Pocomoke City Police Department ~ PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

Pocomoke Police Department

300 Second Street

Pocomoke, Maryland 21851

410-957-1600

Arrests – January 20, to January 27, 2012

1/20/2012 Pocomoke Police Officers arrested and charged James R. Motkya, 46, of Pocomoke City for "Theft" and "Trespass" from Wal-Mart. Motkya was issued several State Criminal Citations and was released pending trial.


1/20/2012 Pocomoke Police Officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle failing to stop at a posted stop sign. Upon making contact with the driver, a Pocomoke City Juvenile was found to be "Driving without a Required License or Permit", "Driving without Required Supervision" and other traffic citations. The juvenile was released pending trial and the vehicle was removed from the scene by a licensed driver.


1/20/2012 Pocomoke Police Officers served an arrest warrant on Nicholas Lennord Lodowski, 24, of Salisbury, MD. This warrant stemmed from a Theft investigation from Wal-Mart on December 24, 2011. Lodowski was located at his residence and was placed under arrest; he was transported to the Pocomoke City Police Headquarters for processing. Lodowski was taken before the Commissioners and held on $10,000 Bond. Lodowski was then turned over to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office for service of two (2) VOP Warrants.


1/20/2012 Pocomoke Police Officers arrested and charged James Donald Keithley, 50, of Ocean City, MD with "Theft" from Wal-Mart and "Making a False Statement" while under investigation. Keithley was processed and taken before the Commissioners and released on his own recognizance pending trial.


1/22/2012 Deonta Lamont Smith, Sr. 31, of Pocomoke was charged with traffic violations after Pocomoke Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired tags. Smith was issued several State Traffic Citations and released pending trial. The vehicle was removed from the scene by a licensed driver.


1/23/2012 Pocomoke Police Officers conducted a traffic stop for a traffic violation and upon contact with the driver; Eric Aaron Cropper, 44, of Pocomoke City was arrested and issued several State Traffic Citations to include "Driving on a Suspended License". Cropper was released pending trial. A licensed driver removed the vehicle from the scene.


1/25/2012 While investigating a theft call from the Duck-In Pocomoke Police Officers stopped an individual fitting the description, upon initial contact the suspect fled on foot while attempting to discard objects from his clothing along the way. After a brief foot chase Dana Lamar Collick, 22, of Pocomoke City was apprehended. The discarded items were collected and Collick was charged with "CDS – Possession of Marijuana" and "CDS – Possession of Crack Cocaine". Collick was taken before the Worcester County Commissioners and released on his own recognizance pending trial.


1/26/2012 Pocomoke Police Officers were called to the Pocomoke High School in reference to an assault. Further investigation revealed that two students were involved in a physical argument in the school cafeteria during normal school hours; a 15-year-old Juvenile from Pocomoke City was charged with "Assault 2nd Degree" and referred to Juvenile Justice for further action. The juvenile was released to her parents pending further.


1/26/2012 Pocomoke Police Officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle without operable taillights. The driver, Michael Allen Isdale, 19, of Chincoteague, VA was arrested and issued several traffic citations to include "Driving on a Suspended License". Isdale was released pending trial. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Smitty’s Towing.

Submitted by
Kelvin D. Sewell
Chief of Police

Annual Fundraiser "The Winter Wonderland Gala"

Tickekts are still available for the Winter Wonderland Gala.

Here are some of the items that will auctioned that evening...

You can see more auction items displayed on The  Delmarva Discovery Center Facebook page or go to

http://www.delmarvadiscoverycenter.org/

Delegate Mike McDermott ~ PRESS RELEASE

The DeWolfe Opinion: HB112’s Solution

January. 26. 2012
 Contact: Katlyn Schmitt (410-841-3431)

(ANNAPOLIS) - “HB112, “Criminal Procedure - Public Defender- Representation” resolves many of the issues arising out of the recent Maryland Court of Appeals Opinion, DeWolfe v. Richmond and has the potential to save Maryland from costs that exceed $100 million.” In DeWolfe v. Richmond, the court ruled that indigents had a statutory right to appointed counsel at the initial appearance stage of a case. Essentially, this requires the Office of the Public Defender’s appearance at bail review hearings in front of the District Court Commissioners for all defendants.

