Our View: Wicomico Schools Have Ample Funding

Yesterday's Daily Times feature article gives the impression that our counties K-12 education is in dire financial straits. However - the financial situation is not as bad as The Daily Times staff would have you believe. As most people know - The Daily Times staff is heavily laced with contributors that have strong affiliations and ties with the Board of Education - thus their agenda is to prop-up and syphon off as much taxpayers money as the public will allow them. Today - SBYnews gives our readers our version of the school budget.

Position on County Funding of Education
There are approximately 14,531 students and 1082 teachers in Wicomico County. That means there are approximately 13.43 students per teacher. If that is the case - then there should be fewer teachers - (reduced through retirement) - until the ratio is between 20/1 or 25/1. So let's run the numbers and see how this stacks up for Wicomico's taxpayers.

With a 20/1 ratio - we would need 727 teachers total. If they were all paid a top salary of $55,100 the teacher total would be 40.06 million dollars. Look at it another way - if the ratio is permitted to rise to 20/1, there would be 355 fewer teachers to pay. Presuming the most senior teachers (highest paid) would be the ones to retire, and, presuming they all make about 55.1k/year, then the County would save 19.56 million dollars - ($55,100 x 355 = 19.56m)

If the ratio went to 25/1 there would be 501 less teachers in Wicomico County. Then the savings would be even higher at $27.6 million dollars. At this level of savings - the County could easily afford to pay the remaining teachers substantially higher salaries. Moreover, at this level our County could even escrow and build a capital improvement budget whereby our County would not have to reach out and ask the State for anything. Upon reviewing the Maryland Board of Public Works website - it shows that there are currently three counties that are not requesting any State assistance for capital improvements - (Kent, Talbot, & Worcester).

Note: The current salary of a school teacher is very close to what a Federal employed Engineer would be making if you adjust for the fact that the Engineer is obligated to work 1940 hours verses a school teacher 1488 hours. Someone with a non-technical degree might not make as much as an Engineer. 1940/1488 is 1.303. That's the amount to multiply when you compare your salary with people that work all year and get two weeks and holidays off.

The big problem (or perk) with teaching is that they don't work all year. On the bright side - it gives them the opportunity to experience other jobs during the summer - or - to take long vacations if they can afford them.

Bottom Line - Wicomico's Superintendent John Fredericksen - has all of the tools at his disposal to bring Wicomico's educational budget into alignment with our public's financial expectations. The problem is - he may have already allied himself to special interest - after all - our County does not yet have an elected school board and thus it is not a true reflection or representation of our taxpayers constituency. In fact - it is laced heavily with educators who have shown that they have no qualms about imposing their will upon the people - (i.e. BMS).

We hope that our elected County Council members will take all of the above into consideration before they allocate additional taxpayers resources to the educational entity. As we said - John Fredericksen has all of the tools necessary - question is - how will he use them.

New Posts to fall below.

22 Senators Propose Lockbox For Transportation Funds

After Gov. Martin O’Malley proposed a 6% sales tax on gas to pay for infrastructure projects, Sen. Rob Garagiola and 21 other senators moved to make the tax more salable with a proposed constitutional amendment to safeguard the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund, which governors have repeatedly raided to balance the general fund budget.

Continue Reading...

All 14-Year-Old Wants Is For Md. To Vote 'No' On Gay Marriage

WASHINGTON - A Bowie girl told Maryland legislators Tuesday all she wants for her birthday is for them to vote "no" on gay marriage.

While reading from a written statement, the home-schooled 14-year-old from Bowie told Maryland's Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee she feels badly for children who have two parents of the same gender, and fears a world where a legislature or court can change the definiton of any word, such as "marriage" in this case.

The video first appeared on the gay rights advocacy site ThinkProgress.org/lgbt.

"Even though some kids think it's fine, they have no idea what kind of wonderful experiences they miss out on," she said.

"I don't want more kids to get confused about what's right and okay," said the girl. "I really don't want to grow up in a world where marriage isn't such a special thing anymore."

Check out the audio of her appearance here:



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MATTHEW ALAN SCHIRLING CONVICTED OF COUNTERFEITING AND GUN CHARGES BY A WICOMICO COUNTY JURY

On January 31, 2012, after a two day trial in the Wicomico County Circuit Court, a Wicomico County jury found Matthew Alan Schirling, age 27, guilty of eight (8) counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Manufacture and Possession of Counterfeit U.S. Currency, Conspiracy to Manufacture and Possesses Counterfeit U.S. Currency, and Possession of Marijuana. The charges against Schirling originated from a joint investigation conducted by officers of the Salisbury Police Department, Fruitland Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland State Police, in February of last year. On February 9, 2011, a search and seizure warrant was executed at the residence of 1013 Caroline Street, Salisbury, Maryland, by the above listed law enforcement agencies. During the execution of the warrant, officers recovered eight (8) regulated firearms, 78 grams of Marijuana, $45,000.00 in U.S. Currency, and $13,370.00 in Counterfeit U.S. Currency.

Schirling was facing a maximum sentence of forty (40) years without the possibility of parole for being convicted of the eight firearms charges, and he faced the possibility of an additional twenty (20) years for counterfeiting U.S. currency.
State’s Attorney Maciarello stated: “This case was the product of good police work and communication and collaboration between the Salisbury Police Department, Fruitland Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police. Our local law enforcement agencies worked as a team to make our community a safer place. Guns and drugs are a constant danger to our citizens, and counterfeit currency is a danger to our local economy. We are thankful for all of the hard work and support that our local law enforcement agencies provided in bringing this case to trial.”

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Salisbury Police Department, Salisbury Police Department Safe Streets Officers, Fruitland Police Department, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department, Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation, Maryland State Police Crime Lab, United States Secret Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Mr. Maciarello also thanked Deputy State’s Attorney Ella M. Disharoon who prosecuted this case on behalf of the State. For more information or for an interview please call the Office of the State’s Attorney at (410) 548-4880 or go to www.wicomicosao.com.

Philosophy

Now here's an interesting little tidbit; a glimpse, if you will, into the functioning of the intellectual mind.

Being a technical person, I understand things much easier when they are put into a graphical format. This is a deceptively simple philosophy I have been working on and refining most of my life. I am delighted to say that I believe I have refined it down to its simplest form to share it with a select band of friends who may appreciate it. I hope you understand its elegance and simplicity.

ACTUAL PASSPORT LETTER, HILARIOUS!

Dear Sirs,

I'm in the process of renewing my passport, and still cannot believe this. How is it that Radio Shack has my address and telephone number and knows that I bought a cable T.V. from them back in 1987, and yet, the Federal Government is still asking me where I was born and on what date.

For Christ sakes, do you guys do this by hand? My birth date you have on my social security card, and it is on all the income tax forms I've filed for the past 30 years. It is on my health insurance card, my driver's license, on the last eight damn passports I've had, on all those stupid customs declaration forms I've had to fill out before being allowed off the plane over the last 30 years, and all those insufferable census forms that are done at election times.

Would somebody please take note, once and for all, that my mother's name is Maryanne, my father's name is Robert and I'd be absolutely astounded if that ever changed between now and when I die!!!!!! I apologize, I'm really pissed off this morning. Between you an' me, I've had enough of this bull! You send the application to my house, then you ask me for my address? What is going on? Do you have a gang of Neanderthal nuts working there!

