Armed Robbery In Pocomoke

POCOMOKE CITY, Md.- The publics help is needed in identifying three suspects wanted in an armed robbery that occurred at the Goose Creek/ Arbys in Pocomoke last Wednesday.


Detectives with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations say that at around 11:40 p.m. June 9, three suspects entered the Goose Creek/Arby's located on Stockton Road and demanded money. The suspects, one of whom was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun, were given an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene.

According to police, one of the suspects was described as a

SUSPECT #1 - in his late teens to early 20s, 6-foot-tall, thin build, and wearing a long-sleeve white shirt, dark blue jeans and black ski mask.

SUSPECT # 2 - was described as a black male, between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10, medium build and wearing a black T-shirt, face mask and blue jeans.

SUSPECT #3 -was described as a black male, 5-foot-10, medium build, and wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, face mask and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about the identities of the suspects, or has information regarding the robbery, is asked to contact the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack at (410) 641-3101 or the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations at (410) 352-3476.

Northampton County Elementary Schools ONLY

The Northampton County School Board Office has announced both Northampton County Elementary Schools will be releasing students early at 1:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday due to air-conditioning issues.

This is only for the Northampton County Elementary Schools, NOT the middle or high school.

96 -Year-Old Volunteer Still Helping Others

This gentleman seems to always have a wonderful day every day! Helping others and staying busy just seems to keep this 96 year old on the go. At the age of 96 he probably knows the days well enough to not need the alarm clock and goes to bed after "setting his agenda for the next day" in his head then wakes in the morning and seeks to meet his goal. Remarkable!


Charles Pollard offers advice on how he's lived to be 96 and remained so healthy: "I keep active, every day." That's another way of saying that he helps others.

Pollard, who never seems to stop moving, has been a volunteer at downtown Baltimore's Waxter Center for senior citizens since 1976. He holds the center's record for continuous service.

Most days of the week he drives his Buick to the Mount Vernon building, where he starts the coffee urns at 7:30 a.m. He also cleans the tables and has the dining area organized for the other seniors who begin their day here with breakfast at the center's Eating Together Meal program. Then he washes the breakfast trays and spruces the place up again for lunch. If he has the time, he'll shoot a little pool.

"He is always willing to jump in at any time," said Kenya Cousin, director of the senior center. "He is a proactive person. His answer is always yes."

Among his many roles, Pollard has also worked in adult day care. He rode a bus to their homes, assisted them as they rode to the center, then helped with meals.

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging and MetLife Foundation recently honored him with its 2010 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Award for his "exemplary contribution" to his community and his promotion of "volunteering among older adults nationwide."

Pollard does not look his age. Erect and slim, with unwrinkled skin, he says he keeps young by helping people. He also keeps his own house, rides an exercise bike daily and is an usher at the Enon Baptist Church, where he's been a member for more than 60 years. He's also an animated talker.

A native of Gloucester County, Va., he was the fourth of nine children who all grew up on a farm.

"I did a lot of hard work, but I was young then and it was fun," he said.

An uncle owned cars and Pollard learned to drive when he was 13. He practiced driving along rows of harvested corn. He quickly tells you his first car was a 1927 Chevrolet. He's owned and driven many more since then.

Because he could drive, Pollard found a job with a dairy. He picked up milk cans and later made home deliveries. By the 1930s, he had enrolled in a federal program, the Civilian Conservation Corps. He lived in a camp and cut trails through forests.

Pollard helped raise his siblings and after all had left the family home, he moved to Baltimore in about 1940. He joined the Army during World War II and served in an engineering unit.

"We landed at Anzio Beach," he said. "I saw plenty of action. I drove nearly every vehicle the Army had. And being a country boy, I could do practically anything I was asked to."

He drove trucks while under attack and also had the job of digging graves for the dead.

Pollard was called up again during the Korean War and served a second time.

He settled on being a bricklayer and then joined Procter & Gamble at its Locust Point plant in South Baltimore. He repaired the brick firewalls within the plant's furnaces and also wound up making the Ivory soap before retiring at age 62.

