Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Sunday At The Crisfield Mud Hop

For the second year in a row the Eastern Shore Mud Racing  Association and the Crisfield Elks Lodge made the Crisfield Mud Hop happen!  Prior to last years mud hop it had been twenty years since the event had been in Crisfield.

There was plenty of food and during  and everyone agreed that the cool breeze this year was a welcomed improvement from the weather last year when humidity on that day was at a high level.  The disadvantage to the cool breeze was the drying of the track and a few  times racing was halted between classes to "make mud" and it did remedy the dusty problem for many spectators.

But spectators don't mind.  They just want want to see  racing.

As always it's wonderful to see families in attending. 

A resonable admission fee is one good reason and the fact that anyone can venture into the pits to get a closer look at the trucks.



'Heartless' Mayor Refuses To Let Residents Stay In FEMA Trailers After Storm

A mayor in a small town devastated by a tornado has sparked outrage over his refusal to let homeless residents stay in trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Jack Scott has been branded heartless after his decision not to waive a local law banning single-wide trailers in the town of Cordova, Alabama.

He said he fears the temporary accommodation could become permanent and says he doesn't want run-down mobile homes parked all over town.

Angry residents met on Saturday night and called for Mr Sciott's removal from office.

One resident, James Ruston, said his house was knocked off its foundation by the tornadoes that blasted through the town last month and is still uninhabitable.

He thought help had finally arrived when a truck pulled up to his property with a mobile home from FEMA.

Then he was informed of the ban on single-wide mobile homes.

Mr Ruston and many others see the city's decision as a sign that leaders don't care that some people are barely surviving in the rubble.

Felicia Boston, standing on a debris-strewn plot where a friend lost his home in the tornado, said: 'People have to live somewhere. What's it matter if it's in a trailer?'

Mr Scott, however, has heard all the complaints but is unrepentant.

He said: 'I don't feel guilty. I can look anyone in the eye.'

Blue-collar Cordova has a population of about 2,000 and is 35 miles north west of Birmingham.

It was hit by a pair of powerful tornadoes on April 27, the day twisters killed more than 300 people across the South east.

Officials say 238 died in Alabama, the highest death toll for any state in a spring of violent weather, the Associated Press reports.

An EF-3 tornado with winds of at least 140mph walloped the town around 5.30am, knocking out power and damaging numerous buildings.

An EF-4 with winds around 170mph struck about 12 hours later, killing four people and cutting a path of destruction a half-mile wide through Cordova.

On Main Street, virtually every storefront was destroyed and is now deserted, blocked by a chain-link fence.
Scores of homes, businesses and city buildings were destroyed.

Residents assumed they would be living in hundreds of the skinny FEMA mobile homes like people in neighbouring towns hit by tornadoes.

The Cordova Police Department, a pharmacy, a bank and City Hall all have moved into similar trailers since the storm.

But the city enacted a law three years ago that bans single-wide trailers.

Mr Scott said that older single-wide mobile homes are allowed under the law as well as double-wide mobile homes.

The law is the law, he said, and a tornado isn't any reason to change it.

The residents disgust and despair is exacerbated by the decisions of other towns with similar laws that have granted waivers.

At Saturday night's meeting resident Harvey Hastings said: 'There are trailers all over here but Scott wants to clean all the trash out. He doesn't like lower-class people.'

The cotton mill, brick plant and coal mine that once made Cordova prosperous shut down years ago.

Resident Tony Tidwell said residents simply can't afford to new houses to replace the homes that the twisters blew away.

He accused the city of double standards over it decision to the local authorities to use trailers but not residents.

'Let the people have a place to live,' he said.

Mr Scott defended that decision by saying the city can use small trailers because it is for the common good.

The mayor said: 'It's temporary and we know it's temporary. We're trying to provide services for everyone.'

Storm victims are supposed to live in FEMA accommodation for a maximum of 18 months after a disaster, yet about 260 campers are still occupied by survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast more than five years after those storms.

Mr Scott said the same thing could happen in Cordova if the city bends it rules to help tornado victims.


Crisfield Shooting Suspect Arrested In Baltimore

WMDT

MARYLAND - A suspect wanted for attempted murder after a shooting in Crisfield has been arrested in Baltimore.