“Right now, the Public Defender’s Office is unable to comply with the mandate arising out of Dewolfe.” In 2011, there were over 176,000 bail hearings in Maryland. The Public Defender’s office currently does not have the staff or economic backing to attend the projected amount of bail hearings for 2012. Public Defenders’ have far exceeded caseload standards and are not prepared to attend bail hearings that occur 24 hours a day. Some estimates show that the Public Defender’s budget of $83 million will need to be doubled to comply with the DeWolfe standards. Moreover, the State’s Attorney will also need to comply with these standards for a fair trial, and their budgets could likely double as well.

“HB112 allows for the Office of the Public Defender to focus on the critical stages of any case, where attention should be paid. By requiring representation during these initial proceedings, the DeWolfe opinion further spreads out an office already spread thin--into an area where representation is unnecessary.” In Maryland, District Court Commissioners released on Personal Recognizance half of those who had bail hearings last year. Those not held on bail are scheduled to be heard by a judge in District Court within 24 hours -- where indigents will have representation from the Public Defender. Moreover, there were less than a dozen individuals last year who requested Private Counsel during their initial appearance hearing.

The initial draft of HB112 did not require the presence of the Public Defender’s Office in the District and Circuit Courts of Maryland, but has recently been amended to require the Public Defender’s presence after the initial bail hearings before the District Court Commissioner. HB112 is scheduled for a hearing in the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, January 26th.

SHORE BEEF & BBQ ~ FRIDAY SPECIAL

"COME GET YOUR BBQ ON !"

YUMMY FRIDAY SPECIAL

Pit Beef Sandwich w/ Side

Drink ~ $7.50

RIBS AVAILABLE TOO!

Food available today until it's sold out

Don't forget to look for SHORE BEEF & BBQ on Facebook

Be sure to leave a comment

TIME MACHINE Preview ... School Days!

From past years at Pocomoke City schools... some teachers that you or your parents may recall.

And in a "PHS Speaks" newspaper item students report some interesting school events and projects in 1946.

Look for these and a few other school items, too this Sunday on The Pocomoke Public Eye!



Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two or more if you wish. Your name won't be used unless you ask that it be. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

TOM ~

I forgot this date last year and vowed I would NOT forget THIS year!


So HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!  IT'S THE "BIG ONE" SO TRY NOT TO BE TOO UPSET!! -the feeling will pass..........







HOPE YOUR DAY IS G-R-E-A-T !!

Delmarva Discovery Center Vist ~ Posted Soon....

For those of you waiting...I have not forgotten the post I promised  from my awesome visit to the Delmarva Discovery Center.

But in the meantime,  can someone tell me what kind of turtle this is?

What a show-off and entertainer!!

A Different Way To Celebrate A Birthday

Now here's a GREAT idea for a

 birthday party!

Delegate Mike McDermott - Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

01-25-12

Today, Eastern Shore Delegate Mike McDermott joined with the Republican Freshman Class of the Maryland House of Delegates in releasing a recent Gonzales Poll. The results show that an astonishing 96% of Marylanders believe they pay too much or the right amount of taxes, while only 4% feel they pay too little in taxes.

56% of Maryland Democrats and 80% of our state’s Republicans clearly stated they paid too much in taxes. Among male and female respondents, the numbers were very similar with 64% of men and 61% of the women polled stating they paid too much. Even in Baltimore City, one of the most liberal areas of the state, over 45% of those polled said they paid too much in taxes.

As the 2012 session rolls on, Maryland’s middle class families are on the governor’s chopping block. New limits on itemized deductions (mortgage/charity) as well as reduced personal exemptions will cost families thousands of dollars and turn many of our struggling households into crisis mode.

The O’Malley administration and the Democratic leadership in the General Assembly will pursue taxes on all internet sales. This even includes a tax on all downloaded applications for your Smart phones.

