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Tuesday, July 06, 2010

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Be A Friend And A Good Neighbor

Folks, with the heat soaring above 100 degrees, please look out for your neighbors pets. If you know of an animal outdoors right now, a bowl of nice cold water would do wonders for them while their owners are at work. Be A Friend.

CRABS

Who has the best steamed crabs on the shore? Eat in or take out, I want to know who serves up the best, fattest, tastiest steamed crabs.

I grew up in Baltimore County and crabs were a plenty. I've lived on the shore for 13 years now and I must say, the choices for crabs are few and far between. I thought moving here I would be in crab heaven, but that hasn't been the case.

My wife got me a bushel for my birthday and the company she got them from didn't put any seasoning on them. I didn't know this was even allowed! Needless to say they were taken back for some with the seasoning and I'll give a review of them later.

Don't Miss Our 6 PM News Broadcast Tonight

Don't miss our Special "Meet The Candidates" Show TONIGHT at 6 PM.
Our first Guest will be
Julie Dillworth Brewington. This is a show you do NOT want to miss!

Follow Up To Hebron Death Investigation

INCIDENT: Death Investigation
DATE: June 28, 2010
LOCATION: 400 E Walnut St., Hebron, MD

NARRATIVE:
In regards to the death investigation of the two victims found at the above address, the Office of the Cheif Medical Examiner of MD has determined the cause of death to be Methadone Intoxication.

Anyone with information is requested to contact WBI at 410-548-4898.

MSP Wicomico Bureau of Investigation

Is It Hot Enough For You?

Justice Dept. Challenges Ariz. Immigration Law

Lawsuit questions constitutionality of controversial bill targeting illegal immigrants

The U.S. Justice Department is filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Arizona's new law targeting illegal immigrants, setting the stage for a clash between the federal government and state over the nation's toughest immigration crackdown.

The planned lawsuit was confirmed to The Associated Press by a Justice Department official with knowledge of the plans. The official didn't want to be identified before a public announcement planned for later Tuesday.

The lawsuit will argue that Arizona's new measure requiring state and local police to question and possibly arrest illegal immigrants during the enforcement of other laws, like traffic stops, usurps federal authority.

Tuesday's action has been expected for weeks. President Barack Obama has called the state law misguided. Supporters say it is a reasonable reaction to federal inaction on immigration.

The law requires officers, while enforcing other laws, to question a person's immigration status if there's a reasonable suspicion that they are in the country illegally.

GO HERE to read more.

Post Office Proposes 2-Cent Rate Hike

Agency faces losses and a deep financial crisis

WASHINGTON — The post office wants to increase the price of a stamp by 2 cents to 46 cents starting in January. The agency has been battered by massive losses and declining mail volume and faces a financial crisis.

Postal officials announced a wide-ranging series of proposed price increases Tuesday, averaging about 5 percent, and covering first class, advertising mail, periodicals, packages and other services.

The request now goes to the independent Postal Rate Commission which has 90 days to respond. If approved, the increase would take effect Jan. 2.

"The Postal Service faces a serious risk of financial insolvency," postal vice president Stephen M. Kearney said.

Kearney said the agency is facing a $7 billion loss in 2011. The rate increase will bring in an extra $2.5 billion, meaning it still faces a $4.7 billion loss.

The rate increase is part of a series of money-saving plans announced in March. These also include reducing mail deliveries to five days a week, closing offices and making other cuts in expenses. Congress must agree to eliminating deliveries on Saturdays.

While the cost of a first-class stamp would go up to 46 cents, people who bought "Forever" stamps at lower prices will still be able to use them for first-class mail without paying the difference.

GO HERE to read more.

I Fought For You By The Sound Tank

Bob Ehrlich Renews Call For New Nuclear Facility At Calvert Cliffs

ANNAPOLIS – Bob Ehrlich today reiterated his long-standing support for a proposal to build a third nuclear reactor at Calvert Cliffs in Southern Maryland. He urged the federal government to finalize approval of a draft environmental impact statement and approve federal loan guarantees so that ground preparation work can begin on the new energy facility in the near future.

