~Birthday Today~

AUDREY HEPBURN

b. May 4, 1929  /   d. Jan. 20, 1993

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people."

 ~Audrey Hepburn~

Harmon Murder Trial Will Be Rescheduled

CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL -- A Worcester County Circuit Court Judge postponed the trial of murder suspect Skylor Dupree Harmon at the request of the defense.

Judge Thomas Groton granted the postponement request from defense attorney Denise Fried. The trial, which had been set for May 9-12, will be rescheduled.

"With the trial on Monday, with him facing the rest of his life in jail, we need time to prepare," Fried said.

Harmon faces first-degree murder charges from his alleged role in the May 2010 death of Virginia resident Reginald Jerome Handy Jr.

Alexander Crippen, 36, was originally charged with the crime, but the charges were dropped, and he was later convicted of trying to kill a different man. At the time, prosecutors said the forensic evidence that cleared Crippen of murder charges in Handy's death was also helpful in identifying Harmon as the suspect.

Fried told the judge she needed time to go through the transcripts from Crippen's case to study testimony of witnesses who might be testifying against Harmon. She also wants to transcribe the audio tapes associated with the case and to give Harmon the chance to listen to them.

Harmon was identified as the primary suspect in Handy's death in December. According to court documents, the night Handy was shot at 503 Laurel St. in Pocomoke City, a witness saw a flash of a gun go off beside 500 Young St., which parallels Laurel Street. A witness told police that immediately afterward, he saw Harmon near the flash. Police later found a .223 Bushmaster assault rifle between 500 and 502 Young St., which was determined to be the weapon used to killed Handy, according to court documents.

Fried said the postponement would also give her time to consult an expert regarding the bullet that killed Handy. She said the bullet could not necessarily be traced to the gun found at the scene.

In separate court cases, Harmon was also charged with resisting arrest, failure to obey law enforcement, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, disorderly conduct, making a false statement to a police officer, malicious destruction of property and obstructing and hindering.

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110504/NEWS01/105040382/Harmon-murder-trial-rescheduled?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|frontpage|p

Johnnie Edwards Mixes It Up With "In The Mix"

First run of the 2011 mudbogging season. 

Some of you may not know but the driver of "In The Mix" is no stranger to driving this jeep through any kind of mud.  Johnnie drove this same jeep years ago in Crisfield during the mud hop days.

With a new engine this year and new tires Johnnie and his jeep set out for their first run.  These guys that support this sport have a true love for mud.  That's just  my opinion, however.  Making mudpies is more my speed.

Mud conditions don't matter to this racer and his jeep.  And this isn't a complete pass.  But it is a taste of what will happen when he does.......and I'll probably mess my pants!

 

Johnnie Edwards - "In The Mix" 

MINI OPEN Class

GOOD JOB, JOHNNIE!!

Next time's the charm.

~ At The MarVa Theater This Weekend ~

Fri, May 6th   

Sat, May 7th 

Time: 7 p.m.  

Tickets: $5  

PLOT:  

E.B., the Easter Bunny's teenage son, heads to Hollywood, determined to become a drummer in a rock 'n' roll band. In LA, he's taken in by Fred after the out-of-work slacker hits E.B. with his car.

 Rated PG

 

Campaign Aims To Change Federal Gun Laws

By: WILL JONES

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones on Monday joined relatives of gun-violence victims, including ones killed or injured in the mass shootings at Virginia Tech, in endorsing a campaign to close gaps in federal gun laws.

The Fix Gun Checks campaign was launched in February after the shootings in Tucson, Ariz., in which a gunman killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.

The campaign, sponsored by the bipartisan coalition Mayors Against Illegal Guns, is calling for an updated national database of people who are legally prohibited from buying guns, as well as for background checks on every purchase.

Campaign spokesman Omar Samaha, whose sister, Reema, was among those killed in gunman Seung-Hui Cho's massacre at Virginia Tech in April 2007, said the measures would be a good first step. He said Cho was able to pass two background checks when he bought guns used in the rampage despite having been ordered by a judge to get mental-health treatment 16 months earlier.

"We are trying to make it at least more difficult (to buy guns), and we're not trying to create a public forum where felons, criminals and those adjudicated mentally ill are purchasing guns," Samaha said.

