How to Save Your Wet Cellphone:

How to Save Your Wet Cellphone: Tech Clinic

By Joel Johnson

Even if a wet cellphone seems dead, there's a good chance it can be resuscitated. Just make sure you act fast—the longer the water sits inside, the greater the likelihood it will destroy the phone for good.

This is a DIY moment. While consumers are conditioned to send back broken merchandise, your phone's warranty probably doesn't cover water damage. And you may not have much luck pulling a fast one on your phone company—most of today's phones come with a "water sticker" that permanently changes color if it gets wet.

The first step: Immediately cut the power by removing the battery. I know it's tempting, but resist the urge to power up your phone to see if it works—just turning it on can short out the circuits. If you have a GSM phone (the type used by AT&T and T-Mobile), you'll want to remove the SIM card as well. Even if your phone turns out to be beyond repair, the SIM should retain a lot of its onboard information, such as the contacts in your phone book.

With the battery safely set aside, you now have one goal—dry your phone, and dry it fast. If you let the moisture evaporate naturally, the chance of corrosion damaging the phone's innards increases. Instead, blow or suck the water out. But don't use a hair dryer—its heat can fry your phone's insides. Instead, opt for a can of compressed air, an air compressor set to a low psi or a vacuum cleaner (a wet/dry Shop-Vac would be perfect). The idea is to use air to push or pull moisture out through the same channels it entered.

Finally, use a desiccant to wick away any leftover moisture. The most convenient choice is uncooked rice. Just leave the phone (and its disconnected battery) submerged in a bowl of grains overnight. If you're worried about rice dust getting inside your phone, you can instead use the packets of silica gel that often come stuffed in the pockets of new clothes. But acting fast is far more important than avoiding a little dust, so don't waste time shopping if you don't already have a drawer full of silica gel.

The most important thing to remember is to avoid heat. That means no hair dryers, ovens, microwaves or extended periods in direct sunlight. While heat will certainly evaporate the moisture, it could also warp components and melt adhesives. Those fragile glues are also why you'll want to avoid dunking the phone in rubbing alcohol (an oftprescribed tip on the Web). Alcohol is a solvent and can dissolve the internal adhesives. (If you drop your phone in the toilet, it's okay to wipe the outside with alcohol to disinfect it.)

One final, perhaps surprising, note: If your phone gets soaked in salt water, you should probably flush the whole thing in fresh water before it dries. When salt water evaporates, it leaves crystals that can damage a phone's fragile components. Just be sure to remove the battery before flooding the device.

THIS WEEKEND

Our 49th Annual
Wheat Threshing, Steam & Gas Engine Show
will be held
AUGUST 7, 8, 9, 2009
on Rt. 313 between Denton and Federalsburg, Maryland

Official opening 10 AM each day. Events throughout each day.

Plenty of good food. Breakfast begins at 7 AM.
Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Crab Cakes and Fried Chicken served daily from 10 AM until ?

Sawmill, Rock Crusher, Steam Models, Miniature Steam Train, Thresher

FREE ADMISSION - FREE PARKING

-- SEE IN OPERATION --
Steam Engines, Antique Tractors, Gas Engines, Antique Cars, Miniature s
Flea Markets - Daily Parade - Blacksmith Shop
Tractor Games
PARADE OF EQUIPMENT 5 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 4 PM SUNDAY
ANTIQUE CAR PARADE SATURDAY 1:00 PM

Evolution of Threshing - From the Flail to the Modern Combine - Saturday 2 PM

FREE EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

Church Services Sunday 9 AM - Gospel Music Sunday 5 PM
-- EXHIBITORS WELCOME --

http://www.threshermen.org/

If you go wear lightweight clothing and comfortable shoes. There is MUCH to see!

F/A-18 "Hornet" Pilot

Navy Captain remains ID'd 18 yrs later,

Pilot's remains found in Iraq desert
Updated: Sunday, 02 Aug 2009, 4:02 PM EDT
Published : Sunday, 02 Aug 2009, 2:42 PM EDT
Jason Marks
NORFOLK, Va. - The remains of the first American shot down in the 1991 Persian Gulf War have been uncovered ending an 18 year mystery. Sunday the US Navy declared Captain Scott Speicher dead.
"18 years is a lot time not to know what happened to your father or your husband," said Norfolk's Amy Waters Yarsinske.
For almost two decades, Navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher's family never gave up hope that someday he would be found alive. That hope was dashed after the Navy confirmed that bones and skeletal fragments found in Iraq belonged to the missing pilot.
"It's bitter sweet," added Yarsinske. "It really is. You miss him."
Speicher's F/A-18 Hornet was shot down January 17, 1991. It was the first night of the Persian Gulf War. The Navy found the wreckage, but never found his body. Several times over the last 18 years his status changed from "killed in action" to "missing in action" and then to "missing captured".
The Navy says earlier this month an Iraqi citizen gave US Forces new information on where the pilot's remains were buried.
"There are so many unanswered questions," said Yarsinske.
Yarsinske never got the chance to meet Speicher though she feels as if he is a part of her. She spent 8 years investigating the crash, then wrote about. She hopes the Navy will someday release what it believes happened to Speicher.
"I think they need to," added Yarsinske. "I think if they don't, you will never lay this to rest. You will never lay him to rest."
In the years spent searching for Speicher, the US Military changed protocol on how it handles looking for missing servicemen. It's something Yarsinske says is a tribute to Speicher.
"Probably part of the magic of Scott Speicher was what he taught us and what he gave other people," said Yarsinske. "He saved other lives, because of his sacrifice."
Navy Secretary Ray Maybus said this morning in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Speicher's family for the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country. I am also extremely grateful to all those who have worked so tirelessly over the last 18 years to bring Captain Speicer home."

Boy, Is It Ever H O T !!

Have you been hot lately?

Have you been feeling like you're hotter than the fireworks on the 4th of July?

Can't seem to get any

relief from the heat and humidity?Well..................................Relax!!!!! Summer is almost gone!

It'll be time for this soon..................................

Do All Ducks Want to Be the Aflac Ducks?

Before leaving Chincoteague Island my husband had to stop by the local insurance company.

This duck was at the front door. Being Chincoteague I just thought it was a decoy. Right?

As it turns out it is a real duck nesting there!

I wonder who she is insured with?

Ponies Return to Assateague

The Chincoteague ponies returned to Assateague Island this morning without the hoopla and massive crowds that pony penning day brings. The remaining ponies grazed under the trees at the carnival grounds while the younger ones that had been sold at the aution waited on the other side for their new families to take them home.

The "buy back" ponies were quite cordial today and I assumed they were ready to return home. They have done this before. Many of them have made the trip many times

.

The herd returning today was smaller than the original herd that swam over. Ponies that live on the northern end of Assateague Island return home in horse trailers.