Police say back on May 21st, Daniel Smith Jr. shot a man in the head at Somers Cove Apartments.

Authorities say an argument led to the shooting.

The victim is recovering and was last listed in fair condition.

Smith is currently being held in Baltimore City - waiting to be brought back for questioning and trial in Somerset County.

Netanyahu Interview Arab Revolution started in Iran, Israel is only place where Arabs Have Rights

 This is worth a watch...

Life from the seat of a tractor

An old farmer's words of wisdom we could all live by.......




Advice from Can-Man

“Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight - and bull-strong.”

“Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.”

“Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.”

“A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.”

“Words that soak into your ears are whispered…....not yelled.”

“Meanness don't just happen overnight.”

“Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.”

“Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.”

“It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.”

“You cannot unsay a cruel word.”

“Every path has a few puddles.”

“When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.”

“The best sermons are lived, not preached.”

“Most of the stuff people worry about, ain't never gonna happen anyway.”

“Don't judge folks by their relatives.

“Remember that silence! is sometimes the best answer.”

“Live a good and honorable life, then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second  time.”

“Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.”

“Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.”

“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.”

“Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

“The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.”

“Always drink upstream from the herd.”

“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from  bad judgment.”

“Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.”

“If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.”

“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave  the rest to God.”

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

And... 


Pocomoke Schools Receive Re-accreditation through Middle States Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools -- Educators Lead the Way to School Improvement --

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        Contact:        Laura Bishop/Caitlin Dunican
May 31, 2011                                                                                      (856) 642-6226



POCOMOKE, MD – The Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), based in Philadelphia, Pa., announced that
Pocomoke Elementary School, accredited since 2004; Pocomoke Middle School, accredited since 2004; and Pocomoke High School, accredited since 1963 recently earned re-accreditation. The schools earned accreditation by completing an intensive evaluation process culminating in a multi-day visit to the schools by a volunteer team of regional educators appointed by Middle States.

During the visit, the Middle States team met with and interviewed members of the school communities including teachers, students, parents and administrators, as well as representatives of the governing boards. Team members toured the facilities, studied plans for school improvement and documentation related to the schools’ operation and student performance and observed classrooms.

The schools join a network of more than 3,600 schools accredited by the Middle States Association in the mid-Atlantic region and in more than 80 countries around the world. Middle States accreditation is recognized around the world as an indication of educational quality.

“MSA’s accreditation process goes beyond simply test scores to measure a school’s overall effectiveness,” said MSA-CESS President Henry G. Cram, Ed.D. “Members must take responsibility for their students’ performance, be committed to public accountability and dedicated to continuous improvement.”

To become an accredited member in the Middle States Association, a school must meet the association’s rigorous standards, undertake a comprehensive year-long self-study and host an onsite visit by a team of regional educational professionals.

According to Cram, school quality is best measured by individual student growth over time and the value added by the educational experience the school provides. 

“Accreditation helps a school and its community to understand how it is doing, but more importantly, learn what it needs to do to improve—a key element missing from most other school assessments,” said Cram.
- 30 -


About the Middle States Association (MSA)
Based in Philadelphia, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is the internationally recognized leader in the accreditation of educational institutions, schools, and colleges in the mid-Atlantic region and around the world. The association consists of three commissions - Higher Education, Secondary and Elementary.  The commissions
accredit educational institutions in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and in more than 80 countries around the world.

About the Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)
The Middle States Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools accredits more than 3600 public, non-public and charter elementary, middle, intermediate and secondary schools as well as non-degree granting career and technical postsecondary institutions, special purpose schools, supplementary education centers, educational service units and distance education institutions.

For more information about accreditation through the Middle States Association visit www.middlestates.org.




Jen Micklow
Thomas/Boyd Communications
117 North Church Street
Moorestown, NJ 08057
856-642-6226 x15
856-642-6336 (fax)
http://www.thomasboyd.com
We're on Facebook! Become a fan at
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 31, 2011

Contact Ann Gibb at agibb1@verizon.net or 410-632-2080
Free Concert: The United States Air Force Heritage Ramblers Dixie Group
Snow Hill, MD – Enjoy a concert given by the United States Air Force Heritage Ramblers Dixie group of the USAF Heritage of America Band at Byrd Park in Snow Hill, on Friday June 10, 2011 at 7:00 pm.  The concert is free and open to the public.

