The Pocomoke Public Eye

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Did You Get A $10,000.00 Raise Last Year?

This is ususal as according to City of Pocomoke website, “annual salary of the Mayor shall be $7,500.” This was changed, adopted by amendment in 2007, from $2,500.00 and increased to $7,500.00.

Do you know how much our Mayor is paid according to last year's budget and this?

Executive – Mayor $12.050.00

This was in Budget for 2010 and Expenses for 2011 (fiscal) years and didn’t bother to tell anyone or even do a ‘resolution’ to change this pay; just quietly done.
(http://cityofpocomoke.com)

On June 7th, 2010 the budget passed for 2011 without any discussion of an increase.

Then again no one in audience was given a copy of the budget. Come to think of it, does anyone in audience get a copy of the agenda? This is the thing posted on the day of the meeting on the website right? What about the minutes?

This was however stated by our government, recorded and posted in minutes "As employees have retired they have not been replaced. So at this time the City is not looking to have furlough days or lay employees off." By reading Budget for 2011 which started July, a line item is not specifically stated about Councilpersons so no one knows if Councilpersons got a raise in the 2010 fiscal year which started July 2009. And I don't see any changes to Amendments from 2007 on the web site.

But retired employee jobs "were not filled" in 2010? "No one had to (thank God) take a furlough day this year", in a state where furloughs were a plenty, the website states.

but Mayor took a raise last year. This is about a $10,000.00 (yes ten thousand dollar) increase over 2 years (2007-2009) in a time of economic struggles, increased crime and half time showing to meetings because 'running for public office'. Why isnt anyone on Council questioning any of this? Wonder if Councilperson's pay was increased too.

oh town manager received a raise over $1,000.00 this year from 2010 to fiscal year 2011.

Did you get a $10,000.00 dollar increase in your paychecks last year? What about this year? Or even a $1,000.00 dollar increase?

Didn't think so.

Racing Results For Gumboro Mudbog ~October 9, 2010

RACING RESULTS FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 9, 2010

Street Class

1st Tony Kossar Dirty MoneyII FULL 8.115 sec.
2nd Clifton Taylor Blue Chevy FULL 8.313 sec.
3rd Kameron Lohmeyer Blk 96 Chevy FULL 8.335 sec.
4th Chris Stubbs Dead Last FULL 8.889 sec.
5th Vanessa McMahon Gator FULL 9.194 sec.
6th Trev McClellan Blue Chevy FULL 12.932 sec.
7th Charles Betts Grey Bronco FULL 13.042 sec.
8th Micah Hanner Paw Paw’s Toy 147’ 7”

Prostock Class

1st Chriss Stubbs Dead Laast FULL 7.013 sec.
2nd Barry Wise Blue Chevy FULL 8.253 sec.
3rd Clifton Taylor Blue Chevy FULL 10.000 sec.
4th Patrick Long All Night Soldier FULL 10.351 sec.
5th Wayne Downes Mud Hog FULL 11.172 sec.
6th Vincent McMahon Gator FULL 11.432 sec.
7th Bruce Vogel Gold Rush FULL 14.265 sec.
8th Trev McClellan Blue Chevy FULL 15.021 sec.
9th Bruce Vogel No Shame FULL 15.070 sec.
10th Orville Wells Digger FULL 16.049 sec.
11th Daniel Harrison Friends-n-Low Places FULL 16.761 sec.
12th Tony Kosar Dirty Money II FULL 19.324 sec.
13th Thomas Jackson Modzilla FULL 26.945 sec.
14th Kyler LeCates Toyota FULL 27.479 sec.
15th Lori Ann Long Grey Ghost 155' 10"

Big-Tire Prostock Class

1st Kevin Lohmeyer Blk 69 Chevy FULL 7.041 sec.
2nd Tony Kosar Dirty Money II FULL 7.157 sec.
3rd David Blough Blk Chevy FULL 7.476 sec.
4th Patrick Long All Night Soldier FULL 7.585 sec.
5th Lee Sturgis Grey Ghost FULL 8.051 sec.
6th Jimmy Hall 99 Problems FULL 8.362 sec.
7th Charles Betts Grey Bronco FULL 9.359 sec
8th Daniel Harrison Friends-n-Low Places FULL 9.894 sec.
9th Kevin Hackett Black Primer FULL 10.781 sec.
10th Greg Hanner Paw Paw’s Toy FULL 12.116 sec.
11th Bruce Vogel Gold Rush 181’5”
12th Orville Wells Digger 148’6”
13th Vincent McMahon Blk Toyota 103’4”

