NO Anti Terrorism Training Center To Be Built On The Eastern Shore

The federal government has abandoned plans to build an anti-terrorism training center on the Eastern Shore, a project that attracted determined opposition from local residents and conservationists.

Already running behind schedule, the $100 million-plus security facility — which was to have included test tracks for evasive driving manuevers, shooting ranges, a bomb explosion pit and a mock urban neighborhood for counter-terrorist drills — faced the prospect of additional delays and an approval process that could have taken years.

"After further analysis," 2,000 acres of farmland in Queen Anne's County "will no longer be considered" for the State Department's diplomatic security facility, the head of the government's real-estate arm wrote in a letter Monday to Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, an early supporter of the plan.

General Services Administrator Martha Johnson said preliminary environmental studies "showed that, among other potential concerns, there would be a significant change in land use and considerable noise and traffic impacts."

Those objections, and others, were raised at the outset by critics of the project. It was to have been built in Ruthsburg, a quiet rural crossroads about 30 miles from Annapolis and half an hour from the eastern end of the Bay Bridge.

In the letter, Johnson singled out the "input" of Queen Anne's County citizens during a six-month review process and said she was "confident it led to the proper conclusion."

No new site — or timeline for selecting one — has been announced. Mikulski's office said she still wants it built in Maryland and has spoken with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about considering other locations in the state. Speculation about possible alternate sites includes Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harforn O'Malley.

In a statement, Kratovil expressed disappointment that the decision to pull the plug on the security center meant his district had "lost out on this economic opportunity."

Opponents say the facility should be built on existing federal property in the capital region.

But federal officials settled on a collection of privately owned grain fields across from Tuckahoe State Park as the preferred site. As recently as January, top Washington officials expressed confidence that they would begin acquiring land for the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center within six months.

It soon became clear that those expectations were unrealistic. Members of the Queen Anne's County Commission reversed course in the face of citizen opposition and dropped their support for the campus-like facility.

"Some of us felt a little bamboozled," said Eric Wargotz, a county commissioner and Republican Senate candidate against Mikulski, who was among those who switched sides after having worked to attract the federal facility.

"Jobs are important," he said. "But it was the wrong place for this project."

Mikulski met privately in Ruthsburg Monday with about 15 local critics of the project to inform them personally about the decision. In a prepared statement, she said she had "fought hard for this process to work and for the voices of the residents of Queen Anne's County to be heard."

Late last year, she hailed selection of the site as "good news for three reasons: jobs, jobs and more jobs for Maryland." But after bureaucrats from Washington bungled an initial Queen Anne's public hearing in January, the senator condemned their performance as an "unmitigated disaster."

Kratovil and others also backed away as the controversy threatened to become an election-year issue.

Republican senators, eager to target the issue of budget deficits, recently singled out the Ruthsburg project as an example of politically motivated pork-barrel spending and sought unsuccessfully to remove the funding from the stimulus program.

The announcement that the Shore location had been dropped came 10 days after a federal judge ordered the government to expedite processing of a demand by project opponents for release of internal documents about how the site was chosen.

Among the requested documents are communications between key decision-makers in the executive branch and three Maryland lawmakers, Mikulski, Kratovil and Rep. Steny Hoyer, the number two official in the House.

It was not immediately clear whether the decision to pull the plug on the Ruthsburg site would alter the requirement for a quick release of documents about the selection process.

"I think there is a reason that the government has continued to stonewall us on our requests. And I think there is a reason that, even after we filed a lawsuit, there are obviously things they don't want to disclose," said Jay Falstad of the Queen Anne's Conservation Association, which successfully sued the government over the information.

"We have every expectation that those documents will still be produced," he said. "We want to see how Ruthsburg came to be the preferred location."

Federal officials say they searched throughout a 150-mile radius of Washington for a suitable site before settling on Ruthsburg. Officials assured local residents that they would protect the sensitive environment of the Eastern Shore in building the facility.

But in March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — which had been excluded from a formal review of the proposal — warned that it "may adversely affect" the Chesapeake Bay environment, including wetlands and, posssibly, endangered species.

It urged the State Department and GSA to conduct a more thorough study that would have required a lengthier review, increasing the chances that the project might never be built there.

www.baltimoresun.com

Babe Ruth Museum Has A Mystery To Solve

It hangs in an upstairs display case at the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum on Emory Street, an old baseball card at the center of a Baltimore mystery.