Around 11:00 this morning the ponies headed home led by the Saltwater Cowboys. Because the herd was small enough the Saltwater Cowboys lined the outsides of the ponies and slowly walked them back to Memorial Park. We had ridden to the park earlier and very early this morning horse lovers were already waiting.

They walked past us at a steady pace and before you knew it they had passed by, turned left and continued on. I have never seen this before in all the years I have lived so close to Chincoteague and Assateague. I wish now I had taken my children to witness alot of this. This is a tradition that has remained for 84 years. It is a tradition that these people do so well at keeping. I also found myself wishing I had taken my younger brother years ago on the Wednesday of the penning instead of our usual trek to the beach and Mr. Whippy's. Hope he hasn't held it against me all these many years.

And a hint for next year if you go: watch the movie Misty of Chincoteague and then go ask any older person you can find on Chincoteague about pony penning. They'll be more than glad to tell you all about it!

Chincoteague Ponies Return to Assateague

The remaining Chincoteague ponies returned to Assateague Island today without the hoopla and massive crowds that penning day brings. Alot of the ponies had already been driven back to the north end of Assateague in trailers.

No free Lunch at The White House

White House Invites CEOs to Lunch, Makes Them Pay for the Meal

If you're a corporate CEO, and you are invited to the White House for lunch, you'd better bring your credit card along. Yes, the days of the free lunch are over at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Case in point: A recent Oval Office powwow between President Obama and the heads of Xerox, Coca-Cola, AT&T, and Honeywell, where the executives were asked by White House staffers to provide their credit card information so that they could be billed for the cost of the meal. Via


The White House defended the unusual move as a way to avoid conflicts of interest. But the Bush administration didn't charge presidential guests for meals, one former official said, and at least one etiquette expert found the whole thing unseemly -- suggesting it was a serious breach of protocol.


The president regularly hosts meetings with the nation's top business leaders to listen to their grievances and suggestions, and making them pick up the tab for their meals is intended to show that the relationship is free of ethical complications.No word on what each CEO ordered, and whether the White House price structure seemed fair, wildly exorbitant, or like a bargain.


VIA

84th Chincoteague Pony Penning and Carnival

After a morning of excitement and and anticipation among thousands of viewers this is all that was left at Memorial Park yesterday evening.

Then on towards the carnival grounds to see those ponies. This is kinda like their very own Oscar week. Just as we got there I found this pony being led to the coral. The ooh and aahs began and I was captured myself. At first the litle guy wanted no part in the hoopla but soon settled down and the petting began. I felt sorry for the little guy because he wanted nothing more but to find his mom and get something to eat.

To be continued.....................

jmmb

Pony Penning contd.

We seem to have gotten to the carnival groungs at "happy hour" for the ponies. Instead of the usual "show" the ponies put on with the frolicking and snorting they seemed to be more interested in eating. The chatter from the crowd and finger pointing didn't seem to amuse them.

Lots of hearts will be broken this week because someone couldn't take a pony home with them. But along with that sadness will be many happy tales to tell and I am sure everyone will take home a "special" pony in their heart.

And at the end of the day when the carnivals' Tilt-a-Whirl stops tilting and whirling and the Ferris Wheel stops going round and around, when all the screams of enjoyment have ceased, and the smell of cooking food has faded into the night the descendants of Misty will settle down. It's been a long day for them.

Sometimes it's even difficult to get a pony to smile


~~ This is dedicated to my daughter who is currently busy touring the United States.

I know she will see this. I miss her.~~

jmmb

In God We Trust

Should the motto "In God We Trust" be removed from U.S. currency? Vote HERE

Mall Boots Out Anti-Obama Kiosk

(July 29) -- Politics Daily's Mary C. Curtis calls it The Battle of Concord ... Mall.
Free Market Warrior, which sells conservative-themed products, is losing its lease and must leave North Carolina's Concord Mills mall at the end of the week.

Loren Spivak, who owns the kiosk, says the decision is purely political, noting that other stores in the mall sold lots of pro-Obama merchandise for months after the inauguration. A statement from the mall near Charlotte says it won't renew the lease because Spivak refuses to remove three bumper stickers and a T-shirt that suggest a link between the president and terrorism.

Although the future of Spivak's business is in doubt, he says the uproar has given his kiosk's sales a boost during its final days in the mall.

Chincoteague Salt Water Cowboys Pony Penning (Today)

Since the Chincoteague Pony Penning is this week and all the hustle has been about the ponies and their swim onto Chincoteague I find it only fair to give credit to the Chincoteague Salt Water Cowboys. In fact, if you know anyone that lives on Chincoteague they very well may be a "Saltwater Cowboy". jmmb Chincoteague's Salt Water Cowboys - Legends of the Wild East

by Sam Serio

Just as the Chincoteague ponies are horses uniquely adapted to their environment, the Chincoteague Salt Water Cowboys are a breed of cowboy uniquely adapted to their job. What, exactly, is their job?

While the majority of them serve as volunteer fire fighters for the Chincoteague Island Fire department, that's not the job that has earned them the title of Salt Water Cowboys. Their cowboying job consists of, among other things, spending some wet and wild hours at the end of each July herding the Chincoteague ponies from their year-round home on Assateague Island across a football-field-long stretch of water to Chincoteague Island for the annual Pony Penning and Auction.

While that might not sound like high-paying work (and the Salt Water Cowboys don’t earn a nickel for their efforts) it is vital to the survival of the Fire Department, which owns the Chincoteague Island pony herd and supports itself with the proceeds of the annual Pony Auction. The Pony Auction, due in large part to the efforts of the Salt Water Cowboys, is now the biggest event in the Chincoteague Island calendar, drawing more fifty thousand visitors from around the globe each year.

The Salt Water Cowboys have earned celebrity status among their fellow Chincoteague residents, but their pony collecting duties extend far beyond what the public sees on Pony Penning day. The money earned for the sale of Chincoteague Island ponies each year is used not only for the Fire Department, but to support the pony herd itself.

Although they spend their lives in the wild, the ponies are rounded up each spring and fall for inoculations, worming, and hoof trims, and checked for any other injuries. They are also provided with extra feed when necessary.

During the spring and autumn roundups, which happen around during foaling time in April and before the cold weather sets in October; the Salt Water Cowboys are called on again.

They're asked to collect all the ponies, which run in two separate herds in the Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island. The southern herd is taken first to a holding pen by the Woodland Trail before being guided to a larger corral on Beach Road where they are fed, watered, and rested for the night before getting their veterinary treatments.

While the southern herd is being treated, the Salt Water Cowboys have the much larger job of gathering the ponies on the northern range, a process which begins at 7:00 AM and continues until all the stragglers have been brought in. The Salt Water Cowboys are required to be expert riders, because trying to manage their own horses while plowing through marshes, under branches, and along sandy beaches in pursuit of balky ponies is no job for an amateur horseman.

