Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge to Add 400 Acres

CAMBRIDGE, MD - Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge recently announced that the refuge, through the leadership of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has added more than 400 acres of vital property.

"We are pleased with this important addition to the refuge which will help support multiple goals outlined in our Comprehensive Conservation Plan and will play a key role in supporting the developing sea level adaptation planning effort that is currently underway," said refuge manager Suzanne Baird in a written statement. "This new addition would not be possible without the significant support of partners."

The property, which was gained through efforts of the Chesapeake Conservancy, the Maryland congressional delegation and the Conservation Fund, will support present and future wildlife habitat management needs and maintain the region's ecological diversity.

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Prayer Service Held for Boy Struck by Lightning

CAMBRIDGE, MD - Hundreds of people attended a prayer service Wednesday night in Cambridge for Ryan Summers, 11, of Cambridge, who was struck by lightning Saturday afternoon.

Ryan is the son of Brett and Jamie Summers.

During Wednesday's service, the Rev. Michael Reddig, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, read from an e-mail sent by Jamie Summers and signed by the Summers family, Ryan's parents and two sisters, Taylor and Perry.

In the e-mail, Mrs. Summers said, "Ryan remains stable with the damage to his lungs as our main concern.

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Two Linkwood Men Face Multiple Burglary Charges

TAYLORS ISLAND, MD - Two Linkwood men were arrested July 19 on multiple burglary and theft charges after they allegedly stole tools from a Taylors Island home in April.

David Hobart Tyler, 35, of 3645 Karen Circle, Linkwood and Rankin Scott Creighton, 31, of 3636 Karen Circle, Linkwood, were each charged with first-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary theft, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and theft under $1,000.

David Tyler and Creighton were released Thursday from the Dorchester County Detention Center in Cambridge after they each posted $50,000 bond.

According to charging documents, Dorchester County Sheriff's deputies responded at 1:42 p.m. April 10 to the 4300-block of Smithville Road for a report of several burglaries.

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Homeowner Fires Shotgun to Scare Off Burglars

TAYLOR'S ISLAND, MD - A burglary attempt Monday at a Hoopers Neck home was thwarted by the shotgun-wielding homeowner, who sustained minor cuts after tangling with one of the suspects, according to a press release from the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office.

The burglary attempt occurred early Monday morning, according to Dorchester Sheriff James Phillips, who said a homeowner at 4613 Hoopers Neck was awakened by noises coming from his garage.

The homeowner, who remains unnamed, according to policy of the sheriff's office, carried a shotgun when he went to investigate and told deputies that he fired twice in the direction of a porch on the garage after observing two men in his garage.

After the homeowner fired his shotgun, he told deputies, one of the men ran away, but the other attacked him with what he believed to be a box knife. Phillips said the homeowner sustained two minor cuts, one on his face and another on his chest. He was treated at the scene by Dorchester Emergency Medical Services.

The two people observed by the homeowner in his garage are described as black males. Anyone with information should call the sheriff's office at 410-228-4141; calls may remain confidential.

from Gail Dean @ the Star-Democrat

Hurlock Man Charged With Raping 9 Year Old Girl

HURLOCK, MD - A Hurlock man was arrested Saturday on charges including sexual abuse of a minor after he allegedly raped a 9-year-old girl.

Donald Christopher Patrick, 35, of 302 North Main St., Apt B, was charged with second-degree rape, sexual solicitation of a minor, sexual abuse of a minor, second-degree assault and possession of child pornography.

He is being held at the Dorchester County Detention Center on $350,000 bond.

According to charging documents, at 6:10 p.m. July 18, a man went to the Hurlock Police Department and told police a man had raped his 9-year-old daughter.

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Police Arrest Man Wanted in St. Michaels Shooting

CAMBRIDGE, MD - Cambridge police Saturday arrested Clifton Levante Morton, 36, of St. Michaels, who was wanted on charges relating to an alleged shooting in St. Michaels.

Morton, of 111 Mitchell St., is being held without bond at the Talbot County Detention Center on charges of first- and second-degree assault, possession of a handgun and reckless endangerment.

