The 86th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim: July 27, 2011

On Wednesday, July 27th, 2011, the Saltwater Cowboys will once again swim those famous Chincoteague ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island.

PHOTO By Chincoteague Vol. Fire Company

The swim takes place at "slack tide". Slack tide is a period of about 30 minutes between tides, when there is no current. This is the easiest time for the ponies to make the swim. The time of slack tide varies each year. However, the swim generally takes place some time between 7am and 1pm. The specific time will be announced at the carnival grounds the week of the swim.

The Chincoteague Ponies will swim across the Assateague Channel during 'slack tide', which is 30 minutes between tide changes when there is no current, making it the easiest time for the ponies to swim.

A message on the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company website states this:

Official Notice from the Fire Company concerning swim times for 2011 Pony Swim
 Word has come from the pony committee that this year’s pony swim will be a LATE one according to the tide charts.

The low water slack time has been determined to be between 12:15pm and 1:30pm. We will not get the times any closer than that so with that in mind, the fire company encourages people NOT to get to the swim site extremely early. If tradition holds it will be a hot day and for the safety of the spectators there is no need to stand out in the heat and the marsh for 6 hours when you can arrive at 9:30am and still get a great viewing spot.

The fire company would like to remind everyone to bring water, bug spray and old shoes because of the low tide there will be lots of mud at the swim site itself.

Please stop by the information stand Tuesday night for any further updates. Information stand is located at the carnival grounds.

Once the ponies reach dry land and have rested for about 45 minutes the Salt Water Cowboys will parade the ponies down Main Street to the carnival ground.

If you plan to attend the pony swim it is advised that you bring bug repellant, sunscreen, plenty of water to drink and wear clothing suitable with shoes that can get wet or muddy. Pack you patience.

For more information you can  go to  www.chincoteague.com

I've lived on the Shore all of my life and have never seen a pony swim and understand fully at my age now that if I were ever going to attend it should have been 35 years ago when an estimated crowd of 30,000 on the tiny island wasn't even thought of. 

 While looking at photos taken by members of the Salt Water Cowboys or members of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company I found the perfect little pony for me if I were a small child among the thousands to visit this year.

PHOTO By Chincoteague Vol. Fire Company

This little guy is my favorite!  I hope he brings tons of money for the fire department and finds a wonderful home......although a buy-back would be nice.

Step-daughter, Friend Arrested in Murder of Man Found In Choptank River

July 26, 2011

Maryland State Police have arrested two Caroline County women and charged them with killing a man and leaving his body in the Choptank River, near Denton on the Eastern Shore. Police identified the suspect's as the victim's step-daughter and friend. From a statement:

An autopsy of the victim conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore determined the victim was murdered. Forensic pathologists found the victim had cutting wounds to his head and hands, none of which had injured vital organs, but some of which were wounds he likely sustained while trying to defend himself. 
According to the medical examiner, the victim had also sustained blunt force trauma to the head and had been asphyxiated. Autopsy evidence indicated the victim was already dead when his body was placed in the river.

More details from state police news released, including names:

Maryland State Police homicide investigators have charged two Caroline County women with the murder of a man whose body was found in the Choptank River near Denton Sunday morning. 

The victim is identified as Louis R. Nichols, 71, of the 300-block of South Fourth Street, Denton, Md. Nichols lived at that address with Charlene Weddle, the daughter of his deceased spouse, and Weddle’s friend, Mary Chider. Nichols’ wife died about one month ago.     

The first suspect is identified as Charlene R. Weddle, 45, of the 300-block of South Fourth Street, Denton, Md. She is charged with first and second degree murder and first degree assault.  Following her initial appearance before a court commissioner, Weddle was incarcerated in the Caroline County Detention Center without bond. 

The second suspect is identified as Mary S. Chider, 34, of same address.  She is charged with first and second degree murder and first and second degree assault.  She will be taken before a court commissioner for an initial appearance later this morning. 

At about 11:00 a.m. on July 24, 2011, a man fishing in the Choptank River just north of business Rt. 404, saw a body in the water near the west bank of the river, not far from the old Rt. 404 bridge.  Deputies from the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office responded, along with Natural Resources Police and criminal investigators from the State Police Easton Barrack. 

State Police Homicide Unit investigators were called and continued the investigation.   They were provided invaluable assistance from investigators with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, the State Police Easton Barrack, and members of the Caroline County State’s Attorney’s Office. 

An autopsy of the victim conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore determined the victim was murdered.  Forensic pathologists found the victim had cutting wounds to his head and hands, none of which had injured vital organs, but some of which were wounds he likely sustained while trying to defend himself. 

