Legislative Updates From Delegate Mike McDermott

Apr. 8th, 2012

Field Notes

Observations and Reflections on Legislative Activities

By Delegate Michael A. McDermott

Week 13 April 2-7, 2012

Monday Afternoon SessionSecond Reader, Third Reader
SB-48 will require those serving as Orphan Court Judges in Baltimore County to be members of the State Bar Association. I did not support this bill as historically these elected positions have never required a person to be an attorney; rather it required one to have good common sense. Other counties in the metro areas are moving in this direction. The bill passed 105-30.

Tuesday Morning SessionSecond Reader, Third Reader
SB-853 allows expanded collective bargaining for Baltimore County School Employees. It was approved along party lines. SB-153 created additional state debt of over $15 million for the Inter Agency Committee that funds certain school construction projects. Once again, in these tough economic times, we continue to plunge the state into more debt as we continue to max out our “credit card”. Once again, by a party line vote the bill passed.
Judiciary Committee Hearing Tuesday
The following are Senate cross filed bills with their matching House Bill numbers:SB-203 (HB-484), SB-334 (HB-673), SB-799 (HB-776)SB-80  would allow a vehicle repair estimate to be acceptable as evidence during civil litigation.  This would eliminate the need for adjusters to testify.
Judiciary Voting Session Tuesday
The following bills were voted favorably by the committee:SB-70, SB-640, SB-650, SB-691
The following bills were voted unfavorably by the committee:
HB-1012

Wednesday Morning SessionSecond Reader, Third Reader
Judiciary Committee Hearing Wednesday
The following are Senate cross filed bills with their matching House Bill numbers:SB-397 (HB-773), SB-489 (HB-742), SB-558 (HB-921), SB-678 (HB-708), SB-787 (HB-772), SB-889 (HB-349)SB-76 is a synthetic cannabinoids (marijuana) bill which seeks to ban several different drugs identified as synthetics. They are truly different than marijuana and certain synthetics are being reviewed by the FDA, and some of them have been placed on the schedule of controlled dangerous substances. Worcester and Baltimore Counties have adopted local ordinance to address these drugs. This bill was rejected last year in committee. SB-422 was a conference bill amended by the Senate and House to address the Public Defender crisis created by the DeWolfe decision requiring representation at all court levels, including a District Court Commissioner Initial Appearance. The bill also expands the use of citations by police officers for petty crimes carrying 90-days or less sentencing guidelines. The controversial part of the bill dealt with the inclusion of simple possession of marijuana as an offense which would require release from custody by use of a citation unless certain criteria (uncooperative, identification issues, public safety, etc.) were present. Clearly, any large quantity of marijuana would generally be interpreted as possession with intent to distribute (which is a felony). Some argued thinking that police officers cannot determine the difference. I supported the measure, which will potentially save taxpayers $27-$100 million and will keep police from getting bogged down waiting on District Court Commissioners. The bill passed on a vote of 81-58.

Friday Morning SessionSecond Reader, Third Reader
Debated bills included SB-602 (companion to HB-366) which requires a complete sprinkler system in every new home built in Maryland. Since the bill references the building code, any new code established after this bill is signed into law will become law. It will drive up the cost of building a home from 8-20 thousand dollars and will, no doubt, take thousands of Marylanders out of the market place. 16 counties wanted no part of this bill, but that did not matter to the other 8 counties. It passed 100-38 on party lines.HB-113 was yet another tax/fee increase of 20% on each commercial scale or measuring device used by a business. This just constitutes another “unfriendly” business practice for Maryland. The bill passed 95-45.  SB-236 is one of the more egregious bills of the session. The title, Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012, seems to say one thing while actually doing another. This bill moves the state into the business of local planning and development as part of the O’Malley-Brown Plan Maryland Act. It will take away many local decisions and make them subservient to the whims and demands of various state agencies. As stated on the floor by Environmental Chairman McIntosh, the concept is simply to, “control the growth and development and insure that people move toward cities and not develop in the rural areas”. It will place tremendous caps on septic systems and will disallow future development in much of Maryland. It is reasonable to draw conclusions from this bill that this spells the end of rural development in Maryland. It will devalue farmland and place farmers who must borrow against their land for the next planting season to have land that is not worth anywhere near what it is in today’s market. This destructive bill is the camel’s nose under the tent. It was approved on a largely party line vote 93-45 (as was also the case in the senate).
Judiciary Committee Voting Session Friday Afternoon
Bills Voted FavorableHB-15, HB-214, HB-797,

Saturday Morning SessionSecond Reader, Third Reader
Bills debated included HB-167 which will ban the use of Roxarsone or any other feed additive which contains Arsenic. This will impact many companies on the shore who utilize this FDA approved treatment in chicken feed. It will drive up costs which will be transferred to consumers at the food store. Consumers always pay for the folly of the General Assembly. The bill passed 101-31. Despite our best efforts to educate those in the General Assembly, they have difficulty connecting the dots on the effects of balancing the environment with our delicate farm economies. Farmers continue to lose in Annapolis.