Look at my picture. Do I look like Bin Laden? I don't want to dig upYasser Arafat, I just want to go and park my butt on a sandy beach.

And would someone please tell me, why would you care whether I plan on visiting a farm in the next 15 days? If I ever got the urge to do something weird to a chicken or a goat, believe you me, I'd sure as heck not want to tell anyone!

Well, I have to go now, 'cause I have to go to the other end of the city and get another copy of my birth certificate, to the tune of $60. Would it be so complicated to have all the services in the same spot to assist in the issuance of a new passport the same day??

Nooooo, that'd be too damn easy and maybe make sense. You'd rather have us running all over the place like chickens with our heads cut off, then find some idiot to confirm that it's really me on the picture - you know, the one where we're not allowed to smile?! (bureaucratic morons)

Hey, you know why we can't smile? We're totally pissed off!
Signed - An Irate Citizen.
P.S... Remember

What I said above about the picture and getting someone to confirm that it's me? Well, my family has been in this country since 1776 ........I have served in the military for something over 30 years and have had security clearances up the yingyang..........However, I have to get someone 'important' to verify who I am - you know, someone like my doctor WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN INDIA !

Sincerely,
You Sure In The Hell Should Know Who I Am.

..............And you want to run our health care system?!?

Beer Commercial Gone Bad

Mike Krieger Explains Why It's The Leadership, Stupid

It’s the first time we have power with people that don’t have courage. The people on top have power without courage. You cannot find any other society like it. Take the knights. The knights were people who of course, their trade was risking their lives. In theory, The President of the United States was supposed to be first in battle. Not someone pushing a button. The only way you can have a safe society is by moving these types of people (that risk nothing personally and take all the upside) out of their positions. Making them more accountable.

- Nassim Taleb (in this fantastic interview [19])

From our perspective, this is a critical idea. As we have said for several years, we do not see Iran as close to having a nuclear weapon. They may be close to being able to test a crude nuclear device under controlled circumstances (and we don't know this either), but the development of a deliverable nuclear weapon poses major challenges for Iran.

Moreover, while the Iranians may aspire to a deterrent via a viable nuclear weapons capability, we do not believe the Iranians see nuclear weapons as militarily useful. A few such weapons could devastate Israel, but Iran would be annihilated in retaliation. While the Iranians talk aggressively, historically they have acted cautiously. For Iran, nuclear weapons are far more valuable as a notional threat and bargaining chip than as something to be deployed. Indeed, the ideal situation is not quite having a weapon, and therefore not forcing anyone to act against them, but seeming close enough to be taken seriously. They certainly have achieved that.

- Stratfor “Considering a U.S.-Iranian Deal,” January 24th, 2012

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THE WHITE ROSE

In Honor of the 70th Anniversary of the Munich Students Movement – Die Weiße Rose – 2nd Leaflet

Someone asked me, why bring this up now? Why remind ourselves of things better forgotten?
First, because it is after all, the 70th anniversary of an heroic event, and what we remember makes us who we are, makes us the people we wish to be.

Secondly, of course, it is because throughout history there are lights, great beacons in the dark seas of time, that stand out for us as examples of what it is to be human. Such examples are frequently not ‘successful’ in the estimation of the world. More often than not they give up their lives, one way or the other, in quiet or with some notice, but often for the sake of their conscience.

Sometimes they even die ignobly, flanked on the right and left by common thieves. We are so perverse and low in our thinking, in our expectations for ourselves, that if Mother Theresa or Dorothy Day had given up their great work for the poor and the dying, and left to become an actress in Hollywood, we would smugly say, ‘oh, well that is only human.’

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Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk

Make the right play to save your life and others.

Wicomico County - Sheriff Mike Lewis announced today that he is joining forces with the National Football League (NFL), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and other State and local highway safety and law enforcement officials to remind everyone to act responsibly by designating a sober driver if they plan on drinking alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday.

“We want to pass our safety message to everyone who will be drinking this weekend, real Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk,” said Sheriff Lewis. “Please call the right play for the big game and pass your keys to a designated driver before the Super Bowl party begins. Getting caught driving while impaired will earn you a costly penalty from local law enforcement and may even result in a turnover of your driving privileges.”

Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s biggest and most entertaining national sporting events as friends and families gather to socialize and watch the big game. Yet, it has also become one of the Nation’s most dangerous days on the roadways due to impaired driving.

Designating a sober driver should be on the top of everyone’s Super Bowl party list.

If you are hosting a Super Bowl party:

• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers.

• Serve lots of food and include lots of non-alcoholic beverages at the party.

• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game and begin serving coffee and dessert.

• Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy, and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving while impaired.
If you are attending a Super Bowl party or watching at a sports bar or restaurant:

• Designate your sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys.

• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself—eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks

• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home; call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you; or just stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.

• Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired. Remember, Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.

• Always Buckle Up– it’s still your best defense against other impaired drivers.

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases 2-3-12

Incident: Possession of Marijuana
Date of Incident: 31 January 2012
Location: 2400 block of N. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MD
Suspect: 1. Omari N. Lowery, 25, Bronx, NY
2. Tirra L. Benjamin, 19, Jackson, NC

Narrative: On 31 January 2012 at 2:58 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for speeding on North Salisbury Boulevard. Upon approaching and contacting the occupants, the deputy detected an overwhelming odor of burnt marijuana. A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a box wrapped in Christmas type wrapping with a card attached in the rear of the vehicle. Upon further inspection of the package, it was unwrapped and the deputy located glass
vials full of marijuana.

Both the driver Omari Lowery and his passenger Tirra Benjamin were placed under arrest and transported to the Central Booking Unit where they were processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After their initial appearances, the Commissioner detained both Lowery and Benjamin in the Detention Center on bonds of $5,000.00 and $3,500.00 respectively.

Charges: Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Incident: Possession of CDS
Date of Incident: 2 February 2012
Location: Lillian Street Hebron, MD
Suspect: Matthew K. Griffith, 26, Hebron, MD

Narrative: On 2 February 2012 a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a bicycle for a traffic violation. During the ensuing investigation, the deputy located a smoking device containing suspected marijuana residue, as well as a container of suspected marihuana in the pants pockets of the suspect, Matthew Griffith. Griffith was placed under arrest, after a brief struggle.

The deputy transported Griffith to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner placed a bond of $3,000 on Griffith.

Charges: Possession of Marijuana
Possession of CDS Paraphernalia
Resisting arrest

Retail Sales Climb 4.2% In January; Keynesian Forecasters Pummeled

Major chain stores posted an impressive 4.2% sales increase in January compared with the same month a year earlier, handily exceeding Keynesian analysts' expectations of a modest 2% rise.

The Keynesians have no clue. With this kind of activity at the retail level, price inflation at the consumer level is very near.

Anecdotal evidence from an annonymous commenter yesterday:

rw, I have doubted you so far, but after this month I have to re-think everything. My company gets most of its work from the deal flow in the PE market and until now its been a trickle. This month, it seems like 2006 all over again. It seems the deal flow is going to pick up with a vengeance in 2012. I don't know if that's good for the guy in the street or if I am just one of the limited beneficiaries of fed money printing, so I'll keep my joy over this contained to this post.. I know when I talk to my brother who has a business in the trades, things are still very slow and he has no pricing power.

