Some Taxpayers Owe Accomack County ALOT In Taxes

This is a nightmare for Accomack County! How long have these landowners been able to get away with not paying taxes? Is this the only list? Are there more that have not paid taxes with less property? These delinquencies aren't fair to the people of Accomack County. And if these people have been allowed to go more than one year without paying their taxes then I say we have a severe problem and some changes need to be made immediately!


The long-awaited list of the 25 most delinquent taxpayers in Accomack wasn’t exactly what most expected. Instead of providing a tally of those who owe the greatest amount of back real-estate taxes Wednesday night, Treasurer Dana Bundick gave Accomack supervisors an inventory of the parcels for which the most back real-estate taxes are owed.

It’s a little confusing. The grand total for the list is $337,600.21. At the same supervisors’ session, Finance Director Mike Mason reported $3,115,624 in total delinquent real-estate taxes for 2006 to 2009 and the first half of 2010. Bundick compiled her list by running a county program on Sept. 13. Five of the parcels are on Cedar Island, including the one with the largest bill for $28,064.21.

It is unclear how long the accounts have been in arrears. The top parcel is owned by Potomac Spectrum,which has a mailing address of 11501 Skipwith Ln. in Potomac, Md. The county mapping Web site shows Potomac Spectrum owns 15 parcels on the barrier island. Bundick said some owners of Cedar Island tracts have contacted a lawyer who auctions properties in an effort to recoup funds for the county. “Go ahead and sell ’em; we don’t care,” Bundick said attorney Jim Elliott was told.

The landowners complained that their houses are surrounded by water and are not accessible. “One person stopped paying taxes because he couldn’t get to it,” she said. “We’ve got to decide what to do about it. It’s a mess. I don’t know if the houses are there.”

Supervisor Grayson Chesser said properties like those are a nightmare to survey and sales
should be considered “buyer beware.” Still, he added, the parcels were deliberately divided from sea to bay so owners could move houses as erosion occurred. “There’s a very good chance the house might be gone, but the lot is still there.” Supervisor Donald Hart was concerned about where the sewage for some of those structures would go. “There might have been land under it” when the property’s bill first went unpaid, he said. “These people have owed a long time. Go after anything they own. … It’s their responsibility.”

Hart said when a value changes, the landowner should notify the county as he did when house he owned caught fire. Hart said he has seen one name on the list “many, many times. The day before the sale, he pays, then waits 10 more years” to pay again. Hart said action should immediately be taken for those with a history of delinquency. “I don’t think they deserve the right … to wait until the last minute.” Hart didn’t name names. But Bundick’s reference gave the owner’s identity away since she said she promised some actions to attorney David Rowan.

Let’s just say he (the debtor) has two attorneys after him,” she said. Late bills totaling $78,810.50 were referred to Rowan, according to the list Bundick gave to the supervisors. Developer Edward Lunn Tull of Chincoteague was attached to those six parcels. Two of those also list Louise A. Tull as an owner. The mapping site lists 131 properties in Tull’s name.

Bundick’s list also includes Shore tomato growers, Batista and Evelyn Madonia, who own the family business, East Coast Brokers and Packers of Plant City, Fla., and Mappsville. They owe $11,162.83 in back real-estate taxes. The mapping site shows the Madonias own a total of 43 parcels.

Also on the delinquent list are:

• Donna Rae Roeske of Pension Street on Chincoteague, who owes $19,952.93. Her debt was referred to Elliott so the property could be sold. The map site says she owns 10 parcels, referred to as Maddox, on Chincoteague.

• Tammy Lee Taylor of Main Street in Hallwood, who owes $16,890. Her property also was referred to Elliott. The map site says she owns two parcels.

• Chrysler First Financial Service Corp Nations Credit, which owes $16,340.61 in real-estate taxes for a Cedar Island parcel.

• Catherine S. Sparrow of New Church, who owns three lots and owes $14,971.01 for overdue taxes on one parcel. No action has been taken on her case. It is unclear why.

• Adair E. Harmon, who lived in Oak Hall, but is now deceased. He owed $14,247.87. His property was referred to Elliott.

• John J. Cherricks of Chincoteague, who owes $13,912.91. He owns two parcels. His case was referred to Elliott.

• Thomas D. Cook Sr. or Angela Cook, who owes $13,564.97. They own a house on Lankford Highway in Oak Hall. No action has been taken on their case.

• Wilford L. Evans of Temperanceville, who owes $13,361.29. He owns a house in Bloxom. His case was referred to Elliott.

• Tully Parker of Painter, who owns 54 acres. He and owes $12,491.73. His case was referred to Elliott.

• Luvenia Miles of Temperanceville, who owes $11,513.62. She owns a house. Her bill was referred to Elliott.

• Tai M. Le or Tiffany Quyen Do of Springfield, Va., who owes $10,935.28. They own three parcels. No action was taken on their bill.

• Harold and Anna Perau of New Jersey, who own two parcels on Cedar Island and owe $10,851.98 on each.

• Lois Gordon of Main Street on Chincoteague, who owes $10,307.24. She owns two parcels. No action has been taken.

• Lance G., Barbara W. and Charles S. Fisher, who owe $10,030.97. They jointly own 9.83
acres in Hope Woods. Lance Fisher owns another parcel individually and owns six properties with Barbara Fisher. No action has been taken.

• Mary and James Mathis of Glen Arms, Md., who own a lot on Cedar Island. They owe $9,981.66.

• Entrust Mid South LLC FBO Hope E. Mayer, which owns a house and lot on Cedar Island, according to the mapping site. The delinquent tax is $9,356.23 on that property. No action has been taken.

www.easternshorepost.com

Leave Extra Time For Crossing The Chesapeke Bridge This Weekend

SANDY POINT -- The Maryland Transportation Authority is warning travelers to leave extra time crossing the Chesapeake this weekend.