Even those seeking to shelter their investment portfolio in Gold will face a new Sales Tax on precious metal coins and bullion. Couple all of this with gasoline taxes rising 66%, and a 100% increase in the Flush Tax, it becomes clear that all Maryland families are squarely in the cross hairs of this budget

SHORE BEEF and BBQ Thursday Lunch

THE COOK IS BACK!

AND IF IT'S THURSDAY

IT'S

SHORE BEEF and BBQ DAY !

THURSDAY SPECIAL

Pulled Chicken Sandwich w/ side

Drink ~ $7.50

Look for Shore Beef and BBQ on Facebook

Crisfield Mud Bog Racing Schedule ~ 2012

ATTENTION 187 East Performance Mud Bogging Team and ALL Mud Boggers out there !

My "go to guy" Patrick Long/driver of  "All Night Soldier" has just informed me that the 2012 Crisfield Mud Bog Schedule will be:

SUNDAY ~ MAY 27
SATURDAY ~ JULY 28 ~ THIS RACE WILL BE UNDER THE LIGHTS
SATURDAY ~ SEPTEMBER 1

Added class this year will be BLOWN TRACTOR TIRE CLASS

Lots going on and I'm sure all of us will be anxious to experience the race under the lights!

This is great news!  Get your trucks ready....

"Short and Sassy"/ driver Barry Wise - is in the process of having some new features installed.

"All Night Soldier"/ driver Patrick Long- reports that there is alot to do with the three truck in his area!

  In the meantime this will give me the chance to finish with the 2011 year of racing so stand by for the photos and racing  fun I never got the chance to post.

Something More From the Pocomoke City Police Department

All things GREAT keep happening at the Pocomoke City Police Department!

Tom and I here at the PPE have always wanted the the Pocomoke citizens to know what was going on in the city of Pocomoke - good or bad. Angel and others at the Police Department, on behalf of Chief Sewell,  have been working hard to get information out to the people as quicklty as they can.  Gayle at the police department is kind enough to send  the Press Release to me every week.  Angel keeps me updated with any changes and always sends me the good news.

So, in keeping with his pledge written in his Mission Statement: "develop a parnership with the Community, lead a community commitment to resolve proplems and improve the safety and quality of life in our city", .....
Chief Kelvin D. Sewell is very pleased to inform the people of Pocomoke City  that the Pocomoke City Crime Report is NOW available to you.

Go to : www.thepocomokepubliceye.blogspot.com/  Look for CRIME/ Pocomoke City Crime Report on the right side.

And Readers please thank Chief Sewell and those officers for all they do.  Their job is not easy but it seems easier when they know the city is behind them and appreciates what they do.

And a note from Tom and me:
There are just so many people to thank for all of this and we personally can not thank you enough.
So from us (you know who you are) thank you for putting the heartbeat back into Pocomoke.

SPCA Eastern Shore "MARDI GRAS"

State Lawmakers Consider Drug Testing Tor Some Welfare Recipients

RICHMOND, Va.—

A bill that would require drug testing for recipients of some public assistance programs cleared a House committee on Tuesday.

The legislation requires local departments of social services to screen participants in the VIEW  (Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare) program.  Anyone who fails a test, or refuses to participate would be ineligible for payments for a period of one year.

Botetourt County Delegate Chris Head (R-17th District) sponsored one of the bills. His proposal was incorporated into a similar proposal introduced by another lawmaker. "It's just simply as stewards of public money," he told reporters after the hearing, "we have the responsibility to make sure that money is being spent wisely."

One Democratic lawmaker described the legislation as indefensible.  "I find it inexplicable when we're endorsing an idea where we invade somebody's body, draw their blood to determine if that person has committed an illegal act," said Richmond Delegate Joe Morrissey (D-74th District).

The committee voted along party lines, approving House Bill 73 on a vote of 14 to 8.

Source:

Restaurant Progress-- Moving Right Along....

The photos I posted the last time showed the restaurant in downtown Pocomoke City all wrapped in Tyvek and just sitting there beside the Pocomoke River in the  cold winter weather in Pocomoke City.