Note to anonymous: Private Equity is, of course, a very early beneficiary of Bernanke money printing, but there is so much new money out there it will impact everyone. Your brother will eventually have "pricing power". Hell, everyone is going to have pricing power, It's called price inflation.

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Fill In The Blank 02/03/12

The Local Business with the BEST customer service is ______!

Media Blackout In Obama Georgia Ballot Eligibility Case

Last week, I noted that Obama turned his back not just on Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer, but also on the laws of the State of Georgia. I closed my column, "Georgia Ballot Challenge: Obama Walks on By," with the observation: "And most of the media has followed along right behind him."

At the time, I had just witnessed an historic hearing that actually discussed the eligibility of the sitting president of the United States to run for a second term. The president had been subpoenaed to appear, and instead of his attorney respectfully following protocol to have that subpoena recalled, both Obama and his attorney, Michael Jablonski, simply failed to show up at all or offer any defense whatsoever.

Isn't there a headline in there somewhere?

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BEST QUOTE OF THE DECADE- From CZECH REPUBLIC OBSERVER......

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting an inexperienced man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama Presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their President. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their President."

How US Fascism Comes Out On Top Via 'Too-Big-To-Fail'?

'Too Big to Fail' Clearinghouse Hunt .. Regulators have notified some payment and clearing firms that they face a review to determine whether their failure could pose a risk to the economy. The Financial Stability Oversight Council, comprising top financial regulators and created by the Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law, last month sent letters to so-called financial-market utilities—the minutes didn't specify which or how many—saying they are being considered for designation as systemically important. The council disclosed it had sent the letters in minutes from its last meeting, released Wednesday. – Wall Street Journal

Dominant Social Theme: Important businesses cannot be allowed to fail. If, in fact, government must prop them up and take them over, then so be it. Look how well GM is doing!

Free-Market Analysis: Is this how fascism comes to America? It would seem a steady drip, drip, drip of frenetic government activism is concretizing the fascist state the way lime solidifies cement.

Even in the 1980s under the Reagan administration, the media mythos of the US emphasized its marketplace affiliations. The idea was that US civilization was succeeding because it was market based. But this rhetoric seems to have been abandoned in the 2000s.

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BREAKING NEWS: Komen To Restore Grants To Planned Parenthood

Susan G. Komen for the Cure reverses decision and says it will continue existing breast cancer screening grants to Planned Parenthood and permit organization to apply for future grants.

From Fox News

Dog In Need Of Loving Home Immediately: UPDATE

Hi Joe,

Thanks to your site, we have found a very loving home for Mr. Duncan. Thanks for posting this for us!


Hi Mr. Albero,

I know that you do a lot of work for animals and I am hoping you can post this
to your site and maybe help us quickly find this dog a new loving home. Here
are some details.

This is Mr. Duncan-He's an 11 year old Pomeranian and needs to find a new family
immediately. His owner, an elderly gentleman who lived in senior housing,
passed away unexpectedly this morning and the family can't take him in. He is
house trained, very loving and affectionate and gets along well with people and
other animals. Duncan is very quiet and loves to go on daily walks and rides.
He does get separation anxiety, so he would do better with someone who is home a
lot and can pay a lot of attention to him. He also has a medical condition,
CHF, and has a cough because of it and he does have to take medication for this.

I've attached a picture of Duncan to this email also.

If anyone knows of someone who would be able to open their heart and home to
this very sweet dog, please contact Becky. The housing management will not let him stay in the building very long and he will have to be sent to the humane society if we cannot find him a new home.

We really appreciate your help with this.

Wicomico Sheriff's Deputy On The Ball

Just moments ago a Sheriff's Deputy was driving through Downtown and witnessed a man throwing trash on the ground as he was walking. The Deputy, (even though he was heading somewhere) immediately stopped and told the man to go back and pick up his trash. He then explained how that is a $500.00 FINE.

As much trash that is thrown on the ground in Downtown Salisbury, it's refreshing to see someone taking charge and doing something about it.

FOR OUR POSTERITY?

This is for all you Boomers out there. I saw an exit poll that said that 3% of senior citizens voted for Ron Paul yesterday in Florida. Translation, 97% of Senior Citizens voted for tyranny and against the future of this Country.

When seeing this I thought of that line in the Preamble of the Constitution – “Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” The Boomer translation might be “I got mine, screw you young people!!!”

As has been well documented on this site, we have never before seen a more selfish, destructive generation than the Boomers. Now they are screwing America again, this time in an election. Ron Paul wins the youth vote in state after state, even getting a huge number of folks in their 30’s & 40’s, but the Boomers are killing his chances, and this Nation’s.

The irony in all of this is that we have about 12% inflation right now & close to a ZERO % interest savings rate. The Boomers are withering away their own retirement dollars all the while trying desperately to save the status quo.

Please don’t take this as an attack on our many Boomers on this website. Quite the contrary, it is a call to arms. The Boomers on TBP by definition are the most well-read, intelligent, aware Boomers out there.

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Fraudulent Debt = Counterfeit Money

How is borrowing money based on fraudulent claims of asset value and future income any different from counterfeiting money?

Let's compare three financial criminals. The first is an old-fashioned counterfeiter who doctors up paper and runs a printing press to produce fake currency.

The second criminal borrows money based on a fraudulent asset and phantom future income. For example, the criminal might obtain a credit card based on false assets and income, or borrow money against a property that is worth far less than he claims and base his credit on an inflated fantasy income he does not actually receive.

The third criminal borrows money from the Federal Reserve at zero interest and extends a loan to a fraudulent borrower because a government agency has guaranteed the loan. Whatever income the lender receives is pure gravy, and whatever losses are incurred when the fraud is uncovered are made good by the taxpayer.

Since our banking system is based on money being borrowed into existence (i.e. fractional reserve), then how is creating money unsecured by either assets or income any different from actually counterfeiting bills? The outcome is identical: money created out of thin air.

If I fraudulently obtain credit based on bogus claims of future income, borrow a large sum and promptly squander it on consumption, then the lender has no recourse: there are no assets to grab and no income to tap. In effect, I had a good time at the expense of all holders of the currency, as my money-created-from-thin-air diluted the currency without adding any productive value.

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Documents Prove Holder Lied: He Knew Same Day Of Death Of Border Patrol Agent Terry

This past Friday night, congressional officials received a ‘document dump’ from the Department of Justice concerning Operation Fast and Furious. Contained in the cache of documents was a copy of an email confirming that US Attorney General Eric Holder was notified of the death of US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, on the same day as the tragedy occurred.

According to the report, Dennis Burke, former Arizona US Attorney, received an email at 2:31 am, Dec. 15, 2010 that read,

“On December 14, 2010, a BORTAC agent working in the Nogales, AZ AOR was shot. The agent was conducting Border Patrol operations 18 miles north of the international boundary when he encountered [redacted word] unidentified subjects. Shots were exchanged resulting in the agent being shot. At this time, the agent is being transported to an area where he can be air lifted to an emergency medical center.”