Small-Tire Modified

1st Aaron Ellis Bog Hog FULL 4.221 sec.
2nd Charlie Price Midnight Express FULL 7.664 sec.
3rd Kelly Hubbard High Voltage FULL 7.989 sec.
4th Chuck West Freak Nasty 115’
5th Vincent McMahon Blk Toyota 38’

Big-Tire Modified

1st Kevin Cozart Blk/Green Flames FULL 4.091 sec.
2nd Aaron Ellis Bog Hog FULL 4.151 sec.
3rd Jared Collins Orange Crush FULL 4.833 sec.
4th Charlie Price Midnight Express FULL 4.857 sec.
5th Ken Daisey Ole Blue FULL 5.117 sec.
6th Kelly Hubbard High Voltage FULL 7.000 sec.

Mini-Open

1st Wright Townsend Mud Dobber II FULL 3.609 sec.
2nd Johnny Edwards In The Mix FULL 4.311 sec.**
2nd Ken Daisey Ole Blue FULL 4.311 sec.**
3rd Rodd Owens Mud Mistress FULL 4.661 sec.
4th Jared Collins Orange Crush FULL 5.8000 sec.
5th Bart Parker Empty Pockets FULL 6.961 sec.
6th Kevin Cozart Blk/Green Flames 100’
7th Lee Sturgis Grey Ghost 62’
8th Barry Long Sod Buster 45’
9th Patrick Long All Night Soldier 43’
10th Bryan Watson Little Red Dakota 37’
---- Aaron Ellis Bog Hog ---- DNS

Unlimited

1st Wesley Ward Get-n-Busy FULL 3.210 sec.
2nd John King Pure Aggravation FULL 3.242 sec.
3rd Bob Bower Swamp Rat FULL 3.549 sec.
4th Wright Townsend Mud Dobber II FULL 3.674 sec.
5th Johnny Edwards In The Mix FULL 5.943 sec.
---- Ken Daisey Ole Blue ---- DNS
---- Barry Long Sod Buster ---- DNS
---- Aaron Ellis Bog Hog ---- DNS

X Class

1st Jessie Ellis Mudslinger FULL 19.676 sec.
2nd Kevin Lewis Heaven Bound 130’
3rd Jimmy Hall 99 Problems 65’

**Another post will be coming today concerning a decision made in the Mini-Open race**

New Firehouse For Bloxom Fire Department Almost A Reality

BLOXOM -- Members of the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company are looking forward to moving into their new firehouse nearly four years after the old one burned down in a blaze of unknown cause.

The new $1.2 million, 12,000-square-foot structure should be completed by early November, Chief Jody Bagwell said.

Construction began last December, but a month or more was lost to the nearly continuous bad weather last winter, Bagwell said.

Crutchley Enterprises of Melfa is the company building the new firehouse.

On the morning of Jan. 18, 2006, Bloxom volunteers, including Bagwell, were out fighting another blaze when they received a call for a fire at their own firehouse.

The fire destroyed the 50-year-old building, but firefighters, including some from several other fire companies, were able to protect several nearby buildings from damage.

The fire company never stopped responding to calls after losing its home, which was a center of activity in the town of 400.

The station went out on calls the day after the fire, Bagwell said at the time, with calls to the fire department for a time being forwarded to his own home phone.

The Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company is continuing to raise funds to help defray the cost of the building, including a successful car show it held a few weeks ago and an upcoming raffle. The company took out a loan with Taylor Bank of Pocomoke City to help pay for the building.

The new firehouse takes up the entire footprint of the fire company's original lot on Route 316, and additional land was purchased to accommodate parking and stormwater management.

Bagwell said the company also has replaced the equipment it lost in the fire, thanks in part to a FEMA grant. The company lost two ambulances in the blaze. Isle of Wight County, Va., and Caroline County, Md., firefighters donated equipment to Bloxom soon after the fire.

The fire company plans to hold an open house once the firehouse is ready for occupation, both to celebrate its opening and to thank the extensive list of people who have donated toward its cost.

Donations to the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Company can be sent to PO Box 132, Bloxom, Va. 23308.

www.delmarvanow.com

Fall Wildland Fire Season In Virginia Begins October 15th

October 8th through 14th is National Fire Prevention Week, and the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) reminds everyone that fall wildland fire season is just around the corner. The only way Virginia will avoid most wildland fires is if people are very careful.