Inside the faded red border is a photo of the great Babe Ruth gazing off to his left, somehow looking pensive and mischievous at the same time.

The future Hall of Famer is 19 years old, tall and lean, not yet showing the effects of a prodigious appetite for beer and hot dogs that developed over his lifetime.

This is the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card. It's one of the most valuable cards on the market, priced at a cool $500,000 in good condition. No more than 11 of the cards are believed to exist.

Museum officials are ecstatic to have it in their possession. While displaying the card for 12 years, they learned only recently that its value had skyrocketed.

"The Honus Wagner tobacco card used to be the Holy Grail of collectibles," says Mike Gibbons, the museum's executive director. "Now the Ruth card is the Holy Grail."

Gibbons and his staff are so excited about the card that they plan to make it the centerpiece of a "blockbuster" display on the history of baseball card collecting.

But before they do, they want to contact the card's owner, the Baltimore man who generously loaned the card for display. They want to let him know about their grand plans for his wonderful gift.

Except … they can't find him.

In this age of computer databases and search engines and 24/7 social media connectivity, the man has flat-out disappeared.

He vanished in a way that seems almost impossible to do in this day and age.

And all he left behind was one of the most expensive baseball cards in the world.

An offer they couldn't refuse

If you ask Babe Ruth Museum officials, they'll tell you the story begins in June 1998. That's when a local man named Richard Davis approached them with an offer.

He was in possession of the 1914 Ruth rookie baseball card in good condition, along with 14 other cards issued that year, mostly of Ruth's teammates. Davis agreed to allow the museum to display them on a long-term basis, with no time-frame for their return.

The cards were from a series issued by the old Baltimore News when Ruth had only recently left St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, the Baltimore orphanage where he had been consigned at age 7 by his parents for "incorrigible behavior."

A 19-year-old pitcher, he had just signed his first professional baseball contract with the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. The team was managed by the legendary Jack Dunn, who had agreed to be Ruth's guardian. As the story goes, Ruth's teammates took to calling him "Jack's newest babe," and the nickname stuck for the rest of his life.

Museum officials were delighted with Davis' loan. Even back then, they knew the card was valuable. But they didn't think it was worth anything approaching the amount the 1909 Wagner tobacco card was fetching. A card of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame shortstop had sold for $640,000 in 1996.

"We're in the sports heritage business, not in the business of buying and selling memorabilia," Gibbons says of why the Ruth card wasn't appraised back then.

Still, Gibbons knew the Ruth card was rare. Not a lot of people had come across it back in 1914. And the ones who did apparently weren't excited enough to hold on to it.

"It had a very limited distribution, just in the Baltimore area," says Brian Fleischer of memorabilia evaluator Beckett Media in Dallas. "And couple that with the fact [Ruth] was a rookie."

In addition, World War I had just begun, in July of that year, about the time that baseball card experts believe the Ruth card was issued. And even though the U.S. would not enter the war until 1917, Americans seemed to have little passion for frivolous pastimes such as collecting baseball cards.

"There could have been more important things to worry about than the … card of an unknown future Hall of Famer," notes Fleischer dryly.

Richard Davis died in August 2001. His son, Glenn Davis, then entered into the same loan agreement with the museum concerning his father's card collection.

And for the next eight years, the Ruth rookie card was displayed with little fanfare in an upstairs room adjacent to where Ruth was born.

Then last year, Gibbons and his staff were alerted to a story in Forbes magazine on the world's most expensive baseball cards.

There, at the top of the list, was the 1914 Ruth rookie card. And now the price listed for the card was an eyeball-popping $500,000.

Not only had its price taken off, but the Honus Wagner tobacco card had nose-dived in value. Now a Wagner card in comparable condition was worth only $300,000, according to Beckett Media.

Part of the reason, according to Fleischer, is that experts now believe there are some 50 or 60 Wagner tobacco cards in existence, compared to the far smaller number of Ruth rookie cards. So while a Wagner card in almost mint condition sold for $2.35 million three years ago, it's estimated that a Ruth rookie in similar condition could command between $3 million and $5 million.

At this point, museum officials had their Ruth card photographically appraised by Beckett Media. The judgement was, yes, the card was in good condition. Therefore it was worth a half-million dollars.