According to the MDTA, due to Sunfest in Ocean City and NASCAR races in Dover, motorists should expect high traffic volumes Thursday through Sunday.

The MDTA will monitor traffic conditions thruoghout the weekend and, weather permitting, implement two-way operations on the westbound span to help alleviate potential eastbound delays.

The best times to travel this weekend, according to the MDTA, are:

Thursday before 2 p.m.

Friday before noon and after 10 p.m.

Saturday before 7 a.m. and between 5 and 10 p.m.

Sunday between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. and after 7 p.m.

Motorists residing north of Baltimore may consider taking northbound I-95 to Route 1 south in Delaware.

www.delmarvanow.com

Locals Speak To Congressional Hopeful Scott Rigell At Town Meeting

Approximately 120 people came to Congressional hopeful Scott Rigell's town hall meeting at the marina in Captains Cove on Monday, September 20. At the event, citizens of the Eastern Shore lined up to ask the candidate questions about issues facing the Eastern Shore, the Commonwealth of the Virginia and the nation.

The overwhelming theme to Rigell's talking points focused around job creation. Rigell several times referred to his experience in small business and said he would use his experience to push for smaller government which will in turn lead to a better environment for investors.

During the questions, Rigell was asked if he would vote to repeal President Obama's healthcare bill. Rigell answered "Yes." He then pointed out that in an earlier debate, Congressman Nye said he would not vote to repeal the bill, though Nye did vote against the measure.

Rigell was also asked if he would vote to impeach President Obama. Rigell responded, "No, the President has not done anything to constitute impeachment." Rigell added later in the town hall "Poor judgment is not an impeachable offense." Throughout the course of questions Rigell stated he would like to reverse the stimulus, support 12 year term limits for Senators and Representatives, downsize the Department of Education and give more rights to state and local governments.

The election to decide the next Congressman for Virginia's 2nd District will be held on November 2nd. Rigell is challenging Congressman Glenn Nye.
www.shoredailynews.com

Supreme Court Will Not Stop Execution

THE US Supreme Court denied an emergency application yesterday that would have stopped Virginia from executing a woman convicting of two killings, clearing the way for the state to execute a female for the first time in nearly a century.

A Court spokeswoman added that Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor voted to stop the execution of Teresa Lewis, who is scheduled to die by legal injection tomorrow.

Lewis, 40, was convicted of taking part in the hired killings of her husband and stepson in October of 2002. Lewis paid two men, one of whom was her lover, and purchased the guns they used in the murders of Julian and Charles "C.J." Lewis. In exchange for the killings, Teresa Lewis planned to split an anticipated $250,000 insurance payment with the shooters, Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller.

She admitted her role in 2003, pleading guilty to seven overall criminal counts and two counts of murder for hire.

The Supreme Court was Lewis' last stop on the long legal road leading to her execution. She was also denied clemency last Friday by Virginia's governor, Bob McDonnell.

Lewis' lawyers have long argued that she should not be killed because she has tested as low as 70 on IQ tests and the Supreme Court has ruled that killing mentally handicapped people constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. However, the lower courts have continually denied the argument that Lewis qualifies as severely mentally handicapped.

In denying her clemency, McDonnell said last week that since no medical professional has ever concluded that Lewis was mentally retarded, there was no compelling reason for him to intervene on her behalf.

Shallenberger and Fuller both received life sentences for the the murders.

www.heraldsun.com.au

Iran Accuses United States Of Double Standard

Iran accused the US of human rights violations today over plans by the state of Virginia to execute a woman for the first time in nearly 100 years, despite claims that she has severe learning difficulties.

Iran's state-sponsored media has devoted considerable coverage to reports about Teresa Lewis, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Thursday for arranging the murder of her husband and stepson in 2002.

The parliamentary human rights committee said her case reflected "the double standards" of the American government, comparing her case to that of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a 43-year-old Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.

"We will file an official complaint to the international community against the US if the sentence is administered," Hossein Naghavi, an Iranian MP and the spokesman for the committee, told the semi-official Fars news agency. Several Iranian MPs have expressed concerns over Lewis's execution and have asked the US for her sentence to be commuted.

America was one of the several countries to express outrage over Ashtiani's case, which has embarrassed the Iranian government after receiving considerable international attention. Iran has since suspended the stoning sentence, although Ashtiani is still being held in jail and her family fear for her life.

In Virginia, governor Robert McDonnell refused an appeal for clemency for Lewis, who lawyers say has an IQ of 72. The supreme court has ruled that anyone with an IQ below 70 may not be executed. She has one last chance of appealing to the US supreme court ahead of her scheduled execution. The men who carried out the killings – one of whom was Lewis's lover – received life sentences.

Iranian news agencies highlighted similarities between the cases, reporting that Lewis, like Ashtiani, had been convicted of "having an extramarital relationship". MPs criticised the US for sentencing Lewis to death while sparing the lives of the killers – as happened in Ashtiani's case.

The Fars news agency criticised the US media for "being silent in the past seven years Lewis has been kept in jail". "On her execution day she'll wish for a better country whose judiciary would listen to its people rather than intervening in the internal affairs of other countries," it said.

"It's not been a long time since the American media attacked Iran over the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani … Lewis's case has similarities with Mohammadi Ashtiani's case with the difference that Sakineh has been found guilty for the crime she committed but there are lots of ambiguities in Teresa's case. The US and the American media tried their best to make a symbol of human rights out of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani because of the background of their atrocities towards Iran but after seven years, human rights organisations have been silent for Teresa. This shows their double standard in relation to other counties."

