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Monday, September 27, 2010

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Release

Incident: Wanted Subject

Date of Incident: 27 September 2010

Location: Nanticoke Road at Parsons Road, Salisbury, MD

Suspect: Tennyson Winfred Evans, 21, Delmar, DE

Narrative:
On 27 September 2010 at 9:52, the Sheriff’s Office received a call of a possible child abduction that had reportedly just occurred on West Road in Salisbury. The caller gave a description of a Black Nissan Pathfinder that was seen leaving the area after the operator grabbed a young man and drug him into the vehicle. A deputy located the vehicle travelling in the area of Ocean Gateway and Nanticoke Road. Upon making contact with the occupants, the deputy determined that the accusation of an abduction was unfounded. While speaking with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Tennyson Evans of Delmar, DE, the deputy observed that Evans began to act in a furtive manner. During a pat down, Evans ran away from the deputy who pursued him on foot.

Deputies learned that Evans was a wanted fugitive from Delaware on felony CDS and burglary charges.

Deputies and Salisbury Police Officers checked the area but were unable to locate Evans.

If anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of Evans, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 410-548-4891 or Crime Solvers at 410-548-1776.

Charges: Pending

Possible Abducion In Salisbury/Wicomico County UPDATE

Joe, MSP and WCSO is in foot persuit of a #1 male wearing a white shirt and jeans. It is a possible abduction of a child from a 7 Eleven. MSP said it is in the 1000 block of Main Street, but not sure where.

The abduction must have happened at the 7 Eleven on Rt. 50 near Isabella and Nanticoke Road. Some MSP units are searching the area of Mitchell Street near Mitchell Pond. Some units are searching the area of Main and Mitchell. Please post so we can catch this monster.

UPDATE: Pemberton Elementary is under Code Red.

UPDATE --- The lockdown at Pemberton Elementary School has been lifted. It appears this was not an abduction situation. We will have more information on this as soon as a press release is issued.

Sherri Harkins Named Maryland Language Teacher Of The Year

Sherri Harkins of Pittsville Elementary and Middle and Willards Elementary Named Maryland Language Teacher of the Year

Sherri Harkins, who uses French language and culture to give students K-8 at Pittsville Elementary and Middle and Willards Elementary a world view, has been named the Maryland Language Teacher of the Year by the Maryland Foreign Language Association.

“My students constantly remind me of the value of language learning,” Harkins said. “Through their challenges and triumphs, I see how the lessons learned through a language and its culture do more than match up with content standards. The ability to communicate with others is the single greatest skill which unites the human race. My students find joy in simple greetings to total strangers in another language. They are excited to hear someone speaking a language other than English and to use their best listening strategies to decipher meaning.”

Harkins will now represent Maryland next spring in the regional selection process for Foreign Language Teacher of the Year sponsored by the Northeast Council for Teachers of Foreign Language. The NECTFL conference will be held in Baltimore next year. The winner at that level will compete in November 2011 for the title of National Language Teacher of the Year, as named by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

“I have known and worked with Mrs. Harkins for eight years, and I am continually impressed by all she embodies as a professional educator,” said Ruth F. Malone, Director of Curriculum and Professional Development and Harkins’ former world language supervisor. “Mrs. Harkins is a model of what a caring professional educator should be. She is concerned about the well being of her students, constantly looking for new resources and ideas to bring into her classroom, and willing to invest countless hours and energy toward advocacy for language learning.”

Harkins' honor is one of many pieces of good news for Wicomico County Public Schools, which in the past few months has had one school (Northwestern Elementary) named a Maryland and National Blue Ribbon School, opened a new school building (James M. Bennett High) one year ahead of schedule, and had students compete on the national level in robotics, SkillsUSA and Destination ImagiNation.

GO HERE to read more.

U.S. To Make Internet Wiretaps Easier

Officials say terrorists, criminals increasingly favor online communications to phones

Broad new regulations being drafted by the Obama administration would make it easier for law enforcement and national security officials to eavesdrop on Internet and e-mail communications like social networking websites and BlackBerrys, The New York Times reported Monday.

The newspaper said the White House plans to submit a bill next year that would require all online services that enable communications to be technically equipped to comply with a wiretap order. That would include providers of encrypted e-mail, such as BlackBerry, networking sites like Facebook and direct communication services like Skype.

Federal law enforcement and national security officials say new the regulations are needed because terrorists and criminals are increasingly giving up their phones to communicate online.

GO HERE to read more.

Attention All Candidates

Salisbury News will resume Candidate Interviews starting next week. If you'd like to be interviewed for the General Election we will be at 300 W. Main Street starting on the 4th through the 8th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

We will schedule interviews every 1/2 hour and each interview will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. E-mail letters will be sent out today to each candidate.

We look forward to hearing from each one of you. To schedule/reserve your slot on any one of those days contact me at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or call 410-430-5349.