“The importance of expediting creation of more than 4,000 construction and 400 permanent jobs and generating clean, carbon-free energy for the nation cannot be overstated,” said Ehrlich.

“I’ve been proud to support this project for many years and urge the federal government to expedite approval of this application. I look forward to proactively advancing this project as governor without unnecessary delays. With 200,000 Marylanders unemployed and our energy supplies stressed, job creation in this industry and a move toward energy independence must be a central priority.”

"The citizens if Southern Maryland know of Governor Ehrlich's longstanding support for expanding generating capacity at Calvert Cliffs," said Maryland House Minority leader Tony O'Donnell. "In 2006, the Calvert County Delegation submitted HB 1183 to allow county government to put together a tax incentive package for job-creating projects like Calvert Cliffs III. This was a significant piece of legislation for bringing Calvert Cliffs III closer to reality and Governor Ehrlich signed the bill into law. His administration was supportive and helpful in every respect, and we are pleased that he will proactively support the citizens and leaders of Southern Maryland in our efforts to seek final approvals for Calvert Cliffs III."


An application for a combined construction and operating license was previously submitted for the new reactor facility and is pending before the federal government. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is currently reviewing the application, which includes a draft environmental impact statement to build the plant next to the existing Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant in Lusby. In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy is considering the Calvert Cliffs 3 project for a federal loan guarantee that would be critical to financing this carbon-free energy project.

Background: The Calvert County Board of Commissioners estimates the new power plant would eventually generate $20 million in new annual revenue for the county, 4,000 construction jobs, and up to 400 permanent jobs in the community. The project application has strong bipartisan support in the local community.

Arizona Democrats Contest Obama's Assertions On Border Security

Anticipating a furor of voter criticism over the July Fourth recess, Democratic lawmakers from the border region shot back at the White House last week, challenging the president’s speech on immigration in which he said that the southern border is secure.

Arizona Democratic Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, Harry Mitchell and Gabrielle Giffords joined a growing Republican chorus in denouncing President Barack Obama for not pushing for more specific action in his Thursday speech on the nation’s immigration and border security issues.

Obama said that the U.S.-Mexico border is more secure today than at any time in the past 20 years. But the three Arizona Democrats disagreed.

“The crisis on America’s borders won’t be addressed with words,” said Giffords. “I was disappointed to hear the president give short shrift to border security concerns by saying that our nation’s southern border is more secure today than at any time in the past 20 years.

“That is not a sign of progress, it is a statement on the poor job we have done in securing the border for the past two decades.”

As their constituents continue to clamor that more must be done to secure the borders, the first- and second-term Arizona Democrats are increasingly bucking their own party’s stance on border security.

All three lawmakers have acknowledged the charged politics behind the border security and immigration debate. And though none of them are likely to lose their seats this November, their races have been listed as some of the most contentious in the region.

“As any politician knows, it is easier to make speeches than it is to make progress, and we need more than talk from the White House and Congress right now,” said Kirkpatrick.

Read more

Obama Mum On Bush's Borders For Israel

As Israel's prime minister prepares for his fifth official meeting with President Obama this week, the White House has declined to publicly affirm commitments made by President Bush to Israel in 2004 on the final borders of the Jewish state.

The interpretation of a 2004 letter from Mr. Bush to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has been a source of tension between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Obama.

Mr. Netanyahu is expected in the meeting on Tuesday to discuss both the prospects for direct talks with the Palestinians and whether he will renew a 10-month freeze of new settlement construction on the West Bank. Both leaders are also looking to improve the negative atmosphere of the U.S.-Israeli relationship in the past year.

The Israelis maintain that Mr. Bush's letter is the foundation for the United States to accept new construction in the Jewish settlements that encircle Jerusalem, areas that make up the vast majority of the Jewish population on the West Bank.

