over the working environment of our employees in the Annex area of our present location. The cost of repair or replacement far exceeded the funds available to us,” said Board President Ron Willey. “This opportunity to lease property that will satisfy these issues as well as allow Central Office personnel to be housed in one safe and healthy location was the best solution we have found in our recent years of searching.”

For some time the school system looked for office space to address the problem of the annexes, but that search had not yielded anything of the right size and cost. A few months ago, the Knowland Group contacted the school system to see whether Wicomico Schools would like to have their office furniture since the company was no longer operating out of its Salisbury call center location at Northgate. When school officials went to see the furnishings that were being donated, they learned that the furniture was for the whole office area and was valued at nearly $400,000. They also learned that the office space was going to become available to rent as well since the company’s lease was ending. This provided the chance for the school system to move into a finished, furnished office space at a fraction of the cost of other relocation options.

From the beginning, the school system kept the local County government apprised of its tentative plans as it worked through the details of the plan.

• Efficiency:

The school system is looking forward to improved efficiency and communication from having most of its Central Office departments all under one roof for ongoing collaboration and communication. Approximately 150 employees will now be located in the same building instead of spread across five different buildings.

Plans for the relocation are fluid as details are being worked out, but the current plans calls for the existing Central Office building on Long Avenue to house the growing Infants and Toddlers Program, which is now renting space on Northwood Drive. Relocating Infants and Toddlers from rented space in north Salisbury to owned space would save about $50,000 a year. The new location would be easily accessible to the families who use the Infants and Toddlers services. Over the next year, plans also call for the annexes to be decommissioned and removed from the site.

A Viewer Writes: Wicomico County School Buses Scene Ferrying School Kids to Assateague Island National Seashore Bus

The above photo was taken today showing Wicomico County charters private school buses to send school kids to Assateague Island National Seashore on our taxpayers dime.

This is not the first time Wicomico County has ferried school kids to Assateague Island as it was also done last week too. Even Worcester County does not provide this service. It makes one question as to just what is going on in our educational system.

Freddie Gray’s Knife – Why is Prosecutor Claiming Unlawful Arrest?

Is Prosecutor Mosby correct that Gray’s arrest was unlawful because knife was legal?

A new talking point claiming that Freddie Gray’s original arrest was unlawful has arisen, propelled by the claim yesterday by Prosecutor Mosby that the knife seized from Gray by police was legal to possess in Maryland.

As reported by the New York Times:

Ms. Mosby faulted the police conduct at every turn. The officers who arrested him “failed to establish probable cause for Mr. Gray’s arrest, as no crime had been committed,” she said, describing the arrest as illegal. Officers accused him of possession of a switchblade, but Ms. Mosby said, “The knife was not a switchblade and is lawful under Maryland law.

These statements are remarkably insensible coming from someone who has attained the position of state prosecutor.

Mosby Issue #1: Spring-Assisted Knives Almost Certainly ARE Illegal Under MD Law

First, it raises a question of whether Mosby is simply facially incorrect in claiming that Gray’s knife is legal. It has been described in news reports as “spring-assisted.” If that description is explicitly false and there was no spring assist mechanism, then it is likely that Gray’s knife was not unlawful.

If, however, it was spring-assisted than it certainly seems it would be unlawful under Maryland law.

The Criminal Code of Maryland, §4-105, defines a “switchblade knife” as:

(1) a knife or penknife having a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in the handle of the knife.

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Baltimore’s Mayor Floundered, While Maryland’s Governor Led

Bill Clinton saved his presidency by heading to Oklahoma City after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building there 20 years ago. Former Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco declined to run for a second term after the botched response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. And last year, in a blatant misunderstanding of his job description, Missouri governor Jay Nixon prematurely pushed for “a vigorous prosecution” in response to last summer’s police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson.

The stakes for elected officials are never higher than crisis situations where public safety is on the line, and the past couple weeks, Maryland governor Larry Hogan has demonstrated remarkable leadership, street smarts, discipline, and operational and political savvy in coordinating the state’s response to the rioting in Baltimore. His actions in large part prevented Maryland’s largest city from destroying itself. “Governor Hogan [had been] on the job for 90 days, and he was able to help bring it together,” as Fox News contributor Dana Perino put it.

