DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Sunday, April 01, 2018
Just The Beginning...
FOLKED FESTIVAL CALLING ARTISTS!
DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING, HURRY TO BE PART OF THE FOLK FESTIVAL IN SALISBURY!
A Viewer Writes: Wicomico School Discipline
The following was on my Facebook news feed today. It was shared by several people I know. One has children at this school. The other to share it home schools her children. This is the kind of "inaction" that is causing good teachers to run for the hills (teaching in other school districts or states) or just plain quit. As a tax payer who is funding this school system I'm appalled by the attitude of this administrator.
Jacob Miller is at North Salisbury Elementary.
5 hrs · Salisbury ·
ATTN: PARENTS OF CHILDRE WHO ATTEND NORTH SALISBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. TODAY MY 7 YEAR OLD SON WAS ATTACKED AND CHOKED IN GYM CLASS. UPON FINDING THIS OUT, I C...ALLED THE SCHOOL AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THR PRINCIPAL. I WAS TRANSFERED TO DR. HALL. I INQUIRED AS TO WHO THE STUDENT WAS AND WHAT WERE THE ACTIONS BEING TAKEN. SHE INFORMED ME THAT SHE WOULD NOT TELL ME WHO THE OTHER CHILD WAS, NOR WOULD SHE TELL ME WHAT WAS BEING DONE!!!! SHE EXPLAINED THAT WAS DUE TO THE RIGHTS OF THE STUDENT!!! I THEN ASKED IF MY SON DOES NOT HAVE ANY RIGHTS THEN. SHE THEN STAMMERED AROUND AND FINALLY MUTTERED OUT THAT, " SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND."I ASKED ABOUT MY SON'S RIGHT TO NOT BE BULLIED IN SCHOOL. SHE TOLD ME IT WAS, " NOT BULLYING BECAUSE IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE!! AND I SHOULD BE THANKFUL BECAUSE HER SON WAS PUNCHED IN THE FACE!!!" SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO REMOVE THE STUDENT, NOR WOULD HE FACE ANY TYPE OF DISCIPLINARY ACT. SHE THEN SAID THAT SHE SPOKE TO MY MOTHER PREVIOUSLY AND GSVE HER "HINTS" SO IS THAT THEN PROTECTING THE ATTACKERS RIGHTS? I CHALLENGE ALL PARENTS TO REALLY LOOK INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. SOMETHING WORSE COULD HAPPEN BUT U WON'T KNOW ANYTHING IF IT'S NOT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE!!!! FINALLY I INFORMED DR. HALL I WOULD BE EXPOSING THIS AND SHE LAUGHED AND THANKED ME AND THEN HUNG UP.
Delmarva Power
Please share this if you are comfortable helping our Nana....or bring it to someone’s attention who has ties to Delmarva Power.This is beyond ridiculous. This is my first time posting about a company’s incompetence on social media. It’s not my style as I can usually communicate with a business person or their staff and work any issues out.I am beyond frustrated and feel that I have run out of reasonable ways to resolve this matter. Nana’s house sold in October. At that time she had a $1000+ balance because she was on the budget plan. I called and made sure her electric was cancelled and discussed the refund. That was the beginning of a 15 call effort to have her money returned to her. It has now been six months and Delmarva Power STILL has this 96 year old’s money. I feel sorry for vulnerable adults who have no one to advocate on their behalf. I am pretty sure their money does not get refunded.
Multiple staff spoke with me about the issue and all agreed that the money was owed to Nana. In January I made it clear that they need to refund her money. All of a sudden I was told that they can’t speak to me. I explained (for the 4th time) that I am her POA. They stated that the account is in my grandfathers name (deceased over 25 years) and my POA was not valid. I explained that they have been speaking to me regarding all aspects of the account including billing, address change and cancellation so I was not sure what had changed. I had faxed the POA to them in October and someone confirmed receipt of same.