The northern herd is about double the size of the southern one, and the Salt Water Cowboys guide them to an isolated holding pen accessible only to the cowboys on horseback or to the attending veterinarian by vehicle. Tourists can reach it on foot, but only with a great deal of determination.

One thing which makes the job of the Salt Water Cowboys just a bit easier is that, after participating in a few roundups, some the older Chincoteague ponies seem to learn the drill, and start moving to their collection points as soon as they see the Cowboys, bullwhips cracking, headed their way. But there are always plenty of independent pony spirits to keep the Salt Water Cowboys on their game!

Submitted By jmmb...

Thank you

Need A Laugh?

Police chief gives taser to citizen

Wilson Glenn used to live here in Pocomoke,in-fact he was my neighbor, anyone remember him? I do.

HALLWOOD, Va. - A father waves a taser at a cell phone camera then points it at his son's back. The teen falls to the ground and out of the picture. Then he jumps up joining in the laughter of the other men.

The father then hands the taser back to its owner, a grinning Hallwood Chief of Police Wilson Glenn.

The town is home to nearly 300 residents. It sits about 2 hours away from Hampton Roads in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore.

WAVY.com caught up with Glenn outside his home in June. He wouldn't talk to us on camera about the incident but admitted he handed over his police weapon, claiming the video was just a joke. Glenn said he knew the whole thing was being videotaped.
Beyond that, he would only tell us the incident is being investigated. Whose investigating? WAVY.com learned it's the town council, who hired Chief Glenn in April 2006. No one from the council would comment. There's also no mention of the incident in council minutes for the past two months.
Mayor Timothy Raynor told WAVY.com over the phone, the incident "wasn't a big deal."

Glenn claims he is taser certified however, we checked and found no record.
As the video clearly shows, the X-26 taser is not being used as intended. So, WAVY.com sent the video to company representatives. Steve Tuttle, Vice President of Communications sent us the following statement:

While TASER International stands behind the safety of its life-saving technology, it is paramount that a successful TASER program requires clear use of force polices, stringent oversight and recurrent certified training.
WAVY.com discovered Hallwood does not have a policy which dictates how and when any weapon, including a taser, should be used.

Glenn ultimately blames someone trying to seek vengeance for leaking the video.

"We got a couple people in town trying to tear police department apart," he said.

WAVY.com told the Accomack County Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Agar about the video. He asked the state police to investigate. The investigation is currently ongoing.

from: www.wavy.com

Contributed by; jmmb

ELEPHANTS MIGRATION TRAIL

ELEPHANTS MIGRATION TRAIL
Elephants march through hotel lobby after it was built on their migration trail! The Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia happens to have been built next to a mango grove that one family of elephants have always visited when the fruit ripens. When they returned one year and found the luxury accommodation in the way, they simply walked through the lobby to reach their beloved grove of trees.

The animals come in two-by-two. Hotel staff and visitors have gotten used to the elephants' impromptu strolls through the lobby. Now the family group, headed by matriarch Wonky Tusk, return every November and stay for four to six weeks to gorge on mangos - up to four times a day. Andy Hogg, 44, the lodge director, has lived in South Luangwa National Park since 1982. But in all his years of dealing with wild animals he has never seen such intimate interaction between humans and wild animals. "This is the only place in the world where elephants freely get so close to humans," says Andy. "The elephants start coming through base camp in late November each year to eat the ripe mangos from our trees."

Living in the 5,000 square mile national park, the ten-strong elephant herd is led to the lodge each day by Wonky Tusk. The hotel was built directly in the path of the elephants' route to one of their favorite foods ....Mangos

"The most interesting thing about these wild animals," explains Andy, "is that this is the only herd that comes through, and they come and go as they please."
Mfuwe Lodge consists of seven camps and the base camp where the elephants walk through. Employing 150 staff, the management of the lodge report that there have been no incidents involving the wild elephants to date. "The elephants get reasonably close to the staff, as you can see in the pictures of the elephants near the reception area," Andy explains.. "But we do not allow the guests to get that close."

"Guests can stand in the lounge but only as long as there is a barrier between the elephants and the guests," he added.
"The elephants are not aggressive but you wouldn't want to tempt them. It is the elephant's choice to be here and they have been coming here for the last ten years. There are other wild mango trees around, but they prefer ours. The lodge was unwittingly built upon their path," Andy says, "so we had no idea they would do this. It wasn't a design error, we just didn't know. The lodge was built and the elephants started walking through afterward."

"We keep people at a safe distance, but allow them close enough to see what is going on. These are still wild and dangerous animals, so there must be enough time for people to get away."
The hotel is set in an idyllic national parkland. Naturally, the lodge becomes busier for both elephants and guests during November. "We find that we get more people visiting us during the elephant migration because of the unique experience of being so close to wild animals in an unusual environment," says Andy. "But as I said this is a totally natural phenomenon, as the elephants come here of their own accord. It is certainly a rare but magnificent sight."

Video For Today

The news has been slow and the healthcare crap is worn out.
How about a couple videos to perk ya up.

crank it up..........

More on the Pain medication contract

In a previous post I tried to explain why I would not sign a contract for pain medication. We had a nice debate about the contract and some folks even suggested I must be a druggie for not signing the contract.

Well it would be quite the opposite if one has any commonsense at all because a druggie will do anything to get their Buzz!

I have not had ANY form of pain medication now for quite some time, yeah I'm stubborn and in pain now, and have been threw the withdrawals of these harsh opiates all because I WILL NOT and I never will sign a contract that the Doctor/Government can invade my private life at their will, and at any time they want.

I found a copy of the standard contract that the Doctors can/will require you to sign, so I ask...... Would YOU sign it, or would you give-up your freedom of private life for a bottle of pills?

The quotes in red is what I object too.


Medication Contract

I, , _____________have agreed to use the following medications as
part of my treatment for chronic pain.

I understand that these medications may not eliminate
my pain but may reduce it and improve what I am able to do each day.

MEDICATION DOSE DIRECTIONS QUANTITY PER MONTH

I understand the following guidelines for continuing pain treatment under the care of

1. I understand that I have the following responsibilities:

•I will take medications at the dose and frequency prescribed.

•I will not increase or change how I take my medications without the approval of this
health care provider.

•I will arrange for refills at the prescribed interval ONLY during regular office hours. I
will not ask for refills earlier than agreed, after-hours, on holidays or on weekends.

•I will obtain all refills for these medications only at pharmacy
(phone number: ), with full consent for my provider and pharmacist
to exchange information in writing or verbally.

•I will not request any pain medications or controlled substances from other providers
and will inform this provider of all other medications I am taking.

