The Pocomoke Public Eye

Thursday, January 28, 2010

TANGIER: Skull and Human Bones Found in Box

By Carol Vaughn
Staff Writer

TANGIER ISLAND — A couple out for a ride Wednesday afternoon found a skull and other human bones in a cardboard box lying behind the town trash receptacles on the northern end of this Chesapeake Bay island.

The skeletal remains appear to be old and officials speculate they could have washed ashore from a cemetery on Uppards, a small uninhabited island just north of Tangier.

“It was not intact. The skull was there; there were definitely arms and ribs,” said Mayor James Eskridge, who was called to the scene. He informed Tangier police officer John Charnock and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission about the discovery.

“It was not an everyday thing,” he said of the grisly find.

Accomack County Sheriff Larry Giddens said Thursday morning he is sending an investigator to the island to examine the scene. Giddens said the remains will be taken to a forensic laboratory in Norfolk for further investigation.

Eskridge is curious about who gathered the bones and put them into the cardboard box, as well as why they would leave the remains behind the trash dump.

“They were definitely placed there,” he said, adding, “What the story is, I don’t know.”

The bones could have washed ashore on Tangier’s northern point after a grave on Uppards fell into the Chesapeake Bay, he said. The Uppards cemetery holds the remains of four families that once lived on the island. Graves there date from the 1800s to about 1930, Eskridge said.

Summertime visitors to Uppards in recent years have reported seeing human bones as they walked along the shoreline there, he said.

“I actually know one of the graves up there was an Eskridge...It was getting ready to go in the water,” Eskridge said. He had those remains reburied on Port Isobel, next to Tangier, because the deceased person likely was his relative.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/

This story should make a good conversation among the locals. If these bones are drifting from the island nearby isn't it time the state of Virginia does something about it?

Pocket Taser Stun Gun- A Great Gift for the Wife?

This was submitted by a guy who purchased his lovely wife a "pocket Taser" for their anniversary.

Last weekend I saw something at the Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 22nd anniversary, and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized Taser. The consequences of the Taser were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse effects on her assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety.... WAY TOO COOL!

Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two triple-A batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I'd get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!!

Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to wife what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.

Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two triple-A batteries, right?!!!

There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?

So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, Taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water.

Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.

All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5 inches long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference -- pretty cute, really -- and loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-A batteries, thinking to myself, "No possible way!"

What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best.....

I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as if to say, "Don't do it, master," reasoning that a one-second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.... I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION!!!

I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, and then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face.

Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a Taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three-second burst would be considered conservative.

A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up, and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they get up there???

My triceps, right thigh, were still burning and twitching. My face felt as if it had been shot up with Novocain and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.

Still in shock

‘Animals Dying’: Man Sets Himself on Fire Outside Portland Fur Store

Soooo? Liberals really do smoke.

PORTLAND, Ore. - A man set himself on fire after pouring gasoline on himself outside Nicholas Ungar Furs at 12th and Yamhill Wednesday morning before police used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

It was not immediately clear whether the man was protesting against the store, which has had problem with animal rights activists in the past, but witnesses said he was screaming about the treatment of animals.

“There are animals dying! Animals dying!” witnesses said the man was screaming as flames engulfed his body and shot above his head.

“He tried to run into the building,” said witness Mike Cheema who owns a food cart a few feet from where the incident occurred. “The door was locked. He couldn’t get in. He came right out screaming, ‘the world is ending, animals dying!’”

“I looked over … flames, burning. I thought he was crazy,” said another witness L.C. “It was traumatizing. It was horrible.”

“I saw a guy that was running around with his arms waving, and he was completely on fire,” said Julie Sies who was walking to a dentist appointment at the time. “He was just screaming and asking for help.”

Witnesses gave different accounts of the path the man took while he was on fire. The fire blackened the sidewalk and charred remains were scattered about the area, including what appeared to be a footprint.

The man was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital and authorities said he was in critical condition. His name has not been released.

No one at Nicholas Ungar Furs wanted to comment on the incident.