Mr. Obama and his White House team have fought to get Mr. Netanyahu to stop new settlement construction in Jerusalem and are hoping the Israelis will extend a new construction freeze for the West Bank that is set to expire in September.

The April 14, 2004, letter from Mr. Bush to Mr. Sharon said a final peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians should reflect "new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers," and that "it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949."

Mr. Bush's letter also said Palestinians would have to agree to the final borders, yet at the time the letter was touted as a major concession by Mr. Sharon's top advisers as Israel was preparing to withdraw settlements and Israeli troops from Gaza unilaterally.

During a conference call Friday with reporters, Dan Shapiro, the White House National Security Council's senior director for the Middle East and North Africa, declined to say whether the 2004 letter reflected the Obama administration's understanding of the parameters or borders of a final settlement to the conflict.

"I don't think … we'll have a comment on these kinds of … private discussions that we're having with the parties. We have a very good understanding with our Israeli partners about the foundations of this relationship and this effort to move toward our shared goal of comprehensive peace and two states," he said.

More from The Washington Times

Blogger Having Major Issues

While I have to say that Blogger has to be the most consistent Website I have ever worked with, right now they are having issues with comments.

If you don't see your comment come up, it's a Blogger issue. We went into their Help Page and there are numerous other Blogs having the same issue.

Sorry for the inconvenience Folks. I'm confident they will have it resolved soon enough.

Poll: More Think Obama Stimulus Hurt Employment Than Helped

A plurality of Americans believe President Barack Obama’s stimulus package has harmed economic growth, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released on Friday.

Less than a third, 29 percent, believe the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus package, improved the economy. Meanwhile, 43 percent believe it hurt the economy.

The survey was released the same day that the Labor Department released its monthly figures showing that while the number of job cuts were 125,000, the unemployment rate went down from 9.7 percent to 9.5 percent, or two-tenths of a percentage point. President Obama signed the $787 billion stimulus package in February 2009, vowing the bill would save or create 3.5 million to 4 million jobs.

In what Republican lawmakers would likely consider good news, 69 percent in the Rasmussen poll believe tax cuts are a better way to create jobs than more government spending.

But Republican or Democratic policies aside, most voters are looking to the private sector more than government to revive the economy.

“Ultimately, though, voters are looking to the private sector to create jobs,” the poll says. “Sixty-five percent (65%) say that decisions made by business owners seeking to grow their business will do more to create jobs than decisions made by government officials. Just 23% expect the government officials to have a bigger impact.”

During brief remarks Friday at Andrews Air Force Base, Obama said the economy is clearly moving in the right direction.

Here is more

Lost Dog Near Hall Drive UPDATE


Joe,

I just wanted to let you know Champ has been recovered thanks to the comment posted this morning on your website. We appreciate all of your help and the help of your readers in bringing him home to his family. This website is great in getting the word out quickly. Thanks again.

The Townsend Family


Lost dog Sunday night from Hall Drive, is wearing a yellow and black collar.


If found or have information on him you can call 410-742-7513 or 410-603-7513.


Answers to Champ.

Thanks for all of your help.

Sexual Assault Investigation

Date & Time: 7/5/10 Case #: 10-0145
Location Occurred: Frances Scott Key Motel, 12806 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD
Crime or Violation: Rape/Sex Offense
Victim: Female, 26yrs of age
Accused: Unknown white male subject, no further description available
Charges: N/A

Narrative:
On the morning of 7-5-10, Troopers from the Maryland State Police
responded to the Francis Scott Key Motel, 12806 Ocean Gateway for a reported
Rape/Sex Offense. Investigation revealed the female victim, age 26, reported
that sometime during the early morning hours of 7-5-10, she was raped by an
unknown white male subject, in a field area near the Francis Scott Key Motel.
The victim was transported to Atlantic General Hospital where she was treated
for non-life threatening injuries and released. An extensive search of the area
by Investigators with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation and State
Troopers, failed to locate the suspect.