According to the medical examiner, the victim had also sustained blunt force trauma to the head and had been asphyxiated.  Autopsy evidence indicated the victim was already dead when his body was placed in the river. 

State Police homicide investigators obtained search warrants and processed the victim’s home and vehicle for evidence.  Inside his home, investigators found blood and other evidence that indicates the victim was murdered there.  Inside his vehicle, a conversion type van, they found blood evidence consistent with a body that was bleeding being transported in the vehicle. 

During interviews with friends and witnesses, investigators learned Weddle was heard threatening to kill the victim Saturday night.  A witness also saw Weddle driving the victim’s van at about 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning, near the river where the victim was found. 

A motive for the murder remains unclear at this time. The investigation is continuing.  

Source;  http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2011/07/stepdaughter_friend_arrested_i.html

Gus Wants An Indoor Pool

Gus,  the British Bulldog,  decided he didn't want to use his pool  outdoors in the horrible heat.

With his sister watching,  Gus remedies the situation!

Under The Influence and On The Road -- AGAIN

BISHOPVILLE — A 45-year-old Bishopville woman has been charged with several traffic violations for the second month in a row after sideswiping an oncoming car Sunday morning.

Kim Hinkley, of Back-Creek Road in Bishopville, was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license, negligent driving, unsafe lane change, driving on a revoked license and failure to obey designated lane directions.

Sunday morning around 10 a.m., Maryland State Police say Hinkley was driving east on Rt. 367 when she allegedly crossed the center line and sideswiped another vehicle, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision.

Hinkley was charged on June 21 with similar charges including driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on a suspended license and failure to display license to a police officer. Hinkley was previously found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol in June of 2009.

Source; http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110725/NEWS01/110725010/WORCESTER-CRIME-Woman-faces-DUI-charges-after-crash?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Worcester County Times|s

Ray's Shanty

5:45 - Fire is out with fire departments still on the scene. No sign of fire damage on the outside.


I learned a few minutes ago that RAY'S SHANTY on Chincoteague Road is on fire! 

If you are on your way to Chincoteague or coming from Chincoteague or any point in between

USE EXTRA CAUTION!!

Melson Power Sports - Barry and Bill Go At It

On this Saturday night the track was a little wet from the rain the evening before. However,  that was nothing to worry about since the 'Short and Sassy'  is raced through the mud quite often and can handle mud alot deeper than this track can provide.

~~  And clean up afterwards on each  truck is a breeze!! (for my husband and Bill)~~

(In my honest opinion) This was a good night to get all the 'quirks' out of both vehicles without having competition being a factor.

Attorneys Don A Different Kind of Suit

There have often been stories written about attornies and judges who race vehicles or  ride Harley Davidson motorcycles and now surf!
Written by

Greg Latshaw

OCEAN CITY -- Before prosecutor Richard Brueckner puts on his suit and enters the Wicomico County courtroom, he's out on the water, wearing his wet suit.



Richard Brueckner, left, and Wicomico State's Attorney Matt Maciarello pose with their surf boards/ LAURA EMMONS/THE DAILY TIMES



Brueckner, the safe streets prosecutor for the State's Attorney's Office, rises early to surf at Assateague Island. Hours later, he trades his board for a legal pad, taking on cases that put drug dealers and gun offenders behind bars.

Brueckner's not alone -- he's one of many lawyers who surf the waters near Ocean City. The activity brings together attorneys who may spar in court, but are friends when their boards dip into the water.

"You're sort of in a communion with nature," Brueckner said. "When you see all the surfers on boards, waiting for the surf, that's called the 'lineup.' We're talking to each other. The sun is coming up, the dolphins are going by."

Riding the waves is also a popular pastime for professionals such as accountants and doctors. But peers in those fields don't have the fierce rivalry of the bar. In court, duty calls a defense attorney and prosecutor to pick apart each other's cases.

But at the beach, saltwater melts away animosity. The surfboard breaks down barriers and builds friendships.

From boards to the board room

Long before Matt Maciarello was the Wicomico County State's Attorney, he was a Dover kid yearning for the waves.

His first job was at Endless Summer Surf Shop in Ocean City. He fixed broken surfboards, which figures, in a way, because Maciarello's first board was a beat-up, finless 1968 Dewey Weber.

As a teenager, Maciarello competed in local and regional competitions, winning nearly two dozen trophies. Decades later, he still surfs, occasionally paddling beside defense attorneys. Two weeks ago, he took Tim Robinson, a first sergeant with the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, out for a lesson.

"It's the modern board meeting," Maciarello joked.