John Miller, VDOF’s director of resource protection, said, “Virginia had a very dry summer, though Tropical Storm Ernesto provided some much-needed rainfall and has seemed to shift things back to a wetter cycle. We’re still going to need some steady rain about every five days or so for the next two months to reduce the risk of wildland fires during the fall fire season.”

Fall fire season in the Commonwealth runs from October 15th through November 30th. The combination of fallen leaves, low humidity, increased winds and minimal rainfall make conditions ripe for wildland fire.

Fred Turck, VDOF’s fire prevention coordinator, said, “Human carelessness, negligence or actual intent caused nearly all of the 1,208 wildland fires we’ve had in Virginia this year.”

These wildland fires have burned 12,665 acres of land and destroyed or damaged 58 structures in the Commonwealth this year. Most of the land and the structures were owned by private citizens. But it could have been much worse. Suppression efforts by various fire departments and the VDOF prevented the loss of nearly 800 structures this year.

Since most wildland fires are human-caused, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk:

Always check with your local fire department or the Virginia Department of Forestry for any regulations that prohibit outdoor burning.

Clear the area around a brush pile before burning it;

Never burn on windy days;

Always place a wire mesh cover over a burn barrel;

Dispose of fireplace and wood stove ashes in a metal container – don’t just dump them out;

Stay with your fire until it is “dead out;”

Never park a vehicle you’ve driven on top of dry leaves or in tall, dry grass, and

Keep water and a shovel or a rake with you while burning.

For more information about wildfire in Virginia, go to http://www.dof.virginia.gov/index.html. You can also visit http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/firewise-index.shtml for helpful tips for preventing wildland fire around your home.

www.dof.virginia.gov

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Did You Get A $10,000.00 Raise Last Year?

Be here at 8:00 in the morning to read why I asked.

'Friendliest Town' Offers Many Positives ~~From Mayor Mike McDermott

RE: "Shift in services is a big concern in Pocomoke City," Oct. 11; "Pocomoke residents are looking for some answers," Oct. 12

Public safety is a core mission of government that is taken seriously by Pocomoke City's mayor and council. We have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in technology dedicated to thwarting and reducing crime in our city. This includes a bank of 24/7 targeted surveillance cameras monitored by police personnel. We have also focused efforts on building strong ties and relationships with our young people, in particular those deemed to be "at risk."

This has been done through direct support of the Save the Youth Organization, the Salvation Army Youth Programs, and a host of grant funded programs created and administered by our police department. We are the only municipal government in Maryland to be consistently recognized and awarded each year by the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention for these efforts.

We are an active partner with our local schools and were thrilled last week when Pocomoke Middle School received national recognition as one of the top schools in the nation. Principal Caroline Bloxom and her staff represent everything that is right in fostering a protected, learning environment for our young people. She provides them with hope and a future.

Pocomoke City takes a multi-faceted approach:

~A new comprehensive master plan for growth and development
~Comprehensive zoning review
~Housing enforcement review
~Downtown economic development
~Targeted industrial development
~Engineering studies of critical infrastructure needs.

Considering our city's future needs, we are reviewing options for construction of a new police department facility. Our existing facilities provide a full gymnasium for use by local nonprofits; we are examining ways to continue providing this service. Once all options are identified, they will be discussed openly at a regular meeting of the mayor and council.

With local investment in our downtown, including the Mar-Va Performing Arts Theater, Delmarva Discovery Center, new Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, Sturgis One-Room Schoolhouse, Costen House and the new riverfront restaurant breaking ground in the spring, it is no wonder new businesses are locating here.

City Hall will remain in its historic location, downtown, irrespective of any potential move by the police department. The city's commitment to a thriving downtown is self-evident.

I recently attended a celebration honoring Bishop Isaac Jenkins for his 50 years of service as pastor at New Macedonia Baptist Church. One can learn much from the dedication and commitment the reverend has displayed over five decades. He always focuses on that which is "good" and "positive," encouraging us to do the same.

Anyone can throw stones, but it takes vision to see how each stone can be used to build up a community. Pocomoke City has been blessed with citizens who gather and build up "the friendliest town on the Eastern Shore."

Mike McDermott is mayor of Pocomoke City.

www.delmarvanow.com

Google Inc. To Invest In Wind Farms

Google Inc. has agreed to invest in a transmission network project that would harvest electricity from wind farms off the Mid-Atlantic coast.

Google will buy a 37.5 percent stake in the development stage of the Atlantic Wind Connection project, Rick Needham, director of green business operations at the Mountain View, Calif.-based company, said on Google's blog. The project will cost about $5 billion and Google's initial investment will likely be about $200 million, according to project leader Trans-Elect Development Co. of Chevy Chase.