VIA

Dog drifts 75 miles on ice, rescued in Baltic Sea

WARSAW, Poland - A frightened, shivering dog was rescued after floating at least 75 miles (120 kilometers) on an ice floe down Poland's Vistula River and into the Baltic Sea, officials said Thursday. Now his saviors just have to figure out who really owns him.

Four people have already claimed him, but so far rescuers say there's been no wagging tail of joy from the miracle dog they nicknamed "Baltic."

The dog's frozen odyssey came as Poland suffers through a winter cold snap, with temperatures dipping to below minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 Celsius).

The thick-furred male dog was found adrift Monday 15 miles (24 kilometers) out in the Baltic Sea by the crew of the Baltica, a Polish ship of ocean scientists carrying out research.

Researcher Natalia Drgas said Thursday the rescue was difficult and at one point it seemed the dog had drowned.

"It was really a tough struggle. It kept slipping into the water and crawling back on top of the ice. At one point it vanished underwater, under the ship and we thought it was the end, but it emerged again and crawled on an ice sheet," Drgas said.

At that point, the crew lowered a pontoon down to the water and a crew member managed to grab the dog by the scruff of his neck and pull him to safety.

Too weak to shake off the frigid water, Baltic was dried and wrapped in blankets. After he warmed up, he was massaged, fed and soon got on his feet to seek company, Drgas said.

A firefighter in Grudziadz, on the Vistula river 60 miles (100 kilometers) inland from the Bay of Gdansk, told The Associated Press the dog was spotted Saturday floating on ice through the city. Firefighters tried to save him but could not approach the dog due to shifting ice sheets, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Baltica crew, now moored in the port city of Gdynia, have been searching for the dog's owners, ship captain Jerzy Wosachlo said. So far four people have claimed him, but Baltic has not claimed any of them back, Drgas said.

The dog didn't welcome the first two people to come for him, keeping his distance and showing no recognition toward a couple on Wednesday and a woman on Thursday who both said he was theirs. Two other would-be owners were still en route to Gdynia for a possible reunion.

Once in port, the brown-and-black mongrel was taken to a veterinarian, who found him in surprisingly good condition and estimated his age at around 5 or 6 years old. Veterinarian Aleksandra Lawniczak said the 44-pound (20-kilogram) dog was clearly frightened but in strikingly good shape and had suffered no frostbite.

A dog with thick fur and a layer of fat can survive such cold conditions for as long as eight days if it has water to drink, Lawniczak said.

She described Baltic as a friendly dog who was clearly well treated before getting lost.

Wosachlo said the research team is prepared to adopt Baltic if his original owner is never found.

VIA

CAUTION; G-MAIL USERS

To all that use G-Mail beware of this phishing scam. I just received this in my G-Mail account. This IS NOT from Google. This is a scam, do not reply

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G MAI L BETA

Eastern Shore Wedding Expo Postponed due to snow

The date has been Changed from Feb. 5th to Feb 7th!!!

Make Your Wedding Dreams Come True

Eastern Shore Wedding Expo

Sunday, February 7, 2010

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Bridal Fashion Show at 2:00 p.m.

Eastern Shore Community College
Workforce Development Center
29300 Lankford Highway, Melfa, Virginia
Info: Linda Baylis Spence, Events Coordinator (757) 789-5927

Caterers • Florists • Bakeries

Reception Facilities • Hair & Makeup Consultants

Honeymoon Destinations • Wedding Supplies & Rentals

Photographers • Gowns • Tuxes

Free Admission Door Prizes

Changing with the times

At a certain age, everyone will understand this poor guy.

I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.

I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids, and 2 great-grandkids that couldn't communicate with me in the normal way.

I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix, and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation.

I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library.

I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the BlueTooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive.

I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes & Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dashboard, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating."

You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light.

Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GSP lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house.

We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have to run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me.

They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store.

You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop.

I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me "Paper or Plastic?", I just say, "Doesn't matter to me.

I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.

Oh, Lord, I pray that when I get like this, I hope I can retain my sense of humor.

