Feds See Biggest Tax Revenue Drop Since 1932

Recession's toll comes as Congress and president try to fund programs

WASHINGTON - The recession is starving the government of tax revenue, just as the president and Congress are piling a major expansion of health care and other programs on the nation's plate and struggling to find money to pay the tab.

The numbers could hardly be more stark: Tax receipts are on pace to drop 18 percent this year, the biggest single-year decline since the Great Depression, while the federal deficit balloons to a record $1.8 trillion.

Other figures in an Associated Press analysis underscore the recession's impact: Individual income tax receipts are down 22 percent from a year ago. Corporate income taxes are down 57 percent. Social Security tax receipts could drop for only the second time since 1940, and Medicare taxes are on pace to drop for only the third time ever.

GO HERE to read more.

Salisbury Police Department Press Release

On July 31, 2009 at approximately 1:15pm, Officers from the Special Enforcement Team of the Salisbury Police Department executed a Search and Seizure Warrant at the Thrift Travel Inn located at 603 N Salisbury Blvd. An undercover investigation was initiated after information was received that the managers were allegedly involved in obtaining the services of prostitutes for motel customers and receiving compensation for their part in supplying a prostitute.

Arrested:

Ramanbhai Narsinhbi Patel, 58yoa of Salisbury, MD. Charged with 2 counts of Prostitution-Business, 2 counts of Human Trafficking-Compensation, and 9 counts of Prostitution-General.

Dakshaben Ramanbhai Patel, 55yoa of Salisbury, MD. Charged with 2 counts of Prostitution-Business, 2 counts of Human Trafficking-Compensation, and 9 counts of Prostitution-General.

Ishwarlai Kalidas Patel, 72yoa of Salisbury, Md. Charged with 2 counts of Prostitution-Business, 2 counts of Human Trafficking-Compensation, and 9 counts of Prostitution-General.

Carolyn Diane Jenkins, 50yoa of Salisbury, MD. Charged with 1 count of Prostitution-General.

Additional arrests are forthcoming and the investigation is continuing. 200900025887

Editors Note: Sorry Folks but this is all the SPD has delivered in Press Releases for the past 5 days.

Analysis: Some Health Care Numbers Don't Tally

Math is complicating efforts by president to get approval for his top priority

WASHINGTON - Some of President Barack Obama's health care numbers don't seem to add up. And that's complicating his efforts to pass his top domestic priority.

Obama could be falling into the same trap that snagged George W. Bush when he was pushing private accounts for Social Security as part of his "ownership society" in 2005. Bush's claims that the proposal would help shore up Social Security's long-term finances were hard to document mathematically and wound up feeding greater public skepticism.

Obama claims his health effort will not dig the nation deeper into debt and over time will help reduce deficits. He has vowed to not sign any health bill that raises deficits.

GO HERE to read more from MSNBC.

White House: No Middle-Class Tax Hike

WASHINGTON (Aug. 3) -- The White House spokesman said Monday that President Barack Obama is committed to not raising taxes on U.S. families earning less than $250,000.

Robert Gibbs restated that assurance Monday after two top White House officials suggested over the weekend that they could not rule out tax increases as the administration struggles to cut the budget deficit in half in the coming years.

GO HERE to read more.

Dems Vow Health Bill With Or Without GOP

Frustrated with the pace of bipartisan talks, Democratic leaders promise to push a sweeping health care bill through the Senate whether they get Republican support or not.

'We will have contingencies in place,' says New York Sen. Schumer

WASHINGTON - Frustrated with the pace of bipartisan talks, Democratic leaders on Monday promised to push a sweeping health care bill through the Senate whether they get Republican support or not.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the third-ranking Senate Democrat, raised the prospect of the leadership crafting a bill to Democratic specifications and using a rare legislative procedure to expedite legislation fulfilling President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

"We will have contingencies in place. These plans will likely be considered as a last resort, but they are on the table," Schumer told reporters on a conference call. He declined to elaborate.

