Pocomoke City Up-Coming Elections

EDITOR: Sorry that this is so late but maybe a few will still see it. This was emailed to me today at quarter till two and I just got around to reading and publishing this. Had I received this at an earlier time and/or date it would have been published at that time.

                On April 5^th citizens of Pocomoke will be going to the polls to elect a new Mayor and a new City Councilman for District 3. Sometimes the voters have a question of experience about each candidate. I have known my opponent and his family for many years. The differences between my opponent and I is the direction that we would want to see the City of Pocomoke move towards. 

             I have served as a law enforcement officer for over 25 years and during this time I have been involved in crime prevention which included organizing neighborhood watch programs, community policing and drug prevention. I have served as a big brother and I have also participated in the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington D.C in 2009 in order to raise money for the Saint Judes Children Hospital and again in 2010 to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. I am a member of the Maryland Patriot Guard Motorcycle Club, a member of the Pocomoke Elks, and the American Legion Lodge 0297.


     What I see today is the lack of confidence in our city government, and the lack of information that the city government provides to the people. I have also seen a rise in unsafe and vacant homes and businesses which have become an eye sore and a haven for criminal activity. To help better enforce the city codes to prevent this, I would prefer the housing enforcement code officer to fall under the supervision of the law enforcement. 

      Cypress Park is a visitor’s attraction for the greatest event we have each year. I have seen first hand the erosion of this beautiful park and I would suggest meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers to possible come and assess the erosion problem and to suggest possible solutions. 

      There are many empty buildings on or near Market Street that are unoccupied and I would ask that building owners consider an Amnesty Rent program. This would allow possible small business owners a few months of free rent to establish their business. This program worked very well in alluring to new economic flourish in Dorchester County. 

      I have seen a great program in our city, Save the Youth Program, go unnoticed and underfunded for years. I have seen first hand what this program can do for our city’s youth. I would like to help support this program any way that I can with the city’s help.

                  I also agree to term limits on each elected and appointed position with-in city government. This could be determined by the council as to the length of service. I also believe the Mayor should have the power as all other mayors in the area. This would then change the Chain of Command by starting with the mayor and then city council.  

        My views for change are to focus on saving our youth, saving our parks, enforcing city codes on abandoned buildings, and rebuilding our downtown with new businesses while maintaining our historical charm. I have also heard from citizens that are tired of the old way of government and the lack of things getting done; I now say to them on April 5^th please come out and support your candidate of choice. 

Look at your candidates well and cast your vote.  Change is at hand and there is a candidate with good ideas running for this office.

VOTE: Bobby Brittingham City Council District 3

Accident On Chincoteatgue Causeway

Recent reports say the Chincoteague causeway is CLOSED.  Use caution.

CHINCOTEAGUE
Two people died in a head-on crash on Va. 175, the Chincoteague Causeway this afternoon.

Virginia State Police were called to the multi-vehicle crash about 5:15 p.m., said Sgt. Michelle Anaya, a spokeswoman for state police. No additional details about the crash were available.

Troopers were still at the scene about 7 p.m.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said the road was closed while state police investigated.

Baltimore Orioles - Opening Day

While most of us went about our usual Monday there were quite a few of those that took

advantage of the spring day and spent it attending the season opener of the Baltimore Orioles. 

Thanks Missy.

Don't Forget To Vote On Tuesday

Pocomoke City Elections

Tuesday  April 5, 2011

Voting is held at the Pocomoke Libray,  301 Market Street

POLLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7:00 AM  UNTIL  7:00 PM

Good Luck Bruce!

A Comment Worthy Of A Post

Councilman Rob Clarke weighs in, in response to Wal*Mart carjacking article

Rob said...
Dear Editor,

Not only have the suspects in the alleged WalMart carjacking been arrested and a confession given to PCPD officers, they have already been transferred to the Worcester County Jail. The quick action in this case was facilitated by excellent cooperation among all agencies involved in two states and five jurisdictions.

Kudos to the PCPD, MSP, VSP, Accomack Sheriff's Office, Worcester Sheriff Reggie Mason and the WCBI office, State's Attorney Beau Oglesby and I'm sure his counter part in Accomack County.

Lieutenant Sewell headed up the operation for the PCPD and two of our officers traveled to Virginia to interview the suspects, eventually obtaining a confession. Thank you Lieutenant Sewell and officers of the PCPD.

I hope I have not missed anyone. If so please post a comment.

Unfortunately the victim's car was wrecked in an accident with a tree. Most importantly and thanks be to God the victim apparently was not physically injured.

Hopefully WalMart will take additional steps to insure the safety of their customers and employees, especially in the wee hours of the morning. This could include additional patrols in the area by PCPD at night and escorts for WalMart employees going to their cars by other WalMart staff or security officers.

Again, many thanks to all involved for their quick work on this case and my condolences to the victim for the loss and inconvenience she has suffered.

Sincerely,

Councilman Rob Clarke
5th District
Pocomoke City

Welcome Our New Contributor TK FOR PPE

Lets give a big warm welcome to our newest contributor TK FOR PPE.

TK has been sending in the Radio articles that we have been publishing. Those articles got a lot of attention by our readers. Each article was well put together and well written so I decided to invite TK to join our team and TK gracefully accepted.

I hope everyone enjoys TK's articles about the history of our local radio and maybe TK will surprise you with even more.

Keep checking PPE for new articles published by TK you never know what might pop up.