An hour later, Burke received a second email informing him that the agent had passed away.

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A Comment Worthy Of A Post 2-3-12

Bryan Records has left a new comment on your post "Rick Hoppes Rejected As Salisbury's Next Fire Chie...":

After thinking long and hard on this situation I have decided to give my two cents worth on the matter. I am flattered to have my name mentioned for the position of Fire Chief. The people who really know me understand that I have no desire to hold that position. I'm an operations guy who enjoys what I do and being close to the troops.

Let me clearly state that Rick Hoppes has been in and commanded many fires over the years as a Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Asst. Chief and Deputy Chief in Salisbury. I have been on the end of a hoseline with him and he has proven himself many times. Rick has come through the ranks and prepared himself both personally and professionally to perform at every rank he has held. As the Acting Chief for 18 months he ran the department faithfully until a replacement was found for Chief Dave See. Did he make mistakes ? Yes. But dont we all? He knows the mistakes he made and has become a better person and leader going forward. When Chief Simpson resigned Rick once again stepped forward and accepted the awesome responsibility of Salisbury's Chief. Mayor Ireton displayed his full faith in Rick and made Him his choice for the position of Fire Chief.

I must admit I am shocked at the decision not to promote Rick as the next Chief of the Salisbury Fire Department. I was fully prepared and looking forward to moving forward with Rick as the next chief as were many of my peers.The man had the support of the members and at least eight local fire departments and organizations. That speaks volumes about a mans character when you have that much support. Rick has served this department since 1985 with dedication and professionalism at every level. That could not be said for some of his critics.

I have always believed and openly stated that college degrees do not put out fires or give you leadership abilities. They merely enhance the knowledge base of the individual on a particular subject matter. In our business it is all about respect that is earned over time by doing a good job. You cant buy it, fake it or self proclaim it. Rick has earned my respect and I would go to war with in on any emergency.

I believe Rick is just shy of his BS degree and could easily finish it within a year. If that is the sticking point in this matter then make it a term of employment for the Chief position. I have complete faith that he will complete his degree. Rick Hoppes is a man of his word and would do whatever it took to make the Salisbury Fire Department a premier organization. It is my desire that our City leaders will reconsider their decision and make the right choice in this matter.

SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA

FEBRUARY 6, 2012
CONFERENCE ROOM 306
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING

4:00 p.m. - SPECIAL MEETING
Convene/announcements

Adoption of legislative agenda

Ordinance No. 2188 - 1st reading - to repeal Chapter 5.64 as amended by Ordinance No. 2185 – Towing Companies of the Salisbury Municipal Code in its entirety and to reenact Chapter 5.64 – Towing Companies to clarify ambiguity regarding licensing requirements; towing and storage lot operation requirements; authorizing fees for towing and storage; and penalties for violation of Chapter 5.64

Ordinance No. 2189 - 1st reading - to repeal Ordinance No. 2186 and to re-establish a schedule of fees and charges applicable to vehicles towed as dispatched by the Police Department and to clarify ambiguity

Adjournment

WORK SESSION

4:15 p.m. Enterprise Zone renewal application briefing

4:45 p.m. Appointment of attorney for Ethics Commission complaints

5:15 p.m. Follow-up discussion on election redistricting

5:45 p.m. Break

6:00 p.m. Briefing on boards and commissions training, with focus on training held for Housing Board of Adjustments and Appeals

Follow-up on Board of Zoning Appeals (next steps, options, training, timetable)

7:00 p.m. General discussion/Upcoming Agenda items

7:30 p.m. Adjournment

Results From Board Of Education Announcement Last Night

More than 21,000 people viewed the BOE Post last night and more than 14,000 more people have viewed it so far today.

We didn't even publish the Post until 9:30 PM last night. You want advertising results, you want to build your business, NO ONE can deliver what Salisbury News can deliver traffic wise.

STARTING TODAY, COMMON LANGUAGE PROTOCOL WILL BE USED BY MARYLAND STATE POLICE

(Pikesville, MD)- Effective today, the Maryland State Police will abolish the use of the current ten code system and utilize the Common Language Protocol, also known as Plain Language.

Historically, ten codes were used to describe common phrases used by law enforcement. The codes were intended to shorten voice communication on the radio. But police departments, even those in neighboring districts, have developed different codes to communicate the scenarios they encounter. The Common Language Protocol is expected to improve communication and reduce confusion, especially during multi-jurisdictional incidents or anytime different agencies are required to communicate on the radio.

For example, under the new system, instead of using code 10-46 when talking with a dispatcher or another trooper, the trooper will simply say , “disabled vehicle”. An additional requirement will be the use of the standard phonetic alphabet when conducting radio communications. Starting today, Maryland State Police will use specific words in conjunction with letters to increase the clarity of radio communications. Examples include: A - Alpha; B - Bravo, C – Charlie.

The elimination of the ten code system and the adoption of the standard phonetic alphabet is consistent with Governor Martin O’Malley’s public safety initiative to implement the Maryland Statewide Communications Interoperability Program. “In Maryland, we are committed to building an effective and dependable communications system among all public safety partners,” said Governor O’Malley. “Eliminating the ten code system helps us remove barriers needed to protect Marylanders, and represents a vital step toward building an efficient statewide system of interoperable communications.”

By implementing the Common Language Protocol, Maryland State Police are following a national trend which became more prevalent after 9/11 when agencies had difficulty communicating because they used different codes or signals. Virginia State Police have been using the common language protocol since November 2006. The new guideline also meets the recommendations of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center.

“Communications Interoperability is a necessary investment into the lives of those who work on a daily basis to keep Marylanders safe,” said Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Marcus L. Brown. “The transition to using the Common Language Protocol and the phonetic alphabet will allow for the most efficient and highest level of immediate communication between state agencies and local jurisdictions.”

Caption This Photo 2-3-12

Thank God Its Friday 2-3-12

What will you be doing this weekend?

America's double standards!!

America's official language should be english, right? I thought so too....until this morning. Just when I think I have my position on issues such as these set in stone, something comes along and causes me to rethink those positions. It seems as though a Native American student in Wisconsin was suspended for saying "I love you" in her Native American tongue! Wait a minute! We force students in our schools to take a second language but when they speak in the Native American tongue they get suspended? What in the hell is that? We are forcing our local boards or education to cater to those students who can't speak english because their parents have smuggled them across the border illegally into the U.S. costing the taxpayers MILLIONS...but we suspend the students for speaking in the tongue of their parents and grandparents, the ancestors of whom have been here for thousands of years before the first Anglo ever arrived! I may retain my position of English as being the official language of the U.S., but this article has made me recognize that everything isn't as cut and dry as I sometimes imagine it to be. As an aside, when I think of the attrocities the American government has carried out against these people I can't help but think...".....the African Americans want apologies, monetary reparations, and affirmative action policies for slavery (which was no doubt an ugly time in American history) yet the Native Americans get nothing and were subjected to early biological weapons (small pox infected blankets) mass genocide, had their land stolen, and were forced into what essentially amounted to internment camps. Once again it seems like America has her priorities screwed up.

