Friday, October 16, 2009

The Public Takes a News Quiz ... and Doesn't Do So Well

How much do you know about the news? Take the quiz HERE

One question that always comes to mind when reading a poll: How much does the public know about the issues and current events it is being asked about, particularly complex ones like health care?

The Pew Research Center looked for some answers by giving 1,002 adults a news quiz, conducted Oct. 1-4. (You can take the quiz yourself here, but no cheating by looking first at the results which are below.)

The quiz included 12 multiple-choice questions and those who took it answered an average of 5.3 questions correctly.

Here are some of the results:

Seventy-five percent answered correctly when asked which party controlled the House, (the Democrats).

Sixty-five percent knew that Sonia Sotomayor was the new Supreme Court justice.

Sixty-one percent knew that health spending in the U.S. was higher than most of Europe.

When asked in what legislative context the "public option" was being discussed, 56 percent correctly answered "health care."

Fifty-three percent knew the unemployment rate was close to 10 percent.

Forty-two percent knew that Israel and Iran do not share a border.

Forty percent knew that Glenn Beck was a radio and TV talk show host.

Thirty-three percent knew that Ben Bernanke is the Federal Reserve Chairman.

Thirty-three percent knew that the Dow was back close to 10,000 points.

Twenty-eight percent knew the correct size of the U.S. military force in Afghanistan (about 70,000).

Twenty-three percent knew that "cap & trade" had to do with energy and climate legislation.

And for all the frequency with which his face has been on TV lately and the front pages of the newspapers, only 18 percent knew Max Baucus was chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

VIA
Take the quiz HERE What's your score?

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Vigilante Mom in Prison in Alleged Abuser's Death

A Florida woman reported to prison Thursday to begin finishing a 10-year sentence for killing a man she believed had molested her daughter.
Sylvia Neeley, now 48, admits killing Arthur Danner, 73, of Dade City, Fla., more than a decade ago, The St. Petersburg Times said.


Three months earlier, Neeley had reported to authorities that she believed Danner, her next-door-neighbor, had molested her daughter, the paper said. The girl, who is mentally disabled, was 12 years old at the time. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office investigated, but did not find enough evidence to charge Danner.
On May 24, 1998, Danner boasted about molesting the girl and threatened to do it again, Neeley said. "Stoned on beer and painkillers," Neeley went to her home in Dade City's Land O'Lakes mobile home park, got her gun, then returned and fired at Danner's chest and groin, the paper said.
Neeley was convicted of the killing in 2000 but the verdict was later thrown out and a new trial was ordered. With a new trial coming up, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but will receive credit for the more than four years she already served, the Times said.
Before she headed back to prison, Neeley told the judge, "I'm very sorry for the crime I committed. I just felt like no one was helping my daughter."
Neeley's daughter, now 23, has been moved to a group home, the paper said.
For more information on this story, see The St. Petersburg Times.

Missing 'Balloon Boy' Found Safe at Home

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Oct. 14) -- A 6-year-old boy was found hiding in a cardboard box in his family's garage attic Thursday after being feared aboard a homemade helium balloon that hurtled 50 miles through the sky on live television.

The discovery marked a bizarre end to a saga that started when the giant silvery balloon floated away from the family's yard Thursday morning, sparking a frantic rescue operation that involved military helicopters and briefly shut down Denver International Airport.

But Sheriff Jim Alderden turned to reporters during a news conference and gave a thumbs up and said 6-year-old Falcon Heene is "at the house." ''Apparently he's been there the whole time," he said.
The boy's father, Richard Heene, said the family was tinkering with the balloon Thursday and that he scolded Falcon for getting inside a compartment on the craft. He said Falcon's brother had seen him inside the compartment before it took off and that's why they thought he was in there when it launched.

But the boy fled to the attic at some point after the scolding and was never in the balloon during its two-hour, 50-mile journey through two counties. "I yelled at him. I'm really sorry I yelled at him," Heene said as he hugged his son during a news conference.

"I was in the attic and he scared me because he yelled at me," Falcon said. "That's why I went in the attic."




Richard Heene adamantly denied the notion that the whole thing was a big publicity stunt. "That's horrible after the crap we just went through. No."

The flying saucer-like craft tipped precariously at times before gliding to the ground in a field. With the child nowhere in sight, investigators searched the balloon's path. Several people reported seeing something fall from the craft while it was in the air, and yellow crime-scene tape was placed around the home.

But in the end, the boy apparently was in the garage the whole time, even as investigators scoured the house and neighborhood for any sign of him.

Neighbor Bob Licko, 65, said he was leaving home when he heard commotion in the backyard of the family. He said he saw two boys on the roof with a camera, commenting about their brother.
"One of the boys yelled to me that his brother was way up in the air," Licko said.

Licko said the boy's mother seemed distraught and that the boy's father was running around the house. The Poudre School District in Fort Collins, where the boys attend, did not have classes for elementary schools Thursday because of a teacher work day.

Read More HERE

Drunk Driver Calls 911 on Self.


In Wisconsin, a woman decided to call 911 dispatch while driving home drunk from a local watering hole. The following is a transcript of the conversation.

Caller: I just want to know if somebody can follow me home because somebody seems to think I can’t drive home straight.

911 Operator: OK, why is that?

Caller: He seems to think I am too intoxicated to drive.

911 Operator: OK, and so you called 911, or he called 911?

Caller: Well, he wanted me to call 911 because he thinks I’m too drunk to drive.


The ‘he’ in this case was a boyfriend who’d consumed a 12-pack by himself, yet still had the wherewithal to point out the driver, who’d knocked back 6, should not be getting behind the wheel (and yet no foresight or judgment whatsoever to pass up a ride home).

The woman failed the Breathalyzer and was ticketed in her own garage, but not before earning the unlikely kudos from a county sheriff (possibly, a distant relation):

“I think a judge will look at her and say, ‘You know what? You stepped up to the plate. You did the right thing. I think it’s commendable.”

Any Cat Folks Around??

Our family kitty is about 8 years old, here lately he has been acting a little strange like begging for people food and getting into things that he has never attempted to do since he was trained as a kitten.

Although he was acting a little different we didn't notice any other changes in him until last Saturday morning he was acting lazy and then got sick. He then all of a sudden just stopped moving, in such a way that the wife though he was dead, he wasn't but it was obvious that something was really wrong.

The wife and son packed him up and carried him to the Vet, they did blood-work and examined him. The Vet said that he thought his liver was failing and it was nothing he could do but he would know for sure when the test came back. He gave him a shot of fluids so he wouldn't dehydrate, and sent him home.

That same night the cat started to perk-up somewhat and by the next morning he was fine; just like nothing was ever wrong with him.

The blood-work results came back the middle of the week and the Vet said he had good news, there was nothing wrong with the cats liver but he had a low count of white blood cells and to come pick-up a prescription.

The Vet then explained that he could not explain why the cat was so sick and then perked-up as if nothing was ever wrong.