MSA Test Scores Go Public This Week

There's been a lot of talk lately about Wicomico County failing the MSA Tests in High School. It's taken me a few days but from what I've come to learn, the rumors about Wicomico Conty High Schools failing seems to be true.

HOWEVER, there is some reasoning to it. It gets very technical, so rather than coming off sounding discriminatory, allow me to explain a few other things you may not know about Wicomico County and especially the City of Salisbury.

Did you know that around 52% of those Students going Public School in Wicomico County qualify for free or reduced lunches. Because so many local businesses have closed down, the numbers went from the 20% area to 35% and now 52%.

More than HALF of the Students are economically disadvantaged. You are not seeing this dramatic trend elsewhere throughout the State and that includes Worcester County. Worcester County receives around $4,000.00 more state funding per student than Wicomico County.

The MSA Tests haven't been around that long and that's something everyone needs to understand. The state spends millions of dollars for these tests, yet every few years they go from one test to another one, leaving no real room for a trend record. Not that long ago they had something, (I believe) called the MSPAP Test. Believe it or not, the state is already talking about moving away from the MSA Test and going to yet another new test.

By 2014 the state expects ALL Students to be "proficient" on test scores.

One thing to also keep in mind in reference to these MSA Test Scores is that Wicomico County has a large amount of Special Ed and Physically Disabled Students in their Schools. When the formal test scores do come out, this will be an area everyone will need to keep in mind. In fact, because of this, that is more than likely one of the biggest reasons why Wicomico County allegedly failed.

We'll ee what happens when they release the MSA Test Results this week.

Segway Company Owner Rides Scooter Off A Cliff

UK exec, who bought firm a year ago, dies in accident near his estate

A British businessman, who bought the Segway company less than a year ago, died after riding one of the scooters off a cliff and into a river near his Yorkshire estate.

Jim Heselden acquired the Segway company from its U.S. inventor Dean Kamen in December 2009.

According to the British media, Heselden, 62, plunged into the River Wharfe while riding a rugged country version of the two-wheeled transporter on Sunday.

"Police were called at 11.40 a.m. yesterday to reports of a man in the River Wharfe, apparently having fallen from the cliffs above," a spokesman told The Daily Mail.

A Segway was recovered from the scene. "At this time we do not believe the death to be suspicious," the spokesman added.

Heselden was worth around $265 million and ranked 395th on the Sunday Times Rich List.

GO HERE to read more.

Lesbian Nurse Wins Right To Return To Air Force

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

A judge ruled Friday the U.S. Air Force was wrong to dismiss Major Margaret Witt for admitting she was a lesbian. The ruling has reopened the debate over the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Obama Approval Hits New Low

Washington (CNN) -- With little more than a month to go before the midterm elections, President Barack Obama's approval rating has hit an all-time low.

Only 42 percent of Americans now approve of how Obama's handling his job as president, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll. Fifty-four percent disapprove of his performance.

The figures represent a new low-water mark in the CNN/ORC poll for the president, who, almost two years into his term, continues to wrestle with public worries over a sluggish economy and exhaustion with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

GO HERE to read more.

China: One-Child Policy Will Stand

Beijing, China (CNN) -- China will not drop its one-child policy, officials say, 30 years after Beijing decreed the population-control measure.

"I, on behalf of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, extend profound gratitude to all, the people in particular, for their support of the national course," said Li Bin, who leads the commission.

"So we will stick to the family-planning policy in the coming decades," she said over the weekend, according to the state-run China Daily.

An estimated 400 million births have been prevented by the policy, according to official statistics.

GO HERE to read more.

New Bank Fees Pop Up Everywhere

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Bank fees: They're like a game of Whac-a-Mole. The minute one set is banned, a whole new set pops up.

In August, the Card Act banned a variety of fees -- including certain overdraft and excessive late charges.

But one month later, banks are increasing existing fees and finding creative new ways to charge customers more for credit cards, so-called "free" checking accounts and banking services.

Already this year cash-advance fees and balance transfer fees have risen to 4%, up from 3% in July last year, according to a study conducted by the Pew Health Group's Safe Credit Cards Project.

"It's like you've got a sinking boat, where you plug one hole and another one springs up," said Curtis Arnold, founder of CreditRatings.com. "You can shut down one egregious fee, but that doesn't mean other fees aren't just going to start popping up elsewhere."

Here's a bank-by-bank look of what to expect.

GO HERE to read more.

Obama To Sign $42 Billion Bill Aimed At Helping Small Businesses

(CNN) -- President Obama will sign a $42 billion bill to aid small businesses Monday. The bill seeks to create thousands of jobs and will offer about $12 billion in tax breaks.

Last week, the House of Representatives approved the Small Business Jobs Act by a 237-187 vote.

The measure is also expected to create 500,000 jobs, according to a summary of the bill from the Senate.

GO HERE to read more.

Recession Not Over, Public Says

Washington (CNN) -- Economic experts may believe the recession is over, but try telling that to the public.

Seventy-four percent of Americans believe the economy is still in a recession, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll. Only 25 percent think the downturn is over.