Hearing this, museum officials quickly decided the Ruth card needed to be displayed more prominently. The museum, which opened in 1974, has struggled in the down economy. A blockbuster display of a rare Ruth card would only help attract interest.

"We knew we had a valuable piece" before, Gibbons says. "But what Forbes was saying made it a totally unique and rare situation."

In search of the owner

Their first order of business was to try to contact Glenn Davis to let him know of their plans for the card.

But he was no longer at the address he had listed on the original loan form. He had left no forwarding address, either. And an Internet search and dozens of phone calls also failed to turn up the right Glenn Davis.

On the original loan form, Davis had listed his employer as Duron Paints. But the company, which had been taken over by Sherwin-Williams, told Gibbons and his staff that it couldn't release private information about an employee.

When museum officials persisted and sent a certified letter to Duron headquarters in Beltsville, they say, the company promised to try to locate Davis.

But they say Duron never got back to them. Calls by the Baltimore Sun to Duron's Human Resources department Monday were not returned.

The search for Davis had arrived at another dead end.

Not that museum officials are giving up.

Now they're hoping a newspaper article will help them locate the mysterious Glenn Davis.

They're eager to find him, eager to get started on their new display. And they're anxious to tell the world that the Baltimore museum that celebrates the most iconic figure in sports also has one of the rarest, priciest memorabilia items associated with his name.

"For a long time, we've had this jewel, this gem," Gibbons says of the card. "And we never tooted our horn about it. Now we're proclaiming publicly that we have this incredible artifact. And we're hoping the public will come to see it."

It would be nice if Glenn Davis comes to see it, too.

Although right now, museum officials would probably settle for a phone call.

www.baltimoresun.com

Ocean City Lifeguard Stands Vandalized

I'm going to say it! These "spoiled brats" that come to Ocean City on Mommy and Daddy's money sure don't seem to mind using your (the taxpayer) money either. During their evenings of drinking and drugging they sure didn't take into consideration that those stands provide the beach goers of this great summer town the protection they may need to save them from the horror of drowing. Let's hope that one of these poor excuses for a son or daughter doesn't sober up from being under the influence of drugs/alcohol or just being stupid to find someone they loved has drowned...........all because the lifeguard didn't see them. Lifeguard chairs in Ocean City, Md., are under attack.

Since lifeguards went on duty May 29, several of their chairs have been damaged by vandals, sometimes up to six or seven a night, according to The Salisbury Maryland Daily Times.

The chairs have been pushed over, stomped and dragged out to the sea or to the street. Some have even been used as toilets. A few were damaged so severely, the only thing left was a pile of white planks.

Dick Malone, of Ocean City’s Public Works Department, said the stands are being damaged more quickly than they can be repaired. As a result, there’s concern there won’t be enough chairs to cover the resort town’s 9.5 miles of beaches.

Lifeguard stands are heavy-duty structures, standing 10 feet tall and weighing some 250 pounds. When their shifts end, the lifeguards drag them further inland at night so they won’t be washed away by the rising tides.

Authorities said that’s when the chair culprits hit -- at night.

So far, no arrests.

It could cost the city thousands of dollars to repair or replace all the damaged chairs, according to the Times.

www.nbcwashington.com

General McChrystal To Retire From the U.S. Army

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – General Stanley McChrystal, who President Barack Obama fired last week as the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, has informed the U.S. Army he plans to retire, an official said on Monday.

McChrystal, 55, had been widely expected to retire after he and his aides enraged the White House by disparaging the president and other top civilian advisers in an article for Rolling Stone magazine. He was fired on Wednesday.

Obama said McChrystal's dismissal was needed to safeguard the unity of the war effort.

"McChrystal informed the Army today that he intends to retire," an Army spokesman said.

McChrystal has yet to submit formal paperwork so it is unclear when his retirement will take effect, he added.

Obama has tapped General David Petraeus, McChrystal's boss and the architect of the Iraq war turnaround, to take over the troubled Afghan command. A Senate hearing on Petraeus's nomination is scheduled for Tuesday.

Aides have described the president as furious about McChrystal's contemptuous remarks in the article, entitled "The Runaway General."

In the piece, McChrystal himself made belittling remarks about Vice President Joe Biden and the U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke.