Saturday Afternoon SessionSecond Reader, Third Reader
Debated bills included SB-309 which will require the registration of motor scooters as well as requiring insurance documents be kept on hand and the rider wear a helmet. This will be a real cost factor for many rental businesses at the beach. It will also hinder many who rely on this as a cheap form of transportation to work in the metro areas. It passed 95-31. SB-296 provides tax breaks for employees of high security companies who must apply for Security Clearance as a part of their job. It is corporate welfare to high end wage earners who could certainly afford to pay for such a clearance as part of their job. We do not pay for teachers and folks who must get fingerprinted as part of their job, and I think this is simply wrong headed. It is a couple of million that we could have saved. After some thorough questioning on the floor, the House passed this bill 93-29. SB-794 was the closest vote of the day (passed 76-44) which provides much needed relief of $1 million dollars for our horse industry. It will specifically provide relief to race tracks for purse money used to cover ongoing races. The money is being transferred from other portions of the Horse racing budget. There are many in the House who do not believe we should be subsidizing this industry, yet they will subsidize anything else that comes along. Locally, we have many who are employed or otherwise involved in the industry and I have always supported their efforts at building back this traditional Maryland business. This transfer will go to cover some of the lost purse money that Ocean Downs has endured in the past two years. My Misdemeanor on Citation Bill (HB-119) was drastically changed in the Senate and was assigned to a Conference Committee in the House. This is my second Conference Committee assignment this year and I am excited about trying to restore this bill to its original intent. There won’t be much time on Monday to make it happen.

Gaming Bills
Bills that would alter the original gaming legislation enacted two years ago were moving all over the place on Friday and Saturday. They include creating a 6th casino in Prince Georges County and allowing table games in all Maryland casinos. I have been attempting to secure language in the new legislation that would limit changes at Ocean Downs while still allowing them to bring in table games. So far, we have been able to secure the language which would prevent a convention center or motel facility from being located at the casino site, but we continue to press on the other provisions in the current law. Like the budget issues, this one could fail completely, be a complete disaster, or be modified to our liking. We work the problem, but time will tell.

We waited on many other potential bills to move over from the Senate, but none were forthcoming. I watched many of the members of the House Appropriations Committee moving off the House floor as the Conference Committee on the budget and revenue bills continue to grind out their issues. While some compromise was reached, I understood the bulk of the division still centered on the revenue bills and where they were going to tax. We face a Sine Die (Monday) that will be full of challenges and Marylanders will be the ones holding the bag at the end of the day.

**FIRE WARNING UPDATE**

***RED FLAG WARNING***

From Forester Rob Clarke:

 

The entire DelMarVa Peninsula is now under a RED FLAG WARNING!  Humidity today & tomorrow could be as low as 20% with sustained winds 15 to 25 MPH, gusting to 40. 

 

Residents should not do any outdoor burning and be extremely careful with all possible sources of ignition.

 

http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=phi&wwa=red%20flag%20warning

Be alert and be careful!  Only you can prevent forest fires!

 

*FIRE WARNINGS*

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM FORESTER ROB:

Fire Watch/Red Flag Warning

We are currently experiencing extreme conditions (very low humidity and high gusty winds) conducive to the ignition and rapid spread of natural cover fires.  Everyone is encouraged to avoid any open burning until we have some soaking rain and to be extremely careful with all sources of ignition.  Discarded woodstove ashes and charcoal, welding slag, campfires, burning trash or brush and under these extreme conditions even discarded tobacco products can all be sources of ignition.

Fire weather link: http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=phi&wwa=red%20flag%20warning

Remember, Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!

TIME MACHINE ... Mandatory Church Attendance Leads To Incident On Tangier Island.

(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)

May, 1920

(The San Antonio Light- San Antonio, Texas)

(Excerpts)

It happens that the residents of Tangier Island are an extremely religious community. One of their local statutes is that everybody should attend church if possible. Their law compels the attendance. It further provides that no person on the island shall, on any Sunday, show himself on the street, in his yard, or on the porch of his residence unless he shall be on his way to or from church. The act constitutes a clear case of religious observance enforced by law.

The religious law of Tangier Island had never been brought before a court because, such people as who did not like it went elsewhere to live and such people as remained on the island approved of it; nobody else cared anything about it.