Iranian MPs Zohreh Elahian and Salman Zaker also condemned the US over Lewis's sentence which they say is "contradictory to international standards". They have called for a judicial review.

In an interview with ABC last weekend in New York, Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied Ashtiani had ever been given a death sentence by stoning.

www.guardian.co.uk

Is The United States Obligated To Make Obama's Aunt A Citizen?

(Sept. 21) -- As Congress prepares to re-initiate the stalled immigration reform debate this week, one very personal immigration issue looks poised to hit the president close to home.

President Barack Obama's aunt, Zeituni Onyango, says she's done nothing wrong by illegally living in the United States for years and is therefore deserving of amnesty.

"If I come as an immigrant, you have the obligation to make me a citizen," Onyango, 58, told Boston's WBZ news.

In her first interview since Obama was elected president, Onyango described how she came to America in 2000 from her native Kenya, fell ill and was hospitalized. Upon her release, Onyango told WBZ, she was out of money. So rather than return to her homeland, she continued to live in the country in violation of immigration laws.
After stints in a Boston homeless shelter, Onyango was eventually put in public housing and began receiving disability payments. In 2004, an immigration judge ordered her to leave the country, but Onyango remained. However, she noted that her story was less about intentionally flouting federal immigration policy and more about its ineffectiveness.

"I didn't take advantage of the system," Onyango said. "The system took advantage of me."

Onyango says that she received no help from Obama as her case was reviewed by Judge Leonard Shapiro, who ruled in May that Onyango could remain in the United States.
www.aolnews.com

Crisfield Man Charged With Sexual Abuse Of 14 Month Old Child

Crisfield Police have arrested 20 year old Virgil Dashields on child sex abuse charges. Police say he sexually assaulted a 14 month old child at the Somers Cove Apartments last Friday. Dashields faces numerous charges and is being held at the Somerset County Detention Center in default of $50,000 bond.

VIRGIL ERIC DASHIELDS
157 SOMERS COVE APARTMENTS
B/M/3-8-1990
(See Attached Photo)

On 9/20/2010 at 9:52 pm Virgil Eric Dashields was arrested by the Crisfield Police Department for a Sexual Child Abuse charging him with sexually abusing a 14 month old child. The sexual child abuse occurred in the Somers Cove Apartments located in Crisfield on 9/17/2010. Dashields was located at 59 Somers Cove Apartments and placed under arrest. The following charges were placed on Dashields:

Sex Abuse of a Minor
Sex Offense 4th Degree
Sex Offense 4th Degree
Assault 2nd Degree
Child Abuse
Sex Offense 3rd Degree
Assault 2nd Degree
Attempt Sodomy

Dashields was placed on $50,000 bond by Somerset County Court Commissioners. He is currently residing in the Somerset County Detention Center.

www.wgmd.com

Sadness On Saxis, Island Today

I have just received word that the beloved and wonderful Mayor of Saxis Island, Virginia, Charles Tull has died.

Funeral arrangements are pending at this time.

Ravens Coach Charged With DUI

State police say a Ravens assistant coach was arrested and charged Saturday with driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Andy Moeller, 46, an assistant offensive line coach, was stopped by a trooper for speeding just before 1 a.m. Saturday on the outer loop of the beltway at Greenspring Ave., according to state police spokesman Greg Shipley.

Moeller showed signs of being impaired and was charged with seven traffic violations, including driving while under the influence. Shipley said Moeller signed the citations and was released to a sober driver.

Moeller will enter a not guilty plea, attorney Andrew I. Alperstein said Monday.

"We'll deal with this [case] as it comes My client's position is that we're going to review the evidence and decide how to proceed," Alperstein said.

Court records show Moeller, of Owings Mills, was charged in May with four counts, including driving while under the influence and negligent driving, and was acquitted in late August.

The Ravens said they knew about the arrest but would not comment further.

"We're aware of the situation," said Kevin Byrne, the Ravens' senior vice president of public relations.
Moeller is in his third season with the Ravens after joining the team from the University of Michigan.

www.baltimoresun.com

United Kingdom Proposes All Paychecks Go To State First

The UK's tax collection agency is putting forth a proposal that all employers send employee paychecks to the government, after which the government would deduct what it deems as the appropriate tax and pay the employees by bank transfer.

The proposal by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) stresses the need for employers to provide real-time information to the government so that it can monitor all payments and make a better assessment of whether the correct tax is being paid.

Currently employers withhold tax and pay the government, providing information at the end of the year, a system know as Pay as You Earn (PAYE). There is no option for those employees to refuse withholding and individually file a tax return at the end of the year.

If the real-time information plan works, it further proposes that employers hand over employee salaries to the government first.

"The next step could be to use (real-time) information as the basis for centralizing the calculation and deduction of tax," HMRC said in a July discussion paper.

HMRC described the plan as "radical" as it would be a huge change from the current system that has been largely unchanged for 66 years.

Even though the centralized deductions proposal would provide much-needed oversight, there are some major concerns, George Bull, head of Tax at Baker Tilly, told CNBC.com.

"If HMRC has direct access to employees' bank accounts and makes a mistake, people are going to feel very exposed and vulnerable," Bull said.

And the chance of widespread mistakes could be high, according to Bull. HMRC does not have a good track record of handling large computer systems and has suffered high-profile errors with data, he said.

The system would be massive in terms of data management, larger than a recent attempt to centralize the National Health Service's data, which was later scrapped, Bull said.

If there's a mistake and the HMRC collects too much money, the difficulty of getting it back could be high with repayments of tax taking weeks or months, he said.