I have been told so many things that it has reached the ridiculous status. They finally mailed one check for $129.00 to my address in my deceased grandfathers name. After they received a copy of his death certificate that they had requested.
I have now spoken to 15 individuals at Delmarva Power. Today is what broke me and led me here to vent. The rep was polite and helpful (I think several of the folks I have spoken to realize how ridiculous this process has been) but a supervisor is what I needed.
Multiple staff spoke with me about the issue and all agreed that the money was owed to Nana. In January I made it clear that they need to refund her money. All of a sudden I was told that they can’t speak to me. I explained (for the 4th time) that I am her POA. They stated that the account is in my grandfathers name (deceased over 25 years) and my POA was not valid. I explained that they have been speaking to me regarding all aspects of the account including billing, address change and cancellation so I was not sure what had changed. I had faxed the POA to them in October and someone confirmed receipt of same.
I have been told so many things that it has reached the ridiculous status. They finally mailed one check for $129.00 to my address in my deceased grandfathers name. After they received a copy of his death certificate that they had requested.
I have now spoken to 15 individuals at Delmarva Power. Today is what broke me and led me here to vent. The rep was polite and helpful (I think several of the folks I have spoken to realize how ridiculous this process has been) but a supervisor is what I needed.
Supposedly, the Feb 28th phone call activated a “30 day processing” timeline at the end would result in Nana receiving her payment. Well today is March 27th and “the company has 30 days to process this request.” So by my math....I requested this refund on her behalf in October 2017 so it’s been well over 30 days. And even if we start at February 28, 2018.....unless the check gets overnighted tomorrow....we are still out of the 30 day window. I cannot accept or understand the level of incompetence and apathy I have dealt with from the power company for six months now. For the first three months I assumed it just took awhile but I have come to learn that the leadership in these areas of the company must be very disorganized. I ask that you please circulate this for me in hopes someone at Delmarva Power will see this and mail Nana her money.
Luckily Nana has a safety net around her but I am sure there are other vulnerable adults who have given up on receiving any refund from sheer exhaustion and stress overload. I will continue to post/circulate this until Nana receives her refund.
The status now is that “a supervise has 24 hours to contact you. A claim for that to occur has been filed.” When I asked why couldn’t I hold until someone could speak to me I was told “well there are other customers they need to assist today.” I asked her if any of those have waited six months and that I don’t mind holding and could do so until the end of the day. I will probably fall out if someone does return my call today.
Running Unopposed, Delegate Carl Anderton May Have A Challenger After All
Recent votes Anderton made has pushed even some Republicans over the top and right now they do not want him running unopposed.
My statement to them was, you just tell me ONE person qualified in the Republican Party that lives in that district and I'm all ears. However, I certainly do not know of one, do you?
I'm telling you people, the local Republican representation is an absolute joke. All the Eastern Shore can provide is bodies, not strong individuals with a firm set of goals in the best interest of the Shore's wants and needs.
A Viewer Writes: Inappropriate speech from city ambulance worker
A Viewer Writes: NRA Membership
I have recently, and proudly, purchased my membership for the NRA. I currently do not own a firearm but I would like to take my teenage daughter and myself to a firing range and take a safety course/introductory course. With all the ads you have on both sides of your site, I do not see any for a gun range. Do you have any suggestions on where to go on the Shore? Years ago I had gone to Dave’s down Quantico/Nanticoke Road but that is gone. It would seem like your site would be perfect place for them to advertise- even have a 15% off for mentioning SBY News or your name so they can maybe track how effective their ads work on your site. I would believe that there are probably many parents who have thought of taking their kids to a range just to somewhat educate themselves on handguns first hand instead of an 11th Grade Social Studies teacher telling them what to think.
LITTLE HOGGS: #MarchForOurLives Student Protesters Leave Their Trash for Someone Else to Clean Up
The largest gathering was in Washington DC where approximately 250,000 people turned out to protest gun laws.