Then as of yesterday he has been fine, but sometime during the night the cat is right back to where he was (sick) and it looks like he's not going to make it. He wont move, eat, and cannot stand. I have had several animals in my life but I have never seen one get so sick then bounce back like this one did just to repeat it over again.

The wife has held him all day with him wrapped in a blanket and I heard her crying once and I went to see why and the cat was dead. But... low and behold he started breathing again in about two minuets but he's on his way out it looks like at any time.

The Vet wants him to see what may have caused these strange events for future reference because even the Vet says this is a very, very odd occurrence, but the wife and kids say no.

Anyone ever had an animal that had taken deathly ill then recovered over night only to repeat a week later after being completely normal and dropped like you snapped your fingers?

'Wheelchair Recycler' Gives Back Freedom

The man best known as the "Wheelchair Recycler" has spent the past 11 years building and fixing power chairs for the people with the greatest need, but who often could not otherwise afford one.
Permanently paralyzed in a car accident in 1995, David Heim, 47, of Marlborough, Mass., knows what a wheelchair means for a disabled person: "Independence. That's the greatest thing."

"You can't be without your chair for a week, let alone a day," he told NBC Nightly News.
His nonprofit organization takes used wheelchairs and refurbishes them with other donated parts. The work ranges from quick repairs to custom-made jobs, but each one is personalized to address the client's individual needs.
Heim has helped over 500 people across the country, and even internationally, since he first started his company.
"When I go into any rehab, or see anybody, I don't see their face first. I look at their chair -- what's wrong with it, are they comfortable, how are they positioned," Heim told NBC News.


Heim's chairs typically sell for $800-$1,000, a fraction of what a chair would typically run. Though Heim's shop is struggling itself to break even, he often gives away chairs or services to people who can't pay.
When The Christopher Reeve Foundation learned of Heim's charitable works, it donated the late actor's chair. Its parts were used to fix six other people's power chairs. The foundation also provided two grants that allowed the Wheelchair Recycler to buy vans to pick up donations.
Heim envisions operations like his existing in every state, and is now working to make that happen: "It can't stop with just this one shop."
For more details, visit NBC Nightly News and USA Today.
To find out more about Heim's operation, visit wheelchairrecycler.org.

North Carolina Pastor to Burn Bibles?

A church leader in North Carolina is burning versions of the Bible he doesn't agree with.

Pastor Marc Grizzard of the Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton is building a bonfire on Halloween to destroy Bibles that aren't the King James Version.

His reason for burning the holy books?

"What we're doing is we're burning books that are satanic. I believe the King James version is God's preserve, inspired, in erect, infallible word of God."

The pastor also says well-known Christian ministers like Billy Graham and Rick Warren are heretics whose books belong on a long list of negative influences and should be thrown to the flames.

http://wtkr.com

Newport News Girl Sells Toys to Buy Vests

There was round of applause at Tuesday night's Newport News city council meeting for a local girl taking action and getting results.

Kayleigh Crimmins has been raising money to buy bullet resistant vests for police dogs.

This one will go to a Newport News sheriff's department K-9 called Vader.

This is the fifth one she has bought with money from selling her toys on Craigslist.

"I think she is amazing I think she is determined I think she loves dogs, and there's no end to this she's made that very clear," says Kayleigh's mother Lee.

Kayleigh has also been holding yard sales and recently started a new project, 'Cans for K-9's' to help with her fundraising efforts.

http://wtkr.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WORCESTER: Trial date set for Pocomoke blogger

Pocomoke blogger Billy Burke will be going to trial for wiretapping charges in November.
Regardless of any differences I believe that recording an open conversation on the public steps of City-hall is not a criminal action.
Maryland laws on/about recording are very strict, but it plainly states that one must have "a reasonable expatiation of privacy"
A conversation in public, outside, on the steps of the Pocomoke City Hall building is about as open, and public as one could be.

Mr. Burke recorded a conversation between his wife and the Mayor on the public steps of Pocomokes City hall building. (a public setting) IMHO and should well be in the eyes of the law. This is though for the Judge and Jury to decide this November.

The Burke's were met by the Pocomoke Police with a warrant to search and confiscate all electronic equipment in their possession earlier this year, and Mr. Burke charged with wiretapping by the States Attorney Joel Todd. Mr. Burke was charged after a recording was sent by Burke to SA Todd and the MD Attorney Generals office as what Burke considered evidence of the destruction of public documents that were under the FOIA of the Burkes, Mrs. Burke was a council candidate at the time.


POCOMOKE CITY — A jury trial is scheduled on Nov. 2 for a local blogger accused of illegally recording a conversation with town Mayor Michael McDermott.

William F. Burke, a Market Street resident and publisher of pocomoketattler.com, faces a single count of wiretapping for taping a March 27 exchange between McDermott, himself and his wife Stephanie on the steps of town hall.

Pocomoke, Police Investigate Thefts of Liquor Store and Tractors

Dispensary employee arrested
PRINCESS ANNE -- An employee at a Somerset County liquor dispensary has been charged with theft in connction with the disappearance of more than $800 in liquor, according to Maryland State Police.

Dennis Wayne Johnson, 51, an employee at the store on Route 13 north of Pocomoke, is accused of removing liquor from the store, and supplying others with liquor without paying for it, police said.

On Sept. 21, the Maryland State Police criminal investigative section received information from the Somerset County Liquor Board regarding the thefts.

Johnson resigned his position with the liquor store at the beginning of the investigation, police said.

The investigation into the incident is continuing, police said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Police investigate tractor thefts
PRINCESS ANNE -- Maryland State Police are investigating the thefts of two tractors from a John Deere dealership on Route 13 north of Pocomoke City.

The tractors were stolen sometime between 6 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday from Atlantic Tractor, police said.

The suspect utilized some type of "rollback" tow vehicle to remove the two tractors which had previously been located out in front of the dealership, police said.

The tractors are described as:

n1998 John Deere model 755 tractor (used). Green and yellow with a small dent on the front grille.

n2009 John Deere model JD3032E tractor with front end loader (new). Green and yellow.

Anyone who may have seen these tractors being transported on the roadway, or anyone with information regarding this theft is urged to call the MSP Princess Anne Barrack tip line at 443-260-3737.

Source; DelmarvaNow.com

Holidays are Coming, Made In America

Shop American made. Below is an on-line shopping resource for American-made products for the home and family. Click on a shopping category, using the sidebar menu or the icons below.


Welcome to an on-line shopping resource for American-made products for the home and family. Click on a shopping category, using the sidebar menu or the icons below.

American-Made Wedding and Bridal
American-made Fashion Accessories
American-made Apparel
American-made Household Appliances
American-made Baby Gear
American-made Bed and Bath Products
American-made Handcraft
American=made Home Decor and Furnishings
American-made Kitchen & Dining Wares
American-made Sporting Goods
American-made Tools
American-made Toys & Games


STILL MADE IN AMERICA.COM
Hat Tip; Plainsman

Having a Bad Day?

When you do think about this feller!!