"There has to be some very clear understanding of how quickly repayments were made if there was a mistake," Bull said.

HMRC estimated the potential savings to employers from the introduction of the concept would be about £500 million ($780 million).

But the cost of implementing the new system would be "phenomenal," Bull pointed out.

"It's very clear that the system does need to be modernized… It's outdated, it's outmoded," Emma Boon, campaigner manager at the Tax Payers' Alliance, told CNBC.com.

Boon said that the Tax Payers' Alliance was in favor of simplifying tax collection, but stressed that a new complex computer system would add infrastructure and administration costs at a time when the government is trying to reduce spending.

There is a further concern, according to Bull. The centralized storage of so much data poises a security risk as the system may be open to cyber crime.

As well as security issues, there's a huge issue of transparency, according to Boon.

Boon also questioned HMCR's ability to handle to the role effectively.

The Institute of Directors (IoD), a UK organization created to promote the business agenda of directors and entreprenuers, said in a press release it had major concerns about the proposal to allow employees' pay to be paid directly to HMRC.

The IoD said the shift to a real-time, centralized system could be positive as long as the burden on employers was not increased. But it added that the idea of wages being processed by HMRC was "completely unacceptable."

“This document contains a lot of good ideas. But the idea that HMRC should be trusted with the gross pay of employees is not one of them," Richard Baron, Head of Taxation at the IoD, said in the release.

A spokesperson for Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was not immediately available for comment.

www.cnbc.com

Norfolk SPCA Begins Rehabilitating Beagles Rescued From Lab

NORFOLK - 31 dogs were rescued from the Professional Laboratory and Research Services lab in Gates County and taken to the Norfolk SPCA in the hopes that they will all be eventually adopted.

Norfolk SPCA spokesperson, Michelle Williams says the dogs need a lot of work.

She says, "They really don't know what's going to happen to them. One of the biggest issues is going to be potty training because they don't know what outside is and they don't know where they're suppose to go to the bathroom. They're just used to going and standing in it basically."


It's unclear to Michelle what abuse these dogs were subjected to at the lab, or if any. But Williams has to assume that there was some abuse based on the undercover video from PETA that shows workers at the lab violently kicking the dogs and spraying them with hoses.

Since the video was released, the lab decided to stop their research operations and the USDA has begun a formal investigation. Yet, even though the Norfolk SPCA was allowed to rescue 31 dogs, no one from the non-profit group was allowed to go inside to see the conditions.

Michelle says, "Nobody was allowed to go in, even in the main building. Only a couple of people were allowed to go in and sign paperwork but that was it."

In fact, NewsChannel 3 went undercover with the Norfolk SPCA and the lab didn't want any of the animal rescue groups on their property. All of the vans and SPCA volunteers were forced to wait in a dirt parking lot across the street.

Everyone with the rescue groups were told by lab officials that they weren't allowed to have cameras, cell phones, or any contact with media near the lab. If they broke the rules, no dogs would be released.

"I understand that they had some sort of rogue employees and it wasn't the whole facility but at that point, it wasn't about them. It wasn't about the media because that video from PETA is already out there. It's about the animals and doing what's best for them," Michelle says.

Helping these dogs is what the SPCA's focus is now as they work to rehabilitate the dogs in order to find them all homes

Two-year-old Ambriel is one of the Beagles rescued from the lab last week. She refuses to bark but the way she trembles in the company of people speaks volumes.

It will take a lot of reassurance for Ambriel to trust people again. She's getting an exam and shots today, but what's most important to the folks at the Norfolk SPCA is her mental health.

Michelle says, "To me, she's saying she's petrified. She's scared to death."

Beagles are notoriously noisy hound dogs. But something happened to these beagles that gave Michelle the creeps when she drove them away from the lab where they lived.

"It was an eerie drive back knowing you had 19 beagles together in a truck and not a sound the whole time," Michelle says.

Now the SPCA is committed to spending their time helping Ambriel and the others learn that there is nothing to fear. She's hoping that soon they'll learn that it is okay to love and that it is okay to play. Volunteer, Elsie Powell spent the weekend petting and playing with the dogs, hoping to give them their spirit back.

"A lot of petting, a lot of rubbing, a lot of brushing and a lot of kissing," is what Elsie says they need.

In a matter of days, Ambriel has gone from scared dog, to playful, tail-wagging dog. The healing has begun.

"Her spirit has been kind of broken and we're going to take the time she needs to get her spirit back for her to run and play and learn how to be a dog," Michelle says. "She's happy. She's sweet. You can see the smile on her face. She's coming around very quickly. She has a great chance at a wonderful life."

All of the rescued dogs at the Norfolk SPCA have to be spayed or neutered before they will be adopted out. If you're interested in one of these dogs, you can come in and get your first peek at the animals starting Friday.
www.wtkr.com

Horrorcore Rapper "Syco Sam" Pleads Guilty For Four Murders

FARMVILLE, Va. (AP) - An aspiring rapper in the "horrorcore" genre pleaded guilty Monday to killing his 16-year-old girlfriend, her parents and her friend days after the adults chaperoned the teens at a music festival featuring artists rhyming about raping, killing and mutilating people.

Richard "Sam" McCroskey, 21, was sentenced to life in prison as part of his agreement to plead guilty to two counts of capital murder and two counts of first-degree murder. He initially was charged with four counts of capital murder, which could have resulted in the death penalty if convicted on the charges.

His attorney, Cary Bowen, said after the hearing that the prospect of a conviction on capital murder charges was a major factor in agreeing to the guilty plea.

"Four bodies are pretty compelling evidence," Bowen said. "This is the kind of stuff that citizens any place in this country are terrified it could happen to them. This is the kind of case death penalties arise from."