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Worcester County Sheriff Candidate Matt Crisafullis Supports Bare Breast Exposure In Ocean City
Folks, elect Mike McDermott, a man of proven integrity and a man who would never disrespect his Wife and Family in such a way, (above).
A Viewer Writes: Baltimore Residents Moving Out - Exodus Occurring Big Time
I could not believe it when I saw it - Baltimore's Population 1970 - 905,787
Baltimore's Population 2016 - 614-664 - (and that's before the recent fires)
Baltimore has lost more than 32% of its entire population - I'm not making this stuff up.
One can easily see and realize why their roads, police, schools, sewer, water infrastructure has gotton out of control - there is no longer any supportive populace base!
Now look at the US Census Bureau's latest graph:
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MDBALT5pop
Donald Trump was right when he looked at O'Malley straight in the face during the Presidential debates and said; 'You have no business even being on this stage.'
A Viewer Writes: Coyote in Vienna Bridge
Did You Watch The New Rosanne Shows Last Night
Picture Helps Nab ‘Rolling Coal’ Driver During March For Our Lives
That act is illegal under new Colorado law.
Liz Wahl provided a photo of the incident that included the license plate number. The protesters were part of the March For Our Lives events along Main Street.
“They somehow tweak their engines, so they can blow out black smoke when they gas it up. They were doing that to the crowd, and my concern is there was little kids there,” Wahl said.
Witnesses say at least two trucks circled the block repeatedly to blow the black smoke on demonstrators.
More/Video
Sheriff: Assailant In Maryland School Shooting Died From Self-Inflicted Wound
Authorities now say that a student in Maryland who fatally shot a fellow classmate and seriously hurt another died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a confrontation with a school resource officer.
Initial reports suggested that Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill, the resource officer at Great Mills High School, in Great Mills, Md., might have killed the shooter, 17-year-old Austin Rollins.
In a statement issued by the St. Mary's County sheriff's office said evidence indicates that last Tuesday, after Rollins fired a single shot that hit one student in the head and another in the leg, he was confronted in a hallway by Gaskill.
Rollins, however, then "fired one fatal shot to his head; simultaneously DFC Gaskill also fired one non-fatal shot, which struck the weapon in Rollins' hand," it said.
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Initial reports suggested that Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill, the resource officer at Great Mills High School, in Great Mills, Md., might have killed the shooter, 17-year-old Austin Rollins.
In a statement issued by the St. Mary's County sheriff's office said evidence indicates that last Tuesday, after Rollins fired a single shot that hit one student in the head and another in the leg, he was confronted in a hallway by Gaskill.
Rollins, however, then "fired one fatal shot to his head; simultaneously DFC Gaskill also fired one non-fatal shot, which struck the weapon in Rollins' hand," it said.
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2020: CNN Declares Joe Biden Dem. Frontrunner
CNN on Thursday declared former Vice President Joe Biden is the early 2020 frontrunner for the Democrats.
Biden’s polling average in all national 2020 primary polls is 27%, and the only person even within striking distance right now is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who is at 21%, according to the analysis
At least two of the primary polls (RABA, Politico/Morning Consult) had Oprah Winfrey as one of the potential candidates, and Biden finished ahead of Winfrey and the other Democrats in those polls. CNN, which acknowledged that it is “entirely unreasonable” to forecast a winner this early, also pointed out that Biden is even currently leading in New Hampshire, which holds the first-in-the-nation primary after the Iowa caucuses. A February University of New Hampshire survey found Biden defeating Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), both of whom are from the region, by double digits.
Biden, whose advisers are reportedly planning a 2020 run, and Trump got into a war of words this week after Biden said he would take Trump behind the “gym and beat the hell out of him” if they were in high school and Trump made lewd remarks about women. Trump responded on Thursday by tweeting Biden is “trying to act like a tough guy” and “would go down fast and hard, crying all the way.”