Welcome TK to the PPE and thanks for joining our team.

Free Myspace Comments



Myspace Welcome Comments & Graphics

Crappy Daily Times Newspaper Route

I live in the Elk Creek subdivision which is across Jackson Road from the Deer Harbor subdivision.

Beginning about two months ago, we in Elk Creek noticed that someone had been taking craps in our neighborhood.  Not in the woods or in the grassy areas, but in the road and leaving toilet paper with it.  For almost two weeks straight, about every other day, they left 9 craps.  Then it stopped for several weeks.

Then we noticed the person or persons did it several times in Deer Harbor.  This is a very strange situation, so it has been the topic of conversation.  I had been talking to a friend about it and she told me the same thing had been happening down her lane.  She lives in Rehoboth Maryland and her lane runs along the river.
The person had been going on her lane, not in the woods or grassy area and the person also left toilet paper.

On one of the occasions, the person dropped their driver's license and credit card out of their pants pocket.  My friend said she did not recall the name of the person, but that she had her friend take it to the MSP barrack.  It turned out the id and credit card belonged to a Daily Times delivery person.

My friend said that her husband called the Times and complained that their delivery person may be crapping on their lane.  The crapping continued and my friends finally canceled the Times at which time the crapping stopped.  SO, after hearing my friends story.  I believe the person taking a dump in Elk Creek and Deer Harbor is a Daily Times delivery person.

I've talked to Gary Baker and Mike Lewis about it, they've provided extra patrols for the past few months, but haven't been able to catch anyone.  Plus, unless you catch them in the act, what's the crime.  It's just soooo nasty.  Not that I'm an expert on poop, but it's not like dog poop that disintegrates and goes away after a few days.  The crap that's in the street at the front of our neighborhood is still there after two months.

My neighbors and I have talked about doing a stake out, but it's so sporadic.  The last poop was on 3/17 in Elk Creek in the street at the front of the neighborhood.  There is one today in Deer Harbor on Five Friars Road on the left as soon as you turn off Deer Harbor Drive.  We were trying to see if there was a pattern, but I don't think there is.  Any thoughts?


VIA: SBYNEWS

Local Radio Makes A Second Try On The Eastern Shore

When Salisbury's WSMD ceased operation in 1929 after about a year on the air Pocomoke and other Eastern Shore areas were without a local radio service until 1937 when WSAL signed on from a studio on East Main Street in Salisbury, beyond the post office, in a store space next to Gordy Drug Company.


Violet Killiam of Hebron was a popular local performer on WSAL. She won a local talent contest broadcast live from the stage of the New Theater in Salisbury and was given her own 15-minute weekly radio program. She was known as the Kate Smith of the Eastern Shore. Other talent heard on WSAL included the station's staff musician, well known Eastern Shore performer "Billy Heaton" (William Heaton Whitworth), who hosted "Uncle Billy And The Kiddie Hour; the Hurdle family of Berlin who were known as The Southern Hillbillies; Tex Rose And His Lone Star Ranchers; and Kid Smith And The Sisters. WSAL listeners could tune in to "The Shadow" on Sundays at 530PM.


As a teenager Willis Conover, who later became an icon in jazz broadcasting, had his first job in radio working part-time as an announcer and writer at WSAL while attending college. Later in his career he was the producer for many years of The Voice Of America's world renowned jazz programming, and was also known in the jazz world for his large collection of tapes and documents.


WSAL appeared to be fulfilling its' obligation to serve the local broadcast area, however behind the scenes the Federal Communications Commission had serious concerns regarding legalities involving the station's ownership. It ordered WSAL permanently off the air in April of 1940.


On Friday, September 13th, 1940, WBOC went on the air from "Radio Park" just north of Salisbury on Route 13. A few other stations dotted the Delmarva Peninsula later in the 1940's and still more in the 1950's and radio on Delmarva was here to stay.


In September of 1954 the FCC was reviewing two applications for radio in Pocomoke City. One was for a station at 1290 on the AM dial and the other was for a station at 540. A large tower was visible on the east side of Pocomoke and there was talk that a radio station was to be built on that property off of Stockton Road. Details of what transpired are not clear; the station never came to be but the base for a tower as well as a building for a transmitter still exist there. WDVM at 540 went on the air in August of 1955 from facilities west of town.


In the late 1960's there was increasing interest in FM but most car radios weren't equipped to receive it. WBOC-FM sold FM converters that attached to AM car radios. Some of the first Eastern Shore FM stations were WBOC-FM (call letters later WQHQ "Q105") Salisbury-Ocean City, Choppy Layton's WKHI "100 KHI" in Ocean City, WICO-FM in Salisbury, and WSEA in Georgetown, Delaware. The public's interest in FM stereo set the course for the arrival of many more FM stations on the Eastern Shore in the years to come.


Contributed by Terry Kleger of Salisbury. terrykleger@yahoo.com

Whitney Bennett's Body Found

Sadly, this is what the Daily Times Reports:

MANOKIN – Maryland State Police recovered the body of a Delaware woman who has been missing for four months and have arrested two Wicomico County men as their investigation continues into what caused the death of the woman.


An examination today at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore identified the body as Whitney L. Bennett, 23, of the 36000-block of Susan Beach Road, Delmar, Delaware. Although the body was identified, the medical examiner said the cause and manner of Bennett’s death remains undetermined. Additional forensic examination and tests will be conducted.