An Investigation is continuing, and anyone with any information in regards to
this investigation is asked to contact WCBI at (410)352-3476, or the Maryland
State Police at (410)641-3101.

Calendar Of Events

If you have a special event you'd like published on Salisbury News, send your info with full details to, alberobutzo@wmconnect.com and we'll get it up right away.

We were pleased to run into people in Willards and Allen who told us they wouldn't have known about those events if it wasn't for our Calendar of Events, so we know it does work.

A Letter To The Editor

SALISBURY SHOULD PAY FOR ITS ABUSE OF PROPERTY OWNER

A City property owner was recently forced to pay more than a thousand dollars in legal fees to defend her rights because of Jim Ireton’s war on residential landlords. After embarking on a major renovation of her premises and getting a permit for the work from the City, she was cited for having an illegal apartment. She hired an attorney and got the zoning board to shoot down the citation. The board determined that the apartment was legal because it had already made that ruling some years ago.

The result: both the City and the property owner have legal bills that are entirely unnecessary. It’s outrageous that the owner had to defend against a completely bogus charge that the City should have investigated and dropped before issuing the citation. The first ruling by the board was filed in the City’s records.

There is no excuse for this abuse of the property owner. If Ireton would direct the City’s code compliance personnel to cease making up lists of “slum property” to post on the City’s website and instead determine whether so called illegal apartments have been approved by the zoning board, episodes such as this one would not occur. In this instance an apology (assuming Ireton has offered one) is not enough, and the City should pay the owner’s legal bill regardless of whether the oversight was the fault of Ireton or someone else in the Government Office Building.

Beat The Peak Today And Tomorrow, July 6th And July 7th, Between 3 p.m. And 7 p.m.


GREENWOOD-Because of the hot temperatures over our region, Delaware Electric Cooperative and Choptank Electric Cooperative are asking all of their members to voluntarily conserve or limit energy usage between the hours of 3 pm and 7 pm, today and tomorrow, July 6th and July 7th, when our membership will be using the greatest amount of electricity and as a result the cooperatives will be purchasing power from the market at extremely high prices.

During "normal" load periods we pay only pennies per kilowatt-hour for power. However, during "Peak" demand or energy periods when the temperatures rise, we can pay up to one dollar per kilowatt-hour and in turn, we must pass these higher costs on to our members which may have an impact on rates.

Between the hours of 3 pm and 7 pm, today and tomorrow we are asking our members to turn off all unnecessary lights and appliances that may not be needed. We would ask that our members delay major appliance usage such as dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers and delay any hot water usage.

Other important steps to take might include closing window shades and adjusting thermostats up 3 degrees during these "Peak" times.

Delaware Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility serving over 77,000 member-owners in Kent and Sussex County, Delaware.

Senators Say Steele On Hot Seat As GOP Chairman

WASHINGTON — Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham spoke from the war zone Sunday to condemn GOP chairman Michael Steele's comment that Afghanistan was a "war of Obama's choosing."


Neither GOP lawmaker, however, was outraged enough to demand Steele's resignation, as some other Republican have done. Both said from Kabul it was up to Steele to decide whether he could continue to lead the party.


Steele's remarks, a political gift to Democrats in a congressional election year, were captured Thursday on camera, during a Connecticut fundraiser that was closed to the news media, and posted online. The comments would make it difficult for Republican candidates to have Steele campaign for them.

"I think those statements are wildly inaccurate and there's no excuse for them," McCain said, adding that Steele sent the Arizona senator an e-mail saying the remarks "were misconstrued."

GO HERE to read more.

California Awards $20m Settlement In Dugard Case

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com


The California State Assembly has approved a $20 million settlement in the case of Jaycee Dugard, the woman held captive for 18 years as a virtual sex slave.