CRAIG'S LIST PERSONALS AD

TO THE GUY WHO TRIED TO MUG ME IN DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH NIGHT BEFORE

LAST. DATE: 2009-05-27, 1 :43 A.M. E.S.T. I WAS THE GUY WEARING THE BLACK BURBERRY JACKET THAT YOU DEMANDED THAT I HAND OVER, SHORTLY AFTER YOU PULLED THE KNIFE ON ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND, THREATENING OUR LIVES. YOU ALSO ASKED FOR MY GIRLFRIEND'S PURSE AND EARRINGS.

I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT YOU SOMEHOW COME ACROSS THIS RATHER IMPORTANT MESSAGE.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR EMBARRASSMENT; I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO ACTUALLY CRAP IN YOUR PANTS WHEN I DREW MY PISTOL AFTER YOU TOOK MY JACKET … THE EVENING WAS NOT THAT COLD, AND I WAS WEARING THE JACKET FOR A REASON … MY GIRLFRIEND HAD JUST BOUGHT ME THAT KIMBER MODEL 1911 .45 ACP PISTOL FOR MY BIRTHDAY, AND WE HAD PICKED UP A SHOULDER HOLSTER FOR IT THAT VERY EVENING. OBVIOUSLY YOU AGREE THAT IT IS A VERY INTIMIDATING WEAPON WHEN POINTED AT YOUR HEAD ... ISN'T IT?!

I KNOW IT PROBABLY WASN'T FUN WALKING BACK TO WHEREVER YOU'D COME

FROM WITH THAT BROWN SLUDGE IN YOUR PANTS. I'M SURE IT WAS EVEN WORSE WALKING BARE-FOOTED SINCE I MADE YOU LEAVE YOUR SHOES, CELL PHONE, AND WALLET WITH ME. [THAT PREVENTED YOU FROM CALLING OR RUNNING TO YOUR BUDDIES TO COME HELP MUG US AGAIN].

AFTER I CALLED YOUR MOTHER OR "MOMMA" AS YOU HAD HER LISTED IN YOUR CELL, I EXPLAINED THE ENTIRE EPISODE OF WHAT YOU'D DONE. THEN I WENT AND FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AS WELL AS THOSE OF FOUR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE GAS STATION, … ON YOUR CREDIT CARD … THE GUY WITH THE BIG MOTOR HOME TOOK 150 GALLONS AND WAS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL! I GAVE YOUR SHOES TO A HOMELESS GUY OUTSIDE VINNIE VAN GO GO'S, ALONG WITH ALL THE CASH IN YOUR WALLET. [THAT MADE HIS DAY!]

I THEN THREW YOUR WALLET INTO THE BIG PINK "PIMP MOBILE" THAT WAS

PARKED AT THE CURB .... AFTER I BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOW

AND KEYED THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR.

LATER, I CALLED A BUNCH OF PHONE SEX NUMBERS FROM YOUR CELL PHONE. MA BELL JUST NOW SHUT DOWN THE LINE, ALTHOUGH I ONLY USED THE PHONE FOR A LITTLE OVER A DAY NOW, SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

EARLIER, I MANAGED TO GET IN TWO THREATENING PHONE CALLS TO THE D.A.'S OFFICE AND ONE TO THE FBI, WHILE MENTIONING PRESIDENT OBAMA AS MY POSSIBLE TARGET. THE FBI GUY SEEMED REALLY INTENSE AND WE HAD A NICE LONG CHAT (I GUESS WHILE HE TRACED YOUR NUMBER ETC.).

IN A WAY, PERHAPS I SHOULD APOLOGIZE FOR NOT KILLING YOU .. BUT I FEEL THIS TYPE OF RETRIBUTION IS A FAR MORE APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR THREATENED CRIME.

I WISH YOU WELL AS YOU TRY TO SORT THROUGH SOME OF THESE RATHER IMMEDIATE PRESSING ISSUES, AND CAN ONLY HOPE THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT UPON, AND PERHAPS RECONSIDER, THE CAREER PATH YOU'VE CHOSEN TO PURSUE IN LIFE. REMEMBER, NEXT TIME YOU MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY … HAVE A GOOD DAY!

THOUGHTFULLY YOURS, ALEX

How to wash a toilet

This was simply too much of a time saver not to share it with you

1. Put both lids of the toilet up

And add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid.
You may need to stand on the lid.

4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds.
Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times.
This provides a 'power-wash' and rinse'.