State Police investigators last night arrested two men in connection with the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Bennett.

They are identified as Steven L. Akers, 36, and Claude H. Hill, 49, both of the 400-block of South Camden Ave., Fruitland, Md. Both Akers and Hill are charged with accessory after the fact and obstruction of justice. They are being held in the Wicomico County Detention Center on $100,000 bond. They are believed to have known Bennett and others with whom she associated.

Bennett was reported missing by her mother to the Delaware State Police on December 9, 2010. Delaware State Police investigators determined Bennett had last been seen alive in Wicomico County on December 4, 2010. The Wicomico County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) assumed the investigation into Bennett’s disappearance and began an intense search for her which has continued through this weekend.

During this past weekend, WCBI investigators received information indicating a possible location of a buried body that could be Bennett. Investigators obtained a search warrant for an unoccupied property of several acres located in the 29000-block of Pond Run Drive in Manokin, in Somerset County. WCBI and Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators served the search warrant yesterday morning. With the assistance of state police crime scene technicians, investigators recovered the body from where it was buried in a wooded area on the rural property.

The state’s attorneys from both Wicomico and Somerset counties worked with investigators throughout the weekend. No one has been charged with the death of Bennett and it has not officially been ruled a homicide.

The investigation is active and ongoing. Investigators are working to develop information on when and how Bennett died and if anyone was responsible for her death. Anyone with information is urged to contact Maryland State Police at the Salisbury Barrack at 410-749-3101. Persons with information may also call Wicomico County Crimes Solvers at 410-548-1776 and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Source; delmarvanow.com http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110403/NEWS01/110403011/Body-missing-Delmar-woman-found?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|frontpage

Millions of sites hit with mass-injection cyberattack

PC World - Hundreds of thousands -- and possibly millions -- of websites have been hit with a cyberattack that some are calling "one of the biggest mass-injection attacks we've ever seen."

The attack was discovered on March 29 by security firm WebSense, and the injected domain was called lizamoon.com -- thus, the name of the mass-injection is "LizaMoon." According to WebSense, LizaMoon uses SQL Injection to add malicious script to compromised sites. While the first injected domain was lizamoon.com, additional URLs have since been injected in the attack (WebSense has a full list here).

The method of using an injected script redirects users to a rogue AV site, which tries to get people to install a fake anti-virus program called Windows Stability Center.
When WebSecurity discovered the attack on March 29, 28,000 URLs had been compromised. The number quickly grew to 226,000, including many iTunes URLs (though the malicious code is neutralized by Apple).

"The good thing is that iTunes encodes the script tags, which means that the script doesn't execute on the user's computer," WebSense security blogger Patrik Runald wrote on Tuesday, "So good job, Apple."

The number of infected sites now appears to be over 1.5 million (at the time of this blog post, a quick Google Search shows 1.53 million infected URLs) -- but WebSense is quick to point out that a Google Search is an inaccurate metric. Google search spits back unique URLs, not unique hosts. Thus, there are likely less than 1.5 million infected sites, but WebSense says it's safe to say that the number is in the hundreds of thousands.

The attack continues to rampage across the Internet, and currently doesn't show any signs of slowing down. So don't install any web-based anti-virus software that claims your computer is full of bugs.
Follow Sarah on Twitter (@geeklil) or at sarahpurewal.wordpress.com and Today @ PCWorld on Twitter.

READ MORE HERE>>

Hat Tip Eric

Preserved Children

1  large field
6  children
3  dogs
6  pebbles
1  small brook
100 flowers
1  blue sky
1  sun
1  bath tub                        

Mix children with dogs well together, put them on a field, stirring constantly.
Pour the brook over the pebbles, sprinkle the field with flowers, spread over a deep blue sky and bake in the sun.                                          

   When brown, set away to cool in the bath tub.                                  

                                                                           J.C.

                                                                                                       

Pocomoke Crime Report For The Month Of March

Other    2011-03-31    200 Block WALNUT STREET    WARRANT

Assault    2011-03-29    300 Block SECOND STREEET    RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

Assault    2011-03-29    500 Block BONNEVILLE AVENUE    ASSAULT - SECOND DEGREE

Other    2011-03-28    200 Block LAUREL STREET    THEFT LESS THAN $100

Robbery    2011-03-28    2100 Block OLD SNOW HILL ROAD    ROBBERY

Other    2011-03-28    FOURTEENTH STREET    DRIVING, ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE MOTOR VEH ON HWY W/O REQ. LICENSE AND AUTHORIZATION

Theft    2011-03-27    500 Block LINDEN AVENUE    THEFT $100 - L/T 1,000

Traffic    2011-03-27    OCEAN HIGHWAY    PERSON DRIVING MOTOR VEHICLE ON HWY.(PUBLIC USE OR PROPERTY) ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND PRIVILEDGES

Theft    2011-03-27    800 Block MARKET STREET    THEFT LESS THAN $100.00

Traffic    2011-03-27    OLD SNOW HILL ROAD    DRIVER FAILURE TO OBEY PROPERLY PLACED TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE INSTRUCTIONS...