GO HERE to read momre from MSNBC.

Delaware Electric Cooperative "Peak Alert"

URGENT “BEAT THE PEAK”

3 P.M. to 7 P.M., Tomorrow, August 4th


Because of the warm weather over our region, between the hours of 3 P.M. and 7 P.M., tomorrow, we are asking you to delay the usage of all unnecessary lights and appliances during these hours as well as turning your thermostat up 3 degrees.

While the largest consumers of electricity in the home during these hours and during this time of year are cooling costs and lighting, other large consumers of electricity include major appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, water heaters and stoves.

By delaying the use of unnecessary lighting and appliances as well as turning your thermostat up 3 degrees between 3 P.M. and 7 P.M., tomorrow, we can save energy resources, avoid high cost energy and help the environment.

We thank you for your help. Together we can “Beat the Peak”

7 Year Old Goes On Joy Ride To Avoid Going To Church

Robbery At Camden Waffle House

Location: 4003 S Dupont Highway

Date of Occurrence: August 3, 2009 at 5:48 AM

Suspect(s): Black Male, 5’ 09 to 5’11, late teens to early 20’s, with a thin build, and wearing a tan plaid jacket with a black hood.

Resume:
Camden- On August 3, 2009 at approximately 5:48 AM a suspect entered the Waffle House at 4003 S. Dupont Highway and placed a food order. When the waitress turned around to begin cooking the food, the suspect held a knife to her back and demanded she open the cash drawer. The victim complied with the suspect’s order. The suspect then grabbed the cash from the register and fled the establishment on foot.

The cashier described the suspect as a black male in his late teens to early twenty’s, 5’09 to 5’11, with a thin build, and wearing a tan plaid jacket with a black hood.

If anyone has information on this robbery, please contact Troop 3 Detectives at (302)697-4454.

Salisbury News Helps Delmarva Electric Coop Customers Save $700,000.00 In July!

Greetings:

I just wanted to send a quick note letting you know the “Beat the Peak” Program is working very well.

Through your “Beat the Peak” efforts we are estimating that we have reduced power costs by $700,000 for the month of July.

Your help in controlling power supply cost is critical in keeping our rates the lowest on Delmarva.
Thank you, and keep up the good work by “Beating the Peak” each month!

Bill Andrew
President & CEO

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office Press Releases

Incident: Handgun Possession
Date of Incident: 30 July 2009
Location: 800 block of Miami Avenue, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Sherita A. Walker, 23, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 30 July 2009 at 4:34 PM, deputies from the WCSO responded for a reported of subject armed with a handgun in the 800 block of Miami Avenue. Upon the arrival of the deputies, they met with a victim who stated an altercation took place between the victim and Sherita Walker when Sherita pulled a handgun from her vehicle. After brandishing the handgun, Walker stuffed it in her waistband and left the scene. Investigating deputies located Walker nearby and recovered the handgun. A wanted check on the handgun revealed it had been reported stolen to the State Police earlier in the month.

Walker was transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Walker was detained by the Commissioner in lieu of $100,000.00 bond.

Charges:
Wear and Carry a Handgun on Person
Transport a Handgun in a Vehicle
Possession of a Stolen Handgun

Incident: Possession of Marijuana / Hindering and Obstructing
Date of Incident: 31 July 2009
Location: 200 block of E. East Street, Delmar, MD
Suspect:
1. Jessica Lee Watson, 20, Salisbury, MD
2. Ginger Z. Vetra, 47, Delmar, MD
3. Juvenile, 17 YOA, Delmar, MD

Narrative: On 31 July 2009 at 1821 hrs, a deputy from the WCSO responded to a residence in the 200 block of E. East Street in Delmar, MD for the report of subjects inside a vacant house. Upon arrival, the deputy located two subjects, Jessica Lee Watson and 17 YOA female, inside the residence. During the deputy’s investigation, a warrant charging Watson with Violation of Probation was discovered. The deputy also discovered marijuana in Watson’s possession. The 17 YOA provided the deputy with her identity which the deputy attempted to verify. While at the residence, the mother, Ginger Vetra, arrived and vouched that the juvenile provided her true identity to the deputy. Ginger Vetra then informed the deputy that she would go home and return with identification for the 17 year old. While the deputy was on scene sorting out the facts, the 17 year old ran back into the house, and then out a back door.