His aides were quoted as calling national security adviser Jim Jones a "clown" and saying Obama seemed intimidated and disengaged at an early meeting with McChrystal.

McChrystal graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1976 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army, where he rose through the ranks over the next 34 years.

www.yahoo.com

Almost 900 State Laws To Take Effect In Virginia On July 1, 2010

Richmond, Va. --

Almost 900 new laws passed by the 2010 General Assembly will take effect Thursday.

Preoccupied with closing a $4 billion budget deficit, legislators avoided many of the hot-button issues that have dominated other sessions by killing or deferring action on bills.

But here's a look at some new laws that could affect Virginians' daily lives.

State workers

What's new? New state employees hired on July 1, or after, must pay 5 percent of their salary into the Virginia Retirement System. Local governments and school divisions have the option of picking up some, or all, of the 5 percent member contribution. What's changing? Since 1983, the state has been paying the employees' contribution and the state's share of state workers' retirement.

Concealed weapons

What's new? Holders of concealed-handgun permits will be allowed to carry concealed guns into bars and restaurants, but they aren't supposed to drink. What's changing? Under current law, it is illegal to carry a concealed handgun into a restaurant or club where alcohol is consumed on the premises.

Speed limits

What's new? The Virginia Department of Transportation can raise the speed limit from 65 to 70 mph on interstates and other limited-access highways after conducting traffic engineering studies of the roads.

What's changing? Initially, the only interstate where the limit will rise to 70 mph is Interstate 295 from Petersburg nearly to Interstate 64 east of Richmond.

Seat belts

What's new? Sixteenand 17-year-olds riding in the back seat must buckle up and can be ticketed if a law-enforcement officer sees they are not wearing seat belts. What's changing? Currently, only passengers 15 and younger are required to wear seat belts in the back seat. What's new? Front-seat passengers ages 16 or 17 can be ticketed if seen not wearing seat belts. What's changing? Under current law, such passengers can get tickets only if an officer has pulled the car over for a different infraction.

'Move over' law

What's new? A motorist approaching a tow truck or highway-maintenance vehicle displaying flashing amber lights must change lanes. What's changing? Currently, the law applies only to motorists approaching emergency vehicles displaying red or blue flashing lights.

Underage drinking

What's new? A juvenile who commits a second offense of underage possession of alcohol can lose his driver's license for up to one year. What's changing? Currently, such a juvenile can lose his license for up to six months What's new? Courts will no longer be allowed to issue a restricted driver's license for school travel to a person under 18 who has been convicted of driving under the influence or refusing a breath test. What's changing? Courts currently have that discretion.

Health insurance

What's new? A new state law says Virginians cannot be required to purchase health insurance. What's changing? The new law is meant to protect Virginians against a mandate in the federal health-care law. Which law will prevail is the subject of a fight playing out in federal court.

Animal cruelty

What's new? The penalty for a violation of the minimal standards of animal care becomes a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. What's changing? It had been a Class 4 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $250. What's new? The penalty for abandoning an animal becomes a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. What's changing? It has been a Class 3 misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum fine of $500. What's new? The penalty for animal cruelty remains a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months and a $2,500 fine, but there are new restrictions. What's changing? The penalty will require a mandatory minimum of five days in jail and a prohibition on the possession and ownership of companion animals.

Alcohol

What's new? Wine and liquor-tasting events can be held at government Alcoholic Beverage Control Stores. What's changing? Such events have been allowed at restaurants and festivals, but not at ABC stores.

Flags

What's new? A unit owners' or property owner's association cannot bar a property owner from displaying the American flag. The association can establish "reasonable restrictions" on the size and placement of a flag.

What's changing? The law, inspired by the case of Van T. Barfoot, a Medal of Honor winner who lives in Henrico County, is meant to protect the rights of homeowners, while treating homeowners associations fairly.

Text messages

What's new? Anyone who sends an obscene or vulgar text message with the intent to coerce, intimidate or harass someone is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. What's changing? Current law punishes such behavior when simply using a telephone or citizens band radio.

www.timesdispatch.com

Supreme Court Rules On Guns Rights Case

Monday June 28, 2010

Today the Supreme Court ruled on McDonald vs. Chicago. It's a case that dealt with Chicago's handgun ban, and whether Second Amendment Rights were being violated.

