Thieves Steal Bronze Vases From Veteran's Graves

CHESAPEAKE
Is nothing sacred?

It's a fair question when thieves are robbing from the dead, and that's what Michael Ruiz Cardona and Holly Minnie Chandler were charged with when they were arrested Wednesday by Chesapeake police.

According to police reports, Cardona and Chandler were stocking their van with the bronze vases that mark the plots of veterans' graves at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

Police patrolling the area around 8:45 p.m. took the suspects into custody, charging each with one count of grand larceny with intent to sell and one count of vandalism.

They could face additional counts, as each stolen vase represents a separate offense.

Cardona, 23, of Decatur Street in Portsmouth has three previous convictions, including one in 2008 for petty larceny and one in 2009 for grand larceny. Both were in Portsmouth.

Chandler, 21, is of the 2500 block of Woodshire Circle in Chesapeake.

The cemetery, at 3920 Airline Blvd., reported 101 vases stolen on six occasions since Aug. 30.

A police investigation concluded Cardona and Chandler are responsible for at least 53 of those vases, Chesapeake police spokeswoman Officer Dorienne Boykin said.

The arrests are a relief to Hinton Hurff, president of Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Hurff said he has been distressed by the thefts of the costly vases, which are not covered by insurance.

"It's really emotional for the family. I hope this puts an end to it," he said.

A typical vase assembly kit costs $548, including $300 for the vase itself. The vases are not the property of the cemetery; they are the property of the plot owners. However, Hurff plans to offer the family members a discount if they choose to replace a missing vase.

Diane Pettway, who visited the cemetery last week to put birthday flowers in the vase on her father's grave, was stunned when she found no vase. The chain holding it in place had been cut.

"I started looking around, and I saw a lot missing," she said. "You have to be pretty low to do this. Nobody should steal to begin with, but you don't get any lower than stealing from a grave. On top of that, these are veterans."

Thieves usually pilfer the bronze vases from grave sites to melt them down for scrap metal, typically getting $1.50 a pound - $30 to $65 or more for a vase between 20 and 45 pounds.

Cemeteries in Raleigh, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Albany, N.Y.; and Las Vegas have had vases stolen by the hundreds in the past year. Boykin said no additional Chesapeake cemeteries have reported problems.

In Norfolk, three reports were filed regarding stolen vases from Woodlawn Memorial Gardens at 6309 E. Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk police spokeswoman Karen Parker-Chesson said.

Three reports were also filed since May by Forest Lawn Cemetery at 8100 Granby St., Parker-Chesson said.

Hurff said securing the 47 acres at Greenlawn is not realistic. Cameras and floodlights are also not practical, he said.

Pettway said she is unsure what her father's replacement vase will be made from.

"Maybe ceramic or plastic, I don't know," she said. "It's just horrible what they did."

http://www.hamptonroads.com/

Armay Airfield Ranger From Maryland Killed

The Department of Defense says Sgt 1st Class Lance Vogeler died as a result of injuries he recived when insurgents attacked his unit in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Vogeler was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company in the battalion mortar platoon of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield

A native of Fredrick, Md., he enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2001. For nearly nine years he served as a mortar man in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. The battalions of the 75th Ranger Regiment have been continuously deployed to Afghanistan since October 2001.

“I wish the American people could truly understand the dedication and sacrifice that Lance Vogeler made for his country,” ,” said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander, 75th Ranger Regiment. “Since December 2001, Lance has either been in combat or training for combat. This was his 12th combat deployment. Lance was the quintessential Ranger; he is a hero to our Nation, the Army, and his family.”

Vogeler previously served on seven deployments to Afghanistan and four to Iraq.

“In an organization full of great men, Lance Vogeler stood out for his leadership, dedication and all of his talents,” said Lt. Col. Michael Foster, commander of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. “He has done so much for his Nation over the past nine years of combat action it is hard to put it into words. His loss will be felt across the whole Battalion and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

Vogeler is survived by his wife, Melissa Lee Vogeler of Savannah, Ga.; his son, Kyle Vogeler, and his daughter, Madison Eyler, both of Frederick, Md.; and his parents, Timothy and Donna Vogeler, also of Frederick, Md.

"Operation Enduring Freedom"

www.2.wsav.com

Tractor Trailer Crashes Into Melfa Shore Stop

MELFA, Va.- Virginia State Police say two people were injured Monday after a tractor-trailer crashed through the front of a Shore Stop convenience store on Route 13 in Melfa.

Police say that at around 10:20 a.m., a car was turning into the parking lot of the Shore Stop. Police say about three or four other vehicles were in back of the turning car, which had its turn signal flashing. Investigators say the tractor-trailer, which was in back of the stopped vehicles, was unable to slow down in time. Police say the driver of the tractor-trailer then swerved to the right of the stopped vehicles in order to miss them. The tractor-trailer missed the vehicles, and instead ended up going through the front of the Shore Stop building.

Troopers say a delivery man was inside the store when he saw the tractor-trailer headed his way. The delivery man then pushed the store clerk out of the way to safety.

Both the delivery man and the clerk were transported to Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police determined the tractor-trailer driver was at fault in the accident. He was charged at the scene.

www.wboc.com

States Attorney Rematch Heats Up

BERLIN – Three local fraternal law enforcement organizations have announced their support for the challenger in this year’s rematch for the top prosecutor job in Worcester, touching off a war of words this week between the candidates.

Last Sunday, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 50 (Worcester) announced it will be officially backing State’s Attorney challenger Beau Oglesby, a Republican who is currently a prosecutor in Caroline County. Additionally, the lodge endorsed Republican Sheriff candidate Reggie Mason, current deputy sheriff in Worcester County, and Republican Delegate candidate Mike McDermott, a member of the Worcester County’s Sheriff’s Office.

In a press release this week, the lodge explained why Oglesby was the pick over incumbent State’s Attorney Joel Todd.

“Beau Oglesby is a proven prosecutor. He has worked with State’s Attorney’s offices in Wicomico and Caroline counties. He has been endorsed by Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis and Worcester County Chief Deputy Sheriff, Reggie Mason, and Caroline County States Attorney Jonathan Newell,” the lodge wrote in a statement.

“Beau Oglesby was the chief prosecutor in many of Sheriff Lewis’ drug cases when Sheriff Lewis was a Maryland State Trooper. [He] was recognized by the Wicomico County Drug Task force for his outstanding efforts in prosecuting drug dealers and asset forfeiture. Beau Oglesby has the drive to keep Worcester County safe by prosecuting criminals.”

The lodge did not make an endorsement in the State’s Attorney race in 2006 when Oglesby lost to Todd in one of the closest and spirited elections in Worcester County political history.

That fact is noteworthy, according to Oglesby, who added he has also received the official support of Ocean City, Berlin and the state lodges of the FOP. Oglesby also expects the FOP lodges in Wicomico and Caroline counties to give him their support in the coming weeks.