The state’s role in a disaster is indeed to “help bring it together.” It is the linchpin that coordinates the work done by local elected officials, public-safety agencies that are first on the scene, and FEMA and other federal departments and agencies that are dispatched for large-scale responses.

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Salisbury Bar/Restaurant Has Liquor License Suspended Very Soon After Opening

The new bar/restaurant called "Social" has already had their liquor license suspended after someone took a martini glass and broke it, then sliced someone's neck almost killing them. We're told it was a life threatening injury. 

This establishment has a particular licence in which they must serve 51% food and 49% alcohol. After reopening under this new name they now have less tables to serve food to customers and could be setting themselves up for regular inspections by the Liquor Board. 

The Ireton Administration has kept this incident quiet and I'm checking on the Salisbury Police Department calls for service to see just how we missed it when it happened. 

Look, bars have always had issues but when you enter a business that has a reputation in which someone could be killed, that's a problem. Insiders tell us that no one saw anything, typical. In the mean time someone almost got killed and the Administration and Media have kept this very quiet. 

It's a shame that THIS is the kind of reputation the Salisbury Downtown Bars are going to get. Bar owners are going to have to get a handle on this stuff immediately or I can assure you, the entire Downtown Bar atmosphere will come to an immediate end. 

Let me close with this. When I ran for Mayor, I proposed encouraging a weekend Downtown Bar Experience. HOWEVER, my proposal was the CLOSE OFF the Plaza on Friday and Saturday nights and have it secured by Salisbury Police Officers checking ID's and a small cover charge to afford these services. Ireton needs to get a handle on the lack of protection for innocent people encouraged to come Downtown all over his Facebook page. 

Was The Salisbury Protest FABRICATED By Local Leaders?

Hi Joe - I was wondering if you saw this mornings front page Daily Times newspaper. After SBYnews (years of reporting) concerning local crime rate, gangs, high unemployment, closing businesses, job statistics, poverty statistics - not a word from any other MSM until this morning - and then all of a sudden out of the clear blue sky comes - VOILA - (here it is).

'COULD THE SAME THING HAPPEN HERE' - here are the DT quotes below:

Those ingredients created a combustible mixture that ultimately exploded in one American city after another over the past several months — Ferguson, Missouri; North Charleston, South Carolina; Baltimore.

Could Salisbury be next?

Each place is unique, but some black residents and community activists say they see a disturbing number of parallels between the cities riven by protests and Delmarva's largest population center.

The Daily Times, WBOC, WMDT - all of them ought to be ashamed!

Publishers Notes: I was going to hold off until tomorrow but I guess NOW is as good a time as any.

Remember that flyer Mayor Ireton so conveniently came across stating there would be a PROTEST in Downtown Salisbury this past week? You know, his office gathered this "intel" and felt compelled to call for an emergency press conference.

Well, sources have informed me that three black women went to Mayor Ireton's Office last week and firmly told Ireton the black community had NOTHING to do with this event. They went on to say that the black community would NEVER use the phrase/word "SBY". They would spell out the entire word.

So no one knows WHO put out the flyer but this is starting to make sense. Ireton wants the attention from the citizens and press because Baltimore and Princess Anne were getting so much. So out of nowhere this mysterious flyer pops up extremely articulate, yet abbreviating the word Salisbury to SBY, VERY INTERESTING.

So who created the SBY thing, well, I did. Since I did that, who else has been picking up on it, Mike Dunn. When I brought this up to friends they all started piecing the Dunn/Ireton/Tilghman connection. They said they were confident that people in Jim's Office were behind it as well.

Ireton is a media whore, period. So you know, there were only 13 black people at the SBY event. Nice try Mayor, "You've Been Blogged". Way To Go Jim, spending taxpayer money on a fabricated event like this one. And to you Daily Times, way to take the bait, IDIOTS. 

Motion Filed On Behalf Of The Officers Charged In Freddie Gray's Death

A motion has been filed on behalf of the officers charged in Freddie Gray's death.