It happened, however, that on a recent Sunday a young man sat upon a front porch. He was ordered by a police officer (town constable) to go inside. He refused. The officer sought to arrest him and a struggle ensued. The officer deliberately placed a revolver against the back of the young man and fired, inflicting what is believed to be a mortal wound. There was no argument as to the facts when the officer was arraigned in court and he was released on a normal bond. This action aroused the resentment of the younger element of the island and a political campaign is now in progress with the avowed object on the part of the younger people to make Tangier Island more in harmony with other parts of Virginia and the nation, and the determination on the part of the elder people to retain their institutions as they now are.

It will come as a surprise to the people of the United States that there is, anywhere in the country, a community where people are compelled by law to attend church or remain inside their homes. The inconsistency of the laws of Tangier Island are, however, another matter, and before they have been put through the courts it is probable that the community will be instructed that a man has the right to move about his own property as he likes every day of the week.

　

May, 1920

(Appleton Post-Crescent- Appleton, Wis.)

TANGIER ISLAND IN THE LIMELIGHT AGAIN

By United Press Leased Wire

New York- Tangier Island jumped into the limelight again today. Gustave G. Rickarby, cameraman for a motion picture weekly news corporation here, was driven from the island off Crisfield, Maryland when he attempted to photograph the inhabitants, according to a message to the company's offices.

Rickarby's camera and films were destroyed.

Rickarby said he left the island on the advice of a minister, the Rev. Mr. Godwin, who told him he might be lynched if he attempted to remain.

The people of Tangier recently received wide publicity for their stern religious beliefs when the town constable shot a boy who refused to go to church on Sunday.

　　

February, 1881

(The Denton Journal)

Since the Christmas holidays the price of eggs, instead of going down, as is usually the case, has been steadily going up. Eggs are selling in Baltimore for fifty cents a dozen, and in Philadelphia they are several cents higher than this. The price paid in this town (Denton) for several days has been 40 cents. It is said that the cause of the scarcity and the consequent high prices is owing to the cold weather and snow-covered ground from which the chickens can not find anything to eat. They are fed regularly, but it is said there is something in the ground which is peculiarly productive of eggs.

　　

September, 1910

(Colorado Springs Gazette- Colorado Springs, Col.)

SHAME THE WHITTLERS

From the Baltimore Sun

The women of Pocomoke are having the streets cleaned and the weeds pulled up and the fences whitewashed while the men whittle.

　

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

Hippity Hoppity ......

From all of us at the Pocomoke Public Eye

 have a safe and wonderful Easter.

TIME MACHINE Preview ... Mandatory Church Attendance Leads To Incident On Tangier Island.

The year is 1920 and Tangier Island is in the national spotlight following a serious incident that occurred as a result of its' local law requiring every citizen to attend church on Sunday.
　
Read about it this Sunday on The Pocomoke Public Eye!

Plus.. in 1910 what were the women of Pocomoke City doing while the men whittled?


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

Pet Food Recall

Diamond Pet Foods Voluntarily Recalls Limited Number of
Dry Dog Food Bags Due to a Potential Health Risk
Recall is limited to one formula of Diamond Naturals distributed to 12 states; no illnesses reported

Consumer Contact: 800-442-0402
Media Contact: 816-255-1974

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 05, 2012

Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice. This is being done as a precautionary measure, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported and no other Diamond manufactured products are affected.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.

Healthy people infected with salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The product, Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice, was distributed to customers located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, who may have further distributed the product to other states, through pet food channels.

Product Name                                   Bag Size          Production Code & “Best Before” Code
Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice     6lb                   DLR0101D3XALW Best Before 04 Jan 2013
Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice     20lb                 DLR0101C31XAG Best Before 03 Jan 2013
Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice     40lb                 DLR0101C31XMF Best Before 03 Jan 2013
Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice     40lb                 DLR0101C31XAG Best Before 03 Jan 2013
Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice     40lb                 DLR0101D32XMS Best Before 04 Jan 2013

Consumers who have purchased the Diamond Naturals Lamb & Rice with the specific production and “Best Before” codes should discontinue feeding the product and discard it.

At Diamond Pet Foods, the safety of our products is our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this recall may have caused. For further information or to obtain a product refund please call us at 800-442-0402 or visit www.diamondpet.com.

Miss Pocomoke and Little Miss Pocomoke Contests

Don't forget to cast your vote for the "People's Choice" Award

POCOMOKE CITY -- The Junior Woman's Club of Pocomoke City will host the annual Miss and Little Miss Pocomoke contests Saturday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Pocomoke High School Auditorium.

Photographs of the contestants, taken by Bob Huey, will be on display at Country Blossoms, Shore Cut and Enchanted Florist through April 14.

The Miss Pocomoke contestants are, front row, Abby Bunting and Courtney Quillen;
and back row,
Autumn Fritz, Jasmine Brown and Brittany Stevens

The public is encouraged to cast their "penny-a-vote" toward the People's Choice award winners.

This is the only title judged by the public. The winner will be announced the evening of the contest.

Tickets for the contest May be purchased for $8 at the door the evening of the contest.