“This is an endorsement that means something. To dismiss it otherwise would be disrespectful to law enforcement,” Oglesby said. “Four years ago, the Worcester lodge went middle of the road. They sat it out as far as endorsing. Here we are four years later, I get their endorsement. What does that tell you?”

Todd said he was not only disappointed that partisan politics seemed to play a role in the FOP’s endorsement but also that the process that was presented to him did not play out as originally proposed.

“I have learned from a member of the lodge there were a grand total of 11 members of the lodge present and voting the night the endorsement was handed down. I don’t think 11 members is very representative of the law enforcement community in general,” Todd said. “Additionally, I think it’s an example of putting partisan politics over public safety. They have endorsed two other Republicans, both of whom they answer to on a daily basis. I don’t really think it means anything, and I’m sorry to see them put partisan politics ahead of public safety.”

According to Todd, he was still expecting a questionnaire from the lodge as another part of the endorsement process when he read that Oglesby had garnered the lodge’s support online.

“I read it on their Facebook page that they met in September and made an endorsement, and I have yet to receive the questionnaire that the president of the organization assured me I would be receiving,” Todd said. “All I can tell you is, in my opinion, 11 people hardly represents the bulk of county law enforcement.”

Oglesby flatly dismissed Todd’s claims that the endorsement is not representative of the law enforcement community.

“This is a not a few rogue police officers or malcontents who are voicing their displeasure. This is the unanimous support of my candidacy by all of the county FOPs. These are the men and women in law enforcement who are in court day in and day out. Who better to know what’s going on in the court system and how the incumbent and his office is handling criminal cases? Their support is the primary reason why I am running again,” Oglesby said. “If they told me, ‘Beau everything is okay,’ I suspect I would not have run. They reached out to me continually and told me we need a change and that I’m the guy to do it. That’s the primary reason why I continue to come back and run these campaigns.”

Todd stands by his office’s prosecution rate and believes his crackdown on crime is on display every day. Furthermore, Todd said he was not surprised to hear Oglesby’s claims that it’s a signal for change.

“I’m sure he would say that. What I can tell you is I’m not running to be attorney for the FOP or attorney for any police agency. I’m running for re-election as the people’s attorney,” Todd said. “My client is justice, not the police. Unfortunately, from time to time, more often than people realize, I’m called to write letters to police chiefs letting them know when something has gone wrong in the courtroom or during the investigation of the case. On a less frequent basis, we are actually called to do criminal investigations into police officers. If by doing justice, it means I lose support of the police unions than so be it. I sleep well at night knowing I have done what’s in the best interest of justice, and I will continue to do that.”

Oglesby said the officers he speaks with routinely want to see crimes prosecuted fully and for the plea bargains and frequent deals Todd signs off on to come to a halt.

“I think it’s certainly a recognition that they are dissatisfied with the incumbent and the way his office is being run,” Oglesby said. “You have to remember here’s a guy who has been at the State’s Attorney’s office for 25 years now, 16 years a State’s Attorney, and not one FOP or any organized unit of law enforcement supports him.”

Todd said a simple Maryland Judiciary Case Search online confirms Oglesby also agrees to plea bargains in similar cases away from Worcester County.

“It’s not practical to prosecute every case, and he knows it, and it’s proven by what he does in Caroline County,” Todd said.

Todd added there are four current murder prosecutions underway in Worcester County, and voters need to realize these cases will likely go to trial after the election.

“To my knowledge, my opponent still has not tried one murder case,” Todd said. “I’m experienced and knowledgeable on how these cases need to be prosecuted and that’s important to realize.”
www.md.coastdispatch.com

Tractor Trailer Slams Into Melfa Shore Stop

An 18-wheel tractor trailer has slammed into the front of the Melfa Shore Stop along Route 13. The call came over the scanner from dispath just after 10:00 AM Monday morning.

Dispatchers called for two ambulances, although injuries are currently not known.

Several fire and EMS personel responded to the accident. It appears as though the truck missed the gasoline pumps in front of the buildling.

Details on the accident are still emerging.

The right hand land in the southbound lane is currently blocked off as emergency teams clear the damage.
www.shoredailynews.com

WWII Dog Tag Returned To Soldier's Son

A military collector crossed an ocean to make sure a World War II dog tag ended up in the right hands.

And the son of the late soldier, who fought in the South Pacific and lost his tag while serving at Guadalcanal, couldn't be more grateful.

"It's a good feeling to have it back home," said George Carter Jr., a former Fredericksburg policeman who lives in Stafford County. "I have very little that belonged to my father, fishing poles and tools and so forth. This is the top of the list."

How the dog tag found its way back to the Fredericksburg area is another example of what a small world it is, Carter said.

The story starts with Clinton Kempnich, a deputy director of education in Queensland, Australia.

He enjoys studying World War II history and recently received a box of items, including a brass dog tag, from a friend who had been a diver in the South Pacific.

Kempnich knew brass tags were issued early in the war, and that the owner probably enlisted about 1942.

Inscribed on the tag was "George B. Carter, 312 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va.," along with his blood type, serial number and next of kin.

Kempnich did a Google Earth search. His hopes sank when he saw the address on the dog tag is now a parking lot--or a "car park," as he called it. He also noticed the Free Lance-Star building nearby, and contacted Hilary Kanter, the letters editor at the newspaper.

She found a listing for George B. Carter Jr. in the phone book and called him, asking if the dog tag might have belonged to a relative. She also passed along each man's e-mail address to the other.

Carter had heard lots of war stories about his father's time in Burma and the South Pacific, where he worked in military transport. He often heard tales of caring for mules that were used to carry goods to hard-to-reach places. The elder Carter also talked about working with a man who was a veterinarian back in Fredericksburg.

But Carter hadn't heard anything about a missing dog tag. He told Kempnich he'd check with relatives.

"Regardless, thank you for taking the time to research this matter," Carter wrote Kempnich in an e-mail. "If this is my father's dog tag, I would be humbled and forever in your debt to have it returned."

Carter talked with his sister, who cared for their father for several years until his death in 2001. Carter learned that his father and mother, Blanche, had lived at the Amelia Street address when he entered the Army.

The blood type matched, and his father had lost his dog tag overseas.

In fact, the lack of identification was a problem when his father applied for veterans benefits. The brass tag was tangible proof of service at a time when the military "didn't keep the greatest records," Carter said.

Kempnich and Carter e-mailed each other several times. Kempnich mentioned he would be visiting friends in Philadelphia in September.

"It would be special if I could hand it to you instead of just posting it," Kempnich wrote.

Carter drove to Philadelphia last Sunday to get the tag. The meeting was emotional for both men.

Kempnich told Carter that his own father is 92 and served in the Royal Australian Air Force during Word War II. As much as he enjoys memorabilia from that era--and he and his son have a 1940s tank they drive in local parades--he believes personal items should always be returned to family members.