According to St. Michaels police, officers responded at 10:15 p.m. Monday, July 18, to Morton's home for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, police said a man identified as Christopher Carroll allegedly hit Antwan Johnson in the face. During the fight, police allege Johnson was shot in the leg by Morton and Morton left the home on foot.

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DelMarVa Post Offices Face Possible Closure

Well, it’s really MarVa post offices. Curiously, no Delaware post offices are under consideration for closure from the US Postal Service.

The Eastern Shore PO’s “under study” are:

Assawoman	VA		Massey	MD
Betterton	MD		Sanford	VA
Bivalve	MD		Saxis	VA
Craddockville	VA		Sherwood	MD
Crocheron	MD		Townsend	VA
Ewell	MD		Tyaskin	MD
Harborton	VA		Tylerton	MD
Henderson	MD		Upper Fairmount	MD
Hillsboro	MD		Willis Wharf	VA
Locustville	VA		Withams	VA

For a full list of the Maryland post offices “under study”, CLICK HERE.

For a full list of the Virginia post offices “under study”, CLICK HERE.

If you’re from Delaware, send a thank you note to Joe Biden.

Mountaire Will Not Purchase Allen Family Foods

In a statement released Tuesday, July 26, Mountaire Farms officials announced the company is no longer seeking to purchase Allen Family Foods, which filed for bankruptcy protection last month.

Mountaire submitted a proposal to purchase several of Allen Family Foods' operations including a hatchery in Seaford and the Harbeson processing plant.

Chris Shigas, spokesman for Mountaire, said the company has decided discontinued purchase plans for any of Allen properties.

“Mountaire Farms has discontinued efforts to buy assets of Allen’s Family Foods at a bankruptcy auction process held on July 25, 2011. Mountaire wishes the best for the Allen family and everyone at their companies," said Shigas in the release. "Mountaire Farms will continue with its plan to expand facilities. As soon as practical, the company will be adding jobs in the community under an expansion plan looking to add employees, growers and other service needs. Driven by its deep-rooted commitment to quality service and value, Mountaire Farms looks forward to future business growth and strengthened ties with the communities in which it operates.”

from Rachel Swick @ the Cape Gazette

Cambridge Wal-Mart Expansion to be Completed by Late August

CAMBRIDGE, MD - Construction and renovations to convert the Cambridge Walmart at Dorchester Square into a Super Walmart, with expanded grocery sales and 24-hour service, is rapidly progressing toward completion this fall.

A new entrance on the left side of the building recently was completed and is accessible to customers. The parking lot in front of the new entrance was also expanded to accommodate customers. Construction moved to the right side of the building in front of the old entrance where more expansions are expected.

When the $11 million construction project is completed, sometime in late August, customers can expect the Walmart Supercenter to include a large supermarket featuring fresh meats, fish, fruits and vegetables.

KBE Building Corporation of Columbia announced the start of construction last November, an announcement that followed more than a year of rumors of expansion of the Cambridge Walmart.

Walmart initially had a preliminary site plan for the expansion of the Cambridge store approved by Cambridge's planning department in June 2009. Since then, a building permit for the project has been approved. The preliminary site plan was for expansion on all four sides of the building.

The project will expand the 102,000-square-foot Walmart to 148,000 square feet, almost a 50 percent increase in total square footage. Construction workers set up a chain-link fence around a portion of the Walmart parking lot in front of the old entrance where the building is being expanded, which cut the lot nearly in half.

from the Star-Democrat

Cambridge Man Sentenced for Accepting Marijuana Shipment

CAMBRIDGE, MD - Dorchester County Circuit Court Judge Brett Wilson sentenced Lamont Antwine Jones to 5 years in prison, with all but 5 months and 29 days suspended, for accepting a special delivery package from the postman that contained nearly five pounds of marijuana.

"You took receipt of 5 pounds of marijuana with the package addressed to Joe Brown, and you identified yourself as Joe Brown," said Wilson. "This court has to sentence you based on your conviction. I believe you should be given credit for your cooperation and seeking treatment, but I can't turn a blind eye."