The Little Miss Pocomoke contestants are, front row, Courtney Louise Metcalf, Savannah Leigh McCarty and Emily Grace Skorobatsch; back row, Sammy Jo Rogers, Payton Ashlyn Piercy, Josie Amber Stevens, Dakota Hewitt Trader and Brystal Autumn Ward.

There will be eight Little Miss contestants and five Miss Pocomoke contestants in this year's pageant.
Proceeds from the contest will benefit the Vi-Byrd Memorial Scholarship and the Junior Woman's Club Young Outstanding Woman Scholar-ship, which are given to graduating seniors from Pocomoke City community.

Navy Jet Crashes Into Virginia Apartments, 3 Unaccounted For

(Reuters) - A U.S. Navy F/A-18D fighter crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia soon after takeoff on Friday, sending fireballs into the sky, damaging six buildings and injuring at least seven people.

No deaths have been reported, but three residents of the Mayfair Mews complex for the elderly were unaccounted for, authorities said.

"We have physically been in every structure, and we have 95 percent completed the search and rescue," Virginia Beach Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Tim Riley said.

All the injuries, including those to the F/A-18 crew, have so far been described as minor, officials said. Both crew members ejected safely from the aircraft before it crashed into the buildings in Virginia Beach, and one pilot was found still strapped into his ejection seat.

Four of the injured were taken to a hospital for treatment. Authorities had said nine people were injured, but later revised the number to seven, not including the pilots.

The F/A-18D "suffered a catastrophic mechanical malfunction" during a training flight, Navy Captain Mark Weisgerber said in a statement from the Pentagon.

Thick black clouds of smoke billowed into the air as fire reduced the apartment buildings to a blackened shell. The Mayfair Mews complex was less than two miles from Naval Air Station Oceana, where the F-18D was based.

Crews searched for any injured residents in five buildings, several of which have collapsed, Riley said. Three residents in one building were unaccounted for. Investigators will remain on the scene for three or four more days after the search is complete, Riley said.

Witness Kelly McQuaid, who lives near the apartment complex, said the jet was on fire before it crashed.

"It almost looked like the nose was pointed up," she said, "like he was trying to pull back up."

McQuaid said she saw one of the pilots as he was brought out on a stretcher. "He actually looked pretty well," she said. You could tell he was pretty dazed, and there were scratches on his face."

She said people closer to the scene told her that the pilot apologized for crashing the plane into the building as he was being helped.

Vicki Hoffman, who lives in a condo next door to the Mews, said one pilot landed on her neighbor's patio.

"She said she was trying to get his head gear off and said the response was very quick," she said. "He was conscious."

The distinctive, twin-finned tail section of the F/A-18D landed in the courtyard of the complex of two-story brick buildings.

Dozens of firefighters and emergency workers converged on the scene, covering the apartment complex with foam.

The plane was part of a training squadron at Oceana, the largest Navy air facility on the East Coast. It prepares Navy and Marine aviators and weapons officers for duty. About 250 aircraft are stationed at Oceana.

Admiral John Harvey Jr, commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces, praised the "heroic response" of those at the complex and emergency personnel who took care of the air crew and others at the scene.

There are 37 tactical squadrons of F-18s operating from bases worldwide and from 10 aircraft carriers. The Navy's precision air team, the Blue Angels, flies the F-18.

Virginia Beach, with 440,000 residents, is on the Atlantic Coast about 200 miles south of Washington, D.C. Much of its economy relies on tourists who come to enjoy its miles of beaches. The city is home to a complex of military bases, including Oceana, and the home of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet is next door at Norfolk, Virginia.

Source:

In A Dogs World........

Once upon a time foster dog now in a forever home - Sprout


*10 Reasons Why It's Great to be a Dog*

If it itches, you can reach it. And no matter where it itches, no one will be offended if you scratch it in public.

No one notices if you have hair growing in weird places as you get older.

... No one expects you to take a bath every day, and you don't even have to comb your own hair.

Having a wet nose is considered a sign of good health.

No one thinks less of you for passing gas. Some people might actually think you're cute.

Who needs a big home entertainment system? A bone or an old shoe can entertain you for hours.

You can spend hours just smelling stuff.

No one ever expects you to pay for lunch or dinner. You never have to worry about table manners, and if you gain weight, it's someone else's fault.

It doesn't take much to make you happy. You're always excited to see the same old people. All they have to do is leave the room for five minutes and come back.

Every garbage can looks like a cold buffet to you.

"You can't make a weak man strong by making a strong man weak"(Lincoln)

Do you like your healthcare plan, or do you favor the government run healthscare?