•I will inform my other health care providers that I am taking these pain medications
and of the existence of this contract. In event of an emergency, I will provide this same
information to emergency department providers.

•I will protect my prescriptions and medications. I understand that lost or misplaced
prescriptions will not be replaced.

•I will keep medications only for my own use and will not share them others. I will keep
all medications away from children.

•I agree to participate in any medical, psychological or psychiatric assessments recommended
by my provider.

•I will actively participate in any program designed to improve function, including social,
physical, psychological and daily or work activities.


2. I will not use illegal or street drugs or another person’s prescription. If I have an addiction
problem with drugs or alcohol and my provider asks me to enter a program to address this
issue, I agree to follow through. Such programs may include:

•12-step program and securing a sponsor

•Individual counseling

•Inpatient or outpatient treatment

•Other:_____________________

If in treatment, I will request that a copy of the program’s initial evaluation and treatment
recommendations be sent to this provider and will not expect refills until that is received. I
will also request written monthly updates be sent to verify my continuing treatment.

3. I will consent to random drug screening to assure I am only taking prescribed drugs. I
understand that a drug screen is a laboratory test in which a sample of my urine or blood is
checked to see what drugs I have been taking.

4. I will keep all my scheduled appointments. If I need to cancel my appointment, I will do so
a minimum of 24 hours before it is scheduled.

5. I understand that this provider may stop prescribing the medications listed if:

•I do not show any improvement in pain or my activity has not improved.

•I develop rapid tolerance or loss of improvement from the treatment.

•I develop significant side effects from the medication.

•My behavior is inconsistent with the responsibilities outlined above, which may also
result in being prevented from receiving further care from this clinic.

Signed: Date:________________

Provider: Date:_________________

Click this link to the actual contract
http://www.ohsu.edu/ahec/pain/med_contractlf.pdf

O. J. wants his stuff back

Everybody together now..... Awwwwwwwwwwww

O.J. Simpson wants items that were seized in Vegas



O.J. Simpson filed a declaration in court Friday claiming that several items seized by authorities following the bungled hotel heist that sent him to prison are rightfully his and should be returned.

The declaration in Superior Court lists numerous signed footballs Simpson says he was awarded during his glory days as a college and pro athlete in the 1960s and 1970s. Others include ties Simpson says he wore during his murder trial and a picture he says the late FBI director J. Edgar Hoover gave him.

Simpson says most of the items disappeared when he moved from Los Angeles to Miami after being acquitted of the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

"These items were utilized in my daily life," he says in the declaration filed by his lawyer. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18.

The items include a ball he was awarded in 1975 for scoring four touchdowns in a single game, others commemorating seasons in which he gained more than 1,000 yards and a ball commemorating his selection as a college All American in 1968.

Since his Sept. 13, 2007, arrest in Las Vegas, Simpson has insisted he was only trying to retrieve property stolen from him when he and several others burst into a hotel room and confronted a pair of memorabilia dealers who were led to believe they were offering the items for sale to a private collector.

Simpson, who was convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges, was sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison. Most of the others pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
Almost since the day of the arrest, the items have been the subject of a legal tug-of-war between Simpson and others.

One of the memorabilia dealers has laid claim to them and Ronald Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, wants them to help satisfy his share of a $33.5 million wrongful death judgment he and Brown's survivors obtained against Simpson.

"Tragically, we support Mr. Simpson's claim of ownership," said Goldman's lawyer, David Cook. He added he believes if Simpson prevails in court the items will eventually be turned over to Goldman.

A Senior Moment

Click the picture to enlarge

Murder Charge Filed in Gay Sailor's Death

SAN DIEGO (july 24) - The U.S. Navy says a sailor has been charged in military court with murder and other offenses in the shooting death of a gay San Diego seaman.
Petty Officer Jonathan Campos of Lancaster, Calif., was charged Thursday in connection to last month's fatal shooting of Seaman August Provost of Houston.




Provost was shot multiple times as he stood guard at Camp Pendleton on June 30. The 29-year-old's family believes the shooting may have been a hate crime. The family says Provost complained of being harassed about his sexuality in the days before his death.
Navy officials have rejected those claims and say there is no record of Provost filing a harassment report.
They say Campos, a 32-year-old gas system technician, is being held at the brig and is cooperating with investigators.

84th Pony Penning is Wednesday, Thursday

Early on the morning of Wednesday, July 29, the herd of Chincoteague ponies will swim the channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague as part of the 84th annual Pony Penning.

Each year, tens of thousands flock to the island in the last week of July to see the tradition take place. Many come in hopes of bringing home a piece of the island -- their own Chincoteague Pony.

The ponies, according to legend, are said to be descendants of Spanish horses that swam ashore after a vessel capsized off the island's coast. Today, the Chincoteague Ponies are registered as their own breed.

Two herds of ponies exist -- one each on the Maryland and Virginia sides of Assateague Island. The Virginia herd is owned and cared for by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.

"The fire company came to own the famous ponies after a devastating fire destroyed part of the town in 1925 and the townspeople decided to start their own fire company," said company Public Relations Officer Roe Terry.

"Later, a fundraising event, in the form of a picnic, bingo and small carnival, was held to raise more money, and the company decided to combine this event with a livestock penning that took place annually on Assateague, Chincoteague and Wallops Island," Terry said.

Over time, this fundraising event has evolved into Pony Penning, an institution that attracts visitors from around the world.

The Chincoteague Ponies were made legendary in Marguerite Henry's 1947 book "Misty of Chincoteague." The allure of the ponies grew even more after the film "Misty," based on Henry's book, was released in 1961.

"After the book about Misty and then the movie with the same name was made, the ponies became world famous, and like they say, the rest is history," Terry said.

Wednesday morning during slack tide --between 6 and 11 a.m. --the ponies will be herded into the Assateague Channel by the Saltwater Cowboys to swim to Chincoteague Veteran's Memorial Park.

Following tradition, the first colt or filly to come ashore will be dubbed King or Queen Neptune, and will be given away to a lucky ticketholder on the carnival grounds, where the ponies will be herded after the swim.

The Pony Shuttle will begin taking viewers to the swim site at 5 a.m. A complete shuttle schedule is available at http://www.chincoteaguechamber.com/pony-events/ev-pony-shuttle.html.

The pony auction will be held the next day. Between 8 a.m. and noon, bidders will contend for the approximately 70 to 80 foals that will be sold.

From; Delmarvanow.com
Picture courtesy JMMB

'Open holster' protest set in Annapolis to support gun rights

A group of gun-rights advocates will gather in Annapolis next weekend wearing empty holsters and magazine pouches to protest state laws on carry permits for handguns.

Daniel A. Miller of Millersville, an organizer of the Open Holster protest, explained in a letter to the Maryland Gazette that there are no plans for an organized rally on Aug. 1 from noon to 6 p.m. Instead, he hopes to see people milling around the historic city center with empty holsters, introducing themselves to each other and handing out fliers to the curious.