The juvenile was subsequently located back at her residence in the 500 block of E. Walnut Street in Delmar. Also present was her mother, Ginger Vetra, who had supported the juvenile’s fabricated identity. The deputy placed both the juvenile and Vetra under arrest.

Watson was detained on $2,500.00 bond for the marijuana charge. Additionally, Watson was held on $5,000.00 on the VOP warrant.

Vetra was released by the Commissioner on Personal recognizance by the District Court Commissioner on the charges of Obstructing and Hindering along with False Statement to a Law Enforcement Officer.

The 17 YOA juvenile was charged on a juvenile referral with Obstructing and Hindering along with False Statement to a Law Enforcement Officer and released pending formal court action by the Department of Juvenile Services

Incident: Disorderly Conduct
Date of Incident: 1 August 2009
Location: 1200 block of Jersey Road, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Kinte Holden, 30, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 1 August 2009 at 1:34 AM, deputies from the WCSO responded to a parking area of an establishment in the 1200 block of Jersey Road for a reported subject acting disorderly and blocking traffic. Upon the arrival of the deputies, they observed a vehicle stationary in the driveway that led from the parking lot to the road. One of the deputies approached the vehicle and observed Kinte Holden behind the wheel, blowing on the horn. Holden, who appeared visibly intoxicated, claimed another individual removed the keys from the ignition. Holden began yelling in a belligerent tone towards the deputies and refused to exit his vehicle. Because of Holden’s actions, a crowd began to watch from the area of the parking lot. When Holden did not calm down, the deputies informed him that he was under arrest. Holden still refused to exit the vehicle and had to be assisted out by the deputies.

Holden was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Holden was detained by the Commissioner in lieu of $10,000.00 bond

Charges:
Disorderly Conduct
Disturbance of the Peace
Hinder Free Passage
Resisting Arrest

Incident: Assault First Degree
Date of Incident: 1 August 2009
Location: 700 block of Dennis Street, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Sharmaine Hutley, 44, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 1 August 2009 at 11:04 AM, a deputy from the WCSO responded to investigate an altercation that occurred inside a residence in the 700 block of Dennis Street in Salisbury. Upon arrival, the deputy located a victim suffering from lacerated forearms. During a subsequent investigation, it was determined that the victim became involved in an altercation with a cohabitant, Sharmaine Hutley, who brandished a six inch steak knife. The altercation turned physical, during which the victim received the lacerations to his forearms.

Hutley was placed under arrest and transported to the Central Booking Unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Hutley was detained by the Commissioner in lieu of $50,000.00

Charges:
Assault First Degree
Assault Second Degree
Reckless Endangerment
Openly Wear and Carry a Dangerous Weapon

Incident: Assault 2nd Degree
Date of Incident: 1 August 2009
Location: 600 block of S. Westover Drive, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Melissa S. Copes, 20, Salisbury, MD

Narrative: On 1 August 2009 at 9:11 PM, deputies from the WCSO responded to a reported altercation inside a residence in the 600 block of S. Westover Drive in Salisbury. Upon the arrival of the deputies, they located a male victim who had received a laceration to his hand. Investigation revealed that the victim had been involved in an argument with Melissa Copes, when Copes pulled out a small knife and cut the victim in the area of the Victim’ wrist.

Copes was gone upon the arrival of the deputies, but they managed to locate her walking on an adjacent street. Copes was placed under arrest and transported to the Central Booking Unit at the Detention Center. After an initial appearance, Copes was detained in the Detention Center by the Commissioner in lieu of $10,000.00 bond.