The Heritage Ramblers feature the diverse talents of 6 professional musicians whose commitment to excellence has earned worldwide acclaim and military distinction. This New Orleans style Dixie group performs patriotic and original music in the style of Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Jack Teagarden, and Bix Beiderbecke.
Activated in 1941, The United States Air Force Heritage of America Band has a rich history of inspiring public patriotism and enhancing esprit de corps among all the US military service branches.  These world-class musicians come from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia.  They travel more than 30,000 miles each year, performing concerts for the public and providing music for military protocol events throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  Under the leadership of Major Jeffrey B. Warner, the USAF Heritage of America Band remains at the forefront of preserving and enriching America's military and musical heritage into the 21st century.
People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Light refreshments are available. Rain venue is All Hallows Church at 109 W Market Street. For additional information about this free concert, please contact the Town of Snow Hill at 410-632-2080 or www.snowhillmd.com  or visit the band’s website www.heritageofamericaband.af.mil

Ann M. Gibb
Work: 410-632-2080
Cell: 757-999-9911

Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day

In Remembrance of those who have served our country.
Mr. Brian Bundick and Ron Castaneda
(both deceased)
Just two of the many that recognized the importance of FREEDOM
and once served in the military to protect us.

To our men and women in uniforms of the military that once served to protect this great country of America, and to those who continune to serve and protect, it is because of your sacrifices that we all enjoy freedom.

You are not forgotten.

You don't have to love America as much as most of us do but you SHOULD be grateful to those men and women serving our country daily so that you may have that option.
Please continue to support and pray for our men and women serving in the military and for their families that must endure the days that turn into weeks, then months without their loved ones.......

Sunday, May 29, 2011

TIME MACHINE

June, 1952

Pocomoke City was preparing to welcome thousands of visitors as host town to the 5th annual Delmarva Chicken Festival. The National Guard Armory on Second Street would be the site of many of the Festival activities including The National Chicken Cooking contest with more than a hundred competitors, and with press on hand from across the nation. More than 25 contestants would vie for the title of festival queen on the stage of the Marva Theatre with a queen's ball to be held at Pocomoke High School on Market Street. A special forum for broilermen would take place at the Fox Theatre across the street from the Marva. A nighttime street dance would be held on Willow Street and a thousand or more participants were expected to comprise the large festival parade highlighted by beautifully decorated floats.



June, 2001

Cypress Park was the site for the Delmarva Chicken Festival as Pocomoke City and The Pocomoke City Chamber Of Commerce hosted the 53rd annual event. Despite some showers from the remnants of Tropical Storm Allison, the festival drew an attendance of more than 20,000 visitors. Festival features included The Chicken Capers games, a chicken splash, tug of war, arts and crafts, an antique and classic car show, a home and trade show, and the traditional giant fry pan serving Delmarvalous chicken.

*****
It sounds like a movie or soap opera script of romance and murder but it's a true news account of what happened near Pocomoke City in 1884! Next time on the TIME MACHINE.

*****

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Strawberry Festival At Furnace Town



ANNUAL
 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2011
12PM TO 4PM
TO BE HELD AT FURNACE TOWN LIVING HERITAGE MUSEUM 3816 OLD FURNACE RD, SNOW HILL, MD

FEATURING: CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES, STRAWBERRY PIE, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, AND MUCH MORE! ARTISANS - FOOD - PIE CONTEST- MUSIC - BASKET RAFFLE  / FRESH PRODUCE

For more infomation about Furnace Town go to www.furnacetown.com

Chincoteague Legion Post To Hold Memorial Day Service

On Monday, May 30, a Memorial Day service will be held at Chincoteague Post 159 beginning at 10 a.m.

Guest speaker is Chincoteague Council-man and former director of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, John Nelson Jester Jr.

Music will be provided by the Chincoteague High School Band.

All veterans, relatives and friends of living and deceased veterans and the local community are invited to attend.

Driver With Nine Guns In Truck Gets Arrested

SNOW HILL — The driver of a pickup truck pulled over for speeding on Route 113 was charged with concealed-weapons offenses after state troopers found five rifles and four handguns in his truck, five of them loaded.