Suspended Delaware student heads back to first grade thanks to policy change


Six-year-old Zachary Christie can return to school today. Inundated by more than 1,000 phone calls and a national media frenzy, and faced with a couple hundred people who showed up to protest, the Christina School Board opened its meeting by unanimously voting Tuesday night to amend its zero-tolerance policy, clearing the way for Zachary's return to his first-grade class.

On Sept. 29, Zachary was suspended for five days when he brought a camping utensil with a knife, fork and spoon to Downes Elementary. Zachary planned to use the tool at lunch to eat his pudding. Under the district policy, he was also prohibited from returning to the Newark elementary school until he completed at least 45 days at an alternative school.

Now, students in kindergarten or first grade who bring a dangerous instrument to school will face a three- to five-day out-of-school suspension and then be allowed to return to their school where they will receive counseling. The change is retroactive to the beginning of the school year.

"We need to recognize the cognitive level of these kids," said school board member John Mackenzie. "We need to provide a little leeway."

"I'm thrilled Zachary will be able to go back to school," Zachary's mother, Debbie Christie, told a group of local and national media after the board's vote. "I'm overwhelmed. I'm sure my son is overwhelmed, and I'm ready to get back to my private life."

Kenneth Trump, a national school safety consultant, said suspending a 6-year-old for bringing a knife to school is not uncommon, but forcing a 6-year-old to go to an alternative school for 45 days is "over the top" compared to other districts across the country.

"School officials are certainly much more inclined to err on the side of safety in a post-Columbine and Virginia Tech world, but that doesn't mean that we don't need to have discretion or common sense," Trump said. "The consequences for a 6-year-old first-grade boy with a camping utensil should be different than a 16-year-old student with multiple knives and weapons with intent to kill students and staff."

According to the district's code of conduct, if the full blade of a knife is shorter than 3 inches, school officials consider it a dangerous instrument; 3 inches or longer and it is a deadly weapon. The blade on Zachary's utensil was shorter than three inches.

Prior to Tuesday's board meeting, the district had said it had to follow its policy consistently to be fair.

Ronnie Casella, an associate professor of education at Central Connecticut State University, said too often districts create zero-tolerance policies because they're afraid of giving different consequences to different students.

"They're scared of opening themselves up to a lawsuit so they turn to these one-size-fits-all policies. But unfortunately that leads to some crazy kind of decisions and some strange and odd outcomes," he said.

Christina Superintendent Marsha Lyles said principals had expressed concern about the lack of flexibility in the district's policy.

"We want to make sure this [policy] is equitably addressed," she said. "We need to have very clear guidelines and expectations of behavior that everyone adheres to."

Al Cavalier, an associate professor in the school of education at the University of Delaware who specializes in classroom and behavior management, said the Christina issue is part of a much broader national problem schools have been facing as they try to strike a balance in how to react to these kinds of situations. Determining intent usually is the key.

"The context is everything. Schools, parents and children are all struggling to find the right balance," he said.

School districts also need to be more inclusive as they create new disciplinary policies, he said.

"I think we all could provide a more public hearing about these policies before they're formed," Cavalier said.

Christina had already scheduled a workshop for the beginning of November to examine the district's code of conduct and see what, if any, improvement could be made. Wendy Lapham, the district's spokeswoman, said more changes to the district's policy could be made then.

State Rep. Terry Schooley, D-Newark, who sponsored legislation in the spring to allow districts to modify the terms of an expulsion or determine expulsion is not appropriate, said she hopes the district will do a thorough evaluation of their student discipline policies and give even more flexibility and discretion to school principals.

"We need to get back to what is going to change kids behavior other than just punishment because I think in the long run, [zero-tolerance policies] aren't going to make a difference," she said.

Schooley initially thought her bill, which was passed and became law in June, would help Zachary. But because he only carried a "dangerous instrument" and not a "deadly weapon" to school -- and was suspended rather than expelled -- the law did not apply to his case.

Schooley now plans to revise the law next legislative session, which doesn't begin until January.

Zachary's case isn't the first time Christina has made headlines.

Last year, fifth-grader Kasia Haughton was suspended for bringing a serrated knife to school to cut a cake. The student faced a possible expulsion until the district reversed its decision and allowed her back in school after determining she never had possession of the knife.

Two years ago, the school board expelled a seventh-grader for using a utility knife from home to cut windows out of a paper house for a class project.

While Christie wants to step out of the spotlight, she does want to be an activist for more flexibility on zero-tolerance policies.

"I hope my voice has given other people a voice," she said.

NOTE: Thanks DelmarvaNow.com this is a great/well written article.


VIA

Ford Recalls 4.5 Million Additional Vehicles In Switch Recall

Faulty Part Could Cause Fire; Largest Recall In Ford's History



Ford Motor Co. says it will add 4.5 million older-model vehicles to the list of those recalled because a defective cruise control switch could cause a fire.

Ford says 1.1 million Ford Windstar minivans will be recalled for repairs due to a small risk of fires.

The company says another 3.4 million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles with the same switches also will be recalled even though there have been no reports of fires. Those vehicles mainly are trucks and SUVs.

All vehicles covered by the recall are from the 1992 to 2003 model years.

Sherwood says this is Ford's seventh recall due to the Texas Instruments speed control switches. The recalls cover a total of 14.3 million vehicles and combined are the largest in Ford's history.

VIA

NAACP raises questions about mayoral succession

Group fears appointment of white or Republican mayor if Dixon is convicted
Can you imagine the outcry if the tables were turned here?
Maybe Obama will have a beer with'em.

Leaders of the Maryland NAACP, worried that a Baltimore mayor's criminal conviction could result in the appointment of a white or Republican leader who may not fully represent the majority black and Democratic city, are asking state lawmakers to strip the governor of authority to permanently fill the office.

The request, made in a resolution adopted at a state meeting of the civil rights group last weekend, marks the first time a mainstream organization has raised questions about succession should Baltimore Mayor Dixon be convicted of any of the nine charges she faces. Dixon has been indicted for theft and perjury and the first of two trials is scheduled for early next month.

"There is that possibility of a conviction, and we want to know those protocols that are in place," said Elbridge James, the political action chairman of the state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "If it looks like it is going to rain, I am going to buy an umbrella."

Still, it is not clear that the resolution or a law change is warranted. According to Dan Friedman, an assistant attorney general who is counsel to the General Assembly, the governor does not have the authority to make an appointment.

Instead, the state constitution defers to the city's charter, he said, which elevates the city council president to be mayor in case of a vacancy. That's how Dixon became mayor in 2007 after Martin O'Malley, her predecessor, was elected governor.

Marvin L. Cheatham, the president of the Baltimore Chapter of the NAACP, introduced the resolution because he heard an attorney on a radio program discussing a lack of clarity on succession if Dixon were to be convicted and sentenced.

"Our concern is who would the governor appoint?" Cheatham said. "Here you have a predominantly African-American city. What if the governor appointed somebody white? ... Would he appoint someone Irish to be the mayor?"

