The Pocomoke Public Eye

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Cypress Festival 2010 Comes to an End Say Goodnight Pocomoke

When the fireworks start lighting up the dark Pocomoke sky it marks the end of our wonderful yearly event, The Pocomoke Cypress Festival.

As the 'Grand Finally' bangs away and starts to wind down the engines start, the headlights come on, the sound of folding aluminum chairs being closed and the marching of feet of those that walked to the river where the festival is held, they all know it's over and look forward to another year.

The tiny town becomes empty in much less time than it did to accumulate the happy visitors. The people of Pocomoke know that when the 'Grand Finally' makes it's final pop and the last spark dwindles away it's like the curtains closing on your favorite movie and Pocomoke shuts the gates until the next wing-ding.

The Festival comity does a wonderful job at organizing this event, the volunteers are always smiling, the work by the PCVFD, the extra toll on the PCP officers, the clean-up by the city maintenance crew, etc. etc. is all forgotten by the time the final finally last ash hits the ground and people scurry to their vehicles and head home.

We would like to send a big Thank You to everyone that makes our festival what it is and what it will be next year.

To all involved in the Cypress Festival; Thank You.

I captured some pictures of the fireworks, sorry about the quality, I took these with my cell phone.

Click any image to enlarge

2010 Cypress Festival Fireworks

Click Image to Enlarge

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Arizona Law Driving Illegal Immigrants Out of State

If one Phoenix school district is any gauge, Hispanics in Arizona appear to be leaving the state in anticipation of the tough-on-illegal-immigration law that goes into effect at the end of July.

It's not clear how many of them are illegal immigrants, but the exodus could be evidence that the law is achieving its goal of driving out illegals even before it takes effect next month.

There are no statewide statistics to prove a population shift, and accounts vary as to whether families are so concerned about the law they would pick up and leave.

Still, the superintendent of a Phoenix-area school district told FoxNews.com that 95 students have left his system since the law was signed in late April.

Jeffrey Smith, superintendent of the Balsz Elementary School District, said mostly Hispanic students are leaving and that parents have told him they're leaving out of concern for the new law.

"They're concerned at what the law will do ... if they have anyone in their family that's illegal," he said. Enrollment went from 2,773 the day the law was signed to 2,678 this week.

The school district, which is 75 percent Hispanic, is the only district in Arizona where classes are still in session -- those schools have a rare 200-day school year, making it the only system where up-to-date comparisons of student enrollment can be made.

Elsewhere, the data was not as clear. The Arizona Republic reported last month that officials at another Phoenix-area district, Alhambra, were anticipating 200 to 300 students would leave their system over the summer because of the law.

But statewide enrollment figures were not up to date and did not reflect much movement at all in the student population.

Amy Rezzonico, spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Education, said the state would not have "tangible evidence" of any population change until October when the schools are required to report their enrollment numbers.

"We've been having some decline in enrollment for the past couple years for a variety of factors," she said.

The economy was one of those factors, she said. But some have also pointed to a 2007 law that cracked down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants. Department of Homeland Security statistics show that 100,000 illegal immigrants left the state between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009, coinciding with a nationwide drop in illegal populations.

Smith suggested the immigrant flight from Arizona could be even more significant this time around, since the new law's provisions are broad and could drive entire families to leave the state. Smith said he's hearing secondhand that the families are going to New Mexico.

"The statement is something like New Mexico is the way Arizona used to be," he said. "I heard one lady say she might go back to Mexico."

Neighborhood Associations Still Don't Like The American Flag - Or Any Flag That Supports the Military

These people that own/operate such type of housing had better come to grips with that great American flag! Let's face it. I can honestly see a rule concerning the decorative banner flags that you see flying in yards across America today. But to not allow these? Or the American flag? I can't imagine how a family must feel knowing that you are living somewhere without the respect for what your loved one is doing! I just can't imagine. And I would think that perhaps the operators of these "condo associations" or "neighborhood associations" would take the hint from the American people that we don't give a "you know what" about rules when it comes to the brave Americans that work at keeping our country free. We'll put our flags wherever we want to!