One-third of Americans say the recession is serious, while another 29 percent characterize it as moderate.
One small cause for optimism: the percentage of Americans who say the country is in a recession has dropped 13 points since August.

The National Bureau of Economic Research, an independent group of economists, released a September 20 statement indicating the recession technically ended in June 2009. The dip began in December 2007 -- making it the longest and deepest downturn for the U.S. economy since the Great Depression.

Administration officials, while sounding guardedly optimistic about overall trends, have repeatedly expressed concern for those impacted by the sluggish economy.

"Obviously, for the millions of people who are still out of work, people who have seen their home values decline, people who are struggling to pay the bills day to day, [the recession is] still very real for them," President Barack Obama said last week.

The public appears split over the effectiveness of Obama's economic policies. Forty-seven percent of Americans believe the president's policies either have helped boost the economy or will make it better in the future. Forty-eight percent believe Obama's policies will never help improve the economy.

GO HERE to read more.

A Letter To The Editor

WE NOW HAVE A REAL RACE FOR WICOMICO COUNTY EXECUTIVE!

Even those who don’t support Joe Ollinger must concede that during the past several weeks his campaign has at last materialized and Rick Pollitt can no longer be regarded as a sure winner for another term. The primary election, once regarded as the prelude to Pollitt’s victory, proved to be a shocker. He received only about 2/3rds of the votes cast for that office by Democrats, and the conservative in that contest, John Wayne Baker received about 20%.

The real bombshell was the fact that Mr. Ollinger got a much greater vote in the Republican primary than Pollitt got of the Democrat vote. Because Ollinger ran almost no campaign before the primary, while Pollitt has been in high gear for months, that is incredible. It has been followed by significant publicity the media, including his invitation for informal public debates with Pollitt. That was last week.

This week was just as good for Mr. Ollinger, including his successful fund raiser, followed by two miracles. John Wayne Baker announced that he will support Ollinger and urged those who supported him in the primary to do likewise. Then the Daily Times ran a bold headline containing Ollinger’s name and a photo of his road sign on the first page, above the fold – providing publicity that can’t be bought. The Daily Times’ article focuses on his large "road" signs, which it tried to portray as the smaller "yard" signs that Ollinger has decided not use in his campaign.

In just a few weeks, Ollinger’s campaign has gone from invisible and dormant to energized and publicized, after a surprisingly good showing in the primary. So, the "internals" of the race seem much better and improving for him. Now let’s consider the "externals" which are very good for him.

Anti-Obama sentiment, always strong on the Lower Shore, has swelled since the 2008 election. That and the heated races for governor, congress and the General Assembly seats are sure to motivate Republicans and conservative Democrats to vote in large, possibly record numbers. In addition, the independent and "third-party" voters are mostly conservative and together they and the registered Republican voters outnumber the Democrats, The turnout in the primary – more Republicans than Democrats voted – reflects the motivation of the former and apathy of the latter; other voters could not participate in the primary.

In fact, there is a distinct conservative trend in Wicomico County– in 2006, the first of two Democrat "wave" elections nationally, Bob Ehrlich, while losing statewide, won Wicomico County by a greater margin than he did in 2002, when he beat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend statewide. This year Pollitt won’t have the benefit of a Democrat wave as he did in 2006. Nor is he running against an opponent with the public stigma of his opponent in that election.

And this year Pollitt may have a special problem of his own making – his role as O’Malley’s campaign leader for Wicomico County. That relationship, a negative on its face, may fuel the public perception that Pollitt also supports Obama, who O’Malley has strongly supported and recently asked to campaign for him. Republican strategists could easily portray them as "three stooges" who are a danger that should be avoided. Pollitt’s position on the property tax revenue cap could be the catalyst to labeling them the "tax & spend" trio.

Thus, after a summer doldrum during which Pollitt’s reelection seemed certain to occur, the colors have changed with the coming of fall. At this point it is uncertain who will be elected County Executive. But you can sense that the tide may be turning.

Ex-Postal Executives Return For High-Pay Contracts

Even as the U.S. Postal Service began sliding into the worst financial crisis in its history, some postal executives in recent years found a way to earn more money by resigning from their jobs and returning as highly paid contractors while doing essentially the same work.

In three recent contracts awarded without competitive bidding, for instance, former Postal Service executives were hired to perform what contracting records described as "knowledge transfer," according to a review of the agency's multibillion-dollar contracting operation by the Postal Service's office of inspector general.

"These contracts were put in place, even though highly experienced postal executives filled the positions vacated by the former executives," the inspector general's office concluded in a report, which was ordered by two senators amid a procurement scandal involving the agency's former top marketing officer.

One former vice president retired in May and within two months received a $260,000 no-bid "knowledge transfer" contract for the postal executive who assumed his old job, the report found.

Overall, the inspector general's office found 17 no-bid contracts awarded to former postal executives within a year of their retirement dates ranging from October 2006 to September 2009.

