Better Holiday Season Than Expected At Onley Walmart

The new Walmart in Onley had better than expected sales this holiday season.

According to Frank Durst, Manager of the Walmart, beginning with Black Friday in November, the event went probably smoother than any he has seen in his 18 years with the Walmart Company. According to Durst, sales were better than expected through out the entire season. Durst said there the store was filled to capacity and that merchandise was plentiful, although he noted that he would be ordering more wrapping paper next year.

Although the Shore woke up to major snow on the day after Christmas, the Onley Walmart was open with only 11 associates able to get to work that day. According to Durst, there were about 1,400 shoppers who braved the storm to take advantage of the after Christmas sales and to purchase other merchandise. By Wednesday, things were getting back to normal and associates as well shoppers were plentiful.

When asked what he might do differently for next year, Durst says that he plans to have a bigger variety of merchandise, something shoppers will see happening all year long. Durst credits his great sales associates and very good customers for the successful beginning for Walmart on the eastern shore.

He also says that he appreciates how the community has welcomed Walmart and that he feels very much at home on Virginias Eastern Shore.
www.shoredailynews.com

Tangier Island Doctor Dies

TANGIER ISLAND, Va.- Dr. David B. Nichols, the man credited for bringing health care to Tangier Island in the Chesapeake Bay, died Thursday following a battle with cancer. He was 62.

Nichols died at his home in White Stone, Va., surrounded by family and friends.

His passing comes less than four months after his biggest dream came true- the Aug. 29 dedication of a new $1.4 million state-of-the-art medical clinic to serve the 525 residents of Tangier Island. The clinic was renamed the David B. Nichols Health Center in his honor. It replaced a clinic that was more than 50 years of age.
First by boat, then by light plane and helicopter, Nichols regularly made the 12-mile trip to Tangier Island on his day off every week for 31 years to see patients there. Nichols continued to treat the sick as the island's primary doctor even after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

more on www.wboc.com

Skylor Harmon Charged With First-Degree Murder

POCOMOKE CITY, Md. -- A day after authorities announced Skylor Dupree Harmon was being charged with the death of an Accomack County man in a shooting earlier this year, police apprehended their fugitive suspect at a Walmart store.

Police say Harmon, who is charged with the first-degree murder, was arrested without incident by a state police fugitive apprehension team and a special team of Worcester sheriff's deputies in Pocomoke City.

Harmon is being held without bond in connection with the death of Reginald Jerome Handy Jr.

Handy, 22, a resident of New Church, was slain Wednesday, May 26. He was the son of Reginald and Evangela Handy Sr. He was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Wardtown.

At a news conference last week, Deputy State's Attorney Michael Farlow as well as representatives from numerous police agencies announced they believed Harmon killed Handy in May.

A different man, Alexander Crippen, 36, was the first person charged with murder in Handy's death, but those murder charges were dropped before Crippen's trial; he was later convicted of attempting to kill a different man, based on testimony about what he did at the same scene where Handy died.

At the press conference, Farlow said the forensic evidence which exonerated Crippen of murder charges has been "very helpful in determining who the actual shooter was."

According to recently filed court documents, the night Handy was shot at 503 Laurel St., a witness says he saw the flash of a gun go off beside 500 Young St., which parallels Laurel in marking off the long sides of a narrow residential block. The witness, who is unidentified in court documents, also said immediately after the shooting, he saw Skylor Harmon near the flash.

Police later found a .223 Bushmaster assault rifle between 500 and 502 Young Street, which was later determined to be the weapon that shot and killed Handy, court records say.

Harmon is also being charged, in separate court cases, with resisting arrest, failure to obey law enforcement, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, disorderly conduct, making a false statement to a police officer, malicious destruction of property and obstructing and hindering.

www.easternshorenews.com

DNA Links Suspect To Burglary

BERLIN, Md.- Police in Worcester County said Tuesday that they used DNA evidence to connect a suspect to the burglary of a Berlin business.

Martino Galeaz, 39, of Ocean City, is charged with second-, third- and fourth-degree burglary and theft over $1,000.

Detectives with the Worcester County said Galeaz's arrest stemmed from a burglary that occurred earlier this year at Atlantic Aquatech on 10902 Ocean Gateway.

Authorities said an investigation revealed the suspect entered the business and stole a number of items, including power tools. Through DNA analysis from evidence collected at the crime scene, investigators identified Galeaz as the suspect.