Not willing to do nothing, he walked into the Waxter Center and started a second career as a volunteer. That was more than 30 years ago.

"What can I say? I like to be busy and I like to work," he said.

www.baltimoresun.com

Local Couple Saves Dog Swimming In the Middle of The Bay

It was a regular day for local business owner Carol Crockett and Tom Waller. The two set out from Morley's Wharf to try and catch a fish before heading to Waller's parent's house for dinner. They headed to the Navigation tower near the middle of the Bay. There wasn't much biting because there were skates everywhere. All the sudden the two spotted a large black object swimming in the water.

Crockett and Waller directed their 16' Carolina Skiff in the direction of the object.

"We moved closer to get a better look thinking it was injured, maybe a seal or sea turtle or maybe Chessie," recalled Crockett. "It was a dog in 40 feet of water. A black lab. And not another boat in sight."

Once Tom had gotten close to the dog and hoisted her up into the boat, the dog collapsed from exhaustion. Once the dog had regained her energy, she began to cry out looking back at the Navigation tower.

"Tom aimed the skiff for shore again and within 20 minutes we finally spotted another boat," said Crockett. "It appeared to be headed right for us with someone high up in the crow's nest seat scanning the water. As we got closer, he saw the dog in our boat and started clapping over his head. The dog saw his 'pet' and the tail wagging started and the happy barking began."

The 16' Skiff followed the much larger boat into shallower water and returned the lab, named "Jazmine", to her rightful owner. Had the couple not been out there, there is no telling whether the dog would have been able to survive for the 20 minutes they waited for the boat to appear.

www.shoredailynews.com

1812 Themed License Plate Unveiled In Maryland

GLEN BURNIE, Md. -- The red glare of brake lights on vehicles across Maryland will illuminate new 1812-themed license plates.

The state Motor Vehicle Administration will begin issuing the new license plates Monday as part of the agency's centennial celebration.

The plates depict Baltimore's Fort McHenry and bombs bursting in air during the 1814 battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star Spangled Banner," the poem that was later set to music and became the national anthem.

The new design will remain the standard-issue plate until June 2015.

The MVA's predecessor, the Office of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, was founded in 1910.

www.baltimoresun.com

Census Worker Fatally Shot In Southeast Baltimore

A U.S. Census worker was killed while dropping off a co-worker in Southeast Baltimore last week, according to police and the Census Bureau.

Spencer Williams, 22, was found shot June 7 inside his vehicle, which had pulled onto a median in the 1100 block of New Hope Circle, police said. He died Friday morning at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Williams was a crew leader responsible for a group of census takers who are doing follow-up visits at the homes of people who did not mail in their questionnaires by April, a Census Bureau spokeswoman confirmed. Malkia McLeod confirmed a Washington Post report that Williams was returning home after driving a co-worker home at the end of the day, and was considered to still be on the job.

Police and census officials said the shooting was not believed to be related to any census field work but was considered an on-the-job death. Officials were investigating the death as possibly domestic-related. Spencer did not have a criminal record.

Since the Census Bureau began making follow-up house calls in late April, workers across the country have been harmed or threatened 252 times, McLeod said. That includes 11 times when shots were fired at them, and 86 times when they were threatened with weapons such as guns, axes and crossbows.

Also, police said a man who was shot early Sunday in the 200 block of N. Rose St. has died. Police found Avon Beasley, 25, lying in a rear yard, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the torso about 2 a.m. He was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:50 a.m.

Beasley had multiple drug convictions, most recently in 2007, and a handgun conviction. Police do not have a suspect or know of a motive in his killing.

www.baltimoresun.com

Alleged Sewage Overflow Is Investigated in Captain's Cove

An investigation has been launched into a complaint from residents of Captain's Cove of a sewage overflow problem in the housing development.

The complaint asserted sewage was spilling from houses on Bayside Drive, Blackbeard Road, and other places as well. The complaint also claimed storms made the problem worse. The report also asked the SCC to pursue receivership of the Captains Cove Utility Company.