He wrote that organizers have urged those attending not to put toy guns or anything else that could be mistaken for a weapon in their holsters.

"While we are in passionate disagreement with the leaders of this state regarding the laws governing our rights, we fully realize that a willful disregard of those laws will result in arrests and the forfeiture of our rights, something none of us want to occur," he wrote.

Ray Weaver, a spokesman for the Annapolis Police Department, said the group has gotten permits for the event and said police anticipate no problems.

"It doesn't really create any different enforcement situation than we'd normally have," he said.

Maryland issues carry permits to residents, but it has a discretionary system that requires an applicant to prove a "good and substantial reason" why he needs to carry a firearm. Opponents of the system call it "discriminatory" and have tried unsuccessfully several times to change the law.

Organizers of the event will take photos of anyone wearing a holster from noon to 1 p.m. near City Dock, with plans to send the pictures to lawmakers before the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

For more information, visit www.mdshooters.com

"The Nutty Professor" and the liberal race card

The arrest of the nutty professor and 'friend' of hussein obama that said the police officer "acted stupidly" is just another opportunity to shove the 'race card' down our throats. This arrest was not a racial profiling arrest like the loony left want to think, the officer was doing his job.

The liberals loons can't see past the fact that this was a white cop and a black professor and friend of their 'messiah' that would not cooperate with the officer. The nutty professor did not get arrested for a B&E, he was arrested for disorderly conduct. He should have had obstruction and hindering added to that charge.

Had the scenario played out like this all would have been fine, but instead the nutty professor had the race card in his hand as soon as he saw a white cop.

This officer wrote a very detailed report. This professor should hang his head in shame for this behavior. This incident could have been completely avoided if the by the following dialog.

stupid professor: "hello officer how can I help your today?

Officer "Yes sir I got a call about someone breaking in to the residence"

stupid professor "oh no that was me, you see my door is broke and I had to pry it open"

Officer "oh ok well do you have your license so I can just determine who you are and your residence"

Stupid professor "oh sure, here you go."

Officer "Oh thank you Mr. Stupid professor sorry for the inconvenience and have a good day"

Officer keying up mike "I will be clear it was the homeowner entering his house......10-8"

Instead we get the self-righteous, radical, black extremist and racist response ....hereHenry Louis Gates, Jr. Police Report - July 23, 2009

Chris Matthews Wrong on Obama Birth Certificate

MSNBC's Chris Matthews got into a heated exchange with a congressman on his show Tuesday as he revisited the question of President Barack Obama's birth certificate — or lack of one.

Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif., is a co-sponsor of the so-called "birther bill," which would require future presidential candidates to provide a copy of their original birth certificates.

“Birthers” are those who believe Obama is not qualified to be president, based on a belief that he was not born in the United States.

Campbell is not a “birther” and never has claimed that Obama was born outside the United States or should be disqualified from being president.


On the show, Matthews seemingly undermined claims by some that Obama never has released his birth certificate, producing what Matthews said was a true copy of it.


But Matthews made a false claim. Obama never has released his actual birth certificate. He has released another document, which state authorities often provide in lieu of a birth certificate, called a certificate of live birth.

Matthews on Tuesday said Campbell was "playing to the crazies" by supporting the "crazy" bill, and the congressman shot back that it was all about "putting the matter to rest."

Matthews also accused Campbell of "feeding the wacko wing of your party," and held up what he called a copy of the supposed Obama birth certificate.

Case closed?

The indisputable fact is that Obama has not released his birth certificate, which the state of Hawaii issues for all citizens born there.

Instead, his campaign has released only his certificate of live birth from the state of Hawaii, which is a document that offers a summarized version of the birth certificate.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, GOP nominee Sen. John McCain quickly released his birth certificate when liberal bloggers raised questions about his eligibility to be president. McCain was born at a military hospital in Panama.

Obama could likewise put the matter to rest by releasing his actual birth certificate, which would show, among other things, the place of his birth and the doctor who performed the birth procedure. This information is not provided on the certificate of live birth.

As it stands, Obama is the only president in history whose birthplace is unknown to the public – a fact that would be stated on the actual birth certificate. Interestingly, his family has mentioned two different hospitals in Hawaii as the place of birth.

The fact that Obama has refused to release his actual birth certificate does not mean conspiracy theorists are right when they claim he was born in Kenya and therefore not eligible to be president. Investigators who have reviewed the claims have found no evidence Obama was born outside of Hawaii.

But Obama’s refusal to release his birth certificate does mean that Obama remains one of America’s most mysterious and opaque presidents ever.

Obama, for example, has not released many other documents regarding his public and private life.

Many of these documents were sought by reporters, who easily acquiesced when Obama said he would release them – though most presidential candidates release them as a perfunctory matter.

Among the key documents that Obama continues to shield from the public:


Obama released just one brief document detailing his personal health. McCain, on the other hand, released what he said was his complete medical file, totaling more than 1,500 pages.


Obama refused to offer his official papers as a state legislator in Illinois. Nor did he produce correspondence, such as his schedules of appointments or letters from lobbyists, from his days in the Illinois state Senate.


Obama did not release his client list as an attorney or his billing records. He maintained that he performed only a few hours of legal work for a nonprofit organization with ties to Tony Rezko, the Chicago businessman convicted of fraud in June 2008 but did not release billing records that would prove this assertion.


Obama ignored requests for his records from Occidental College, where he studied for two years before transferring to Columbia University.


Obama’s campaign refused to give Columbia, where he earned an undergraduate degree in political science, permission to release his transcripts. Former President George W. Bush and presidential contenders Al Gore and John Kerry all released their college transcripts.


Obama did not agree to the release of his application to the Illinois State Bar, which would have cleared up intermittent allegations that his application may have been inaccurate.


Obama did not release records from his time at Harvard Law School.


During the presidential campaign, McCain’s campaign released a full list of all online donors. Obama’s campaign still has not released the names of those who donated at least one-third of the $750 million he raised.

Ironically, Obama accused the Bush White House of being "one of the most secretive administrations in our history," and chided then-Sen. Hillary Clinton for not releasing her White House schedules.

Chris Matthews, get your facts straight and demand full disclosure — that’s the best way to keep an honest government.

Pot, Guns Found at Va. Day Care

Va.- Authorities say a drug task force turned up marijuana plants and 10 guns at an Eastern Shore of Virginia day care last week.

Virginia State Police say that on June 16, members of the Eastern Shore Drug Task Force were looking for a wanted person on the 7000 block of Reedtown Lane in Eastville when they noticed marijuana in the backyard of an adjacent house. Investigators with the task force seized a total of 74 marijuana plants and 10 guns- including a sawed-off shotgun- at the home, which police say is a licensed day care facility.