To see the article go here:

http://fox6now.com/2012/02/01/basketball-player-benched-for-using-native-american-language/

Four NYC Cops Stripped Of Their Badges After Bloody Fight With Suspect

Four NYPD cops have been stripped of their guns and badges and pulled from the streets after a civilian video popped up on the internet showing them getting rough with a drug suspect, according to the New York Times.

The Bronx District Attorney’s office and the Internal Affairs bureau of the NYPD told the Times the incident was under investigation.

The beating of the suspect, Jateik Reed, 19, occurred last Thursday afternoon after police claim Reed threw a baggy of crack on the ground and resisted arrest. Mr. Reed was charged with assaulting a police officer, drug possession, menacing and harassment.

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Board Member To Resign From Wicomico County Board Of Education

Because Salisbury News is the ONLY news source to have this information, we will withhold their names until tomorrow.

Nevertheless, because the state is enforcing all appointed/elected officials to disclose financial information, one Board Member has publicly stated they will resign their position by the end of February.

The state has allowed the Boards of Education to draft their own policy on this disclosure but one thing is for sure, IF you have a contractual agreement with the Board through ANY outside business/source/relationship, they must disclose ALL of their financial information. All of which this particular Board Member is NOT willing to do.

Because this Board Member won't comply, they will resign.

Salisbury News is also holding a story in which a part time Cheer leading Coach from Mardela was allegedly terminated recently for allegedly allowing under age children to drink alcohol at a birthday party in Ocean City.

I have the details on this situation and we're told some parents are looking into pressing charges against this individual.

Folks, it's AMAZING what's going on with the Wicomico County Board of Education lately. Fredericksen wanted to get REWARDED with new schools, yet 40% of his schools are failing. Coaches are being arrested, teachers are being arrested, upper staff are being terminated, what DON'T we know!!!

It seems every time Salisbury News publishes these stories, the next morning Fredericksen sends out an internal letter letting the faculty know it is in fact TRUE! In fact, this afternoon a letter was sent out about a "teacher" being arrested this morning. One has to wonder, IF SBYNews.com hadn't put it out there, would THAT have been buried too?

Mr. Fredericksen is up for a renewal on his contract with the County and quite frankly, this guy has to go. Hiding ALL of these things, (and Lord only knows what we don't know) and then trying to get his contract renewed for another 4 years is just ridiculous.

You can HATE Salisbury News for being the one to EXPOSE all of these things but in the end you should ALL be thanking us for educating the public with the TRUTH. Just how many coaches have been placed on administrative leave for things that are just unbelievable. How many teachers have to be arrested or coaches allowing 15 year old kids to get drunk and then terminated.

Besides, ALL of the stories we have delivered as of late, NONE of the MSM have delivered any of them until weeks later. What gets me is, they have INSIDE sources and to me that means they covered it up, until we exposed it.

We'll have more tomorrow...

BREAKING NEWS BOE STORY COMING SOON

Salisbury News will have a breaking news story about a Board Member of the Wicomico County Board of Education.

Stay Tuned......

Rick Hoppes Rejected As Salisbury's Next Fire Chief

In a 3-2 vote the Salisbury City Council rejected Rick Hoppes to become the next Fire Chief of Salisbury.

FITTING ROOM PRANK

Eastern Shore Police Emerald Society

On Friday January 27, 2012, members of the Eastern Shore Police Emerald Society (ESPES) participated in the 16th Annual Maryland State Police’s Polar Bear Plunge.

Proceeds from the event go to Maryland Special Olympics. The State of Maryland is ranked #1 in the world for raising money for Special Olympics, and this year’s event brought in more than $2.5 million dollars. The ESPES team raised close to $2,000 dollars from local fundraising efforts including a $500 donation from the Ocean City, MD Fraternal Order of Police. The ESPES would like to thank all who supported them in this very worthy cause.

PuNXaTaWDRY BeN (GRouND HOG DaY 2012)

BANZAI7 NEWS, Jackass Island USA--Once again the world famous hedge hog Punxatawdry Ben came out of his Jackass Island printing bunker and failed to see the shadow banks.

According to Punxatawdry Ben's trainer Lloyd Blankenfein, this can be interpreted to mean that cash strapped Wall Street bankstas and fat cats can happily look forward to many more ink filled printing rounds of quantitative schtupping in 2012.

"The ground hog is like most other prophets; it delivers it's prediction and then disappears."--Bill Vaughn

"Punxatawdry Ben is the bellwether of false profits; he prints predictably and then the ink disappears."--WilliamBanzai7

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Zombiefied Drug Trade

We had lunch with an old friend last week. We hadn’t seen him since our school days in the ’60s. He told us the following story.

“It’s amazing. I’ve lived there all my life. But I’m a little different, I guess. My brothers are doctors and lawyers. I did them a favor by being the black sheep of the family. So they didn’t have to be.

“I live in a rich neighborhood. But I don’t work much. I can’t work at all now, since I had my motorcycle accident. And I guess people wonder how I could live in such a place. Well, the answer is simple. My father was an eye surgeon and he bought it in 1941 and gave it to his children when he died.

“Well, somehow, the idea got out that we were drug dealers. The police started keeping an eye on us. There was an old van parked on the property. They figured it was for transporting drugs. And then, I had a couple of Mexicans helping me on the farm. They figured those guys must be drug runners. I don’t know how it all happened, because I’ve been there for more than 60 years…and anyone could have asked me what was going on.

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California Woman Beats Honda In Court Over MPG

(CBS News) A California woman's small claims court victory against Honda could have a huge impact on the global auto giant. On Wednesday, Honda was ordered to pay Heather Peters for misleading her about the gas mileage her Civic Hybrid would achieve, and other car owners could follow in the steps of the former lawyer who took on a corporate giant, and won.

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QUOTES OF THE DAY 2-2-12

The seductive notion that some Big Daddy in Washington can solve our problems for us– whether healing the sick, preventing poverty or “growing the economy”– is encouraged by politicians for obvious reasons, and the media echo the idea. Thomas Sowell

The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work and then they get elected and prove it. P.J. O’Rourke

It is amazing that people who think we cannot afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, and medication somehow think that we can afford to pay for doctors, hospitals, medication and a government bureaucracy to administer it. Thomas Sowell

What most persons consider as virtue, after the age of 40 is simply a loss of energy. Voltaire

No matter how disastrously some policy has turned out, anyone who criticizes it can expect to hear: “But what would you replace it with?” When you put out a fire, what do you replace it with? Thomas Sowell

A long war almost always places nations in this sad alternative: that their defeat delivers them to destruction and their triumph to despotism Alexis de Tocqueville

The usual road to slavery is that first they take away your guns, then they take away your property, then last of all they tell you to shut up and say you are enjoying it. James A. Donald

The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out… without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable. H. L. Mencken

For society as a whole, nothing comes as a ‘right’ to which we are ‘entitled’. Even bare subsistence has to be produced…. The only way anyone can have a right to something that has to be produced is to force someone else to produce it… The more things are provided as rights, the less the recipients have to work and the more the providers have to carry the load. Thomas Sowell

There are 10^11 stars in the galaxy. That used to be a huge number. But it’s only a hundred billion. It’s less than the national deficit! We used to call them astronomical numbers. Now we should call them economical numbers Richard Feynman

Potentially, a government is the most dangerous threat to man’s rights: it holds a legal monopoly on the use of physical force against legally disarmed victims. Ayn Rand

Anonymous Hacks White Supremacist Site, Finds Direct Links To Ron Paul

The “anti-fascist” wing of the “Anonymous” hacker group has broken into a website run by the white supremacist American Third Position (A3P), and released a document dump consisting of private forum messages, emails, organizational notes, and other personal information.