The complaint was sent to several State agencies including the Virginia Department of Health, the State Corporation Commission, the Department of Environmental Equality and Governor McDonnell's office. The Virginia Department of Health's Office of Drinking Water and Shellfish Sanitation and the Attorney General's Office are assisting in the investigation. An unofficial Notice of Violation was also issued to the President of Captain's Cove Utility Company Roger Young after the complaints were filed.

Shellfish closures have been put in place in Swan's Gut Creek as a preventive measure while the health district monitors reports of sewage overflow in Captain's Cove.

www.shoredailynews.com

Two Arrests Made In Killing of Maryland State Trooper

Prince George's County police said Monday they have charged two men in the slaying of an off-duty Maryland state trooper outside a restaurant last week.

Deputy Chief Kevin Davis said Cyril Cornelius Williams, 27, and Anthony Anderson Milton II, 28, both of Seat Pleasant, have been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 24-year-old Trooper Wesley Brown.

"We believe we have arrested the shooter," Davis said at a news conference with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and other officials. "We believe we've arrested all principal suspects."

Brown was shot early Friday while working as a security guard at an Applebee's restaurant. Brown, who wore a jacket that identified him as an officer, was talking on a phone in the parking lot at the time, state police said.

Officials did not identify which man pulled the trigger, but said they recovered a semiautomatic handgun that was used in the shooting. Davis said Williams was the original person of interest whom Brown had escorted out of the restaurant over a dispute involving an unpaid bill.

Davis said the motive of the killing was because Williams was upset. He said the men did not know Brown before the incident.

Both men have extensive criminal records. Williams was being held in Baltimore and was initially taken into custody on a parole and probation violation. Milton was being held at the county jail.

Milton's bond review is scheduled for Tuesday in Prince George's County. A court hearing has not yet been set for Williams.

Covered in blood, Brown made it back inside the restaurant and passed out, police said. Officials said that Brown was wearing a vest, but it did not stop the bullet from entering Brown's upper body and hitting his heart. He died at a hospital.

Police said tips from the public helped identify and locate the suspects. But they said they still need help in the investigation. A reward of up to $75,000 on information still being offered.

"We still need folks to come forward with information," Davis said.

State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan said Brown was "showing great potential." He said officials told Brown's grieving family of the arrests.

"This is a bittersweet moment for us all," Sheridan said. "This was a bad day for the Maryland State Police."

O'Malley said: "There's no way to make sense of madness and cruelty."

Brown's cousin said Brown had eight older sisters and an older brother. He was recently engaged to be married.

State police said funeral services for Brown will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Jericho City of Praise in Landover followed by burial at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland.

www.baltimoresun.com

ARMY Celebrates Its 235th Birthday

The United States Army was established to defend this great Nation 235 years ago today.


Beginning with the Revolutionary War and continuing with the currents operations taking place around the world today the United States Army and each soldier remains ARMY STRONG and keep their deep commitment to the core values and beliefs of this wonderful Nation we live in.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES ARMY

100 People Become Official U.S. Citizens Today

WILLIAMSBURG — —The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will host a naturalization ceremony Monday for Flag Day.

More than 100 people will officially become United States citizens. Taylor Reveley, president of the College of William and Mary will be the event's feature speaker.

Federal Judge Mark S. Davis will preside over the ceremony. Jackie Spangler, a direct descendant of John Rolfe and Pocahontas and president of the National Society of the Colonial Dames XVII Century, the Rev. James Blair Chapter, will deliver the Pledge of Allegiance, according to a release.

www.dailypress.com

FLAG DAY - Remember And Honor Our Flag Today

In May of 1776 Betsy Ross was sought out by three men of great notoriety to be the seamstress for the United States Flag. Those three men were George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross. George Washington was the leader of the Continental Army at this time, Robert Morris was perhaps the wealthiest man at the time, and George Ross was relation; in fact her late husband’s Uncle. Betsy had even done some sewing for George Washington before. These men’s ideas for the flag included stripes and a five-point star. By June 14, 1777 just a little over a year later much had taken place. On this day Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States.


