TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.

1967- Tuition-free kindergarten coming to Worcester County schools; 1899.. Pocomoke firemen help battle fire that threatened entire town of Salisbury; 2004.. Somerset County Courthouse marks 100th year.

ACROSS THE USA: 1966-67.. articles reflect issues leading up to the first Super Bowl; and take a look at 1989's "Bud Bowl I" commercial.

It's this Sunday right here at 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.   Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

Would you consider helping The Pocomoke Public Eye as one of our contributors of current local items of interest?  Please contact pcitypubliceye@gmail.com

Worcester student's racist post sparks outcry

Photo stirs negative reaction among current and former students.

 

A racist-fueled Instagram photo circulated through the timelines of many students and athletes late Thursday evening, causing quite a stir among readers.

The photo — which The Daily Times will not post due to its nature — involved two swastikas and two skulls paired with the phrase "DAY OF THE ROPE," "HANG 'EM HIGH & HANG 'EM SLOW," rotating in a circle around a noose in the center. The emblem was based on a black background, and was likely an image taken from the Internet.

Additionally, the post said the location of the user was in "Auschwitz."

At about 11 p.m. Thursday night, the post was approximately a day old.

It garnered more than 80 likes and 37 responses on the Instagram page before being taken down before midnight Thursday.

On a Twitter account under the same username, "#RaceWarWeek" had been posted at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, but was deleted sometime Friday morning.

Other photos on the now deleted Instagram page showed pictures of a teenage male in a football uniform that Stephen Decatur high school players wear.

Most local Twitter users were appalled as the post spread.

"My timeline consist of: teamgetaplate, racism, more teamgetaplate, more racism, a little more racism and a tiny bit more of teamgetaplate," Stephen Decatur junior guard Dayona Godwin tweeted, referring to the newly dubbed Washington High School fan section and the Instagram post.

"It's 20 freakin 15, why do people have to be so racist and disrespectful?" tweeted Kevon Turnamian, who is a well-known Bleacher Creature, referring to the fan section of James M. Bennett.

"There's another race war at Decatur?! Just grow up," former Decatur student David Bernal-Clark tweeted, which he followed with, "Racism is ignorant. Everyone is equal. Everyone just needs to get over themselves."
Friday morning, Barbara Witherow, coordinator of public relations and special programs for Worcester County Schools, was not aware of the incident.

After The Daily Times shared a screenshot of the Instagram post and the tweet, Witherow wrote in an email: "Social media activity by students is difficult to govern because it almost always occurs outside of the school day and off of school property. Almost all policies and procedures associated with student codes of conduct address infractions or suspected infractions that occur on school property, school buses, or at a school sponsored event.

"Social media activity that is disruptive to the school environment — no matter where it originates — is a matter of great concern and requires action."

Witherow continued: "Although I cannot speak directly about a specific case, I can assure you that cases brought to our attention are addressed in the manner explained. It is absolutely essential that our schools have environments where all students feel safe and respected."

At about 4 p.m. Friday, the Instagram account was deleted, but Twitter spoke the verdict.
"They made me delete my Instagram :-/," the user tweeted.

rmarshall@dmg.gannett.com On Twitter/Instagram: @DTimes_Marshall

PROTOCOL
When a school is made aware of social media activity that is disruptive to the school environment, the following actions are taken:

• The student is immediately interviewed to investigate the activity.

• Parents are contacted and informed of the activity.

• Every effort is made to have inappropriate postings deleted.

• Consequences are determined based on a student's previous violations, the severity of the activity and the specifics gleaned from the investigation.

• If criminal activity is suspected, law enforcement is contacted.

• A student may be referred to school counseling or services available in the community, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

 

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Delmarva Power Pocomoke City Reliability Improvement Project

In 2015, Delmarva Power will invest $1 million to improve electric service for customers in Pocomoke City.

Between March & August 2015, Delmarva Power will upgrade and modernize its electric distribution system along the following streets:

• Market Street (between 10th Street & Pocomoke Beltway/Old Virginia Road)

• Payne Avenue (between Market Street & Route 13)

• Pocomoke Beltway (between Cedar Street & Route 13)

• Walnut Street (between 2nd & 10th Streets)

• 10th Street (between Market & Walnut Streets)

The Pocomoke City electric reliability improvement project will include the replacement of about 70 electric distribution poles and the installation of new wire, crossarms, switching equipment and other assorted upgrades.

Once the pole replacement and line construction are complete, crews will convert customers to the new power lines.  These conversions will necessitate planned outages of several hours. Prior to the conversion, crews will notify customers who will be affected by an outage.  Any outages for businesses will be coordinated to take place during non-business hours.

Over the last five years, Delmarva Power has invested approximately $1 billion to strengthen its transmission and distribution systems to improve reliability.  This project is one of numerous infrastructure improvements planned throughout their service territory over the next several years designed to improve service to their customers.