State police said the traffic stop was made in the highway's southbound lanes near Public Landing Road at about 2:15 p.m. Thursday. The trooper who approached the truck noticed a rifle lying on the front passenger seat; when asked, the driver, Jeremiah Robert Smith, 30, of Haddock, Ga., said there was also a Glock handgun in the truck.

The trooper arrested Smith, and in a search of the truck, police found the other seven firearms, according to a news release.

Police took Smith and the weapons to the Berlin Barrack for processing; Smith was charged with one count of handgun in vehicle and one count of handgun on person, according to online court records, and detained on bond.

Source;  http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110527/NEWS01/110527015/SNOW-HILL-Driver-with-nine-guns-in-truck-is-arrested?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Worcester County Times|s

Friday, May 27, 2011

Debbie Reynolds Put Movie Costumes Up For Auction

 Reuters


Iconic movie costumes worn by Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe will go up for sale in June from a collection belonging to fellow actress Debbie Reynolds, California auction house Profiles in History said on Thursday.

Monroe's subway dress from "The Seven Year Itch," Judy Garland's blue cotton dress and ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" and Charlie Chaplin's "Tramp" bowler hat are among the 3,500 items up for auction in Beverly Hills on June 18.

Barbra Streisand's sleeveless gold velvet, jeweled gown from "Hello, Dolly" -- said to be the most expensive dress ever made for a film -- will also be up for sale as will Audrey Hepburn's Ascot dress from "My Fair Lady" and Julie Andrews' costumes from "The Sound of Music."

Reynolds, 79, who starred in such films as "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," has been collecting film memorabilia for more than 50 years.

She got more serious about it when in 1970, Hollywood movie studio MGM announced it was going to auction off everything except its real estate. Reynolds, who had been under contract at MGM, purchased many items and continued to save as many pieces as she could over the years.

Her collection was due to have been housed in a planned museum, her spokeswoman said. But the project fell through and Reynolds has decided to sell her collection.

The collection will be on view to the public at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills in early June before the auction on June 18.

Worcester Commissioner Seeks Mandatory Recycling

Written By: The Dispatch Staff, Travis Brown



SNOW HILL -- There’s a chance that Worcester County could make recycling mandatory as soon as next year, assuming public opinion is behind the change.

“This is something that has to be done,” said Commissioner Louise Gulyas, who was the most vocal supporter of making recycling in the county mandatory at a budget meeting this week.  “We should either be in it, or out of it. We don’t do real recycling.”

Jennifer Savage, the Enterprise Fund Controller of Worcester, agreed.

“We’re in a middle ground,” she admitted.

Commissioner Judy Boggs worried about the cost of such a big step, especially given the recession. She wondered how the county could afford to switch to full recycling if the price of recycled materials was down.

However, she learned that the value of raw materials produced by recycling had actually risen in the last few years, the opposite of what she expected.

“Everybody produces trash,” said Commissioner Virgil Shockley, who added that it was everyone’s responsibility to keep things clean.

Whether or not that meant mandatory recycling though, he wasn’t sure.

“I think we should go full force into recycling,” said Gulyas. “If we’re going to do it, do it and do it right.”

According to Shockley, Worcester currently recycles about 20 percent of its waste. The cost to move that to 100 percent isn’t definitive at this point, but he guessed it would mean an extra $15-$20 added to resident property tax bills.

Gulyas was optimistic that fee would be received well by resident, stating that people would be “thrilled to death” to pay the extra money to make the county more environmentally friendly.

Shockley was less sure people would be willing to take the hit, especially with many households already in trouble financially. He did admit that something had to be done. He just wasn’t sure if residents would accept an additional fee.

Boggs expressed similar reservations. She pointed out that a recycling pilot project had been attempted about six years ago in West Ocean City.

“We lost our shirts on it,” she said.

While she echoed Shockley that something had to be done, she stressed that it had to be economically feasible. Boggs stated that she would support any recycling program as long as it “breaks even.”

Savage mentioned a “pay as you throw” trash policy that other areas were using. Instead of paying a flat fee for a dumping permit, residents would be charged by how much trash they deposit at landfills and transfer stations. Both Boggs and Shockley expressed interest in the idea.

“I would not be opposed to looking into that,” said Boggs of the idea. “It does encourage people to recycle.”

“We have the option to handle recycling better,” concluded Gulyas.