On a given Saturday morning, defense attorneys, prosecutors and public defenders will be in the water together. At one point, Wicomico County District Court Judge L. Bruce Wade surfed, but he doesn't anymore.

Salisbury attorney Bruce Anderson said surfing brings people together. Anderson, 57, began surfing about 15 years ago as a way to get closer to his son, a surfer who travels around the world for waves. Now Anderson is part of a loose-knit group called the 62nd Street Longboarding Club, which brings together many older lawyers who surf off the street of the same name in Ocean City.

"I always say out there, 'It's not the guy who's the best surfer, it's the guy having the most fun,' " Anderson said.

Surfers turned lawyers

Greg Coburn, a defense attorney with an Ocean City practice, said he's been surfing since the summer of 1967, long before he became a lawyer. Once, Coburn lived in Hawaii for eight months, catching the big waves by day and working as a bartender by night.

Coburn, now 64, remembers his time in the Pacific fondly.

"We had it made. We had good jobs, were young and surfed," Coburn said.

Coburn said it was fellow Ocean City attorney Richard Parolski who introduced him to surfing. When they were younger, the two worked as seasonal police officers in Ocean City, an experience that gave them a chance to hide their boards under a hotel and surf the waves off Eighth Street.

"I surfed long before I was a lawyer. If you like it, you keep doing it," Coburn said.

He tries to surf several times a week on his longboard. When he's in the water, he said it doesn't matter if the person is a prosecutor or a defense attorney, just as long as they don't drop in on his wave.

Brueckner, the Wicomico prosecutor, agrees.

"They may be defense attorneys, but if they surf, they're OK with us," Brueckner said.

Source;  http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201107240432/NEWS01/107240305

Hard to fool them flies

A cowboy from Texas attended a social function where Barack Obama was trying to gather support for his Health Plan. When Obama discovered the cowboy was from President Bush's home area, he started to belittle him by talking in a southern drawl and single syllable words.

As he was doing that, he kept swatting at some flies that were buzzing around his head. The cowboy says, "Y'all havin' some problem with them circle flies?"

Obama stopped talking and said, "Well, yes, if that's what they're called, but I've never heard of circle flies."

"Well, sir," the cowboy replies, "Circle flies hang around ranches. They're called circle flies because they're almost always found circling around the back end of a horse."

"Oh," Obama replies as he goes back to rambling.   But, a moment later he stops and bluntly asks,   "Are you calling me a horse's ass?"

"No, sir," the cowboy replies, "I have too much respect for the citizens of this country to call their president a horse's ass."

"That's a good thing," Obama responds and begins rambling on once more.

After a long pause, the cowboy, in his best Texas drawl says,  "Hard to fool them flies, though. "

ATV Dirt Drag At Melson Power Sports - July 9, 2011

This is the first year ATV's have been at Melson's. 

So far it is more or less on a trial basis.

                                              

For more information about tractor pulling, ATV racing,  lawn tractor pulling, dirt drags and everything else that happens at Melson Power Sport go to:  www.melsontractorpull.webs.com

OR

The very friendly facebook page:  Melson's Tractor Pulling

MORE TO COME...........

TIME MACHINE

May, 1971

17-year-old Becky Culp was named Miss Pocomoke for 1971 with Peggy L. Richardson placing as first runner up in the annual competition sponsored by the Pocomoke Junior Woman's Club. Five-year-old Sharon Yvonne Daugherty was crowned Little Miss Pocomoke and Terri Anne Christian was runner up.


March, 1977

17-year-old Joy Laureen Dooling was crowned Miss Pocomoke 1977. First runner-up was 16-year-old Lisa Ellen Maddox, and her piano solo won her first place in the talent competition. 17-year-old Susan Patricia Reese was named Miss Congeniality. 5-year-old Tracy Lyn Worth was crowned Little Miss Pocomoke; 4-year-old Laura Lyn Santiano was first runner-up. The pageant was sponsored by the Junior Woman's Club and held in the Pocomoke High School auditorium.


July, 1977

Bob Frostrom of Pocomoke City drove his Porsche Carrera to victory in the "production" sports racing event at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia in the Mid-Atlantic Road Racing Series.



For those who followed the postings this past week of the trial and verdict in the 1879 murder case against Lillie Duer of Pocomoke City an additional post-trial item was located.