"I have a great appreciation of these guys and what they achieved," Kempnich said. "Alas, there are not many left now."

www.fredericksburg.com

Iran's President Ahmadinejad Wants U.S. Leaders 'Buried' For Threats

Iranian President and notorious firebrand Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unleashed his latest round of insults at the U.S. on Sunday, calling for American leaders to be "buried” for what he claims are threats of violence against Tehran's nuclear program.

"May the undertaker bury you, your table and your body, which has soiled the world," Ahmadinejad said, according to The Associated Press, an unusually harsh statement even for the controversy-loving leader.

Adm. Mike Mulllen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in August the use of force against Iran remains a possibility.

"I think the military options have been on the table and remain on the table," he said on NBC’s "Meet the Press." "It's one of the options that the President has…I hope we don't get to that, but it's an important option and it's one that's well understood."

President Obama has also pledged to take a hard line against Iran if the country does not comply with its non-proliferation treaty obligations.

"The United States and the international community seek a resolution to our differences with Iran, and the door remains open to diplomacy should Iran choose to walk through it," Obama said last month in an address to the UN General Assembly. "But the Iranian government must demonstrate a clear and credible commitment, and confirm to the world the peaceful intent of its nuclear program."

Ahmadinejad also took the opportunity on Sunday to once again express doubts about the facts behind the September 11th attacks.

"We have hundreds of unanswered questions about the September 11 incident to which they should respond, and we will not back down on this," he said, in the speech broadcast by state television and English-language Press TV.

"If they claim 3,000 people were killed on September 11, [the perpetrators] should be identified and executed," he added. "We will even help in their arrest provided they present evidence, but will not accept whatever Bush and Obama say."

Ahmadinejad has made similar remarks in the past, most recently at the U.N. last month in which he argued "some segments within the U.S. government orchestrated the attack."

That speech caused the U.S. delegation to walk out of the room in protest, and was immediately decried by Obama.

"For him to make a statement like that was inexcusable," the President told the BBC.

Coca-Cola Company Closes Bottler Buyout

NEW YORK (AP) - Coca-Cola Co. has completed its $3.4 billion buyout of the North American operations of its largest bottler, part of the company's plans to control more of its distribution to better react to changing customer tastes.

The world's largest soft drink maker on Sunday closed the deal for the domestic unit of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Including about $8.8 billion in assumed debt, the transaction is valued at nearly $12.3 billion. In exchange, the bottler will buy certain foreign bottling operations from Coca-Cola, and its shareholders get stock in a new company and $10 per share.

The bottler's shareholders approved the deal on Friday. Earlier in the week regulators approved the sale with certain conditions, namely that Coca-Cola restrict its access to business information from rival Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. Some of Dr Pepper's drinks are bottled by Coca-Cola Enterprises under a deal made when it was an independent bottler.

Coca-Cola will operate the acquired businesses under the names Coca-Cola Refreshments USA Inc. and Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada Co. The subsidiaries will be led by Coca-Cola Refreshments President and CEO Steve Cahillane, former president of Coca-Cola Enterprises' North American business unit.

Coca-Cola announced the deal in February, just after PepsiCo Inc. made a similar move. Both Coca-Cola and the bottler are based in Atlanta.

The move is part of a soft drink industry trend to gain more control over distribution. Soft drink makers make concentrate and then sell it to bottlers, who make and distribute the products.

By owning bottlers, the companies can better control where their products go and how they are displayed. They are also able to get products to market more quickly. Coca-Cola expects $350 million in cost savings as a result of the deal.

The U.S. soft drink market has been hurting for several years as people switch to juices and teas for health reasons. Shoppers have also spurned soft drinks in the down economy as a way to save money.

Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent said shoppers will notice a more varied stable of products on shelves at different prices, as the company can now control what is distributed where and at what price points. Sales of drinks like Coke are improving enough now in North America that changes that come with the deal will lead to more sustainable growth, he said. Growth wouldn't come, he said, if the brands were hurting.

"A new structure can never be a replica or make up for bad brands," he said.

The new Coca-Cola Enterprises is expected to start trading Monday on the New York Stock Exchange under the existing ticker "CCE."

www.wtop.com

Accused White House Crasher Tareq Salahi Files Bankruptcy

Alleged White House gate crasher Tareq Salahi's polo club has filed for bankruptcy.

The Northern Virginia Daily reported that America's Polo Cup Inc. filed for Chapter 7 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Sept. 13.

The petition says America's Polo Cup grossed more than $400,000 in 2008 and 2009, but just slightly more than $50,000 this year.

It lists $67,000 in assets - all in the form of money owed to the company - and $329,850 in debts, including more than $304,000 for catering that is the subject of a civil lawsuit.

A winery business owned by Salahi filed bankruptcy in 2009.

Salahi and his wife, Michaele, made headlines last year when they allegedly crashed a White House state dinner. Michaele is a cast member on Bravo's reality show "Real Housewives of D.C.

www.nydailynews.com

Verizon Plans Customer Refunds

NEW YORK (AP) - Verizon Wireless could pay out up to $90 million in refunds to cell phone customers who were improperly charged for inadvertent Web access or data usage over the past several years.

The FCC had asked Verizon Wireless last year about $1.99-a-megabyte data access fees that appeared on the bills of customers who didn't have data plans but who accidentally initiated data or Web access by pressing a button on their phones.

In a statement on its website Sunday, Verizon Wireless said most of the 15 million customers affected will receive credits of $2 to $6 on their October or November bills. Some will receive larger sums. Customers no longer with the New York-based carrier will get refund checks.

"Verizon Wireless values our customer relationships and we always want to do the right thing for our customers," said Mary Coyne, deputy general counsel for Verizon Wireless. "The majority of the data sessions involved minor data exchanges caused by software built into their phones; others involved accessing the Web, which should not have incurred charges. We have addressed these issues to avoid unintended data charges in the future."

Verizon has said that it stopped charging such fees when a customer started using a data service but then quickly shut it off.

The FCC confirmed Sunday that it has been investigating the charges after complaints from consumers. It said Verizon itself has reportedly put the amount of overcharges at more than $50 million, dating back two years.

"We're gratified to see Verizon agree to finally repay its customers," FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Michele Ellison said in a statement.

"But questions remain as to why it took Verizon two years to reimburse its customers and why greater disclosure and other corrective actions did not come much, much sooner."

The FCC will continue to look into those issues, including the possibility of additional penalties, Ellison said.

Verizon Wireless, the largest cell phone carrier in the U.S., is a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. and Britain's Vodafone Group PLC.

www.wtop.com

Our Judicial System and Nolle prosequi, How Easy is to Easy?

 Seriously, Is Judge Purnell and/or the office of the SA just extremely to liberal? I'd go as far as to say they have become extremest in such a way that it has become so obvious to most of the criminals we have out and about on our streets that they are selling dope, robbing stores, burglarizing homes and they will literally take a life in broad daylight on a busy street and it's not getting better.