Gulyas admitted that it wouldn’t be cheap, but was confident that the returns would more than justified the expense. Gulyas mentioned that many residents of Ocean City were upset when the city chose to cancel its curbside recycling, some to a degree that they now go out of their way to deposit their recyclables at other locations. In her opinion, people in the county want recycling and see it as their duty to preserve the waterways and the forests for future generations.

While no consensus was reached, Shockley explained that a general outline of what could be done with recycling in Worcester had been formed. He said nothing else can be decided until a public hearing is held on the issue in June, where he hopes the commissioners will get enough public input to take the next step, whatever that may be.

~Saturday Night At the MarVa Theater

Time is running out to get your advanced tickets!

Names Added To Virginia's WALL OF HONOR

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Hundreds of people gathered at the State Capitol today to honor Virginia's service men and women.  State leaders hosted a ceremony today to celebrate active duty military, fallen heroes and their families.


Two hundred and thirty three Virginians have died while serving in the global war on terrorism. Among those honored today are two service men from here in the Richmond area.


Hundreds of people gathered in the hot sun for a special ceremony.  The Governor, Attorney General and other state leaders spoke about soldier's sacrifices.  The event proceeded viewing of The Wall of Honor housed in the lobby of the Attorney General's office. 


The wall features Virginians slain serving in the war on terror.  27 names were added this year including Staff Sergeant Jaime Newman from Richmond who was killed in September in Afghanistan and Air Force Captain Charles Ransom from Chesterfield.  He was killed last month when an Afghan military pilot opened fire at Kabul's airport.

Event attendee Carmen Gentile says he came out today because he wanted to honor those lives lost.


"I want to show my respect for them; they are the true American heroes of today.  I wanted to be here; it's a special ceremony, and I just wanted to show my support for our departed service members," Gentile said.


This day was especially meaningful for Maris and Vera Adcock who's son Shane was killed in Iraq five years ago.  The Mechanicsville family says events like these help in the healing process.

"It's an opportunity to pay tribute not only to our son who was killed in 2006, but to all of the fallen who have given their lives so selflessly, so we can enjoy the freedoms that we take for granted everyday," Vera Adcock said.


"I want to support the soldiers, I want to support the families just as they've supported us, and to remember our son and all those young men and women who've sacrificed and who still serve today," said Maris Adcock.

Another way to honor our service men and women, Governor Bob McDonnell just announced in time for memorial day weekend that through the end of this year, all active duty military and Virginia veterans will get into state parks for free.

Source;  http://www.live5news.com/story/14729077/sunni-fallen-heroes-ceremony?clienttype=printable

Police Have Sober Hopes for Drunken, Distracted Driving This Weekend

TOM RISEN ¦ Staff Writer

(May 27, 2011) Memorial Day is here, and Ocean City police are keeping an eye out for unsafe summer traffic with the hope that newly approved police powers and laws could make their jobs easier.

One recently passed law, Senate Bill 424, grants police more discretion on what constitutes distracted driving, which means officers may stop drivers for texting on their cell phones while driving.

The Ocean City Police Department also keeps an eye out for other distracted driving moves such as changing the car stereo or eating while driving, according to Jessica Waters, public affairs specialist for the department.

“As a resort town, Ocean City is already so distracting, and now we have people on mopeds and scooters, so more than ever we need our drivers to be vigilant,” Waters said. “The new law is helpful since it gives police more reason to enforce it. I hope it means I write fewer press releases about fatalities from distracted or drunk drivers hitting pedestrians.”

Another new law mandates Breathalyzer interlocks to start a car for repeat drunken driving offenders. The law focuses on drunken drivers under age 21 and drivers with a blood alcohol content of at least .15 BAC. The legal definition of drunken driving is .08 blood alcohol content.

Waters said the law might cut down on drunken driving somewhat, but Ocean City is a resort destination where many visitors come to drink while on vacation. These visitors might not have previously been convicted of drunken driving.

Ocean City’s annual driving under the influence arrest numbers have not changed much in recent years. In 2010, there were 360 driving under the influence arrests; in 2009, there were 368; in 2008, there were 322; in 2007 there were 326; and in 2006 there were 344.

“We have the alternative forms of transportation and numerous taxi companies, but we still see high numbers,” Waters said.

