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Monday, September 17, 2012
Keep Kids Safe In Cars
Teen Prostitution / Gang Used Social Media Sites to Identify Potential Victims
Strom headed up the Underground Gangster Crips (UGC), a Crips “set” based in Fairfax, Virginia. The Crips originated in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and since then, the gang has splintered into various groups around the country. Law enforcement has seen a number of Crips sets in the U.S. engaging in sex trafficking as a means of making money.
That’s certainly what was happening in Virginia. Strom and his UGC associates would troll social networking sites, looking for attractive young girls. After identifying a potential victim, they would contact her online using phony identities...complimenting her on her looks, asking to get to know her better, sometimes offering her the opportunity to make money as a result of her looks.
If the victim expressed interest (and many did, being young and easily flattered by the attention), Strom or one of his associates would ask for her cell phone number to contact her offline and make plans to meet.
After some more flattery about their attractiveness, sometimes hits of illegal drugs and alcohol, and even mandatory sexual “tryouts” with Strom and other gang members, the girls were lured into engaging in commercial sex, often with the help of more senior girls showing them the ropes. The girls might be sent to an apartment complex with instructions to knock on doors looking for potential customers…or driven to hotels for pre-arranged meetings…or taken to Strom’s house, where he allowed paying customers to have sex with them.
In addition to using the Internet, Strom and his associates recruited vulnerable young girls from schools and bus and rail stops. He also went online to find customers—postings ads on various websites showing scantily-clad young women.
Some of the juvenile victims were threatened with violence if they didn’t perform as directed and many were given drugs or alcohol to keep them sedated and compliant.
Strom and his associates did not discriminate—their victims were from across the socio-economic spectrum and represented different ethnic backgrounds.
Make sure your kids’ privacy settings are high, but also keep in mind that information can inadvertently be leaked by friends and family…so kids should still be careful about posting certain information about themselves—like street address, phone number, Social Security number, etc.
Be aware of who your kids’ online friends are, and advise them to accept friend requests only from people they know personally.
Know that teens are not always honest about what they are doing online. Some will let their parents “friend” them, for example, but will then establish another space online that is hidden from their parents.
Teens sometimes employ an “Internet language” to use when parents are nearby. For example:- PAW or PRW: Parents are watching
- PIR: Parents in room
- POS: Parent over shoulder
- LMIRL: Let’s meet in real life
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Sunday, September 16, 2012
Thou Shalt NOT Steal! Especially From Where I Sit
And tell me....did the half lighted yard help you in your selection of items to steal? How many times have you been here and how long have you been watching my property?
When did you realize you had been seen? Was it when my husband, trying to protect what belongs to HIM yelled at you? Or was it when he left to follow the pick up your accomplice was driving, leaving you alone in MY yard? Do you realize that your sticky fingers could have very well have caused great harm to my husband and some of the Accomack County Deputies PLUS an officer from a local police department, that assisted in following and finally stopping the truck?
Be advised that I intend on contacting everyone of my neighbors. The ones I didn't contact today will be getting notices from me in the mail this week. I may as well do something late at night. While you were here early Saturday morning stealing my items you also took my ability to sleep very well.
Thank you to the Accomack County Sheriff's Department and Parksley police officer for your assistance.
Somerset County Deputy To Return To Work
“I’m assuming that’s the case,” he said. “I’m waiting for some calls today.”
Durham’s attorney, Howard Hoffman, said Jones is forcing Durham to reapply for his position
“We believe that such a position leaves Troy vulnerable as a matter of public safety, and that this is more of an obvious and transparent effort to delay and harm Troy’s right to serve as a sworn law enforcement officer,” Hoffman said in an email. “The Court of Special Appeals did not condition Troy’s return on any tests, and we believe that the sheriff can do more if he respected the court’s order of reinstatement.”
Kirk Simpkins, the county’s attorney, said he was not at liberty to discuss the case, which is considered a confidential personnel matter. “I can’t confirm or deny,” he said.
Attorneys for Jones did not return phone calls Friday.
Earlier this week, a federal judge denied Jones’ request for a new trial, and also ordered him to pay $128,000 for Durham’s legal fees.