Congressman Mike Rogers says it's "This or nothing"  "Punish the part that's working to cover the part that's not"  

I know that this is a little old (2 years) but I missed it and I wanted to share it with anyone else that missed it also. It's only 3.5 minuets long and the sad part is that I know that some people will stop the video almost as soon as it starts, so for those that want to, please reconsider and listen I urge everyone that has not heard this to listen and do a little critical thinking on the subject. Some things have changed for the better in the past two years and that's great, but, there is still a lot of work left to do and many of our Congressmen/Women are still in the dark about what "we the people" really want. 

Legislative Updates From Delegate Mike McDermott

• Press Release: Governor's Land Grab
• The beginning of the end for rural development in Maryland
• By Delegate Mike McDermott

Apr. 6th, 2012

SB236: The “Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012”

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) -- SB236 - Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012 - passed out of the House with a vote of 93-45.  Already passing in the Senate, this bill will go to the governor’s desk for a signature.  Effective in July 2012, SB236 establishes numerous restrictions on septic systems by creating a “tier system” which will hinder residential development in rural Maryland and all but eliminate septic systems for residential subdivisions. Essentially, this bill will take away local planning and development decisions with regards to decisions about future development.  By taking away the power from the local government, the State of Maryland will assume greater and greater autonomy with decisions about future septic systems.  

“The title, Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012, seems to say one thing while actually doing another. It is a far cry from preserving agriculture and farming in Maryland.  This is the great land grab by Maryland - hurting farmers in the name of preserving them.” replied Delegate Michael A. McDermott.

In a statement made by Delegate McDermott, he stated “It is reasonable to draw conclusions from this bill that this spells the end of rural development in Maryland. It will devalue farmland and place farmers who must borrow against their land for the next planting season to have land that is not worth anywhere near what it is in today’s market. This destructive bill is the camel’s nose under the tent.”

Photos Of Downtown Pocomoke City

Cypress Park

Pocomoke City, Maryland

I had some free time yesterday to spend in Cypress Park.  I have taken so many photographs of the flag that we are on first name basis now along with the one seagull that always seems to be flying around the area most times when I am there.

This is the one place that I adore in my old hometown and for a few moments I was remembering the days I spent with my children here as they were growing up.  My son learned to fish in Cypress Park.  We had picnics there and celebrated many birthdays.  It was from that bridge (this is the newer bridge) that he found a toad one day and I never knew it until the next day when I put my hand into his dirty blue jeans and found the poor thing.  (Those of you that know me are aware of my huge fear of toads/frogs).

But I would do it all over again.
Take the time now to make your own memories  Cypress Park. 

 The skate boarding area  was being used and parents with small children were making good use of that tot lot.   Lots of laughter and I'll just bet there were some pretty exhausted children ready for bed last night.

Then on to Market Street downtown.  Those talented students from Pocomoke High have been busy once again.  The colorful Christmas window paintings are gone and have been turned into signs of Spring and Summer. 

Don't miss this incredible work of are painted by these young adults.

Visit downtown Pocomoke.  There's much to see and great shopping! 

PLEASE Be Kind To Those Who Have No Voice.

APRIL IS PREVENTION OF CURELTY TO ANIMALS MONTH

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

ARREST REPORT

4-5-2012

April 3, 2012      At approximately 0900 a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stopped a subject operating a bicycle on the wrong side of the highway at Route 13 and Tulls Corner Rd, Worcester County Maryland. The operator of the bicycle was swerving in and out of the number two lane and the shoulder of southbound Route 13 while traveling northbound. The Subject was identified as Sharun Beach 42 years old of New Church Va. A computer check showed that Mr. Beach was wanted on two warrants for failure to appear. Mr. Beach was arrested The subject was then transported to the District Court Commissioner of Snow Hill where he was released on Personal Recognizance.

NBC Probe Centers on Staffer in Shooting Story Error

(Reuters) - An internal NBC News probe has determined a "seasoned" producer was to blame for a misleading clip of a 911 call that the network broadcast during its coverage of the Trayvon Martin shooting, according to two sources at the network.

NBC News brass interviewed more than half a dozen staffers during its investigation of the misleadingly edited 911 call placed by George Zimmerman just before he shot the unarmed Florida teenager, said the sources, one of whom is an executive at the network.

The clip aired on the network's flagship "Today" morning show last week.

The edit made it appear that Zimmerman immediately told police that Martin was black, when, in fact, the full tape reveals that the neighborhood watch captain only did so when responding to a question posed by a dispatcher.

There was no clear indication on Thursday of what, if any, disciplinary actions would be taken against the producer or other staff involved in the incident.

The sources at the network, who declined to identify the producer, said NBC News executives did not know the 911 call was misleadingly edited until news reports surfaced days later on right-leaning blogs including Newsbusters.org and Breitbart.com.

"IN SHOCK"

The sources described the producer's actions as a very bad mistake, but not deliberate.

NBC News declined to comment on Thursday. The network said on Tuesday it would not release names of the employees involved. It has apologized for the incident.