In it, it's asked that Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby recuse herself and that charges be dropped against the officers.

It gives five reasons for Mosby to recuse herself, including the seizing of personal gain by Mosby and her husband, personal relationships with individuals who will be witnesses at trial, the role of her office as the investigators, the pending civil claim against Mosby and her office, and the financial interest of the attorney for the Gray family, who they claim is a close friend of Mosby.More

USBLS Jobs Numbers In for Wicomico County. Although Not As Bad As Previous Monthly Report (February) - Wicomico County Still Continues to Experience Negative Numbers

The US Bureau of Labor released the March jobs numbers for our nations metropolitan areas and Counties.  The government agency also extensively revised, downward, their previously posted jobs numbers for fiscal years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. 

For example, the US Bureau of Labor previously published and showed in their last months jobs report - released February 2015 - that for the month of December 2013 - Wicomico had a workforce of 52,588.  However, their new number was revised downward and has been restated in their latest March report  showing that Wicomico had a workforce of 47,903.  This represents a significant difference of 4685 workers from their original February report posted jobs numbers.  SBYnews has published the agency's latest revision and included it in the attached spreadsheet for Wicomico County.  According to our observation - the agencies latest jobs numbers revisions attempts to show and mask that our areas (County) recession is not as extensive as the agency initially reported in their previous monthly reports.  In essence - it's as if there is an orchestrated attempt to rewrite history - especially when one considers the recent political backlash as a result of our nations rioting in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, among other places across the US.       

SBYnews staff has attempted to investigate this subject by contacting the USBLS local area representative for an explanation and their comment.   As of the time of this writing - their assigned representative has acknowledged our query and our organization is awaiting an official statement.

A Viewer Writes: Traffic Hazard!

This homeless guy is stopping traffic at Route 13 and Zion Road begging for money. He has been there almost every day this week and the police just ride by and allow him to do it. As you can see a vehicle in the northbound fast lane stops in the middle of the road to give this guy some money and another car almost ran in the back of her. Why isn't any the Police Departments doing something about it?

Fed Up Baltimore Cops Launch ‘MyLifeMatters’ Campaign, and the Reaction is Unbelievable

A police officer is killed every 60 hours in the United States, and yet no one riots and protests over that. In response to anti-police sentiment recently in Baltimore, the police department launched a ‘MyLifeMatters’ campaign… and the response will leave you disgusted.

Baltimore police are facing a barrage of criticism on social media after the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police launched a #MyLifeMatters campaign on Twitter.

In response to days of anti-police protests in Baltimore last week, Gene Ryan, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Baltimore City Lodge 3, has expressed concern about low morale among officers during interviews with the media and the campaign serves as a show of support.

Photos depicting officers with the hashtag written on their hands surfaced on Twitter, along with photos from family members. There was even a photo posted in support of slain New York Police Department Officer Brian Moore, who was shot and killed over the weekend.

But the feel-good sentiment was more than the “police brutality” crowd could tolerate, with one user accusing police of instigating conflict: “Baltimore police union really trying it with this #MyLifeMatters hashtag. They really do want a war.”

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A Comment Worthy Of A Post: Hebron Savings Bank

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post " CEO Of Hebron Savings Bank Gregory Johnson Resigne...":

Examiners have been at Hebron Savings Bank. Lets see what happens. My bet is NOTHING! ! Just wrong-plain wrong!

Murder charges against Freddie Gray cops may be DROPPED because police findings don't support the case, say officials

The murder charges filed against the Baltimore officers who arrested Freddie Gray could be dropped, because the police investigation into his death doesn't support the prosecution's case, it's been reported.

Last Friday, Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby levelled charges ranging from assault to second-degree murder at six police officers involved in Gray's death. He had suffered a fatal spinal injury while in police custody.

However, officials familiar with the case have revealed that police investigators do not agree with the charges.