McCroskey, from Castro Valley, Calif., arrived at the Prince Edward County Circuit Court shackled, in a loose-fitting orange jumpsuit and under heavy guard. He did not look at family members gathered on side of the courtroom, and showed little emotion during the hearing. He replied "yes" and "no" to questions from the judge in Prince Edward County Circuit Court.

He declined to offer a statement in court but Bowen said his client was preparing a message to give to the victims' families. He described McCroskey's mood as "somber."

"There are four people dead here," Bowen said. "He's not happy at all."

McCroskey pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend, 16-year-old Emma Niederbrock; her parents, Presbyterian minister Mark Niederbrock and Longwood University professor Debra Kelley; and Emma's 18-year-old friend, Melanie Wells of Inwood, W.Va. Their bodies were found last September in Kelley's home.

Family members and friends of the victims sobbed softly during the hearing in this college town 50 miles southwest of Richmond. They left without speaking to reporters, but issued a written statement: "We have endured a tragedy of unspeakable proportions. We are relieved that justice has been done.

"While we will never forget our loved ones or the circumstances of their deaths, we hope to move forward and begin the healing process."

Prosecutor James R. Ennis said that the women were bludgeoned with a wood-splitting tool _ a maul _ while they slept on Sept. 15, 2009. Mark Niederbrock was killed with the tool when he came to check on them a day and a half later.

Asked why McCroskey remained in the house, Bowen said, "I think he was contemplating suicide. He was contemplating what he had done, and not knowing what to do about it."

Ennis declined to speculate on a motive. "He's a closed individual," he said.

But Bowen said McCroskey had become increasingly angry with Emma and believed she "wasn't being loyal to him."

McCroskey and Emma Niederbrock shared an interest in the "horrorcore" genre, which sets violent lyrics over hip-hop beats.

McCroskey, a website designer and music promoter, had been rapping under the name "Syko Sam." He flew to Virginia to visit Emma, and her parents drove them and Wells to a horrorcore music festival in Michigan Sept. 12. Police found their bodies six days later after Wells' parents became worried that she didn't return home.

Bowen said McCroskey had confided to friends he had killed the four.

Asked if McCroskey's musical interests had fueled his rage, Bowen said, "Much of that music is so rampant with this exact kind of behavior, you can't help but notice the coincidence. But I don't have a sense the music led to this kind of behavior."

Ennis said McCroskey had no criminal record. He said he had discussed the plea agreement with the victims' families, and their sentiments played a role in structuring the plea.

"Anything can go wrong in a jury trial," he said. "Hopefully this can bring some measure of closure to the families."

On McCroskey's MySpace page, people have posted messages of support in recent weeks.

"free syko sam we need more tracks!!" reads a post under the name J.R.B. from last month.

www.wtop.com

Richmond Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

RICHMOND - The Department of Defense announced Monday the death of Staff Sgt. Jaime C. Newman, 27, of Richmond, Va.

Staff Sgt. Newman died Friday September. 17 in Maquan, Zhari District, Afghanistan.

The military says he was killed when an improvised explosive device exploded near where he was patrolling.

Newman was an Infantryman assigned to Bravo Company, 1^st Battalion, 502^nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault.)

His awards and decorations include: Purple Heart Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Army Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal; Iraqi Campaign Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Combat Infantryman Badge; Expert Infantryman Badge; Air Assault Badge; Driver and Mechanic Badge.

He is survived by his son Damarques J. Newman of Powhatan, Va.; daughter Jaidan I. Cox of Richmond, Va.; mother, Helen C. Newman of Richmond, Va.; and father, Angel Ramos.

1st Lt. Eric Yates, 26, of Rineyville, Kentucky was also killed in the attack.
www.wtkr.com

My faith in Internet stories has been restored.

Finally, some honesty in big buck hunting stories... 

Here's a picture of the new world record whitetail. It was taken by the cousin of a co-worker's sister's, uncle's, best friend's, son-in-law's, niece's hairdresser's, neighbor's ex-boyfriend's oldest nephew. Reportedly it will score 2603-1/8 by B&C standard and was shot in  West Texas  on a really windy day, 85 degrees downhill, around a curve at 900 yards with a 22 mag. Supposedly, this deer had killed a Brahma bull, two Land Rovers and six Jehovah's Witnesses in the last two weeks alone. They said it was winning a fight with Bigfoot when it was shot. It had also been confirmed that the buck had been seen drinking discharge water from a nuclear power plant.

Hat Tip; Art

New Date For NASA Rocket Launch

NASA has announced the rocket launch which was cancelled last week has been rescheduled for Tuesday morning.

The Terrier-Improved Orion suborbital sounding rocket will test several new rocket technologies. The launch is scheduled to launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, according to a NASA news release.

The Visitor Center will open at 7:00 AM for those who want to watch the launch, which will also be viewable from certain areas along the seaside coast. Backup dates for the launch are Wednesday and Thursday.

The launch also can be viewed on NASA's website(below) beginning at 7:00 AM on launch day. The status of the launch also can be followed on Twitter or by calling (757)824-2050.


More Information NASA's Website

Most Aspects Of E-Waste Not Regulated

Virginians are creating piles of potentially dangerous waste.

The problem is old electronics, or e-waste -- computers, cellphones and other gadgets that people toss because they've found something newer and shinier.

"It's not factory waste but post-consumer waste that's coming out of your hands, my hands or anybody's hands," said Jim Puckett, director of the Basel Action Network, a Seattle-based environmental group.

The old electronics are laced with pollutants, such as lead and cadmium, that have been linked to cancer, nervous-system damage and other problems.