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Sen. Jim Webb has introduced legislation to ensure families who have relatives serving in the armed forces can publicly signal their support with a Blue or Gold Star flag.

The bill proposed by the Virginia Democrat was inspired by an incident in Ohio in which a woman was asked by her condo association to take down a Blue Star flag. The woman's son served two tours in Iraq and was wounded twice.

Webb's proposal would prevent any neighborhood associations from enacting such bans when relatives are serving during times of conflict.

A Blue Star flag is flown when a family member is serving in the military. A Gold Star signifies that a family member was killed in combat.

www.usatoday.com

Cub Scouts Honor Veterans

You just can't say enough about these wonderful young men.

PARKSLEY -- The members of local Cub Scout Pack 300 honored nearly 300 veterans graves in the Parksley area this Memorial Day. The graves were located in the Liberty Cemetery and the Parksley Town Cemetery

Typically during Memorial Day and Veterans Day, local VFW and American Legion posts will honor fallen soldiers and veterans by placing a small U.S. flag at the headstone of each grave.

Pack 300 sought out the opportunity to assist with this task this year in Parksley. Much to the dismay of the pack leaders, the Parksley cemeteries were not being honored. The pack decided it was time to act and took up the task themselves.

Thanks to generous donations by the Parksley Volunteer Fire Company, the Town of Parksley, Jaxon's, Darcy's Sport Shop, St. Francis Thrift Store, Visual Changes, What's Your Fancy and Russell's Formal and Bridal, the pack was able to purchase flags for the graves. Each marked grave was visited, a flag placed and a salute was given.

With the recent vandalism in the Parksley Cemetery, the pack leaders thought it fitting to teach the Scouts that a cemetery is a reverent and honored place.

The new flags bring a bit of color and patriotism back to the cemetery. With veterans spanning the Civil War up to the recent Gulf War, the boys were given a history lesson in the events and people that helped keep this nation free.

It is the hope of Pack 300 to make this a tradition within the pack and local community for years to come. The pack intends to return for Veterans Day in September.

www.easternshorenews.com

Pocomoke Crime Report

Here's the published crime report VIA: Crimereports.com for so far this month.

Still no word of the murder and some other major crimes that we have heard about. There is one here that I have NOT heard about that should, [in my opinion] be highly publicized and that's the "SEX OFFENSE FOURTH DEGREE" @ "1000 BLOCK CLARKE AVENUE" listed as "OTHER SEXUAL OFFENSE"

Drag Racer Killed During Qualifying Round

OLD BRIDGE, N.J. (AP) - A drag racing driver ran through a net at the end of a track and died of head injuries in a crash during a qualifying round at the NHRA SuperNationals at a New Jersey raceway Friday, state police said.

The driver, whose name has not been released, crashed at Raceway Park in Old Bridge, N.J., Sgt. Stephen Jones said.

According to the organizer's website, Sportsman qualifying was under way at the time of the accident.

The incident comes nearly two years after top racer Scott Kalitta died when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track in central New Jersey.

Kalitta's Toyota Solara was traveling at about 300 mph when it burst into flames.

New Jersey State Police investigators determined that "catastrophic mechanical failure" caused the fuel-fired explosion.

The 1994 and 1995 Top Fuel season champion had 18 career victories.

In February, a spectator died after being hit by a tire from a crashing dragster at the NHRA Arizona Nationals. The woman was watching a first-round Top Fuel run when Antron Brown's Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster went out of control on the strip and its left rear wheel came off.

www.wavy.com

Off-Duty Maryland State Trooper Fatally Shot While Working Security

Trooper Wesley Brown

FORESTVILLE, Md. - Police have released photos of a man after launching a massive manhunt Friday for the gunman who fatally shot an off-duty Maryland State Police trooper working security at a restaurant in Forestville.

Trooper First Class Wesley Brown, 24, was working security at the Applebee's on Donnell Drive overnight after finishing his shift.