Cheatham also said he worried that a future Republican governor could appoint someone from his party to lead a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 9 to 1. "Would not the Republican governor have the ability to pick a Republican mayor?" he asked. "We just think there are some unanswered questions about the process," Cheatham said.

The resolution passed "nearly unanimously" with little debate from the 150 or so delegates who attended the meeting, James said. It lays out two options, asking either for the governor to defer to the city's charter and elevate the city council president to mayor; or a revision to state law to prevent an emergency mayoral appointee by the governor to run for the office in the next election.

Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for Gov. Martin O'Malley, reiterated that the governor cannot appoint a mayor of Baltimore, and did not answer other questions about the resolution. The adoption of the resolution was first reported by the online news Web site Investigative Voice.

The state constitution is difficult to follow on the topic of succession, Friedman said. One section of the document indicates that the governor has the authority to appoint a new leader should the sitting mayor be convicted and sentenced. However, that section has been superseded by a separate portion which clearly defers matters to the city's charter, Friedman said.

"If the [city charter] provides for an automatic succession, then that is what happens," Friedman said. "Baltimore's charter provides for that." Should Dixon be removed from office, City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake would become mayor. The city's charter then directs the remaining city council members to elect a new city council president.

Cheatham said he wants the attorney general's office to issue a written opinion on the matter.

The mayoral vacancy would occur if Dixon is convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor that relates to her official duties and sentenced. Dixon faces seven theft-related charges for using gift cards that were donated to her office for distribution to needy families. She's also accused of failing to report lavish gifts from her then-boyfriend on her city ethics forms.

The removal provision of the state constitution could also apply to city councilwoman Helen L. Holton, a West Baltimore Democrat. She is charged with two campaign finance violations and set to be tried Dec. 7.

Should Holton be removed from office, the city's charter directs the remaining city council members to elect a new council member to finish out the term. The city's next general election is in November 2011.
VIA

Boy Hits Hole-in-One Days After Surgery

An eight-year-old Virginia boy is celebrating a huge accomplishment. Just six days after brain surgery, he hit a hole-in-one.
Jonathan Brittain was born premature with a condition called Hydrocephalus -- bleeding of the brain -- and has since endured eight brain operations. The latest came last month, reported WTKR.


Less than a week later, the young boy recovered well enough to join his father, Jeff, and his two brothers on their local golf course. Playing his favorite hole -- the 9th, a part 3 over water -- Jonathan was perfect.
"I didn't think I was going to get a hole in one," he recalled.
"It's hard to believe six days before he was having brain surgery and six days later he's out playing golf," Jeff Brittain told WTKR. "The lord's blessed us and has taken care of Jonathan and got him back to where he could even be playing golf."
For more details on this story, visit WTKR.

"Hate Crime" Caught on Tape

Report; (Queens) Two men follow a man from a deli taunting him and calling him names then assault him all while being caught on public cameras.
One suspect was apprehended in Norfolk Va.

New; Anti Terrorist Camera


Say Cheeeeeeese!!

CRISFIELD WATERMAN'S FESTIVAL - Somers Cove Marina


ALL YOU CAN EAT – The Fourth Annual Crisfield Waterman's Festival will serve steamed crabs, oysters, fried and on the half shell, fried fish, clam strips, grilled chicken and more for $40.00. The event will be held on the Somers Cove Marina grounds. More details will be available later.

$40.00 per person. Call (410) 968-2501 for more details.
Visa and MasterCard accepted.

When; October 16, 2009 - Friday 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Where; Somers Cove Marina

Download Ticket Order Form

VIA

Democratic Halloween

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Kratovil sending out spam

I have never been to Kratovil's website, signed-up for any emails etc.

Now I get this from;

frank.kratovil@congressnewsletter.net

This is an attempt from Kartovil to look like a conservative democrat, too late Frank you have shown your true colors at the town halls, and by supporting cap and tax. This is not old school politics anymore Frank, people are educated, they plant seeds in their memories, seeds like telling a small child that our returning vets commit suicide.

Sorry Frank, looks like you're a one termer......

Here's the email;

Dear Friends, October 13, 2009

As the health care reform debate continues in Washington, it is more important than ever for Congress to listen to the concerns of our constituents and craft a reform package that works for all Americans. Over the past few months, I’ve spoken with thousands of constituents at Town Hall meetings, one-on-one conversations, and telephone town hall forums. While opinions on the current legislation were varied, I’ve heard strong agreement that we ought to look for common sense ideas that protect the parts of health care system that work and fix the parts that don’t.

In order to get my vote, any health care reform bill must protect and expand patient choice, rein in skyrocketing costs for consumers and businesses, and break down the barriers that prevent millions of Americans from accessing coverage. These are goals that cross party lines, and the debate over how to achieve these goals should focus not on partisan rhetoric but on a discussion of common-sense solutions that will improve health care and reduce costs for all Americans.

Last week, I led a group of my fellow Freshman Representatives in sending a letter to House Leadership urging them to take a step back and address a number of the concerns that our constituents have raised. The letter highlights many of the common sense proposals we have heard in our town hall meetings: fostering competition across state lines, reducing malpractice suits and defensive medicine, protecting small businesses, and ensuring that health care reform does not increase the deficit. The letter is available on my website if you’d like to read more about the reforms for which I am fighting.

The message I have heard from my constituents is clear: We need reform, but legitimate concerns remain about the current legislation. In my view the current House bill does not do enough to accomplish the critical goals discussed above. However, I am hopeful that we can develop a proposal that will cut costs, preserve consumer choice, protect small businesses, and increase competition. We cannot afford to let obstructionists derail this debate, but nor should we be afraid to acknowledge that many of the concerns being raised are real and legitimate.

You can be confident that in the days ahead I will continue working to ensure that any health care reform bill meets the needs and goals of First District residents. Until it does, it will not have my support. As always please contact my office if you have any questions or concerns about this or any legislation, or if you need help with a federal agency.

With warm regards,


Rep. Frank M. Kratovil, Jr.

P.S – While the health care debate continues to draw most of the headlines, I want to touch on another issue that is affecting our district. Our national economy is starting to show some glimmers of a turnaround, but many homeowners here in Maryland and across the country continue to face the prospect of foreclosure due to a lost job, an unexpected medical emergency, or other economic hardships. On September 26th, I held a foreclosure prevention workshop in Cambridge where over 150 constituents attended and spoke privately with housing counselors, got free legal advice from experienced foreclosure attorneys, and met directly with representatives from major lenders. I will be holding similar workshops in other areas of the district in the months ahead, but if you or someone you know is facing a foreclosure, then please do not wait. Please contact my office at (410) 334-3072 to learn more about the resources available to help you stay in your home.




Judge: Runaway Convert Should Go Home

A Florida judge says he plans to order the teenager who ran away from Ohio to Florida because she feared physical harm for converting from Islam to Christianity sent back to Ohio.
>The Orlando judge said Tuesday that he will sign the order when he gets the documents on 17-year-old Rifqa Bary's immigration status.