Last month, Durham won his appeal to Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals which agreed his termination by the county was arbitrary and capricious.
The court overturned a 2010 Circuit Court ruling by Judge W. Newton Jackson III that there was not enough evidence to support Durham’s claims of wrongful termination.
The court’s reversal was the second victory for Durham. In May, he was awarded more than $1 million after a federal jury found he had been denied his First Amendment rights.
Since then, Durham’s attorney has successfully had Jones’ wages garnished and has seized a bank account.
The former deputy has fought a legal battle against the Sheriff’s Office since 2008 when he filed a grievance alleging internal corruption and accusing co-workers of forcing him to change a police report.
In his lawsuit, Durham alleged he was ordered to alter a police report, but refused. He said he was threatened with his job and relented, but later filed a grievance with the Somerset County Commissioners.
Five days later, Durham was placed on administrative leave and was told his grievance was being investigated by Jones.
Durham was eventually terminated, and has alleged Jones, fired him in retaliation.
The Durham lawsuit was not the first time Jones faced controversy.
In 2009, Jones was investigated after a Princess Anne woman claimed he had deliberately backed into her with his unmarked cruiser while intoxicated in a parking lot in front of her apartment.
The woman filed a civil peace order, claiming she did not know at the time who he was. Jones said he was conducting surveillance at the time of the incident. The peace order was dismissed, and an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office was later closed for lack of evidence.
Source:
Virginia Voter Registration Cards To Be Mailed
Billboards and other efforts have rolled out as part of a $550,000 communications contract awarded in the run-up to the Nov. 6 presidential election.
The multipronged effort is an attempt by state election officials to educate voters before the election, and to meet specific directives made earlier this year by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
In May, McDonnell signed hotly contested legislation that requires voters without proper ID at the polls to cast a provisional ballot.
The voter would have until noon on the Friday after the election to submit acceptable identification to the electoral board if they want their vote to be counted.
Previously, those who showed up at the polls without proper ID were allowed to vote normally after signing a document swearing they're a registered voter.
The legislation also expands the forms of identification that voters can use at the polls, to include a student ID from a state college or university, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement or paycheck.
The state board will soon send the new cards, at an estimated cost of $1.35 million, and has signed a contract with JMI Inc. for up to $550,000 to spread the word.
Both of the costs are being paid with state and federal dollars, according to the elections board.
Proponents of the measures say they are designed to prevent voter fraud.
The contract amount includes placing ads on the sides of buses, on light rail and billboards and buying ads for radio and print. Billboard ads are up in Charlottesville, Hampton and Roanoke.
"We want to make sure we hit everybody, and that's, you know, part of why you see the cost, because it's a big state obviously," said Justin Riemer, deputy secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections. "It's really a comprehensive statewide effort."
The state board also plans to have a presence at various events, including the State Fair of Virginia, several college homecomings and the Richmond Folk Festival.
The agency on Friday launched a new website that includes a page about the new requirements and features a 13-minute video.
Aside from the new ID requirements, many voters could have a new polling place because the state redistricted earlier this year.
As the voter registration cards start rolling out, Riemer urges people to take a closer look "and make sure it doesn't go out with the junk mail."
"People have to be on the lookout for it," he said.
A brochure accompanying the new cards was in the works before the Justice Department approved the new voter ID rules, so it does not list every new form of acceptable identification. It directs voters to the state board's website for a full list.
TIME MACHINE ... Baseball's Vic Keen's Ties To Pocomoke City
(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)
September, 1937
Two former major league baseball players were managing teams in the Eastern Shore League. Pitcher Vic Keen was managing as well as pitching for the Pocomoke Red Sox and infielder Jake Flowers was managing the Salisbury Senators. A couple of years later Keen managed the Salisbury team and Flowers came to Pocomoke to manage. Both had rounded out their big league careers with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Keen and Flowers had Eastern Shore roots. Flowers was from Cambridge and Keen's father, a minister, brought his family from the western shore to Snow Hill where Keen was a star pitcher on the high school team. After his major league career Keen made Pocomoke City his permanent residence and was involved in the poultry business.