One of the sources said that NBC News President Steve Capus would not lose his job over the incident.

The Today show's editorial control policies - which include a script editor, senior producer oversight, and in most cases legal and standards department reviews of material to be broadcast - missed the selective editing of the call, said the NBC executive.

Executives have vowed to take rigorous steps to formalize editorial safeguards in the news division following the incident, one of the sources said.

NBC News staffers who have been working on the Trayvon Martin story for several weeks in Florida were at first "in shock" over the incident, and later furious, another source, who is an NBC producer, told Reuters.

Public pressure has been building on the network to fully explain the incident - which critics charge has inflamed racial tensions in an already volatile situation.

On Thursday, a New York Post editorial characterized the edited 911 call as "pretty damning evidence of willful misconduct by NBC News" and suggested that racial violence could ensue over irresponsible news coverage.

Television news veterans in New York said they were baffled over how the error came to be broadcast given the intense vetting such a sensitive story would normally get at a major network such as NBC.

Executives from parent company Comcast Corp, including Chief Executive Brian Roberts and Chief Operating Officer Steve Burke, who doubles as the CEO of NBC Universal, are not involved in the investigation, two sources inside the network said.

NBC's Today - which has dominated the U.S. morning landscape for more than a decade - is currently in a ratings war with ABC's Good Morning America, which has been picking up viewers.

(Reporting By Christopher Francescani and Peter Lauria; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Martin Howell; Desking by Jackie Frank)

Source:

All-You-Can-Eat Dinner- Greenbackville Vol. Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary

NO Fire Tax- But Increase In Personal Property Tax & Real Estate Tax For Accomack Co.

If you were lucky enough to get a raise at the beginning of the year and thought maybe you might be able to get a little bit ahead....sorry.  I honestly don't know how much more our local and federal governments can take from us.

By Connie Morrison

The Accomack County Board of Supervisors met last night for a public hearing on the proposed unified fire district, and to consider a resolution to adopt the 2013 budget, which would include the unified districts.

In a move that apparently caught some members of the Accomack County Board of Supervisors by surprise, District 6 Supervisor Robert Crockett moved to adopt a budget resolution that did not address the creation of a single Fire Tax District. Instead, a substitute resolution was introduced to add 3.5 cents to the proposed 2012 real estate tax rate and 5 cents to the proposed 2012 personal property tax rate for general government, and to do away with an equivalent portion of the tax structure that has been traditionally referred to as the Fire and Rescue Tax.


The move came following the public hearing on the uniform fire district, when County Attorney Mark Taylor told the Board that he had received a communication from attorney Jon Poulson, representing Chincoteague. The material provided by Mr. Poulson suggests the Town of Chincoteagues firm commitment to fight inclusion in an Accomack County-wide fire district to the bitter end. Such a fight would put county funding for volunteer fire and rescue service on the mainland at risk.


The substitute resolution was then recommended to the Board by Mr. Taylor, and Supervisor Crockett moved adoption, with District 2 Supervisor Ron Wolff seconding the motion. The proposal avoided the question of making Chincoteague part of a county-wide district by maintaining the districts as they are, but dissolving the district-by-district taxation and replacing it with an equivalent amount that would flow into the county general fund. Mr. Crockett immediately called the question, which garnered a scathing reaction from District 1 Supervisor Wanda Thornton who was furious at what she saw as a deliberate attempt to exclude her.


"And Mr. Chesser's laughing and Mr. Crockett's smiling because they are in the loop. Some of the other people are not. And if you think this is a way to conduct a Board of Supervisors then, you know, I could say a whole lot more," exclaimed Thornton.


The motion passed on a vote of 7-2, with Supervisor Thornton and District 4 Supervisor Kay Lewis casting the dissenting votes.


The bottom line for real and personal property tax payers is that they will pay the amounts that were advertised, but the tax will no longer be divided into general government and fire and rescue. It remains to be seen how those general county revenues will be parceled back out to the fire companies.

Source;

SHORE BEEF & BBQ

BE SURE TO STOP BY FOR THE...

FRIDAY SPECIAL

FRIDAY SPECIAL

1/2 Rack Ribs / w  Side

Drink ~ 10.95

ALL DAY!

TIME MACHINE Preview ... Mandatory Church Attendance Leads To Incident On Tangier Island.

The year is 1920 and Tangier Island is in the national spotlight following a serious incident that occurred as a result of its' local law requiring every citizen to attend church on Sunday.
　
Read about it this Sunday on The Pocomoke Public Eye!