Bary has been in foster care in Orlando while her case was being reviewed. The judge says he will likely turn over the case to an Ohio court in the next few weeks.
Bary ran away from her parents' Columbus-area home in July, saying she feared being killed for changing religions. But a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation found no credible threats to Bary.
VIA

New Recipe Blog Added


Yep, that's one of my dishes... it's fried oysters and oyster chowder.
If you have not noticed we have added a new recipe sharing blog filed under 'links'
check it out, post your favorite recipes for others to try and review.

Obama; War on Fox, or Would that be the 1st Amendment.

Your tax dollars hard at work paying staff to investigate, analyze, operate and report on a tax funded whitehouse blog to attack Fox news.

One would think with two wars, the highest unemployment ever, a deficit that our great, great grandchildren will never pay off, the economy, a General begging for troops and a host of other things that are being unattended by dear leader, Fox should be the least of his worries.

Hmmmmmm?...........Hmmmmmm?.............Hmmmmmm? Barak Husien 0bama!

snip

Reality Check: Trying to Turn a Point of Pride into a Moment of Shame

Posted by Jesse Lee

Last night Fox News continued its disregard for the facts in an attempt to smear the Administration's efforts to win the Olympics for the United States. In the past, hosting the Olympics has been a source of pride and unity for the country, but once again Fox News' Glenn Beck program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan attack to boost ratings.

Boy Scout, 6, Suspended for Fork


1st Grader Brings Camping Utensil to School for Lunch, But Zero Tolerance Weapons Policy Leads to 45-Day Suspension

A 6-year-old boy's excitement over joining the Cub Scouts may just land him in reform school for 45 days.

Zachary Christie was suspended from his 1st grade class in Delaware's Christina School District after bringing a camping utensil - a combination knife/fork/spoon - to use at lunch, prompting calls to reexamine schools' zero-tolerance policy for bringing weapons to school, according to a New York Times report Monday.

Zero tolerance policies were instituted in many school districts across the country, at least in part due to violence at Columbine and Virginia Tech, the report notes. Their rigid enforcement is designed to eliminate the appearance of bias or discrimination on the part of school officials.

The school district's policy is enforced "regardless of intent" and "does not take into consideration a child's age," reports CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod.

But residents, and some lawmakers, are now wondering why schools can't apply a more common-sense discretion to such instances.

"It just seems unfair," said Zachary, who is being home-schooled while his mother, Debbie Christie, tries to fight the suspension. That involved Zachary appearing before a district disciplinary committee with his karate instructor and mother's fiancé vouching for him as character witnesses.

"Zachary wears a suit and tie some days to school by his own choice because he takes school so seriously," his mother said. "He is not some sort of threat to his classmates."

Christie started a Web site, helpzachary.com, to drum up support for her son.

State Representative Teresa L. Schooley wrote the disciplinary committee, asking each member to "consider the situation, get all the facts, find out about Zach and his family and then act with common sense for the well-being of this child."

But the strict enforcement of the policy has its supporters.

"There is no parent who wants to get a phone call where they hear that their child no longer has two good seeing eyes because there was a scuffle and someone pulled out a knife," said George Evans, the school district board's president.

There has been a move to give school officials more flexibility in "weapon"-related incidents. After a third-grade girl was expelled for a year after bringing in a knife to cut the birthday cake her grandmother sent in to the class, a new law was passed allowing officials to modify punishments on a case-by-case basis. But that was for expulsions, not suspensions as Zachary is faced with. Another revision to the law is being drafted to address suspensions, according to the report.

VIA

Daring to Question Al Gore

Al may have invented the internet but he wont accept the hard questions...
Gore said that the judge ruled in favor of his movie, Not so.

The judge ruled that Gore's movie was inaccurate and not scientific, if it were to be shown in schools it had to be pre-approved by parents VIA a permission slip.

Easton man charged with abusing 1-year-old

Sick, Sick people... This is heart breaking, how could anyone harm a defenseless infant.
I hope his celly is about 7 feet tall and 500 lbs.


Easton police have charged a man with burning, shaking and breaking the arm of his girlfriend’s 1-year-old daughter.

Thirty-nine-year-old Earl Luther Wilt Jr. of Easton was arrested Thursday and charged with assault and child abuse. He is being held on $50,000 bond.

According to court documents, in July Wilt allegedly broke the child’s forearm. In late August, Wilt allegedly held the girl’s hand to a stove burner and then shook the girl.

The child’s mother took her to Memorial Hospital in Easton on Sept. 5.
Charges were filed against Wilt on Oct. 1.



Posted @ delmarvanow.com

Monday, October 12, 2009

Dr. Russell Blaylock: Doctors Will be 'Drafted' Under Democrats' Public Option


A respected medical specialist has carefully reviewed the healthcare reform bill in the U.S. House, and he declares that it would amount to a virtual "draft" of doctors into the government's "public option" health insurance program.

Dr. Russell Blaylock, a renowned neurosurgeon, book author and editor of the Blaylock Wellness Report published by Newsmax, also warns that "death panels" could lead to the rationing of medical care to the elderly and a "violation of the Hippocratic Oath."

See Video: Dr. Russell Blaylock discusses the threats to quality medical care under Obamacare - Click Here Now

What's Lurking in Loch Ness?



There's something lurking in the depths of Loch Ness, Scotland, and it has nothing to do with monsters.
On a recent expedition to try and find evidence of the Loch Ness monster, U.S. research teams came across something quite unexpected -- not a prehistoric creature of the deep, but thousands of plastic covered golf balls.
Embedded video from CNN Video

Mike O'Brien of SeaTrepid explains: "At first we thought they were mushrooms, there were so many. But when we lowered the camera, we were surprised to see that they were in fact golf balls."

The balls were found roughly 300 yards from the beach and 100 yards from the shore where it is thought locals and visitors have been using the loch to practice their driving skills for quite some time.
One witness, conservationist Adrian Shine, told CNN he had seen locals launching balls almost 300 feet into the waters.

However, Shine doesn't believe this to be an environmental threat: "Certainly it's undesirable, but I don't think it will have a significant environmental impact on the loch."

It seems missing and discarded golf balls may not be bad news for all concerned. David Roston has built a career out of wading through rivers and diving in lakes to collect and re-sell discarded golf balls.
His online company, www.lakeballs.co.uk, had been retailing "lake balls" for almost 10 years, but even his powers of retrieval would be challenged by the monstrous task of recovering balls from the bottom of loch.

"I've dived in various lakes and found 10 to 15 thousand golf balls at a time, it's incredible -- but we've never attempted to clear a loch!"
Bobbing along at a depth of 754 feet, it's unlikely these balls of Loch Ness will ever see the light of day again.

VIA

Salisbury To Add a Million Dollar Fireboat

That's right, Salisbury residents tax dollars at work.
Right now Salisbury is rated second in the highest crime cities in the U.S. and they have approved $900,000.00 for a fire boat that will surely be a million by the time it's complete.