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An Interesting Comment Worthy Of A Post

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post " Civil forfeiture: You can’t make this stuff up":

ALL State Police will deny what I am about to say because they DO NOT want the public to know. They have a mode on their radar that they can set to determine how much ca$h every driver has in their vehicle as they pass by. Supposedly it's for finding illegal drug money. Someone that I know was stopped out on rt.50 around Cambridge as I remember (it's been about 20 years ago) The same kind of trumped up stop (improper lane change or lights out, I forget). The person is a well known local person. He has about 37k ca$h in his truck to buy a horse and didn't make the deal and was on his way back home. He confronted the officer mentioning the money gun and stating that he has a close relative in the MSP and wanted to see how close the gun came to the amount he was caring? Then the officer came clean, told him the amount that he had and was only off by a few dollars. This technology was developed in the mid to late eighties along with the tag reader technology on todays tags. Remember the strips in the paper currency in the eighties that could be pulled out? Now it's woven throughout each bill. You will NOT find any info about this on line because all L.E. and the federal gov. does not want the public to ever know. It's not much of a stretch to think what will happen after criminals get their hands on this technology and come to our homes. Cops will deny this exists but don't believe them, they're legally forced to deny it all.

A Viewer Writes: Police car in ditch

Police car just flew off of the RT 50 bypass and landed in the ditch behind UPS.

Just watched it happen.

Utah Police Body Cam Captures K9 Attack On Suspects Face After He Surrendered! (Warning Graphic)

WARNING, THIS IS VERY GRAPHIC

Officer Charged In Gray Death Contends Arrest Was Legal

BALTIMORE (AP) — One of the Baltimore police officers who arrested Freddie Gray wants the police department and prosecutor to produce a knife that was the reason for the arrest, saying in court papers that it is an illegal weapon.

The city’s top prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby, said Friday in charging the officer and five others that the knife was legal under Maryland law, meaning they had arrested Gray illegally.

The motion was filed Monday by attorneys for Officer Edward Nero in Baltimore District Court.

Nero is charged with second-degree assault, misconduct in office and false imprisonment — all charges that can only be proven if Gray was wrongly arrested, said Andy Alperstein, a Baltimore attorney who has represented police officers but is not involved in the Gray case. If the knife was legal, “there is no case” against Nero and another officer because those charges all depend on the arrest being unlawful, he said.

“If the facts were that the knife was illegal than the Gray arrest would be justified. Even if it wasn’t illegal and the officers acted in good faith, it would be the same result. All charges fail,” Alperstein said.

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SHERIFF: Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby Charged the Wrong People, Wrong Names, Wrong Addresses of 2 Officers

Evil and incompetent… what a bunch of Progressive idiots. Not only was it a rush to judgement of epic proportions and political grandstanding on a breathtaking level, Mosby charged the wrong people, under the wrong names, wrong birth dates and wrong addresses. This sent the vultures from the media and others to the homes of innocent people who have now had their lives turned upside down and have had to hire counsel to get the matter handled. Way to go Mosby… if she is this incompetent in charging those involved, think how she’ll handle the rest of the case and further developments in Baltimore. I hope those wrongfully charged sue the city for all its worth and win.

What a disaster.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby charged the wrong people, wrong names, wrong birth dates and wrong address during Friday’s much hyped press conference.

The six Baltimore officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray are (top row from left) Caesar Goodson Jr., Garrett Miller, Edward Nero and (bottom row from left) William Porter, Brian Rice and Alicia White. (Baltimore Police Department via AP)

Sheriff Mike Lewis shared this information on Hannity on Monday.

“When Miss Mosby stood up in front of the world with her theatrics at her press conference last Friday she charged two of the wrong people. Now, when I say she charged two of the wrong people, I don’t mean she charged two of the wrong officers. I mean she charged the wrong people. Innocent people. Of the six police officers that were charged two of them were charged under the wrong names, the wrong dates of birth and the wrong addresses.

And because of that, reporters went to the wrong addresses of these innocent people, these private citizens and whose lives have now been invaded. They went to their homes, knocked on their doors. They harassed them. They went to their neighbors and attempted to get interviews. And it wasn’t until these innocent people these private citizens contacted their local state’s attorney’s offices that this problem was rectified.”