But the action now is on the inside!!!

I had imagined that at some point in time my bi-weekly trips to the growing restaurant would end  but they didn't!  Councilman Malloy made it possible for me to venture in to take photos.....after all he recognizes that this is my project, it means alot to me and after all...... it's his district!

We went in through the back of the restaurant oesn't look like much has been done (to me).  'm sure there has...Wiring is being run, kitchen seems to be making progress....

And there are windows, windows, windows!!!  I like the thought of looking out towards the river from inside.

The restaurant has been designed so that there are decks at both ends.

When completed this restaurant will be an asset to downtown Pocomoke City.  From what I am hearing contruction is ahead of schedule.  The city is still accepting proposals from interested and qualified restaurateurs and will be until January 31, 2012.  So if you are interested you don't have much time.

When completed the restaurant will seat at least 140 guests with the decks to hold an additional 40.  The city plans to have the restaurant in operaton by June 2012.   Information on the qualifications for being the restaurant operation go HERE  or www.cityofpocomoke.com

Hmmm.... I wonder how they will select a name for it.

I'd like to thank the two gentlemen working inside the restaurant, for allowing me to take pictures.  Sorry I didn't get back to help sweep up.

You Might Be Interested To Know......

Worcester County Sheriff's Fingerprinting Services

If you wish to make use of the fingerprinting services we provide to the community, you will need:

• The fee, $5.00 cash
• Current picture ID.
• A fingerprint card

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office provides fingerprinting for civilians with the following instructions.  This office has an Identix Livescan fingerprint machine. This scans your fingerprints, no ink involved. 

Civilian Print Hours 
9am – 1pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, excluding holidays. FIngerprinting will only be done on the above specified dates and times. Photo ID is required and the charge is $5.00 per card. Payment due at time of service. We do not take credit cards or checks. We do not bill any agencies or departments, we will gladly give a receipt for reimbursement by the requesting agency, at the time of service, upon their request.

If there is a prisoner being processed the civilian will have to wait for saftey reasons.. This office has a high volume of print requests because of our use of livescan machine.

If you have any questions, please contact this office at 410-632-1111 or fax 410-632-3070.

 SOURCE;

Sun Hurls Strong Geomagnetic Storm Toward Earth

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The strongest geomagnetic storm in more than six years was forecast to hit Earth's magnetic field on Tuesday, and it could affect airline routes, power grids and satellites, the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center said.

A coronal mass ejection - a big chunk of the Sun's atmosphere - was hurled toward Earth on Sunday, driving energized solar particles at about 5 million miles an hour (2,000 km per second), about five times faster than solar particles normally travel, the center's Terry Onsager said.

"When it hits us, it's like a big battering ram that pushes into Earth's magnetic field," Onsager said from Boulder, Colorado. "That energy causes Earth's magnetic field to fluctuate."

This energy can interfere with high frequency radio communications used by airlines to navigate close to the North Pole in flights between North America, Europe and Asia, so some routes may need to be shifted, Onsager said.

It could also affect power grids and satellite operations, the center said in a statement. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station may be advised to shield themselves in specific parts of the spacecraft to avoid a heightened dose of solar radiation, Onsager said.

The space weather center said the geomagnetic storm's intensity would probably be moderate or strong, levels two and three on a five-level scale, five being the most extreme.
(Reporting By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

Source;

Crime Watch Meetings In Worcester County

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

Crime Watch Meetings

Feb. 8, 2012 (Wednesday) - Stockton Crime Watch
6:00 PM ~ Stockton Fire DepartmentTOPIC: Identity Theft

Feb. 15, 2012 (Wednesday) - Girdletree Crime Watch
6:00 PM ~ Girdletree Fire DepartmentTOPIC: Identity Theft

PLEASE MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND

Governor Makes Drug Policy a Top Priority

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Bob McDonnell said Thursday that one of his public safety priorities in the 2012 General Assembly is cracking down on repeat drug dealers.