No one is sure how much e-waste Virginians produce. No one tracks it closely, in Virginia or nationally. But everyone agrees it's a lot.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the U.S. discarded about 2.25 million tons of electronics in 2007, the most recent year for which even a rough estimate is available.

That's about 14½ pounds -- roughly the weight of a couple of laptops -- for every U.S. resident. It's also nearly a three-fold increase from the estimated 850,000 tons in 1997, according to the EPA.

"There's so much of it, and it's being generated at an increasing rate in the U.S. and worldwide," said Dan Gallo, an environmental protection specialist for the EPA.

And no one knows precisely where it all goes. Most of it ends up in landfills that are safe now, regulators say, but which critics say will leak someday.

A portion of the waste -- the amount is in dispute -- gets exported to such places as China and Africa, where workers in unsafe conditions extract valuable copper and other materials using open fires and acid.

Most aspects of e-waste are unregulated, federally and in Virginia.

"We're not deeply involved in how computers are managed in Virginia, other than encouraging that they be recycled or donated so they can have continued life," said Steve Coe, recycling specialist with the state Department of Environmental Quality.

The state and federal governments oversee the disposal of cathode-ray tubes, or CRTs -- the big, glassy parts in old computer monitors and TVs -- which can contain up to 8 pounds of lead, a toxic metal.

But while some states ban residents from dumping CRTs and other electronics in landfills, Virginia does not.

Among Virginia's neighbors, North Carolina and West Virginia will start banning the dumping of computer equipment and TVs next year. Maryland has no ban or plans for one.

Virginia allows individuals to dump old electronics with their household garbage, which ends up in a landfill.

Virginia localities can ban people from tossing lead-laden CRTs in the trash, but few localities -- and none in the Richmond area -- do that.

Of the electronics discarded in 2007, more than 80 percent went into landfills, the EPA says. Everyone agrees that's a waste of landfill space and valuable materials that can be recycled. The question is whether that dumping endangers the public.

The EPA says no, because modern landfills are equipped with plastic underground liners and systems designed to limit pollution.

"If properly managed, the disposal of electronics in landfills can be safe," Gallo said.

Others fear that even the most modern liners will leak someday, allowing e-waste-tainted "garbage juice" to pollute underground water, which can feed wells and streams.

"The heavy metals are there for the long, long term, and I don't think the liners are there for the long, long term," said Roger Diedrich, who deals with waste issues for the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club.

Acidic liquids in landfills can dissolve hazardous metals in e-waste such as lead and copper, said John T. Novak, a Virginia Tech professor of civil and environmental engineering.

If the landfill leaks, those metals can contaminate groundwater, but operators of properly built landfills should prevent that by pumping out and treating the liquids, among other measures, Novak said.

Landfills contain lots of nasty things, including treated wood containing copper and arsenic. You can debate the wisdom of building big landfills, but there is nothing really unique about the threat of the e-waste in them, Novak said.

"A landfill is almost like a biological experiment," said Scott Mouw, North Carolina's recycling director.

"To me, it's common sense" to recycle or reuse electronics, he said, and not put them where they might cause problems.

While most of the high-tech castoffs go into landfills, the rest are either repaired and put back into use, or recycled.

Much of the recycled waste is ultimately broken down into parts such as plastic and metals that can be used to make such products as parking-lot curbs and lead-acid batteries.

Although it sounds wonderful to recycle, critics say a lot of e-waste that is diverted toward recycling gets shipped to developing countries.

"Eighty percent of what you hand over to a recycler in this country is going to end up offshore," said Puckett, the Seattle environmentalist.

The exports can be legal, particularly if they don't involve cathode-ray tubes. But, critics say, some exports endanger overseas workers and mislead Americans who in good faith take their old computers and other items to recycling sites -- sometimes paying for the privilege.

The EPA's Gallo said he does not know what portion of the exports is handled improperly, but, "We think it's not as large as what's being portrayed" in the media.

The Government Accountability Office said in a scathing 2008 report that the EPA did little to stop recyclers from sending e-waste overseas. Used electronics other than CRTs flow "virtually unrestricted" to developing countries, the report said.

The EPA is planning a study to better determine the fate of exported electronics, Gallo said.

Robert Houghton, president of Redemtech, an Ohio-based company that repairs and recycles old electronics, said, "I think it's absolutely truthful to say that there are no completely reliable statistics" on where e-waste goes.

Some say Congress will eventually have to stop the improper handling of e-waste.

"We stopped companies from throwing stuff in rivers a long time ago," Houghton said. "This really isn't very different."

The state DEQ's Coe said he believes recycling companies in Virginia are operating properly -- partly because they are truly "getting green" and partly because they fear getting bad publicity.

"There's a business risk if they don't do the right thing," Coe said.

Virginia's e-waste in 2009 included 20,370 computers and other electronics owned by state agencies, state officials said. AERC Recycling Solutions, a Pennsylvania-based company, dealt with the electronics at a cost of $217,587. AERC's services included recycling computer parts and erasing data from computer hard drives. AERC runs two warehouse-like plants near Ashland.

In addition, Computer Recycling of Virginia, a nonprofit near Tappahannock, recycled and refurbished since 2006 about 47,000 formerly state-owned computers that were replaced by Northrop Grumman under that company's contract to provide technology services to the state. The payment to Computer Recycling totaled $230,515, Northrop Grumman said.

The potential danger of e-waste has been known for years, but there is a growing concern over its proliferation and the lack of transparency about its ultimate resting place.

"I don't know [where Virginia's e-waste goes] and I don't exactly know how to find out," said Sierra's Diedrich.

Could part of the issue be semantic?