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Biden’s polling average in all national 2020 primary polls is 27%, and the only person even within striking distance right now is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who is at 21%, according to the analysis
At least two of the primary polls (RABA, Politico/Morning Consult) had Oprah Winfrey as one of the potential candidates, and Biden finished ahead of Winfrey and the other Democrats in those polls. CNN, which acknowledged that it is “entirely unreasonable” to forecast a winner this early, also pointed out that Biden is even currently leading in New Hampshire, which holds the first-in-the-nation primary after the Iowa caucuses. A February University of New Hampshire survey found Biden defeating Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), both of whom are from the region, by double digits.
Biden, whose advisers are reportedly planning a 2020 run, and Trump got into a war of words this week after Biden said he would take Trump behind the “gym and beat the hell out of him” if they were in high school and Trump made lewd remarks about women. Trump responded on Thursday by tweeting Biden is “trying to act like a tough guy” and “would go down fast and hard, crying all the way.”
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Vegans Protest Restaurant, So Chef Carves Deer In Front Of Them
CBS Local — A Canadian chef who was fed up with vegan protesters outside of his Toronto restaurant gave the activists a shocking demonstration of his own. The chef and co-owner decided to give the vegans close-up look at his craft by carving a fresh deer leg in the shop window.
“I figured, I’ll show them. I’m going to have my own protest,” Michael Hunter of Antler Kitchen & Bar told The Globe And Mail.
Hunter’s counter-protest came after animal rights activists staged small rallies outside the restaurant for three straight months. The vegans reportedly held signs calling the chef a “murderer” and chanted “you’ve got blood on your hands.”
Antler is a Toronto locavore restaurant which advertises that they serve locally grown and farmed foods; including wild animals like deer. “This is who we are and what we do,” Hunter added about his March 23 display. “They’re offending us; I’m going to offend them. So I went and got a deer leg.”
The meat carving was apparently too much for some of the protesters who videotaped the incident and commented on the alarming experience. “We were in shock,” protest organizer Marni Ugar said, via CTV News. “It’s just an animal and we felt sad. For me, I felt sad for a few days after seeing that.”
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“I figured, I’ll show them. I’m going to have my own protest,” Michael Hunter of Antler Kitchen & Bar told The Globe And Mail.
Hunter’s counter-protest came after animal rights activists staged small rallies outside the restaurant for three straight months. The vegans reportedly held signs calling the chef a “murderer” and chanted “you’ve got blood on your hands.”
Antler is a Toronto locavore restaurant which advertises that they serve locally grown and farmed foods; including wild animals like deer. “This is who we are and what we do,” Hunter added about his March 23 display. “They’re offending us; I’m going to offend them. So I went and got a deer leg.”
The meat carving was apparently too much for some of the protesters who videotaped the incident and commented on the alarming experience. “We were in shock,” protest organizer Marni Ugar said, via CTV News. “It’s just an animal and we felt sad. For me, I felt sad for a few days after seeing that.”
More
Senate bill would force Postal Service retirees onto Medicare
U.S. Postal Service annuitants would be forced to enroll in Medicare alongside their standard health benefits program if a bipartisan bill introduced last week passes Congress.
The Postal Service Reform Act of 2018, introduced March 23, aims to reverse the net losses USPS has reported in its finances for the past 11 years. But the bill has received mixed reviews from advocates for federal employees who fear other government workers might one day be impacted.
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association president Richard G. Thissen called the bill an attempt to “balance the books of the United States Postal service on the backs of postal retirees.”
A retiree may have to pay another $1,600 or more per year in Medicare premiums, according to Thissen.
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The Postal Service Reform Act of 2018, introduced March 23, aims to reverse the net losses USPS has reported in its finances for the past 11 years. But the bill has received mixed reviews from advocates for federal employees who fear other government workers might one day be impacted.
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association president Richard G. Thissen called the bill an attempt to “balance the books of the United States Postal service on the backs of postal retirees.”