The documents show numerous connections between Republican candidate Ron Paul and these racist Neanderthals; they’re heavily involved in campaigning for Paul, and according to the messages, have held regular meetings with Ron Paul himself:Ron Paul, the American Third Position Party and Stormfront.

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A Key Step Forward For Offshore Wind In Maryland The Obama Administration Announces

BALTIMORE—Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a major step toward developing wind energy off the coasts of Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia this morning. Joined by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Tommy P. Beaudreau in Baltimore, Secretary Salazar announced that the environmental review of the proposed areas for wind development found no significant impacts, signaling a step closer to wind turbines spinning off our coasts.

Environment Maryland Field Organizer Ewa Krason issued the following statement in response:

“There is tremendous potential for producing clean, pollution-free wind energy off of Maryland’s coast. We are thrilled that the Obama administration has announced another critical step in making this vision a reality.

“Tapping into the power of offshore wind in Maryland is vital to getting our state and the nation off fossil fuels without creating more pollution. A report released by Environment America and the National Wildlife Federation shows that along the Atlantic coast alone, reaching the Department of Energy’s conservative goal of 54 gigawatts of offshore wind power would reduce global warming pollution by the equivalent of taking nearly 18 million cars off the road. A bold commitment to clean energy such as offshore wind would also significantly reduce harmful air pollution and reduce the risk of oil spills and other fossil fuel-related disasters.

“We applaud this step forward and the Obama administration for their leadership in ensuring that responsibly-sited offshore wind becomes a reality in Maryland as soon as possible.”

What Will Happen If Obama Wins Again?

ORLANDO, Fla.—“We cannot survive four more years of this!” moaned Kelly Clem-Rickon. She was one of Newt Gingrich’s Hillsborough County co-chairs, assigned to keep a Tampa crowd cheering and cheerful while the candidate made his delayed way over to give a speech. “We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into 1,000 years of darkness!”


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STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 2, 2012) – Governor Martin O’Malley today issued the following statement on Black History Month:

“This month, we honor and celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans to our nation.

“Frederick Douglass once said, ‘We are one, our cause is one, and we must help each other if we are to succeed.’ Black History- a rich, proud and ongoing history- is all of our history. It is part of the common thread of human dignity that unites us. And so it is not just this month, but every month, that we should come together to reflect on our African American ancestors, and the generations before of hardworking Marylanders who sacrificed to create a better State for generations to come.

“Thanks to so many great leaders who came before us, courageous men and women of character and wisdom, we are able to enjoy a better quality of life. And as we look back on their accomplishments, we should have the strength to choose a better future for our children.”

US No-Fly List Doubles In 1 Year

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even as the Obama administration says it's close to defeating al-Qaida, the size of the government's secret list of suspected terrorists who are banned from flying to or within the United States has more than doubled in the past year, The Associated Press has learned.

The no-fly list jumped from about 10,000 known or suspected terrorists one year ago to about 21,000, according to government figures provided to the AP. Most people on the list are from other countries; about 500 are Americans.

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Muslims Declare Jihad On Dogs In Europe

A Dutch Muslim politician has called for a ban on dogs in The Hague, the third-largest city in the Netherlands.

Islamic legal tradition holds that dogs are "unclean" animals, and some say the call to ban them in Holland and elsewhere represents an attempted encroachment of Islamic Sharia law in Europe.

This latest canine controversy -- which the Dutch public has greeted with a mix of amusement and outrage -- follows dozens of other Muslim-vs-dog-related incidents in Europe. Critics say it reflects the growing assertiveness of Muslims in Europe as they attempt to impose Islamic legal and religious norms on European society.

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Study Finds Possible Link Between Anesthesia And ADHD

Young children who undergo multiple procedures requiring anesthesia could be at higher risk for developing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later on, according to a new study published in the current issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

 Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. and Children's Hospital in Boston analyzed the medical records of more than 5,300 children previously enrolled in other studies. They found that children younger than two years old who underwent more than one procedure that called for anesthesia were more likely to develop ADHD.

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Isn't this the truth?

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 2-2-12

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the community to be aware of telephone scams. Residents of Worcester County have received phone calls from persons identifying themselves as an attorney. That person tells their perspective victim that they have defaulted on a loan or owe a company money and are required to pay them. The suspects have the victim’s social security number and other personal information thus making the victim believe they are legitimate when in fact they are not. The suspects are identifying themselves as attorneys or working for attorneys.

The suspects often times have received the victim’s information from applications to companies such as Pay Day loans.

The suspects are relentless and call the victims multiple times demanding payment and further personal information.

The phone number that has been showing up on the victim’s caller ID from the suspects is 213-550-2032. When that number is called back you may receive a fast busy signal.

Please remember not to give out ANY personal information over the phone. If you have outstanding loans you should contact your lending company directly to determine the status of your loan. Be leery of anyone demanding money or information from you.

Remember you have the right to hang up the phone. Do not let these suspects pressure you into staying on the phone and giving out personal information.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact your local Law Enforcement agency.

5.6 Million Americans Have Switched Their Banks In The Last 90 Days

Back in November, the Occupy Wall Street movement inspired “Bank Transfer Day,” a day for Americans fed up with the actions of the nation’s biggest banks to move their money to a different institution. Initial estimates of the impact of Bank Transfer Day placed the number of accounts moved at around 600,000, but later estimates revised that downward to around 200,000.


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Gift From US Post Office

We don't know who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.


Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how mu ch she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the p ost office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

House GOP Moves To Repeal Part Of Health Care Reform

Repealing part of health care reform… the 2012 election arrives in fine form. The GOP controlled House is back in full swing this week. Any question regarding whether anything will get done in the U.S. House this year would appear to have found an answer. Their first big move of the House in 2012? Repealing the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act — translation: killing long term health insurance and a piece of “Obamacare.” Most if not all members of the CBC are likely to vote against the repeal. Below is a press release by Rep. Alcee Hastings that is probably typical of most members. Reps. Gwen Moore, Keith Ellison, Hank Johnson, Sheila Jackson Lee and Barbara Lee spoke out against the bill today.

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Lewes Walgreens Pharmacy Robbery

Location:
Walgreens, 17239 Five Points Square, Lewes, DE

Date of Occurrence:
Wednesday February 2, 2012 at 1:45 a.m.

Victim:
40 year old male employee

Suspect:
White male, 25-35 years of age, 5”10”-6”0” tall, 175-200 lbs. Last seen wearing black jacket, grey pants, dark hat, white sneakers and dark colored gloves.
No surveillance photos available at this time.