What in the world does Salisbury need a fireboat for? You can squirt a garden hose across the Wicomico River at it's widest point. There's not any place on the river that could burn that does not have hard road with clear access. I'm a boat guy, and the initial cost is trivial compared to the long term maintenance of a boat that is kept overboard. Also I remember a pac14 where the SFD is building a new firehouse that will cost the exact same amount, I would think that would be their priority over the boat.

So.. they are getting this million dollar boat, I wonder if they will spend the money locally to have it built?

We have some very good boat builders that I'm sure could use the boost right here in Crisfield.

There's

Chesapeake Boats Inc., Crisfield, MD; Maryland, USA
Service: Boat Builder, Boat Dealer

Evans Boat, Inc., Crisfield, MD; Maryland, USA
Service: Boat Builder, Boat Dealer

Carman Boats INC Marion Station Maryland USA

All the above build beautiful, stable, reliable boats.

It's That Time Of Year, Is Your Vehicle Ready?


We have had a nice summer, but... it's over and winter is near, a friend of mine in the mid-west has 5 inches of snow right now. Brrrrrr just thinking about it.

A lot of folks get their house/furnace and other things prepared for the cold but neglect their means of transportation.

Well let me tell you a few things you can do yourself to save some moolah and maybe a road-call/tow.

Take a good look at all of your tires, turn the fronts hard left/right so you can see the inside treads a little better, and check the air pressure, always air your tires to the recommendations in the owners manual or the label on the drivers door/post.

Check your belt(s) for cracks and wear, hoses for cracks and pliability, if they are hard it's time to replace.

Check the antifreeze, you can get a cheap tester for a buck, check the freeze point, it my look good but that does not mean it is. Antifreeze should be changed every two years to prevent it from losing it's strength and to relieve the system of damaging electrolysis that will eat away at gaskets and soft metals.

Check the washer fluid, it's a good idea to run clear water through the washer system while it's still warm and then add clean new washer fluid. You will thank yourself when your washer is getting all that salt off the windshield without fail.

Check your wiper blades, the best way to do this is hit the windshield washer, if the blades don't flip on the down stroke or they jump on the dry windshield it's time for new ones.

Check the heater/defroster, while running the A/C all summer we don't notice if the heater/defroster has a problem.

These few things can prevent some major headaches when the weather turns cold, and could save you a tow/repair bill.

Happy Motoring

Man Shoots Fiancee Day Before Wedding


Police in Florida are continuing their investigation of a 62-year-old man who fatally shot his fiancée the day before the wedding after allegedly mistaking her for an intruder.

"We're still trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together," Winter Springs Police Chief Kevin Brunelle told CBS' "The Early Show" Monday.

Watch CBS News Videos Online
John Tabutt, 62, told investigators he got his gun when he thought he heard an intruder, then fired at a figure in the hallway, according to Brunelle. It was Tabutt's live-in fiancee, 62-year-old Nancy Dinsmore, whom family members say he was going to marry Saturday. Tabutt told authorities he thought she was next to him in bed the whole time.

Brunelle said police were not yet viewing Tabutt's claim about believing Dinsmore was next to him in bed as suspicious and added Tabutt has no criminal record on file.

Tabutt called the police emergency dispatcher shortly after 2:30 a.m. Friday, moaning and sobbing, the newspaper reported.

"I thought I had an intruder in the house," he told the emergency dispatcher. "Honest to God, she looks dead."

He then thought he heard her take a breath.

"Hang in there, Honey. Hang in there," he said.

As for Tabutt's demeanor when police arrived, "he was as frantic as he sounds on tape," Brunelle said.

The couple planned to wed in a small ceremony Saturday at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Winter Springs, Dinsmore's son-in-law Scott Sposato, of Vero Beach, told the Orlando Sentinel.

"They loved each other," he said. "It was quite apparent."

Winter Springs is about 15 miles north of Orlando.

VIA

A big thanks to BNN, the readers and contributors

1DELMARVA


I have been trying to get the blog approved by BNN, (Blog Net News), this is a copulation of blogs and one has to meet certain criteria to be accepted.

I had submitted this blog early on and was denied because I was not aware that a blog must be a minimum of 90 days old to be eligible. After the 90 day period I resubmitted as directed by BNN and I have not heard a yay or nay.... I was visiting BNN today and low and behold what do I see but the PPE has been approved/added to BNN.

Thanks to our loyal readers, our contributors, BNN, and of course those other blogs that posted bad things about us and brought new readers we are #1 on delmarva.

This is unbelievable to me as this is a very young blog and frankly I never set a goal to be #1

Thank You's too all,

1DELMARVA

Accident Near Fishinghole Rd :Pocomoke:

Southbound US 13;

Vehicle accident with several injured, 1 person entrapment... single vehicle rollover

I'll update as they become available

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Free Flu Shots (Pocomoke)


Free Flu shots will be available for anyone over the age 13 at the Pocomoke Volunteer Fire Department starting at 10:00 am Tuesday the 13th ending at 2:00 PM.
They request that everyone use the 14th st entrance to ease in traffic congestion.



Odor on Nictitate (chapter 4)

Grab a snack, a cup of coffee or a beer or 2. This is a long one.


By Odor Eliminator

Chapter 4: The Search is on to find Christine!

We left off last week with chronicled efforts by LE to find Christine Sheddy. Hopefully many answers were found by readers after sifting through Nictitates tale to find truth.

OE would like for everyone to understand that my tale is not about anyone other than Christine and events that are relevant to her. My mention of Mike McDermott is not about helping him run for a higher political office. Mr. McDermott has to find his own way through Nictitates and other’s tales, look within his self, and find a way to right any wrongs. OE does not do politics. Period! As one of my favorite bloggers says – “Nuff Said”!

………. Along came a spider called Nictitate spinning a tale of everything imaginable except for getting down to the business of finding Christine. Nictitate has been on “location” at the farm on Byrd Road where Christine Sheddy was last seen and produced a video showing something. Who knows what its relevance is to the subject. What we don’t see is Nictitates chronicled efforts in searching for Christine.

Are Nictitate and the spawn from the nest even bothering to search? As you will read, others have done that and Nictitates tale has been spun from those efforts.

Many of the searches to find Christine have revolved around one of Nictitates colleague known as “Man with a stick” or other AKA’s such as Lucas Caine, Lukester, and some unmentionable’s. In reality he is Luke Phillips’s. One local blog ran a post about who Luke is and OE knows that the question was a “fake” because the person asking had met Luke at one of the searches. Go figure!

Luke has been involved in many searches for Christine. Sources tell OE that they are not sure where Luke came from or how he got involved. It’s believed that he made contact with Christine’s family and offered his services. Some say that his service’s start with an internet search of missing persons and he makes contact with the family and tells them about his many talents of psychic nature. More often than not Luke goes after the really big cases of missing persons and offers the help from the international seer society.

Speaking about talents of psychic nature, we have to back up because psychics were on the case long before Luke. Almost, from the very beginning of Christine’s case.