Charges: Assault 2nd degree

Incident: Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
Date of Incident: 2 August 2009
Location: 8700 block of Rum Ridge Road, Delmar, MD
Suspect: Robert J. Edwards, 37, Eden, MD

Narrative: On 2 August 2009 at 12:02 AM, a deputy responded to a reported overturned vehicle in the 8700 block of Rum Ridge Road in Delmar, MD. While investigating the accident, the deputy observed a bag inside the vehicle that contained pills that the deputy was able to identify as Oxycodone. The pills were not in a proper container nor were they accompanied by a prescription label.

Edwards was placed under arrest for the Possession of the Oxycodone and transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, Edwards was detained in the Detention Center in lieu of $15,000.00 bond.

Charges:
Possession of Oxycodone
Omission of a Prescription Drug Label

Here's The Truth

Our great wealth in the 20th century was in part predicated on natural bounty — farmland, oil, coal, iron ores, timber, etc. — under the aegis of a wonderfully stable constitution. The 21st will adjudicate whether our prior success was also predicated on superior intellect, law, and culture, inasmuch as our resources are now not so singular on the world stage. America to remain exceptional more than ever is going to have to have unusual citizens that are as lawful as they are creative.

Unless we return to a meritocracy, emphasize science, math, liberal arts, and engineering — rather than the plague of ‘studies’ courses (as in environmental-, leisure-, gender-, Latino-, black-, Asia-, Chicano-, community-, feminist-studies, etc.) — we simply will not match the Chinese and Indians in this century.

The American people are waiting for a leader bold enough to balance budgets, restore meritocracy, end the therapeutic mushy sentimentality in our educational system, and insist on the rule of law, free markets, and limit government.

Otherwise we know the ultimate end of the present road: a vast bureaucracy of non-taxpaying incompetents, damning the estranged few for not producing ever more to be taxed, convinced that they are geniuses — and only due to some sort of unfairness have been surpassed by others.

The Chinese are rough, competent people and have no such delusions. In about 10 years their enormous financial power will begin to translate into military sophistication, and I don’t think their foreign policy will either have much to do with human rights or care much about what we have to say about them.

Source: a post by Victor Davis Hanson on his blog - http://victorhanson.com/articles/hanson080109.html

Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, a professor of Classics Emeritus at California State University, Fresno, and a nationally syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services. He is also the Wayne & Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History, Hillsdale College, where he teaches each fall semester courses in military history and classical culture. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2007 and the Bradley Prize in 2008.

Lowering the Drinking Age?

Launched in July 2008, the Amethyst Initiative is made up of chancellors and presidents of universities and colleges across the United States. These higher education leaders have signed their names to a public statement that the problem of irresponsible drinking by young people continues despite the minimum legal drinking age of 21, and there is a culture of dangerous binge drinking on many campuses.
The Amethyst Initiative supports informed and unimpeded debate on the 21 year-old drinking age. Amethyst Initiative presidents and chancellors call upon elected officials to weigh all the consequences of current alcohol policies and to invite new ideas on how best to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol use.
As of July 12, 2009, more than 100 college presidents and chancellors have signed the letter, with over 20 more since then. One of the key features of the Amethyst Initiative is to lower the drinking age to 18. See http://www.amethystinitiative.org/ for more details.

The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has just published the results of a study that found that binge drinking among the under 21 population has decreased nationwide with the institution of a drinking age of 21 – everywhere, that is, except on college campuses.