Resume:
Lewes, DE-Delaware State Police Detectives are investigating the robbery of the Walgreens Pharmacy located in Five Points Plaza, which occurred early this morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:45 a.m. this morning as the suspect entered the Walgreens located in Five Points Square. The suspect approached the 40 year old female employee at the pharmacy counter. The suspect presented a demand note for prescription narcotics and implied that he had a gun. The employee complied and turned over an undisclosed amount of narcotic medication. The suspect fled the store on foot with the narcotics. There were no injuries as a result of this incident.

To offer information in reference to this incident, the public is asked to contact Troop 4 at 302-856-5850 extension 211 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333. Information may also be provided via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com

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

DEA Inquiries Into State's Medical Marijuana Industry Include Legislators

Diane Sands is used to having her name taken in vain.

That's just part of being a liberal from Missoula in the Montana Legislature.

But her name surfaced recently in a way that offended and troubled her at a profound level.

A possible witness in a federal drug investigation was asked whether Sands might be part of a conspiracy to sell medical marijuana. The questions came from Drug Enforcement Administration agents from Billings who were investigating medical marijuana businesses, and Sands learned about the inquiry from the witness' attorney.

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Cite Obama With Contempt, Lawyers Urge

A Georgia resident contending Barack Obama is ineligible for the state’s 2012 presidential election ballot is asking that a court cite him with contempt.

In a motion filed in the case pending before Georgia Administrative Law Judge Michael Malihi, attorney Van Irion, representing David P. Weldon, urged the court not to overlook the fact that Obama had been subpoenaed for last week’s hearing. Obama’s attorney, he pointed out, acknowledged the subpoena by asking that it be quashed. But when the judge refused his request, he told a state elections official he would not participate.

“Plaintiff Weldon moves this court to refer an order for contempt to the Superior Court for confirmation that defendant Obama is in contempt of court,” the motions says. “Grounds for this motion are that defendant Obama willfully defied this court’s order to appear and testify during this court’s hearing of January 26.”

The motion explains that when Malihi refused to quash the subpoena, Obama and his attorney, Michael Jablonski, “requested that the Secretary of State [Brian Kemp] halt the proceedings. … The letter ended with a statement that the defendant and his attorney would suspend all further participation in the proceedings of this court pending response.”

But after Kemp confirmed later that day that the hearing would continue and said that failing to participate “would be at the defendant’s peril,” Obama and his lawyer still refused to attend.

The letter from Obama’s lawyer to the state official, “coupled with the defendant’s willful refusal to comply with an order of this court, represent a direct threat to the rule of law,” the motion says. “The … actions represent a direct threat to the entire judicial branch and the separation of powers.”

Willfully ignoring a court subpoena is “unprecedented,” Irion writes. “While past presidents have litigated against subpoenas, in every case those presidents acknowledged and respected the authority of the judicial branch. … In the instant case the defendant did not appeal to a higher court, and instead instructed the Secretary of State that he would not participate. … When the Secretary of State refused to act in an unlawful manner the defendant ignored the Secretary of State, violated an order of this court, and apparently instructed his attorney to act in a manner that violates the professional rules of conduct of this state.”

Obama’s action, he says, “amounts to no less than a declaration of total dictatorial authority. Such declaration cannot go without response from this court.

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A Board Of Ed Partial Comment Worthy Of A Post

I do have a question. Are there cafeteria workers that were terminated for stealing "throw away food"? Are there others on leave for sloppy paperwork? It would be nice to know just how many people are on administrative leave.

House Bans Welfare Recipients' Money From Strip Clubs, Liquor Stores

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that prohibits welfare recipients from using their government subsidy in strip clubs, liquor stores and casinos.


The measure easily received the necessary support of two-thirds of House members, with 395 voting in favor and only 27 opposing.


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House Republicans Flex Their Muscles

The House voted Wednesday to freeze federal workers' pay until the end of 2013.

The 309-117 vote put Democrats on the defensive — 72 crossed the aisle to join the Republican majority — and gave the GOP political momentum for the first time since the fall.

The Democratic defections came in defiance of opposition from Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and President Obama, who has proposed a 0.5 percent federal raise for 2012.

The legislation came in a blitz of GOP fiscal bills designed to regain the upper hand Republicans lost when Obama and the Democrats handed them a heavy defeat last year on extending the payroll tax holiday.

It was one of several victories Wednesday on the House floor.

The House also easily approved another bill aimed at cutting welfare fraud by preventing recipients from accessing money in strip clubs, casinos and liquor stores. Only a few dozen Democrats opposed that bill.

Republicans passed a third bill, a resolution chopping most committee budgets by 6.4 percent or more for 2012. Democrats put up token resistance to that proposal, but it was approved quickly on a voice vote.

And finally, the House approved legislation to repeal a piece of the 2010 healthcare law setting up a voluntary long-term health insurance program that even the Obama administration found to be financially untenable. More than two dozen Democrats joined Republicans in that 267-159 vote.

The Republicans’ fierce fiscal attack marked the first full week back at work after more than a month, during which Obama made four controversial recess appointments that Republicans opposed.

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Demand Congress Cut The Military Budget

Congressional Republicans are attempting to undo cuts to the military budget mandated by last fall's across-the-board "sequestration" process. The failure of the debt ceiling debateto produce a deficit-reduction plantriggered, among other things, a required $492 billion in military cuts over the next decade. 

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon, R-Calif., along with Florida Republican Rep. Ander Crenshaw, in December introduced the Down Payment to Protect National Security Act that would require a 10 percent cut in the federal workforce as an alternative to the first year of military cuts. 


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Indiana Becomes Right-To-Work State As Daniels Signs Bill

Governor Mitch Daniels made Indiana the nation’s 23rd right-to-work state by signing a bill exempting nonunion employees from paying dues when working alongside their unionized colleagues.

Daniels enacted the measure yesterday about four hours after the state Senate gave it final passage on a 28-22 vote, ending a contentious debate over a law that Republicans view as a cost- cutting, job-creating tool, while Democrats call it a wage- lowering union buster.

“This law won’t be a magic answer but we’ll be far better off with it,” Daniels said in a statement from Indianapolis. “No one’s wages will go down, no one’s benefits will be reduced, and the right to organize and bargain collectively is untouched an intact.”

Twenty-two states, mostly in the Deep South and the Rocky Mountain West, had already enacted right-to-work laws. Most recently, Oklahoma passed its law in 2001. Republican gains in the 2010 elections prompted legislation in states including Wisconsin and Ohio aimed at restricting bargaining rights for government workers’ unions.

Indiana’s measure targets labor contracts with businesses. Union members composed 10.9 percent of the state’s workforce in 2010, according to the U.S. Labor Statistics Bureau. That’s down from 15.4 percent in 2000.

“There is no empirical evidence, if you take the time to read the studies, that right-to-work creates one job,” Democrat Senator Vi Simpson of Ellettsville said in debate before the vote. “We can expect lower wages for our people.”

Senators debated the bill for almost two hours as union members outside and inside the statehouse chanted, “Kill the bill.”

Republican Senator Carlin Yoder of Middlebury, the bill’s sponsor, said unions “will still be allowed to exist.” During floor debate, Yoder said right to work gives “freedom to those who don’t want to be part of something they don’t believe in.”

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the bill Jan. 26, ending three weeks of Democrat boycotts that prevented the chamber from operating.