Bernard J. Cigrand Vision of Flag Day

Bernard J. Cigrand /strong>was a young teacher in 1885 who envisioned a day of remembrance and observance for the United States Flag. On June 14, 1885 he put the flag in jar on his desk and asked his class to write an essay about the flag and what it meant to them. Finally, after many years of hard work Bernard J. Cigrand’s vision came true when President Wilson issued a proclamation calling for a nation wide observance of Flag Day on May 30, 1916. Then in 1940 President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating the 14th of June every year as National Flag Day.


www.americanhistorysuite101.com

PLEASE FLY YOUR FLAG WITH PRIDE TODAY

Delays At The Bay Bridge..........

Pack your patience if you are headed towards the bridge this afternoon......... ANNAPOLIS, Md. - An accident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is causing some major headaches for drivers in both directions.

The Maryland Transportation Authority says a three car accident closed the eastbound span of the bridge for more than an hour.

At one point, traffic headed east was backed up about five miles. Those delays cleared up by 3 p.m.

However, clearing those delays hurt traffic heading back from the beach. Bridge officials were using one of the lanes on the westbound span for traffic heading east, meaning there were only two lanes traveling westbound.

Unfortunately, that is causing major backups for those headed back from the beach. By 3 p.m., there was a 10.5 mile backup heading west over the Bay Bridge.

Maryland State Police say a tractor trailer, a pickup truck, and a sedan all collided on the bridge around 11 a.m. Seven people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police are still investigating what caused the accident.

Callers tell the WTOP Traffic Center that drivers caught in the traffic were playing Frisbee on U.S. Route 50 while eastbound traffic was stopped on the bridge.

www.wtop.com

Pocomoke Residents Talk Crime

Ok, Pocomoke! This is a start towards getting a grip on crime in Pocomoke. The sad thing is that it took a senseless murder to rekindle what Pocomoke had started a long time ago. With breaking and enterings occuring daily in your town and information not being given you don't have much to go on. How can the citizens be aware of crime in Pocomoke when they are never kept abreast of what is going on?

You have the attention of Rev. James Jones, Tracy Cottman, Diane Downing, and Bob Hawkins. ALL of these wonderful people are LIFE time citizens of Pocomoke City. Ask them for a weekly crime report of your city. Good luck.

POCOMOKE CITY -- After a Virginia man was shot and killed recently on a Pocomoke City street corner, some concerned Pocomoke City residents are planning a grass-roots solution to the increasing area violence.

About 35 residents met early Saturday at New Macedonia Baptist Church, where they discussed how to map their resources, create more activities for shiftless youths and build coalitions among churches.

The group decided to meet again July 10, back at New Macedonia, where they'll work on a mission statement and their next move.

At the meeting, Pocomoke City Police Chief J.D. Ervin said he's concerned by the trouble that some area youths are stirring up with others across the state line, into Accomack County.

"Seems like most of the incidents we get in Pocomoke are between Accomack and Pocomoke," he said. "Unfortunately, when somebody targets somebody, there's nothing the police can do. We only know about it when it happens."

Police said Reginald Handy, 22, of Greenbush was killed the night of May 26 after an argument on the corner of Fifth and Laurel streets. He was shot in the back and died at the hospital from his injuries.

Worcester County Bureau of Investigation detectives arrested Alex Crippin, 36, of Pocomoke City and charged him with first- and second-degree murder. Police said the two had a history of not getting along. Ervin said the investigation is ongoing.

The Rev. James Jones of New Macedonia said Crippin was raised in Pocomoke City but was away for several years in jail and returned less than two years ago.

"A lot of people didn't know Alex because he grew up here, then he came back," he said, adding "he's not one of our success stories."

Jones said more and more "unrecognizable faces" are coming to Pocomoke City, and he asked police if they could keep tabs on strangers.

Ervin said they can't stop everyone because that would constitute harassment. But police will crack down on misdemeanor offenses all summer long "just to let the community know Pocomoke is safe."

Mohammed Khan lives in Worcester County right outside the Pocomoke City limits. Citing Handy's death, he asked Ervin and council members if they would increase funding toward a greater police presence to prevent another "heartbreaking" scenario

Ervin replied that funding to the town from the state of Maryland -- in particular, highway user fees and police aid funding -- had been slashed dramatically, and the town has had to find innovative ways to make it up.