After his arrest on the aforementioned charges, Galeaz was locked up in the Worcester County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact the WCBI at (410) 352-3476, or Maryland State Police at (410) 641-3101.
www.wboc.com

Worst Snow Storm In Over A Century

The worst snow storm to hit the Eastern Shore in December in over a century has passed but the effects are still being felt.

High winds began howling Sunday night just after sun down and continued throughout the day Monday and into Tuesday, reaching gusts as high as 50 mph. These high gusts have created large snow drifts, as the snow was still dry and fluffy.

Road ways were blocked by the snow drifts, and motorists who did not heed warnings of the hazardous conditions have left cars stranded on a slew of roads throughout the Eastern Shore, further blocking roadways.

According to Meteorologist Jon Cash, sun shine and higher temperatures today will begin to melt the snow. This in turn will make the snow more moist, heavy and less likely to be blown by the wind. High temperatures are expected at the end of the week which will likely rid the region of any remnants of the storm by the weekend.

However, motorists are still urged not to travel. Cars which get stuck in snow drifts will further block traffic and create more difficulties for VDOT to clear the roadways.
WESR

Domestic Assult Leads To Police Shooting

OCEAN CITY, Md.- Police have released the names of the couple involved in the domestic dispute that led to an officer-involved shooting Monday morning.

Ocean City Police officers responded to a 911 call for a domestic dispute at 11:07 am Monday. When officers arrived at the apartment on 82^nd Street, a man with a knife was attacking a woman, according to police.

Police say the suspect would not drop his weapon. One officer then shot the man.

The suspect is identified as Marvin Jefferson Mitchell, 27, of Berlin, Maryland. The female is Mitchell's estranged wife, Shanna Mitchell, 25, also of Berlin, Maryland.

Police say the couple's two children were inside the apartment during the stabbing and officer-involved shooting.

The police officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave pending review of the incident.

Both the suspect and victim received care by the Ocean City Fire Department Paramedics before being transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center. They are both hospitalized and in stable condition.

Shanna Mitchell had obtained an active Protective Order against her husband.

Marvin Mitchell has been charged by the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation with nine charges, including 1st Degree Attempted Murder, Reckless Endangerment and Violation of a Protective Order.

www.wboc.com

Arrests Made In Counterfeit Bill Use- Northampton County

According to a press release from the Northampton County Sheriff's Office, counterfeit $100 bills made from $5 bills were used at the Kiptopeke Inn on Lankford Highway in Cape Charles.

On December 18, Sheriff's Deputies responded to a complaint of counterfeit currency being passed from the Inn. After attaining a description of the suspects and the vehicle, the Northampton County Sheriff's Department arrested three suspects in the Eastville area. Shan Beamon, 31 of Portsmouth, Jamal Beamon, 28 of Chesapeake and Ronald Garret, 25 of Portsmouth were arrested and charged with utter or attempt to employ true a false, forged or base coin, note or bill, knowing it to be false, forged or base and conspiring to utter or attempt to employ true a false, forged or base coin, note or ill, knowing it to be false, forged or base. The three suspects are currently being held in Eastern Shore Regional Jail.

According to sources who wished to have their identity withheld, members of the United States Treasury Department as well as the United States Secret Service were in Northampton County Monday afternoon investigating the case.

According to Sheriff J.P. Robbins, Jr., the case is still under investigation.
www.shoredailynews.com

Armed Robber Sentenced To Six Years

SNOW HILL – A Pocomoke man, one of three arrested in connection with an armed robbery spree in the south end of Worcester County in June, pleaded guilty last week to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in jail, half of which was suspended.

Around 11:35 p.m. on June 9, the clerk of the Goose Creek convenience store in Pocomoke was attempting to lock up for the night when she was confronted by three masked men who had just entered the store. One of the men was brandishing a handgun and all three demanded money from the clerk while one of the suspects pointed a gun at her, according to police reports. The suspects were able to get an undisclosed amount of money from the clerk before fleeing the area on foot.

During the subsequent investigation, it was learned that about 30 minutes earlier, the manager of a Pizza Hut restaurant nearby had contacted the Pocomoke Police Department to report three masked men had attempted to rob him at gunpoint as he closed the business for the night. The store manager was able to get into his car unharmed and drove away.