Now here's more on Vic Keen (at this address):
http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1938&pid=7329
May, 1901
The Postal Telegraph Company of New York announced new offices were being opened in Pocomoke and numerous Eastern Shore Of Virginia towns, with wires also to soon be completed to locations in Somerset and Wicomico Counties, and in Delaware.
April, 1911
The Census Bureau released 1910 population figures for Maryland and comparative numbers for 10 years earlier.
For the lower Eastern Shore counties, Worcester's population was reported at 21,841 (20,865 for 1900).
Somerset County ... 26,455 (25,923)
Wicomico County ... 26,815 (22,852)
Pocomoke City's 1910 population was reported at 2,309 (2,124 for 1900).
Snow Hill ... 1,844 (596)
Princess Anne ... 1,006 (854)
Crisfiled ... 3,408 (3,105)
Salisbury ... 6,690 (4,277)
April, 1956
(The Salisbury Times)
Road-E-O To Be Held In Pocomoke
Pocomoke City - Written examinations for the 1956 Teenage Road-E-O were held in the Berlin, Snow Hill, and Pocomoke City High Schools yesterday.
The Road-E-O will be held in Pocomoke City Saturday on the parking lot of the Birds-Eye plant.
This is part of a nationwide safe driving campaign for teenagers, who will have to prove their ability to handle automobiles by driving through an obstacle course.
Winners of the Worcester County contest will enter the state finals in Westminister in May. Winners of the state contest will compete in the nation finals in Washington.
November, 1897
(Harrisonburg Rockingham Register- Harrisonburg, Va.)
W.F. Benson of Pocomoke City, Md., has grown a remarkably large pear. It is 16 1/4 inches in circumference and weighs twenty-five pounds and ten ounces. It is of the Kiefer variety. Mr. Benson gathered ten bushels of pears from the tree on which this large one grew.
We need your help in providing your recollections or information for the TIME MACHINE. So please consider, and as we always remind you...
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!
Riverside Grill Pocomoke ~ Sunday Specials !
-Vegetable Beef Soup or Chili w/ 1/2 deli sandwich or side salad 5.99
-Meatloaf w/ mashed potatoes and green beans 6.99
-Meatball Sub w/ fries 7.99
-1 chili cheese dog w/ fries 4.99 or 2 for 6.99
-Taco Salad 6.99
Appetizers:
-Crab Pizza 9.99 or
-Chili Nachos 5.99
$1.50 Coors lt., bud lt., yuengling draft
$5 bombs
HELP NEEDED For The Community Giving Garden
Preparing the soil for new plants and
Getting ready for a fall crop of veggies
Please come with gloves and tools ready!
Meet at the garden @ 6:00PM
Saturday, September 15, 2012
TIME MACHINE Preview ... Baseball's Vic Keen's Ties To Pocomoke City
High School baseball in Worcester County...the Major Leagues...managing in the old Eastern Shore League...
Read more about Vic Keen 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!
Pet Jerky Treat Death Toll: 360 Dogs, 1 Cat, FDA Says
CAR WASH TODAY !!
Friday, September 14, 2012
"Warriors Supporting Warriors" Field Hockey- For Our Troops.
Pocomoke High School Stadium
Legislative Updates From Delegate Mike McDermott
"At a time when many declare we should not be concerned about 'voter fraud,’ the disqualified 1st Congressional District Candidate, Wendy Rosen, makes the perfect poster child " stated Delegate Mike McDermott. "These allegations must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as a vigilant reminder that our elections are precious and must be protected” continued Delegate McDermott.
Delegate McDermott has requested an investigation of the allegations that Ms. Rosen voted in the states of Maryland and Florida during the same election cycle. The delegate went on to say, "Her [Rosen's] outrageous conduct has resulted in an attack on our strong two-party election process that should not go unpunished. We expect more from our electorate and we must demand our candidates lead by example."
Formal requests were filed with both Offices of the Attorney Generals Gansler (Maryland) and Bondi (Florida) requesting the investigation of alleged fraud committed by Rosen in their respective jurisdictions.