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STATE POLICE HELICOPTER RESCUES KAYAKER FROM SINEPUXENT BAY - ASSATEAGUE NATIONAL SEASHORE

Maryland State Police Press Release
05/06/2015

(ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, MD) -- On May 5th, 2015 at approximately 6:30pm, Worcester County Emergency Services (911 Center) received a 911 call from a 26 year old female kayaker. She had been kayaking in Sinepuxent Bay in the area of the Assateague Island National Seashore. She was lost, fatigued and unable to find her way out of a marshy area. The kayaker also reported she felt she was becoming hypothermic. The only location reference she could provide was a marshy area several miles south of the Verrazano Bridge.

In addition to National Park Service (NPS) staff, the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company and Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) were alerted. MSPAC Trooper 4 responded from the Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico County Regional Airport with a crew of four. Prior to departing the hangar, the crew quickly rigged the aircraft for hoist operations. While enroute the crew prepared the USCG Rescue Basket in case it was needed.

Worcester County Emergency Services dispatchers were able to stay in contact with the kayaker via her mobile phone. The dispatchers played a crucial role in relaying information between the victim and rescue personnel. Shortly after arriving in the search area, Trooper 4 located the kayaker. She was found on the eastern side of Sinepuxent Bay several miles south of the Verrazano Bridge. The location was not accessible by foot or rescue vessels.

A decision was made to rescue the kayaker via Trooper 4’s rescue hoist. Worcester County Emergency Services dispatchers were able to relay information to the victim about what was going to happen and what she needed to do. After this information was relayed Trooper 4 lowered the Rescue Basket and quickly extricated her from the marsh. Trooper 4 then flew her to the western base of the Verrazano Bridge. Trooper 4 landed and transferred her to Berlin Volunteer Fire Company personnel for further evaluation and to meet with NPS staff. The kayaker was not injured and did not require medical treatment.

This search and rescue incident highlights the importance of carrying an appropriate communication device during recreational activities. The kayaker was able to call for help and 911 dispatchers were crucial in coordinating the response and rescue. The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has served Maryland citizens since 1970 and operates a fleet of ten helicopters from seven bases throughout Maryland on a 24/7/365 basis. Missions include medevac, law enforcement, search & rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment. The success of rescues performed by the Aviation Command depends a great deal on the cooperative effort of local fire, rescue, EMS, and law enforcement agencies.

CONTACT: Sgt. Mike Mann - Maryland State Police Aviation Command Salisbury Section - (240) 793-7204

FLOTUS PLAYS RACE CARD: MUSEUMS ARE FOR WHITE PEOPLE

First lady Michelle Obama used a speech Monday that was supposed to be celebrating the opening of a new museum to instead dig deeper the racial divide that’s been growing ever wider during her husband’s presidency.

“Museums and concert halls,” she said, just don’t welcome non-white visitors – especially children – the way they welcome whites.

Speaking at the new Whitney museum in New York City’s meat packing district last week, Obama said she grew up thinking that museums were not places “for someone who looks like me.”

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Woman tells Fox News she saw police shoot black man in Baltimore

Fire At Ruth's Chris Steakhouse In Berlin

The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a commercial structure fire located at 11501 Maid at Arms Lane, Berlin, Maryland in Worcester County. 

At approximately 3 pm on May 4, 2015 the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a reported outside fire at the above mentioned address which is the location of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Upon their arrival, they observed smoke extending from the front door of a two story commercial building. Upon further investigation, fire had extended into an exterior wall. The fire was quickly extinguished and contained to the vehicle of origin. No injuries were reported. The Berlin Volunteer Fire Company was assisted by the Ocean Pines, Ocean City, and Showell Volunteer Fire Companies when the incident was upgraded to a commercial structure fire. 

The fire originated in a mulched area on the exterior of the building and extended into an adjacent exterior wall. The Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse was closed for the remainder of the day and hopes to reopen on May 5, 2015. The cause of the fire is listed as accidental. Anyone with additional questions is asked to contact Chief Deputy Matthew Owens at 410-632-5666 or by email at mowens@wcfmo.org.