Citing three of the contracts, the report found the rate was $75 an hour for one former executive and $160 an hour for two others. The fees were between $6 and $72 an hour higher than the hourly rate the executives made at the Postal Service, according to the report.
More on this

Ahmadinejad Dines In NYC With Farrakhan And The New Black Panthers

It was a strange week for the loony strongman from Iran.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's six nights in New York featured a secret sit-down with militant minister Louis Farrakhan, heckling in a hotel bar, and a fear of being rubbed out that bordered on paranoia.

The president shared a hush-hush meal with Farrakhan and members of the New Black Panther Party Tuesday at the Warwick Hotel on West 54th Street.

The meeting of the podium smackers took place in a banquet room, where the fiery leaders presumably exchanged theories on what's wrong with the world.

There's lots more
here

Boehner: Punting On Tax Cuts 'Most Irresponsible Thing I Have Seen'

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called Congress' expected adjournment before acting on the Bush-era tax cuts the "most irresponsible thing that I have seen since I have been in Washington, D.C.

"And I've been here a while," he added.

Appearing on "Fox News Sunday" alongside Chief Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Boehner slammed Democrats for demurring on the tax vote, saying it "sounds like they're just going to punt the ball until a lame-duck session."

"I think she's afraid," McCarthy said of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). "She's got 37 Democrats in her own party that say they want to extend all the tax cuts."

But House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), appearing later on the same program, blamed the Senate while acknowledging "I doubt we will" get to tax cuts before leaving.

"The Senate has refused to move forward on that issue," Hoyer said. "It would be a specious act" for the House to rush to extend the cuts.

More

Lugar: Mexican Drug Lords 'Most Immediate' Threat To U.S. Security

The Senate's top Republican on foreign policy said this weekend that drug traffickers operating on the Mexican border pose a more immediate national security threat than domestic terrorists.

Sen. Richard Lugar (Ind.), senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is calling on the White House to intensify efforts to help Mexico fight drug lords at the border, where escalating violence has killed tens of thousands of people in the past few years.

"Transnational drug trafficking organizations operating from Mexico represent the most immediate national security threat faced by the United States in the Western Hemisphere," Lugar said in remarks prepared for an Indiana-based training for Mexican prosecutors Sunday, Reuters reports.
More here

Uncle Steny: The Swamp Has Been Drained

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the timing of the Rangel and Waters trials was up to the Ethics Committee.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said that the fact that Democrats on the Ethics Committee hadn't been ousted for trying two prominent party members showed that ethics had indeed been cleaned up under Nancy Pelosi's watch.

On "Fox News Sunday," Hoyer was asked the speaker's pledge to "drain the swamp" and stop ethics abuses in relation to the trials of Reps. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) that hadn't yet been scheduled.

Asked by host Chris Wallace whether the trials would come before midterm elections or not, Hoyer said that was up to Ethics Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and ranking Republican Jo Bonner (Ala.).

"The fact of the matter is the ethics process is working," Hoyer said. "The fact of the matter is, unlike under Republicans, we haven't fired the chairman of the Ethics Committee because they went after somebody in the Democratic Party, and we haven't removed any members from the Ethics Committee. The ethics process is working."

Ha Ha. More laughs
here

Mitch McConnell: In Delaware, O'Donnell Has 'a Good Chance Of Winning'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday that he likes the odds on Christine O'Donnell, the Tea Party candidate ruffling GOP feathers in the contest to replace former-Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

"The Delaware primary was interesting — a new candidate, fresh face," McConnell said on ABC's "This Week."

"I think she's got a good chance of winning."

O'Donnell ignited a firestorm within the Republican party after defeating the establishment candidate, Rep. Mike Castle, in the GOP primary earlier this month. The upset energized national Tea Party leaders, but it's also frustrated many GOP loyalists who saw Castle as an easy winner in November. Now, the seat is likely to remain with the Democrats.

Indeed, a Fox News poll released last week shows O'Donnell down by 15 points — 54 to 39 — to her Democratic opponent Chris Coons. The same survey indicates that Castle would have defeated Coons by a similar 15 point margin, 48 to 33.

McConnell on Sunday rattled off 12 states where he thinks Republicans have a shot of replacing Democrats: California, Washington, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Dakota, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Connecticut and West Virginia.
More

High School Coach Moons Fans During Game

One assistant high school coach brought a new meaning to "backfield in motion" during a high school football game in New York City.

The Boys and Girls High School assistant coach dropped his shorts during the game, exposing his backside to the home fans of the Campus Magnet High School in Queens, N.Y. after a disputed call by the referees.

The surprising show of skin from the assistant coach came after a shoving match on the field between assistant coaches and school safety officials.

"His fellow assistant coaches were holding him back and he turned around and pulled down his shorts," David Sumter, 40, a Campus Magnet parent told the New York Daily News. "All I saw was his big [rear end]."

GO HERE to read more.