Ervin also said a community watch program established a few years back "fizzled out" when community support waned.

"As soon as people were arrested, the crime watch went away," he said.

Pocomoke City Council members Tracey Cottman, Diane Downing and Robert Hawkins attended the meeting Saturday, with Cottman stepping up to quarterback comments and ideas. Cottman said community gatherings like this should happen regularly, not just when there's an incident.

Deborah Arnold said each church in town should form its own group to better work toward fixing their town.

"I believe we can clean up this city," she said. "Let's come together for the good of our community. We're getting afraid. We don't know what to do. The police are doing all they can."

Echoing that sentiment was Denise Pettit, who said the community should first turn to prayer and then strategize.

"When you go to God for prayer for his wisdom, you're going to get the problem solved. Other than that it's just not going to work," she said, and the room filled with mm-hmm in agreement.

One recurring topic during the meeting was how local youths show little or no respect toward authority figures and the police, a trait many blamed on irresponsible parenting.

Pocomoke City Police Lt. Marty Koerner, a former Maryland State Police Salisbury barrack commander, said he was shocked by how "completely disrespectful" some young people are in town.

Francis Lee Jones, a deacon at New Macedonia, said children used to show respect to their elders. Not anymore, he said.

"I've been here 70 years now, and it's worse than I've ever seen it," he said.

www.delmarvanow.com

Cut-A-Thon TODAY!! Proceeds To Benefit Courtney Bloxom

Two hair cut-a-thons are being held today for a very special cause. All proceeds will be donated to the family of Courtney Bloxom. Courtney still remains in ICU in a coma from an auto accident in May. If you don't need a hair cut stop by and drop off a donation. Although Courtney continues to make progress in her recovery every day the process has been slow for her and the many family members and friends that love her and continue to pray for her every minute of the day.

Her journey back to being the healthly teenager she was just a few weeks ago will be long and costly. Please help in any way you can if only in prayer.

CUT-A-THON FUNDRAISER

STUDIO HELENE

Sunday June 13, 2010


8:00 AM until 12:00 PM



42 King Street


Onancock, Virginia
Haircuts $10.00/$15.00 (I read two prices)


Donations also accepted.

If a haircut suits for later in the day..........

CUT-A-THON AND BAKE SALE

HAIR ART SALON

Onley, Virginia (next to Food Lion)

Sunday June 13, 2010

12:00 PM until 4:00 PM

$10.00 per cut - no blow drying or styling

7 stylists available

While there enjoy the Bake Sale...

cakes, cookies, brownies, sodas, homemade iced tea, freshly squeezed lemonade

100% of the proceeds will help fund Courtney's recovery.

Cypress Festival 2010 Comes to an End Say Goodnight Pocomoke

When the fireworks start lighting up the dark Pocomoke sky it marks the end of our wonderful yearly event, The Pocomoke Cypress Festival.

As the 'Grand Finally' bangs away and starts to wind down the engines start, the headlights come on, the sound of folding aluminum chairs being closed and the marching of feet of those that walked to the river where the festival is held, they all know it's over and look forward to another year.

The tiny town becomes empty in much less time than it did to accumulate the happy visitors. The people of Pocomoke know that when the 'Grand Finally' makes it's final pop and the last spark dwindles away it's like the curtains closing on your favorite movie and Pocomoke shuts the gates until the next wing-ding.

The Festival comity does a wonderful job at organizing this event, the volunteers are always smiling, the work by the PCVFD, the extra toll on the PCP officers, the clean-up by the city maintenance crew, etc. etc. is all forgotten by the time the final finally last ash hits the ground and people scurry to their vehicles and head home.

We would like to send a big Thank You to everyone that makes our festival what it is and what it will be next year.

To all involved in the Cypress Festival; Thank You.

I captured some pictures of the fireworks, sorry about the quality, I took these with my cell phone.

Click any image to enlarge

2010 Cypress Festival Fireworks

Click Image to Enlarge