At a news conference outlining his legislative agenda, McDonnell emphasized a bill that would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for a second drug-dealing conviction. Third and subsequent convictions would trigger a minimum 10-year term.

McDonnell said drugs are responsible for 60 percent to 70 percent of all crimes, and dealers currently aren't being punished enough.

"If you're going to deal drugs in Virginia, be on notice: You're going to prison for a lot longer period of time after this session," McDonnell said.

Sen. Thomas K. Norment, R-James City and chairman of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee, said the bill sends a strong message to drug dealers that they no longer will "just get smacked on the hand" for repeat offenses.

The Republican governor said he has included about $11 million in the state budget to pay for keeping drug dealers in prison longer.

MORE HERE

Mar-Va Theater Scheduled Events

HERE'S A QUICK GLANCE AT WHAT'S GOING ON

AT THE MAR-VA THEATER

Lowcost Rabies Vaccination - Keep Your Pet Protected

Support The New Church Vol. Fire Company ~ Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction

What's New With The "New" Police Department- Pocomoke City

In May of 2011 the Pocomoke City Mayor and Council took steps in purchasing the former Delmarva Auto Collision building to be the new home for the Pocomoke City Police Department. 

Councilman Malloy and I traveled to the  opposite end of Market Street so I could see first hand what was going on inside to prepare for this big move the police department will be making in just a few months.

The Pocomoke City Police Department is currently located on Second Street, in the former National Guard Armory,  where it has been for many years and I can only remember one other possibility of it ever being anywhere else and that was on Willow Street.... but that's a maybe.

Anyway, the new facility is large and certainly seems to have ample space for the offices  that are needed to operate a police department.  Plus, it has to be more energy efficient and will certainly have better parking!

 A Beauchamp Construction crew was  busy working when we stopped by.  Quite hard to tell the ins and outs of the whole facility right now but this is going to such a wonderful improvement over the conditions of the current police department.  Wall board has been put up and wiring has been run with still a ways to go but certainly won't take much longer.

 

Energy efficient and brand new on the inside,  the new Pocomoke City Police Department  headquarters will be something Pocomoke  City can be proud of......Just as proud as they are of their Police Department.

TIME MACHINE ... The Weather Outside Was Frightful!

(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)

　

January, 1893

(The Daily News- Frederick, Md.)

The condition of affairs in the lower peninsula, growing out of the protracted freeze, is growing worse. On Smith's Island the people are cutting down the few trees for fuel and killing the cattle for food. At Crisfield there is great destitution at the sailors' boarding-houses. Parties of men have ventured to walk across Tangier Sound to Smith's Island. Throughout the state yesterday morning was about the coldest of the winter. In Worcester County a temperature of 14 below zero is reported. Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bays are frozen and communication with the island is cut off. Food and fuel there are scarce and the situation is becoming alarming.　

　

February, 1895

The state of Maryland was snowbound with 16 inches reported in Pocomoke City. Waterways were icebound. The New York Times reported "The eastern shore of Maryland is almost entirely cut off from the outside world." 　

　

February, 1899

A two-day blizzard, preceded by days of frigid temperatures, buried the Eastern Shore, leaving it virtually paralyzed. Worcester County snow amounts were reported up to 22-inches. Leading up to the storm temperatures were reported at below zero during the night and only near zero during the day.

　

Circa 1900

(The Democratic Messenger- Snow Hill)

(1969 One Hundredth Anniversary Edition)

WINTER ON THE RIVER

Around the turn of the century the temperatures were lower in winter than during the last few decades. Consequently, there was more and thicker ice on the river. Skating was a great sport. The young people would have skating parties with huge wood fires on the river bank and skate far into the night. Several people have been known to skate to Pocomoke City, a distance of sixteen miles. Snow Hill and Pocomoke City harvested river ice each winter and stored it in houses built for the purpose. The ice was packed in sawdust providing a supply to last all summer.　

Special thanks to a PPE reader who shared old copies of the Democratic Messenger and Worcester Democrat.