'Going Dark': Feds Seek Broader Internet Wiretap Authority

 


  • Obama administration reportedly is crafting plans to require all Internet communication services — such as BlackBerry e-mail, Facebook, and Skype — to be capable of intercepting messages, as officials look to counter terror suspects 'going dark' online.
The Obama administration is developing plans that would require all Internet-based communication services -- such as encrypted BlackBerry e-mail, Facebook, and Skype -- to be capable of complying with federal wiretap orders, according to a report published Monday.

National security officials and federal law enforcement argue their ability to eavesdrop on terror suspects is increasingly "going dark," The New York Times reported, as more communication takes place via Internet services, rather than by traditional telephone.

GO HERE to read more.

Turmoil Grows On Abortion Pill's 10th Anniversary

Ten years ago, after long and bitter debate, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved use of the abortion pill. New turmoil may lie ahead as the pill's proponents begin using telemedicine to make it more available.

GO HERE to read more.

Lost Beagle


4 year old male. Name: Charlie Brown      Answers to Charlie

Last seen Friday 9/24/10 1:30pm at home on Maryland Avenue in Delmar, MD.

Please call if you have him, or you have seen him!!!

Kelly 443-365-4329 or Dominique 443-869-1878

Regulators Shut Banks In Florida, Washington State

Regulators have shut down small banks in Florida and Washington state, bringing to 127 the number of U.S. bank failures this year on a wave of loan defaults and economic distress.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday took over Haven Trust Bank Florida of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., with $148.6 million in assets and $133.6 million in deposits, and North County Bank, based in Arlington, Wash., with $288.8 million in assets and $276.1 million in deposits.

First Southern Bank, based in Boca Raton, Fla., agreed to assume the assets and deposits of Haven Trust Bank Florida. Whidbey Island Bank, based in Coupeville, Wash., is acquiring the assets and deposits of North County Bank.

Maryland's 1st Open Monday

PERRYVILLE, Md. (AP) - Maryland's first casino will open ahead of schedule.

The Hollywood Casino in Perryville about 40 miles north of Baltimore will open Monday just off Interstate 95.

Penn National Gaming announced Sunday that the casino has the approval of the state lottery commission to open after a demonstration was held Saturday.

The casino has 1,500 slot machines.

Penn National says Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony with Gov. Martin O'Malley is still scheduled.

Source

Maryland Cell Phone Ban Takes Effect Friday

WASHINGTON - Come Friday, driving and talking on a cell phone in Maryland could get you a ticket, but only if you're doing something else wrong.

The law, which was passed in April, requires drivers to use a hands-free device. It's a secondary offense, meaning you can only get a ticket for using your cell phone if you've already been pulled over for another violation.

GO HERE to read more.

USPS Execs Quit, Come Back In No-Bid Contracts For Lots More $$


Even as the U.S. Postal Service began sliding into the worst financial crisis in its history, some postal executives in recent years found a way to earn more money by resigning from their jobs and returning as highly paid contractors while doing essentially the same work.
In three recent contracts awarded without competitive bidding, for instance, former Postal Service executives were hired to perform what contracting records described as "knowledge transfer," according to a review of the agency's multibillion-dollar contracting operation by the Postal Service's office of inspector general.
"These contracts were put in place, even though highly experienced postal executives filled the positions vacated by the former executives," the inspector general's office concluded in a report, which was ordered by two senators amid a procurement scandal involving the agency's former top marketing officer.
One former vice president retired in May and within two months received a $260,000 no-bid "knowledge transfer" contract for the postal executive who assumed his old job, the report found.
Overall, the inspector general's office found 17 no-bid contracts awarded to former postal executives within a year of their retirement dates ranging from October 2006 to September 2009.
Citing three of the contracts, the report found the rate was $75 an hour for one former executive and $160 an hour for two others. The fees were between $6 and $72 an hour higher than the hourly rate the executives made at the Postal Service, according to the report.

More HERE from The Washington Times

How To (Maybe) Get Out Of A Traffic Ticket

When a cop pulls you over, what you do and say in the next few minutes may well determine whether you get pounded with a ticket for the maximum fee or skate like a celebrity. It's not so much about being able to talk your way out of a ticket -- because let's face it, the cop has probably decided your fate before he asks for your license -- but avoiding digging yourself any deeper.

More »

Clean Up Day Volunteers Near Roadways Saturday, October 2, 2010

Dover -- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is pleased to announce that nearly 100 groups will participate in its Sixth Annual "Imagine A Litter Free Delaware" Clean Up Day set for this Saturday, October 2, 2010. Many of those registered are current Adopt-A-Highway volunteers who will be cleaning Delaware roadsides, yet several individuals and friends and family members have also made the commitment to clean neighborhoods and communities throughout the state. Registration for the event will continue until Friday, October 1, 2010.

Once registration is complete, DelDOT and those who registered will be concentrating on the task at hand - cleaning up Delaware. Each year, DelDOT removes approximately 425 tons of litter from roadsides. So, this special day is very much needed.