At the scene, members of the task force arrested 30-year-old Deandre L. Dunton of Eastville. He was charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of a firearm while possessing five or more pounds of marijuana and possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

City to have its own game 'Pocomokeopoly

I think the name is stupid, How about a game with a name like Pocomonopoly?
And furthermore I thought we already had that here with the town officials holding all the good properties, if a player lands on an open property and buys it, the town players condemn it and/or demolish it so they can own that too?


There is a certain ring to the word "Pocomokeopoly."

"The city's name just works really well," said Pocomoke Mayor Michael McDermott. "I mean, Berlinopoly just doesn't sound the same -- but Pocomokeopoly sounds great."

The Pocomoke City Chamber of Commerce is hoping local businesses agree. The town-themed board game is the latest fundraiser for the Chamber and advertisement for Pocomoke City, said Julie Holland, who is coordinating the project.

"I was looking for a fundraising idea and something that would help promote the town and the businesses," Holland said. "It's similar to your favorite board game -- we can't say the 'M' word -- but it's the same way you play."

The plan is for businesses to sponsor each square, which will then feature their logo and information. The squares cost $350 to $500, depending on the location, and the four corners of the board -- which in Pocomokeopoly are "Start," "In Court," "Loading Zone" and "Speeding, Go to Court" -- are also up for grabs.

When the game is released in the fall, players will race around the board, paying rent at such places as Nock's Tire Service and the Bay Country Radio Station instead of, say, The Boardwalk and the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Businesses have already started to snatch up the 36 board spaces -- four more have been reserved for town government, which contributed $1,500 for the box cover -- and sponsorships for the game's money, "fate" and "chamber" cards.

As one of the first to purchase a square, Shore Bank picked up some prime real estate.

"I couldn't afford Park Place, so I went for the one before Park Place," said Lynn Badger, bank marketing director. "So we are going to be on that home stretch right be before you get back to start."

Only 500 copies of Pocomokeopoly will be made, and they will be available in local shops for $25 in late fall.

"We are told to try and pull the kids away from the TV and the video games -- you are supposed to get back to family game night, and this is a good way to get back to that and the town," Holland said. "Hopefully with the smaller kids, they will become aware of the businesses in the community and as they grow, they will be able to patronize them."

With Pocomoke City's recent accomplishments, now seemed like a great time to find a new way to market the town, she added.

"Pocomoke City has done so much lately as far as growth, especially with the Discovery Center and being an All-America City finalist," Holland said. "There is so much life here and so much growth, and the town is doing so much to promote people living here."

Cortesy:
Delmarvanow.com

Chincoteague Island Blueberry Festival July 24, 25 and 26

The 22nd Annual Chincoteague Blueberry Festival will be held at the beautiful Chincoteague Community Center at 6155 Community Drive on Chincoteague Island, Virginia on July 24, 25 and 26, 2009. The Blueberry Festival will be held from 9:00 to 4:30pm rain or shine. The Blueberry Festival remains the largest Fine Arts and Crafts event on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with exhibitors from 10 states including many excellent local artists. This large Fine Arts and Crafts exhibit brings a unique Christmas in July shopping atmosphere to Chincoteague. The Arts and Crafts exhibits are located both inside the Chincoteague Center building and outside on the green space and parking lot.

Rep. Mike Castle gets booed

Rep. Mike Castle’s recent “listening session” in Georgetown is bringing him YouTube fame, but not because of the topic.

It’s because the Delaware Republican got booed after vouching for President Barack Obama’s citizenship.

The video of the June 30 town hall meeting on health care reform shows a woman toting an American flag and her own U.S. birth certificate asking why people are ignoring the president’s birth certificate. She said Obama is a citizen of Kenya, not the U.S.


The crowd applauded and cheered as she yelled, “I don’t want this flag to change! I want my country back!”


Castle, attempting to correct her, said, “If you’re referring to the president there, he is a citizen of the United States.”


The crowd then heckled him as he reiterated that Obama is indeed a U.S. citizen.

Sysco CFO Lewis to retire after 36 years

POCOMOKE CITY -- C. Frederick Lankford, president and CEO of Sysco Eastern Maryland LLC, announced that Archie C. Lewis Jr., senior vice president and chief financial officer of the company, will retire on July 17 after 36 years with the Pocomoke City food distributor.

Lewis began his food service career at the former Campbell Soup Company in Salisbury in 1968. While a member of the Army Reserves, he met Tom Lankford whose family owned Lankford Food Service Company in Pocomoke City. Lankford offered Lewis a position with the company, and he joined Lankford Foods as the controller on July 17, 1973.

Lankford Foods merged with the Sysco Corporation in September 1981. Lewis was promoted to vice president of finance in 1982, and then to senior vice president in 1998.

"Over the past 36 years, Archie Lewis has dedicated himself to the success of our company," said Fred Lankford. "His uncompromising ethical standards and outstanding leadership skills are legendary not only at Sysco Eastern Maryland, but within the entire Sysco Corporation."

Lewis, who resides in Pocomoke City, was married to the late Shirley Sigrest Rantz and is stepfather to her two daughters, Leanna and Jill.

Don Repine, Sysco Eastern Maryland's current vice-president of finance, will assume Lewis's position as the company's chief financial officer.

Chincoteague Pony Swim on July 29

The Coast Guard advises that tourists attending the Chincoteague Pony Swim on July 29 should avoid chartering boats without licensed captains inspected by the Coast Guard.

Sector Hampton Roads personnel will be aggressively enforcing federal regulations intended to ensure the safety of the public during this event. Boat crews will board boats and cite charters that do not have licensed captains or are carrying more than six passengers without the required Certificate of Inspection.

The Coast Guard advises tourists to ask the boat’s captain to show his or her original Coast Guard license. The boat is required to be inspected by the Coast Guard if it carries more than six passengers and the certificate should be displayed in an area accessible to passengers.

Charter boats are not required by federal law to carry insurance. Passengers should ask whether the boat is insured as a passenger vessel. If not, passengers may be unable to pursue a claim if they are injured while aboard.

The Coast Guard is reaching out to the owners of vessels that are advertising trips for the Pony Swim to ensure they operate legally. If an owner operates illegally, the Coast Guard will seek maximum penalties. Vessel owners and operators can receive civil penalties up to $1,100 for a first violation. The Coast Guard can initiate action seeking to suspend or revoke the license of a Coast Guard licensed captain who carries more than six passengers.

Petty Officer 1st Class Gregg Pescuma, operations officer for Station Chincoteague, also advises, "When leaving the Pony Swim area, be aware of kayaks, inflatable rafts, other boating traffic and people viewing from the water. The Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Police will be enforcing a slow speed zone."

