Hank Williams, Jr. Apologizes - Again

I suppose those doing the Hank Williams, Jr. interview on  "Fox & Friends" just about peed their expensive under panties when he belted out his comments.  The news media still doesn't get it!... and neither do some others.  Can't we be grown and sensible enough to let things like this just pass by?  Besides, isn't Williams allowed "freedom of speech"?  Where do you draw the line?  How in America can you tell someone what NOT to say?  Did anyone ever stop to think that perhaps Hank Williams, Jr.  said out loud what others have been thinking?  Maybe not in those words..................but I'll bet close enough.

I don't suppose Hank Williams, Jr. has to worry about what Obama or the American people think of him.  And I doubt seriously if his comment or removing his song from Monday Night Football will make or break him........He still has plenty of friends.

Sounds like Hank Williams Jr. is ready for some apologizing. Wait, make that a lot of apologizing.

The clearly chastened country singer has offered yet another mea culpa, after a comment he made comparing Pres. Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler prompted ESPN to pull his intro from "Monday Night Football."

In the apology, published on the singer's web site, Williams admitted that his comment was "dumb," adding, "Sorry if it offended anyone."

Williams still contended, however, that he wasn't thrilled about the concept of Obama and Republican house speaker John Boehner golfing together.

"I have always been very passionate about Politics and Sports, and this time it got the Best or Worst of me," Williams writes. "The thought of the Leaders of both Parties Jukin and High Fiven on a Golf course, while so many Families are Struggling to get by simply made me Boil over."

In an earlier statement, Williams admitted that his comment was "extreme...I have always respected the office of the President."

Williams made his inflammatory statement on Fox News talk show "Fox & Friends." Grousing about Obama and Boehner playing golf together over the summer, Williams said it was like "Hitler playing golf with Benjamin Netanyahu."

Elsewhere during his appearance, Williams referred to Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as "the enemy."
Williams' comments were enough to make ESPN yank its regular opening, which features Williams singing "All My Rowdy Friends," from this week's "Monday Night Football."

"We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result have decided to pull the open from tonight's telecast," ESPN said in a statement.

Source:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/05/us-hankwilliamsjr-idUSTRE7940BC20111005

Suspect Wanted By Crisfield Police In Shooting

CRISFIELD — Police are searching for a suspect wanted in connection with a weekend shooting at Somers Cove Apartments.

Daniel Wesley Smith Jr., 24, is wanted on attempted murder, handgun and assault charges, according to the Crisfield Police Department.

Smith is desccribed as a black male, 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 150 pounds. He has dreadlocks and the tattoo “Pooh” on his left arm.

Smith is accused of arguing with someone, whom police did not identify, at 265 Somers Cove Apartments and then shooting them in the head.

The victim was transported to McCready Hospital then flown to Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

The victim was listed in fair condition.

Anyone with information regarding Smith’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Crisfield Police Department at 410-968-1323.

Source;  http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110523/SH01/110523009/Crisfield-police-seek-suspect-shooting?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|frontpage

Pocomoke City Police and WCBI Investigate Incident

NEWS RELEASE:  DATE & TIME:    Friday, February 25, 2011 @ 11:25PM  
CBI Case #  11-0054  
LOCATION:  900blk Laurel Street, Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Maryland
CRIME:   Assault and CDS Distribution
VICTIM:   Edward Schmidt – Snow Hill, Maryland 
ACCUSED:  Darryl Kyshek WISE, Jr. – 900blk Laurel Street, Pocomoke City, Maryland   Black / Male / 19 years of age
CHARGES:   First & Second Degree Assault
                      Reckless Endangering
                      Possession with Intent
                      Possession of Marijuana
                      Possession of Cocaine
                      Wearing  & Carrying a Weapon
                      Distribution within 1000’ of a school

NARRATIVE:  On the evening of Friday, February 25, 2011 members of the Pocomoke City Police Department began an investigation into a First Degree Assault and requested the assistance of the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation.

It was learned that as a result of a drug deal gone bad, the victim was struck multiple times with a hammer and then stabbed in the back.  The victim was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center where he was admitted and is being treated for multiple injuries.

In the early morning hours following the assault WISE was taken into custody without incident at his home.  The significant amount of CDS which was recovered on his person also supports the Charge of Possession with Intent to Distribute.

WISE appeared before a District Court Commissioner and is being held at the Worcester County Detention Center on a $250,000.00 bond.

Eliminate Option Of A Death Sentence? Cruel?

ELKTON, Md. -- Attorneys for the Salisbury man charged in the murder of 11-year-old Sarah Foxwell have filed a request to eliminate the option of a death sentence.