"This is a time when DelDOT asks everyone to think about how littering impacts our state. And to also consider how trash creates potential hazards for motorists and makes our roadside landscapes aesthetically unpleasing," states Secretary of Transportation Carolann Wicks.

Motorists should stay alert on Saturday, October 2 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for groups of people removing litter from roadsides. All participants should be wearing brightly colored safety vests so they can be seen, but motorists should still proceed with caution. Participants will be on both main roads and rural roads, as well as in local neighborhoods and communities.

Should inclement weather occur, participants will be out on Sunday, October 3, 2010, the designated rain date.

STATE HOSPITAL PATIENT CHARGED WITH MURDER

(Jessup, MD) – Maryland State Police homicide investigators are charging a patient at a state hospital with murder tonight after their investigation implicated him in the murder of a female patient at the hospital late last night.

The accused is identified as El Soundani El-Wahhabi, also known as Saladin Taylor, 46, who is a patient at the Clifton T. Perkins State Hospital in Jessup, Md. After consultation with the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office, El-Wahhabi is being charged tonight with first and second degree murder. He is expected to appear before a court commissioner later this evening for a bond hearing.

The victim is identified as Susan Sachs, 45, who was also a patient at the same hospital. The victim’s body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy.

Maryland State Police at the Waterloo Barrack were contacted this morning by hospital staff after the victim was found deceased in her room. Members of the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene and are conducting the investigation.

The preliminary investigation reveals that at about 8:30 a.m. today, a hospital nurse went to Sachs’ room to check on her after she failed to go to breakfast. The nurse found the victim face down in her bed with a string ligature around her neck. Medical assistance was immediately summoned and doctors determined the victim was deceased.

State Police investigators and crime scene technicians have been at the hospital throughout the day processing the scene, collecting evidence and conducting dozens of interviews. Evidence gathered by investigators led to the arrest of El-Wahhabi this afternoon.

Both the accused and the victim had rooms in the same hallway of a hospital housing unit. Both had been court committed to the hospital as a result of previous criminal trials for murder.

A motive for the murder is not known at this time. The investigation is continuing.

Wicomico Schools, Northwestern Elementary Seek Community Support For Northwestern HVAC Project

Northwestern Elementary School and Wicomico County Public Schools continue to seek community support for the Northwestern Elementary HVAC project in an effort to secure Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) Funds to help fund the project.

For several years now, the school system’s Capital Improvement Program has included a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systemic renovation project at Northwestern Elementary which includes plumbing, electrical and lighting upgrades. In an effort to bring that project forward, we are applying for QZAB funds from the State of Maryland. To apply for these funds, the school system must have a 10% match – approximately $12,000 - in private sector contributions.

“We are asking for your help by making a pledge to this important project which will benefit not only the students and staff of Northwestern Elementary, but the surrounding community,” said Principal Kirby Bryson of Northwestern Elementary, a Maryland Blue Ribbon School.

Letters were mailed to potential supporters, with a QZAB Support Form to fill out and return. The form is also posted below.

“Your donation will be publicly acknowledged with a special sign at the school site during construction as well as noted on our website. We are hopeful that your business will benefit from the community goodwill generated by your thoughtful donation to this project,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen said.

To learn more about our Maryland Blue Ribbon school, Northwestern Elementary, please contact Principal Kirby Bryson at 410-677-5808 or kbryson@wcboe.org. To learn more about Wicomico County Public Schools, visit www.wcboe.org or contact the Superintendent’s office at 410-677-4495.

Highlighted Events Next Week In Wicomico Schools

Up with People Seeks Host Families
Cast to Perform in Salisbury Oct. 12; Host Families Needed Oct. 10-14

Families in Salisbury will have the unique opportunity to bring a bit of the world into their own homes between October 10 and 14 when an international cast of Up with People arrives in Salisbury, a stop on their 2010 world tour. The Salisbury visit of Up with People is sponsored by the Wicomico County Board of Education.

Local families in the Salisbury area are being sought now to sign up to host the cast members between Sunday, Oct. 10 and Thursday, Oct. 14. Those interested in hosting are encouraged to contact Liz Davis on the Salisbury Advance Team at ldavis@upwithpeople.org or by calling 410-677-4400 and asking for Up with People, or 505-850-3113.

Host families are being sought to keep one or more students from Cast B 2010, the 90-member Up with People cast and staff which represents 17 countries and more than 25 states. The opportunity to stay with local families during their stay in each community is a centerpiece of Up with People’s 22-week program. The giving goes both ways…while families share their traditions and local attractions; the cast members share their experiences and cultures. Those with smaller children or young teens in their home often find that the Up with People cast members are wonderful role models and provide a glimpse into other countries, cultures and traditions they might not often experience in Salisbury.

Local host families are asked to provide a bed, local transportation at the beginning and end of each day, as well as breakfast and most dinners. While gone during the day, participating in regional learning, community service and show preparation, most evenings cast members will be home with the family to participate in their activities and interests.