To reinforce its message, the campaign is traveling across the country with a billboard truck that includes a LED counter that's updated every 42 minutes to reflect the number of "Americans Murdered with Guns Since Tucson."

The tally, which is based on the national average of 34 people murdered in gun violence per day, showed 3,878 as the truck was parked along 10th Street by Richmond City Hall. Also endorsing the campaign were Del. Delores L. McQuinn, D-Richmond, and state Sens. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond and A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico.

About 20 supporters of the Virginia Citizens Defense League attended the news conference to express opposition to tightening gun laws.

The changes requested by Mayors Against Illegal Guns would do little to reduce crime and would infringe on the rights of responsible gun owners while also allowing the government to create a de facto gun registry, said Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. "Criminals have two guaranteed ways to get guns. They can steal the guns. ... They can simply do a straw purchase. ... There's no way to stop that."

The gun-rights advocacy group challenges the coalition's mainstream appeal. Van Cleave said Mayors Against Illegal Guns represents less than 7 percent of the more than 8,000 mayors of cities with populations of at least 30,000. He said about 75 percent of the membership comes from six states — New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and California.

But Lori Haas, whose daughter, Emily, was hurt in the shootings at Virginia Tech, said she doesn't understand the resistance. "If they're law-abiding citizens, then why don't they want to stop those criminals who give gun owners a bad name?"

Source; http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/local-news/2011/may/03/tdmet03-campaign-aims-to-change-federal-gun-laws-ar-1012246/

Big Government. Small Brains. Dumb Laws

These dumb laws are still on the books. I like the one about spitting on a seagull, boy someone must of been a good aim. And the last one is a real doosy.

Not only is it illegal to have sex with the lights on, one may not have sex in any position other than missionary.

There is a state law prohibiting “corrupt practices of bribery by any person other than candidates.

You may not engage in business on Sundays, with the exception of almost every industry.

Full text of the law.

 

If one is not married, it is illegal for him to have sexual relations.

Full text of the law.

 

You may not have oral or anal sex.

Why does this law exist?
Full text of the law.

 

Police radar detectors are illegal.

Full text of the law.

 

Citizens must honk their horn while passing other cars.

Children are not to go trick-or-treating on Halloween.

It is illegal to tickle women.

 No animal may be hunted for on Sunday with the exception of raccoons, which may be hunted until 2:00 AM.

Full text of the law.

City Laws in Virginia

Culpeper

No one may wash a mule on the sidewalk.

Dayton

A person of color may not be oustide or within the city limits after 7 pm.

Frederick

Any person who owns a pool risks a $2500 fine for not closing the gate to the pool when they get done swimming in it.

Full text of the law.

 

A special license is required for persons wishing to sell such items as tableware and coins.

Full text of the law.

 

Norfolk

Spitting on a sea gull is not tolerated.

A man may face 60 days in jail for patting a woman’s derriere.

Women must wear a corsette after sundown and be in the company of male chaperone.

Prince William County

No person may keep a skunk as a pet.

Full text of the law.

 

It is illegal to cuss about another.

Full text of the law.

 

It is illegal to park a car on railroad tracks.

Full text of the law.

Richmond

It is illegal to flip a coin in a restaurant to see who pays for a coffee.

Stafford County

It is legal for a man to beat his wife on the courthouse steps so long as it is before 8:00 pm.

Victoria

It is illegal to skate down the sidewalk of Main Street.

Virginia Beach

If you are drunk and not driving your car, and the person who is driving the car is drunk as well, you may both receive DUI’s.

It is illegal for a person to ride on the handlebars of a bike.

It is illegal to use profanity on Atlantic Avenue or the boardwalk.

It is also unlawful to drive by the same place within 30 minutes on Atlantic Avenue.

Waynesboro

It is illegal for a woman to drive a car up Main Street unless her husband is walking in front of the car waving a red flag.

Letter To The Editor

Dear Editor,

About 14 to 16 months ago the Mayor and Council began an earnest search for a suitable building to house our police department.   There are many reasons this needed to be done.  The old armory that currently houses the PD is well over 80 years old.  The roof leaks, the furnace is unreliable, there is lead paint, asbestos and mold in the building.  Early 20^th century lighting, wiring and public facilities are not adequate in a 21^st century world, the jail is no longer serviceable and the building wastes energy like you would not believe.  Our police officers and the public deserve better than this.  We considered several buildings and finally settled on the one next to the PVFC on Market Street.  An older building had been considered, but we were advised that the cost of renovation would exceed one million dollars, which did not include the purchase price of the property.