An editorial on July 12th in the Washington Post stated, “Those on college campuses who favor a lower drinking age point out that students will decide to drink regardless of the law, and forcing them to do so in secret and illegally will make such behaviors such as binge drinking harder to monitor. But outside college campuses, where underage drinking is clearly prohibited, young people have more often made the decision not to drink. This, in turn, has helped drive down drunk driving, assault and other unsafe behaviors. The journal's study drives home the fact that when young people know that the law will be upheld, they adjust their behavior. It's time for college administrators to stop passing the buck to the drinking age and start taking their loco parentis role more seriously. Instead of complaining about the drinking age, they should try enforcing it.”
Local law enforcement is shaky. It's been observed that at off-campus parties where underage drinking is clearly occurring, officers are overwhelmed by the numbers of partiers; just breaking the party up is an effort that takes several officers (sometimes all that are then currently on the street) hours, often without the checking of I.D.s. Many witnesses have stated that the partygoers leave the party carrying alcohol, piling into vehicles which may or not be driven by those who are underage and/or under the influence. Those who are cited for underage drinking do make it to court, but the lion's share of them who do walk after their cases are nolle prossed or put on the stet docket. Salisbury University officials state that underage drinking is a problem and that those who are caught face in-house sanctions, although those numbers are a closely guarded secret, falling under what are allegedly privacy issues.

It is this writer's opinion that lowering the drinking age is, at its face, a poorly conceived idea, that allowing more drinking, especially off-campus, invites more bad behavior, more binge drinking, more upset of the teetering balance of allowable behavior among our college students.

What do you think?

AARP – Another Lefty Lobby

We recently did a post on the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (MLCV) and their decision to rate Maryland legislators on EARLY VOTING.  We posed the question – What does early voting have to do with environmentalism?

Today I received an email from the Maryland chapter of AARP asking me to email my senators in support of “Cap and Tax”.  For those of us at that certain age in life, AARP offers lots of great benefits; discounts on travel, insurance, etc.  However, I become increasingly dismayed with groups that claim to be supporting certain issues and then use our dues money to promote left wing causes like “Cap and Tax” and ObamaCare (last week AARP hosted a “Tele-Town Hall” that did told every left wing lie possible about Obama Care).

Something tells me that AARP supports early voting too.  What has that got to do with being a senior?  We vote in high numbers already.

cross posted at Delmarva Dealings

MISSING PERSON FOUND ON OCEAN CITY BOARDWALK

The Ocean City Police Department is canceling the advisory for the missing woman after an OCPD officer located her on the boardwalk at approximately 12:00 p.m. on Monday, August 3, 2009.

Bicyclist Dies From Injuries Sustained In Crash

Bicyclist Dies from Injuries Sustained in Crash (originally released April 4, 2009)

Glasgow- Mr. Marcelle A. Williams, 44, of Perryville, Maryland, voluntarily turned himself in yesterday, August 2nd, to authorities at Troop 2. He was formally charged in reference to the below outlined crash with Operating a Vehicle Causing Death of Another Person (misdemeanor).

Upon arraignment, Mr. Williams was committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institute in lieu of $10,000.00 secured bond.

Doesn’t the Kratovil / Obama Crowd Have Enough to Do?

I’m all for a civil exchange of ideas.  I’m all for a spirited debate.  I just like a little substance with those ideas and debates.

With “Blue Dog Frank” Kratovil (on WICO with Bill Reddish last week he somehow managed to put “Blue Dog” in almost every sentence) coming back to the shore and trying to explain away being Nancy Pelosi’s lap dog, the left is out attempting to defend every attack against the records of Kratovil and their anointed messiah – Barack Hussein Obama.

Case on point – a recent SbyNEWS post regarding the New Black Panther Party and the Obama Justice Department’s decision to drop their case – AFTER they had already secured a civil judgment against the parties involved.  What was the response from our local lefties?

Really intelligent 10:30. This is a totally bogus story without merit. Voter intimidation hawever (sic) has been in the Republican playbook for more than 50 years. Answer this: Why would Republicans be so interested every election in suppressing the vote? Could it be that their ideas and platform are out of touch with the masses? I think so.

Check out the video.  I guess it was just bad lighting and that was really a white guy wielding a night stick at a polling place.

Republicans are interested in making sure that people who show up to vote are actually who they say they are.  Republicans are interested in making sure the ballot box wasn’t stuffed.  It seems to be the left that is interested in registering ghost voters (ACORN) or protecting people who really are practicing voter intimidation (Obama DOJ).