The information obtained from the Pizza Hut manager matched the information provided by the Goose Creek clerk in terms of physical descriptions of the suspects and the types of clothing they were wearing at the time of the armed robberies. Based on the information provided by the victims, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives were able to identify three suspects, including Dexter Wise, Jr., 23, of Laurel, Del.; Decarlo Marcus White, 19, of Pocomoke; and Dorian Rashawn Johnson, 19.

Warrants were sworn out on the three suspects and each was arrested a short time later. Each of the suspects were charged with 23 total counts including armed robbery, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Last week in Circuit Court the first of three suspects, Wise, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in jail, of which six months were suspended, netting Wise six years in jail. He was also placed on probation for two years after his release and was given credit for the 118 days he spent in jail awaiting trial. Wise was also ordered to pay roughly $1,500 in combined restitution to the victims, Goose Creek and Pizza Hut.

White is expected to appear for trial for his role in the robberies on Jan. 10, while Johnson’s trial is scheduled for Jan. 12.

www.mdcoastdispatch.com

This Weekend At The MarVa Theater

Friday, Dec 17 Saturday, Dec 18
Time: 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec 19
Time: 2 p.m.
Tickets: $5


PLOT:
The long-haired Princess Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but when she falls in love with a bandit who was passing by she must venture into the outside world for the first time to find him.
Rated PG

Accomack And Northampton County Court

Accomack County Court

Ryan Bonniwell, 27, of Painter, was found guilty of burglary and grand larceny. A presentence report has been ordered.

Lavar Johnson, 30, of Mappsville, was found guilty of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 10 years with all but time served suspended.

Christopher Barcroft, 21, of Cape Charles, was sentenced to four years for two counts of burglary and two counts of grand larceny.

Keenan Goodwine, 19, of Atlantic, was found guilty of robbery and the use of a firearm in commission of a robbery. A presentence report was ordered.

Thomas Bunting, 27, of Melfa, was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault. A presentence report has been ordered.

Joann Ball, 57, of Accomac, was sentenced to 10 years with all but 12 months suspended for possession of cocaine.

Michael Sample Jr., 25, of Painter, was sentenced to 10 years each on two counts of breaking and entering and two counts of grand larceny, to run concurrently, with all suspended upon completion of detention and diversion center programs.

Jonathan Stevens, 27, of Quinby, was sentenced to five years for burglary with all suspended after completion of community service.

Jesse Mariner, 28, of Keller, was sentenced to 10 years each on counts of burglary and grand larceny, with all but three years suspended.

Derrick Reid, 22, of Nassawadox, was sentenced to five years each on counts of breaking and entering, robbery and a firearms charge, to run consecutively, for a sentence of 15 years.

Keshawn Savage, 21, of New Church, was sentenced to three years with all but one year suspended for hit and run.

Terrell Robinson, 33, of Birdsnest, had his probation reinstated.

Northampton County

Yolanda O'Sha Stines, 35, of Accomac, was sentenced to five years with all but 2.5 years suspended for writing bad checks.

Leonard Tromell Brooks, 27, of Cape Charles, was sentenced to 10 years with all but two years suspended for possession with the intent to distribute more than one-half ounce but less than five pounds of marijuana.

Cynthia Rene Weathers, 35, of Pocomoke City, Md., was sentenced to five years with all but time served suspended for four counts of welfare fraud and ordered to pay $5,005.

Terry Wayne McGee Jr., 34, of Newport News, was sentenced to five years for forgery, 12 months for receiving stolen property, 12 months for using a false identity and 12 months for driving on a suspended license, to run concurrently, with all but 12 months suspended.

William Jerome Reid Jr., 31, of Machipongo, was sentenced to five years with four years suspended for possession with the intent to distribute more than one half ounce but less than five pounds of marijuana. He also had a previous sentence imposed and received indefinite probation.

Brian Dwayne Johnson, 31, of Tasley, had his probation revoked.

Deshaun Lamont Corney, 21, of Birdsnest, pleaded guilty of two counts of robbery, one count of entering in the nighttime while armed with a deadly weapon, one count of malicious wounding, and one count of displaying a firearm in a threatening manner during a robbery. A presentence report has been ordered.
www.easternshorenews.com

New Worcester County Sheriff Will Run A 'Tight Ship'

BERLIN – Long-time Worcester County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Reggie Mason this week was officially sworn in as the new sheriff after a successful election last month and is now preparing for a smooth transition for the department.