6. Have someone open the front door of your home.
Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.

8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom,
And run outside where he will dry himself off.

9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean..

Sincerely, The Dog

Snow For Virginia and The Rest of the Shore

As of right now, there could be snow this weekend for the Eastern Shore. The snow is forecast to begin late Saturday morning and finish Saturday night. According to Jon Cash of WAVY-TV, the southern end of the Eastern Shore should see between 3-5 inches this weekend, with the northern end only getting about 1-2 inches of accumulations.

Virginia residents are reminded to drive safely and cautiously if ice accumulates on the road. Motorists should also beware of falling branches or downed power lines. If you approach a downed power line, do not touch it and call A&N Electric, your local electric cooperative.

At The Mar-Va This Weekend !!

FRIDAY NIGHT

Comedy Stage Hypnotist Russ Clarke
Show starts at 7 p.m.
Admission: $10.00
Bring the kids and enjoy and evening of laughter!!!!!
　

SATURDAY NIGHT

"WoodstokNation" Rock Band

Show starts at 7 p.m.

Admisstion: $10.00

And while you're visiting sign up to be a theater volunteer!!!!!

The Mar-Va Theater

It's Not Just A Weekend Movie Theater Anymore

I've been doing alot of thinking about the Mar-Va Theater lately, Especially after the response Mr. Torres made concerning the comment in the delmarvaNOW. The Grapevine commentor seemed to have the opinion that our new Mar-Va was still a weekend movie house. Mr. Torres, of course, did not agree. Neither do I and neither do most people.

If you have lived in Pocomoke all or most of your life then you recall vividly the importance of that old musty theater on Friday and Saturday nights for the local kids. For almost two hours our children had a "safe haven" and were left in the hands (whether they liked it or not) of people parents trusted. These people welcomed them back week after week for many years. And these same "babysitters" were the people we would see on the streets, have a conversation with, and they would never mutter a word as to how horrible your child may have been. Miss Hattie, Mr. Dawson, Jeannie, and Roger along with others, were names that everyone knew for years......maybe for a couple of generations.

When the theater closed its doors for a while there was a silence down town on those nights and nothing crowded the Mar-Va doors except dead leaves and old paper cups. Along came Tom and Tom opened those doors and once more the theater was alive. The children came back! And the parents gladly drove them! My daughter got her first job there. She was one of the many projectionists who on open nights sat in that tiny cubicle of a room running the projector. And I am sure in that tiny room she had her first heart attack the first time the film snapped. But she loved it.

Then again the theater stayed empty. Those children grew up. Those children went on to adult hood with those memories of the movies on Friday nights. For years that old theater was under some pretty heavy and extensive changes. What many people don't know is that the people of Pocomoke knew things would be okay and that the end product would be as amazing as it is today! Why? Because we kept hearing the familiar names being linked with handling the process. Names like Glovier, Lippoldt, Blake just to name a few. And I'll even thow in the name Isabelle Leach because I know in my heart that if she were alive she'd be in the mix too. All these names and the ones I can't seem to recall are names that all of us have trusted and looked upon for many years. It's part of that Pocomoke pride we have, I guess.

And look at what we have today! Pocomoke has something to be so very proud of and if you don't believe me go to their facebook page and see how many fans there are. Or stand outside of the Mar-Va on a night when it is open. Better still, if you haven't been to the Mar-Va theater yet, by all means go see for yourself how wonderful it is.

What makes this theater MORE than a weekend movie theater is the fact that the generation that once ran the aisles on weekends has grown and those parents that once drove those now grown children can take their grandchildren and talk to them about the "good old days" and watch a show too. I guess it's what could be called a "Pocomoke Moment". Just ask anyone that has grown up in Pocomoke.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

B.E.T. Airs The State of The Union For The First Time

B.E.T. will air the Presidents State of the Union for the first time in the history of the network.

Why did B.E.T. not air any previous POTUS's State of the Union address?

Amidst the war on terror, the healthcare crisis, a struggling economy and the recent tragedy in Haiti, our first African American president, Barack Obama will stand before Congress on Wednesday, January 27 and deliver his first State of the Union Address.