Christine’s family contacted Suzanne and Jean Vincent psychics from Pittsburg, PA. Known as The Psychic Vincent Sisters, their website lays claim to their abilities as mediums in clairvoyance, medical intuitive, precognitive, aura, and remote viewing. While sources tell us that Christine’s mother calls them “My Ladies”, OE will call them “The Sisters”.

The Sister’s have been heavily involved in utilizing their self proclaimed abilities to find Christine and many searches of the Byrd Road property were guided or misguided by what they saw in their visions. Eyewitnesses tell OE that Lynn, Christine’s mother would walk around with a cell phone to her ear while following the guidance of the Sister’s. Some observers of this “show” left at the end of the day knowing that they had wasted valuable time and efforts.

The area surrounding the Byrd Road farm is heavily wooded and in some places swampy. Searching is a tedious task and some who have participated in the searches tell OE that there is so much area to cover and it’s slow going when making their way through all of the obstacles presented by the terrain.

We know that LE conducted searches early on including an all out search in late December 2007 which included the assistance of Flatland Search and Rescue. I don’t know if any of you avid readers have been present at one of these types of searches however, eyewitnesses to this particular search tell OE that “you might think that the military had set up camp” in reference to the observation of Flatlands method of operations. OE is told that Flatland leaves no blade of grass un-trampled, conduct searches in a highly organized way, and remain professional at all times.

Flatland did get into a sticky situation when they entered onto the property of one of the residents of Byrd Road. Lawsuits were threatened for violating poultry bio-security procedures however the situation was defused in an apologetic professional manner. Sources tell OE that Flatland did not realize that they didn’t have permission to be on the property and they had no intention of offending anyone.

In January of 2008 private searches were conducted in areas surrounding the Byrd Road farm. Sources tell OE that residents in the immediate area assisted Christine’s mother on day long walks looking in every nook and cranny for anything. The psychic Sisters had given information to Lynn about clues to look for while searching. These clues lead the direction of the searches and sources tell OE that they turned out to be “wild goose chases”.

February, 2008 – taken from the journal of an observer – “The police searched again today for Christine. Her mother and friends were there. Cadaver dogs were searching the property and the State Police helicopter landed and picked up a WCBI detective. The helicopter flew low over the wooded parts of the area searching”. This indeed was a costly but effective search. What was found is unknown because the detectives are not going to reveal anything, not even to the family. Does this look like LE was doing nothing?

I mentioned in the last chapter that some within LE were willing to be “open minded” about the seer society. One particular incident that was told to OE is that the family was insistent about some type of psychic writings that were happening to Jenifer, Christine’s sister. A WCBI detective conceded to their demands and followed directions given from Jenifer’s psychic visits from Christine.

It’s unclear to OE whether the family believes that Jenifer has psychic abilities. What is clear to OE is that the detective, upon the say so of the family, accommodated their demand that these writings be followed. Sources have told OE that the detective was directed to travel the country side looking in many different places that supposedly Christine was telling Jenifer where she could be found. Obviously, nothing came from the detectives meanderings because we are still looking for Christine.

OE can just imagine a picture in the mind of a detective driving from place to place because the family is saying that Christine is telling them where she is. That is material for a movie. We don’t know what became of these writings and sources say that they don’t know if Jenifer has had any more visits from Christine. Maybe after reading this chapter of my tale, Jenifer will enlighten us about this.

The neighbors have conceded to OE that they are aware of the psychic input and that they were questioned by LE about one of them having seen an apparition of Christine in one of the fields on the Byrd Road farm. One of the neighbors says that “if I had seen something like that, I would have run like hell”. Apparently, someone called LE and told them this story and as usual procedure, LE had to follow up on it. They refuse to comment about their thoughts on the psychic nature of the searches for Christine.

Following the police and cadaver dog search, another search was arranged privately utilizing the same cadaver dogs. Man with a stick, Luke, was the lead in this search and has posted that he personally paid for the use of the cadaver dogs in both the police search and this private search.

Some of us know that Luke got the name “Man with a stick” because of his use of a dowsing rod some call it a diving rod which was used to guide in the right direction to find Christine. It’s a common tool used by those who say they have psychic abilities.

Luke has participated in many of the searches for Christine and in all fairness OE is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that his heart is in the right place. OE will not give an opinion about his methods that is for you to decide. What OE will do is now tell you how Luke conducts his psychic methods of searching. OE’s information about his methods has come from many sources who have witnessed Luke at his best.

One particular “private” search for Christine had searchers meandering all over the Byrd Road farm and surrounding area. Sources tell OE that Luke was leading the pack utilizing the rod to determine the direction in which to go. One source says that they became so “frustrated” following the rod that they went off on their own to search. “He kept twirling this rod and then letting it stop and point to the direction go” the source said. After going back and forth over the same area and finding absolutely nothing, OE is told that people were just ready to walk away, and some did.

According to sources, Luke was also using direction given over a cell phone by another psychic, not the Sisters, and this psychic was supposedly someone who was in on solving some big case. The direction given by the “cell phone psychic” and the direction indicated by Luke’s rod were in conflict and a super natural dilemma was conjured up about which “seeing” was correct.

Vague directions were given by the “cell phone psychic” and in following those directions observers tell OE that it was valuable time wasted. Based from this opinion, it is obvious that people have accommodated Christine’s family in ways that many can’t even imagine. Main stream America would not spend entire days following the directions of the international seer society.

After this search, the cell phone psychic was kicked to the curb. The Sister’s are now the primary seers in search of Christine. Luke is still the “on location” seer and is guiding another private search. One source tells OE that on this search, a lead detective in Christine’s case at the time participated and it was his day off.

The search starts off in an orderly way. Areas are covered by sections and searchers are methodically covering ground. All of a sudden this orderly search turns into a leading of the blind. Luke has arrived and Lynn has been on the cell phone with the Sister’s. Everyone starts wandering aimlessly following the directions of the seer society. One observer tells OE that certain “markers” were described by the seers and if you don’t see any of the “markers” don’t waste time looking.

Mr. LE who was present for this search unknowingly bore the burden of blame for not finding anything. Sources tell OE that criticism of Mr. LE was heavy and not very nice. Mr. LE was not following the program and he was going off into places that were too flooded or muddy with his four wheeler, too look. One place that Mr. LE looked induced him to question whether someone had been in a particular area recently because he had found something that wasn’t there on previous searches. Although it turned out to be nothing of significance, OE can surmise that at least he found something! Mr. LE was sent packing and the remainder of the day was conducted under the guidance of Luke and the Sister’s by cell phone.

We are now into yet another search. This time we have participants from several LE agencies including a Department of Resource Police and her dog. As the story goes, there were certain areas or particular locations that Christine’s family felt had not been searched properly. LE accommodated the family and looked in every place that was indicated. OE is told that this search was put together by many LE agencies and some were providing their own time. Translation – day off from work.

There is a pond on the property of the Byrd Road farm. Although the cadaver dogs that had been used in two previous searches had been directed to sniff out the pond, it remained a sore thumb in the search for Christine. The family was not satisfied with the abilities of the dogs and wanted the pond searched.