Jones, 40, of 814 Bradley Ave., entered an Alford plea in April to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

As part of a plea agreement with the Dorchester County State's Attorney's Office, the remaining charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in a school zone, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute in a school zone, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, common nuisance, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.

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Chesapeake College Nearing Fall Enrollment Record

WYE MILLS, MD - A five-week enrollment surge at Chesapeake College has the college in position to set a fall semester enrollment record for the sixth straight year.

According to Chesapeake College, as of Tuesday, Chesapeake College began the day with 2,471 students registered for the 2011 fall semester, which is a 1.7 percent increase compared to the same point last year when 2,431 students were enrolled.

Chesapeake College remained about 3 percent below last fall's enrollment pace on June 13 before the five-week surge. Between June 13 and 18, 747 students enrolled at the college, a 15.3 percent increase over the same period in 2010.

"We've registered an incredible number of students over the last five weeks," said Kathy Petrichenko, Chesapeake College dean for recruitment services. "The fall enrollment period actually began rather slowly, but enrollment started picking up in mid-June and hasn't slowed since."

Petrichenko said a survey disseminated in July to Spring 2011 students, who had not yet registered for fall 2011, showed students were registering later than in previous years.

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Williams Sentenced to 20 Years in Robbery Cases

Lemarr Dewayne Williams, 20, was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison, after pleading guilty to multiple assault and other charges.

He pleaded guilty in two separate cases in Dorchester County Circuit Court to first-degree assault, wearing and carrying a handgun on person and second-degree assault and admitted to violating his probation. For those, Dorchester County Circuit Court Judge Brett Wilson sentenced Williams to 53 years in prison, with all but 20 years suspended.

"I try to give young people every opportunity to redeem themselves, as I did with you in 2009," Wilson said. "You became involved … in even more violent conduct. Some people just choose the life of a thug and I don't know why. For people like that, there are not a whole lot of choices other than incarceration."

Williams of 4727 Corkran Cemetary Road, Hurlock, was indicted March 2, by a Dorchester County Grand Jury for shooting at and robbing a man, possessing a gun and possessing marijuana. He pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree assault, for which he was sentenced to 25 years in prison with eight years suspended, and wearing and carrying a handgun on person, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison.

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Sailwinds Development Gets Design Submissions

The Maryland Department of Transportation received submissions from developers or development teams to design, entitle, finance, construct and market the 11.77-acre waterfront mixed-use development at Cambridge Marine Terminal / Sailwinds Park, said Katie Parks, assistant director of the MDOT Office of Real Estate.

MDOT issued a Request for Qualification on May 4 seeking a developer or development team to develop the property, where city and state officials envision a multi-use development of retail shops, restaurants, a small hotel, residences and a public park.

Several developers showed interest in the Sailwinds Park property during a May 16 site visit, a May 23 pre-submittal meeting and three question-and-answer meetings throughout May and June, during which local and state representatives answered questions and developers learned more about the state's process on the project's progression and about the vision for the property. The RFQ statements were due June 30 to MDOT's Real Estate Office.

"We will be moving to the next step in the process," said Parks. "The state, in collaboration with the city of Cambridge and Dorchester County, will be reviewing the qualifications and selecting a master developer or development team for exclusive negotiating purposes and that will most likely be this fall."

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Maryland to Expand Enterprise Zones

The state will expand zones in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and on the Eastern Shore where businesses are eligible for tax credits for making property improvements and hiring new workers.

Maryland will add 112 acres to the Enterprise Zone in the city and more than 500 acres to the Cambridge-Dorchester County zone. The state also approved a 395-acre zone around Woodlawn.

“The expansion of the zones in Baltimore and Cambridge-Dorchester County, and the addition of a new zone in Woodlawn will help spur redevelopment in commercial and industrial areas of our state so they can compete and win in the new economy,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a written statement.

Businesses located in the zones are eligible for $1,000 income tax credits for new workers and $6,000 over three years for hiring economically disadvantaged employees.

Property tax credits for capital improvements are 80 percent for the first five years then decrease to 30 percent by year 10.