Mason and new Chief Deputy Dale Smack were officially sworn in during a special ceremony in Snow Hill on Monday and the new sheriff has hit the ground running. His overall goal is maintaining the continuity of his predecessor, Sheriff Chuck Martin, who held the post for 16 years, while adding his own initiatives and programs to better serve the entire county.

This week, Mason took time out of his busy schedule for an interview with The Dispatch during which he outlined some of his priorities, programs and initiatives for his new office, some of which are already underway. The following are some of the excerpts from that conversation:

"I’m very lucky. I’ve got great people here. I was chief deputy for over 24 years and I was involved in a lot of the hiring here. It’s a great agency and I’m very proud of them. My job is to make sure they come to work safe and go home to their family safe. I worry about my people just like the sheriff before me, Sheriff Martin. We always worried about our people. I was born and raised in this county and I care about this county. I have relatives in this county from Pocomoke to St. Martin’s Neck and I care about our people here. I want people to go out at night to a movie or go shopping and feel safe. That’s my job."

On increasing the department’s presence throughout the county:
I’m going to have command staff, lieutenants and above, work night patrol. The sheriff let me start this about two months ago. I brought this idea up to him. A lot of times, we leave here at five or six in the evening, but if the public calls here, they want to talk to someone in command. I don’t want the public to have to wait until morning to talk to a lieutenant or higher-up. This way, 911 can put them right through to somebody in command.

I plan on making some promotions after the first of the year and they’re going to be accessible. Somebody in command is going to be out there and is going to be able to answer the questions.

We’re doing it already. I’ve personally been doing it for about four months. I want to see first-hand what is going on in this county, and I want to let the public know that I’m out here, that we’re out here. You can’t just sit behind a desk. I want to see what my deputies need and what’s going on out there. It’s been working great. I want to boost up our patrols, so I’m going with a 4-3 program where my people work 10-hour days, sometimes four days a week. I learned that from Lee Duggan when he was chief in Ocean City. It allows us to almost double our coverage with the same manpower during the most active times on the streets and in our communities.

On new hires:
My biggest thing right now is adding more deputies to the road patrol. Right now, I have four vacancies and we’re in the process of filling them and I’m looking at these new people. I’m looking at hiring kids that have grown up in this county and giving them the opportunity to work in the Sheriff’s Office. Anyone living outside Worcester County that we hire will have one year to move into the county. Recently we hire five people, four of which are going through the last two stages. I’ll be sending four through the police academy and I think that’s the first time ever we’ve had that many.

On getting back into the communities:
I want to be a community police agency. I want to put more of our deputies back into community policing and neighborhood watch programs. I’m a firm believer in neighborhood watch programs, educating the public, what to look out for in their neighborhoods. A community police deputy is great. He or she gets to know a lot of people in the small towns. They get good information from the people in the towns and see a lot. We got away from this a couple of years ago, but I definitely want to get back into it. Years ago, when I was first here, we had deputies out in the communities riding bicycles. They had better contact with the public rather than just riding around in the car all the time. I want the residents to know they have a deputy they can talk to. If we get our manpower issues straightened out, I’d love to have one on the south end and one in the north end to go into our small communities.

On the need to finish Route 113:
That’s a priority for me. I want to do my part to make sure that gets done and gets done in a timely fashion. Every one of us who travel that road knows how dangerous it is. It’s one of the most dangerous roads in the country and the statistics bear that out. Years back, I was talking with a State Highway official and he said we’re all probably going to be dead before that’s finished and now, I’m starting to think he might have been right. There is just no way they can’t get that highway finished. When they start to do a highway project on the other side of that bridge, they don’t start until it’s finished. We need to get mobilized and unified in a single voice and tell them we want it done. That’s a priority.

On underage alcohol and tobacco sales:
The other big thing I’m after is the sale of alcohol and tobacco to teenagers. We’re going to do a lot of spot checks. The main thing is talking to the business owners and making sure that they inform their employees about the laws. We’re going to spot-check them and we’re going to have our cadets go in and try to make buys. I don’t want to put anybody out of business, but I don’t want them selling alcohol and tobacco to the teenagers. That’s going to be one of our priorities.

