Maryland Police Look Into Death Inside Upscale Shop

BETHESDA, Md. –  Police say a woman employee at an upscale athletic apparel store in Bethesda has been killed and another woman worker was sexually assaulted after they were attacked during a robbery attempt.

Police said Saturday the woman who survived is talking to detectives. Montgomery County police spokesman Capt.

Paul Starks says two masked men in gloves entered the Lululemon Athletica shop Friday night about the time it was closing.

The women were found Saturday morning before the store opened.

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URGENT: Hundreds Of Thousands Ordered To Leave Nuclear Plant Areas

LATEST UPDATE: Nearly 170,000 people have been evacuated from areas around two damaged nuclear power plants as rescue teams have hard time looking for survivors because of aftershocks.

IWAKI, Japan –  A blast at a Japanese power station Saturday leveled a building housing its reactor and stoked fears of a nuclear meltdown, as officials searched for thousands of people missing more than a day after a devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says nearly 140,000 people have been evacuated from areas near two nuclear power plants.

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Accident

Crash at Jersey and Adventist. Road shut down in both directions.

SHOULD WICOMICO COUNTY “RECONSIDER” USING ALTERNATIVE FINANCING FOR BENNETT MIDDLE SCHOOL?

There has already been consideration of an alternative to issuing bonds to fund the construction of “BMS”, but it was dropped, quietly, a couple years ago. Since then nothing more was heard about it until the County Council voiced concern, due to the humongous cost of the proposed facility, which would require upwards of $50 Million, or more, as the County’s share. The Council has decided not to borrow more money for that purpose in the near future because of the cost and the County’s precarious financial situation. Now, despite those facts, Frederickson and Pollitt are pushing alternative financing of the school.

Alternative financing is a cutesy phrase for having a private investor fund the cost, which is repaid – with a substantial incentive kicker, as rent under a lease or some other arrangement. After a lengthy period of paying rent, the County gets to buy the then aged school for a small price (sometimes just $1). While there can be a public benefit in certain situations, there are substantial burdens as well with alternative financing. Because the investor is looking for a healthy and guaranteed return, the rent/purchase option usually costs considerably more than financing by issuing bonds.

According to an official publication, in early 2009 the Board of Education formed an “Alternative Finance Committee” composed of a variety of financial, political and school facility stakeholders to investigate alternative financing options.” Apparently these gurus produced nothing of significance, and nothing further was heard about it until the dynamic duo – Freddy and Ricky – resurrected it from the dustbin as their plan to have the school proceed without any significant review to eliminate unnecessary and exorbitant cost of construction.

Alternative financing has nothing to do with the design and specification of the facility or its cost. But, because the cost of financing is typically much greater with alternative financing (rather than issuing bonds), it may make the total cost of the school to the taxpayers even greater than that being touted now. It seems that the County’s poor fiscal picture is being completely disregarded by the officials named above, not to mention the cost of the facility as currently planned.

Wicomico County: you’ve been warned, again!

SHHHHHH, Mayor Ireton Doesn't Want You To Know............

Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton spent the good part of his day yesterday in Annapolis with his good buddy Governor Martin O'Malley. Why, might you ask. Well, Mayor Ireton was in Annapolis to testify on behalf of his support towards House Bill 1107, forcing every single property owner in Maryland on a septic system to spend tens of thousands of dollars upgrading their system. Better yet, Ireton wants YOU to be forced into the municipal Waste Water Treatment Plant, THAT DOESN'T WORK!

The Salisbury WWTP fails to meet MDE standards and is now in litigation to fight those involved in engineering it. The taxpayers of Salisbury will certainly be screwed but how shameful is it of Governor O'Malley to INVITE the Mayor  to speak on behalf of support HB 1107 when the City of Salisbury not only doesn't comply with such standards, they're one of the biggest polluters in the state of Maryland with polluting the Wicomico River.