TK for PPE


July, 1879

(Salt Lake Daily Tribune)

Thief as Well as Murderess

Miss Duer, who killed her school-mate and intimate friend in Maryland, and was recently acquitted of murder, has come to grief after all. Within a fortnight of her acquittal she had the enterprise to sell a sensational paper a novel entitled , "A Love Story: They Parted and Met Again". "By Miss Lillian Duer, lately on trial for the murder of Miss Ella Hearn." In the first installment of that romance she thus describes a death: "They had been boarding but for five months when her father was taken seriously ill. Medical aid proved of no avail. The baleful breath of death infused itself into his body and rendered it inanimate." This is certainly bad enough to be original, but now a Washington paper declares that the story, with slight changes, is copied from an English novel called "Catherine." So the sensational paper has lost its $500, and serves it right.


Footnote: A comment left to a previous posting on this case:

Anonymous said...
So if they had cable networks and tv back then do you think this would be like the Casey Anthony thing?

For sure.

Biggest Crowd Ever At Melson Power Show

Saturday~ July 9, 2011  The largest  crowd to ever attend the  Melson Power Show! 

What a great night for pulling and racing!  

Rain showers the evening before made track conditions just right so there was no need to wet things down.  Just a few runs to flatten the dirt, few holes to fill in and set up for the evening was completed.

Even with the rain the night before that  day had been a hot one but the shade trees provided alot of cool comfort and everyone knew it! 

The same great crowd of families and friends were there all set up at  the picnic tables on in lawn chairs waiting for the events to begin.

This particular Saturday Dave and Bill threw out some bales of straw for the kids to sit on  and I have to admit that was a good idea.  They loved it!  And the whole event keeps getting better...

One thing to  remember:  Melson  Power Show is not just for the young. 

Mixed in the crowd were so many new faces and it was great to see the older retired folks out for the evening.  The group of retired gentlemen seated behind me seemed to really enjoy everything! (Even the food).  That's wonderful to see!  They even had their own cheering section! 

 I must give a shout to the emcee of the evening because he simply kept the show going, was never at a loss for words and brought the evening to end without being long and drawn out!

I still have more video  and photos so check back real soon.............4 wheelers, lawn tractors, dirt races, tractor pull.....

An Easternshoreman's Answer to Welfare

Put me in charge . . . Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Independence cards; no cash for Ding Dongs, Ho Ho's, ice cream, or snickers bars, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want steak, prim rib and frozen pizza, then get a job. Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine and document all tattoos and piercings. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get tats and piercings, then get a job. Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your "home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your own place. In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward the "common good." Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all of the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules.. Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem. If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system rewards them for continuing to make bad choices. AND While you are on Gov't subsistence, you no longer can VOTE! Yes that is correct.. For you to vote would be a conflict of interest. You will voluntarily remove yourself from voting while you are receiving a Gov't welfare check. If you want to vote, then get a job. Hat Tip; Eric

HOT! HOT!!! HOT!

I LOVE hot weather! 

But I never said I love this kind of HEAT ~!!!

I've had MY share of water, juice,salads, fruits,  showers and staying  INDOORS!!!

I've turned the television and radio off because I DON"T want to hear how extremely HOT it is!!

Could someone out there PLEASE turn the thermostat back!

TIME MACHINE ... Preview For 7/24

Tomorrow the TIME MACHINE brings back a few items from the 1970's!

For those who have followed the accounts this past week of the trial and verdict in the 1879 murder case against Lillie Duer of Pocomoke City, I've located an additional post-trial item of interest which will be included.

~CAR WASH TODAY~

CAR WASH

TO BENEFIT

COURTNEY BLOXOM

Saturday   July 23, 2011

9:00 AM   until   2:00 PM

Saxis Fire House

Saxis, Virginia

Food will be available

For more information contact: 

Tonya Beasley @ (757) 894-0652

Please continue with your prayers for Courtney and her family.  Her total recovery is  long but progress is  being made with your help through prayer.

Go to Prayers for Courtney Bloxom on facebook

HEATWAVE Again Today!!

HOT AGAIN TODAY!

 Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself against heat-related illnesses:

- Keep cool in an air-conditioned area. Take a cool shower or a bath. Consider a trip to the mall or a local library or visit a friend with air conditioning. Spending at least two hours per day in air conditioning significantly reduces the number of heat-related illnesses.

- When temperatures reach the upper 90s or above, a fan may not prevent heat-related illness.

- Drink plenty of fluids (2-4 glasses of cool fluids each hour.) To replace salt and minerals lost from sweating, drink fruit juice or a sports beverage during exercise or when you have to work outside. However, talk to your doctor first if you're on a fluid-restricted diet or medications, or on a low-salt diet.

- Avoid sunburn and wear light clothing. Sunburn limits your body's ability to keep itself cool and causes loss of body fluids. Use sunscreen with a higher SPF. Lighter-weight clothing that is loose fitting and light colored is more comfortable during extreme temperatures. Use a hat to keep the head cool.