Questions about the project can be referred to Delmarva Power Senior Public Affairs Manager Jim Smith at jim.a.smith2@delmarva.com or at (410) 860-6366.

Injured Bald Eagle Causes Stir On Route 50

Injured Bald Eagle Causes Stir On Route 50
Unusual sight this afternoon when an injured bald eagle caused traffic to come to a crawl on Route 50. Some Good Samaritans stood guard over the bald eagle, which was bleeding, until DNR and volunteers arrived. Photos by Heather Vest and Harry Reinhart

 

UPDATE: Injured Bald Eagle Reportedly Recovers On Its Own After Being Transferred To Nearby Woods
Charlene Sharpe, Staff Writer
WEST OCEAN CITY – “There is something truly majestic when you get to see a bald eagle.”
That’s what area resident Kristi Clarke was thinking when she turned around to get a better look at the eagle she saw standing in the median of Route 50 in West Ocean City. That’s when she saw it fly into an oncoming vehicle.
“It actually hit the side of the car,” she said, “knocking itself to the ground.”
Although it landed in the left lane of eastbound Route 50, vigilant motorists were quick to stop and block the bird that lay prone on the asphalt. Clarke, who called 911 as soon as she saw what happened, says she watched as the bird tightened its wings, trying to lift its body off the ground. With the help of an onlooker, the eagle was eventually able to stand.
“Although blood ran down its body from what was its right eye, he stood with such strength and fortitude,” Clarke said.
An officer from Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources reached the scene — near the intersection of Route 50 and Jerry Mack Road — shortly after and moved the eagle from the roadway.
“It was stunned and appeared to have a leg injury,” said Candy Thomson, public information officer for Maryland Natural Resources Police. “But the officer said the bird was active and mobile.”
The officer consulted with one of the wildlife rehabilitators Natural Resources Police typically works with and was instructed to take the eagle into the woods nearby and to watch it to see if it recovered on its own. Thomson said it did and was left to return to its natural environment. She said incidents like Sunday’s were not unusual.
“It happens often enough that NRP has a list of wildlife rehabilitators across the state with whom we work to ensure that injured wildlife receives appropriate attention,” she said.
Thomson said if needed those rehabilitators would take over the care and treatment of the injured animal.
Motorist Heather Vest was among the crowd of onlookers who watched as the NRP officer covered the bird in a towel and carried it off in a large plastic tub. She said there was an animal carcass in the median that the animal may have been scavenging before the incident.
“It appeared unconscious when we first arrived. My husband approached with a couple other drivers. At that point, the eagle regained consciousness and raised its head. Neither driver knew who may have hit it,” Vest said in an email to The Dispatch.
Clarke said seeing the eagle up close and watching it recover from what appeared to be a near-death experience was incredible.
“What a true life synonym of America,” she said.

[SOURCE]

TIME MACHINE ... 1883, 1918, 1943, 1959, 1995, 1963, 1878.

"Friendliest Town On The Eastern Shore."  Our tradition runs deep.  Excerpt from a letter to the editor from a visitor to Newtown, (former name of Pocomoke City) published in the Baltimore Sun, April 28,1847.

This place (Newtown) is a pretty snug little village, containing about 500 clever and hospitable inhabitants; it has good wide streets, quite clear of that "eye sore," known mostly over the Peninsula by the name of "deep sand"; the houses, though built of frame, are generally built substantially and with some discretion and taste; there are two neat, new, and quite handsome frame churches in it; as for the merchants of the place, suffice it to state that they are very clever and hospitable.  F. Mezick, Esq., the landlord with whom I stopped, and his very obliging and jolly assistant, are richly deserving of a passing notice, for the good treatment and the extension of the many civilities to "the stranger."


October, 1883
The Baltimore Sun 

Pocomoke, Md., Oct 5, 1883: The Pocomoke Times gives some details of the cyclone which passed over Worcester County, Md., on Tuesday, October 2. The storm was in fact a furious hurricane, during which the rain fell in torrents. For miles fence rails lay in and along the road and large pine trees of the toughest were twisted and broken as if they had been straw. William Trader, returning to Pocomoke from Snow Hill, was blown with his horse and carriage over a fence into an adjoining field, destroying his carriage. James T. Hancock, who had just recently built a new house, had it blown off its foundation, carried thirty feet and dashed to the ground a total wreck. Corn stacks, stables, carriage houses and out houses of all kinds were completely wrecked. Thomas Dickerson, near Girdletree, had a part of his house blown away and his wife injured. A number of Worcester residents suffered from the storm to a greater or less extent. The storm, coming from the west, began about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and lasted nearly an hour.


1918

Only 6 more days before Prohibition

(Maryland Historical Society photograph.)

"Prohibition [Jefferson Liquor Company storefront with customers], [1918]. [Probably] 15 North Liberty Street, Baltimore, Maryland."