In addition to many wonderful experiences with their new “son” or “daughter,” each host family will receive two complimentary tickets to the Up with People Show which will be held at Wicomico High School on Tuesday, October 12 at 7 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 27, 10:50 a.m.
Wicomico Band Welcomes “Sesame Street” Musician
Wicomico High School

This fall, the theme of Wicomico High School Marching Band’s program is the music of “Sesame Street,” and on Monday at 10:50 a.m. the band will welcome a renowned musician from that famous children’s show. Jim Mitchell, a Salisbury guitarist who spent years commuting to New York to record music for “Sesame Street,” will visit the Wicomico High band room to talk with students about his experiences as a professional musician and to play some guitar. Mitchell played music for “Sesame Street” from 1969-1996, playing guitar on all the recordings of Sesame Street episodes during that time.

Friday, Oct. 1
Mid-Term Progress Reports Sent Home

Which 'Malik Shabazz' Visited The White House?

Clarice Feldman
It's increasingly likely that the White House was involved in the decision to drop the election intimidation case against the New Black Panther Party and Big Government reminds us that the visitor's log indicates a Malik Shabazz visited there in July 2009. The White House has said it was a different Malik Shabazz, and Big Government asks which one, adding a timeline to show why it's likely it was the Black Panther's head Shabazz and not a stranger curiously sharing his name:
The idea that an individual named Malik Shabazz had a private meeting in the White House residence in July 2009 is highly relevant because throughout July, Congressmen Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Lamar Smith (R-TX) were beginning to ask questions about to the dropped charges against the NBPP. So was the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Here is a timeline, according to Adams:
* July 8, Representative Frank Wolf sent a letter to Judiciary Chairman John Conyers and Ranking Member Lamar Smith demanding hearings before the House Judiciary Committee.
* July 9, Ten members of the House sent a letter demanding the DOJ Inspector General open an investigation.
* July 13, The Dept. of Justice replied but their letter contained factual inaccuracies about the case
* July 17 Smith and Wolf send a swift and pointed rebuttal
* July 20, Low-level DOJ staffers were sent to the Hill to brief Wolf on the Panther story, but Wolf threw them out of his office claiming they weren't being truthful to him.
* July 22, Wolf sent another letter to Attorney General Eric Holder demanding answers.
* July 24, Portia Robinson, intergovernmental liaison at DOJ, sent a letter to the Civil Rights Commission trying to deflect attention.
* July 25, a man named Malik Shabazz visited the exclusive, private residence in the White House.
* July 30, the Washington Times broke the news that top political appointee, Tom Perrelli (the #3 official at Justice) was involved in the dismissal of the case. Perrelli was also a top campaign bundler for Obama.
The White House has assured the American people that the Malik Shabazz that visited the White House at that time is not the same Malik Shabazz at the center of the New Black Panther story. But, the White House has not provided any information to verify its contention or who this "other" Malik Shabazz is.
Source

Here We Go

Obamacare is even worse than critics thought
Examiner Editorial
September 22, 2010
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Much more has been revealed about Obamacare since President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi pushed the bill on Americans six months ago. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP file)

Six months ago, President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rammed Obamacare down the throats of an unwilling American public. Half a year removed from the unprecedented legislative chicanery and backroom dealing that characterized the bill's passage, we know much more about the bill than we did then. A few of the revelations:
» Obamacare won't decrease health care costs for the government. According to Medicare's actuary, it will increase costs. The same is likely to happen for privately funded health care.
» As written, Obamacare covers elective abortions, contrary to Obama's promise that it wouldn't. This means that tax dollars will be used to pay for a procedure millions of Americans across the political spectrum view as immoral. Supposedly, the Department of Health and Human Services will bar abortion coverage with new regulations but these will likely be tied up for years in litigation, and in the end may not survive the court challenge.
» Obamacare won't allow employees or most small businesses to keep the coverage they have and like. By Obama's estimates, as many as 69 percent of employees, 80 percent of small businesses, and 64 percent of large businesses will be forced to change coverage, probably to more expensive plans.
» Obamacare will increase insurance premiums -- in some places, it already has. Insurers, suddenly forced to cover clients' children until age 26, have little choice but to raise premiums, and they attribute to Obamacare's mandates a 1 to 9 percent increase. Obama's only method of preventing massive rate increases so far has been to threaten insurers.
» Obamacare will force seasonal employers -- especially the ski and amusement park industries -- to pay huge fines, cut hours, or lay off employees.
» Obamacare forces states to guarantee not only payment but also treatment for indigent Medicaid patients. With many doctors now refusing to take Medicaid (because they lose money doing so), cash-strapped states could be sued and ordered to increase reimbursement rates beyond their means.
» Obamacare imposes a huge nonmedical tax compliance burden on small business. It will require them to mail IRS 1099 tax forms to every vendor from whom they make purchases of more than $600 in a year, with duplicate forms going to the Internal Revenue Service. Like so much else in the 2,500-page bill, our senators and representatives were apparently unaware of this when they passed the measure.
» Obamacare allows the IRS to confiscate part or all of your tax refund if you do not purchase a qualified insurance plan. The bill funds 16,000 new IRS agents to make sure Americans stay in line.
If you wonder why so many American voters are angry, and no longer give Obama the benefit of the doubt on a variety of issues, you need look no further than Obamacare, whose birthday gift to America might just be a GOP congressional majority.