No doubt, Mayor Ireton will be a one term Mayor, so why the picture below of former Council President Mike Dunn? It has been reported that Mike Dunn recently purchased a home on Forest Lane in the City Limits. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Mike Dunn will more than likely run for the next Mayor of Salisbury. You know, we're this close, I'm not talking this close, I'm talking this close Dunn! Growth pays for growth, Dunn. Sassafras Meadows, Dunn. Salisbury Waste Water Treatment Plant, Dunn. $14,000,000.00 Fir Palace, Dunn. Salisbury Mall TIF, Dunn. Shall I go on?

Yeah, let's bring it on right here and now because Mike Dunn personally told me he wanted to get back into local politics and when you've got a Mayor like jim Ireton trying to screw the rural residents of the Eastern Shore by forcing them into a municipalal WWTP when it doesn't even work, Dunn might just have a chance at winning and they know it.

Now here's where Dunn comes into the picture. Here's another growth pays for growth situation where, (without any doubt) Dunn would support the Governor as well because it means that everyone would soon be forced into connecting with Salisbury's WWTP as this may be one of the only ways to get $120,000,000.00 Salisbury taxpayers will be forced to pay.

Isn't it interesting how the State made it look like new codes and standards for municipal waste systems are necessary, the con everyone into supporting it and when they find themselves in a financial bind they find yet another way to create legislation to pay for it. Yeah, I'd say its a perfect match for Dunn and the old Tilghman Administration.

Here's what I also think. I think Salisbury is getting ready to crash in a bigger way than any of you realize. If you think the City is going to just pull money out of a hat to help pay for new Fire Stations, Fire Boats, WWTP, cleaning the river, (perhaps this is what Ireton meant by cleaning it) multi million dollar buildings at the FREE Zoo and the list just goes on and on, you'd be sadly mistaken. The ONLY way they're going to be able to continue paying for these things is by raising taxes and fees.

Fingers will be pointed in all directions as to who's fault it is. Unfortunately, NO ONE is looking deep enough into the future, (political candidate wise) to actually improve our situation. Not just locally but throughout the state as well. If someone, (ANYONE) builds a new Mall in Delmar, say goodbye to Salisbury all together.

Will your future choices be Mike Dunn vs. Jim Ireton in the next election. My guess is, yes. Is there one, just one individual stable enough with a successful business background who lives in the City of Salisbury with enough wisdom and experience to save the City before it becomes even more corrupt and desperate? OR, Can Salisbury even be saved at this point?

A Poem By Chuck Campbell: THE GIFT

Chuck wrote: "I began writing this poem when I was told by the hospital that I was considered a qualified applicant for their lung transplant program.

THE GIFT

My past has brought me to you. Your future will bring you to me. One of the hardest things for me to handle, Is not knowing just who you'll be. Your family has loved you. My family will. One thing I can promise you, Is that I will cherish you until... Your gift to me is a special one. My gift to you will be To take care of your gift until I am done. I wish we could have met in a different way. But meeting you now, I must say, Has given me a second chance at life. So, my new friend, You have left your family behind. But your gift will allow me More years with mine. God has always loved us all. And you're with Him now. So save me a place among the moon and the stars for when I get the call. And one day when we meet for a second time. A heavenly hug, Will be a gift of mine."

COMPUTER WORLD FIRE ON SNOW HILL RD 7:25 AM

Wicomico County Board of Education Seeks Input on Draft Calendar for 2011-12

The Wicomico County Board of Education is seeking input on its draft calendar for the 2011-2012 school year, prior to a final vote at the April 12 Board meeting.

Under the proposed calendar, the school year would begin Monday, Aug. 29 and end June 7, 2012. Students would be off Nov. 23-25 for the Thanksgiving break, Dec. 23-Jan. 2 for the winter holidays (schools would reopen Jan. 3), and April 5-9 for the spring holidays. June 5, 6 and 7 would be half-days with early dismissal.

Schools would also be closed Sept. 5 (Labor Day), Oct. 21 (MSEA Convention), Jan. 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday), Feb. 14 (Election Day), Feb. 20 (Presidents Day) and May 28 (Memorial Day). Schools would be closed for students (but open for teachers) for professional days on Sept. 28, Nov. 2, Jan. 23, Jan. 24, and April 20.