Expect A Scorcher Today

WASHINGTON - A heat advisory goes into effect at noon Tuesday, making it unbearably hot for the region.

"It will feel like 105-plus degrees through the afternoon," says ABC 7 Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff.

"Hunker down and find a cool spot. It's going to be rough."

Temperatures will be near 100 degrees with high humidity Tuesday, but the heat index values will make it feel hotter, creating conditions that could lead to heat-related illnesses. The heat advisory will be in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday.

In addition to a heat advisory, the air quality is a Code Orange and projected to be that through Thursday. The Metropolitan Council of Governments suggests seniors, adults with respiratory problems and young children limit their time outside.

GO HERE to read more.

Filing Deadline Tonight For Candidates; Some May Get Free Ride

As tonight’s 9 p.m. filing deadline for candidates for state and local office draws closer, some incumbents look like they will coast to new terms, while others will face tough battles to retain their seats.

As of Friday at 5 p.m., when the State Board of Elections last updated its candidate list, Attorney General Doug Gansler (right) and a dozen state senators – a quarter of the Senate, 11 of them Democrats – have a “free ride” to re-election, with no opponent filed in either the party primary or general election.

That could change today if someone files against them. It could also change in the weeks ahead, because party central committees can name a candidate in races for which no one has filed.

GO HERE to read more.

'Obama Appears Detached From Israel’ Says Former US Negotiator

Time is working against U.S. President Barack Obama, who appears to be “detached" from Israel, former U.S. Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller wrote in Politico.com Tuesday. He maintains “there is not much of a U.S. strategy yet” for Middle East peace.

President Obama and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are to meet Tuesday evening as the American government pulls out all stops for high-profile publicity to rectify the damage of an anti-Israel image it has created. The Republican party has pounced on President Obama for his shabby treatment of Prime Minister Netanyahu during his visit earlier this year and for its lukewarm support of Israel over the flotilla clash with Turkish terror activists.

Miller, who has become decidedly more skeptical since his years of negotiating for both Democratic and Republican presidents, wrote, “Unlike Netanyahu, Obama does seem in a hurry. He wants a two-state solution on his watch. Time is not his ally.

"It is not entirely clear why Obama considers this matter so urgent… If Washington presses too hard with its own ideas now, it could lead to a crisis, the breakdown of negotiations or the need for a premature U.S. plan. None of this would be good for Obama.”

Miller also said that unlike former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, “who seemed in love with Israel…Obama seems detached.”

More here

BP Spill Now Spoiling All Gulf States As Tar Balls Hit Texas

Congratulations to BP and all the others responsible for the Deepwater Horizon disaster. You've officially managed to screw up every U.S. state along the Gulf of Mexico. Texas had been the only of the five states bordering the greasy body of water to be untainted by the spill, but that changed over the weekend when the first batch of tar balls washed up on the shore of the Lone Star State.

More »

Sam's Club Will Offer Small Business Loans


Program will focus on minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses


BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club said Tuesday it will offer small business loans of up to $25,000 to its small business members.


The division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which is based in Bentonville, Ark., is testing a program with Superior Financial Group, one of 13 federally licensed nonbank lenders, and will offer $5,000 to $25,000 loans to members who qualify.


Sam's Club says 15 percent of its business members reported they were denied a loan in a November survey. That's up from 12 percent in April 2009.


The program will focus on minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.


Sam's Club members who apply for a small business loan during the pilot will receive $100 off the application fee, a 20 percent discount and a discount on interest rates.


GO HERE to read more.

Obama Decried, Then Used, Some Bush Drilling Policies

Choppy seas have limited the ability of 'skimmers' to collect oil in the Deepwater Horizon spill. Above, TMT Group's converted super tanker 'A Whale' in the Gulf on Sunday.

Less than four months after President Barack Obama took office, his new administration received a forceful warning about the dangers of offshore oil drilling.