Using the term "e-waste" for valuable used electronics adds to the problem, said Eric Harris, associate counsel for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, a trade group.

"If we keep on calling it a waste," Harris said, "we're encouraging the type of behavior that is associated with waste."

Things would be better, Harris said, if we called the stuff "scrap."

www.timesdispatch.com

Pocomoke Man Charged With Possession Of Pot And Other Drugs

A Pocomoke man is charged with a variety of drug offenses after he was spotted in the West Ocean City Wawa with a partially burnt marijuana cigarette behind his ear by a Maryland State Trooper. 26 year old Tyrone Scruggs was arrested and faces numerous drug offenses.

CRIMINAL PRESS RELEASE:
Time: 09/17/2010 @ 2321 hours
Case #: 10-96-006202
Location: WAWA 12502 Ocean Gateway Ocean City, Worcester County, MD
Crime: Possession of CDS: Marijuana, cocaine, and paraphernalia
Victim: State of Maryland
Accused: Tyrone Scruggs 26 yoa from Pocomoke City, MD

Narrative: .. On the above date and time an on duty Trooper from the Berlin Barrack was in the WAWA convenience store located at the above location. While in the store he observed the above subject had a partially burnt rolled marijuana cigarette held behind his ear in plain view. The Trooper took the above subject into custody for marijuana possession. During a further search of the accused, the Trooper located a baggie containing crack cocaine and powder cocaine. The accused was processed and taken before a District Court Commissioner for CDS marijuana, CDS cocaine, and paraphernalia charges.

Disposition: Taken before District Court Commissioner.

www.wgmd.com

More From Gumboro ~ The Sod Buster

Each and every mudbog at Gumboro brings new trucks to area for the fun of racing through the 200 feet of mud. And each and every time the same trucks reappear with the hopes of keeping their points already acheived and gaining more plus getting their thrill for racing. It's also a time for joining friends made at races before and make new ones.

It should always be remembered that the trucks you see on mudbog day were put together with a great deal of expense and time and care. They all want to win.

Some will drive a great distance to Gumboro.....hours. For those of 187 East Peformance it is a 1 1/2 hour drive. Most of us stop for breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evenings before venturing home. It is not an expense free day.
Without these trucks and without these fearless drivers Gumboro would NOT be what it has become. Each and every truck that enters the pit has paid their fair share, just like everyone else, to participate. And it is always a sigh of relief for me knowing that we arrived safely and the rest of the 187 East Peformance would arrive shortly.

Saturday after the mishap of Orange Crush the spectators witnessed another hair raising moment with Sod Buster.

Flips and roll overs and fires may be excitement for the crowd but I can assure you that it most definitely is NOT for those in the pits! The family is there too....not to forget the extended family of the 187 East Performance.

This incident is unsettling with me. I did not like what I saw in the few seconds after this truck caught fire.

Here's the video followed by some photos.

The first one to arrive to the side of the truck was this driver's son! Within seconds other drivers had jumped the fence INCLUDING the driver's WIFE, daughter and daughter's boyfriend followed by my husband and even more.

Then appearing on the scene even seconds later was the staff arriving in their golf cart looking like the Keystone Kops! That's right. I said Keystone Kops! They do a remarkable job measuring distances driven by the trucks in the pit but when it comes to an emergency situation they stink!

Everyone was screaming to remove the driver. Others were screaming for fire extinquishers. They yelled and yelled while this driver's family and friends scrambled to unhook the extinguishers they had................The "staff" had come unprepared! No one on that cart had a fire extinguisher in hand!

And at the same time all of this was happening the daughter of the driver was running towards the pits screaming for a screw driver. I can't imagine that cart not even being equiped with a few tools..... common sense should tell them that a screwdriver and hammer could always come in handy.
And the other racers and racers families even helped clean up. All that was left to be done was to tow the Sod Buster. The driver was not hurt..........but as in any mishap HE COULD HAVE BEEN!

What is it going to take before an ambulance is present at these races? What's it going to take before fire extinguishers are placed ALONG THE FENCE NEAR THE PITS so your summer tanned pretty boys can fight a flame or a flicker in a truck if they know how to!?

Each and every driver is required to have an extinguisher on board his or her truck. THEY can't always get to it in an emergency situation and neither can the first person to the scene.

This isn't the first time this has occured. We witnessed a similar situation on August 28th.

These drivers spend alot money for and on Gumboro. Not because they have to........they want to. They love the sport. Each mudbog these men and women put on one heck of a show for the spectators in hopes that the crowd will spread the word and return the next time and time after that.

So, in appreciation for what these men and women do and for the revenue THEY bring to the Gumboro Mudbog organization don't they deserve to have that extra reassurance? Surely, by now they have made enough money for the Gumboro Mudbog to affored it.

They deserve it and it should NOT be put upon the people in the pits to take care of these situations...........even though they will and with a reaction time so much faster.

Let's not wait for a true horrible disaster to happen...........it can. By then it will be too late.

A little bit of money spent for SAFETY purposes will go a long way.

Mishaps From Time to Time At Gumboro

The wonderful people that make mud racing possible at Gumboro go all out in making everyones visit as comfortable as they can. I've never heard a terse word among any of them, seen any signs of anyone working the grounds seem to be unhappy. Each event is positively alcohol FREE.....which is a wonderful thing........

In the concession stand they have a wonderful assortment of hats, t-shirts and really great food.


They don't seem to forget a thing........well almost........


This is a photo of "Orange Crush" driven by Jared Collins. Jared is familiar face in the pits at Gumboro as is his truck to the spectators that cheer him on.

Saturday Jared had an unfortunate mishap that caused his truck to almost roll over as he traveled through the 200 feet of thick mud at a high rate of speed.