The motion is one of several death penalty-related requests filed by defense counsel for 31-year-old Thomas James Leggs Jr. The requests will be heard in Cecil County Circuit Court during a three-day hearing scheduled to begin Wednesday.

Defense attorneys for Leggs argue the court should rule against the state's intent to seek the death penalty because execution methods authorized in Maryland "constitute cruel and unusual punishment and violates evolving standards of decency."

"There is a plethora of evidence to demonstrate that Maryland's lethal injection method, and the correctional policies and procedures governing it, present grave risk of needlessly inflicting a painful, torturous, lingering death," wrote Katy C. O'Donnell, division chief of the aggravated homicide division of the public defender's office, and Kay Beehler, an assistant public defender.

The motion also states that execution procedures used by the department of corrections violate state regulations. O'Donnell and Beehler state the Maryland Court of Appeals previously rejected the execution procedures and the state's continued use violates the Maryland Administrative Procedures Act.

Leggs, a registered sex offender in Maryland and Delaware, was taken into police custody and charged with burglary and kidnapping shortly after Foxwell's relatives reported her missing on Dec. 22, 2009.

More than 3,000 volunteers reported to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Christmas Day to help authorities search for the missing girl. Her burned remains were located in a wooded area later the same day.

At the time of his arrest, Leggs had been released from the Worcester County Detention Center on bond from burglary and malicious destruction of property charges. A woman reported he had allegedly broken into her home in September. He was convicted on the burglary charge and sentenced to three years in prison.

A Wicomico County grand jury indicted him on murder, burglary, sex offense and kidnapping charges in February 2010.

After the state filed a notice of its intent to seek the death penalty, the case was moved to Cecil County Circuit Court and Judge J. Frederick K. Price, a retired administrative judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, was assigned to the case

www.delawareonline.com

"Needlessly inflicting a painful, torturous, lingering death"????? HA!! Think about what that poor child had to endure for the remainder of her short life! Who cares how painful death may be for Thomas Leggs, Jr. I would certainly hope it would be a painful and torturous as possible!

Suspect In Handy Murder Has Been Arrested

I have been out of town for the past few days on a family matter and am so glad to see that this possible murderer has been arrested! Hopefully the Handy family will be working towards some closure. Great job police department!

POCOMOKE CITY — A suspect in a Pocomoke murder case was arrested without trouble outside the Walmart store Friday night, police said. They arrested Skylor Dupree Harmon, 19, who days ago was charged with murdering Reginald Handy Jr., 22, in May.

A state police fugitive apprehension team, assisted by a special team of Worcester sheriff's deputies, caught Harmon Friday at about 6 p.m., police said, and he is being held without bond.

At a news conference last week, prosecutors and police said they believe Harmon killed Handy. A different man, Alexander Crippen, 36, was the first person charged with murder in Handy's death, but those murder charges were dropped before Crippen's trial; he was later convicted of attempting to kill a different man, based on testimony about what he did at the same scene where Handy died.

Harmon is currently the sole suspect in Handy's death, and police had said he was at large in southern Worcester or Somerset counties, and possibly armed and dangerous.

www.delmarvanow.com

U.S. Honor Flag Arrives In Baltimore For Officers Funeral

Hundreds of police officers, family and friends of Baltimore police officer Thomas R. Portz Jr. gathered Wednesday to remember the fallen officer's gregarious nature, fierce devotion to those close to him and even his athletic prowess in a somber church ceremony.

Portz became the third city police officer to die in the past month and the first killed in the line of duty since 2007, when his vehicle crashed into the back of a firetruck last week.

Frederick H. Bealefeld III, the Baltimore police commissioner and a close friend of Portz's, eulogized the 32-year-old husband and father, as did two of Portz's fellow policemen and friends, Sgt. Kurt Roepcke and Officer Ricky Livesay.

He loved being an officer, and he was a damn good one," Bealefeld said.

Bealefeld said the 10-year police veteran had been recognized as an officer of the month and honored for helping to save the residents of a burning building.

(Captain Jon Vise, American Airlines pilot, presents the U.S. Honor Flag, which flew during the recovery effort at Ground Zero in New York, to the family of Officer Tommy Portz at BWI. Portz died last week after his police car ran into the back of a fire truck. October 26,2010)

The commissioner's voice broke and he grew emotional as he described his friendship with Portz, which included practical jokes and games of ice hockey.

Livesay described Portz's dedication to his family and loyalty to his wife, Jessica, whom Portz met in his childhood at Sunday school.