Who lacks credibility?

Retirement Party Ticket Sales Are Lacking

The members of the Salisbury Fire Department
request your presence at a Retirement Celebration for
Fire Chief David B. See
to be held at
Salisbury University, Commons Building
Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD
on Saturday, August 15, 2009
Social Hour 6:00 p.m. Tickets
Available @
Fire
Headquarters
or by Calling
410-548-3120
Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Cash Bar
Dress Class A Uniform or Semi-Formal
*Please park in Parking Lot E*
Ticket Price = $37.50
(Price includes Dinner and Gift)
(Make Checks Payable to Salisbury Fire Department, Inc.)

While Salisbury News has come to learn there have been very few tickets sold, we'd like to do our part in marketing this event so there aren't 5 or 10 people there in total. I hope they give him a Helmet in a trash bag like he has done to others.

Domestic Dispute Results In Trooper Shooting Suspect

Georgetown- The following news release outlines additional details surrounding the officer involved shooting from yesterday.

This incident began with a domestic dispute at approximately 1:00 p.m. at a residence along the 28000 block of Wynikako Avenue in Millsboro. Initially, a verbal argument ensued between David C. Bethard, his 38-year-old girlfriend and her 19-year-old daughter. As the argument escalated, Bethard was asked to leave the residence, but he refused.

He went into the kitchen and obtained several large kitchen knives. He then held the knives in a threatening manner and advised that everyone was going to die. The 19-year-old fled the home and called 911. The suspect then took his girlfriend from the residence against her will.

The daughter advised the State Police dispatcher center, SUSCOM, of the facts surrounding the incident at the home and also told them that Bethard was armed. This information was relayed to the responding Troopers.

When the initial confrontation with the officer ensued, the Trooper gave Bethard several lawful commands for him to surrender. The suspect put his hands in his pockets and refused to take them out.

Then, instead of coming peacefully, the suspect threatened the officer. He then lunged at the Trooper and quickly withdrew his hands from his pockets while holding a black object. This object later proved to be a cellular phone. In fear for his life, the Trooper fired a single round from his divisionally issued weapon, striking the suspect.

Charges:
In reference to the officer involved shooting, warrants are now on file charging David Bethard with Resisting Arrest and Menacing (both misdemeanors).

In reference to the domestic, warrants are now on file charging Bethard with the following offenses: two counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon during the Commission of a Felony (felony), Kidnapping (felony), two counts of Aggravated Menacing (felony) and two counts of Terroristic Threatening (misdemeanor).
He will be formally charged upon his release from the hospital.

The officer involved in this shooting is identified as Captain Charles Simpson, the Troop 4 Commander in Charge. As a matter of routine procedure, he has been placed on Administrative Duty.

GM Buyout Offers Fall Short, Layoffs Loom

6,000 workers took offers, but automaker needed about 13,500 total

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. said Monday about 6,000 blue-collar workers have taken the latest round of early retirement and buyout offers. But that is apparently not enough to prevent thousands of layoffs.

GM now has about 54,000 factory workers and wants to end the year with 40,500, a cut of about 13,500. That means the offers fell about 7,500 short of the company's goal.

The automaker announced in June that it would close 15 factories employing 22,000 workers by the end of 2012.

GO HERE to read more from MSNBC.

Michael Jackson's Life Insurance Paid Out

Records don’t indicate how much was paid to estate administrators

LOS ANGELES - Court filings state the administrators of Michael Jackson's estate have received the King of Pop's life insurance proceeds.

The records, filed Friday in Los Angeles, are redacted and don't indicate how much the policy paid out. The filings state that money designated for Jackson's three children has been received by a trust being handled by special administrators of the singer's estate.

The filings are meant to augment a petition to give the children a monthly stipend. Another filing indicates Jackson's mother, Katherine, is also eligible for some benefits from the policy.

GO HERE to read more from MSNBC.