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Crab Bangers Win “Taste of Cambridge” Cook-Off

Although he has been noted for blending French and upscale California cuisine, mastered Middle Eastern fare at postings including Dubai and introduced innovative Italian cuisine to the menus of the Hyatt restaurants he oversees here, his roots in the United Kingdom inspired the crab bangers that won the specialty category in the Crab Cook Off at Saturday's Taste of Cambridge.

A recipe from Tony Breeze, executive chef at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay, also won the crab cake category.

Executive Sous Chef Vincent Savignano claimed the prize awarded to Hyatt's Water's Edge Grille for the crab bangers. Savignano has recently been able to exercise his interest in barbecue, at Vinnie's Family BBQ, located in the Eagle's Nest golf clubhouse, operating Thursdays through Mondays this summer.

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Hurlock Looks to Balance Budget

A week after approving its fiscal year 2012 budget, the Hurlock Town Council will have to make several future budget amendments to balance it after town officials discovered several revenue sources will be less than anticipated.

On June 30, the council approved a balanced FY12 budget at $4,787,984 with a 4-1 vote. Council President Charles Cephas voted against the budget. The FY12 budget is about $200,000 more than the town's FY11 budget.

Town Clerk and Treasurer Kathy Clough said after speaking with town auditors after the start of the new fiscal year, officials determined projected industrial revenues of $1,601,926 will be about $110,000 less than anticipated. Clough said the drop in revenue is associated with businesses paying corporate taxes this year rather than residential taxes last year.

Hurlock did not release its FY12 budget until six days after the new fiscal year began. Clough said a computer error caused the delay.

Clough said businesses switching from residential taxes to corporate taxes was anticipated to increase town revenue about $200,000, but will actually be about $90,000 extra in revenue.

"With revenues anticipated to be less than expected, we will have to go back and make some more cuts to make sure everything balances out," Clough said. "We have some places we are looking at that won't affect the service the town provides when we do some trimming. We are confident everything will work out."

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Cambridge Man Given Five Years for Assault, Theft

Marcus Griffin, 26, was sentenced Tuesday to 11 years in prison, with 6 years suspended, after he pleaded guilty in Dorchester County Circuit Court to second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and theft less than $1,000.

"There's nothing more important in this world than making sure you don't let other people get you into trouble," said Dorchester County Circuit Court Judge Brett Wilson after cautioning Marcus Griffin about the people he chooses to surround himself with. "There are a lot of reasons to think twice. It's a lot easier to get money legally."

Wilson handed down a sentence of 10 years, with five years suspended, for the second-degree assault conviction and an 18-month suspended sentence to be served consecutively for the theft less than $1,000 conviction. The reckless endangerment charge was merged into the second-degree assault charge.

Marcus Griffin of 825 Pine St. was placed on five years of supervised probation upon his release from prison.

Public defender David Pyle, Marcus Griffin's attorney, said Tuesday that Marcus Griffin wanted to enter a branch of the military and would be able to do so if he was not convicted of a felony.

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Missing Girl Returns Home

The Cambridge Police Department said 15-year-old Breyana Ambra Herndon, who went missing around 4:13 p.m. Wednesday, was found Saturday and returned home, according to Capt. Wayne Bromwell.

from the Star-Democrat

Man Tries to Abduct 11 Year Old in Cambridge

Cambridge Police are investigating a Tuesday afternoon attempted abduction where a man tried to persuade an 11-year-old girl to get into his pickup truck.

An officer was flagged down at 12:40 p.m. by a man and his daughter, police said. The girl said she was walking in the 1700-block of Race Street at about 12:15 p.m. when a large black truck pulled out of the Snow's Turn parking lot at 1801 Race St. and drove toward her with the window rolled down.

A white man, about 70 years old with a grey beard, drove up next to the girl and tried to persuade her to get in his truck by telling her he needed help looking for his dog, police said.

The girl told the man she was not going to help him and walked away, but the man "kept insisting" for her to get in his truck, police said. The girl ran away to a nearby business where they called her parents.

The pickup truck was black with an extended cab, a toolbox in the back and step bars on the side, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cambridge Police Criminal Investigation Division at 410-228-3333.

from the Star-Democrat