Now I completely understand that in some cases a PBJ or Probation with/without a fine is harsh enough for some lesser petty offense but all these aforementioned plus even more a coupled with the ever so popular nolle prosequi by the Judges and SA's office is just way to lenient and I feel that if the SA's office and Purnell has the sitting power to make these repetitive decisions for some if not most of the crimes committed in Worcester County they should do so with judgment and for the best interest of the public not the criminal.

This just goes to show that ours and other law enforcement agencies within the City, County, and State that receive such negativity in most cases do not deserve the slander that they must endure from other people, forums, blogs etc. time and time over again. Now I'm not saying any LEO should not do their job, in fact the good cops will need to do their job better to make sure their evidence is overwhelming, complete and precise. The bad cops? Well they're and always will be just that "bad cops" (you know who you are), we can put them in the same "Pen" with criminals until the good cops (you know who you are) can put them away too. Yeah that sounds harsh I know but until we can force those that apply punishment and demand that the criminals be held accountable for their actions it will never get better. 

I'm not familiar with other cities criminals other than what I read about in the local news and of course, our local criminals just seam to stick out more like Capone does to Chicago or Jesse James does to Bank Robberies, it's the locals names that I/we just keep hearing over and over so in that way we become more familiar and see the repetitious names associated with the same crimes over and over and over and we also become aware that the same names become connected over and over and over. What names might you ask? The local criminal(s) and nolle prosequi.

Most of the following cases were heard in Worcester County District Court in Snow Hill by Judge Gerald V. Purnell on Sept. 3 and Sept. 7, 2010. All can be seen here on Delmarvanow

[Well, well, well here's a familiar name you might want to check the Maryland Case search on this one for priors] Honiss Webster Cane III, 39, of the 100 block of Fourth Street, Pocomoke City, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. Nol pros was entered for both charges.

David Glenn Gambrell, 21, of the 500 block of 37th Street, Philadelphia, Pa., was charged with possession of marijuana. The verdict was probation before judgment.

John Adam Conn, 18, of the 5000 block of Cedar Grove Road, East New Market, Md., was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. The verdict was probation before judgment for both charges.

Daniel Lee Ng, 19, of the 700 block of Generals Highway, Millersville, Md., was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of controlled dangerous substance paraphernalia. Nol pros was entered for both charges.

[WHAT??!! REALLY??] Timothy McCoy Wilson, 42, of the 300 block of River Terrace, Toms River, N.J., was charged with controlled dangerous substance: possession with intent to distribute: narcotics , controlled dangerous substance possession - not marijuana and controlled dangerous substance possession with intent - large amount. Nol pros was entered for all charges.

Luis Rafel Ahorrio, 35, of the 100 block of South Conduit Avenue, Jamaica, N.Y., was charged with controlled dangerous substance: possession with intent to distribute: narcotics , controlled dangerous substance possession - not marijuana and controlled dangerous substance possession with intent - large amount. Nol pros was entered for all charges.


Getting ridiculous? Sorry not yet

[Wait! don't we know this name? Why I do believe we do]
Juergen D. Ervin Jr., no date of birth listed, of the 100 block of Fourth Street, Pocomoke City, was charged with assault second degree and malicious destruction of property valued at less than $500. Nol pros was entered for both charges.

Lisa Bergling Kerstetter, 49, of the 9000 block of Pitts Road, Showell, Md., was charged with assault second degree, malicious destruction of property valued at less than $500, resist/interfere with arrest and failure to obey. The verdict was guilty for the third charge. Nol pros was entered for the other charges.

Gregory D. Secon, 48, of the 7000 block of Old Ocean City Road, Whaleyville, was charged with two counts of assault second degree. The verdict was guilty for the first charge. Nol pros was entered for the second charge.

John Spencer Tillman, 22, of the 10 block of Breezeway Lane, Berlin, was charged with assault second degree. Nol pros was entered.

Jarrett Ryan Tillman, 24, of the 10 block of Breezeway Lane, Berlin, was charged with two counts of assault second degree. Nol pros was entered for both charges.

Now keep in mind that the above listing are just a drop in the bucket of the slap on the wrist justice system that we have let our legal system become, and for 2 DAYS ONLY.  Sept. 3 and Sept. 7, 2010

US Issues Travel Alert For Americans In Europe

The US State Department issued a travel alert on Sunday for American traveling in Europe after Western intelligence agencies last week uncovered an Al Qaeda plot to wage attacks on European cities. The US State Department issued a travel alert Sunday to urge Americans traveling to Europe to use caution and vigilance in the wake of a terrorist plot uncovered last week to attack major European cities.

"Current information suggests that Al Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks," warns the alert. "US citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling."

The alert also warns that terrorists might attack public transportation systems and "tourist infrastructure."

The alert is not a travel warning, which would advise Americans from traveling to Europe. But it underlines how seriously officials are taking the recent Al Qaeda threat against Europe.

The Associated Press reports that the US did not meet strong opposition from European leaders when it informed them of the plan to issue the alert. But the New York Times reports that European officials have been worried about the effect such an action could have on tourism and student travel to Europe.

Al Qaeda plot

A US official told the AP the travel alert is “a cumulative result of information the US has received over an extended period.” But it comes after the revelation last week that Western intelligence agencies had uncovered an Al Qaeda plot to wage attacks on European cities. The Monitor reported that the plan was reportedly to mimic the style of the deadly attack on Mumbai in 2008, with small teams of heavily-armed militants moving in teams to capture and execute Westerners in Britain, France, and Germany.

Al Qaeda militants in Pakistan were reportedly behind the attack, and intelligence agencies have said that Osama bin Laden was possibly involved personally. The plot may have been uncovered when authorities detained a German terror suspect in Afghanistan in July.
Link to drone strikes in Pakistan?

Media reports have linked the plot to US drone strikes in Pakistan. But it is unclear whether the Al Qaeda plot was an attempt to respond to the drone strikes, or whether the strikes were intended to disrupt the plot – or both. The Wall Street Journal reports that the number of reported drone attacks in Pakistan doubled in September, up to 22.

Regardless of the reason for the reported plot to attack Europe, officials appear to be reacting with seriousness.

In addition to the travel alert, Sweden announced Friday that it has raised its terror alert to the highest status, reports The Guardian. France has been hit particularly hard: the Eiffel Tower in Paris was evacuated twice in September after bomb threats and a warning was issued about a female suicide bomber targeting public transit. The Monitor reported that France has been unusually shaken by the recent threats.

The terror warnings have put Europe on alert and caused France, which prides itself in taking something of a phlegmatic view of the threat of terrorism, to increase its terror alert to “red plus” – the second-highest level. France's uncharacteristic cautiousness could signal the seriousness of recent threats, say security analysts, and suggests a new attitude emerging in France toward security.

www.csmonitor.com

Grand Jury Indicts Son In First-Degree Murder Of Mother

SNOW HILL – A Worcester County grand jury this week formally indicted on a first-degree murder charge a Pennsylvania man charged in early September with repeatedly running over his elderly mother on a rural road north of Berlin.