When renovations are completed, we should have a new modern station for considerable less than one million dollars.  Some advantages of the new station in no particular order are:

      It will be ADA compliant, contained all on one ground level floor

      Much greater energy efficiency, resulting in savings for decades to come

      More parking for public and officers without having to cross the street

      Little or no environmental hazards in the building (lead, asbestos, mold)

      More visible location, easier to find for folks from out of town

      Better coordination with the PVFC due to being located next door

      7 year old building instead of an 85+/- year old building

      A fenced impound and prisoner transfer lot

Officers will have the ability to transfer prisoner from patrol car to jail cell inside the building.  This will be safer for the officers, prisoners and the public.

Prisoners will no longer have to be immediately delivered to Snow Hill for incarceration which will save on gasoline and wear and tear on police vehicles and keep officers in town.

Original building was built by a local contractor which will make renovations easier and less costly.

Building is already partially wired for computer communications and all other utilities are in place

Plenty of room for evidence storage and processing

Space to provide meeting room for joint task force operations with other law enforcement agencies

Police will have much quicker access to US 13 and 113 where many of our traffic accidents occur

The building is a good deal for the city.  A building this size would cost over $750,000.00 to build not including the land which several of your readers have already pointed out.

We cannot know for sure what the utility savings will be, but we expect that the savings may offset between one half and two thirds of the annual mortgage cost, compared to the armory.

It is important to keep in mind that moving the station less than a mile from its present location will not affect policing anywhere in the city.  Officers do not spend much time in the station except for roll call and processing prisoners.  The Mayor, Council, City Manager and Police Chief will monitor policing activities as this process moves forward and take corrective action if needed.

Remember, we have not settled on the property yet, so this is all still in the planning stages.  More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.  My apologies for the length of this article, but I felt it was important to share this information.

I will close by saying that there was not one single negative comment regarding this issue at our meeting tonight.  Finally, God Bless and Protect our police officers and Thank God for the U. S. Navy Seals!

Respectfully,
Rob Clarke
Councilman, 5^th District

Baltimore Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis Helps Boy After Mother's Suicide

NEW YORK (AP) -- NFL linebacker Ray Lewis is helping a 10-year-old New York boy whose mother drowned herself and three children by driving a van into the Hudson River.

The surviving child, La'Shaun Armstrong, was to attend a Manhattan fundraiser of the United Athletes Foundation on Saturday night. Some of the proceeds will go to him, including scholarship money.

The Baltimore Ravens star says he reached out to the child as soon as he heard about the April 12 tragedy. The boy escaped through a van window after the car plunged into the water in Newburgh, N.Y., and was rescued by a passing driver.

La'Shaun's 25-year-old mother, Lashanda Armstrong, reportedly was distraught over an argument with her boyfriend.

La'Shaun told the Daily News that meeting the 35-year-old linebacker was "awesome."

Lewis says the boy needs mentoring from a father figure. His biological father, Todd Johnson, is in prison on a robbery conviction.

As soon as he heard news of the accident, "I was like, 'I need to find him,' " Lewis told the newspaper at a Manhattan bowling complex earlier this week, when the boy arrived with his grandmother and another relative to meet the NFL player and get some bowling tips from him.

"Nobody is supposed to walk through life alone with that, especially being 10 years old," said Lewis, who is vice chairman of the United Athletes Foundation.

The nonprofit was created in 2008 by a group of professional athletes whose aim is to improve the lives of athletes and their communities.

The president of the nonprofit, former NFL cornerback Reggie Howard, took La'Shaun shopping for clothes earlier this week.

The foundation plans to help La'Shaun well into the future.

"I don't want to come into his life for a phase," Lewis said. "I want to be in his life forever."

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110501/SPORTS/105010338/Ray-Lewis-helps-boy-after-mom-s-suicide-plunge?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|frontpage|s

E-cycling focus of Earth Day Festival On Chincoteague

ON CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND

4th ANNUAL MOTHER EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

Saturday  May 7,  20ll   10:00 AM until  4:00 PM

At the Robert Reed Downtown Waterfront Park

 The Festival is sponsored by the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance to increase awareness about the ways we can help protect the area we live in and the planet.