Theft    2011-03-26    800 Block A SECOND STREET    THEFT $100 - L/T 1,000

Theft    2011-03-25    600 Block SECOND STREET    THEFT $100 - L/T 1,000

Other    2011-03-25    1100 Block MARKET STREET    THEFT LESS THAN $100.00

Other    2011-03-25    1400 Block SNOW HILL LANE    THEFT LESS THAN $100.00

Traffic    2011-03-24    300 Block SECOND STREET    PERSON DRIVING M/V ON ROADWAY ON A SUSPENDED OUT OF STATE LICENSE

Other    2011-03-24    600 Block OXFORD STREET    ...DID WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY [DESTROY/INJURE/DEFACE/MOLEST]___________(DESCRIBE), THE [REAL/PERSONAL] PROPERTY OF _______(OWNER/LESSEE, ETC.), THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE HAVING A VALUE OF LESS THAN $500.00.

Traffic    2011-03-23    RT 13 NB AT REST    (DRIVING, ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE) VEHICLE WHILE IMPAIRED BY ALCOHOL...

Vehicle Stop    2011-03-23    WALNUT & FOURTH STREET    HOLDER OF LEARNERS PERMIT W/O REQUIRED SUPERVISION

Other    2011-03-22    400 Block BANK STREET    ASSAULT - SECOND DEGREE

Other    2011-03-22    500 Block MOORE STREET    WARRANT

Other    2011-03-20    400 Block MAPLE STREET    RUNAWAY

Traffic    2011-03-18    500 Block CEDAR STREET    PERSON DRIVING MOTOR VEHICLE ON HWY.(PUBLIC USE OR PROPERTY) ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND PRIVILEDGES

Other    2011-03-18    600 Block WALNUT STREET    ASSAULT - SECOND DEGREE

Other    2011-03-18    800 Block FOURTH STREET    TRESPASS-POSTED PROPERTY

Assault    2011-03-16    500 Block BONNEVILLE AVENUE    ASSAULT - SECOND DEGREE

Vehicle Stop    2011-03-16    100 Block LAUREL STREET    DRIVING WHILE LIC. SUSPENDED UNDER (17 106, 26 204, 26 206, 27 103)

Theft    2011-03-16    2100 Block OLD SNOW HILL ROAD    THEFT $100 - L/T 1,000

Theft    2011-03-15    200 Block LAUREL STREET    THEFT $1,000 - L/T $10,000

Other    2011-03-15    500 Block MARKET STREET    ...DID WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY [DESTROY/INJURE/DEFACE/MOLEST]___________(DESCRIBE), THE [REAL/PERSONAL] PROPERTY OF _______(OWNER/LESSEE, ETC.), THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE HAVING A VALUE OF LESS THAN $500.00.

Other    2011-03-14    700 Block FOURTH STREET    WARRANT

Theft    2011-03-12    2100 Block OLD SNOW HILL ROAD   

Traffic    2011-03-12    CLARKE @ ANNE STREET    PERSON DRIVING MOTOR VEHICLE ON HWY.(PUBLIC USE OR PROPERTY) ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND PRIVILEDGES

Drugs    2011-03-11    FOURTH & LAUREL STREET    CDS POSSESSION - NOT MARIJUANA

Other    2011-03-08    1400 Block SNOW HILL LANE    MAL DESTR PROP/VALUE- $500

Other    2011-03-08    500 Block MOORE STREET    WARRANT

Vehicle Stop    2011-03-06    ROUTE 13 SB @ POCOMOKE DINER    DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLE ON HWY

Theft    2011-03-05    500 Block LINDEN AVENUE    THEFT LESS THAN $100

Traffic    2011-03-05    RT 13 SB AT RT 113    (DRIVING, ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE) MOTOR VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT REQUIRED LICENSE OR PERMIT...

Traffic    2011-03-04    SIXTH STREET AND OXFORD STREET    PERSON DRIVING M/V ON ROADWAY ON A SUSPENDED OUT OF STATE LICENSE

Other    2011-03-04    1 Block CENTRAL AVENUE    THEFT $10,000 - L/T $100,000

Other    2011-03-04    100 Block NEWTOWNE BOULEVARD    MAL DESTR PROP/VALUE- $500

Assault    2011-03-04    100 Block EIGHTH STREET    ASSAULT - SECOND DEGREE

Breaking & Entering    2011-03-02    700 Block CEDAR STREET    BURGLARY - FOURTH DEGREE

Basketball Time..............

 GO!  VCU GO!

GO!  VCU  GO!!

Butler College Gives Final Four Tickets to Wounded Warrior Project

By Eddie Timanus USA TODAY

The Butler basketball team will have some special guests at this weekend's Final Four in Houston.

The school donated part of its ticket allotment to the Wounded Warrior Project, a non-profit organization that provides support and assistance to former U.S. service members injured in combat.

Butler is providing eight tickets to Saturday's semifinal session as well as Monday's championship game. The recipients from the Houston area had yet to be determined as of Thursday, according to Ayla Hay, the WWP's executive vice-president for communications.

"We just have tremendous admiration for the sacrifices that our soldiers make for us all," said Butler athletics director Barry Collier.

The WWP partners regularly with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) to provide football and basketball tickets. Around 70 schools have participated this season, the organization estimates. "Each year before the football season we send out a packet about the Wounded Warrior Project to the athletic directors," Hay said. "We were really excited to get the e-mail from Butler."

"I'm not trying to get any attention from this," Collier said. "If they want to cheer for the Bulldogs, that's OK, too, but it's certainly not part of the deal. Our nation just owes so much to these folks."