- Give your body a break as the heat wave can be stressful on your body. Limit physical activity until your body adjusts to the heat.
Never leave children or pets in cars.

- Temperatures inside a car with can reach over 150 degrees quickly, resulting in heat stroke and death.

- Use the "buddy system" if you're working outside. If youre working outside and suffer a heat-related illness, you could become confused or could lose consciousness. Therefore, Make sure someone else knows of you plans.

For more information about heat-related illnesses, visit the Virginia Department of Healths website at

www.vdh.virginia.gov

PLEASE DO NOT forget about your pets!!

What have you been doing to stay cool during the heatwave?

Do you have any cool ways to keep animals confortable that you can share?

McDonalds Are You Kidding Us?

Tonight I had a craving for a Fillet-O-Fish from McDonald's, I very rarely get a craving and I hate it when I do because something usually goes wrong. I get in my truck and take a drive over to McDonald's and the drive-thru was packed so I decided to go inside. The line inside was small and moving right along and when I got the register I placed my order and the young lady asked me if I wanted the Fillet-O-Fish special, I asked her what that was and she explained it was simply a fish and fries for a special price. Hmmmm? could this be that something is working in my favor with this craving?

I placed my order, got my change and receipt, and waited, and waited, and waited.... ok here we go but I'm being patient and after a little over a ten minuet wait I got my order and I was headed home. I opened my fries and began to munch down and about ten fries was about all I could stand of those. They were over salted, greasy yet hard as a brick, no problem I had two Fillet-O-Fish so I didn't much want the fries anyway.

Now it's time for my craving, normally McDonald's fish is nice and soft and moist on fresh bread, not these. My first one was very dry, just barely warm and the bread was tough like it had been microwaved, but I ate it. Noticing that I didn't taste any cheese on the first one I picked up the bun on the second one to take a look. Now I know with this economy everyone is cutting portions, making containers smaller etc. well it seems that McDonald's is doing so with their cheese... cheese? did I say cheese? well I don't know about anyone else but I'd gladly pay them an extra fifty cent or so for a slice of cheese instead of them advertising cheese and getting what I got on these sandwiches. Oh well, so much for my Friday night craving hahaha............ Remember the old lady on the Wendy's commercial saying "Where's the beef"?

Hey McDonald's........... WHERE'S THE CHEESE?? LOL

Click the image to enlarge so you can actually see that the cheese is even paper thin transparent

Doesn't that just look scrumptious? 

America's Most (And Least) Walkable Cities

What's your neighborhood walk score? This is a pretty cool website just type in your address HERE and find out where you live ranks across the U.S. for safe walking.


Can you walk to your local grocery store, restaurants and other amenities? Or does each trip require a car ride?

The answer may have an impact on your health. According to one study, people of average height who live in walkable neighborhoods weigh eight pounds less (10 pounds for men, six pounds for women) than their car-bound counterparts. And now Walk Score, a Seattle-based company that evaluates the walkability and transportation of cities all across the country, has released its rankings of the most -- and least -- walkable cities in the U.S. Using new census data and advanced algorithms, Walk Score's latest ratings rank the 50 largest cities based on whether various amenities are within walking distance, assigning each a walkability score between 0 and 100 (from "car-dependent" to "walker's paradise," respectively).

Taking the crown this year was New York City, ousting the previous winner, San Francisco. According to Walk Score CTO Matt Lerner, the change is a result of the 2010 census data -- formerly industrialized neighborhoods in areas like Brooklyn, for instance, have become more livable over the past 10 years since the 2000 census.

Take a look at Walk Score's results -- their heat maps of each city reflect the walkability by neighborhood (red is bad, green is good). And, as Lerner points out, "Even un-walkable cities have some very walkable neighborhoods."

Don't live in one of these cities? You can search your Walk Score for any U.S. address (and see the full rankings of thousands of cities) on their website.

Most Walkable: #1, New York City

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Go HERE for more from the Huffingtonpost

TIME MACHINE ... Jury Verdict

For those who have been reading the recent postings regarding the alleged 1879 murder incident in Pocomoke City, the jury verdict is below.

TK For PPE


June, 1879

(The Denton Journal)

Snow Hill, Md., June 19.- The jury in the case of Lillie Duer for the homicide of Ella Hearn agreed upon a verdict this morning at 9:15 o'clock. The foreman said when called: "Guilty of manslaughter with recommendations to the mercy of the court." The court fined her $500, not sentencing her to any imprisonment.

Footnote: Friends paid her $500 fine, the maxium prescribed by law, and she was released from custody.


July, 1879

(The Daily Constitution- Atlanta, Ga.)