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State Of The State Speech

The Governor Who Broke the Camel’s Back

Thoughts on the State of the State

By Delegate Mike McDermott

Every beast of burden has a limit where the proverbial “last straw” brings an end to any future. In his State of the State Address, Governor O’Malley seemed intent on finding out exactly where that end may be with Maryland families and businesses.

The speech contained nothing new. Within the first few minutes, the governor blamed former President Bush for Maryland’s current problems. Perhaps it would have been best if the governor had ended on that note, but he proceeded to tell us how he was going to “strengthen Maryland families and small business” by increasing a multitude of their taxes.

The Governor does not understand the negative impact his gas and income tax hikes will have on Maryland families. Although he aligns himself with the “common man,” he recently could not identify the average price of gas, bread, or milk in Maryland, because his staff shops for him. (WJZ - Vic Carter interview with Gov. O’Malley on 1/31/12). This could be part of the problem.

If O’Malley gets his way, Maryland’s gas tax will rise to 58.9 cents per gallon, making it the fifth highest in the nation. (Baltimore Sun, “MD Could get 5th Highest Gas Tax Under O’Malley Plan” by Jay Hancock.) This is not exactly the direction to move in if we want to protect our struggling families and make our state competitive and business friendly. In fact, rural Marylanders will bear the brunt of the tax increase, since they consume more fuel than their urban counterparts. Likewise, every item we ship or receive on the Shore will have this cost passed on to us as consumers, robbing families of what remains of their discretionary funds.

Perhaps the saddest indictment for this current state of affairs is how these budget debts will be passed on to coming generations. The governor and the Democrat leaders like to call this “investing in the future,” but what responsible parent gives their child a credit card that is already maxed out? In Maryland government, it has become a common practice for us to build playgrounds for our children that their children will pay for. Maryland citizens already carry more personal debt than their neighbors in 47 other states (Yahoo Finance July 26, 2011). This does not even include our student loan debt. We can pass the buck, but unfortunately our children won’t be able to.

The growth the governor seeks is in the public sector. The jobs he seeks to preserve or expand reside with the government. When jobs are already dwindling, every dollar spent in the public sector is just one more dollar pulled from the private sector. We need our construction crews busy building homes, factories, and office space based upon the actual consumer need that expands the economy. It is a flourishing private sector that generates the jobs that provide the taxes to support the infrastructure projects of which the governor is so fond. Our private sector must drive our recovery. Small business and entrepreneurs must lead the charge. The governor can help by clearing obstacles. He alluded to this in his speech, and I encourage him to do more in the years left in his term.

The governor is a big-government guy; government is his natural fall-back position. If the private sector will not build his project, he is apt to have the state build it, regardless of the risk or cost. Off-shore wind finds itself in this camp. It is too risky to garner private support - or it would already have been done. We have seen this in Delaware just last month with the evaporating private sector support for these projects. Yet the governor is attempting to go against the winds of a common-sense market place by advancing the idea that the tax payers and rate payers of Maryland should hamstring their collective futures by agreeing to subsidize Big Wind. “Feeling good” can be the by-product of a good decision, but it can also be used as an excuse to do that which makes no practical sense.

This administration refuses to drill for vast natural gas deposits in Marcellus Shale, so we import our gas from Pennsylvania and pay more for the privilege. We boost their state’s economy at our own peril. That does not make any Maryland family “feel good” about their pocket book. There are ongoing private ventures centered on land-based wind and solar energy. Both are funded by the private sector and profitable. Why are we not encouraging and expanding these successes?

The speech’s premise that private sector growth is driven by public sector expansion is a flawed approach that we have seen on even grander scales in the form of various federal stimulus programs in recent years. We cannot expand the public sector without damaging the private, and we cannot spend our way out of our deficits. No matter how many times you say otherwise does not make it so.

How 'Anonymous' Went From Mischief Makers To A Force That Terrifies Corporations And Governments

Anonymous activists have become terrifying to the powers that be, despite (or perhaps because of) their apparent disorganization and probably in excess of their actual capacity.

The enigmatic Internet-driven collective Anonymous, thank goodness, has an anthropologist in its midst. For a few years now, Gabriella Coleman has been arduously participant-observing in IRC chat rooms, watching Anonymous turn from a prankster moniker to a herd of vigilantes for global justice. In an extraordinary new essay at Triple Canopy, “Our Weirdness Is Free,” she summarizes what Anonymous is all about this way:

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HERE'S THE FBI

Fitchburg woman and daughter ‘terrified’ as saw rips down door after getting wrong address in drug sweep

By Michael Hartwell, mhartwell@sentinelandenterprise.com
FITCHBURG — It was a horror movie come to life.

Judy Sanchez woke Thursday to the sound of heavy footsteps in her stairwell, followed by a loud motor. She got to her kitchen in time to see the blade of a chain saw rip through her front door.

“It was so crazy,” Judy Sanchez said. “I was terrified.”

Jan. 26 was the day of Operation Red Wolf, a multiagency sweep during which 16 people in Fitchburg were arrested on charges related to gang activity, drug trafficking and illegal gun sales after a two-year investigation by federal, state and local law-enforcement officers.

The people sawing through her door were FBI agents, looking for a gang member suspected of trafficking cocaine. But they went to the wrong address.

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American Airline Workers Blast Bain, Prepare for Bankruptcy Fight (UPDATED)

UPDATE: On Wednesday, February 1, AA announced it intends to cut its labor costs by 20%, eliminate 13,000 jobs, replace its pension plans wih 401(k) plans and end company-paid retiree healthcare

As Mitt Romney campaigns in today’s Florida presidential primary, airline workers have been following him with a message about one of his old company’s newest clients: Airline giant AMR, the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle. AMR, which filed for bankruptcy in November, last week announced plans to retain the advice of Bain & Co., the consulting firm where Romney worked before co-founding private equity firm Bain Capital in 1985.

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Homeless Man Passes Away

A homeless man by the name of Mark Hake was found dead in his tent this morning.

"I'm Bill Gross And I Endorse Ron Paul For President"

As a follow up to today's must read letter [9]from Bill Gross, the PIMCO head explains what was the thinking behind the conclusion that is slowly leading him to become a gold bug, the potentially erroneous assumption that the Fed can not drop rates below zero (not if Goldman and JPM have their way), why Bernanke has no choice but to write checks when the Twist ends in June which will lead to bond buying for the next 12-24-36 months. Nothing new. What is new, and absolutely stunning, is Gross' endorsement for president: 'I'm a little Ron Paulish." (6'24" into the clip)... That's right. The bond king endorses Ron Paul for president, apparently on the realization that very soon he will have to pay Tim Geithner [10]for the privilege of holding hundreds of billions in US paper. And now we've heard it all.

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Never Call The Police: Single Mother In Milwaukee Raped By Cop – Then Arrested For “Assaulting An Officer”

Crime victims who call 911 often discover that while the police can’t offer help, they can always make the situation significantly worse – as a single mother from Milwaukee learned when she was raped by one of the cops who responded to her call, then arrested for “assaulting an officer.”

Police Officer Ladmarald Cates was one of two Milwaukee cops who responded to a 911 call from the anxious single mother after someone had pitched a brick through her bathroom window.  He arranged to be alone with the woman, then raped her.

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