The network, running from New Jersey to Virginia, would tie into the electrical grid that serves 13 states and Washington D.C. It would carry enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

The transmission network is likely to spur the development of wind farms, including one planned off the coast of Ocean City, which could produce 1 gigawatt of electricity, according to the Maryland Energy Administration. Ian Hines, spokesman for the agency, said the network would make offshore wind farms more affordable.

Hines compared the transmission line to a power-strip that homeowners would use to connect many appliances. Instead of each wind farm sending electricity back to shore, "you've got a big power strip, a 350-mile power strip that these wind farms can plug right into, and that will direct the energy right onto the land. The point is that if there are four places where that energy is coming onto the land rather than 14, that makes it much more cost-effective for everybody."

The network and Google's involvement will help spur the wind energy industry in the U.S., which has lagged behind China in installing turbines, said Charlie Hodges, a wind industry analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in London. Wind-power investment may reach $202 billion within two decades, according to estimates at industry group Global Wind Energy Council.

"The North American wind industry hasn't had any players involved with the motivation and financial heft to really move this market forward," Hodges said. "Google could play that role."

Google and Good Energies, an investor in renewable-energy projects, agreed to each buy 37.5 percent of the equity portion of the project. Japan's Marubeni Corp. will own a 10 percent stake and a group led by Trans-Elect will own the remaining 10 percent, said Trans-Elect CEO Robert L. Mitchell.

The transmission network will span 350 miles and will be able to connect to 6,000 megawatts of power from wind turbines, according to the companies.

The group will conduct a feasibility study by 2013 and plans to start the first phase in 2016, Marubeni spokesman Yo Nomura said, declining to comment on the cost of the project.

Mitchell says the first phase will run 150 miles in federal waters from New Jersey to Delaware and will be complete by early 2016. It would be capable of delivering 2,000 megawatts of wind energy, enough to power about 500,000 homes.

Hines said that while the Maryland Energy Administration had not been involved with this specific proposal, it has worked with Trans-Elect in the past year and a half to encourage the federal government to consider state priorities when deciding energy regulations.

Trans-Elect, formed in 1999, owns and manages more than 12,600 miles of transmission lines in North America, according to its Web site. Over the years, the company expanded its business to develop and build new transmission projects.

In 2004, Trans-Elect partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric and the U.S. Department of Energy's Western Area Power Administration to build a $250 million power line in California to address transmission deficiencies that contributed to the rolling blackouts a few years earlier.

Google made its first direct investment in clean energy in May, buying a $38.8 million stake in two North Dakota wind farms.

"We believe in investing in projects that make good business sense and further the development of renewable energy," Needham wrote in a blog post Monday. "We're willing to take calculated risks on early stage ideas and projects that can have dramatic impacts while offering attractive returns."

Google has also been trying to rely on renewable energy sources for its data centers, whose demands for power are increasing as the company sets up more computers in its bid to index all of the world's online data.

www.baltimoresun.com

Former NASCAR Ward Burton Provides Special Place For America's Heroes

Halifax, Va. -- James "Mac" McGee popped a few painkillers, washed them down with Sprite and soaked in the serenity surrounding him.

The thick forest, the open fields, the still ponds.

"It's a really nice place to be," said McGee, an Army veteran who had been, by his own description, in a "bad place" physically and emotionally, as he recovered from injuries suffered in a fall in Iraq.

"If you want to just get away from the world, you can come here, and get your mind right. It's quiet. It relaxes me. It's amazing."

Former NASCAR driver Ward Burton, who knows and loves this place better than anyone, couldn't have described it better.

As a child, he roamed these woods. As a young man, he discovered tranquility here that helped give direction to his life. As a successful racer, he helped purchase the property through his foundation and preserve it for future generations.

"This land is like one of my children," Burton said Friday as we sat in the shade on a glorious autumn afternoon.

All of which gives you a sense of how personal and heartfelt it is when Burton invites military veterans -- "American heroes," as he calls them -- to spend a day enjoying the outdoors with him and other volunteers in this piece of paradise.

The Cove is its name, given because of the horseshoe route the Staunton River takes around the 2,000-acre property. I believe we can describe it as deep in Southside Virginia. The route to this destination in northern Halifax County goes from four-lane to two-lane to a gravel path meandering through the woods.

It's quiet enough to hear your spirit reboot.