- When it is borne in mind that whether she meant to shoot her friend Ella Hearn or not she certainly did shoot her, Miss Lillie Duer has returned from Snow Hill, Md., where she was tried and convicted of manslaughter, to Pocomoke City, her place of residence, in a jaunty and self-complacent frame of mind. A letter says "She is at home to almost everybody who calls, and chats in the most lively and attractive manner." But worse is to come. Miss Lillie Duer has announced her intention of going on a lecture tour, which she thinks the public interest in her trial will make very successful. Of course, she is mistaken. It is not probable that she would make her expenses, much less her fortune, but her entertainment for the moment of the notion shows what a flippant and shallow young woman she must be. Somebody ought to tell her that with no qualification save temporary notoriety, lecturers generally hold forth to a beggary array of empty benches.

Footnote: Information was not found as to whether the above mentioned lecture tour occurred. Sketchy internet information indicates that at some point Lillie Duer authored romance writings that were published in some newspapers.

The Maryland State Archives Guide To Special Selections lists the availability for viewing (not online) of the following:

1879/06/28 Mysterious Duer-Hearn Murder at Pocomoke City, Md.: Miss Lillie Duer, alleged Murderess. (sketch); Miss Ella Hearn, Murder Victim. (sketch); View of Market Street. (sketch); House in which Hearn was shot. (sketch); Bedroom in which Hearn died. (sketch); A group of citizens. (sketch); Hallway where shooting took place. (sketch); Woods where first attempt took place. (sketch); Court room during trial. (sketch); Miss Duer leaving court room. (sketch). Accession No.: MSA SC 1579-1-44 Location: 0/20/05/

Photos Of The Last Launch Into Space For Atlantis

Thursday July 21, 2011 at 5:56 AM the Atlantis, along with the four astronauts touched down after its last 13 day mission to the International Space Station. A perfect landing and I guess a perfect end to the space travel as we know it. For 30 years we've watched astronauts take off and land and never once thought there may come a time such as this.

Can you remember 30 years back? Can you remember where you were and if you watched the first launch? I was at work seated in front of the television with my boss. Remembering back over the years that is probably where I saw most of the many, if not all, of the launches. Being there and seeing a launch from Cape Canaveral was just as the moon and the stars have been for many of us - never within reach.

But what is important to me know is NOT the landing of Atlantis today, except for the fact that the four aboard the Atlantis returned to Earth without one horrible incident that would have marred it's voyage forever.

I prefer to remember the beginning - that first day of Atlantis' last trip into space- kind of like the beginning to the end.
What so many do not know is that a local young woman and her husband traveled to Florida to actually witness this last launch of Atlantis. Keep in mind that this couple weren't even born when the Atlantis headed for space 30 years ago.

Cindi (nee Major) and husband Dave Pietroski spent a few days touring the Kennedy Space Center taking in the sights and with Cindi of course, snapping photos. Both of them are true lovers of excitement and I sort of think Cindi was afraid her husband would board the Atlantis for the final flight! Just kidding, of course. But I would't be afraid to bet that if asked to go they'd go in a heartbeat!

She has given me permission to post a few of her photos of the last flight into space for Atlantis.

First please listen to the video salute the astronauts aboard Atlantis sent to the workers at Wallop's Space Flight Facility.

Here are just a few of the many photos taken by Cindi. What a wonderful way to remember the last Atlantis space flight.

THANKS, CINDI!

Accomack Board Debates Stricter Reporting Standards for Fire and Rescue

Fire and Rescue Funding Accountability was a hot topic at the Accomack County Board of Supervisors Meeting on Wednesday, July 20.


But first, during the public comment part of the meeting, Belle Haven Resident and candidate for District 9s seat in the November election, Wesley Edwards addressed the board. He told them that the number one item on the meetings agenda should be the 13 million dollars of uncollected taxes, noting that it wasnt discussed at last months meeting and it wasnt on this months meeting agenda either. Edwards noted that the board did decide on funding another audit, something he said, the board was famous for. He went on to tell the board that a quote he made 5 years ago now seems appropriate; more paralysis by analysis. He added that the county doesnt need new taxes, but to collect the ones they have and suggested that by getting a judgment against those who owe could extend the collection period to up to 20 years.

Mark Baumgardener of Virginia Beach addressed the board concerning the proposed sewage treatment facility in Atlantic. He talked about why facility is needed stating that a study in 2008 showed that there was a dramatic need and one done in January of 2011 found that it was critical for the environmental condition of Chincoteague Bay and the Countys groundwater and for Chincoteagues businesses, noting there are people pumping weekly. He added that studies show that the best place for the system in on the mainland, northeast of Accomack County.