On managing the department’s budget:
My big thing is, I worry about my budget. I know times are very tough, but I want to get the very best training for my people. I had the opportunity when I was with the OCPD. Chief Duggan sent everyone of us to so many schools and specialized classes to make us better professionals and I want to give the same opportunities to my people. I want to give them the very best equipment to do their job. Anything we need to find in our budget to let our people better protect themselves, we’re going to find a way to do it. I’m looking at ways to save anything I can in our budget to allow us to do the things that are most important. If that means filling jobs with part-timers and retirees, I’m going to do it.

On making tough decisions:
If I see something that isn’t working, I’m going to make the tough decisions. They might not always be the most popular decisions, but I’m going to do what’s best for this county and my people. I’m always willing to give 100-percent and I expect the people working for me to do the same. If I see something that isn’t working, I’m going to make the tough choices. I’ve learned to treat people the way you like to be treated, but I’m not afraid of discipline. I’m a former Marine Corps sergeant and I’m going to run a tight ship. We have rules and regulations and that’s what they’re there for.

On forging good relationships:
I want to work with our neighbors and form new and better partnerships. We have a great partnership with Virginia and we have people deputized in Virginia and they have a Virginia state trooper and three Accomack County sheriff’s deputies deputized here. We’ve been working great crossing the lines in and around the Pocomoke area and we’ve made some nice busts. It’s working great. We’re also going to help Somerset County and Wicomico County with any resources they need. If we work together, it makes our county that much safer.

Crime doesn’t know physical boundaries. If they need anything, they’ll get it, and they’ll do the same for us. Chief DiPino is going to assign me some personnel to help with the drug problem, because it’s not only in the south end but all over the county including Ocean City. She’s going to help us with manpower. That’s what its all about, helping your neighbor. We’re all going to work together in the county. We’ve already talked about what we can help each other with and we’re going to team up, the same thing with Pocomoke, Berlin, and Snow Hill. It’s not about one individual agency. It’s all about working as a good team and helping each other. I’ve had nothing so far but great support from all the chiefs. I’d love to work more with Delaware because we’re one of the only counties that borders two states. There are opportunities for partnerships there and we’re already exploring them.

On the take-home vehicle policy:
A lot of these people are school resource officers, drug enforcement officers and SWAT team members. When I need them, I need them. Once they hit that county line, they know where they’re going and what the situation is. I don’t need them driving to the county line in their personal car and picking up one of our cars when they get here. You can lose a lot of time doing that. When I need my specialized people, I need them right away. Now, if gas prices skyrocket or it becomes too expensive, I’ll address that when the time comes, but it’s not a big problem now.
Why it became such a big issue during the election I don’t know, but some of the figures put out there about the cost of our take-home vehicle policy were just inaccurate. In county, they can use their vehicle off duty. Out of county, they can’t. In county, it’s good to see them out in their cars when they go out. They have to check in when they’re on duty and when they have to go off duty. It’s all about high visibility.

On the use of part-timers:
Part-timers save the taxpayers of this county money and they free up more manpower for me. I’ve also hired a part-time detective to work with the child advocacy program, who works with crimes involving children. We got a grant to pay for the position, and while we don’t know how long the grant will last, by hiring him part time, I’ll be able to keep him when the grant runs out. It’s so important to have this deputy work the child cases.

I also have a part-time deputy that tracks sex offenders in the county. We have about 60 right now he keeps track of. U.S. Marshals have teamed up with us on this. If one leaves our county, we contact the U.S. Marshals and they will be on their track. Our part-time deputy does an outstanding job with this. He keeps a close tab on where they reside, where they work and he does an outstanding job.
by: Shawn Soper
www.mdcoastdispatch.com

One Year In Jail For Marijuana Possession In Worcester County

SNOW HILL -- Darnell Kelley will spend one year in prison and three years on supervised probation after pleading guilty to possessing drugs with the intent to distribute them.

Kelley was charged with felonies in May after police found 75 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the rental car he was driving during a traffic stop.

"My client was by no means the only one involved," said James V. Anthenelli, Kelley's lawyer, saying the Infiniti Kelley drove was rented by Kelley's father, Modis L. Chandler, who was in the car when police stopped the vehicle for speeding.

Anthenelli said he was "very pleased" with Circuit Court Judge Richard R. Bloxom's decision to suspend four years of Kelley's five-year sentence, which will be served in the Worcester County Detention Center.