Twice a year, the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, along with corporate partners, opens The Cove to dozens of veterans for a day of fishing, archery and target shooting. It's a way, South Boston native Burton says, to say thank you and to let them know they are not forgotten. It's also an opportunity for the vets, many of whom still are dealing with the effects of their service, physical and otherwise, to take a break from the stress, frustration and even depression that characterizes so many of their lives.

"You can't imagine what we're talking about unless you live that way," said McGee, 48, who remains part of the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Eustis in Newport News. "I can't tell you in words what this place has done for me and my family.

"If God could reach in and grab your heart and just touch it and give you that special feeling, that's how I feel about this place."

McGee, who has attended previous events at The Cove, joined 44 other vets from around the country at Friday's outing. Participants are selected from various veterans' organizations, but Burton -- who last raced in 2007 and is almost as well-known now for his conservation work -- is always open to hear from others who might want to visit.

When he started this program three years ago, Burton figured it would focus on wounded warriors only. But he discovered quickly the need -- and advantage -- of including not just those with obvious injuries.

"The first event, we had six guys from Texas," Burton recalled. "Three of those gentlemen had lost a limb, and the other three had not been able to quite figure out how to deal mentally with their experiences. We spent three days with them and what we saw happen was the gentlemen who had lost the limbs were still just as gung-ho . . . and they picked up the ones dealing with some backlash mentally.

"When those six left, they left as one."

Billy Herrell, 35, who suffered a back injury in Iraq, requires the assistance of a walker to get around and has been in the transition unit at Fort Eustis for more than two years, said a gathering at The Cove is "a lot like a family reunion."

Burton would like to develop permanent facilities for future events as a way to connect the heritage of the land with the legacy of America's military service.

"We don't know from the current conflict to some of the ones in the past whether they were right or wrong; the truth will always come out in time," Burton said. "But at the end of the day, that doesn't matter. It's the men and women doing what they're asked to do for our country. They're true patriots and heroes."

www.timesdispatch.com

Prostock Racing Results~ Gumboro Mudbog

GUMBORO MUDBOG

Racing Results For Prostock Class Saturday October 9, 2010

1st Chriss Stubbs Dead Laast FULL 7.013 sec.
2nd Barry Wise(Short 'n' Sassy) Blue Chevy FULL 8.253 sec.

3rd Clifton Taylor Blue Chevy FULL 10.000 sec.
4th Patrick Long All Night Soldier FULL 10.351 sec.

5th Wayne Downes Mud Hog FULL 11.172 sec.
6th Vincent McMahon Gator FULL 11.432 sec.
7th Bruce Vogel Gold Rush FULL 14.265 sec.

8th Trev McClellan Blue Chevy FULL 15.021 sec.
9th Bruce Vogel No Shame FULL 15.070 sec.

10th Orville Wells Digger FULL 16.049 sec.

11th Daniel Harrison Friends-n-Low Places FULL 16.761 sec.
12th Tony Kosar Dirty Money II FULL 19.324 sec.
13th Thomas Jackson Modzilla FULL 26.945 sec.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Last Day To Register In Virginia

Virginians looking to vote in the November election have until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The state Board of Elections says Tuesday is the deadline to register to vote or to update voter information. Virginians can register to cast a ballot as long as they will be 18 or older by Nov. 2.

They can register to vote at any of the 74 Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers or 57 DMV Select locations throughout the state or at their local registrar's office.

Residents also can check their voter status and polling places on the board's website, http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/.

Assistance also is available by calling the board at 1-800-552-9745 or the local registrar's office.

Obama Had the Book Thrown at Him

Did someone throw a book at President Obama during his appearance at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Sunday? And did one attendee attempt to streak at the event in an effort to win a supposed $1 million prize?

Apparently so, at least insofar as the book-throwing is concerned. CBS's Mark Knoller wrote on Twitter late Monday morning that the Secret Service "says this morning it was aware of the book thrown at Pres. Obama yesterday" but that, after interviewing the "overexuberant" book thrower, it "deemed there was no threat intended - he just wanted Obama to have a copy of his book." No arrest was made.

The Associated Press, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Post made no mention of any such developments in their original reports. And the White House pool reporter saw no indication that they occurred either, Politics Daily's Alex Wagner reports. But video on Gawker.com shows an object -- gray and indistinct -- appearing airborne behind Obama after he concludes his speech. It appears at the 0:22 mark in this video.