Ocean City bus tickets are $1 per pickup or $3 for a whole day and night of rides. Employees at bars often have information about taxi services.

People mandated to have an interlock under the law who are arrested driving without one are subject to up to a year in prison and up to $1,000 fine, with a maximum $2,000 fine and up to two years in prison for a second offense. That offense is the same as the penalty for driving without a license.

Resort police are still likely to see a high holiday turnout, as approximately 644,000 Marylanders are expected to take to the road this Memorial Day holiday, according to Ragina C. Averella, manager of public affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving had supported a competing interlock law proposal that would have required firsttime drunken driving offenders to accept an ignition interlock as a condition of keeping their license.

A statement made by Anna Duerr, spokeswoman for the advocacy group’s Maryland office, asked vacationers to “designate a sober driver before festivities begin,” but took a sober outlook on the compromise made by the General Assembly.

“Unfortunately, Maryland’s recentlypassed ignition interlock law only addresses part of the drunk driving problem, so MADD will continue to work towards life-saving legislation to keep American families safer on our roads,” Duerr stated.

Volunteers Needed For Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

On Saturday, June 4, thousands will take to the beaches along the Chesapeake Bay to partake in one of Virginia's largest volunteer cleanup efforts - "Clean the Bay Day."


The 23rd Annual Clean the Bay Day is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM and goes until 12:00 noon. Currently the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is looking for more volunteers to join in and help the bay clean up.


Individuals, families, businesses, and groups will help cleanup litter along the coastline and beyond. Citizens will work on foot and by boat to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.


The event hopes to raise awareness about pollution issues beneath the surface.

Last year 7,430 volunteers removed 217,641 lbs of debris at 245 sites along 419 miles of Chesapeake Bay watershed shorelines.

Those who wish to volunteer should visit http://www.cbf.org/clean.  Cleanup sites are available throughout Virginia's Eastern Shore.

Source;  shoredailynews

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Gunshots Heard In Pocomoke

REPORTED GUNSHOT CALLS
POCOMOKE CITY, MARYLAND

March 16 -- 10:29 p.m. --
400 block of Laurel Street
April 18 -- 9:53 a.m. --
Newtown Ball Park
April 24 -- 6:16 p.m. --
Clark Avenue and McMichael Street
May 1 -- 9:57 p.m. -- Moore Street
May 5 -- 8:26 p.m. -- Laurel Street
May 8 -- 7:28 p.m. -- Ninth Street
May 8 -- 7:53 p.m. -- Clark Avenue and Cherry Street
May 14 -- 8:59 p.m. -- Short Street
May 15 -- 8:48 p.m. --
Fourth Street and Bonneville Avenue
May 16 -- 9:16 p.m. -- Eighth Street

Source: Pocomoke City Police Department

If you have any information on this please call the police department.

No Evidence Found In Gun Shot Calls

Written by
Jennifer Shutt
POCOMOKE CITY -- In March, the police fielded a call they don't often get: a gunshot, heard downtown. Two calls came in April. And in May there have been seven such calls, summoning Pocomoke police for a report of "shots fired" in the downtown area.

All of the calls have led to dead ends. The police found no evidence, such as shell casings, victims with bullet wounds or any witnesses who could place someone with a gun in the area.

"Every time we get a report of shots fired, we do respond," said Lt. Kelvin Sewell of the Pocomoke City Police Department, explaining the department's policy requiring two officers to respond to any call for service. "Most of the time two officers do respond, unless the other officer is tied up on an arrest."

The last several months, Sewell said, police have responded promptly to each call, spoken with people in the area and searched for casings or other evidence a gun had been fired.

Since it is getting close to the Fourth of July holiday, Sewell said, kids may be playing with fireworks -- some of which are legally sold in nearby Virginia -- and that may be what people are hearing. He does not believe Pocomoke City has a gun problem.

The Rev. James Jones of Save the Youth, an anti-crime community group, said the calls are legitimate and he has first-hand knowledge of youths in Pocomoke carrying guns.

"I have no idea why the police aren't finding these situations to be accurate and adequate. ... It does happen on a regular basis," Jones said. "I live on the edge, away from town, and I hear them also. I know young men around here are carrying weapons. I have talked to them about it."

Worcester County State's Attorney Beau Oglesby, in an interview, said he's heard the sounds himself.