Steven Frederick Molin, 58, of Darby, Pa., was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the death of his mother, Emily Belle Molin, 85, also of Darby, after an incident on Carey Rd. on Aug. 31.

Molin was scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in District Court yesterday, but that hearing was superseded by the grand jury indictment earlier in the week. The case is now set to take place in Worcester County Circuit Court.

Shortly before midnight on Aug. 31, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to a serious motor vehicle accident on Carey Rd. in Berlin. From the beginning, Steven Molin has not denied running over his mother as many as three times, but has claimed the incident was an accident, caused in part by a faulty passenger side door on the 2008 Chevy work truck damaged in a different accident earlier in the day.

However, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office accident reconstructionist, after reviewing the physical evidence and interviewing Molin, determined the victim had been run over three times despite ample opportunity by the suspect to avoid hitting her after the first collision.


According to police reports, there was substantial physical evidence in the roadway including the victim’s shoes and articles of clothing along with blood and hair evidence with tire impressions through the middle of them. The report also indicates the victim’s shoe impressions were discovered on the back bumper and near the undercarriage and ball hitch of the work truck, suggesting she tried to stick her foot up to avoid being run over.

After reviewing the physical evidence at the scene, detectives determined the incident was not merely a motor vehicle accident, according to police reports.
Detectives at the scene also noted the vehicle had a piece of rope tied to the passenger side door handle along with damage to the passenger side of the vehicle.

When questioned about the rope and the damage, Molin allegedly told police at the scene, “I don’t know how much I should say to you,” before telling the officers he was involved in a different accident earlier in the day.


During an interview hours after the incident, Molin told police he had picked up the victim at a nursing home in Pennsylvania where she lived around 5:20 p.m. that night to take her to dinner. He then drove her to Evergreen Cemetery in Berlin to visit the grave of her late husband and his father, who had died in 1981. After a visit at the cemetery, Molin started driving his mother back to Darby, Pa. along Carey Rd. in northern Worcester County.


Molin told detectives while he was driving on Carey Rd., he thought his mother had fallen out of the vehicle. He told police the door swung open, but he did not see anything. At that point, he allegedly heard a thump and ran over the victim. He told detectives he then backed up and ran over her again. According to police reports, Molin told police he then thought the vehicle was on top of her, so he pulled forward, which is when he ran over the victim a third time.


Information contained in the statement of charges suggests the incident might have been more than an accident, however. According to police reports, Molin and his mother were scheduled to appear for a court hearing the next day, Sept. 1, on two pieces of property that were in his name.

The purpose of the hearing was to transfer ownership of the two properties back into the victim’s name and the victim would then transfer the properties to the nursing home in order to allow her to continue to receive services from the facility, according to police reports.


A Sheriff’s deputy on the scene of the incident reportedly received a call from an employee of the nursing home where the victim lived advising that she had talked to Molin earlier that day and that he intentionally wrecked his truck because he was mad about the pending court issues regarding the two properties.

The nursing home employee also told detectives Molin had allegedly threatened to blow her head off because of an argument she had with him.

www.mdcoastdispatch.com

CNN's Rick Sanchez Fired

NEW YORK -- CNN fired news anchor Rick Sanchez on Friday, a day after he called Jon Stewart a bigot in a radio show interview where he also questioned whether Jews should be considered a minority.

Sanchez, who was born in Cuba and had worked at CNN since 2004, was host of the two-hour "Rick's List" on CNN's afternoon lineup. He did a prime-time version of that show in recent months, but that ended this week because the time slot is being filled by a new show featuring former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and columnist Kathleen Parker.

Stewart had frequently poked fun of Sanchez on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," most recently for saying on the air that his show had received a tweet from House Republican leader John Boehner. Stewart called it a case of "send a twit a tweet."

"He's upset that someone of my ilk is almost at his level," Sanchez said during a satellite radio interview with Pete Dominick. Details of the interview were posted on the Mediaite website Friday and quickly became a topic of conversation in the media world.

Sanchez said that Stewart is bigoted toward "everybody else that's not like him." He said Stewart "can't relate to what I grew up with," saying his family had been poor and he had seen prejudice directed at his father.

Sanchez dismisses it when Dominick points out that Stewart, who is Jewish, is also a minority.

"I'm telling you that everyone who runs CNN is a lot like Stewart, and a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart, and to imply that somehow they, the people in this country who are Jewish, are an oppressed minority?" Sanchez said, adding a sarcastic "yeah."

"I can't see someone not getting a job these days because they're Jewish," he said.

www.foxnews.com

Crisfield Man Dies In House Fire

CRISFIELD — Deputy state fire marshals are investigating the cause of a fire that claimed the life of a Crisfield man early this morning.

Paul Tyler, 74, was found by firefighters inside his two-story home on Johnson Creek Road.

Tyler had discovered the 1:04 a.m. fire and evacuated his wife, then re-entered the house to retrieve personal belongings prior to the arrival of the fire department.

The fire originated in a first floor room that was being used as a bedroom. The cause remains under investigation. Investigators from Maryland State Police are assisting in the case.

Firefighters from Crisfield and Marion brought the blaze under control in an hour. Damages were estimated at $130,000.

www.delmarvanow.com

Adult Novelty Item......Have You Seen These Yet?

MISHAWAKA, Indiana — The name sounds like "lollipops," but the product is a "Lollipipe." It's a fruit-flavored candy that is fully edible, but in the shape of a drug pipe.

The packaging touts how it won't melt, even when the pipe is lit. The product has been sold at some 7-Eleven stores in Mishawaka and South Bend — that is up until Friday afternoon. That's when corporate officials out of 7-Eleven's Dallas office mandated that all Indiana franchisees pull the product.

John Ray owns the Mishawaka store at 601 N. Main Street that stocked it. He says he was unaware the product was even being sold in his store. Upon learning of it, he had store employees remove it, even before the corporate edict came down.

"I'll be honest with you, I tend not to get involved with those, the K2 stuff, Mr. Smiley, that kind of stuff. I turned that one down and never got involved with that one. Obviously, this is something that has slipped by me," Ray said.

The 7-Eleven store on Logan Street and Jefferson in South Bend was out of the product Friday, but an employee said more would be coming in next week. That statement was made prior to the corporate Friday afternoon crackdown.

"We think it harms our image," said Margaret Chabris, corporate spokeswoman for 7-Eleven.

"Franchisees can order products, but they need to be products within the scope of the 7-Eleven image, Chabris added.

Joan Horvath spotted the product about a week ago. She says it was being sold as a point of purchase item at the cash register at the 7-Eleven she frequents.

"The more I look at it, it's a drug paraphernalia item that is candy. I'm afraid of little kids getting their hands on this," Horvath said.

"They took candy cigarettes off the market, but they put out drug paraphernalia for kids to eat?" questions Horvath.