Gov. Martin O'Malley, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and city State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy also attended the service. City police sat on one side of the cathedral, filling half of the pews available, with civilians and local officials sitting on the other side.

After the closing hymn of "Onward, Christian Soldiers," the congregation let out onto the church grounds. Portz's family followed his coffin, draped in an American flag and carried by officers, out of the church. Outside, bagpipers played "America the Beautiful," and Portz's coffin was loaded into a hearse to be taken to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium.

A light drizzle descended as the music ended and the police procession that would take Portz to his final resting place began.

www.baltimoresun.com

Ocean City Police See Man Break Into Apartment

Yesterday afternoon Ocean City Police saw 29 year old Mark Meekins break into an apartment and leave with a 42 inch flat screen TV. Officers moved in and arrested Meekins – and also found him to be wanted on burglary charges in Delaware as well. He’s being held in the Worcester County Jail in default of $50,000 bond.

NEWS RELEASE: On September 22, 2010, at approximately 4 p.m., Ocean City Police were in the area of 76th Street when they observed a subject identified as Mark Allen Meekins, Jr., 29, of Ocean City, break into an apartment and steal a 42-inch flat screen television. Meekins was arrested and found to be wanted in the state of Delaware for burglary as well.

Meekins has been charged with:
- 1st Degree Burglary
- Theft over $1000 to $10,000
- Held on Fugitive Warrant

Meekins was seen by an Ocean City District Court Commissioner and held on a $50,000 bond. Meekins was transferred to the Worcester County Jail.

www.wgmd.com

Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Teams With Pepsi To Help Youth

Our friends at The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation are partnering with communities across America to design and facilitate the creation of Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Youth Development Parks.

We have enjoyed sharing our successful groundbreaking events in Baltimore and Fredericksburg with you so far, and are hoping you can help us continue to make this happen in five neighborhoods!

Many urban ball fields have experienced decades of abuse and neglect. Fields have become overrun with trash and are frequently used as a market place for various forms of criminal and delinquent activity.

With your help, we can continue to build new ballparks to be shared with youth serving organizations and leagues providing a safe place for kids to play and learn. Upon completion of each project, the parks are gifted to the youth serving partner so the children have access, ownership, and pride for their park. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation will continue to have a presence at these fields and implement character education programming and clinics for youth.

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has been given a very exciting opportunity from Pepsi and their Pepsi Refresh Campaign to be awarded the money to “refresh” the following five neighborhoods and supporting partners.

Baltimore, MD – minimum of 3 fields in partnership with the Y of Central MD, Boys & Girls Club of Metro Baltimore, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Living Classrooms Foundation

Collier County, FL –in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Collier County

Fredericksburg, VA – in partnership with the City of Fredericksburg

Houston, TX – in partnership with SpringSpirit Baseball

Richmond, VA – in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond

You can vote once a day and it’s a quick and easy way to have a postive impact for youth in need. We thank you all for your help and support!

http://www.refresheverything.com/safeplacestoplay

www.charmcitycurrent.com

Thomas J. Leggs, Jr. Convicted of Burglary In Ocean City

SNOW HILL -- A Worcester County judge sentenced Thomas J. Leggs Jr. to three years in prison on fourth-degree burglary charges, ending a court case that began months before authorities arrested him in connection with the murder of an 11-year-old Salisbury girl.

Leggs stood accused of breaking into the apartment of a woman who turned him down for an overnight stay after a boozy cab ride home.

Pamela Sima, 24, testified in Circuit Court that Sept. 11, 2009, she awoke at about 4 a.m. to find Leggs standing over her bed -- shirtless, undoing his belt and taking his pants down to his knees.

"After it happened, it really affected my life," she told Judge Thomas C. Groton III prior to Leggs' sentencing. "For the rest of my time there, I slept with a knife by my side and a phone in my hand."

Sima also testified she had rejected his romantic advances on a date one week earlier.

A Worcester County Circuit Court jury deliberated for 20 minutes before reaching a guilty verdict Thursday. The jury found Leggs not guilty on a related charge of property destruction.

Worcester County State's Attorney Joel Todd sought the maximum sentence of three years incarceration on the burglary charge, citing Leggs' criminal record and his being on the Maryland and Delaware sex offender registries.

Sima said she was unaware of any of his criminal history while they were dating. Leggs was not accused of committing any sex offenses against her.

They first met in late August 2009, Sima said, and had gone on at least one dinner date before meeting for drinks Sept. 2 at Pickles Pub. That night, Leggs walked her home.