At last year's festival, over 7,600 pounds of household hazardous waste materials were collected, breaking all records on the Eastern Shore.

This year, the focus is on Electronics recycling. Any type of electronics may be recycled -- computers, keyboards, monitors, printers, scanners, TVs, gaming systems, MP3 players, iPods, cell phones, digital clocks, batteries, stereos, telephones, answering machines, etc. Donation of most items is free. The only charge will be $1 for old style computer monitors and $5 for televisions. Electronics discarded in our landfills release toxins and pollute our environment. While you are doing your spring cleaning this year, put aside any electronics you no longer need and bring them to the Mother Earth Day Festival for recycling.

Also Tidewater Recycling, which is the company that picks up on Chincoteague, will be on hand with educational information and displays to answer all your questions. There will be a 'Pledge Mural' that you and the kids can paint on and will be displayed around town.

In addition to the recycling events, live music featuring Men with Issues, Hemlock Hollow and surprise entertainers will play throughout the day. Over 20 artist/vendors will be participating, including a plant sale. This year's silent auction to raise funds to support future free CCA events features chairs designed by famous local artists. The entries are on display at Sundial Books on Main St.

For more information, please contact Megan at Egret Moon Artworks 757-336-5775 or e-mail egretmoon@yahoo.com.

Source; shoredailynews.com

"Short and Sassy" Finishes In First Place

"Short and Sassy" finished in first place on Saturday April 30, 2011 on opening day of the Gumboro Mudbog.

This year the truck has a new 454 engine built by Roger Evans ("Odie's Garage") and fine tuned, I guess you could say, by Donald "Pencil Me In" Bowden. 

"Short and Sassy" won first place in the SMALL TIRE SUPER STOCK class with a 12.023.  Because of the conditions of the pits that's pretty good.

Due to camera difficulties I wasn't able to record the first and winning race but here is the video  of the second race.  Timing was unavailable.   

Useless Trivia

Heroin is the brand name of morphine once marketed by 'Bayer'.


Tourists visiting Iceland should know that tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult!
   
People in nudist colonies play volleyball more than any other sport.
   
Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952, but he declined. He died April 18, 1955
   
Astronauts can't belch -  there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their stomachs.
   
Ancient Roman, Chinese  and German societies often used urine as mouthwash.  Boy am I glad I didn’t live back then!
   
    
The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. In the Renaissance era, it was fashion to shave them off!
   
Because of the speed at which Earth moves around the Sun, it is impossible for a solar eclipse to last more than 7 minutes and 58 seconds.
   
The night of January 20^th is "Saint Agnes's Eve", which is regarded as a time when a young woman dreams of her future husband.
   
    
Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros
   
It takes glass one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite amount of times!
   

Gold is the only metal that doesn't rust, even if it's buried in the ground for thousands of  years
   
Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one  end
   
If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. When a human body is dehydrated,  its thirst 
mechanism shuts  off.
   
Each year 2,000,000 smokers either quit smoking or die of tobacco-related diseases.
   
    
Zero is the only number that cannot be represented by Roman numerals
   
Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers.
   
The song, Auld Lang Syne, is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year.
   
   
Drinking water after eating reduces the acid in your mouth by 61percent
   
Peanut oil is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn't smoke unless it's heated above  450 degrees F   
    
The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.
   
Nine out of every 10 living things live in the ocean
   
The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man
   
Airports at higher altitudes require a longer airstrip due to lower air density
     
The University of Alaska spans four time zones
   
The tooth is the only part of the human body that cannot heal itself.
   
In ancient Greece, tossing an apple to a girl was a traditional proposal of marriage.  Catching it meant she accepted.  I can’t catch – I guess I’d be an old maid!

   
  
Warner Communications paid $28 million for the copyright to the song Happy Birthday.
   
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
   
A comet's tail always points away from the sun
   
The Swine Flu vaccine in 1976 caused more death and illness than the disease it was intended to  prevent
   
Caffeine increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers that is why it is found in some medicines.
   
The military salute is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armor raised their visors to reveal their identity.
   
If you get into the bottom of a well or a tall chimney and look up, you can see stars, even in the middle of the day.
   