Beginning at 9:00 p.m.* BET, CENTRIC, and BET.com will carry BET NEWS PRESENTS: THE STATE OF THE UNION PRESIDENT OBAMA AND BLACK AMERICA, a 90-minute, LIVE special which will feature a roundtable discussion and a series of original taped packages featuring a wide range of celebrity and political voices.

Broadcasting from The Newseum's HD studios in Washington, D.C., BET anchor Jeff Johnson will be joined by panelists Professor Marc Lamont Hill, Commentator John McWhorter and BET Senior Political Analyst Pamela Gentry to examine President Obama's first year in office and how the president's policies have been received by the Black community.

BET NEWS PRESENTS: THE STATE OF THE UNION PRESIDENT OBAMA AND BLACK AMERICA will feature exclusive interviews from a wide cross-section of African Americans including: Gabrielle Union, Jamal Simmons, Rep. Barbara Lee, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Cornell Belcher, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Al Sharpton, Trey Songz, Tara Setmayer, Charles M. Blow, Michaela Angela Davis, Taraji P. Henson, and Ryan Leslie. BET's special coverage will also include exclusive new poll numbers that reveal Black America's support of the president.

Morgan Harrington's Remains Identified

Police in Virginia now confirm what many suspected: the skeletal remains found Tuesday are those of Morgan Harrington. Investigators say they used dental records to positively identify the 20 year old Virginia Tech junior. Authorities say they also found significant items and evidence at the scene.

Gil and Dan Harrington traveled to Charlottesville Tuesday evening to help identify the remains. Dan Harrington issued a statement today which read in part: "Morgan's mother, Gil, and I are overwhelmingly saddened by yesterday's discovery, but we are also relieved because our questions can now be answered and we can give our daughter a proper burial." The C-Ville, a Charlottesville newspaper, quotes Dan Harrington as saying his daughter was murdered and the farm where her remains were found "...is not a random place that someone put her."

Harrington went missing on October 17, 2009 after leaving her friends to use the restroom during a Metallica concert. When she didn't return, her friends called her cell phone. Morgan told them she was outside the concert venue and was not allowed to re-enter as per the venue's policy. Since a friend had driven her to the concert, CNN reports Morgan told her friends she would find another way home. Three months later, a farmer discovered what have now been proven to be Harrington's remains on his farm. The farm is about 10 miles from the John Paul Jones Arena where the Metallica concert was held.

Rest of the story...

www.examiner.com

Pocomoke Voter Resolution #312 vs Resolution #432

We have obtained both Pocomoke voter resolutions for your review to compare the recent changes.

We report, you decide.

RESOLUTION NO. ~~312~~

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF POCOMOKE CITY, MARYLAND TO REPEAL RESOLUTION ~~173~~ 312, TO REENACT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THAT RESOLUTION, AND TO CLARIFY AND ESTABLISH PROCEDURES INVOLVED WITH THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS OF POCOMOKE CITY, MARYLAND

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of Pocomoke City, Maryland wish to repeal Resolution No. ~~173~~ 312 and to reenact certain provisions of that resolution to clarify the procedures to be followed during municipal elections;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT municipal elections in Pocomoke City, Maryland will be conducted in accordance with Title VII of the Pocomoke City Charter with the following clarifications and additions:

1. VOTER ELIGIBILITY

a) The Board shall remove the names of any persons who have not voted in the

previous five (5) municipal elections from the municipal list of eligible voters.

b) PROOF OF RESIDENCY

In all instances where the Board is doubtful of the residency of a proposed registrant or voter, the Board may require the applicant or voter to produce such information as they may deem necessary to prove residency, including one or more of the following documents:

1) Valid driver=s license

2) Water, sewer or other utility bill

3) Written lease for rental premises

4) County voter card

5) Any other similar evidence which would establish residency.