Source; usatoday.com http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/03/butler-final-four-tickets-wounded-warriors/1

Accomack County Deputies Investigate Shooting

ACCOMACK, Va. (WAVY) - Deputies said a man is in stable condition after being shot near Painter, Virginia on Friday afternoon.

The shooting occurred on A.S. West Road around 4 p.m., according to the Accomack County Sheriff's Office.

He was transported to Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital and later transferred to another medical facility where he is listed in stable condition.

Deputies and investigators spent hours processing the scene, collecting evidence, and conducting interviews.

The Accomack County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Virginia State Police, Virginia Marine Police, Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, Parksley Police, Onley Police, and Onancock Police.

Deputies said the investigation is continuing.

Source; fox43tv.com http://www.fox43tv.com/dpps/news/local/accomack-deputies-investigate-shooting_3762230

Former Officers Of the Law Go To Court

Former Sheriff Deputy Jerry Spencer Tarr was arrested early this year after being caught on video  taking energy drinks  at least  ten different times from the Corner Mart Convenience Store on Chincoteague.  He was charged with ten counts of petit larceny.

On Tuesday, in court, Tarr was found guilty of 5 counts of petit larceny.  The other five other charges were dismissed.   

Tarr received 12 months probation, 30 days in jail with 30 days suspended and was required to pay court costs.

Also appearing in court;

Former Onley Town Police Officer Mark Joseph Whitney was arrested and charged with a DUI in January. 

 Whitney was off duty  when he drove his 2005 Suburu onto Rt. 13 from Rt. 695  into a car driven by Kenneth Jones that was already traveling on Rt. 13.  Jones sustained minor injuries and Whitney was arrested for driving under the influence.

In court on Tuesday Former Officer Mark Joseph Whitney was found guilty of Driving While Intoxicated.  He received 30 days jail time with 20 days usupended and a $1,000 fine, with $500 suspended.

Whitney will be serving his sentence through the Work Release Program.

Wal*Mart Carjacking Suspects Arrested

This seems to be happening more often in alot of towns.  People working through the night, making an honest living and suddenly out of nowhere come thugs to do harm.  At ages 18 and still a juvenile it would just seem to me they would want to still be asleep in bed like most teens seem to do.  Instead of getting a job to buy a car they decide that it is more fun to frighten someone, a 69 year old woman,  and steal their car in the wee hours of the morning.

What kind of parents do these children of today have?  I wonder what will the parents do with their children now they have gotten themselves into trouble.  Maybe some pressure should be put on the parents.  Send them to jail with their rotten kids.

From the Daily Times

April 1, 2011

POCOMOKE CITY — Both of the men charged in the alleged armed carjacking of a 69-year-old woman at the Walmart parking lot have been taken into custody.

Troy Ewell, 18, of the 7400 block of Lankford Highway in New Church, Va., turned himself into the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office last night, according to police. The other man charged in the crime is a juvenile, who was arrested on separate charges and later gave a full confession to Pocomoke City police officers. He is awaiting extradition from the Eastern Shore Regional Jail to Maryland.

Both men are charged with several counts including armed robbery, assault and carjacking. Ewell also has charges stemming from his alleged use of a handgun during the alleged carjacking. He is being held in the Worcester County Detention Center on $250,000 bond.

Source; delmarvanow.com http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110401/NEWS01/110401037/1001/news/CRIME-Walmart-carjacking-suspects-custody

Rant on blogger raises eyebrows

SALISBURY -- News of the conviction of the man who confessed to killing an 11-year-old Salisbury girl found dead on Christmas Day took a back seat when the child's grandmother publicly criticized a local blogger during a news conference.

Less than an hour after 31-year-old Thomas James Leggs Jr. pleaded guilty in the kidnapping, sexual abuse and brutal murder of the young child, the victim's maternal grandmother stood at a podium outside the Cecil County Circuit Courthouse and thanked law enforcement officers, the State's Attorney's Office and the thousands of volunteers who search for the child who was abducted from her home Dec. 23, 2009.

"In my opinion"

Roberta Wechsler's statement at Tuesday's news conference took an unexpected turn when she openly scolded blogger Joseph "Joe" Albero for additional "crimes and assaults" against the deceased child and her family as well as the "exploitation of her murder" for personal gain.

"In my opinion, there is still a sociopathic criminal loose in our community," Wechsler said. "He is the leader of a small cult of other sociopathic lemmings. From the moment of Sarah's kidnapping, in my opinion, he has exploited her murder and her memory and tortured and pillaged my family. In my opinion, he is as much a criminal as Thomas Leggs."


The blogger said Thursday that he has abandoned plans to write about Foxwell's kidnapping and murder.
She alleged Albero victimized her family repeatedly since Foxwell's abduction and stated she will seek justice against the blogger and others who committed crimes against her granddaughter.
"We're not the first to be victimized by this man, but we will be the last," she said.

Aftershock

Wicomico County State's Attorney Matthew "Matt" Maciarello said he has not received a formal complaint from Wechsler and he was unsure of the details of her claims.
"It was a day full of emotion and she certainly had a lot on her mind," Maciarello said. "Everyone who sat through the proceeding experienced an emotional release."


Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis said his office had not received a complaint from Wechsler regarding Albero as of Thursday.
"I think it's very unfortunate that she would use our press conference to air her frustrations and concerns with Joe Albero," Lewis said. "This was not the proper venue nor was it the proper time. That press conference was about giving closure to the Foxwell family and the investigators that worked tirelessly to see this case to the end."
However, Lewis said he understood her concerns.
"I clearly heard her frustration," he said. "I heard her concern in her voice and I think what she said is shared by many in our community."