"I was in Pocomoke with the Criminal Enforcement Team executing two search warrants when I heard gunshots," said Oglesby, who took office last winter. "I personally heard nine gunshots go off while I sat with law enforcement. ... There is no doubt in my mind they were gunshots."

Jones said he respects the police department and the work they do, but said there may not be enough trust between the community and the police department. This lack of trust, Jones said, may be making those hearing the shots reluctant to talk to police.

"They don't want to hear gunshots. They fear a stray bullet may hit one of their loved ones. But when it comes down to sharing the who, what, where, when and why with police, they are a bit reluctant," Jones said.

During a community meeting last June, in the wake of the shooting death of Reginald Handy Jr., Pocomoke City Police Chief J.D. Ervin said police can't prevent violence when "somebody targets somebody."

During the last year, the Salisbury Police Department received 180 calls for "shots fired," 18 of which were found to be legitimate. Pocomoke City has received 25 calls in the same time frame, none of which has yeilded evidence.

Captain Mark Tyler of the SPD says whenever the department receives a call they send every available unit.

"You have to respond as if someone has been hit," Tyler said. After police arrive, if there is not an obvious victim or shooter, police begin going door-to-door asking if residents have heard anything.

"We stay there until we have completely exhausted our resources for the shots fired call," Tyler said.
There is no set number of officers required for a shots fired call, Tyler said, but police often stay in the area for 10 minutes or longer.

During the most recent call for shots fired in Pocomoke City, police said one officer responded and reported hearing something sounding like gunshots, but could not find where the noise was coming from. The officer's paperwork listed the incident as unfounded, in part because the officer could not find any witnesses or casings.

From a prosecution standpoint, Oglesby said if members of the community are not willing to step forward and work with police and his office to identify suspects, nothing can be done.

"If shots are being reported fired, then most likely someone saw them being fired," Oglesby said. "Until the community is willing to work with law enforcement, it is incredibly difficult to be proactive and make a difference."

Source;  http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110526/NEWS01/105260387/Evidence-elusive-gunshot-calls?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|frontpage

Disney Withdrawls Navy SEAL Trademark Application

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday that it has withdrawn its application to trademark the phrase "SEAL Team 6," the elite unit that killed Osama bin Laden, after the Navy moved to protect its rights and the entertainment giant endured a wave of criticism and late-night jibes.

Disney sought the trademark rights on May 3, two days after U.S. operatives raided a luxury compound inPakistan and killed the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.


Disney'sABC subsidiary wanted to develop a TV show along the lines "NCIS" and "JAG," which are also real-life Navy units, and would have focused on the drama and heroism of the special forces members.

But it drew flak for not only its rapid filing, but also for a trademark application that included items like Christmas stockings and snow globes.


Comedy show host Jon Stewart needled the company on his "Daily Show": "I can't wait for the Happy Meal."


Navy spokeswoman Amanda Greenberg said the Navy already had rights to the SEAL trademark but recently submitted two new applications for trademarks of "Navy SEALs" and "SEAL Team."

"The Navy is fully committed to protecting its trademark rights as it pertains to this matter and is currently examining all legal options," she said.

Disney/ABC spokesman Kevin Brockman said the company pulled the plug on its bid "in deference to the Navy's application."

Disney is still interested in producing a show based on the unit's operatives although it would likely be produced  by a third party studio.

Source; http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-seal-trademark-disney-withdraws,0,4821429.story

Near Death Experience For Trucker On CBBT

Andy Fox
CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE-TUNNEL, (WAVY) - Two tractor trailers toppled on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) during Tuesday's line of storms. The driver of the tractor trailer left dangling over the bridge spoke to WAVY.com about the scary experience.

Rob Roll has been a trucker 27 years, driving three million miles. That last mile on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was nearly his last.

Did he think it was the end? "Yea, I thought it was. I thought I was going in the water," Roll said standing in front of his totaled tractor trailer in the back lot of Tidewater Express in Hampton.

He had good reason to think he was going in the water because he was teetering on the rail with a long fall below.

It began as he was traveling through the bridge-tunnel toll on the Eastern Shore headed to Virginia Beach.

"I have a weather alert on my CB, and I heard from the National Weather Service there were thunderstorms and I was a mile from the toll bridge...they give you areas that are going to be bad, and they said at 5:15 p.m. Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and it was only 4:25 p.m.," Roll said. He thought he could make it.