2. LIST OF VOTERS

Candidates for election ~~may purchase~~ MAY OBTAIN lists of voters ~~when completed by~~ FROM the WORCESTER COUNTY Board of Elections. ~~Supervisors at the following costs:~~

~~a) Entire list (even years only) $10.00~~

~~b) District list (each) $5.00~~

3. ABSENTEE VOTING

a) The Board shall approve official forms for applications and absentee ballots.

b) Anyone may request an Application for Absentee Ballot by telephone, facsimile,

and by downloading the application (when available) or in person at City Hall during normal business hours. All applications for absentee ballots will be ~~numbered~~ original documents, signed by the applicant. Photocopies will not be accepted. When an application is ~~issued~~ received, a record will be kept at City Hall of the ~~application number and to whom it was issued. If requested, applications will be issued by facsimile.~~ date and time of the Boards= receipt of the Application for Absentee Ballot.

c) When the application is ~~returned~~ received, voter records will be checked to determine

that the applicant is a registered voter of Pocomoke City, Maryland and eligible to receive a ballot (currently resides in the district that is having an election).

d) The voter I.D. number (assigned by computer), the district number, and a ballot

number (to be assigned by the Board of Elections Supervisors or their designee or other person handling absentee ballot applications) will be marked on the completed application form. The ballot number is issued to track how many ballots have been issued and returned in order to prevent the reproduction of absentee ballots. The list of absentee ballots issued shall not be made available to the public. Candidates will not be allowed to inspect completed absentee ballots.

e) A ballot, ballot envelope, and a self-addressed stamped envelope will be prepared

and placed in an envelope and mailed to the applicant by first class mail except when an application is made in person within seven days prior to the election. No one will be allowed to hand-deliver a ballot to an applicant except the Board of Elections Supervisors, their designee, or the City Clerk. Ballots will not be issued by facsimile.

d f) The city will rent a Post Office Box for use by the Board of Elections Supervisors

only. When the absentee voter has marked the ballot, it must be placed in the return envelope provided and mailed to the special Post Office Box. Completed absentee ballots will not be accepted at City Hall, at the polling place or any other location. All ballots must be received in the special Post Office Box no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Monday preceding the election. Postmark dates are not relevant and will not be considered in any way. Absentee ballots received after the deadline will not be opened. They will be destroyed by the Board of Elections Supervisors at their discretion.

e g) Only ballots received in the special Post Office Box will be accepted by the Board

of Elections Supervisors. At 5:00 p.m. on the Monday preceding the election, one or more members of the Board of Elections Supervisors, the City Clerk, the Chief of Police, and any candidates who wish to be present will open the special Post Office Box and remove the ballots. The ballot numbers will be called off and recorded on the list sealed in one or more larger envelopes (manila-type) and taken to City Hall and locked in the safe. The Police Chief will accompany the Board of Elections Supervisors (or their designee) to witness this process.

f h) On the day of the elections, the Board of Elections Supervisors (or their designee)

will remove the larger sealed manila-type envelope(s) from the safe and take them to the voting place. After the polls close the Board of Elections Supervisors will open the manila-type envelope(s) and remove the return envelopes. The return envelopes will then be opened by the Board of Elections Supervisors (and appointed elections workers) and the ballot envelopes will be removed. The Board of Elections Supervisors (and appointed election workers) will open the ballot envelopes checking to be sure that the envelopes are signed, that there are no distinguishing marks on the ballot, that only one box has been checked, etc. The Board of Elections Supervisors has the authority to disqualify any absentee ballot for failure to sign the oath, making distinguishing or identifying marks on the ballot, or checking more than one box where inappropriate to do so. The Board of Elections Supervisors will tally the votes. After machine votes and absentee ballots have been tallied, all votes will be recorded on a form and certified by all members of the Board. This form will be given to the City Manager.

g i) If a voter has been issued an absentee ballot, then that person will not be allowed

to vote in person at the polling place.

4. ELECTION DAY PROCEDURE

a) The Board shall post or cause to be posted signs which indicate that electioneering

is not permitted within one hundred (100) feet of the entrance to the polling place.

b) The Board will assure that adequate handicapped parking and access to the polling

place is provided. Handicapped voters who require assistance in the voting booth may apply for assistance on a form designated for that purpose.

c) If the Board feels that a police officer is needed at certain times during the

election, any member of the Board of Elections Supervisors may contact the Chief of Police and request that an officer be dispatched to the polling place. At the close of the polls, a police officer will be stationed at the entrance of the polling place to restrict access to those persons authorized to be present.

d) Prior to counting of the ballots, the Board will request all unauthorized persons to

leave the polling place. The following persons are authorized to be inside the polling place when the ballots are counted:

1) Each candidate and one other person previously authorized by the candidate in writing.