A state dive team made up of many LE participants volunteered their own time to travel to Pocomoke to search the pond. WCBI Detectives on Christine’s case were on hand as well. The divers searched every square inch of the pond by hand. OE is told by eye witnesses that the pond is very murky and visibility is poor. The divers had to submerge their selves and utilize their hands on the bottom of the pond to search. One eye witness described the search as a sight worth seeing and says that they were “fascinated” at the capabilities of the dive team.

All of these searches were done prior to the “big” search in March of 2009. Some have questioned about how this search came to existence. OE has the answers for you.

The Big March Search was conjured up out of all of the derogatory and negative opinions about LE not doing its job. One of the local blogs had repeated comments trashing LE and of course there was the conspiracy theory of Mike McDermott directing many LE agencies and public service organizations to not find Christine. Leading organizers of this search were Stephanie Burke and Lynn, Christine’s mother.

LE gave their blessing for a public search. They were not able to be part of the search due to legalities. If they were present, all responsibility would fall on our LE agencies, which means the taxpayers.

What an event. By sunup, Flatland Search and Rescue was setting up their operations base from which they would conduct a detailed systematic search. Once again, Flatland volunteered their time and resources.

Candidate Burke and the few family members who participated arrived much later that morning. People were already on hand and time was wasted to get everyone lined up to check in. What’s that I hear? Eye witnesses say that a waiver had to be signed by everyone who was participating in the search which released property owners of responsibility should any accidents or injuries occur. Legalities like the one mentioned about LE’s participation.

Participants were many and Walmart sent managers from eastern shore stores to help search. There were many others and if you want to read a list of them, you will have to read it on Candidate Burkes local blog. Walmart also donated refreshments for the searchers.

Teams were selected. Each team had a person from Flatland as the leader and going by the grids that had been set up they set off to search their given area. GPS was used to record positions of teams while searching and radioed back to the base. Flatland would then record on their computer where people were and where they would be going next. Fifteen square miles were covered that day. Some search parties did not give up until after dark.

Eye witnesses say that they never did see Candidate Burke out in any of the search parties. One post from a blogger has suggested that Candidate Burke was using the event to campaign for her upcoming election. Apparently, she requisitioned the refreshment center as her pulpit to campaign from.

Luke was on hand for this search as well but he didn’t go out with the search teams. Following the guidance of the Sister’s Luke was busy running a pump to remove water out of a hole that is on the farm property. This hole was of particular interest by Christine’s family and Luke because the Sister’s visions placed Christine there. After an entire day, Luke came up empty handed.

The Big March search was an out pouring of community helping to find Christine. Her story is heart wrenching and the good hearted people of Pocomoke and surrounding areas needed and wanted to do something to help. What was not known by the many volunteers is that there had been a skull recovered from Assateague that had been sent off for identification. It’s believed by many that it will be Christine.

Remember the private search that Mr. LE participated in and was dismissed because he didn’t follow the psychic program? At that time, it was known by Luke and Lynn that a skull had been found. Mr. LE was also aware of the evidence found and he still accommodated Lynn’s demand for yet another search. Could this be another reason that LE didn’t participate in the Big search?

Other behind the scene action included post’s made to a local blog by a person claiming to be Clarence Jackson. These post were of a somewhat threatening nature, specifically mentioned the upcoming Big search, and even said that nothing would be found. The local blog owner withheld these posts until after the search. Only Candidate Burke can answer the why of withholding these posts but many bloggers have speculated that she did not want the event (the Big Search) ruined.

So bloggers, speculate away. Why did candidate Burke withhold the post to her blog from the person claiming to be Clarence Jackson? Nictitates tale mentions no information related to this and it’s wondered by OE why her tale has not included this information. After all, aren’t we supposed to be solving a mystery created by Nictitate and the groupies?

I know that you all are going to have trouble understanding this next one. After the Big search and in light of probable evidence of the skull, Lynn insisted on another search. I know, folks, you are all scratching your heads right about now.

This last search to be conducted saw volunteers from Flatland Search and Rescue once again arriving at the crack of dawn. Certain spots had been privately pre-determined by the Sister’s, Lynn, and Luke. Flatland brought in a person with heavy equipment to dig with and a methodical sifting of the remains of the burnt down chicken house on the farm was done. Volunteers painstakingly sifted through the ashes and ruins.

Again, Luke was of doing his thing. He used ground penetrating sonar on a few specific locations and nothing was found. The hole was again visited by him.

Sources tell OE that as the day wore on, volunteers were becoming very disheartened. Lynn decided to share some information that the Sister’s had given her and everyone agreed, okay let’s check it out. By this time people were wandering individually all over the place without any specific destination.

Lynn was on the cell phone again with the Sister’s and began running around frantically trying to follow whatever it was that the Sister’s were seeing in a vision. An eye witness tells OE that it was “real smooth and much too convenient”. Upon the guidance of the Sister’s, Lynn found something that belonged to Christine. OE will not divulge what exactly was found because it is in the hands of LE.

Sources tell OE that the place where these things were found had been searched several times and question how it could have been missed especially by highly trained cadaver dogs. They also say that too many people had access to the place where the things were found and wonder just exactly how these things got there to be found.

OE surmises that at least ten searches were conducted and every time, Christine’s family was not satisfied. Sources tell OE that they have never seen Christine’s sister Jenifer make an appearance although she has been highly critical of everyone’s efforts. OE is mystified as to why Christine’s family kept insisting on searches of the Byrd Road farm when they knew that LE had found a skull on Assateague which is presumed to be Christine’s.

It appears to OE that Christine’s family has put blind faith into the international seer society. OE questions the wisdom of this because just suppose something was overlooked by a searcher because no “markers” were present where they were looking and every nook and cranny wasn’t searched.

According to OE’s way of thinking, none of this makes any sense. To criticize every step of LE and off handedly dismiss their efforts as doing nothing is ludicrous. To blindly follow the Sister’s who by the way have never made an appearance is something from another world. To rely on a Man with a stick to guide you to Christine – OE does not have a word to fit this scenario. And if all of that isn’t enough, enter Nictitate and the groupies.

Nictitate appears to be fixated on the Byrd Road farm as are the Sister’s, Luke, and Christine’s family. Is there something that they know that the rest of us don’t?

This chapter turned out to be rather long. OE had so much information and found that to cut out any of it would be a great disservice to the many fine people who have volunteered their time and efforts to help find Christine. Where we go from here is anyone’s guess but more than likely we will have a new chapter from Nictitates tale to read as she finds clues from what OE has written.

Coming soon….. Odor on Nictitate, Chapter 5 – OE is not quite sure which subject to follow next. It will be a surprise!

Note: For those of you who want to highjack writings from OE – DON’T. Any writings contributed by Odor Eliminator belong to The Pocomoke Public Eye exclusively and all rights are reserved. You may not copy and paste, dissect, snip, or use any of OE’s writings in any part or its entirety without prior written consent.

NOTE: New post will fall below this post