We will continue to learn more about Obamcare.  The author of the article below neglects to mention that under the new health care bill real estate transactions will be subject to a 3.8% Sales Tax designed to kick in in  2013 (presumably after obama’s re-election).  It  begins as another class warfare hit on the"rich",  applying to capital gains in excess of $250,000 on the sale of a home, for an individual. When inflation ignites, which it will, that tax will apply to the broad middle class,  I predict.

Ellen Sauerbrey

Aircraft Crashes Into Four Buildings

Brace yourself before looking at the image.

A pilot at low level has no control over his aircraft.

 It narrowly misses a crowd gathered for the airshow and slams into four buildings.

 One can only imagine the horror of the occupants inside those buildings.












Scam Targets Elderly; Scammers Impersonate Grandchildren

ONEIDA — Oneida City Police are alerting area residents to a phone scam that has already been played on one Oneida man.

The victim, an elderly male in this case, receives a phone call from someone stating they are a grandchild of the victim and they have been arrested in another country and need bail money wired to them. Money is then sent by wire to an out-of-the-country location and the victim later learns that their grandchild was not in that country.

The Federal authorities are contacted since the money is picked up outside the country. Tracking down the pickup of the money in these cases is difficult due to the delay in reporting and the locations used by the suspects. They will target elderly victims as they may have grandchildren who do not live nearby or they are unable to quickly confirm that it is not the grandchild, police say.

A previous incident of this type of fraud, with a variation, occurred a few years ago in which the victim was advised that a grandchild had been involved in an accident in Canada, detained and needed money related to the accident. In that case no money was sent. The location of where the money was to be sent was tracked back to a hotel in Toronto and the information was turned over to Canadian authorities.

Anyone receiving a call of this type is asked to contact police.

O'MALLEY, BROWN RECEIVE AFSCME ENDORSEMENT

 
Largest State Employee Union Will Work to Move Maryland Forward Through Get-Out-the-Vote Efforts
Baltimore, MD (September 25, 2010) -- Governor Martin O'Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown today received the backing of AFSCME, the largest state employee union in Maryland representing more than 30,000 workers. The endorsement took place at a rally in Baltimore.

Prior to the rally, O'Malley and Brown met with local union representatives for a "kitchen table" discussion about issues that matter to working families.

"It's an honor to have the support of our dedicated AFSCME state employees," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "In this challenging economy, we've fought to keep the size of state government small while helping our state workers deliver the highest quality services to taxpayers. When it comes to protecting jobs and delivering results, we must continue to move forward these next four years."

AFSCME Maryland Director Patrick Moran, who spoke at the rally, had this to say: "This election will determine the future of the state, as well as the quality and availability of healthcare, public safety, transit, emergency and children's services provided to the citizens of Maryland. That is why AFSCME is proud to endorse Governor Martin O'Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown."

AFSCME members will be engaged in phone banks and vigorous get-out-the-vote efforts on behalf of the O'Malley-Brown campaign through Election Day.

Today's kitchen table talk was the third this month in a series of ongoing conversations that Governor Martin O'Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown are having with voters across the state.

National Take-Back Initiative

Resume
Brandywine Hundred - On September 25, 2010, from 10 AM until 2 PM the DEA will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies focused on removing potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets.  A national take-back day will provide a unified opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction.  This one-day effort will bring national focus to the issue of pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse.  The program also provides an opportunity for law enforcement, prevention, treatment, and the business community to collaborate and establish a safe collection site for all Americans, regardless of where they reside.    The locations for planned disposals in Delaware are as follows:
  • State Police Department, Troop 1 A, 3001 Brandywine Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19803 (Naamans Road and Rte 202, across from the Regal Cinema)
  • New Castle County Police Department Headquarters, 3601 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
  • Rehoboth Beach Police Department, 229 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

Hebron Car Show

HEBRON CAR SHOW
BENEFIT TO HELP RESTORE


Hebron Train Depot _____
OCT 30 2010
10 AM TILL 3 PM
REGISTRATION STARTS AT 9 AM
ENTRY FEE $10 DONATION
DASH PLAQUES TO FIRST 50 CARS
OPEN TO ALL VEHICLES
ANTIQUES - CLASSICS - STREET RODS – MOTORCYCLES – TRUCKS-TRACTORS
AND SPECIAL INTEREST
AT THE TRACKS NEXT TO
HEBRON TRAIN DEPOT
TROPHIES AWARDED AT 2:30

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT
CHESTER 443-618-1317
TOWN HALL 410-742-5555