2) Board of Elections Supervisors members and appointees.

3) After all tallies are completed, the doors of the polling place will be opened to the public.

5. PRESERVATION OF BALLOTS

Absentee ballots, applications, and voter authority cards may be destroyed after six (6) months provided the Maryland Centralized Voter Registration System has had an opportunity to record who has voted from the voter authority cards.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF POCOMOKE CITY, that this resolution shall take effect upon the vote of the Council and its approval by the Mayor.

________________ _________________ ______________________________

Date Introduced Date Passed Michael McDermott, Mayor

Approved BY ME THIS ______

DAY OF ______________, ______

ATTEST:

____________________________ _____________________________

Carol L. Justice, City Clerk Russell W. Blake, City Manager

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RESOLUTION NO. 432

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF POCOMOKE CITY, MARYLAND TO REPEAL RESOLUTION 312, TO REENACT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THAT RESOLUTION, AND TO CLARIFY AND ESTABLISH PROCEDURES INVOLVED WITH THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS OF POCOMOKE CITY, MARYLAND

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council of Pocomoke City, Maryland wish to repeal Resolution No. 312 and to reenact certain provisions of that resolution to clarify the procedures to be followed during municipal elections;

1. VOTER ELIGIBILITY

a) The Board shall remove the names of any persons who have not voted in the

previous five (5) municipal elections from the municipal list of eligible voters.

b) PROOF OF RESIDENCY

1) Valid driver’s license

2) Water, sewer or other utility bill

3) Written lease for rental premises

4) County voter card

5) Any other similar evidence which would establish residency.

2. LIST OF VOTERS

Candidates for election may obtain lists of voters from the Worcester County Board of Elections.

3. ABSENTEE VOTING

a. The Board shall approve official forms for applications and absentee ballots.

b. Anyone may request an Application for Absentee Ballot by telephone, facsimile,

and by downloading the application (when available) or in person at City Hall during normal business hours. All applications for absentee ballots will be original documents, signed by the applicant. Photocopies will not be accepted. When an application is received, a record will be kept at City Hall of the date and time of the Boards’ receipt of the Application for Absentee Ballot. Applications for absentee ballots received after the close of business on the Wednesday before an election will not be processed.

c. When the application is received, voter records will be checked to determine that

the applicant is a registered voter of Pocomoke City, Maryland and eligible to receive a ballot (currently resides in the district that is having an election).

d. The voter I.D. number (assigned by computer), the district number, and a ballot

e. A ballot, ballot envelope, and a self-addressed stamped envelope will be prepared

and placed in an envelope and mailed to the applicant by first class mail. No one will be allowed to hand-deliver a ballot to an applicant except the Board of Elections Supervisors, their designee, or the City Clerk. Ballots will not be issued by facsimile.

f. The city will rent a Post Office Box for use by the Board of Elections Supervisors

g. Only ballots received in the special Post Office Box will be accepted by the Board

h. On the day of the election, the Board of Elections Supervisors (or their designee)

will remove the larger sealed manila-type envelope(s) from the safe and take them to the voting place. After the polls close the Board of Elections Supervisors will open the manila-type envelope(s) and remove the return envelopes. The return envelopes will then be opened by the Board of Elections Supervisors (and appointed election workers) and the ballot envelopes will be removed. The Board of Elections Supervisors (and appointed election workers) will open the ballot envelopes checking to be sure that the envelopes are signed, that there are no distinguishing marks on the ballot, that only one box has been checked, etc. The Board of Elections Supervisors has the authority to disqualify any absentee ballot for failure to sign the oath, making distinguishing or identifying marks on the ballot, or checking more than one box where inappropriate to do so. The Board of Elections Supervisors will tally the votes. After machine votes and absentee ballots have been tallied, all votes will be recorded on a form and certified by all members of the Board. This form will be given to the City Manager.

i. If a voter has been issued an absentee ballot, then that person will not be allowed