Wicomico County Executive Culver Schools Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton On "Nuclear Option"

On April 29, 2015 (11:38 A.M.), Mayor James “Jim” Ireton, Jr. personally telephoned the

Office of the County Executive to relay two urgent messages for the immediate attention

of the County Executive stating he wanted him to have first knowledge. One of the two

messages was, “I am taking the nuclear option off the table as there seems to be a good

faith effort to work together”. That message was relayed to the County Executive with a

copy to the Director of Administration. The Mayor reiterated this position in a public

statement (PAC14) during a 2:00 p.m. Press Conference on the matter of a possible

demonstration within and around the downtown corridor. This followed a meeting on

April 28, 2015 attended by Salisbury Fire Chief Richard Hoppes, Salisbury Assistant City

Administrator Julia Glanz, County Executive Bob Culver, County Council President

John Cannon, County Council Member John Hall, County Director of Administration

Wayne Strausburg, County Attorney Ed Baker, Director of Emergency Services David

Shipley, and President of County Fire Chief’s Association Tom Bowden. All parties

reported that the meeting was productive.

In a letter dated April 30, 2015 delivered to the Executive’s Office, the Mayor reiterated

his verbal commitment however with a caveat. The Mayor wrote “I am writing to let you

know that, at this point in time, I am removing the “nuclear option” of enforcing a

mandate for fire trucks and ambulances to not leave city limits. I am, however,

reserving the right to employ this option again, whether there is a date attached to

it or not In addition, I would like to be supplied with a list of the next six meeting dates

and a list of possible auditors that will be revising the supplied data. Memo Diriker has

offered to have his BEACON group review the data and give us a non biased analysis”.

County Executive Culver has made it abundantly clear that the threat of non response by

city fire and ambulance is not acceptable to the welfare of the citizens of Wicomico

County.

Executive Culver stated, “I cannot in good conscious allow such a threat to public safety

to stand. I am committed to continue earnest discussions with regard to a new Fire

Service Agreement, however, I will not do so under a threat of cessation of services by the

city’s Mayor.

Alan Dershowitz: Charges Against Baltimore Cops Won't Stick

This prediction does not come from a "conservative racist".  Alan Dershowwitz is a liberal Harvard Law Professor who has made his career fighting for civil rights.  One wonders how many police officers will continue to be willing to put their lives on the line or attempt an arrest when doing so may ruin their lives and their families.  These officers must be granted a change of venue because it is clear there is little hope for a fair trial in Baltimore city.  What will happen to Baltimore if the officers are not found guilty, after they have already been found guilty by the Baltimore Mayor and Prosecutor?  More riots?

Criminal charges filed Friday against six Baltimore police officers in the death of Freddie Gray were based on "politics and crowd control," not justice, renowned civil rights lawyer Alan Dershowitztells Newsmax TV.

"This is a very sad day for justice . . . Today had nothing to do with justice. Today was crowd control. Everything was motivated by a threat of riots and a desire to prevent riots," Dershowitz said on "The Steve Malzberg Show.""The mayor outrageously said we're going to get justice for the victim, the family and people of Baltimore, never mentioning the defendants. Under our Constitution, the only people who are entitled to justice are the defendants.

"They are presumed innocent, they need due process of law, and the mayor and the state attorney have made it virtually impossible for these defendants to get a fair trial. They have been presumed guilty."

Dershowitz made the comments hours after Baltimore's top prosecutor, State Attorney Marilyn Mosby, announced criminal charges against six cops who were suspended after Gray suffered a fatal spinal injury while in custody in a police van.

The charges came nearly two weeks after Gray's death, which sparked riots that caused millions of dollars in damage and left dozens injured. The stiffest, second-degree, "depraved heart" murder charge was lodged against the driver of the van. The others face charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault and illegal arrest.

But Dershowitz, a Harvard Law professor emeritus and Newsmax contributor, said the case will very likely be thrown out for lack of evidence.

"I understand why the mayor and state attorney want to prevent riots . . . but that's not the job of the justice system . . . You cannot allow police officers or any other defendants to become scapegoats for crowds demanding a continuation of rioting," he told host Steve Malzberg.