When a person dies, hearing is the last sense to go. The first sense lost is sight
    
In ancient times strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed
   
Strawberries are the only fruits whose seeds grow on the outside
   
Avocados have the highest calories of any fruit at 167 calories per hundred grams

  
The moon moves about two inches away from the Earth each year
   The Earth gets 100 tons  heavier every day due to falling space dust
   
Due to earth's gravity it is impossible for mountains to be higher than 15,000 meters
   
   
Mickey Mouse is known as "Topolino" in Italy
   
Soldiers do not march in step when going across bridges because they could set up a vibration which could be sufficient to knock the bridge down
      
Everything weighs one percent less at the equator
   
For every extra kilogram carried on a space flight, 530 kg of excess fuel are needed at lift-off
   
The letter J does not appear anywhere on the periodic table of the elements.   

Hat Tip; Kack

The Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA)

Washington, DC March 23, 2011 - The Obama Administration is urging Congress and the Senate to pass sweeping legislation that will provide new benefits for many Americans: The Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA) . President Obama said he will sign it as soon as it hits his desk.

The AWNAA is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.

'Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society,' said California Senator Barbara Boxer. 'We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing. We are legalizing another protected class of Americans.'

In a Capitol Hill press conference, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons of Inability.

Private-sector industries with good records of non-discrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%), the airline industry (68%), and home improvement 'warehouse' stores (65%). At the state government level, the Department of Motor Vehicles also has an excellent record of hiring Persons of Inability (a whopping 83%).

Under The Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million 'middle man' positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.

Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given so as to guarantee upward mobility for even the most inept employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations that promote a significant number of Persons of Inability into middle-management positions, and gives a tax credit to small and medium-sized businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.

Finally, the AWNAA contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Non-abled, banning, for example, discriminatory interview questions such as, 'Do you have any skills or experience that relate to this job?'

'As a Non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them,' said Ken Cox, who lost his position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint , Michigan , due to his inability to remember 'righty tightey, lefty loosey.' 'This new law should be real good for people like me,' Cox added. With the passage of this bill, Cox and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL): 'As a Senator with no abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her inadequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation and a good salary for doing so.'

The Craziest Things Go Through The Mud

I've seen some of the craziest vehicles  driven through the knee deep thick gooey mud at Gumboro.  And some of those vehicles are actually the transportation to get to Gumboro.  But I've never seen one  of these.

David Elliott of Virginia brought his ARGO to Gumboro on Saturday to test in the  mud.   There is a  2 cylinder Briggs and Stratton motor in this little thing and it  will get you anywhere you want to go.

Even through deep think mud.  Watch this!

Elite SEALs From Va. Beach-based Unit Swooped In On bin Laden

American Troops did another KICK-A--- Job!!  THANKYOU!!

By MATT APUZZO

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON  — Helicopters descended out of darkness on the most important counterterrorism mission in U.S. history. It was an operation so secret, only a select few U.S. officials knew what was about to happen.

The location was a fortified compound in an affluent Pakistani town two hours outside Islamabad. The target was Osama bin Laden.

Intelligence officials discovered the compound in August while monitoring an al-Qaida courier. The CIA had been hunting that courier for years, ever since detainees told interrogators that the courier was so trusted by bin Laden that he might very well be living with the al-Qaida leader.

Nestled in an affluent neighborhood, the compound was surrounded by walls as high as 18 feet, topped with barbed wire. Two security gates guarded the only way in. A third-floor terrace was shielded by a seven-foot privacy wall. No phone lines or Internet cables ran to the property. The residents burned their garbage rather than put it out for collection. Intelligence officials believed the million-dollar compound was built five years ago to protect a major terrorist figure. The question was, who?

The CIA asked itself again and again who might be living behind those walls. Each time, they concluded it was almost certainly bin Laden.

President Barack Obama described the operation in broad strokes Sunday night. Details were provided in interviews with counterterrorism and intelligence authorities, senior administration officials and other U.S. officials. All spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive operation.

By mid-February, intelligence from multiple sources was clear enough that Obama wanted to "pursue an aggressive course of action," a senior administration official said. Over the next two and a half months, Obama led five meetings of the National Security Council focused solely on whether bin Laden was in that compound and, if so, how to get him, the official said.