A photo appearing in the British tabloid the Daily Mail shows a book very clearly passing behind the president's head, though the clarity -- such a sharp image would require a very fast shutter speed -- is not the only reason to doubt its authenticity: the background behind the president is quite different from the background in the video, and the president's shirt appears to be different from the one he has on in other images -- his sleeves are rolled up to a different height.

Gawker also published a photo of the "streaker," though it's provenance also seems dubious. Gawker cites a Weekly Standard blogger saying the stunt "captured the attention of . . . an Associated Press photographer," but the photo is credited to Joey "Boots" Bassolino, whose name does not appear in connection to the AP in any other references sought in a Google search. Another blogger calls Bassolino a co-conspirator in the plot to win $1 million from Akli David, said to be the son of a Turkish Coca-Cola bottling company owner. David reportedly has offered the money to any prankster who appears naked within eyesight and earshot of the president, with "Battlecam.com" written on his chest while chanting the name of the website.

According to Wikipedia, David is himself a "self-confessed prankster . . . notable for his heavy usage of social media, such as his own site FilmOn," of which Battlecam is an arm.

Whom to believe in all this? Hard to say, as the incidents could be just another example of the hard-to-pin-down reality of the digital world, in which drawing attention to oneself is sometimes the highest order of business.

www.politicsdaily.com

Things A Camera Man Must Endure To Get A Story

During the driver's meeting at the Gumboro Mudbog on Saturday the drivers were all told to be sure to smile! HUH? Smile? Here's why, in case you did not know.

The gentleman walking around with the camera was Chuck Regner from WBOC TV. Chuck is working with Mike Parker on the serious 'Outdoors Delmarva'. The video he shot will be used in an upcoming episode which will air on WBOC sometime later this month or first of November.

I had pity on Chuck. No one thought to get him a cart to ride in and he walked all day long trying to get all the high points of the day. And believe me, on this particular Saturday, there was alot to see!

Later in the day he did manage to get a ride...........Through 200 feet of thick, gooey, stinky MUD in BIG RED!! Keep in mind that during the races on Saturday there was an overturn by the famous 'Bogg Hogg' and another mud truck that could not stop and ended in the field waaaayyyy down track. So you can't blame him if he was a little hesitant. Watch this video:

This ride should have taken him back to just about where he started. Here's what happened to Chuck..........and BIG RED!! Now even I know that with drive shaft problems you're not going to get anywhere.

That didn't seem to stop Chuck....................

He just got out of the truck, camera by his side, and took off walking.................

.....destination unknown. I never saw him after this photo. I do hope that he was able to keep his wits about him during his ride enough to video what it looks like going through the mud!

Mudbogging is not easy! Being a mudbogger cameraman can't be either.

Thanks Chuck for being there for the drivers and thanks for being a good sport. All of us look forward to seeing what you managed to video.

Three Nelsonia Men Held In Salisbury Shootings

October 9/SALISBURY, Md. -- Three Accomack County men are being held after another round of weekend shootings left residents shaken and city officials scrambling to address the ongoing problem.

Three Virginia men are in custody in connection with a shooting early last Sunday morning on Olivia Street that sent one man to the hospital, according to the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation.

Police said Tyrone Greene, age and residency unknown, was walking on the 700 block of Olivia Street at about 1:30 a.m. when a vehicle approached him and fired multiple gunshots, one of which struck the victim in the upper thigh. Greene was taken to Peninsula Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Only a few minutes after the first shooting occurred, police responded to a call on Linwood Avenue, where a second victim, an 18-year-old man, was shot in the thigh, according to Capt. Mark Tyler of the Salisbury Police Department. The man's injuries were nonlife-threatening.

Police later located the vehicle suspected in the Olivia Street shooting and took 21-year-old Breon Lamar Ayers, 18-year-old Tyquon Demetrius Robins and 21-year-old Ronrecus Lestie Strand, all of Nelsonia, into custody.

Tyler said police are trying to determine whether the two shootings are connected, as there were no witnesses in the second incident.

Mayor Jim Ireton said police are waiting for ballistics to compare bullet casings found on Linwood Avenue to weapons found in the suspected Olivia Street shooting vehicle.

The city has been plagued by shootings during the past month, and Ireton said he's working diligently to find out why.

"These boys came from Virginia, the last group came from Delaware, and I'm wondering what's bringing them here," he said. "Right now, I'm in touch with crime prevention experts from all over the country ... trying to nail this down."

www.easternshorenews.com

Prostock First Place Winner 2010 At Gumboro

The season of mud racing at the Gumboro Mudbog has now come to an end. Hopefully, within a few days all the points will be added and we will know who all the winners are in all classes that have raced throughout the season.