A retiree may have to pay another $1,600 or more per year in Medicare premiums, according to Thissen.
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Student Attacked/Choked At North Salisbury Elementary
ATTN: PARENTS OF CHILDRE WHO ATTEND NORTH SALISBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. TODAY MY 7 YEAR OLD SON WAS ATTACKED AND CHOKED IN GYM CLASS. UPON FINDING THIS OUT, I CALLED THE SCHOOL AND ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THR PRINCIPAL. I WAS TRANSFERED TO DR. HALL. I INQUIRED AS TO WHO THE STUDENT WAS AND WHAT WERE THE ACTIONS BEING TAKEN. SHE INFORMED ME THAT SHE WOULD NOT TELL ME WHO THE OTHER CHILD WAS, NOR WOULD SHE TELL ME WHAT WAS BEING DONE!!!! SHE EXPLAINED THAT WAS DUE TO THE RIGHTS OF THE STUDENT!!! I THEN ASKED IF MY SON DOES NOT HAVE ANY RIGHTS THEN. SHE THEN STAMMERED AROUND AND FINALLY MUTTERED OUT THAT, " SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND."I ASKED ABOUT MY SON'S RIGHT TO NOT BE BULLIED IN SCHOOL. SHE TOLD ME IT WAS, " NOT BULLYING BECAUSE IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE!! AND I SHOULD BE THANKFUL BECAUSE HER SON WAS PUNCHED IN THE FACE!!!" SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO REMOVE THE STUDENT, NOR WOULD HE FACE ANY TYPE OF DISCIPLINARY ACT. SHE THEN SAID THAT SHE SPOKE TO MY MOTHER PREVIOUSLY AND GSVE HER "HINTS" SO IS THAT THEN PROTECTING THE ATTACKERS RIGHTS? I CHALLENGE ALL PARENTS TO REALLY LOOK INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. SOMETHING WORSE COULD HAPPEN BUT U WON'T KNOW ANYTHING IF IT'S NOT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE!!!! FINALLY I INFORMED DR. HALL I WOULD BE EXPOSING THIS AND SHE LAUGHED AND THANKED ME AND THEN HUNG UP.
Pigs
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Statewide Enforcement Checkpoints Aim to Reduce DUI-Related Crashes and Fatalities
On Saturday, March 17, 2018, more than 70 law enforcement officers from across Delaware assembled at several locations in all three counties to conduct statewide impaired driving checkpoints. The focus was on behavioral traffic safety issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, child-passenger safety, pedestrian and various other traffic safety concerns.
A total of 2,228 vehicles went through the checkpoints; Of those, 51 drivers were detained for further investigation, 15 were drug arrests, 15 DUI arrest, 11 seatbelt arrests, three DRE Evaluations and 12 other traffic arrests.
Delaware's Checkpoint Strike-force is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders by using High Visibility Enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive. In 2017, there have been 3,230 DUI arrests statewide and 24 confirmed fatalities related to impaired driving as of November 2017. The Delaware State Police have teamed up with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and local law enforcement agencies across the state to coordinate Delaware’s multi-jurisdictional DUI checkpoints in conjunction with the “Border to Border multi-state traffic safety initiative for a safer Delaware.
"As a result of our combined efforts and strategies for the 2018 St. Patrick’s Day Checkpoint Strike-force and the “Border to Border” Traffic Safety Initiative; the Delaware State Police and our local allied partners (Delmar, Laurel, Seaford, Bridgeville and Greenwood Police Departments) were able to arrest a total of 15 driving under influence and 15 drug arrests during the St. Patrick's Day weekend.
As the Delaware State Police collaborated with the Delaware Office of Highway Safety; the outcome of this traffic initiative proved to be a safer weekend for Delaware. Through education, deterrence, proactive patrols and targeted locations we were able to serve the essential purpose to inform the motoring public on the importance of driving safe." --Sgt. Richard Bratz, DSP--
Troopers Investigating Apparent Attempted Murder-Suicide In Somerset Co.