"This is my client's first criminal offense," said Anthenelli. He presented tax return records to the court, showing Kelley had a steady income in 2007 and 2008 until the "wheels fell off the bus" after he became unemployed.

Kelley, 24, and Chandler, 40, both of Newport News, Va., were traveling south on Route 113 near Old Virginia Road when they were stopped for speeding.

Maryland State Police called in a K-9 unit, which alerted police to the trunk of the car, where they found 75 pounds of marijuana in two gym bags, according to court records.

Worcester County Assistant State's Attorney Julie Guyer presented the case in front of Bloxom on Thursday. She declined to comment on Kelley's sentencing because charges against Chandler are still pending.

Chandler, who is charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of a large amount of marijuana with intent to distribute, is scheduled to attend a criminal motions hearing on Jan. 7 followed by a jury trial on Jan. 12.

www.delmarvanow.com

Santa To Arrive At the Historic Onley Train Station Dec. 4

You better not pout, you better not cry, because Santa is coming to the Historic Onley Train Station. The Society for the Preservation of the Onley Train Station (SPOTS) will be hosting Santa as he arrives by train on Saturday December 4th at 2:30 pm. The Historic Onley Train Station will be open from 1-3 pm for tours and refreshments will be available.

The station is located at the corner of Pennsylvania Ave and Maple St in downtown Onley right next to the tracks.

So come on out and celebrate the start of the holiday season with members of SPOTS, and Santa at the historic Onley Train Station.

Pocomoke City Christmas Parade Winners

2010 Pocomoke City Christmas Parade Winners

Grand Champion Band $100 & Trophy Snow Hill HS

1st Place Div I Band - L$150 & Trophy Snow Hill HS
2nd Place Div I Band - L$100 & Trophy N. Dorchester HS

1st Place Div 2 1st Place Div Band- S$150 & Trophy Washington HS
2nd Place Div 2 Band - S $100 & Trophy Crisfield HS

1st Place Div 3 Band - M$125 & Trophy Salisbury Middle School
2nd Place Div 3 Band - M$100 & Trophy None

1st Place Comm. Float Plaque Lowes of Pocomoke
2nd Place Comm. Float Plaque TNT Construction

1st Place Non-Com Adult Float $150 & Plaque Acts Apostolic Church
2nd Place Non-Com Adult Float $125 & Plaque Bethel Baptist Church

1st Place Non-Com Youth Float $150 & Plaque Cub Scouts Troop 143
2nd Place Non-Com Youth Float $125 & Plaque Girls Scouts Troop 137

1st Place Dance Units Plaque Dance Loft
2nd Place Dance Units Plaque Dance Dynamics

1st Place Marching Units Plaque Snow Hill HS
2nd Place Marching Units Plaque Pocomoke HS

Best Appearing Fire Co. Plaque Greenbackville VFD
2nd Appearing Fire Co. Plaque Parsonsburg VFD

Best Fire Co Marching Plaque Newark Cadets

Best Antique Equipment Plaque Greenbackville VFD

Best Modern Equipment Plaque Salisbury Station 2

Equestrian Unit Plaque Chincoteague Drill Team

Teen Wanted Police Turns Himself In

HEBRON, Md.- The search for a Hebron teenager accused of having fired multiple shots at a Maryland state trooper four days ago ended this morning when he turned himself in to police in Salisbury.

Maryland State Police say Wyatt A. Young, 18, will be charged with attempted first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a handgun in a vehicle, illegal possession of a handgun, and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony. Bond information was not immediately available.

Police say that at around 7 a.m. today, Young walked into the Salisbury Police Department with his mother and identified himself to police. He was taken into custody without incident.

Young's arrest stemmed from an incident alleged to have occurred shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, Nov. 26. Authorities say a state trooper assigned to the MSP Salisbury Barrack was traveling in the 7500 block of Longfield Drive near Hebron when he saw a vehicle parked in the grass along the shoulder of the road. The trooper was in uniform and in a marked patrol car.

The trooper was facing the front of the Honda when he pulled up to check on it. The trooper shone his patrol car spotlight on the Honda and saw someone lying across the front seat. Police say the person, later identified as Young, sat up and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the trooper. According to investigators, Young fired at the trooper through the driver's side window, causing the Honda's window to shatter.

Police say that Young is believed to have fired at least two more times at the trooper, before speeding away from the scene.