"It appalls me. I can't believe this is in a convenience store. I don't understand why anybody would even make this," Horvath said of the company Kzee Novelty Products, LLC, out of Berkeley, California.

The company behind the Lollipipe maintains a Facebook page in which friends of the site post openly, discussing the use of the product when it comes to drugs. The company's website, www.lollipipe.com, is currently not accessible.

Many in Michiana were unaware the product even existed.

"I haven't seen this. This is new," was the reaction of Lt. Tim Williams, a DARE officer with the Mishawaka Police Department.

"Any kind of candy that would illustrate or be a likeness of anything we're teaching them not to do, like smoking cigarettes or drugs, I'd say something needs to be done about it. This influences our children and what they want to do," said Williams.

Jill Sabo, who is a tobacco education coordinator with St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, says she had not heard of this product before either.

"It looks like something you would smoke hash in," Sabo commented.

"I don't know if they're going to put illegal drugs in here or tobacco, but it really doesn't matter. It is still dangerous," said Sabo, who believes the product's packaging and flavors make it attractive to children.

www.wsbt.com

Letter Carrier Convicted Of Dumping Mail

A substitute postal carrier who was convicted this week of dumping more than 150 pieces of mail that was later discovered in a Bon Air creek now faces an embezzlement charge in the theft of merchandise from his employer at Chesterfield Towne Center.

Timothy N. Myrick, 20, of the 7900 block of Mill River Lane, was arrested Sept. 15 by Chesterfield police on a charge of embezzling about $235 worth of merchandise over a six-month period from Macy's, where he was employed this year, said Chesterfield police Sgt. Michael Hines. The date of the offense is listed as Aug. 28, according to court records.On Monday, Myrick was convicted after a four-hour trial in U.S. District Court here of a single count of obstructing delivery of mail in April. A magistrate judge sentenced Myrick to six months probation and fined him $150.

According to federal court papers, Myrick was working as a substitute letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service's Bon Air branch on April 7 when he intentionally failed to deliver 131 pieces of standard mail and 45 pieces of first-class mail.

Investigators determined Myrick dumped the mail in a storm drain behind a cluster of mailboxes for an apartment complex, and the mail flowed through a culvert into a creek, where it was discovered by a neighborhood resident -- a former police officer -- on April 27.

The neighbor traced the creek and culvert to a location where the mail likely had been dumped and called police. The Bon Air Post Office was contacted, and officials collected the mail, took it back to their facility and dried it before submitting it to internal postal investigators, according to evidence presented Monday.

Another neighbor testified that on April 7, as she was walking her dog, she saw a young man in a postal truck dressed in civilian clothes stop at a cluster of mailboxes and "fiddle with" the back of the them -- but didn't pick up or deliver any mail. The man then moved his vehicle to the next set of mailboxes and repeated the same suspicious activity, according to testimony. The neighbor noted the date and time and called postal authorities.

In further evidence, the manager of the Bon Air Post Office testified that he interviewed all five carriers who split the mail route in question on April 7, and only Myrick could not remember what portion of the route he covered. Postal records showed that he was the carrier on the portion of the route covered by the addresses whose mail had been dumped.

The other four carriers testified that the portion of the route they covered did not include the addresses for the recovered mail.

At the time of the offense, Myrick worked as a substitute postal carrier who filled in where needed, covering routes for carriers on leave or vacation. He had held that position since January, officials said.

Myrick, who is free on bond, is scheduled to appear Nov. 17 on the embezzlement charge in Chesterfield General District Court.

www.timesdispatch.com

10 Weirdest Fear And Phobia Faced By People

We all know the meaning of phobia and how it makes our lives miserable. The fear of darkness, the unknown, heights, water and insects are pretty normal and we might think that these are the only phobias known to man. But like us, you are also in for a surprise. Have a look at the most weirdest phobias actually known to the medical world.

10. Spectrophobia – Fear of mirrors or one’s own reflection.

Spectrophobia or eisoptrophobia is a kind of specific phobia involving a morbid fear of mirrors and the dread of seeing one’s own reflection.

It is attributed to the fear of self-knowledge and fright from exhibitionism. It is an exaggerated or irrational fear of mirrors or one’s own reflection. It is debated that Spectrophobia is related to fear of ghosts or Phasmophobia. But, by definition it is the fear of self-actualization. It may arise as the fear of losing one’s perception of personal beauty, or the fear of accepting anomalies on one’s persona like moles or marks that are a reminder of painful events from one’s past. It could also be termed as a symptom of denial of certain events that have left marks on one’s persona.

In other cases schizophrenia is also coined as a reason for Spectrophobia. But, it is one weird though dreadful disorder as one can not avoid mirrors or reflections in today’s world. It can be easily identified and also treated like other phobias.

9. Ablutophobia – Fear of Bathing


Ablutophobia is the persistent, abnormal and unwarranted fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning. This phobia is a situational specific phobia. Ablutophobia tends to be more common in children and women than in men and especially with those people who are very emotional. Such a phobia makes you feel dejected and lonelier. It might be an impact of an event from the past linking bathing, washing or cleaning to emotional trauma. The original catalyst would be a real-life scare of some kind, the condition can also be triggered by any event seen on Television, films or even witnessing someone else experience trauma.

It is different from fear of water or hydrophobia as the person is not afraid of the water, but the cleaning. He might not care about the water if it’s not being used to clean him/her. Those suffering form Ablutophobia experience – dizziness, breathlessness, excessive sweating, heart palpitations, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, becoming mad or losing control.

The Self-help NLP or Neuro Linguistic programming technique has proved to be an effective treatment for this phobia.

8. Anthophobia – Fear of Flowers

Deviant Art

Anthophobia is a persistent fear of flowers. Though sufferers generally understand that they face no threat from flowers, they invariably experience anxiety at the sight or thought. Any genus or species of flowers can instill fear, as can any flower part, such as a petal or stem. Anthophobia is also referred to as the fear of small harmless things, such as a small torn piece of paper.

Anyone could have this phobia, if you kind of freaked out when your girlfriend brought you flowers, you might have Anthophobia. And if you have never received any flowers like me, you should go buy flowers for yourself just to be sure.

7 Chorophobia – Fear of Dancing

Dancing is a very common part of our lives. It’s an expression of our mood, joy and energy. Asking someone to prom, annual dance or even dancing together at a wedding is a swell way to find a mate. But, what if someone is afraid of the very core of the idea? Chorophobia is an persistent fear of dancing. It might be any form of dancing, couple or even single. Mostly sufferers believe that they don’t feel like dancing, but they don’t realize that they are afraid of it. In most cases people realized this anomaly when they just had to dance like at a club or at prom. In extremities, some have found out about this when they felt anxiety and nausea at the time of their wedding dance.

The treatment for Chorophobia is the same as for other phobias, but it is hard to recognize. Sometimes it is just seen as the reluctance or a part of one’s personality not to indulge in things like dancing.