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

The 'Cinnamon Challenge'

By Nicole Brochu /The Orlando Sentinel

ORLANDO, Fla. — Compared with texting while driving or hard-core drug and alcohol use, teenagers using an everyday cooking spice in a game of dare may sound like harmless child’s play.
But a fad that has kids daring each other to swallow at least a spoonful of powdered or ground cinnamon without drinking water is anything but, U.S. poison control centers are warning. Because the pungent spice is so dry, the body’s immediate reaction is to choke, gag and ultimately vomit.

In fact, “the cinnamon challenge” can lead to excessive vomiting and, in extreme cases, respiratory distress. It has produced a noticeable spike in calls to poison control hot line numbers nationwide.

“Supposedly, the ‘fun’ part is to watch someone choke and retch and vomit. That’s what’s considered fun,” said Wendy Stephan, health education coordinator for the Florida Poison Information Center in Miami, which covers the South Florida region. “People think of it as just silly fun, but for some people it can be a really miserable experience.”

According to American Association of Poison Control Centers data, during all of 2011, poison centers nationwide received 51 calls about teenage over-exposure to cinnamon. But in the first three months of this year, the centers have already received 139 such calls. Of those, 122 were classified as intentional misuse or abuse, and 30 required medical evaluation.

Florida has seen a small number of calls, but they’re on the rise. So far this year, Florida’s poison control centers have received seven calls about over-exposure to cinnamon.

Poison control officials don’t know why the cinnamon exposure calls are spiking now. The “game” has been a YouTube sensation for years. A video dubbed “The Best Cinnamon Challenge” has been viewed 3.7 million times since going up in December 2007.

In February, comedian, actress and singer Colleen Ballinger posted a YouTube video showing her doing the challenge in character as her Internet meme personality, Miranda Sings. It got 70,000 hits the first week and has been viewed more than 171,000 times since Feb. 20.

Source:

 

Gun From the USS Missouri Moves Up the Eastern Shore



Photo/WESR

One of the guns that helped defeat the Japanese and win World War II moved up the Eastern Shore Wednesday.

The huge 16 inch gun off of the Battleship Missouri was on its way to Lewis Delaware where it will be displayed at a World War II bunker designed to protect the entrance to Delaware Bay during the war.

The gun which was once part of a ship where the Japanese surrendered to US forces in 1945 weighs 120 tons and could hurl a shell 2O miles.

Bay Shore Railroad transported it across the Chesapeake Bay on their railroad barge then up the Shore to Pocomoke City where the Norfolk Southern Railroad will take over from there. The USS Missouri was the last Iowa Class battleship built by the United States.

Source:

And if you were in Pocomoke City yesterday and couldn't figure what the WBOC News chopper was doing flying around  here's what they found.

Photo/WBOC News

Chopper 16 was able to get this aerial photo as the rail car slowly moved through  Worcester County.

This Weekend At the Mar-Va Theater

Use CAUTION When Burning

Several brush fires have been reported on the Eastern Shore in recent days. While the Shore hasnt suffered from a lack of rain, its normal this time of year for brush fires to occur.

Windy conditions combined with dry winter kill brush in the woods and fields often fuel smaller fires which then spread. It is illegal to do any open burning at all until 4:00 p.m.


Remember many local fire companies are now charging those whose negligence contributes to fires. All Shore residents are strongly urged not to do any outdoor burning until conditions allow .

Area fire departments were kept busy from early Wednesday until late in the night with brush fires and were also needed  to  battle two separate residential structure fires.  Fire departments from Worcester County were also alerted and responded.

Source:

SHORE BEEF & BBQ

THURSDAY LUNCH

&

 DINNER SPECIALS

OPEN THRUSDAY 11 TO 7

LUNCH SPECIAL

Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich w/ Side

and Drink ~ $7.50

DINNER SPECIAL

1/2 BBQ Chicken & 1/2 Rack of Ribs w/ 2 Sides

$17.95  ~ ENOUGH FOR 2

Thanks for the great Wednesday.....hope to see you on Thursday...

Shore Beef & BBQ can be found on Facebook

Look us up and leave a comment.

NASA T-38 Aircraft To Fly Over Washington Metro Area April 5

WASHINGTON -- NASA, in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, will conduct training and photographic flights on Thursday, April 5, over the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Two T-38 training jets will fly approximately 1,500 feet above Washington between 9:30 and 11 a.m. EDT. These flights are intended to capture photographic imagery.


If the flights must be cancelled for any reason, they will be rescheduled and an additional notice will be released.

For more information about NASA's use of T-38 training jets, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/H3S4qK

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

Worcester County Sheriff''s Office

PRESS RELEASE

4/3/2012

 03/30/2012     At approximately 2048 hours, members of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office arrested Maurice Bishop, 53 years of age, from Pocomoke City, Maryland on a District Court Bench Warrant issued after failing to appear on 03/30/2012.

Bishop was originally charged with theft-less than $100 and later released.