Plane crashes in Pocomoke

A small aircraft crashed at the intersection of Route 113 and Groton Road in Pocomoke City early Sunday afternoon.

The pilot, 80-year-old Preston Norman Smith of Pocomoke City, walked away from the crash, according to police.

Fuel complications are believed to have caused the crash, according to the results of a preliminary investigation by the Maryland Sate Police.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to conduct a post-crash investigation today.

Why Crime Is So High?

Here’s a little story to give everyone an example of why crime and drugs are rampant here and other places in Wor. County.

I was in court for the preliminary hearing for the person that broke into and burglarized my home. That was a wasted few hours because he didn’t have to show up and I was not notified.

While I was there I was surprised to see so many drug cases that were just dropped (noel prosque) by the DA, one in particular that really got under my skin was a young man that had been stopped for a DWI, he was driving drunk on a suspended license and found to have drugs and charged with several drug charges a few that I remember were,
1) Possession of CDS,
2) Possession with intent to distribute
3) Possession of a dangerous controlled substance
4) And possession of a HAND GUN!!

There were more but I can’t remember all of the drug charges, the DA dropped ALL charges (including the HAND GUN) BUT the DWI and driving while suspended.

He was also late for the hearing by about ½ hour.
WHT? If the legal system wont punish these dealers/users they have nothing to lose and they know it

The Ten Commandments According to Obama

I. Thou shalt have no God in America, except for me. For we are no longer a Christian nation and, after all, I am the chosen One. (And like God, I do not have a birth certificate.) SOURCE

II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, unless it is my face carved on Mt. Rushmore. SOURCE

III. Thou shalt not utter my middle name in vain (or in public). Only I can say Barack Hussein Obama. SOURCE

IV. Remember tax day, April 15th, to keep it holy. SOURCE

V. Honour thy father and thy mother until they are too old and sick to care for. They will cost our public-funded health-care system too much money. SOURCE

VI. Thou shalt not kill, unless you have an unwanted, unborn baby. For it would be an abomination to punish your daughter with a baby. SOURCE

VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery if you are conservative or a Republican. Liberals and Democrats are hereby forgiven for all of their infidelity and immorality, but the careers of conservatives will be forever destroyed. SOURCE

VIII. Thou shalt not steal, until you've been elected to public office. Only then is it acceptable to take money from hard-working, successful citizens and give it to those who do not work, illegal immigrants, or those who do not have the motivation to better their own lives. SOURCE

IX. Thou shalt not discriminate against thy neighbor unless they are conservative, Caucasian, or Christian. SOURCE

X. Thou shalt not covet because it is simply unnecessary. I will place such a heavy tax burden on those that have achieved the American Dream that, by the end of my term as President, nobody will have any wealth or material goods left for you to covet. SOURCE

Operation Bait and Hook Arrests

OPERATION BAIT AND HOOK
REELS IN MORE THAN 30 ARRESTS
Task Force Still Searching For 13 Suspects

CHESAPEAKE – A lengthy and meticulous investigation resulted in the arrest of 33 individuals by the Eastern Drug Task Force following a successful round-up on Thursday, July 16, 2009. The round-up, dubbed Operation Bait and Hook, was the result of a fourteen-month long investigation involving the distribution of illegal narcotics on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The probe resulted in more than 50 Circuit Court indictments from Accomack and Northampton Counties.

Approximately $79,000.00 worth of marijuana, ten firearms and $2,800.00 in U S Currency was seized during the operation.

The arrests took place throughout Accomack County and Northampton County in the early morning hours. More than 75 law-enforcement personnel were part of the special, joint operation.

The Eastern Drug Task Force was formed in 1989 and is compromised of members from the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

For this operation, a combination of collective resources was involved in the capture of the wanted suspects:

Participating Agencies:

· The Virginia State Police
· Accomack County Sheriffs Office
· Northampton County Sheriffs Office
· Drug Enforcement Administration
· Exmore Police Department
· Virginia Marine Police
· New Jersey State Police
· Trenton, New Jersey Police Department
· Onancock Police Department

The following subjects have been arrested on charges:

Fredrick Bull, Raven Copes,
Anthony Duffy, Otha Godwin,
Patricia Johnson, Phillip Justice,
Craig Lipscomb, Carolyn Mears,
Oleisha Mears, Justin Scarborough,
Dennis Taylor, Anthony Turner,
Larry Turner, Carlos Pitts,
Jaron Watts, Corey Baines,
Marcus Carter, Patricia Chandler,
Martez Doughty, Germaine Collins,
Steve Giddens, Omar Giddens,
Charles Johnson, Larry Jones,
Tina Moses, Randy Myrick,
Kenneth Upshur, Mike Walker,
Lonnie Wiggins, Scott Wivel,
Herbert Young, Rodney Spady

The following subjects are still WANTED: Leonard Brooks of Cape Charles, Virginia
James Hall of Machipongo, Virginia
William Reid of Nasswadox, Virginia
Upshur Ayres of Onancock, Virginia
Wendy Beauchamp of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Justin Walker, address unknown
Charles Collins Jr. aka “Stank” of Painter, Virginia
Raul Dorleans aka “Wahoo”, address unknown
Valice Ray Harmon of Horntown, Virginia
Anthony Johnson of Wattsville, Virginia
Fairdale Johnson of Withams, Virginia
Kenny Simpkins aka “Chunks” of Greenbush, Virginia
Lykeford Stanley of Salisbury, Maryland

[Click Here for Photos of the Wanted]

Any information in relation to the location of the above individuals, please contact Accomack County Sheriff’s Office at 757-787-1131 or the Northampton Sheriff’s Office at 757-678-0458.

Anyone wishing to provide information related to drug activity on the Eastern Shore of Virginia may contact the Eastern Shore Drug Task Force at 757-414-0746.

Any further questions please contact Sgt. Michelle Cotten at 757-746-2557

Outburst results in White apology

Town Commissioner Dennis Williams on Tuesday accepted an apology from board President Frank White following a boisterous exchange between the two elected officials at the close of this week's town meeting.

White has been embroiled in controversy since he assumed the role as top town executive in February upon the sudden departure of former town manager Jay Parker. White's use of Parker's town-issued credit card -- charging above $8,500 that included spending at hotels and restaurants -- was documented in a recent Daily Times article, raising questions among townsfolk about possible abuse of power and misuse of town funds.

At Monday's meeting, Williams recommended that elected officials on town business spend their own money, then submit an invoice and documentation for purchases for which they want reimbursement.

"Expenses should be documented -- when, where business was discussed," he told the audience of about 25 residents crowded in the community room at the Princess Anne Townhouses. "Then, they can bring in (documentation) for reimbursement. I say this in a spirit of cooperation."

Williams also called it uncommon for a Town Commissioner to have a town-issued credit card and vehicle.