Normally, the U.S. shares its counterterrorism intelligence widely with trusted allies in Britain, Canada, Australia and elsewhere. And the U.S. normally does not carry out ground operations inside Pakistan without collaboration with Pakistani intelligence. But this mission was too important and too secretive.

On April 29, Obama approved an operation to kill bin Laden. It was a mission that required surgical accuracy, even more precision than could be delivered by the government's sophisticated Predator drones.

To execute it, Obama tapped a small contingent of the Navy's elite SEAL Team Six, based in Virginia Beach, and put them under the command of CIA Director Leon Panetta, whose analysts monitored the compound from afar.

Panetta was directly in charge of the team, a U.S. official said, and his conference room was transformed into a command center.

Details of exactly how the raid unfolded remain murky. But the al-Qaida courier, his brother and one of bin Laden's sons were killed. No Americans were injured. Senior administration officials will only say that bin Laden "resisted." And then the man behind the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil died from an American bullet to his head.

It was mid-afternoon in Virginia when Panetta and his team received word that bin Laden was dead. Cheers and applause broke out across the conference room.

Source; http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/breaking-news/2011/may/02/8/choppers-elite-troops-swooped-obama-ar-1010445/

Pocomoke Council Moving Forward On New Police Building

Jennifer Shutt

Staff Writer

POCOMOKE CITY -- The Pocomoke City Police Department may soon get a new building.

At the upcoming council meeting, Mayor Bruce Morrison is expected to sign a resolution that would set in motion a $532,000 mortgage from Shore Bank to purchase a newer building on Market Street.

The police department has been in the same building since the mid-1960s, according to City Manager Russell Blake. The building was originally an armory built in the 1920s and later given to the city.

"The condition is such that it's beyond its economic life," said Blake of the 85-year-old building. "We have repaired it and repaired it and stretched its life probably beyond what we should have."

Could this be the new location for the Pocomoke City Police Dept.?

The chance to purchase the 7,600-square-foot building developed during the past four months. Blake said the city began looking for available and appropriate properties to house the 16 police officer unit about a year ago.

"I'm sure it's going to boost the employees' spirits by moving into a nice, professional facility," said Pocomoke City Police Chief J.D. Ervin.

Once the sale is finalized, the one-story building will need to undergo renovations to accommodate the police department.

"The inside would have to be divided properly," Ervin said. "We would have to figure out what offices we need and where they need to be located so everything is functional."

Blake said once the sale is final, the city will begin to work with an engineering firm to determine how to remodel the property to suit the police department's needs.

Other business

City officials are also expected to give second readings to two resolutions.

The first would amend the charter by bringing it up to date with current voting laws and regulations in Worcester County. Two sections of the charter that state in order to vote in city elections, residents must register at City Hall, are expected to be removed.

"The county has taken over the registration of voters for all municipal elections, so those paragraphs are no longer needed," Blake said.

The council is also scheduled to amend charter language on the employment of elected officials.

"If approved, it will stipulate that no elected official can be hired as a city employee unless it's at least one year after the expiration of their term or one year after they resign," Blake said.

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011105020312

Osama bin Laden Killed

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former President George W. Bush, who was in office at the time of the September 11 attacks and famously said he wanted Osama bin Laden dead or alive, on Sunday called the death of the al Qaeda leader a "momentous achievement."

President Barack Obama called Bush in Dallas at 9:04 p.m. central time to inform him that bin Laden was dead and they spoke for four minutes, a Bush spokesman said.

The September 11 attacks were a defining moment of Bush's presidency. He launched the war in Afghanistan and the hunt for bin Laden spanned the rest of his presidency.

"This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001," Bush said in a statement.

"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," he said.

Source; http://www.wtkr.com/news/politics/sns-rt-politics-us-obama-btre7410ms-20110502,0,3329659.story

Arrests Made In Robbery and Shooting

Accomack County- Virginia
According to Major Todd Godwin, arrests have been made in the robbery and shooting of an individual who was located on Whites Neck Road near Parksley, Virginia on April 17, 2011.

 Donovan Robert Weathers  (18 yoa) of Accomac was arrested April 25 on charges of Robbery, Malicious Wounding, Abduction and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. Weathers is incarcerated in the Accomack County Jail with bond denied.

 Kentray Devon Bailey (18 yoa)  was arrested April 18 on charges of Robbery, Malicious Wounding, Abduction and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. Bailey is incarcerated in the Accomack County Jail with bond denied.