Richard Douglas - Candidate for US Senate - 2012

Maryland's Business Competitiveness at Stake

with Sales Tax Hike 

News Release 4.4.12

As the General Assembly prepares to adjourn April 9, Maryland tax advocates are attempting a last minute "hail mary" to justify the spend and tax policies of this administration.  Transportation spending proponents are holding press conferences today in Annapolis, Baltimore and Potomac to complement Governor Martin O'Malley's most recent proposal to hike the sales from 6% to 7%.

An attempt earlier in this legislative session to apply the sales tax to gasoline proved politically impossible, and the Governor has signaled his intent to instead raise the sales tax across-the-board to provide additional government revenues, purportedly for transportation.

" As the Governor said himself, all this proposal does is delete the word 'gas' from ' tax.' A sales tax increase is an easy, unacceptable short- term fix to the longer term problem of business competitiveness," said Maryland Business for Responsive Government President Kimberly M. Burns.  "Just like the gas tax, it hits every Maryland working family and business right in the wallet."

With a 7% sales tax, Maryland would join a group of states with the second-highest rate according to the non-partisan Tax Foundation.  Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Tennessee, with a 7% sales tax, fall in a second-tier just below California as states with the highest taxes on purchases.  If Maryland were to adopt a 7% sales tax, moreover, it would have the highest such tax in a region that includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.  Virginia has one of the lowest sales tax structures in the country and Delaware has none.

"Say hello to more factory outlet stores near Maryland's borders in Delaware and Virginia," said Burns. "When you're a small state like Maryland, sandwiched between two low-tax states, it's foolish to think increasing the sales tax won't effect Maryland's competitiveness and the behavior of consumers."

Maryland Business for Responsive Government favors a fiscal approach that addresses budget cost savings instead of tax increases.  As an example of many such opportunities, the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Department of Business and Economic Development have received scathing audits for wasteful and sloppy procurement practices.

###

Background:

Transportation press conferences today:http://www.tripnet.org/

Tax Foundation: State and local 2012 sales taxes:http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/27967.html

From The ASPCA ~ *We Are Their Voice*

APRIL IS PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS MONTH

From the ASPCA:

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and each year, the ASPCA urges supporters across the country to support our efforts and Go Orange for Animals in honor of the signing of the ASPCA's charter in 1866. Throughout the month, we’ll be encouraging our members to show their support by donning our signature color and going orange for animals. Please join us for this month-long celebration of our victories in the fight against animal cruelty.

How To Recognize Animal Cruelty

Signs That an Animal Might Be Abused

Recognizing cruelty is simple, right? Not quite, say ASPCA experts. Aggressive, timid or fearful behavior doesn't always tell the whole story. Animals may appear to be timid or frightened for many reasons other than abuse.


“It’s almost impossible to make conclusions based on a pet’s behavior alone,” says the ASPCA Animal Behavior Center’s Kristen Collins, CPDT. “The best way to tell whether a pet is being or has been abused is to examine him and his surrounding environment.”

Check out our list of signs that may alert you an animal needs help:

Physical Signs

• Collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck
• Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated
• Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes
• Extreme thinness or emaciation—bones may be visible
• Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites
• Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes
• Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat
• Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
• Heavy discharge from eyes or nose
• An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
• Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness

Environmental Signs

• Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary
• Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter
• Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them
• Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements possibly with too many other animals

“Reporting suspected animal cruelty ensures that animals in jeopardy receive prompt and often lifesaving care,” says ASPCA Special Agent Joann Sandano. “By making a complaint to the police or humane society in your area—you can even do so anonymously—you help ensure that animals in need are rescued and that perpetrators of animal cruelty are brought to justice.”

If you see signs of animal abuse, don’t keep it to yourself. Here’s how to report cruelty in your area.

From Richard Douglas- Candidate for US Senate- 2012

Senate Candidate Richard Douglas on Primary Loss

From US Senate Candidate Richard Douglas:

"I want to congratulate my opponent on a hard-fought race in the Republican primary.  Republicans and Democrats challenging Ben Cardin know that defeating elite royal family rule in Annapolis and incompetence on Capitol Hill is an enormous undertaking.  I
urge like-minded Democrats and Independent voters to close ranks with Mr. Bongino to replace Ben Cardin in November.  It is time for a strong Maryland voice to be heard in the U.S. Senate.  Today was the first step toward that goal."

Author and Poet Maya Angelou

Today is the  84th birthday of Maya Angelou. 

 An American author and poet,  born  Marguerite Ann Johnson,  she has been called  "America's most visible black female autobiographer".




"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating
 that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can
 introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other,
 we may even become friends."  ~Maya Angelou~
 

16 Inch Gun From USS Missouri To Pass Through Pocomoke Via Railroad

Traveling the railroad sometime this afternoon through Pocomoke will be one of  16 inch  gun barrels  from the decomissioned USS Missouri.

For the photo and story go HERE