April, 1943
The Salisbury Times 

Old Dominion Club now Coast Guard Hospital

Accomac, Virginia, April 10, 1943-  The Old Dominion Club, one of the most beautiful properties in Chincoteague, located in a little grove on the east side of the island, with deep water all around, is to become the Coast Guard Hospital, it was announced last night by Lt. Charles Mister, in command of the coast Guard at Chincoteague. Lt. mister said the property will be taken over April 15th and $42,000 in new equipment will be brought to the island and installed at once. The Old Dominion Club was taken over to meet the requirements of the Coast Guard and other service men until a permanent hospital can be erected. The Old Dominion Club was built by New York sportsmen and has fourteen rooms.


November, 1959
The Cumberland News (Cumberland, Md.)

Veteran Worcester Sheriff Dies At 71

ASSATEAGUE BEACH, Md. (AP)-  Edwin D. (Ned) Lynch, veteran Worcester County sheriff, died Sunday of a heart attack while rounding up stray cattle he owned.

The 71-year-old law officer had been sheriff in Worcester County for seventeen years, having been elected last fall to a fifth four-year term. Prior to that he served eight years as deputy sheriff and constable.

He lived at the county jail in Snow Hill.

Lynch was also a farmer and cattleman. He had been flown to Assateague Island from the mainland and was with a son, Wilson, when he suffered the attack.


January, 1995
The Somerset Herald (Princess Anne)

Professional wrestling coming to Pr. Anne

Mt. Vernon VFC sponsors fundraiser

The Mt. Vernon Volunteer Fire Company along with ACW Wrestling will bring an afternoon of professional wrestling to Princess Anne in March.

The volunteer firefighters recently signed a contract with American Commonwealth Wrestling promoter Ed Zohn to bring professional wrestling to the Tawes Gym at UMES. Included on the Saturday, March 18 card will be Cactus Jack, Shane Douglas, 2 Cold Scorpio, Ron Simmons plus women wrestlers Angel and Peaches.

Tickets for the 1 p.m. event will be $10 for general admission, $15 for ringside seats. Ticket sales and advertisements in a souvenir booklet will benefit the Mt. Vernon VFC.  More details will be released as the event date nears.


January, 1963 (Time Machine archive)
(The Salisbury Times)

POCOMOKE CITY - New officers of the city volunteer fire department were elected recently.  They are: Joe Byrd, president; Joe Mariner, vice-president; James Fykes, secretary; Raymond Dryden, treasurer; Fred U. Henderson, chief; Raymond C. Dryden, assistant chief; George Young, chief engineer; Clayton Lambertson, trustee.

On the ambulance committee are: Lee Ray Thompson, president; R.I. Givens, secretary and treasurer; Herbert Somers, Pete Dulick, and Dwight Campbell, trustees.


ACROSS THE USA

December, 1878 (Time Machine archive)
The New York Times

Every man for himself is emphatically the modern sentiment, and there are some signs of completing this declaration of independence  by adding the clause "Every woman for herself, also."

 "THE STRAIN UPON MODERN LIVING."

(Excerpts)

What is more clear than the fact that now no family is left to itself and to its own traditions and habits, but that the most out-of-the-way homes, whether in the backwoods or on the distant coast, are within reach of the world's vast and intense life, and no strangers to its hopes and fears, its learning and its folly, its triumphs and its disasters.

Not only every family that takes a newspaper, but every person who hears the village gossip, knows what is going on all over the globe, and every man who has to buy or sell anything, has cause to revise his estimates from day to day; and very often men lose their appetite for their breakfast by news from the great market of America or Europe that prices have changed sadly to their hurt.  A considerable proportion of pain goes with the news of the day, and a large portion of unwholesomeness, for disasters and scandals are dwelt upon with more minuteness than successes and satisfactions, and no great bargains or great weddings are reported half as fully as great frauds and great divorce and scandals.

It is not remarkable that the rich and conspicuous should strive to outshine each other in dress and living, but the remarkable thing is that in our modern life there are now no radical distinctions of class or fortune in costume or habits, and that all persons, and especially all women, follow the same fashions as far as they can, and catch the course of the same social ambition.  So far as street dress is concerned, the wives, and especially the daughters, of the poorer classes, make, relatively, far more display than their richer neighbors, and to a certain extent, the exactions of modern society are in the inverse proportion of means and abilities, since they who have least fortune and talent are subject to the same high pressure from the reigning mode, and women who are not usually trained to earn their own living are beset by the same ruling passion for dress and ornament.

The palace of merchants and bankers, and the cottages of farmers and mechanics among us have a similar story to tell. Indeed it may be set down as part of the universal strain on modern living, that its exactions are out of proportion to its means, and the exaction presses upon every family, while the means at hand vary from wealth, or what is called competency, down to limitation and want.

Surely our modern living is under great strain, and many lives break down beneath the pressure.


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. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!



PPE remembers JMMB.