(CRISFIELD, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating an apparent attempted murder and suicide that left one man dead and one woman wounded this morning in Somerset County.
The victim of the attempted murder is identified as Susan Preston, 44, of Delmar, Maryland. She is currently being treated for apparent gunshot wounds at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.
The suspect is identified as Gary Preston, 57, of Delmar, Maryland. He was found deceased with an apparent gunshot wound. A handgun was found in his possession. He will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy.
At 8:00 a.m. this morning, Maryland State Police at the Princess Anne Barrack responded to a call for a shooting reported at a residence in the 2000 block of Silver Lane in Crisfield, Md. Responding troopers found the female victim at the residence, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She was immediately transported to the hospital.
The suspect was found lying on the floor of the living room with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene.
The preliminary investigation indicates the victim’s sister called 9-1-1. She was on the phone with her sister, later identified as Susan Preston, when the incident reportedly occurred. Police believe the suspect, for unknown reasons, drove to the victim’s location where the shooting occurred.
State police investigators from the Criminal Enforcement Division are conducting an ongoing investigation. Crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division responded and are processing the scene. Assistance is being provided by the Crisfield Police Department.
There is no motive known at this time for the suspect’s actions. Police determined the victim is the estranged wife of the suspect. Details remain few at this time.
Investigators believe the situation is contained to this attempted murder and suicide. The investigation is continuing.
The victim of the attempted murder is identified as Susan Preston, 44, of Delmar, Maryland. She is currently being treated for apparent gunshot wounds at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.
The suspect is identified as Gary Preston, 57, of Delmar, Maryland. He was found deceased with an apparent gunshot wound. A handgun was found in his possession. He will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for autopsy.
At 8:00 a.m. this morning, Maryland State Police at the Princess Anne Barrack responded to a call for a shooting reported at a residence in the 2000 block of Silver Lane in Crisfield, Md. Responding troopers found the female victim at the residence, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She was immediately transported to the hospital.
The suspect was found lying on the floor of the living room with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS personnel pronounced him deceased at the scene.
The preliminary investigation indicates the victim’s sister called 9-1-1. She was on the phone with her sister, later identified as Susan Preston, when the incident reportedly occurred. Police believe the suspect, for unknown reasons, drove to the victim’s location where the shooting occurred.
State police investigators from the Criminal Enforcement Division are conducting an ongoing investigation. Crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division responded and are processing the scene. Assistance is being provided by the Crisfield Police Department.
There is no motive known at this time for the suspect’s actions. Police determined the victim is the estranged wife of the suspect. Details remain few at this time.
Investigators believe the situation is contained to this attempted murder and suicide. The investigation is continuing.
After School Board Rejects NRA Donation To High School Rifle Team, Community Responds In A HUGE Way
After their school board rejected an NRA grant Monday, a Pennsylvania high school rifle team has already gotten more than enough money — from their local community.
The Stroudsburg Area School board voted 6-2 against accepting the $4,730 the NRA had originally granted the rifle team to replace their 70s-era equipment.
However, several community members and local business owners came together and collected over $6,000 for the team.
“It wouldn’t be acceptable if the football team was using helmets from the 1970s, so as a local community, we didn’t feel it was acceptable for the rifle team to,” said East Stroudsburg businessman Brian Winot, who was reportedly shocked at the school board’s decision.
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The Stroudsburg Area School board voted 6-2 against accepting the $4,730 the NRA had originally granted the rifle team to replace their 70s-era equipment.
However, several community members and local business owners came together and collected over $6,000 for the team.
“It wouldn’t be acceptable if the football team was using helmets from the 1970s, so as a local community, we didn’t feel it was acceptable for the rifle team to,” said East Stroudsburg businessman Brian Winot, who was reportedly shocked at the school board’s decision.
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