Neither the trooper nor his patrol car was hit by the gunfire.

A search by police in Maryland and Delaware had been underway for the last four days prior to Young's decision to surrender to authorities. He had last been seen in Delaware where he fled from a traffic stop.

Agencies involved in the search included the Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation, the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, MSP Salisbury Barrack, Maryland State Police State Apprehension Team, Delaware State Police and local police departments.

The Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office worked with the investigative team and was consulted regarding criminal charges.

The investigation is continuing. Police say additional criminal charges are pending against Young in Maryland and Delaware.

www.wboc.com

Northeastern Supply, Inc. Buys 84 Lumber Property

POCOMOKE CITY -- Northeastern Supply Inc. is buying a warehouse property held by a lumber yard that abruptly closed in early 2009.

The company, one of the region's fastest-growing businesses, just bought the former 84 Lumber company facility on Ocean Highway, in a transaction handled by Sperry Van Ness-Miller Commercial Real Estate.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Northeastern Supply distributes a variety of products used by the construction industry, including plumbing, heating, air conditioning, water systems, hardware and lighting supplies.

"We have been asked by many professional contractors to locate in this area, and this is just another example of what we will do to bring our products and services closer to our customers," said Steve Cook, president and CEO of Northeastern Supply, which operates 33 branches throughout Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

The facility, which sits on just under 17 acres, contains a 21,000-square-foot main facility and two 8,000-square-foot storage facilities, according to Sperry Van Ness. It is on track to become the 34th branch of Northeastern Supply.

The Pocomoke 84 Lumber location was one of nine stores nationwide that went out of business on Feb. 9, 2009, as the retailer attempted to streamline operations in the face of declining revenues. Its inventory and some of its seven-member staff were transferred to the Fruitland store. At the time, a corporate spokesman said the downturn in the overall housing market hurt the store's bottom line and prompted the closing.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/

After Public Hearing Berlin Postpones Sprinkler Decision

BERLIN – Whether Berlin will decide to exempt itself from installing mandatory sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings is still up in the air after Monday’s public hearing.
After more than an hour of presentations on both sides of the debate by fire marshals, realtors and private citizens, the Mayor and Council delayed making a final decision on residential fire sprinklers until its Dec. 13 meeting.

“There are a lot of myths and falsities about sprinklers,” said Worcester County Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon. “Sprinklers save lives.”
McMahon supported his argument that the council should not opt out of the mandatory statewide installation of sprinklers in new homes with statistics, case studies and a nine-minute video showcasing the effectiveness of sprinklers.

“The sprinklers activate in 90-seconds,” McMahon said. “It’s like having your volunteer fire company arrive on scene immediately. … You’ll need about 300 gallons of water [for a sprinkler to put out a fire], compared to thousands if the fire department needs to show up.”
McMahon compared the 90-second sprinkler response time to the nationwide firefighter average response time, which was between 16 and 20 minutes before water would actually start flowing on scene. He admitted that Berlin’s centrally located fire department had a slightly better average, but that it was still nowhere near the 90-second mark.

Supporting his colleague, Maryland State Fire Marshal Jeff Barnard also addressed the council in support of mandatory sprinkler installation. He also stressed that while smoke-alarms may get many people out of the house, those who are incapacitated, either through handicap, age or a situation such as intoxication, might not be able to escape the fire even if alarmed. With a sprinkler system, however, the incapacitated would be much better protected.

As for the occasional malfunction with sprinklers and ensuing water damage, Barnard did not believe it should sway the council.

“Everything dries out, but nothing un-burns,” he said.
Berlin Fire Chief Derrick Simpson lent his support to the fire marshals, going on record for the mandatory installation of sprinklers.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, local realtors made their own presentation, this time against making the systems mandatory. Their main argument was that the cost would be too high, especially with the terrible housing market, and that whether a home has a sprinkler system should be a decision left to the owner, who could choose whether to deal with the additional expense.

“I strongly support the safety of the community, but not at the cost of making homes unaffordable,” Coastal Association of Realtors President Pat Terrill said.

Terrill ventured that smoke-alarms and the central location of the Berlin Fire Department were more than enough practical protection and that attaching more cost to a home in what has been some of the slowest real estate sales months in decades could be crippling.
John Kotoski, president of the Eastern Shore Building Association, agreed and pointed out that Berlin would not be unique by opting out of the ordinance.