"There's no plausible, hypothetical, conceivable case for murder under the facts that we now know them. You might say that conceivably there's a case for manslaughter. Nobody wanted this guy to die, nobody set out to kill him, and nobody intentionally murdered him.

"The worst-case scenario is a case for involuntary manslaughter or some kind of reckless disregard, but the idea of without further investigation coming down with murder indictments . . . This is a show trial. This is designed to please the crowd. It's designed to lower the temperature."

Dershowitz added that the charges did not meet the criteria for justice in the United States.

"It may have been the criteria in Rome, for Fidel Castro, in Iran, and in other countries, but in our country you don't base indictments on what impact it's going to have on the crowd," he said.

"You base it on a hard, neutral, objective view of the evidence, and it doesn't look like that was done here . . . They have invited a mess. What they did is they bartered short-term results today for long-term problems in the future.

"My prediction? They've overplayed their hand, it's unlikely they'll get any convictions in this case as a result of this, and if they do, there's a good possibility it'll be reversed on appeal and will just postpone the riots for months ahead."

Dershowitz is the author of "Terror Tunnels: The Case for Israel's Just War Against Hamas," published by Rosetta Books.

Source

Today, I stopped caring

Today, I stopped caring about my fellow man. I stopped caring about my community, my neighbors, and those I serve. I stopped caring today because a once noble profession has become despised, hated, distrusted, and mostly unwanted.

I stopped caring today because parents refuse to teach their kids right from wrong and blame us when they are caught breaking the law. I stopped caring today because parents tell their little kids to be good or “the police will take you away” embedding a fear from year one. Moms hate us in their schools because we frighten them and remind them of the evil that lurks in the world.

They would rather we stay unseen, but close by if needed, but readily available to “fix their kid.” I stopped caring today because we work to keep our streets safe from mayhem in the form of reckless, drunk, high, or speeding drivers, only to be hated for it, yet hated even more because we didn’t catch the drunk before he killed someone they may know.

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Wake up call

Friends,

This week in Baltimore should be a wake-up call for our entire nation.

The problem is that we have built an economy that's leaving whole parts of Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York - so many people - behind. People are not being heard – they are frustrated; they are angry; and they feel like they are not needed in our economy. Extreme poverty breeds conditions for extreme violence.

We need an agenda for American cities. We need to stop ignoring people of color and we need to stop acting like they are disposable citizens in this nation. That's not how our economy is supposed to work or how our country works.

I’ve spent my whole life on criminal justice issues. My very first job out of law school was as a prosecutor on the West Side of Baltimore, a place now familiar from the images of these last sad several days. When I was mayor, we cut down violent crime, but we also improved how we train and police the police, and we made investments in drug treatment programs to strengthen the community.

In Maryland, as Governor, I worked to reduce incarceration to 20-year lows. We were able to reduce our recidivism by 15%, and also at the same time reduce violent crime down to 35-year lows. I signed legislation to decriminalize marijuana possession and other minor charges.

This is constant work. It is not done. We still have a lot of work left to do.

I am more inclined and more deeply motivated now to address what's wrong with our country and what needs to be healed and what needs to be fixed.

In Baltimore, we are not defeated as a city, and we are not about to throw in the towel on our country.

Martin O'Malley

Local Business Owner Suffers The Loss Of Their Son

At approximately 2 am this morning, Ocean City Fire/EMS were dispatched to a residence on Barge Rd. off of 138th street for an unconscious male. Upon arrival, paramedics determined the patient was in cardiac arrest. 

Despite the valiant efforts, the patient was pronounced dead on arrival to Atlantic General. 

The male has been identified as 27 year old Dawson Twinning of Ocean City. He is the son of the owners of the Lobster Shanty and Nantucket's Restaurants in Fenwick. 

Sources stated that he was wrestling with friends when he collapsed.

Publishers Notes: I turned off comments on this Post because some of you are just ridiculous. 

Baltimore Mayor Rescinds Curfew

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has rescinded the citywide curfew that had been in place since Tuesday night.

Rawlings-Blake issued the following statement late this morning:

"Effective immediately, I have rescinded my order instituting a city-wide curfew. My goal has always been to not have the curfew in place a single day longer than was necessary.