Under the proposed calendar, the five days listed as makeup days in case of school closings for inclement weather are listed in the order they would be used if needed: June 8, Apr. 5, Apr. 20, June 11, and June 12.

The Board approved the draft calendar on first reading at its March 8 meeting, and expects to adopt a final calendar at the April 12 meeting. Please share any comments with Stacy Messick, Coordinator of Employee Relations, at smessick@wcboe.org or 410-677-4421. These comments will be shared with the Board prior to its April 12 vote on the calendar.

Wisconsin Unions Threaten Business

March 10, 2011
Mr. Tom Ellis, President
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
770 N. Water Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202

SENT VIA FASCIMILE AND REGULAR MAIL

Dear Mr. Ellis:

As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin. ..

As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table. Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.

In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer, at 608.273.3840.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

James L. Palmer, Executive Director
Wisconsin Professional Police Association
Mahlon Mitchell,President
Professional Professional Fire Fighters
Jim Conway, President
International Association of Fire Fighters Local 311
John Matthews, Execuctive Director
Madison Teachers, Inc.
Keith Patt, Executive Director
Green Bay Education Association
Bob Richardson,  President
Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association
Dan Frei, Prersident
Madison Professional Police Officers Association

(Source- WTMJ)

King, Inhofe Push Bill Making English Official Language

Rep. Steve King and Sen. Jim Inhofe have introduced legislation to establish English as the official language of the United States government.

The English Language Unity Act of 2011 requires all official functions of the United States to be conducted in English, establishes a uniform language requirement for naturalization, and places an obligation on representatives of the federal government to encourage individuals to learn English.

Rep. King, an Iowa Republican, said in a statement: "A common language is the most powerful unifying force known throughout history. We need to encourage assimilation of all legal immigrants in each generation. A nation divided by language cannot pull together as effectively as a people."

King led a successful effort to enact legislation establishing English as Iowa's official language.

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Quake Moved Japan Coast 8 Feet; Shifted Earth's Axis

The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis.

"At this point, we know that one GPS station moved (8 feet), and we have seen a map from GSI (Geospatial Information Authority) in Japan showing the pattern of shift over a large area is consistent with about that much shift of the land mass," said Kenneth Hudnut, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Reports from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy estimated the 8.9-magnitude quake shifted the planet on its axis by nearly 4 inches (10 centimeters).

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Civility: 18 Wisc Republican Senators Report Death Threats

State Sens. Joe Leibham and Glenn Grothman said they are among as many as 18 Republican senators who received a death threat following their votes to eliminate most collective bargaining powers for public workers.

The threat was sent in an e-mail late Wednesday, according to a copy of the letter released by Grothman's office. The e-mail also was addressed to Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau.

Grothman, R-West Bend, said the e-mail is the latest example of "a new height in incivility." He said in recent weeks he has received obscene phone calls at all hours of the night, been jostled at the Capitol and has been shouted down during interviews.

"This is another example of the anger which is being spewed by the government unions," Grothman said. "This has been all about intimidating … Republican legislators into bowing to the public unions, and it has only steeled our resolve."

Grothman said he is hesitant to completely disregard the threat given the volatile atmosphere in Madison.

A note shoved under his door Wednesday night said, "The only good Republican is a dead Republican."

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Bill Clinton: Drilling Delays 'Ridiculous'

Former President Bill Clinton said Friday that delays in offshore oil and gas drilling permits are “ridiculous” at a time when the economy is still rebuilding, according to attendees at the IHS CERAWeek conference.

Clinton spoke on a panel with former President George W. Bush that was closed to the media. Video of their moderated talk with IHS CERA Chairman Daniel Yergin was also prohibited.

But according to multiple people in the room, Clinton, surprisingly, agreed with Bush on many oil and gas issues, including criticism of delays in permitting offshore since last year’s Gulf of Mexico spill.

“Bush said all the things you’d expect him to say” on oil and gas issues, said Jim Noe, senior vice president at Hercules Offshore and executive director of the pro-drilling Shallow Water Energy Security Coalition.