“Twenty-seven states have opted out of the mandatory sprinkler ordinance,” he said. “Only two, Maryland and California, have opted in. Twelve states are pending and two haven’t brought it up yet.”

Kotoski reinforced the high cost of sprinklers should be a choice left to the owner. Additionally, he cited that there would be extra costs associated with a sprinkler system that the fire marshals did not think of, such as the expense of simply working the systems into the design of buildings and complications that could be generated during construction.
Kotoski listed some statistics of his own, saying that there was a 99.45 percent chance of surviving a home fire if hardwired smoke-alarms were installed.

“The problem is not homes without sprinklers,” he stated. “The problem is homes without working smoke-detectors.”
Berlin resident Joe Sexauer addressed the council in favor of mandatory installation.

“The state allows exemption from the ordinance for peculiar circumstances,” he said. “I don’t believe just having a central fire department is peculiar enough to justify an exemption. … the overall scheme of things this is a no-brainer.”

When it came time for the council to finally vote, most appeared to still be on the fence. Councilwoman Paula Lynch asked those in attendance to raise their hands if they were Berlin residents and approximately half of the audience put hands in the air. She then asked those residents if they would install the system optionally to again raise their hands; fewer went up this time, but there was still a scattering.
Lynch said she “wrestled with the mandate.” Councilwoman Lisa Hall agreed, but did admit that she was impressed by the sprinkler systems
“I would put one in my house,” she stated.
In the end, the council tabled the vote hoping to find more information on the possibility of insurance reductions and other pertinent data, and also to allow the council time to digest the sheer amount of information presented.

www.mdcoastdispatch.com

OGLESBY REFLECTS ON ELECTION

Today, the Board of Elections tallied the final few ballots and certified the election results for the Worcester County States Attorney race. With that certification, I am the State’s Attorney Elect and it is now appropriate for me to reflect on the extraordinary journey that began many years ago.

I am both grateful and sincerely humbled by the incredible encouragement and support the campaign received from the many volunteers who gave their time, energy and resources on the promise that their hard work and dedication would help usher in a new era of accountability in Worcester County. There are many who have supported my candidacy for over eight years. These individuals and their unwavering faith in my ability were the pillars of strength for my campaign.

We knew when we began this campaign that the road toward achieving our goals would be crowded with contention. What now remains of political partisanship must be placed aside. Mr. Todd has spent twenty five years serving the people of Worcester County and rightfully deserves our praise and appreciation. His hard work has helped pave the way for the future we must now build together. The time for new ideas, new directions, and bold initiatives has arrived.

To the voters of Worcester County who were not yet ready to cast their votes for me in this election, I promise to spend the next four years dedicating myself to the unwavering principles of fairness and justice so that I may earn your trust. To the voters who elected me, thank you for your confidence in my ability to protect the values which have helped shape our great community.

With the trust and confidence of law enforcement, there has never been a better time to serve Worcester County. With your continued prayers and support, the Office of the State’s Attorney will protect the present and safeguard the future by bringing accountability to our community.

With appreciation,

Beau H. Oglesby

State’s Attorney Elect

Worcester County, Maryland

Breast Cancer Group Receives Check From Local Car Dealership

In recognition of October as "Breast Cancer Awareness Month," Women Supporting Women was recently presented with a check from Midway Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick-Toyota of Pocomoke City.

The check, in the amount of $6,930, reflects the total raised through Midway's First Annual "Drive Out Breast Cancer" Charity Walk, held at Midway on August 21st.
Pictured: The Midway family holds the donation check to Women Supporting Women. The funds were raised at Midway's "Drive Out Breast Cancer" Event Held in August.

"It was a total community effort," according to Midway spokesman Joshua Nordstrom. "Thanks to our corporate sponsors, all of the folks who took the time to raise money and participate in the event, and the hard work of the Midway family, we were able to raise crucial funds for a great local charity. With the continued involvement of the community, we can raise even more money for Women Supporting Women next year."

To participate in the Midways 2011 Drive Out Breast Cancer walk or to get involved with Women Supporting Women please call Josh @ Midway: 443/614-6021.

www.shoredailynews.com

Sunday Matinee At The MarVa Theater

If you haven't been to see this movie you have one more chance!

Sunday Matinee 2:00 pm Admission: $5.00