James Bagwell of Bloxom spoke to the board on behalf of the Accomack County Fire and Rescue Commission. He told them that the commission had met last month about the proposed accountability and that the majority was in favor of the policy with the exception of how the money would be distributed. He said they dont want the County holding the funds and asked the board to continue doing business the way it has been done in the past. He added that they were willing to do audits and to provide cancelled checks and receipts along with the year-end reports.


Mike Mason, Director of Finance made a presentation on that proposed accountability for the Fire and Rescue Commission as requested by the Supervisors in April. Mason stated that over 1.2 million dollars of County funds are distributed to fire companies each year and that the County needs a written policy that governs what the funds can be used for. Both the Board of Supervisors and Mason want it known that there as been no alleged inappropriate use of County funds or any other negative action that has prompted the policy. The fire companies have done nothing wrong. The primary purpose of the policy is to provide assurance that the County funds dispersed to volunteer fire and rescue companies are used only for the public good and are accounted for in a clear and transparent manner. Basically the proposed policy would require the fire companies to claim reimbursements, although the County recognizes the companies may have a cash flow problem. To avoid this, advances would be permitted for large purchases. Funds would be disbursed to the companies two times per year, as currently practiced. But if the fire company does not spend all funds awarded during the fiscal year, funds would be held by the County in the fire companys name and would be available for distribution the following year, assuming that report requirements are met. Any interest on funds held by the County would be given to the fire company.


Supervisor Robert Crockett was in favor of the proposed policy stated that he bears in mind an audit letter that another county received as a result of accountability similar to that of the County. He added again, that he wanted it clear that no fire company has done anything to prompt this policy. Supervisor Wanda Thornton felt differently. She reminded the board that the majority of the fire and rescue personnel were volunteers and she doesnt think enough is done to pay these people back for what they do. Thornton went on to say that to make them pay ahead of time creates more paperwork and she doesnt understand what the big deal is.

Noting that if the County had to pay for all these volunteers, the County would be bankrupt. Supervisor Ron Wolf agreed with Thorntons comments about gratitude for their service, but said that the Board is responsible for how tax payers money is used. The discussion ensued for about another hour but the issue ended up being tabled. Supervisor Donald Hart said that he thinks the policy is discriminatory and that all organizations receiving funds needs to be treated the same.

Source;  http://www.ask4direct.com/infoRead.asp?InfoID=725519&print=on

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Would You Watch My Car Please?

Obama Plans Pricey Birthday Bash on Default Day

As America’s poorest wait for Social Security checks that may never come on Aug. 3, President Barack Obama will be out celebrating a milestone birthday at a party where tickets cost up to $35,800 each.

Obama has chosen the first day of the potential default to throw his 50th birthday bash, combining it with raising money for next year’s election. His actual birthday is Aug. 4.

Republicans are slamming the decision to have the party as “insensitive.”

“This really shows how unserious he is,” Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, a fellow Chicagoan, tells Newsmax exclusively. “I realize it’s his birthday, but he is a president who has said he doesn’t know if social security checks will go out that day.

“If that’s the case, I cannot believe he will be having a big party that very day.”

Obama said on Tuesday that he cannot guarantee that social security checks will go out from August 3 unless a deal can be reached on raising the nation’s $14.3 trillion debt limit. “There may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it,” he told CBS’ Scott Pelley.

Unless the deal is reached, government services across the board will be cut and in many cases closed down.

“My first thought was that he will have to fly to Chicago before the third because I can’t imagine airports will be open,” said Walsh. “And he’ll have to have a huge supply of candles because the lights are going to go out.

“I am amazed he will be able to have a party at all.”

Walsh said he hopes to be in Chicago on Aug. 3 himself to be with his family in case the calamity that Obama has warned about comes to fruition. “I just doubt I’ll get an invitation to the party,” he said.

Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is expected to perform at the birthday bash at the historic Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. The event will be one of the president’s biggest fundraisers of the year. Publicity literature featuring a red, white and blue Happy Birthday logo has already been produced.

The event will be “multi-tiered,” the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The Hudson concert would cost $50; admission to the party $200; a premium seat $1,000; a souvenir photo with the president $10,000; and VIP seating and dinner with Obama $38,500.

Another GOP Congressman, Louie Gohmert of Texas was incredulous about the timing. “That’d be as crazy as setting up golf games in the middle of going after Osama bin Laden,” he said. “I’m sure he wouldn’t do something like that – or maybe he would.”

Obama has been leading contentious talks all week with leaders of both parties in the House and Senate to avoid the August 2 deadline. On Friday he warned of financial “Armageddon” if a deal cannot be reached.