Deviant Art

6 Genophobia – Fear of Sexual Relations
 Genophobia is the physical or psychological fear of sexual relations or sexual intercourse. The word comes from the Greek terms genos, meaning “offspring,” and phobos, meaning “fear.”

People who suffer from the phobia can be intensely affected by attempted sexual contact or just the thought of it. The extreme fear can lead to trouble in romantic relationships. Those afflicted by Genophobia may stay away from getting involved in relationships to avoid the possibility of intimacy. This can lead to feelings of loneliness. Genophobic people may also feel lonely because they may feel embarrassed or ashamed of their personal fears. This type of phobia can be developed due to any trauma sustained during sex. People that were molested as children are mostly found to be Genophobic.

5 Heliophobia – Fear of Sunlight (Vampire Madness)

Heliophobia is a problem that afflicts hundreds of people, but one that suffers from a lack of true research. The Pacific Health Center suggested that many people have been staying away from the sun because of growing fears about skin cancer. Sufferers of Heliophobia would keep out of the sun and would mostly be just thought of as ‘night owls’. They are terrified at the sight of daylight and tend to keep it as dark as possible. They stay in basements or cellers and spend an abnormal amount of time on in house activities. Television, movies and especially vampire stories have come quite handy in inflicting Heliophobia.

Heliophobia was considered a “telltale sign” of vampires in many cultures. So I guess the new twilight vibe can also inflict Heliophobia.

4 Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia – Fear of the ‘number 666’

Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia is a Greek word. It literally means “fear of six hundred sixty-six”. It is the fear that originated from the Biblical verse Revelation 13:18 which indicates that the number 666 is the Number of the Beast, linked to Satan or the Anti-Christ.

Outside the Christian faith, the phobia has been further popularized as a motif in various horror films. Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobes will strongly avoid things related to the number 666. A prominent example is Nancy and Ronald Reagan who, in 1989, when moving to their home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles, had the address of 666 St. Cloud Road changed to 668 St. Cloud Road. Some women also expressed concern on giving birth to a child on June 6, 2006 (abbreviated 6/6/06). The release of ‘The Omen’ on 6/6/06, along with other referrals to this number in films like ‘The number 23’ etc. are an example of Hollywood use of this number.

In 2006, the BBC listed hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia and its definition as fact #64 in its “100 things we didn’t know this time last year”.

3 Nomophobia – Fear of being out of mobile phone contact

Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact. The term, an abbreviation for “no-mobile-phone phobia”, was coined during a study by the UK Post Office who commissioned YouGov, a UK-based research organization to look at anxieties suffered by mobile phone users. The study found that nearly 53 percent of mobile phone users in Britain tend to be anxious when they “lose their mobile phone, run out of battery or credit, or have no network coverage”. The study found that about 58 percent of men and 48 percent of women suffer from the phobia, and an additional 9 percent feel stressed when their mobile phones are off.

The study compared stress levels induced by the average case of nomophobia to be on-par with those of “wedding day jitters” and trips to the dentists. More than one in two nomophobes never switch off their mobile phones.

2 Phobophobia – Fear of having a Phobia.

Phobia

Deviant Art

Phobophobia is the fear of phobia(s), and more specifically, of the internal sensations associated with that phobia and anxiety. Phobophobia comes in between the stress the patient might be experiencing and the phobia that the patient has developed as well as the effects on his life, or in other words, it is a bridge between anxiety/panic the patient might be experiencing and the type of phobia he/she fears, creating an intense and extreme predisposition to the feared phobia. Nevertheless, Phobophobia is not necessarily developed as part of other phobias, but can be a important factor for maintaining them. Phobophobia differentiates itself from other kind of phobias by the fact that there is no environmental stimulus per se, but rather internal dreadful sensations similar to psychological symptoms of panic attacks.

1 Telephone phobia – Fear of making or taking phone calls.

Telephone phobia (telephonophobia, telephobia) is reluctance or fear of making or taking phone calls, literally, “fear of telephone”.

Sufferers typically report fear that they would fail to respond appropriately in a telephone conversation, and fear finding nothing to say, which would end in embarrassing silence, stammering, or stuttering. The associated avoidance behavior includes asking others (e.g., relatives at home) to take their phone calls and exclusive use of answering machines. As a result, the sufferers avoid many activities, such as scheduling events or clarifying information.
As it is common with various fears and phobias, there is a wide spectrum of severity of the fear of phone conversations and the corresponding difficulties. In 1993 it was reported that about 2.5 million of people in Great Britain have telephone phobia.

Snatched VIA:

Hundreds Say Their Goodbyes To Firefighter "Hal" Clark

CHINCOTEAGUE -- At 1:58 p.m. Friday, the final alarm was sounded for volunteer firefighter Hal Clark, 54, who died in the line of duty Sept. 24.

Upward of 450 people, including scores of firefighters and rescue workers from Virginia, Maryland and Delaware and some three dozen American Legion Riders, gathered Friday at Union Baptist Church on Chincoteague for funeral services for Clark, who died at Peninsula Regional Medical Center after taking ill while fighting a raging brush and woods fire near New Church.

His death was the first line of duty death on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in a decade.

Clark was president of Atlantic Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company and was a lifetime member of both Atlantic and Chincoteague volunteer fire companies.

Clark was remembered as one of "a very special breed of people" -- firefighters -- who "charge in where angels fear to tread" in a eulogy given by the Rev. Bob Reese, who officiated along with the Rev. Maurice Enright.

"Hal died liked he lived -- loving, helping others," Reese said.

Enright said Clark will be remembered as "the mechanic, the carpenter, the 'Mr. Fix-it,' the cook -- there was so much he could do and so much he would do" for those in the community, such as the time when he and fellow firefighters built a wheelchair ramp at the house of an Atlantic man who needed one.

Among the many charitable deeds Clark was known for were cooking at the annual Chincoteague Volunteer Firemen's Carnival and transporting drinking water to the Chincoteague ponies when they needed it during the hot summers, Enright said.

Despite his own grief after tragically losing his son, Todd, in an accident 11 years ago, Clark continued to give to the community, both as a firefighter and in many other ways, the minister said.

After the 45-minute service concluded, Clark's flag-draped casket was carried atop Atlantic Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company Engine 4-5, preceded by a single motorcycle rider, in a funeral procession that wound its way 12 miles across the Chincoteague causeway from the church to the John W. Taylor Cemetery in Temperanceville.

The procession -- which included dozens of firetrucks and ambulances draped in black bunting along with police cars, government agency vehicles and private cars -- left Chincoteague Island under an arch created by the crossed ladders of two fire trucks parked at the foot of the drawbridge, one from Chincoteague and one from Salisbury, with a large American flag hanging from the apex.

Fire and rescue departments represented in the procession came from as far away as Greensboro, Md., Ocean City and Dagsboro to the north and Virginia Beach and Hampton to the south.