At 4:27 p.m. Roll went through the toll. "I said to the kid who was giving the height permit, 'Am I going to get across?' and he said, 'The storm's a long ways away yet,'" Roll remembered.

Roll said, "I start going across and everything is clear. I could see the City of Norfolk [Virginia Beach] and it was crystal clear. When I get on the second island and the second bridge, it was a wall of white like a building was coming across the water and it was coming fast."

It was coming fast all over Hampton Roads, and at 4:34 p.m., another truck overturned. About the same time Roll noticed an alert on the bridge tunnel.

"The police called an alert which changed the lights from green to yellow. I got yellow flashing lights, but I was too far beyond that, and I was trying to get to the tunnel where I'd be safe," Roll added.
Roll didn't make it. At 4:42 p.m. Roll said he found himself in a bad place.

"The first gust moved my truck to the left. The second head on gust shook the truck. The third gust sent me into the rail...the whole event took 30 seconds....I don't really remember anything because it was happening so quickly...Now, I'm stuck. I know I'm in a bad spot, and I'm still on the bridge. I know I'm okay, I'm not in the water, I'm stuck, and all I can see is a guard rail out through he window and that's all I can see," Roll remembered.

Concerns were racing through Roll's mind as he waited for help. "I'm thinking, okay, is this going to catch on fire? I got diesel fuel on board," he said.

At 4:45 p.m. Roll got his regular call from his wife back in New York.

"I said I had a wreck, rolled on one side, and I have to get back in touch with you because I don't know what's going on yet," Roll said.

Then the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Police showed up. The officer crawled on top, Rob stood up in the cab, and unlocked the door. The officer opened the door from above, and Rob scampered out.

Thankfully he is not seriously hurt. He was staying at an Oceanfront hotel, but his company is picking him up and taking him back to New York.

After 13 Years, Woman Gets Prison Sentence

Written by
Nancy Drury Duncan

EASTVILLE -- A woman who pleaded guilty to charges in Northampton County 13 years ago and then apparently left the Eastern Shore was finally back in court this week for sentencing.

Johnifer Jackson, 37, address unknown, will serve two years, eight months of a 10-year sentence for three counts of forging a sales draft, three counts of uttering a sales draft and possession of a stolen credit card.

"It is a pleasure to have Ms. Jackson back," Commonwealth's Attorney Bruce Jones told the court. "She is my oldest outstanding case. She pleaded guilty, then disappeared."

Jackson pleaded guilty to these charges in 1998 and then failed to appear for sentencing.

Jones said the store she stole from was no longer in business and that her probation officer had since retired.

During those years, Jackson lived in both Alabama and Georgia, committing numerous crimes in both places, Jones said. He said she spent much of the past ten years in prison.

While living in those states, she was convicted of shoplifting, grand larcenies and obstruction of law-enforcement officers, he said.

Defense attorney Theresa Bliss asked that Jackson be allowed to serve her time in a detention and diversion center, noting that, "there is nothing violent in her record"

She said her client was needed to take care of family, including a one-year-old grandson.

Said Jones, "While she is incarcerated, she won't be stealing from people in the public, though she might be stealing from people in the penitentiary. However long the court incarcerates her, that's how long she won't be committing crimes against the public."

Before sentencing Jackson, Judge Robert Cromwell asked, "Why do you continue to do this? This is not the most extensive criminal record I have ever seen, but it is close to it."

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110525/ESN01/105250368/After-13-years-woman-gets-prison-sentence?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CEastern%20Shore%20News%7Cs

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Crisfield Mud Bog This Sunday

Storms Cause Minor Damage In Local Area

A line of thunderstorms moved through the Eastern Shore at about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon accompanied by high winds and in one area hail.


The storms hit causing two tractor trailers to be overturned on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. One was on the northbound trestle and the other on the southbound lane.


In the Atlantic area heavy winds, and hail and at least one unofficial report of a funnel cloud citing were reported.


Elsewhere there were reports of tree branches down in the Leemont area and one tree that partially obstructed traffic on the road near Drummonds Mill Pond.


The storms passed quickly but stronger storms south of here caused damage in the Tidewater area with power outages and downed trees.

Source;  shoredailynews.com