Points are very important to the drivers of these trucks because caring for one can be quite overwhelming at times and at the end of the year one really needs to know where one stands for the season.

It kind of helps a driver put into perspective all of the hard work, time and expense he or she has put into the machine throughout the year. It doesn't matter if you win or lose...... the time and frustration seems worth it.

For the drivers of the 187 East Performance team no one has to tell them and they don't need to know the numbers to know who the 1st place winner is in Prostock this year.

The first place honor goes to Patrick Long and his truck "All Night Soldier" of the 187 East Performance team.

Here's the video of Patrick's last run for the season this past Saturday.

A very well deserved and well earned win!
Congratulations Patrick!!

More on the Gumboro Mudbog soon...........

84 Year Old Farmer Donates Harvest To Salvation Army Food Pantry

CUMBERLAND — Lou Simmons believes that if every farmer were to donate a small portion of each harvest to the poor, no one would go hungry in America.

Simmons, who turns 84 next month, is doing his part by donating every single apple, pear, peach and cherry from his modest orchard atop Irons Mountain to the Salvation Army in Cumberland. Salvation Army volunteers distribute more than 30,000 pounds of fruit from the Simmons orchard each year.

Kitty Willison, director of social services at the Salvation Army on East First Street in South Cumberland, said the fresh fruit adds to the agency’s food pantry and is a highly desired commodity each season.

“Something like that would be a little different,” Willison said. “A lot of times (clients) will ask us if we have fresh fruit or vegetables.”

On Friday, eight young men from the Green Ridge Youth Center in Flintstone toiled under the supervision of Mark Miller, resident adviser, on a cool and breezy morning. Simmons expected that over a four-hour period, the youth center crew would pick and pack into small boxes approximately 2,000 pounds of apples. Maybe more.

The adjudicated youth are not being named due to their status as minors. However, they were pleasantly surprised at the variety — and the taste — of apples of various sizes.

“Is this edible?” one young man asked.

After Simmons sighed, smiled with patience and assured him it was, the boy took a hesitant bite.
“Actually, it’s pretty good,” the boy said before heading to the nearest apple tree.

It wasn’t long ago when Simmons, believing he was nearing the age of retirement, envisioned an empty orchard and planned to cut down his trees. He credits Judy Hodel, director of the youth center, in saving both the orchard and people in need from going hungry.

“When she found out, she says, ‘Don’t you dare,’” Simmons said. “Without her, there’d be no more orchard.”

Simmons used the opportunity to chat with the boys — he loves to tell a tale — and suggest that they use their time at the youth camp wisely.

“I don’t know what you did and I don’t care,” Simmons told the group while on a short break. “Get yourselves straight. Work hard.”

Hodel believes the work and the atmosphere serve the boys well. She credited Simmons with sending the camp some apples to share with everyone, providing the work crew lunch “plus lots of stories.”

“It’s a beautiful place,” Hodel said of the Simmons orchard. “It’s a place of serenity in its own right.”

The boys, Hodel said, “get a sense of helping other people. They get a work ethic. They get some teamwork skills (and) social time that’s not out getting into trouble on the streets. A lot of them probably have never experienced an apple orchard.”

Hodel is thankful Simmons is willing to keep the orchard operational.

“He does a great service,” Hodel said. “He feeds people with his apples. He donates everything he has. I hate to see that get lost.

www.times.news.com

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Carroll Overholt Writes to the Pocomoke City Council

Published with permission from the author Carroll Overholt

Pocomoke City Council Members,

Recently Pocomoke City Police Lt. Martin Koerner resigned. There are rumors already being spread that Koerner never intended to stay in Pocomoke and had applied for a "federal job" before coming to Pocomoke. That rumor is simply not true.

I have known Marty Koerner for over twenty years. He had an outstanding career with the Maryland State Police, retiring as a Captain in charge of the entire Eastern Shore. I was pleased when I learned he had been hired at Pocomoke. I know that he cared for this city and he was deeply concerned about its recent crime problems. He did seek to make a difference here in Pocomoke.

Although I know many of the reasons that Lt. Koerner left your city, I strongly encourage each of you to personally meet with Marty and have him tell you why he felt he had to resign.

I know each one of you and am confident that you want the best for the City of Pocomoke. Sit down with Marty one on one and hear him out. I'm confident you will be shocked as some of his revelations.