My number one priority in instituting a curfew was to ensure the public peace, safety, health and welfare of Baltimore citizens. It was not an easy decision, but one I felt was necessary to help our city restore calm.

I want to thank the people of Baltimore for their patience during this difficult time as we continue to come together to heal and restore our City."

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Breaking News: NYPD officer shot in the head on Saturday, has reportedly died from his injuries

Breaking News: Brian Moore, an NYPD officer who was shot in the head on Saturday, has reportedly died from his injuries. http://fxn.ws/1cdTGzQ

‘SMART’ METERS ENERGIZE A CONTROVERSY IN MARYLAND

BALTIMORE — In August 2010, Baltimore Gas and Electric received permission from the Maryland Public Service Commission to overhaul its network of electric and gas meters that perch on the walls of homes and businesses in 10 counties and the city of Baltimore. Inspired by programs in California and Florida and bolstered by a $200 million federal grant, the utility set a plan in motion to replace customers’ electric and gas meters with a grid of digital “smart meters,” which continually send energy consumption data wirelessly to the utility.

“There were a number of reasons to do it,” said Baltimore Gas and Electric smart grid director Michael Butts. “One is we knew that (smart meters) could improve customer service, and there were programs that we could give to our customers that could help save money.”

Other benefits of a “smart grid” include more accurate monthly bills, quicker response to power outages and less energy use across BGE’s service area, Butts said.

For the most part, the rollout, which is nearing completion, has gone smoothly. BGE alone has changed out more than a million old-style analog or digital meters, replacing spinning dials with digital displays and online charts. Customers can log in to a website to view their power use down to the minute, and meter-readers have been retrained for other positions as radio-frequency signals in the air replace people and trucks sweeping the neighborhoods.

But on the other side of the power line is a population of holdouts and their self-appointed advocates: a band of concerned residents who dispute nearly every claim they’ve heard from utilities across the state about the new grid.

The holdouts are a relatively small group — about 26,000 from BGE, Pepco and Delmarva Power’s combined customer base of a few million — but they’ve made their voices heard very clearly in government and their communities.

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DUI Related Collision- 5/9/2015

Type of Incident: Motor Vehicle Collision- Impaired Driver

Date and Time: 5/9/2015 at approximately 4:30 PM

Location: Southbound Rt 113/ Worcester Highway at Jarvis Road

Vehicles: Vehicle# 1 Red 1999 GMC Pick Up Truck

Vehicle #2 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV

Accused: Suspect/ Driver Vehicle #1: Pedro Gallardo-Trinidad (53 Years old) Berlin, Maryland

On 5/9/2015 at approximately 4:30 pm, troopers were dispatched to the area of S/B Rt 113/ Worcester Highway in the area of Jarvis road for a hit-and run motor vehicle collision.

Upon arrival, troopers learned that a Red 1999 GMC pickup Truck was traveling S/B Rt 113 at Jarvis Road, when it failed to drive in a single lane and struck a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV then failed to stop and remain at the scene of collision. The Red GMC truck was operated by Pedro Gallardo-Trinidad of Berlin, Maryland.

Further investigation revealed that witnesses/citizens who observed the collision, assisted the troopers by catching up to the red GMC and directed the driver pull over onto the shoulder to wait for police.

Troopers identified the suspect/ driver of the RED GMC truck from witness statements and His driver’s license photograph. During the investigation, troopers detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the driver’s breath and observed signs of impairment. After a battery of Standardized Field Sobriety tests, the driver was arrested.

At the barrack, Gallardo- Trinidad agreed to an alcohol concentration test, the results were .20 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. He was charged with DUI and related charges for the collision. There were no injuries to drivers or passengers reported.

Disposition: Released to a sober party from the barrack.

BREAKING NEWS: 2 Mississippi police officers dead after shootings, coroner says

A coroner says two Mississippi police officers have died after being shot in the line of duty. Authorities are searching for the suspect.

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Just In

Gun Shots At Seacrets in Ocean City. More to come...

65 Perfectly Timed Military Photos

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