The alarm was rung by a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., which found that the government was unprepared for a major spill at sea, relying on an "irrational" environmental analysis of the risks of offshore drilling.

The April 2009 ruling stunned both the administration and the oil industry, and threatened to delay or cancel dozens of offshore projects in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite its pro-environment pledges, the Obama administration urged the court to revisit the decision. Politically, it needed to push ahead with conventional oil production while it expanded support for renewable energy.

GO HERE to read more.

Montgomery Co. Officer Celebrates 55 Years On The Job

At 77, Lt. Thomas B. Jacocks is the longest-serving law enforcement officer in any Maryland agency.

The court liaison officer says he never set out to break a record - he just never got tired of being a police officer.

Chief Tom Manger describes Jacocks as a "cop's cop" and one of "Montgomery County's finest."

Jacocks was 22 when he joined the department on July 1, 1955. He says he had dreamed of being a police officer since he was 6 years old.

Source

Obama OKs Arms Sales To Arab League States On Eve of Netanyahu Visit

The administration of President Barack Obama has approved military sales to three Arab League states in advance of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The White House agreed to requests worth $500 million by Egypt, Oman and Tunisia for air defense upgrade, aircraft and naval ship support as well as helicopters.

"The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

The Pentagon announcements of the Arab requests, which require approval by Congress, came hours after the White House said Obama would press for the extension of Israel's freeze on Jewish construction in the West Bank and most of Jerusalem. White House aides said Obama would meet Netanyahu on July 6 amid enhanced Israeli-U.S. cooperation in intelligence, missile defense and security.

The administration has not approved an Israeli request for offensive military platforms since Obama took office in January 2009. Instead, the White House endorsed nearly $13 billion worth of Arab arms requests last year, and nearly $10 billion from Turkey.

More

RNC Foresees Big Cuts For Voter Drives

With the party banking on major gains in midterm elections, the Republican National Committee is suddenly being hit with a severe cut in money originally budgeted to help state parties identify and get voters to the polls on Nov. 2, The Washington Times has learned.

The cuts, which RNC officials say still must be approved by the budget committee, would slice by a third the amount of money originally budgeted for targeted political operations, including funds to help state parties hire staff and beef up get-out-the-vote operations.

The $12.2 million downward revision means that state GOP operations will have to trim their Election Day "victory" programs, according to a new budget blueprint prepared for RNC Chairman Michael S. Steele and sent to members of the budget committee for approval.

Mr. Steele also faces fresh controversy within the party over his comments last week questioning the war in Afghanistan and dismissing it as a "war of [President] Obama's choosing." Mr. Steele has tried to soften his remarks, but GOP neoconservatives are saying he should resign.

Republicans are hoping for major gains in November in House, Senate and gubernatorial races.

Other conservative organs, including the Republican Governors Association and the Karl Rove-backed independent American Crossroads group, have reported impressive fundraising numbers in recent days. Mr. Rove was a senior adviser to President George W. Bush.

"We have a great opportunity to take the House and Senate, but now with this kind of financial kick in the pants we may not have the resources to pull it off," a senior member of the Republican Party's national governing body told The Washington Times, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

(There's more details here)

Mexico's Drug War Heats Up Near Arizona Border


Very few residents dare to drive on one of the roads out of this watering-hole for migrants, fearing they will be stopped at gunpoint. They worry they will be told to turn around after their gas tanks are drained or, worse, be kidnapped or killed.

A shootout that left 21 people dead and six wounded on the road last week is the most gruesome sign that a relatively tranquil pocket of northern Mexico is quickly turning into a hotbed of drug-fueled violence on Arizona's doorstep. The violence in recent months is grist for supporters of the state's tough new law against illegal immigration, who are eager to portray the border as a lawless battlefield of smugglers both of drugs and humans.