Delmarva's Got Talent ~ Last Call For Contestants
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Crisfield Mudbog, Continued ~ September 1, 2012
"Dirty Dreams" Driver/ Sam Jones Photo/ Elizabeth, North Carolina Summer 2012 |
"Poppy's Toy" Driver/ Gary Downes "Dirty Dog" Driver/ Travis Pruitt |
TIME MACHINE Preview ... Baseball's Vic Keen's Ties To Pocomoke City
High School baseball in Worcester County...the Major Leagues...managing in the old Eastern Shore League...
Read more about Vic Keen 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!
NEW Traffic Law To Take Effect October 1st
(PIKESVILLE, MD) – Maryland State Police are reminding motorists of a new law about to take effect regarding actions drivers must take when approaching intersections with non-functioning traffic signals.
Beginning October 1, 2012, a driver approaching a non-functioning traffic control signal from any direction at an intersection shall stop:
-at a clearly marked stop line;
-before entering any crosswalk; or
-before entering the intersection.
After stopping, the driver must:-yield to any vehicle or pedestrian in the intersection; and
-remain stopped until it is safe to enter and continue through the intersection.
Intersection traffic control signals, most commonly called ‘red lights,’ or ‘stop lights,’ direct the safe and orderly flow of traffic in and through thousands of intersections across Maryland. Most are powered by electricity that can be interrupted because of storms, traffic crashes, or other incidents that cause power outages. Just because a traffic control signal is not functioning at an intersection does not mean drivers are relieved of their duty to exercise care and caution. The new law makes clear the procedures each driver must now follow.
Violations of the new law carry a fine of $90 and two points if the offense does not contribute to an accident. If the violation contributes to a crash, the fine is $130 and three points.
REMEMBER EXISTING LAWS:
If two vehicles approach an intersection without a traffic control device or with a non-functioning traffic control signal from different roadways at the same time, there is existing motor vehicle law that applies. In this situation, the driver on the left must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on his or her immediate right.
There are also times when a traffic control signal that normally operates green, yellow, and red lights may be in ‘flashing’ mode. This usually means red lights may be flashing in one direction and yellow lights are flashing in another direction. Flashing red
and yellow lights on a traffic control signal do not mean the light is ‘non-functioning.’
In this situation, the drivers approaching the red flashing light must stop and can only proceed when the intersection is clear. Drivers approaching the yellow flashing light should slow down and use caution, but are permitted to proceed through the intersection without stopping. Drivers are also reminded that if a police officer is directing traffic in the intersection, they should obey the directions of that officer, regardless of the signal indicated on the traffic control device.
It is difficult to describe every potential intersection situation. Above all, drivers are reminded that it is their duty to always drive with care and caution, especially when approaching an intersection with a non-functioning signal. If other drivers are present at the intersection, remember to be courteous, use caution, and do everything possible to try to determine the intentions of other motorists and communicate your intentions, if you are unsure of how to proceed. Even if you have the right of way, it is better to allow another driver to proceed if it appears he or she is going to do so, instead of risking an intersection crash.
Maryland State Police Press Release
Maryland Pit Bull Ruling Is Challenged In Federal Court
A resident at the low-income Armistead Gardens housing development is suing the state in federal court, asking judges to strike down a recent court ruling that pit bulls are inherently dangerous.
In a complaint filed Wednesday, lawyers for Joseph Weigel argue that he would have to move out of his home at the East Baltimore housing complex if he refuses to give up his dog.
In August, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that purebred pit bulls are "inherently dangerous" and that landlords could potentially be strictly liable if a pit bull attacks a person on their property.
After the ruling, Armistead Homes Corp., which manages Armistead Gardens, told residents to get rid of pure and mixed-breed pit bulls or face eviction, according to the suit.
Weigel's suit argues that in the ruling, the appeals court unconstitutionally overrode the property rights of people like Weigel by making them choose between their homes and their pets.
Charles H. Edwards, Weigel's attorney, said that if a restraining order is not issued, Weigel and his dog will be homeless before the end of September. While Weigel is the only resident of the development named in the suit, Edwards said it could apply to as many as 500 dog owners who live there.
"These people are faced with a very hard choice — homelessness or euthanization of their dogs," Edwards said.
Armistead Gardens did not respond to requests for comment on the suit. And the Maryland attorney general's office declined to comment on ongoing litigation.