She later told police the two kissed, but he had come on too strong and was trying to take her clothes off "with me saying no plenty of times."

According to Sima's testimony, a week later they ran into each other at the Cork Bar. Leggs apologized for his behavior. When she flagged a taxi home, Leggs joined her in the car, uninvited.

Once at her house, he asked to stay over, repeatedly telling her that his roommates weren't letting him stay at his place, she testified. She said no, went inside and locked the door behind her.

Hours later, when she found him at her beside, she yelled at him to get out. She heard the front door open and close. But when she got out of bed to make sure he was gone, she found him standing in her living room.

"The fact that he would try to trick her into thinking he had left shows just how criminal his intentions were," Todd said. "The defendant is a dangerous individual. The best the criminal justice system can do is warehouse (him) for as long as we can for the good of the citizens of the state of Maryland."

When Leggs did leave, Sima called 911. Responding police officers found two window screens removed outside the first-floor apartment, one of which was bent out of shape.

A wooden window frame was damaged, police said, as if someone had pried away the screen. They also found scuff marks on the exterior beneath one of the windows. This evidence was the basis for a charge of malicious destruction of property, police said.

A warrant was issued for his arrest Sept. 29. He was arrested Oct. 29, and posted $10,000 bond the same day.

In the courtroom, Leggs wore a lime-green polo shirt, blue pants and black sneakers. He sported a bushy goatee and short-cropped hair. He often turned to comment into the ear of his attorney.

Leggs wore no handcuffs or leg braces of any kind because Todd wanted the jury to decide the case on the facts presented, not on the biases that shackles inevitably bring, he said.

Wicomico County sheriff's deputies escorted Leggs to the Snow Hill courtroom from Salisbury, where he is being held on charges of kidnapping, abusing and killing sixth-grader Sarah Haley Foxwell.

Her family reported her missing Dec. 22. Leggs was arrested Dec. 23. After a search that involved thousands of volunteers, her burned remains were found Dec. 25 in a wooded area by a team of investigators.

Leggs was indicted on murder and sex offense charges in February in Wicomico County, where the killing took place. In May, court officials announced his death penalty trial on those charges will be moved to Cecil County.

Leggs did not testify during Thursday's trial. At sentencing, he declined to make any comments to the judge following the vigorous advice of his attorney, Arch McFadden.

McFadden, in his closing statement, said prosecutors lacked evidence to show that anyone else had been in the house that night.

"Where's the corroborating evidence?" he said. "I submit to you: zero. Were there fingerprints taken? Was there eyewitnesses?"

McFadden -- who declined reporters' requests for comment -- was also critical of a lack of photographic evidence from the scene. He said he would file an immediate appeal.

Ocean City Police Officer Nicole Thornes, who responded to Sima's 911 call, testified that photographs taken at the scene were submitted to the department's forensics unit. However, when prosecutors went to retrieve the photos to be used as evidence, "they were misplaced somehow," according to Todd.

Ocean City Police spokesman Mike Levy said "there could be any number of reasons for that," and any cause would not be clear unless an internal investigation was conducted.

www.delmarvanow.com

22 Year Old Virginia Man Shot In Pocomoke

POCOMOKE CITY, Md.- Police are looking for a suspect wanted for shooting a 22-year-old man to death in Pocomoke City late Wednesday night.

Pocomoke City police say that at around 10 p.m., they received calls for shots fired in the area of Laurel and Fifth streets. Upon arrival, officers found Reginald Jerome Handy Jr., of Greenbush, Va., suffering from a gunshot wound.

Handy was transported by ambulance to Peninsula Regional Medical Center and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Worcester County Bureau of Investigations, along with Maryland State Police and Pocomoke City police investigated this incident and identified a suspect as the shooter. The suspect's identity will be released once an arrest is made.

www.wboc.com

Ripken, Jr. To Help Raise Funds For Shock Trauma

BALTIMORE -- Cal Ripken Jr. will add his star power to a fundraising effort for the University of Maryland Medical Center and its Shock Trauma Center.

The former Baltimore Oriole is being named honorary chairman of the campaign. The campaign's chairman, former state Sen. Francis X. Kelly, is a longtime friend of Ripken's.

The fundraising effort was set to kick off Thursday at a groundbreaking ceremony for a nine-story trauma/critical care building.

The building, set to open in 2013, will be the first major expansion of Shock Trauma since it opened in 1989. The project is slated to get $50 million in state funds over several years.

Officials said the expansion is needed because demand for services is expected to increase. Already, Shock Trauma serves nearly 8,000 patients a year in a building originally designed for 3,500.

www.wbaltv.com