Nogales, the main city in the region, which shares a border with the Arizona city of the same name, has had 131 murders so far this year, nearly surpassing 135 for all of 2009, according to a tally by the newspaper Diario de Sonora. That includes two heads found Thursday stuffed side by side between the bars of a cemetery fence.

The carnage still pales compared to other Mexican border cities, most notably Ciudad Juarez, which lies across from El Paso, Texas, which had 2,600 murders last year. But the increase shows that some small cattle-grazing towns near Nogales are now in the grip of drug traffickers who terrorize residents.

Read more here

7-Year-Old Crashes Boat, Kills Mother

A tragic boating accident on the Fourth of July left a 35-year-old woman dead, and Virginia Marine Police say her 7-year-old boy was piloting the boat when it crashed.

Police spokesman John Bull told DailyPress.com that five people were on board a motorboat on the Hampton River when someone gave up controls of the boat to the child. The boat turned sharply and went underneath a pier. The woman in the front of the boat was thrown into the windshield and then to the back of the boat. The woman, identified as Elizabeth J. Elliott of Hampton, died at Riverside Regional Hospital of severe heat trauma.

Its a terrible tragedy, Bull told the paper. People need to be safe on the water, they need to be cautious and they need to be safe."

Marine police are looking into the accident, but say Virginia has no age restrictions regarding the operation of a motorboat, but everyone must pass a boating safety education course.

Source

Today's Nature Photo By Scott Phoebus


Bethel De.

Widow Lived With Corpses Of Husband, Twin

'Death is very hard for me to take,' she says, as police investigate

WYALUSING, Pa. — The 91-year-old widow lived by herself in a tumbledown house on a desolate country road. But she wasn't alone, not really, not as long as she could visit her husband and twin sister.

No matter they were already dead. Jean Stevens simply had their embalmed corpses dug up and stored them at her house — in the case of her late husband, for more than a decade — tending to the remains as best she could until police were finally tipped off last month.

Much to her dismay.

"Death is very hard for me to take," Stevens told an interviewer.

As state police finish their investigation into a singularly macabre case — no charges have been filed — Stevens wishes she could be reunited with James Stevens, her husband of nearly 60 years who died in 1999, and June Stevens, the twin who died last October. But their bodies are with the Bradford County coroner now, off-limits to the woman who loved them best.

From time to time, stories of exhumed bodies are reported, but rarely do those involved offer an explanation. Jean Stevens, seeming more grandmother than ghoul, holds little back as she describes what happened outside this small town in northern Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains.

She knows what people must think of her. But she had her reasons, and they are complicated, a bit sad, and in their own peculiar way, sweet.

GO HERE to read more.

Shots Fired During Robbery

Location: Cumberland Farms, 698 Naamans Road, Claymont, DE
Date of Occurrence: Monday, July 5, 2010 at 6:30 a.m.
Victim: 54 year old New Castle woman (employee)
Suspects:

Suspect #1: Black male, 5’10”-6’00” tall, 25-30 years of age, average build wearing a white t-shirt, dark colored jeans, sunglasses, slight facial hair, and armed with a small handgun.

Suspect #2: Black male, 5’6”-5’08” tall, 25-30 years of age, medium complexion, average build, goatee, wearing a white t-shirt, shorts, dark sneakers, sunglasses, and a baseball cap.

Resume:
State Police detectives are investigating a robbery in which a shot was fired.

The incident occurred this morning as two male subjects, one armed with a small handgun, entered the Cumberland Farms store and demanded money from the store safe. After being told by the 54 year old clerk that she did not have a key to the safe, the armed suspect fired a shot at the floor by the victim. The victim then turned over an undisclosed amount of money from, the store register. The suspects then fled the store. They were last seen heading toward Peachtree Road. The victim was not injured.

If anyone has any information on this robbery, they are asked to contact Detective Christian Brown at 302-834-2630 ext. 195 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.

Military Ordnance Located At Cape Henlopen State Park

Location:
Cape Henlopen State Park Lewes, Delaware

DATE and TIME:
Monday July 5, 2010, 10:27 a.m.