A 17 year old juvenile was also arrested on April 18 on charges of Robbery, Malicious Wounding, Abduction and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. He is currently being held in the Norfolk Detention Center.

The victim in this case is still undergoing medical treatment for the injuries he sustained during this incident.

Source;  shoredailynews.com

Tonight Live

President Obama is be on  televison tonight after 10:30.

Subject is to be announced.

NEW Attraction At Gumboro Mudbog

There was a shortage of spectators yesterday for the opening of the Gumboro 2011 Mudbog Season but not a shortage on vehicles for the mud competition. 

The sponsors of the Gumboro Mudbog have  added  something new this year.  It's a lifted short bus  riding on oversized tires.  This was a tremendous hit!  For $5.00 you can ride the bus on a new muddy track that is situated just as you enter the mudbog grounds.

During intermission yesterday the bus made it's way though the 200 foot muddy pit  some drivers struggle to get through!  No problem with those tires!

Pocomoke City Mayor and Council Meeting

AGENDA

POCOMOKE CITY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

7:30 P.M., MONDAY, MAY 2, 2011

CITY HALL

1.                  Call to Order, Prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance.

2.                  Review and approval of minutes from meeting of April 11, 2011.

3.                  Review and approval of bills to be paid.

4.                  Presentation of plaque to former Mayor Michael McDermott in recognition of his six years of service as Mayor of Pocomoke City (2005-2011).

5.                  Authorize Mayor to sign Proclamation for Municipal Clerks Week.

6.                  Public Hearing on proposed 2012 Community Development Block Grant application and update on ongoing CDBG projects

7.                  Res. No. 445 to authorize submission of 2012 CDBG application to State DHCD.

8.                  Discuss letter from Assateague Peoples, Inc.  regarding use of the City tent for 19^th   Annual Pow Wow on

May 20-22, 2011.

9.                  Authorize Mayor to sign Memorandum of Agreement between Pocomoke City and VDOT regarding sewer service.

10.              Res. No. 446 to authorize Mayor to sign agreement with Shore Bank for acquisition of property for use as Police Station.

11.              Second Reading of Res. # 443 to amend Charter by deleting Sections C-32 and C-33 regarding voter registration for Municipal elections.

12.              Second Reading of Res.  #444 to amend the Charter by adding language to Section 23A regarding the employment of elected officials.

13.              City Attorney to present revised lease agreement between Pocomoke City and Bloosurf Broadband Co regarding the placement of antennas on City water towers.

14.              Authorize City Manager to request proposals/bids:

a.       Architectural Services for interior modifications for new Police Station.

b.      Electrical Services for new pedestals on docks.

c.       Construction of new restaurant adjacent to Delmarva Discovery Center.

15.              Set date for auction of surplus vehicle and equipment.

Comments from the Audience

Mayor and Council items.

Adjourn

AGENDAS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL THE

 TIME OF CONVENING.

TIME MACHINE

December, 1930

A 2,500 seat boxing arena was set to open on the Pocomoke Fairgrounds. Arena manager Henry W. Conant of Chincoteague said a series of exhibitions would be scheduled during the coming months. The opening night card would feature a bout between Eastern Shore fighter Danny Russell and an opponent from Portsmouth, Va.



January, 1931
(The Frederick Post)

Either backers of the sporting arena at Pocomoke City have an unlimited amount of cash or else they have a wonderful drawing power. Jack Dempsey is to appear in that town to referee a fight show for $2,000 or fifty percent of the gate. Dempsey will be paid off in cash and it may be the end of boxing in that section. Thousand dollar guarantees have been paid in Hagerstown but never has one man walked out with two thousand berries tucked away safely in his jeans.



February, 1931
(Cumberland Evening Times)

Former World's Heavyweight Champion Goes Over Big In Pocomoke City

Pocomoke City, Md. Feb. 4(AP)- More than 2000 Eastern Shore fight fans saw Jack Dempsey, former heavyweight champion, as he refereed two matches of a boxing card here Tuesday night. Dempsey attended a dinner as a guest of the Lions Club of Salisbury, and before he entered the ring he was kept busy autographing programs.

Words of Wisdom

To make half a kilo of  honey, bees must collect nectar from over 2 million individual  flowers

Unlikely Friends