John Robinson, a business owner who filed criminal charges and a protective peace order against Albero in the past, said he was not surprised by Wechsler's comments.
"She said the same thing I did," Robinson said. "He will do anything for attention. He doesn't care."
Robinson said he hopes the State's Attorney's Office will investigate the allegations.
Albero has been sued by a number of individuals including former Salisbury mayor Barrie Parsons Tilghman, former Salisbury Police Chief Allan Webster and former Wicomico County Detention Center Director Doug Devenyns.
"We won each and every one," Albero said.

Businesses targeted

Wechsler was also critical of advertisers on Albero's blog.
"In my opinion, you have actively supported a criminal and cyberterrorist," she said. "And you, too, will be held responsible for that decision."
Albero said he charges a minimum of $100 per month for ads posted on the blog, which he created about six years ago. All income from the blog is donated to charities.
"I'm very proud of the people that advertise with Salisbury News," he said. "We're trying to give back."
Donna Cathell, the owner of a Salisbury consignment shop, said her husband placed an advertisement for her establishment on Albero's site hoping to spread the word around town when her store, Finders Keepers, opened in December. She said the $100 ad was within her budget.
"I'm not a fan of his," Cathell said. "It was advertising."


Another business owner who advertises on Albero's blog said the site gives more exposure for smaller businesses. The business owner asked not to be identified because her establishment has been vandalized because of her ad on the blog.
"If we pulled our ads from everything out there that somebody thought was in poor judgment, where would we advertise?" the business owner asked.
The business owner commended Albero for volunteering in the community.
"I don't agree with him all the time, but we know what's going on when we go to Joe's site," she said.
Market Street Inn owner Robert "Rob" Mulford also has an ad posted on the controversial blog site, but said he hasn't paid for it since December.
"It's America," Mulford said. "You can advertise with who you want. It's free speech. He can do what he wants. People complain but they go to his site every day."

sboykin@dmg.gannett.com
410-845-4656

VIA; DELMARVANOW.COM

A Comment Worty Of a Post

RightCoast said...
I'm sad that people don't understand that this event was for the family.

An Open Letter to the Foxwell Critics

Dear Critics,

I do not know the Foxwell family. I did not know Sarah Foxwell, nor did I know her grandmother, Roberta. In all likelihood I would of never had known of any of these people except for the news on that tragic day before the Christmas of 2009, when it was announced that this little 11 year old girl had gone missing. For one moment the community came together collectively, as one, to help find this child. Mothers and fathers looked and hoped she would be found. When she finally was, it was devastating. We learned she had been abducted from her home, while her grandfather slept, by a known sexual predator, who hurt her in horrific ways and ultimately killed her.

Kind, compassionate people would hold this family up and embrace them in prayer and love and try to help them through unimaginable pain and suffering. Decent people would pour their love out to a family in such unbearable agony. Yet you, critics of the Foxwells, have chosen to pick open every wound, examine every flaw under a microscope and try to destroy these people, who just like you, are imperfect.

No decent reasonable person wants to see a child harmed and no one wants to see them dead. For those of you who have tried to blame Sarah's mother, or aunt, or grandmother, to perhaps try to deflect some of your own responsibility for allowing a known sex offender roam the streets, I'm disgusted. You did not know Sarah and you did not love her and you have no claim or rights to her memory other than the smear campaign you have embarked in over the lat 15 months to tarnish this sweet child's memory. By besmirching her family, you kill Sarah just a little bit each time. You are willful accomplices in tarnishing this child's memory.

For the family that loved her. I am without a doubt you loved her very much and did the best you could. There are bad people in this world and the fact is, no one but Thomas Leggs is to blame for the loss of Sarah Foxwell.

For critics who choose to continue to bash this family, it verges on criminal misconduct at this point to me. You owe this family an apology. Get that plank out of your own eye, neighbor. Your sin is just as bad as any other.

To the media, if you are going to cover this any further, I suggest you invest those that have facilitated this onslaught of evil on a family in pain and continue to do so whenever or to whomever tragedy or convenience strikes.

Many of us wanted instant gratification and desired for Thomas Leggs to be served the death penalty immediately. Most of know that enforcement of the death penalty would never have taken place in the State of Maryland.

With that thought in mind, then the family should be the major concern for the prosecution and the community. Consideration for their thoughts about punishment coupled with their tragic loss should be the only real voice that matters. They wanted life without parole for Thomas Leggs.

Can you please just stop your blaming of everyone and just focus it in the right place. Empathize with the family's feelings and position, you'll realize we should be silent for once. They're truly hurting and after all this time, they all deserve a little peace, love, and respect.

Please try to show some dignity for a change and give some respect to this dead child and her family.

God bless Sarah Foxwell and those who loved her...and God Bless those that didn't know her or her family and think they do. Reach a little deeper in your hearts.

Thank you,

Julie

Emergency Siren Testing

Saturday  April 2, 2011 Worcester County alert signals are scheduled to sound from area fire sirens.   A steady alert tone will sound at 10 a.m. for approximately one minute.

In the event of an actual emergency, the sirens would be used as additional means to warn the surrounding communities of imminent danger and the need to tune to either radio, television or the Internet for information.

Signals are tested the first Saturday of each month.