　

December, 1917

In a 1967 "Scratch Pad" column Salisbury Times Editor Dick Moore related a letter received from Mrs. George E. Bonaville of Accomac who recalled a stormy Christmas Eve trip by boat to visit relatives in Chincoteague in 1917. "We went three days and stayed three weeks." The freight and mail boats at Franklin City were frozen in, and finally some people walked over the ice to the mainland. The column also mentioned a note from Scott Brewington who remembered driving his Model T on the frozen Wicomico River, the date not recalled.　

　

February, 1934

(The Frederick Post- Frederick, Md.)

(Excerpts)

Startled residents of Maryland took a look at their thermometers and wondered if they hadn't strayed to an arctic region overnight. -- ...the near 2 below in Salisbury was the coldest since 1899. -- Salisbury experienced a milk famine temporarily as a result of the cold. Bottles delivered as usual soon burst and the subsequent calls for replacement soon exhausted the available reserve. -- The grease in the Associated Press printers of The Salisbury Times froze and service to the paper was delayed 40 minutes in starting.　

　

February, 1935

(The Denton Journal)

(Excerpts)

For the first time since 1888 the upper Chincoteague Bay which laps tidewater Worcester County between South Point, near Ocean City, and the Maryland-Virginia boundary, is a solid field of ice. Approximately 90 square miles of the bay is frozen with ice ranging from 6 to 10 inches in thickness, which extends between the mainland and the beach peninsula. Last week several Stockton and Girdletree fishermen walked seven miles across the ice to the beach, chatted with Coast Guards isolated at the Green Run station, and returned without mishap. Ice skaters at Public Landing ventured miles out across the ice covered bay. Older residents, recalling the freeze on the bay in 1888, tell tales of horse-drawn vehicles being driven over the ice from Chincoteague, Va., north to Ocean City, Md., a distance of 40 miles.

　

January, 1957

The front page headline in the Salisbury Times read "SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES CHILL SHORE". While the official low temperature at Salisbury was reported at 4 1/2 degrees below zero. Maryland State police said outside of town the thermometer dipped to minus 13.　

　

December, 1958

A cold wave continued its grip on the eastern United States with 5 below zero reported in Salisbury, 1 above at Richmond, and 7 degrees at Raleigh, N.C.

　

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two or more if you wish. Your name won't be used unless you ask that it be. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

My Opportunity To Meet The New Police Chief

Or: "How Grateful I Was To Meet The New Chief Without Wearing Hand Cuffs In an 'Office' In the Basement".

It isn't often that I get the opportunity to do anything by invitation. I just stay down here in "the boonies" (as your Councilman Don Malloy calls  it) and keep peace with nature and tend to the PPE blog.... and some other things....

So, when Councilman Malloy called and offered to show me the insides of two major structures in Pocomoke, one being built and the other being fashioned into the new Pocomoke City police station, I had to take him up on it!

The added bonus was a chance to meet the new Pocomoke City Police Chief. I had received the book written by the police chief "Why Do We Kill" for Christmas so this was my chance to tell him how wonderful the book was and how much it scared me! No... That's not a good thing to say. Telling a homicide detective of 22 years his book scare you? Hmmm... Well, it does and when all of you read the book you will understand.

A series of thoughts ran through my head. Here I was, having grown up in Pocomoke, (a town I love dearly) worked downtown for over 25 hears in the same store, raised two kids in that wonderful town, I know just about everyone there is to know and I am being invited to meet the Chief.

Well, this time all of you knew him before I did so you're one up on me. And most of you know what a great person he is to talk with. But since I "knew" him from his book as the homicide detective in Baltimore City, I was absolutely surprised.

Here's a man that can't be even 50 years of age and has been involved with more TRUE crime than any of the fake crime on television.

Pocomoke City Police Chief Kelvin D. Sewell is a delightful person. He is for real. Chief Sewell is a great big great guy filled with personality and patience to listen....and he's smart! And he gave YOU his word.

I've received so many comments and email about how comfortable the people of Pocomoke have been lately. Many have seen the Pocomoke officers on foot through their neighborhoods. Many of those citizens have even left their houses to go to the street to speak to them. I can only imagine that this must make those officers proud of the job they do.