Resume:

Monday July 5, 2010
Delaware State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit responded to Cape Henlopen State Park Lewes, Delaware to recover a military ordnance located on the beach within the park. The military ordnance was located near the Point Comfort Station.

Cape Henlopen State Park Rangers located the suspected piece of military ordnance on the beach above the high tide line. The item is approximately 18 inches in length and 6 inches in width with a projectile shape to it. The suspected military ordnance was heavily encrusted with barnacles preventing the disposal unit from obtaining exact measurements

State Park Rangers cordoned off the area around the item until State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit and Dover Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit could arrive. DAFB/EOD conducted an x-ray examination of the item but was unable to determine the specific type of ordnance. The DAFB/EOD took custody of the ordnance for further analysis and destruction.

The beach in the area of the device was closed for several hours while the incident was investigated. No injuries were reported.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO CONTINUE “JOBS ACROSS MARYLAND” TOUR; TO VISIT UNDER ARMOUR

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley today will continue his “Jobs Across Maryland” tour and will visit Under Armour, a Baltimore based company that was founded in 1996 and the originator of performance apparel for athletes. Governor O’Malley will tour Under Armour’s headquarters in Baltimore City, which has recently expanded.

CRAWDADS PITCHING DOMINATES IN 2-0 SHUTOUT

Brent Allar Tosses Four Perfect Relief Innings

Salisbury, Md.
– Braden Tullis and Joseph Ramirez combined to four-hit the Shorebirds in a 2-0 Hickory win on Monday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Hickory plated the first run of the night in the third inning. Joe Bonadonna hit a one out line drive double off the left field wall. After moving to third on a ground out to second, Jared Bolden hit a liner to left to give the Crawdads a 1-0 edge.

The Crawdads took a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning. Mike Ortiz opened the eighth with a homer to right field off reliever James Brandhorst.

Hickory starter Braden Tullis earned the win in five innings. He allowed three hits and a run. Relief pitcher Ortiz earned a four-inning save. He retired 12 straight Shorebirds to end the game.

Delmarva starter Matt Hobgood, who pitched for the first time since June 11, was pinned with the loss in three innings. He allowed just three hits and a run.

Relief pitcher Brent Allar was fantastic. He matched his career highs with four innings pitched and seven strike outs. Allar retired all 12 batters that he faced.

James Brandhorst tossed the final two innings for Delmarva. He struck out four batters.

Ty Kelly was the lone Shorebirds player with multiple hits. He went 2-for-4 with a triple and a double.

The Shorebirds return to the diamond on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Luis Noel makes the start for the ‘Birds.

SHOREBIRDS GAME NOTES: 7/5 @ Hickory

PREVIEW: The Shorebirds look to level the series after a 5-2 loss in game of the set to Hickory. The Crawdads plated four runs in the fifth inning to top the ‘Birds. Zach Zaneski blasted a three-run homer to left field in the fifth. Delmarva sits in fourth place in the Northern Division, four games behind Lakewood. Hickory is in third place, 2.5 games back of the BlueClaws.

CONLEY GOES YARD: For the first time since April 30 (51 games played), Conley belted a home run last night, his second of the year. Conley went 178 at-bats between homers.

LARGEST CROWD: Last night, 8,416 fans flocked to Perdue Stadium for the Independence Day Bash. It was the largest crowd of the season. The previous high for ‘10 was 7,759 fans on May 22. The largest crowd in 2009 was 8,981 on August 8.

NINE TRIPLES FOR BUMBRY: Two nights ago, Steve Bumbry recorded his team leading ninth triple of the season. He is the first Shorebirds player to record nine triples in a season since Nate Spears notched 11 in 2004. B.J. Littleton holds the single-season record for triples with 18 in 2001.

LIMITED VS. HICKORY: The Shorebirds have only scored 14 runs in five games against Hickory this season.