Miss Hope Eastern Shore Pageant



Congratulations to all the winners in the Miss Hope Eastern Shore Pageant. From all the comments I have read not one contestant had a bad experience and I think the entire event left them with more than they had expected. I have read comment after comment about the event and have yet to hear one person find anything to disagree with. And I've been told that everyone had a blast.

The entire event was the idea of two young local women, the Pettine sisters. They have every reason to feel so very proud for what they have accomplished. Arranging and managing what they did was not an easy task and I would have been holding my breath the whole time! Giving so much of their time and energy for such a worthy cause should never be forgotten.

What is so wonderful to know is that most, if not all, of the participants know Courtney Bloxom. Some of them are Courtney's good friends. Some of them sit with Courtney in her room at the center helping to keep her motivated, trying to bring her back to wonderful self. Some know her very well simply by the facebook page Courtney's mother keeps.



Miss Hope ES contestant  Lennie Bowe
and Miss  Hope ES  Ashley Mapp



Regardless, these participants gave of their time to help someone in need.

Everyone, now matter what your task was in bringing this event together, needs to give themselves a big pat on the back.

Saturday nights pagaent raised over $7,000.00 for the Courtney Bloxom Fund. The contest included 35 participants and crowned 22 Princesses while a crowd of 475 watched. That's incredible.
　
But the Pettine sisters are finished yet .The fundraising continues. They set a goal of $19,000 for the Courtney Bloxom Fund and they intend to meet every bit of that commitment. Every penny raised for the pageant went towards the fund in an effort to purchase physical therapy equipment for Courtney. The professional photographer has pledged ten percent of his sales to go towards the cause. A CD is being made and 10% from the sales will be donated back.

Miss Hope Eastern Shore Teen Amy Wigglesworth with other
local queens.

So it seems every one came away with a good feeling. Strangers became friends forever. They are 'pageant sisters'. They are that for life simply because they gave unselfishly to a cause for a beautiful young lady that needs so much right now. And I can't help but feel that if this had been for anyone elsebesides Courtney, she would have been there participating herself.

**DVDs are available at Alan-Lynch Productions. The email is josh@alanlynchproductions.com  or 302-344-2977 . All checks need to be made out to Alan-Lynch Productions.   PLEASE BE SURE TO SEND: Name, Address, Email, Cell, and Home phone number for this order.  DVD's are $30 each.  10% will be donated back to the Courtney Bloxom Fund.**

And as always..........PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR COURTNEY.

Pocomoke's Election Day Nears

Election Day, APRIL 5,  is almost here for the citizens of Pocomoke. 

From the Worcester County Times

Written by:  Jennifer Shutt

March 31, 2011

POCOMOKE CITY -- In a few days, Pocomoke voters will head to the polls to select a new mayor and District 3 city council member.

Five people have registered to run for the two open seats -- three vying for the title of mayor and two campaigning to be the District 3 representative.

On election day candidates say they will be at the library for all or most of the 12-hour day from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., campaigning, shaking hands and letting voters know what matters to them.
Bruce Morrison, Lynn Duffy and Frank Ward will be competing for the mayoral seat, while Bobby Brittingham and Donald Malloy are both seeking the District 3 council seat.

Many of the candidates said reducing crime and revitalizing downtown will be priorities if elected.

"We've got to find a way to make downtown work again," says mayoral candidate Morrison, adding crime prevention would be similarly important.

Duffy, a professional counselor, also wishes to tackle crime if elected and says she would pursue a more open government. "I'm fully committed," she said in an interview about her campaign. On her often-updated campaign website, duffy4pocomoke. com, she has written insistently about crime as a growing and dangerous problem.

"Crime went up and our town has no plan," Duffy wrote. "Everything is not okay in Pocomoke."

Ward, the third candidate, could not be reached for comment.

Last year, 162 people turned out to vote for District 1 and 2 City Council representatives. This year, city officials expect more votes to be cast, because all registered Pocomoke voters will be able to cast a ballot for mayor. Officials said their voter rolls show 2,773 registered voters who could participate in the election.

The mayoral seat became available last year after mayor Mike McDermott was elected to represent part of the Eastern Shore in the House of Delegates. After Morrison announced his intention to run for mayor after six years as District 3 councilman, his council seat also became available.

Council race

Malloy, who was a councilman in the 1960s, is running to fill the District 3 seat, and says he's bringing no grand plans for changes with him.

"I don't think there is anything rather drastic to be changed in Pocomoke," said Malloy. "I think I am capable of keeping Pocomoke running as well as I think it does now."

In a campaign statement, Brittingham said his experience as a retired policeman could help Pocomoke, and he said city government is at times unresponsive. "What I see today is the lack of confidence in our city government, and the lack of information that the city government provides to the people," he said in the statement. He would step up code enforcement for abandoned buildings, he said, and work to get tenants for empty storefronts.

Brittingham won the Democratic primary race for Worcester County Sheriff last fall but lost to Republican Reggie Mason in the general election.

Source; delmarvanow.com http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110331/WCT01/103310302/Pocomoke-candidates-prepare-for-polling-day?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Worcester County Times|s

Radio Comes To The Eastern Shore!