I should note that this letter has been written without any prompting on the part of Koerner

Saturday, October 9, 2010

(UPDATE) Pocomoke Community Awareness Meeting (10-9-10)

I arrived at the meeting place @ about 9:50 and I figured I was going to have to stand through the meeting, boy was I wrong. There were about 12 citizens present, and 8 civil servants (I think) that's close anyway.

Mr Todd started out the meeting with a very good start, he seamed genuinely concerned about the crime spree we are experiencing. He read a passage and ended his stand with "we must work together" "we must stop the blame game"

Mayor Mike McDermott was present and was the next to chair. He made his concerns and opinions in a short but sweet apology stating that he works on Saturday mornings and apologized for not being present at the previous meetings but stated his council is at the meetings and they are able to brief him. The Mayor stated that "a lot of our problems are from transient people" and "Pocomoke crime is down 20% and juvenile crime is down some 70%".

Chief Irvin talked about pretty normal business as usual stating officer duties, patrols etc. and he asked about organizing a citizen group that could have block parties and that would be interested in forming groups the same things that didn't work in years past. Irvin went on to say "it's unfortunate that we had 2 murders but the town as a whole is safe"

From the audience Mr Todd commented "crime watch groups are now pass'e" and "the police can't do everything"

Now here is where we start going south, it seams that the audience decided that they want to just take over, Carroll Overholt had raised his had until I'm sure he got tired of holding up, he did finally get a chance to speak and boy did he let it go which I'll get into later.

From the audience; Sorry I do not know the ladies name but she asked about junk and trash in peoples yards I thought oh no here we go on this and boy was I right, the Chief explained that the city has codes and that they towed some 60 (I think) vehicles just a short time ago and explains the standards that the city tries to maintain. The lady then says that "the cities standard is not as high as hers" and she goes on to say "I call city hall so much that Harvey Davis knows me personally" This went on for quite some time with some comments about about youth activities discussion thrown in from time to time like we do not have anything for our young ones to do, you know the same'ol same'ol.

At this point they discussed what kind of tools they would use to pick up trash, where they would start to pick up the trash what time they would start to pick up the trash etcedra etcedra.

And then it happened, The Mayor, from the audience, offered the statement "there's nothing worse to the black people than white people picking up trash in their yard" at which point Mr Todd says "wait a minuet, I think that's a racist thing to say"

The statement was addressed and it was determined that no one was offended.

Mr Todd says "I want to make something clear, I'm not saying that the Mayor is racist, I'm saying the statement was a racist thing to say"

At this point things were a little bit quieter and Carrol Overholt finally was able to make his statement after patiently waiting with his hand up for I really don't know how long.

Overholt says we lost a very good officer in Lt. Martin Koerner and then he makes it very clear that he did not believe that crime is down in Pocomoke and say that crime is up in Pocomoke.

Overholt went on to demand that the city call and/or sit down and talk to Lt. Martin Koerner and find out why he quit the department.

Overholt says "that for the Chief to stand up and say that our crime is down is a travesty" Overholt states that "Pocomoke City is more dangerous per capita than Salisbury.

Overholt says he is becoming afraid to let his wife and child come into the city alone. Mr Overholt was extremely passionate about everything he he stated today and anyone there should know he means business.

Mr Overholt ended by recommending that all at the meeting read The Pocomoke Public Eye to see the crime report.

(UPDATED) sorry it was late when I wrote this and I left out a few things from my notes.

Marty Pusey was in attendance and she said a few rhetorical things but ended in "we have become disfranchised" "disenfranchised families" "disenfranchised children"

Lynn Duffy spoke and thanked the council and she also did a most honorable thing saying she will donate 750 hours of her time to get things going.

The Chief said that they have installed a light @ 4th and Bonneville because he said at any given time "there would be 20 to 30 people standing on that corner" the Chief said they have 2 more cameras on order, one to be placed @ 6th and Bank st. the other is to be placed @ the middle school basketball court the Chief says that the cameras should be up in about two months.

I never did ask my question so I'll ask it here ......what the heck does picking up trash have to do with preventing crime?

The next meetings are

Oct. 16th @ 9:00am to start picking up trash

Nov. 13th @ 10:00am Landlord meeting both at the same church

Pocomoke Crime Reports for the Month of September

THEFT

26 Sep 2010

100 BLOCK MARKET STREET

Distance: 1.11 miles

Identifier: 10-0005869

Time(24h): 16:13
THEFT: LESS $500 VALUE

Agency: Pocomoke Poilce

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Monday, October 11, 2010

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Friday, October 8, 2010

All Time Contributors (current Pocomoke Public Eye content is voluntarily maintained by tk for PPE)