The original ruling sprang from a 2007 incident in which a young boy was mauled by a pit bull in Towson. When the dog's owner declared bankruptcy, the boy's family took forward a case against the owner's landlord.
In April, the Court of Appeals ruled that both purebred pit bulls and pit bull mixes were inherently dangerous, overturning a previous law that an owner must have known their dog was dangerous in order to be held strictly liable.
Then in August, the appeals court partly walked back the ruling, applying it only to purebred pit bulls. But experts say that might not have changed the effect of the ruling because "pit bull" is not a breed of dog, rather an umbrella term for different breeds.
The General Assembly made an unsuccessful attempt to revise the ruling in the special session, and is expected to try again next year.
Edwards said he knows he has an uphill battle in his challenge.
"It's an incredibly difficult case to win, but you got to do something," he said.
While the court made clear that the ruling was not a ban on pit bulls and that their owners would not have to give up their dogs, Tami Santelli, Maryland director of the Humane Society of the United States, said its effect on renters could be "more insidious".
Stacey Evans, the chairwoman of the animal law section of the Maryland State Bar Association, believes landlords could be held liable even if they did not know a pit bull was on their property.
Animal protection groups are worried that the ruling would lead to tenants abandoning pit bulls in order to stay in their homes.
"Everyone was pretty nervous in April when the case came down," Santelli said.
While the Humane Society estimates the ruling could affect as many as 70,000 dogs in Maryland, Santelli said she had not heard of large numbers of animals being given up to shelters. But she said homeowners and condo associations have contacted the organization to say they are updating policies to ban pit bulls in common areas.
Source:
Rocket Launch For Saturday ~ NASA Wallops Island Canceled
A new launch date has not been determined.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
2012 ATV JAMBOREE & DEMOLITION DERBY THIS WEEKEND
DEMOLITION DERBY ~ $5.00
OR
$7.00 for ALL DAY ADMISSION WRISTBAND
(must present wristband if you leave and return later)
Children 6 yrs. and under FREE
Kitchen will be OPEN for lunch and dinner for sandwiches.
Mar-Va Theater ~ Delmarva's Got Talent ~
If you would like to be a contestant in Delmarva's Got Talent" contest there's still some time left to enter.
But hurry. Time is running out.
You could be the one to walk away with the grand prize!
For entry form go HERE
Man Gets Multiple Life Sentences In Child Sex Abuse Case
WESR Radio
A 60-year old man, who was called Pop-Pop by the children in the household, because he was like a grandfather to them, received two life sentences, and four 20-year sentences, for sexual abuse of those same children.
William Roger Clough, Jr. was found guilty in Accomack County Circuit Court in March under a plea agreement, in which he agreed to plead guilty to 4 counts of aggravated sexual battery, one count of forcible sodomy, and one count of object sexual penetration, in exchange for the Commonwealth not pursuing six other similar charges.
Referring to the charges and convictions, defense attorney Patrick Robbins told Judge W. Revell Lewis III, There is no way to sugar coat this, and presented Mr. Clough's minimal education and lack of criminal history, before asking Judge Lewis to sentence Mr. Clough with in the guidelines of 10-20 years.
Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Matthew Brenner, didn't mince words in describing Mr. Clough's actions as crimes of the most reprehensible nature. There is not just one child victim, he continued, there are four. Mr. Brenner noted the tender ages of the four victims, who were 4, 6, 7, and 11 at the time of the offenses, and are all related to Mr. Clough. He went on to say that the children viewed him as a grandfather, and he abused that trust by hurting them physically, and inflicting damage to their psyches that will take many years to mend. He used threats to physically harm them, and in one case told the four-year-old he would kill her mother if she told.
Mr. Brenner said that Mr. Clough deserved the maximum sentence for each crime, and Judge Lewis agreed, stating that grandfathers are supposed to protect children, and the fact that he was a family member made these crimes even worse. He also noted, however, that the system worked, because one of the children told a teacher, who reported it, which led to social services launching an investigation that uncovered the abuse.
Mr. Clough was remanded to jail to await transport to the state penitentiary to begin serving his sentence.
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