Please continue to thank them. In Chief  Sewell's "Mission Statement" to the people of Pocomoke City he pledged to "develop a partnership with the community." Mission Statement:  http://www.cityofpocomoke.com/index.asp?Type=B_JOB&SEC=%7B1164A319-FF06-42BE-B238-6ECDB72D1023%7D

And don't worry. I am not privvy to any inside information. I only know what you know. I know that the foot patrols will continue through the neighborhoods and once the weather becomes suitable there will be bike patrols. I know that Pocomoke City and its people will be protected to the fullest 24/7.  And I know that the people of Pocomoke will be informed on what goes on in their town.  We have already witnessed this with three Press Releases. 

Besides, it wouldn't have done any good at all to tell me any secrets. I'd forget it anyway.

Gee, first time meeting an author of a book, retired homicide detective and police chief of my home town.....I left my cell phone in his office.........had to go back to get it but not until I was totally finished with my day.   And don't worry. I won't apply to be a police officer  and risk the chance of losing a squad car or misplacing a gun.

Thank you, Chief Sewell and everyone at the Pocomoke City Police Department for making Councilman Malloy's and my visit such a pleasant one.  I feel very honored.

(But that's not all! Councilman Malloy and I took a peek into the building that will be the new police station. I'll have pictures so stand by)

TIME MACHINE Preview ... The Weather Outside Was Frightful!

Ice skating on the Pocomoke River and at Public Landing?

Our normally moderate Eastern Shore winters are not immune from exceptions and this week we'll take a look at some times when Mother Nature had other ideas.

It's this Sunday on The Pocomoke Public Eye!



Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? It can be just a line or two or more if you wish. Your name won't be used unless you ask that it be. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

"Pirates of the Chesapeake" - TODAY- The Delmarva Discovery Center

TODAY ONLY!  Secret discount for the Winter Wonderland Gala!  Tickets - still $35.00 for members and $40.00 for non-members.

Come to the Pirates of the Chesapeake Children's Plays and pick up your Gala tickets

FBI Allowed To Test Explosives

Travis Brown

Staff Writer

SNOW HILL -- While there has been a recent dustup over explosive testing on the Landmaid Road firing range, the Worcester County Commissioners decided to once again allow the FBI to use the site for field demonstrations.

“It’s a win for us, it’s a win for them,” said Commissioner Virgil Shockley.For the past 14 years, the Maryland-Delaware Joint Terrorism Task Force has held its annual Basic Anti-Terrorism Training for Law Enforcement (BATTLE) Conference in Ocean City, with an accompanying live field demonstration at the county-owned Newark firing range. More than 300 attendees from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are expected for the conference, which will take place April 9-13.

The demonstrations will involve explosives of less than two pounds and will last about two hours.Last fall there was an outcry from some Worcester residents when they learned that the commission granted Hardwire LLC, a military-armor manufacturer, permission to use the Newark location for testing their products. Those tests would include the detonation of explosives up to 25 pounds.

Because of the negative response from many members of the community, Hardwire chose to withdraw its request to use the site. Despite the recent controversy, Shockley doesn’t expect there to be any issues with the FBI demonstrations.

“It’s a small test,” he said. “They blow up a car or two.”Many of the common concerns voiced about Hardwire using the site included damage to the environment and noise pollution. Shockley admitted that “there will be sound” and said that he’s gotten calls in years past by confused residents, but doesn’t believe that the short demonstration will be particularly disruptive. As for environmental impact, the FBI, as per usual, will be “responsible for cleanup and notification of area residents of the training,” according to a memo from Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon.

McMahon brought the request to the commission Tuesday. He stressed that the demonstration will be no different this year than in the past, but did acknowledge that his office wanted to be as open as possible about the site given the recent Hardwire controversy.

Shockley noted the valuable training and experience for Worcester employees, including five compensated seats at the BATTLE conference, which would normally cost $1,000.

Source:

"Mardi Gras" To Assist The "Residents" of the SPCA Eastern Shore