But Clinton added, “You’d be surprised to know that I agree with all that,” according to Noe and others in the room.

Clinton said there are “ridiculous delays in permitting when our economy doesn’t need it,” according to Noe and others.

The two former presidents both generally agreed on the need to get offshore drilling workers back on the job.

Clinton and Bush also agreed on the need for more domestic shale gas production, with Clinton noting that it has been done safely for years in his home state of Arkansas.

Bush — who referred to oil and gas in the discussion as “hydrocarbons” — described the anti-hydrocarbon sentiment in Washington as “dangerous.” He said while there is a need to develop new energy technologies, “we have to be prosperous in order to afford those technologies and, in order to be prosperous, we need to drill,” according to Noe.

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Newsmax Poll: Scott Walker Has Overwhelming Support

An Internet poll sponsored by Newsmax.com reveals that Americans overwhelmingly support Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s efforts to reduce the power of public employee unions in his state.

Participants in the poll, which drew more than 700,000 responses, also believe those unions have become too powerful, and say President Barack Obama was wrong when he came out against Gov. Walker.

The outcome of the battle in Wisconsin has implications for many other states, the federal government, President Obama and even the 2012 elections.

The poll is not scientific. But Newsmax will provide the results to major media outlets. Newsmax reports have been cited on media outlets such as CNN, ABC News, Fox News, CBS, and MSNBC, as well as other other major networks.

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Oil Plunges As Japan’s Refiners Shut Plants

Oil fell, helping reverse a slide in global stocks, as crude demand weakened after Japan’s worst earthquake on record forced refineries to close. The yen gained as investors bought the domestic currency as a haven.

Oil slumped 1.5 percent to $101.16 a barrel at 3:09 p.m. in New York and earlier fell 3.6 percent for its biggest drop since November. The MSCI World Index erased a loss of as much as 0.5 percent and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.9 percent to 1,306.49 as higher-than-estimated profit forecasts from Steel Dynamics Inc. and Pall Corp. lifted commodity and industrial shares. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Stock Average slid 1.7 percent. The yen rose 1.3 percent versus the dollar, the most since August.

The Bank of Japan pledged to ensure financial stability after as hundreds of people were killed in the 8.9-magnitude quake that triggered a tsunami that engulfed towns on the northern coast. Losses in oil and the rebound in stocks also came as protesters in Saudi Arabia stayed away from a so-called Day of Rage as police were deployed in force to deter activists.

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Rep. Allen West Slams Military Diversity Report

The Military Leadership Diversity Commission’s (MLDC) conclusion this week that there are too many white men in senior positions in the military “is a slap in the face” to those minorities who have achieved seniority, according to retired Lt. Colonel and Florida Republican Rep. Allen West.

According to the MLDC’s report, released Monday, 77 percent of active duty senior officers are white, 8 percent are black, 5 percent are Hispanic and 16 percent are women. The report suggested the lack of minorities in military leadership is something that needs to change. To that end, the commission’s report includes 20 recommendations on how to increase the proportion of minority officers in the military in order to create a fighting force that better represents the make up of the population it defends.

In an interview with The Daily Caller, West, who is black, was not pleased with the report, saying that the military is not a social experiment for outside groups to impose their theories. Rather, he said, it is a merit based organization where anybody can succeed.

“Everyone that comes into the military has an equal opportunity to get promoted to the next level. It is not about outside entities trying to engineer and design results and outcomes or create a sense of equal achievement...” West said.

West suspects that the military as an institution is targeted by liberals because of the things it represents.

“The military stands for things that liberals don’t care for: standards, discipline, honor, character. And those are things they don’t like because they believe everyone should be equal…that is not what the military is all about.”

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With Deepest Respect

Lindsay Lohan is 24 and her story is all over the news because she's a celebrity drug addict and allegedly,  a thief.

Charlie Sheen is 45 and you would have been under a rock all week if you hadn't heard about his antics.

While................