I had thought I had his race on video but don't. These are the photos that I did capture.


It seems something around the wheel area snapped causing damage to the front end. The driver was not injured but this could have been a most unfortunate experience for Jared and everyone else watching yesterday.



I keep a watchful eye on all these trucks. An accident can happen at anytime regardless of the size of the trucks motor or the speed applied to gain the least amount of seconds. Spectators are watching, children are watching, family and friends are watching and other racers are watching.

An accident like this one which does not look like much from the photos can scare the pants off everybody.

For myself, when this occurs, I can't help but feel faint. The one thing I pay close attention to is RESPONSE. When these pictures were taken the driver had been removed and there was no further danger to the truck.


The crew that was there was empty handed. NO fire extinquishers! Not one.

Also NO emergency crew. NO ambulance.


And you say........."didn't need one". And I say but IF there had been a need for one would these racers have been protected? By whom?


Oh, I'll tell you how and I will tell you just exactly WHO protected ANOTHER DRIVER yesterday!


Stay tuned.......

More Gumboro Mudbog

During opening ceremonies at the Gumboro Mudbog yesterday the drivers that participated in the August 28th Charity Run For the Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Hospital were recognized. It was espicially comforting to hear that the 50/50 raffle yesterday raised an extra $200 OR MORE that will be added to the original amount already raised.

More than 50 trucks registered for the mudbog in all classes. Big Tire and Small Tire Modified Classes both had a first place prize of $750.00 EACH which enticed more drivers to bring their trucks and take a chance.

Videos and more photos................

BUSY DAY AT GUMBORO~ Alot Of Good Racing

What a beautiful, bright and sunny day we had yesterday at the Gumboro Mudbog.

Days likes this don't get any better on the Eastern Shore. There seemed to be many more spectators the last couple of times and alot of them appear (from the pit side) that in spite of what they drive to the race in they come equipped sometimes with those pop up tents or beach umbrellas.This is a wonderful idea, especially if you have children, since it gives more room to move around as apposed to sitting on those hard bleachers in the sun all day. Even tailgait watching can be relaxing.

And those pop-up tents are on the pit side too! I wouldn 't be afraid to bet that those inexpensive creations probably take the days temperature down 12 degrees or more........ true lifesavers for alot of us who arrive early in the morning and don't leave until the evening hours.

I love to have and see family and friends around us and yesterday there was plenty of that!
It's been custom for a while now that participating trucks line the fence before the races. This gives the crowd a chance to view them before the muddy races begin.
And of course the Gumboro Mudbog would not be the same without the Kid's Power Wheels Race! There were only two for the race yesterday but as usual quite a sight to see.
Here's the video of that most important race! The Future Mudbog Racers! And this young lady seems to beat them all! Could it be that she has the inside scoop because her Dad is a truck racer himself? We'll never know.

MORE FROM THE GUMBORO MUDBOG COMING SOON!

Handgun Found During Traffic Stop

A handgun was found in a vehicle at a traffic stop on Route 113 in Newark, Maryland. The trooper took the gun and found it to be loaded. They also found that William Wilson Jr.—a 21-year old from Temperanceville, Virginia was wanted on an outstanding bench warrant for driving with a suspended license.

CRIMINAL PRESS RELEASE:

Time: 09/17/2010 @ 2300 hours

Case #: 10-96-006203

Location: US Rt. 113 @ Langmaid Rd. Newark, Worcester County, MD

Crime: Handgun in vehicle, outstanding arrest warrant

Victim: State of Maryland

Accused: William Harrison Wilson Jr. 21 yoa from Temperanceville, VA

Narrative: On the above date and time a Trooper from the Berlin Barrack conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Mazda driven
by the accused for passing in a no passing zone. A check of the accused through the District Court revealed he was
wanted on an outstanding bench warrant for driving with a suspended license. While placing the accused under arrest for the outstanding warrant the Trooper observed in plain view the barrel of a firearm protruding from underneath the driver’s floor mat. The Trooper retrieved the firearm and found it to be a loaded .32 caliber Colt revolver. The Trooper took custody of the above firearm. The accused did not have a handgun permit or any documentation for the firearm and was charged with carrying a handgun in a vehicle. The accused was taken before a District Court Commissioner for the warrant and handgun charges.

Disposition: Taken before District Court Commissioner

Investigating Trooper(s): TFC Sigmund #4783

Approving Duty Officer: CPL. Chatfield Date: 09/18/2010

Commander: Lt. E.W. Starner
Assistant Commander: 1/Sgt. D. Sharp

http://www.wgnd.com/

Teresa Lewis To Be Executed In Virginia

RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell said Friday he will not grant clemency to a woman scheduled to be executed next week for the murder of her husband and stepson.

If she is put to death, Teresa Lewis, 41, would be the first woman executed in Virginia since 1912, The Washington Post reported. She is scheduled to die by lethal injection Thursday.

Lewis pleaded guilty in 2002 to arranging for her lover and another man to kill her husband, Julian Lewis, a Vietnam veteran, and his son, Charles "C.J." Lewis, an Army reservist. Matthew Shallenberger and Rodney Fuller, who carried out the killings at the Lewis trailer in Danville, received life sentences.

A judge, declaring Lewis the "head of this serpent," gave her the death penalty.

Opponents of Lewis' execution say Shallenberger actually planned the killings, manipulating Lewis, who has an IQ just above the level of mental retardation.

McDonnell, who supports the death penalty, said he read the submissions from Lewis' lawyers.

"I find no compelling reason to set aside the sentence that was imposed by the Circuit Court," McDonnell said.

Lewis 2010

www.upi.com