Shortly after, bystanders watched as White, in an outburst, shouted and made hand gestures at Williams, who hurriedly moved back toward a police officer who had attended the session. White stands about 6 feet 2 inches and weighs about 250 pounds. Williams is about 5 feet 10 inches and is much lighter in weight. Town Public Works Director Tracy Grangier had watched the feud and went to Williams.

Outside the meeting room where a crowd had gathered word circulated that Williams had contacted police. They wondered if he had filed a formal assault complaint against the Town Commissioners president.

"I went up to (Public Works Director Grangier), and she was in tears," said resident Scott Kerton. " 'Frank lunged at Dennis' is what people were saying; I don't know what's going on. I'd love to see (White) out of office."


Contacted Tuesday, Williams said the encounter was unnerving, and described what happened: Just after the meeting adjourned, Williams approached White to comment about the tone of the meeting. "(White) was very upset, and I felt the best thing to do was to go to a neutral corner," Williams said in a telephone interview. "I didn't want anything untoward to happen. But (White) called today and apologized.



"I told him, 'let's move forward,' " Williams continued.

White could not be reached Tuesday to comment and was not at Town Hall when a reporter attempted to contact him there.

Despite the apology, Williams said he wants fellow commissioners to evaluate the expense-reporting process, and intends to request that a discussion is on the July 27 town work session agenda.

Town Commissioners Vice President Garland Hayward told the audience that White has since returned the town vehicle he used after Parker's departure. He did not mention the credit card.

Hayward and Interim Town Manager Brenda Benton indicated Tuesday that they were unaware whether White still had the town credit card.

"You will have to ask him," Benton said while leaving Town Hall.

At Town Hall on Tuesday, Hayward said his concern was whether a town credit card was misused. He also said that he, too, had a town-issued credit card during a period when he was president of the Town Commissioners.

"The issue is anything was inappropriately done," Hayward said. "We have not seen any improprieties."

Constituents have been up in arms since Town Commissioners in June voted unanimously to raise the property tax rate by 11.7 percent, a hike that in view of the credit card spending, led a group of residents to circulate a petition drive for a budget referendum. On Monday, Benton told residents that the petition lacked at least 20 percent of the total voter signatures because 50 of them were invalid.

A group of residents led by John Nicholson on Friday formally requested a legal review of ethics violations. At Monday's town meeting, town attorney Mark Tilghman acknowledged that he had received the request and would review concerns and report findings.

Nicholson told commissioners on Monday that his group also intends to review the list of invalid names.

from DELMARVANOW.COM

Controversy Over Street-Legal 'High' in Ocean City

Ocean City leaders are drafting a letter to state lawmakers supporting legislation to restrict salvia, which can be found in some boardwalk stores.

The letter will be sent this week, according to Ocean City Town Councilman Doug Cymek.

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency says salvia, which can be chewed or smoked, can cause hallucinations, slurred speech and dizziness.

A bill to ban the street-legal substance died in the Maryland General Assembly in this year's session.

Tal Hodara is a manager in one of the stores on the boardwalk that sells the dried green herb.

"When you smoke it, you're laughing, [and] you're tripping out a little bit," he said. "Sometimes you see a little bit of hallucinations, more or less."

Hodara sells small cap-fulls of the herb for about $200, depending on the potency. Hodara said it is safe, if used in a safe environment. Supporters also say the herb is not addictive.

The DEA considers the substance a "drug of concern."

"I'd be concerned too," said Ocean City visitor Julie Brincko. "If you lose control of anything for any length of time, I don't think it should be allowable. "


Either way, town leaders want the substance banned, as right now it is not regulated by the federal or state governments.

Jane Dickerson does not sell the herb at her boardwalk store, and is not sure if it actually does get users high.

"If you have the illusion that you are high, that's not a good thing," she said. "If you give a young person something, and they smoke it, and they think they got high off of it, they're going to do things not in a normal character."

State Del. Jim Mathias, D-38B, said he plans to resubmit legislation to restrict the substance.

Sorry For The Lack Of Post Lately

I have been under the weather for about a week and really have not been able to research and post any stories for the last few days.
Hopefully we can get back in the swing of things again now.

If anyone would like to be a contributor the TPPE to keep the site active in times of my absents, or just random post, please send me an email it's not hard and if you can read and write you can do it.

Thanks

Phillips sentenced in Pocomoke stabbing

Silence shrouded the courtroom as Judge Thomas C. Groton III read aloud the state medical examiner's report outlining the victim's fatal injuries, including a litany of cuts, bruises and shoe prints on his head and neck, and how the knife was thrust into the victim with enough force to bruise the skin.

"You stabbed, beat and stomped the life out of Mr. Nibblett," Groton told Charles Robert Phillips of Pittsville in Worcester County Circuit Court yesterday. "It was deliberate, it was depraved and it was unbelievable."

Groton sentenced Phil-lips, 29, to life in prison for the first-degree murder of William Nibblett in the victim's home.

Phillips was convicted in April. His sentence also includes a consecutive 20-year term for armed robbery.

Phillips assaulted and stabbed Nibblett on March 5, 2008 -- one day after being released from the Wicomico County jail. He was there for four months awaiting trial on assault charges. When Phillips's accuser didn't show for court, Phillips was released. He also has a history of arrests in Wicomico County.

A well-liked local plumber and handyman, Nibblett was found dead at his Pocomoke-area home -- lying on the floor with a knife sticking out of his chest -- by his two grown daughters. They had come to check on him after he uncharacteristically failed to show for an early-morning job.

Killed two weeks shy of his 78th birthday, the man known as "Nibs" was remembered in court Monday for his extraordinary generosity.

Melinda Bagwell, a friend for 25 years, said he helped hard-up clients by making free repairs and that he'd quit smoking and drinking "to be with his children and grandchildren."

Phillips also stole $400 from his victim. At trial, Deputy State's Attorney Mike Farlow said Phillips sought to rob Nibblett, for whom he'd made home repairs a few months earlier, because he was a feeble old man known to keep lots of cash handy. Phillips later confessed to spending the money on a lavish dinner, Farlow noted Monday, knowing that police would soon track him down.

"I wish I could go back and change the whole day," Phillips told the judge. "I have to live with my mistakes the rest of my life."

"You chose to do this," the judge replied. "Mr. Nibbett did not choose to have this done to him. You've wasted another life. It was a horrendous crime. You have stolen from the Nibblett family the last years of Mr. Nibblett's life."

Defense attorney Arch McFadden said in court that his client's actions were "out of character" and that his reputation was not one of a violent person. Family members spoke on Phillips's behalf, saying the father of eight would be missed by his family.

"Charlie's kids, they're living without a daddy, too," said his uncle, Mike Revel, as his family and friends quietly wept. "I don't think Charlie realizes just how much he's hurt both families. I hope he does."