Justin Allen 23,
Brett Linley 29,
Matthew Weikert 29,
Justus Bartett 27,
Dave Santos 21,
Jesse Reed 26,
Matthew Johnson 21,
Zachary Fisher 24,
Brandon King 23,
Christopher Goeke 23, and
Sheldon Tate 27..........

are all Marines that gave their lives this week for you. There is no media for them; not even a mention of their names. 

Obama And Holder Taking On Arizona's SB1070

HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER

Salisbury Tokens

Collecting Salisbury tokens can be an interesting hobby. You have to be prepared to not find a lot of tokens available. Usually, they are issued these days to commemorate an historical event or to commemorate an historical event of the past. There can be of any number of varieties. The best are struck metal, but that doesn’t preclude the inclusion of wooden nickels or plastic discs.

I think the best are the ones issued by businesses either for a redeemable amount or just to advertise the business. I have seen tokens from confectioneries, clothing stores, banks, insurance companies, taxis, the electric company, food distributors, laundries, a car wash, gaming tokens, the local pump company, the zoo and fraternal organizations.

Salisbury had six different bus tokens issued in the 1960’s and 1970’s. There was one that instead of Salisbury, Md. it was struck as Salisbury, Mo. None of them are particularly scarce, but you rarely see them around here.

I also include dog tags issued either by Salisbury or Wicomico County in this category. They make nice mementos of the past, even though they are still issued every year now.

The most interesting one I have is from the Jackson Lumber Company. Actually it is from Riderwood, Alabama. I saw it in an auction from California years ago and researched it. It seems that Riderwood is named for Noah Rider, the brother of Nannie Rider Jackson. She was married to Elihu Jackson, and Noah’s job was to look after his brother-in-law’s lumber interests in Alabama. The town that sprang up around the lumber mill became Riderwood. It was a most unusual auction in that what you bid was what you bid. They didn’t reduce the highest bid to a notch over the second highest bid. I knew the fellow running the auction and phoned him to tell him of my intense interest in the token. He knew by my telling him of the research I had done that I really wanted the token. He said that he didn’t give out any knowledge of bids during the auction but that he would make an exception for me and tell me on the last day how I stood. I agreed. When I called him on the last day, he said he could tell me two things. First, he said I had the highest bid. And second, that I had the highest bid “by a long shot”. I ended up with the token, but I exited that organization because of their bid process. Still and all, I added a nice token.

The only qualification necessary to collect Salisbury tokens is that “Salisbury, Md.” is on the token. “Wicomico” is also acceptable. The Riderwood token is an exception, but the connection is undeniable and makes for a good story.

Another exception I have made is canning house tokens. These are fascinating because of the research involved in identifying them. I have six that can attributed to Salisbury, although only The Pratt Company, which operated in Salisbury from 1942-1945, has “Salisbury, Md.” on it. Canneries were often catalogued by the owner’s name and they were usually only the money behind the operation. Such examples for Salisbury are the William H. Jackson cannery from 1901 and the W. F. Messick cannery. The Messick cannery was located in Allen, but the office was in his ice house in Salisbury. Actually, W. F. Messick’s brother ran the cannery in Allen.The noteworthy firm of John H. Dulany in Fruitland operated a cannery with a man named Hastings in Salisbury from 1919-1926. Insley and Mitchell had a cannery on Truitt Street in Salisbury from 1917-1950. I grew up a half block from this cannery. With the smells generated by the heat of the summer, I was well-grown before I could eat a tomato. W. K. Leatherbury operated a cannery on the river from 1908-1927. He also had an oyster operation in the winter and had tokens for both his cannery in the summer and another for the oysters in the winter. Another oyster shucker operated on S. Division Street. His name was W. D. Turner and the token reveals that his son was in business with him. His tokens were given out for the number of gallons shucked. The Turners are listed in the 1907 Salisbury City Directory.

Same-Sex Marriage Bill To Return In 2012

ANNAPOLIS — With a vow of wait ‘til next year, supporters of same-sex marriage said they were disappointed but not discouraged by the failure of the historic legislation to win approval in the House of Delegates on Friday.

The reason for their optimism comes from the Senate, where — for the first time — a chamber of the Maryland General Assembly voted to permit gay and lesbian couples to lawfully wed.

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