The One Plaza East office building at the intersection of East Main Street and North Division Street in Salisbury was the former Wicomico Hotel and early in its' history it was home to the Eastern Shore's first radio station. In the summer of 1928 WSMD went on the air from studios on the seventh floor of the hotel and was operated by cousins Charles and Alfred Truitt who were also publishers of Salisbury's daily newspaper. A 30 foot antenna was mounted on the hotel's roof and the station had 100 watts of power. WSMD's leased broadcast equipment had been used by The Woodward And Lothrop Department Store in Washington before that service was discontinued.


WSMD's most popular program was "Saturday Night Jamboree" from midnight to 2 AM featuring vaudeville from the Arcade Theater in Salisbury. After midnight there were less than a dozen American radio stations on the air and WSMD was heard as far away as California and Canadian provinces. However, if an SOS signal from a vessel was received the station was required to sign-off until the all-clear was received. 　


(-----12/6/03 Daily Times "In Times Past," Dec.12,1928-----) The "Voice Of The Eastern Shore" was carried to California and also up to New York and New England.


The radio station had received numerous letters from California within the past two days. One listener, Ollie Ross of Sanger, Calif., wrote: "Received your program this evening and wish to say that it was very good. We enjoyed it very much and wish to thank you for your splendid program. Hoping to tune in to WSMD again sometime."


Letters were also received from Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Anna Hakala of Worcester, Mass., wrote: "This is the first time that I have had your station, it was coming in with tremendous loud speaker volume. I enjoyed your program very much. I would like to get a schedule of your programs, also a picture of your station if possible."


The station was also heard in New Jersey. The Eastern Shore was now known by many of those living outside of Maryland.
(-----9/9/53 The Salisbury Times: "Looking Backward" 25 Years Ago----)


Fans throughout the eastern part of the country yesterday heard the play by play description of the doubleheader between the Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Yankees broadcast over radio station WSMD here. Reports from a hundred towns and cities have been received by the station yesterday and today telling of the good reception and the appreciation of baseball fans for this service. Insofar as could be ascertained WSMD was the only station broadcasting a running account of the games as they were being played in the Yankee Stadium, N.Y., and several million listeners heard how the world champions took both engagements and went into the American League lead by 1 1/2 games. Most of the eastern stations were silent during that part of the afternoon and reports indicate that the local station was heard in probably a score of Eastern States. Telephone calls acknowledging reception were received between the first and second games of the program and there was immediate response. The switchboard at Wicomico Hotel, where the studio is located on the seventh floor, was so congested that the operation could not handle all of the them. Everywhere crowds were assembled at receiving sets in public places and about loud speakers placed at points of vantage on city streets.


The most celebrated guests to appear at the Wicomico Hotel studio were Gary Cooper and Faye Wray. Charles Truitt would recount later that prior to his interview with Faye Wray she was quite nervous about making her first live appearance on radio.
Helen Tawes of Crisfield, a vocalist and pianist who studied at The Peabody Institute Of Baltimore, sang on WSMD. Some three decades later she would be First Lady of Maryland when her husband, J. Millard Tawes, was governor.


But after about a year on the air the WSMD owners concluded there was a lack of advertising support to keep radio on the air on the Eastern Shore at that time. So the station ceased operation and its' broadcast equipment was acquired by WGH which was setting up operation in Newport News, Va.
There wouldn't be another try at radio on the Eastern Shore until 1937... (stay tuned).

Contributed by Terry Kleger of Salisbury. terrykleger@yahoo.com

Southern Accomack County 911

Verizon is currently experiencing problems with telephone service in southern Accomack County. 

If unable to reach the 9-1-1 Center by using 9-1-1 or non-emergency lines, those requiring help may report emergencies at their local fire or EMS station.

PRESS RELEASE - March 28, 2011

Trans-Gender, Cross Dressing Bill HB-235
Delegate Mike McDermott Press Release 

Contact: Katlyn Schmitt                                      March 28th, 2011
              240-320-7711 (Cell)
              410-841-3431 (Office)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(ANNAPOLIS) -- “The 86 Delegates who voted for HB-235 should be required to respond to questions from children who may become confused about the gender of their teachers… and questions from parents who feel that their children have been thrown into the adult world” stated Delegate Mike McDermott (R-District 38B) in response to HB-235, Human  Relations – Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – Antidiscrimination.  HB-235 passed in the House on Saturday with a vote of 86-52 and mainly outlaws discrimination against an individuals gender-related identity regardless of their actual sex at birth. It has been referred to as a bill protecting “cross-dressers” and “trans-genders”.

“It is extremely unfortunate that HB-235 passed.  This bill has many negative consequences for our struggling business community which the 86 Delegates who voted for the bill have failed to consider” stated Delegate McDermott.

“As a society, we need to consider the cost of putting our children in a situation where they grow up too abruptly and are confronted with situations that are far beyond their maturity… all in the name of being politically correct” responded Delegate McDermott.

“It is sad that some leaders would want to tear down the barriers that have always been present to protect our children. Society has long established two sacred sanctuaries for innocent children: the mother’s womb and the classroom for the young. One has been torn down and the other is in the process of being torn with the passage of HB-235” continued Delegate McDermott.

“We're dealing with folks who don’t have a compass… they're not sure which direction points up” said Delegate McDermott on the House floor this past Saturday.  The bill and its amendments will be heard in the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee before being voted on in the Senate.

~This Weekend At The MARVA THEATER~

Fri, April 1st   

Sat, April 2nd 

Time: 7 p.m.  

Tickets: $5  

PLOT:  

A young boy named Milo gains a deeper appreciation for his mom after Martians come to Earth to take her away.
Rated PG