As Brown stepped out the front door to make a phone call, a gunman lurking in the shadows near a bus stop on Donnell Drive opened fire.

Law enforcement sources say the gunman fired seven times, hitting Brown with all seven rounds from a distance of about 70 feet. One of the bullets struck Brown's side, which was not protected by his body armor, the sources said; that bullet struck his heart.

"The trooper, it doesn't appear to us, even had a chance to draw his weapon or fire," said Maj. Andy Ellis, a Prince George's County police spokesman. "It appears he was ambushed."

Trooper Wesley Brown Brown stumbled into the restaurant where he collapsed. He was taken to Prince George's Hospital Center where he was later pronounced dead.

The investigation quickly focused on a man Brown had thrown out of Applebee's a half-hour before the shooting. He was described as a black male, 25 - 30 years old, 5'7" tall, weighing 130 pounds, with a dark complexion, short hair, and slight facial hair.

He may wear glasses and was last seen wearing a baby blue Hugo Boss short sleeve shirt with a midway zipper and blue jeans. (See surveillance photos to the left.)

After the shooting, the same man was seen running from the scene toward an apartment building on Donnell Drive.

All day, heavily armed officers combed the neighborhood but they did not find the man.

But investigators aren't certain the man who was ejected from the bar was the gunman, sources say. Police are urging the man to come forward.
"We've never had an unsolved police killing," Maj. Ellis said. "We're going to solve this case. It's better for him to turn himself in right now, contact an attorney and arrange to surrender, rather than have us knock on the door at 3 o'clock in the morning."

Maryland State Police Superintendent Terrance Sheridan says the gunman needs to know the consequence of his actions.

"What he has done is devastate his family, and all of those people he's protecting, day in, day out," Col. Sheridan said. "When this happens it goes against our society that we all stand for."

Family members were notified of Brown's death about 4 a.m.

His sister, Patrice Faison, focused on Brown's work as a mentor to children in his community, "using his own money, to provide education, trips for the young boys," she said. "For a lot of them, Wesley was their father."

Anyone with information about the man in the surveillance video's identity is asked to call the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit at (301) 772-4925.

Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411 TIPS (8477) or text "PGPD plus your message" to CRIMES (274637).

You can also go to the Prince George's County website and submit a tip online.

There is a total of $50,000 in rewards being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

Trooper Brown was the 42nd Maryland State Police trooper to die in the line of duty.

www.wjla.com

Pocomoke Cypress Festival Ends Tonight

DON'T FORGET!!

TONIGHT IS THE LAST NIGHT FOR THE CYPRESS FESTIVAL
Saturday, June 12th, 2010 Admission $3.00
Rides and Midway by Sherwood Amusements
*Wristband Special Night 12-4 pm
Bay Queen at the City Docks: Cruise our beautiful Pocomoke River from the City Docks!
Visit the Pocomoke City Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Table
for Duck Derby Tickets **50/50 Tickets ** Information ** Lost and Found **Souvenirs and Retail Items for Sale
Look for Sillee Willee the clown who will be walking the grounds
Sponsored by Hickman Heating, Plumbing, Air Conditioning Inc.
Coast Guard Boat Tours and Life-Saving Demonstrations.
**depending on availability, emergencies take priority**
10:00 AM Pocomoke 5K Race Starts- Sponsored by Atlantic General Hospital
11:00 AM Gates Open
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Pocomoke Big Fish
12:00 PM Rides Start
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Rain Gutter Regatta brought to you by Cub Scout Pack 143
1:00 PM Car Show by Crabtown Cruisers
1:00 PM Bike Show
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Pocomoke Potato Gun Challenge
TBA (according to tide) Duck Derby
6:30PM-10:00 PM Midnight Country Express
10:00 PM Fireworks - Sponsored by Pocomoke City
11:00 PM Gates Close
Ride Tickets--$1.00 for 1 or $20 for 25 tickets

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Saturday, June 12, 2010

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