A crowd including many families with small children and people standing respectfully at attention gathered at the intersection of Chincoteague and Atlantic roads to watch the procession pass by, a process that took some 20 minutes.

Clark was laid to rest at the cemetery with full firefighter honors.

www.delmarvanow.com

American Hot Air Balloonists Disappear Over Adriatic Sea

ROME — Two American balloonists who disappeared in rough weather over the Adriatic Sea during a race likely were either struck by lightning or are waiting to be rescued in their life raft, according to a team member.

U.S. and Croatian search and rescue teams on Thursday joined an expanded Italian coast guard search for Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer Davis. The pair were participating in the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race when race officials lost contact with them Wednesday morning.

The United States offered two Navy aircraft to join in the search and one was put to work Thursday afternoon, Italian Coast Guard Lt. Massimo Maccheroni said.

Their balloon was equipped with a satellite telephone, VHF radios, radar transponder and two mobile telephones. No signal has been detected from the balloon's Emergency Location Transmitter, which should activate on contact with water.

"They could not possibly still be flying," flight director Don Cameron said. "If they are on land, they must be in a very remote place. Otherwise we would have heard from them by now."

Cameron said there were thunderstorms in the area at the time of the Americans' disappearance.

Rob Bayly, a member of the pair's retrieval team, told the BBC that the worst-case scenario involves "a catastrophic explosion in the air where they were caught in the thunderstorms, very, very, violent updraughts and downdraughts."

Bayly added "lightning itself could have struck the balloon which — at many thousands of feet — could have been completely destroyed."

The event's website shows competitors' flight patterns, according to tracking information transmitted from the balloons, on an interactive map. Race officials said the tracker devices are set up to send the balloon's position every 15 minutes.

However, rescuers were hoping for the "good news story," Bayly told the BBC. He said the duo could have "managed a rather desperate water landing, ejected from the balloon and are in a life raft somewhere, yet to be found, and the balloon took off without them with their beacon still on board, therefore not yet triggered."

Abruzzo, 47, of Albuquerque, N.M., and Davis, 65, of Denver, Colo., are experienced balloonists and won the 2004 edition of the Gordon Bennett race from Thionville, France, to Vannas, Sweden.

In the race, teams try to fly the farthest on a maximum of about 35,300 cubic feet of gas.

The other 19 teams in this year's competition "have landed safely and all other pilots are safe and well," organizers said.

Croatian coastal aircraft crews were scouring the area around Croatia's distant, uninhabited islet of Palagruza, said Marina Haluzan, the spokeswoman for the Croatian Ministry of the Sea and Transport.

"There's no news so far about the missing balloon," she said in a statement, adding that Croatian and Italian coastal authorities were in touch and coordinating the search.

Palagruza is located in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, 60 nautical miles from the Croatian coast and 29 nautical miles from Italian coast.

On Thursday, the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center expanded its search to 14 miles off the Italian coast, with five boats, several aircraft and a helicopter involved.

Abruzzo is the son of famed balloonist Ben Abruzzo, who was in 1981 part of the first team to cross the Pacific Ocean by balloon, and who was killed in a small airplane crash in 1985.

'I'm optimistic'
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson successfully arranged for the U.S. military forces to join the search.

"I've been following the search for Richard and Carol all day, and I'm optimistic that they will be located," Richardson said in a statement Thursday. "I've been in contact with the Abruzzo family and have offered any help they need in getting Richard back home to them safely. My thoughts are also with Carol's family as they await word on their loved one."

In the 2005 Gordon Bennett race, Richard Abruzzo and Davis hit a power line in Kansas. Abruzzo fell out, suffering several broken bones. Davis landed the balloon safely, although she suffered bruises when she was dragged along the ground while landing the lightly loaded balloon in 40 knot winds.

Richard Abruzzo and Davis finished third in the 2006 America's Challenge gas balloon race by traveling 1,478 miles from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Word of their disappearance came on the eve of New Mexico's annual balloon fiesta. Organizers of that event said it would go on as planned.

"They'd come back and kick us in the rear if we didn't have it, so it's one of those things that's in the spirit of what we do as gas balloon pilots," America's Challenge Deputy Director Kevin Knapp told NBC station KOB-TV.

"Richard, he would be saying you've got to go fly, I mean there's no reason that you need to stay on the ground because I'm out here floating around in the ocean," Abruzzo's former flying partner and teacher Troy Bradley added.

www.wtvy.com

Sentence Is Given To Drunk Driver For Cyclist's Death Near OC

SNOW HILL -- A Worcester County District Court judge sentenced a Berlin man to two and a half years in jail for running down two bicyclists while driving drunk, leaving one of them for dead, then fleeing the scene.

Judge Gerald V. Purnell sentenced Daniel Matthew Bren to 12 months for leaving the scene of an accident, the maximum sentence available, followed by 18 months for negligent manslaughter by automobile.

In Snow Hill District Court early Thursday, Bren wore a suit and a heavy expression. His wrists and ankles were shackled. He had been incarcerated since being found guilty in an April 16 plea agreement.

Bren, 35, called it "one of the deepest, darkest moments of my life."

"There's not a day that goes by that this tragedy is forgotten," he said quietly in the hushed courtroom. "I struggle daily with my own demons. I apologize for my poor choice in judgment. I stand before you today a grateful, recovering alcoholic. I promise to continue working as hard as I can every day. All the good I do this day forward will be in honor of your loved one's family."

According to Maryland State Police, bicyclists Maxim Matuzov, 20, and Edward Joseph Zisk, 41, were heading west on the Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge at about 2:30 a.m. on June 26, 2009. They were struck from behind by Bren's 2006 Chevrolet Silverado.

Police said Bren fled the scene by taking West Ocean City back roads before returning to westbound Route 50. Prosecutors said a taxi driver saw what happened, called police, and followed Bren's pickup truck.

When State Police pulled him over, they found him glassy-eyed and disoriented behind the wheel. He had an open container of beer in the truck. Later, Bren was found to have a blood-alcohol content of .25.

Matuzov, who police said was a Russian student spending the summer in Ocean City, was hospitalized and recovered. Zisk died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

Kathleen Zisk, the victim's younger sister, gave a victim impact statement before the judge announced his sentence. She called Bren a "coward" for leaving the scene.

"You made one of the worst choices that night," she said, visibly shaking from head to toe. "Why didn't you take a cab? You didn't even stop. You left my brother Eddie like roadkill. Did you see my brother's face when you hit him?"

Judge Purnell sentenced Bren to 10 years for manslaughter and suspended all but 18 months. Bren's sentence also will be credited with 168 days for time already served while awaiting his sentencing hearing.

When he leaves jail, Bren will serve three years' probation, during which he must wear an electronic device that detects, through sweat, if a person has consumed alcohol.

Purnell ordered Bren to serve 250 hours of alcohol-related community service, including speaking appearances at Worcester County's three high schools. He also must pay $2,486 in restitution for funeral costs.

www.delmarvanow.com