VIA: Newsmax

Obama warns Social Security checks might not be sent Aug. 3

President Obama upped the ante in the ongoing debt-ceiling debate Tuesday, telling CBS News that without raising the ceiling, he can't guarantee that Social Security checks will be sent Aug. 3.
"I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3 if we haven't resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it," Obama said.

White House press secretary Jay Carney refused to speak on the interview, which is set to air Tuesday night, but he agreed that if the Aug. 2 deadline to raise the ceiling isn't met, "we can't guarantee if there were a default that any specific bill would be paid."

The Treasury Department has said that lawmakers must raise the debt ceiling by that date to avoid a default.

Carney warned again that Aug. 2 is a "hard and fast and real deadline," saying that even though the talks appear to have gone off the rails, "we're in the 'matter of days' phase of these negotiations."
Obama told CBS that more than just Social Security payouts would be endangered if no deal could be reached.

"These are veterans checks, these are folks on disability and their checks," the president said. "There are about 70 million checks that go out."

The White House is pushing hard for a deal that would give Congress time to craft and pass legislation in time to avoid default. But developments this week have illustrated just how far apart the two parties are.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers are scheduled to return to the White House Tuesday afternoon for more talks.

Carney also rejected the idea put forth by Republicans that the debt ceiling is not their problem.
"It is not a Democratic problem. It is not a Republican problem," Carney said. "It is an American problem, and it is something we have to do together.

"The president doesn't have a vote in this. Congress has to act."

Last week President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., indicated that if the Debt Ceiling was not passed by August 2ndthat Social Security checks may not be issued.  Republicans quickly responded that both Obama and Reid were using “scare tactics” to try to put pressure on the ongoing negotiations in Congress.

Last year’s Debt Ceiling Committee co-chaired by Erskine Bowles and former Wyoming Senator, Alan Simpson, recommended increase revenue sources (taxes) along with adjustment to several of the entitlement programs.  The committee’s recommendation involved raising the Social Security retirement age, cuts to Medicare and curtailment of tax breaks to the wealthy and big business and the doubling of the federal tax on gasoline.  This is different because the impact of the non payment of Social Security benefits would be immediate and harm many people in the middle and at lower income levels.

According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics of 2010, San Diegohas a population of 3,095,313 in the County.  In basic numbers from the Census data 11.4% of the county’s population are 65 or older, totaling about 352,866 people who are either already on Social Security benefit dole or at least qualify for Social Security and Medicare.  On top of the number of people on standard Social Security retirement benefits, there are about 33,400 others in the county who receive Social Security Supplemental funds.  Average Social Security benefits are about $1,100 a month, or about $13,000 a year.

The number of people in the county who live in poverty approximately 386,914 residents live below the $21K poverty level, many of whom are Social Security benefit recipients.

The San Diegans who are Social Security benefit recipients and rely on the benefit for the bulk of their income are obviously the part of the local population that would be hurt most if benefits are not paid if the debt ceiling resolution leads to the non payment of benefits.

The other potential loser would be the county itself because if benefits were not paid to San Diegans, $423,625,000 would be taken out of circulation in the county.  Now the odds of the U.S. government withholding payments for the year are of course is a stretch, however, the numbers presented give a sign of just how much is at stake.

The pawn use in the political haranguing in Washington D.C. not only includes Social Security recipients, but veterans, along with a myriad of other government programs that would be halted if the debt ceiling limit is not raised by August 2, 2011.

The possibility of delaying the payment of Social Security benefits, SSI payments, Medicare, Medicaid and such is almost nil…however still a possibility.

The political nightmare that would result from any delay in payments to this group would impact the political careers of many of these political hacks in next year’s elections.  They are not that stupid…well maybe some of them aren’t that stupid.

So stand up stretch yourself, look in the mirror and smile at yourself, the chances are on your side if you expect to receive your Social Security check next month.

“They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it’s some kind of federal program.”  George W. Bush, former Republican president of the U.S.

VIA: examiner.com

Wright Brothers Visitor Center Closed Due To Damages

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. (AP) - A fire has closed the visitor center at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills until further notice.

The National Park Service says the fire began Wednesday morning in a motor that powers an air handling unit at the facility. No injuries were reported, and everyone was evacuated from the building.

The visitors center includes exhibits and artifacts on the background of Orville and Wilbur Wright and the development of their flying machines, including a replica of the 1903 airplane credited with being the first successful heavier-than-air flight.

The rest of the park, including the Wright Brothers Pavilion, remains open to the public.

The park service says the visitor center could be reopened in several days.

Source;  http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/north_carolina/fire-closes-wright-brothers-center