The court ruled in favor of gun owner rights, ordering a federal appeals court to reconsider the nearly 30-year ban.

It's a ruling that could impact gun laws in almost every state.

"In my opinion, self-defense in America has been validated today," said Lead Plaintiff Otis McDonald.

In a 5 to 4 vote, the Supreme Court settled McDonald vs. Chicago, ruling that it is unconstitutional for state and local governments to restrict individual gun rights.

It's an issue that has been up for national debate since the Heller vs. The District of Columbia Case, which dealt only on a federal level, and was settled 2 years ago.

"We think this is a monumental day," said Wayne LaPierre of the NRA. "It is vindication for the great majority of Americans all across the land that have always believed this was an individual right worth defending."

"Bottom line after this decision, you're gonna see a lot more lawsuits because now any criminal defendant that has a gun charge can raise a second amendment issue," disagreed Paul Helmke with the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

The ruling recognizes an individuals right to bear arms, and Senator Jon Tester has been a leading lawmaker working in favor of today's ruling. Tester, along with Senator Hutchison from Texas, presented a "59-page friend of the court brief" to the Supreme Court last October.

"This is a victory for law-abiding citizens across America," said Tester. "It ensures that folks' second amendment rights are protected regardless of where they live."

While Montana is already home to what many would call favorable gun-right laws, Great Falls gun dealer Kevin Lake is glad to see the case settled.

"I''m very excited to see things go this way," said Lake. "I think its something we've needed for a long time. It is just now that they're finally basically putting it into law. The federal government is finally coming down and saying okay this is an individual right, you can do this, you can own a firearm."

And while gun bans,like the one currently in place in Chicago, are expected to be reversed in the near future, the ruling sends a message that the same gun rights apply to the city as they do in rural states.

"There are a lot of places in Montana, where if you call 911, you maybe an hour or 45 minutes from any help at all," said Lake.

The Supreme Court split down party lines, with the four liberal justices opposing the ruling.

Chief Justice John Roberts voted with the majority.

www.kfbb.com

Personal Information To Be Removed From Disabled Parking Placards

Virginia is removing personal information that's displayed on disabled parking placards.

Placards issued after July 1 will no longer display the holder's name, birthdate or gender.

The placards are displayed on a vehicle's rear view mirror and allow the holders to park in spaces designated for disabled motorists.

Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Rick Holcomb says the move will help protect placard holders' privacy and identities.

www.shoredailynews.com

Pocomoke; Rape at Meadows Apartments

Rape First Degree

DATE & TIME: June 28, 2010

Case # 10-0143
LOCATION: Pocomoke City, Maryland
CRIME: Rape 1st Degree
VICTIM: Name Withheld
ACCUSED: Sherrick Martell Handy
CHARGES: Rape 1st Degree, False Imprisonment, Assault 2nd Degree, Burglary

NARRATIVE: On June 28, 2010 at approximately 0500 hours, Officers from the Pocomoke City Police Department responded to the Meadows Apartments in reference
to a rape and assault. The victim, a 25 year old Pocomoke City resident advised
officers that her ex-boyfriend, Sherrick Martell Handy, 21 of Horntown, VA had
forced his way into her apartment where he physically and sexually assaulted
her.

Based on the severity of the crime, Pocomoke City officers requested
Detectives from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation respond to continue
the investigation.

As a result of information gathered from the victim, an arrest
warrant was issued for Handy. Handy was subsequently arrested by the Accomack
County Sheriff’s Office and is awaiting extradition to Maryland.

Something to think about 1895 8th grade final exam

1895 8th grade final exam


Take this test and pass it on to your more literate friends..

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education?
Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , Kansas , USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society
and Library in Salina , and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS - 1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of 'lie,''play,' and 'run.'
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.


Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs. For tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000.. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft.. Long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt


U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4.. Show the territorial growth of the United States
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse , Whitney , Fulton , Bell , Lincoln , Penn, and Howe ?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.


Orthography (Time, one hour)
[Do we even know what this is??]
1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication
2.. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4.. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis-mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane , vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks
and by syllabication.


Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia , Odessa , Denver , Manitoba , Hecla , Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez , Aspinwall and Orinoco
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each..
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete.

Gives the saying 'he only had an 8th grade education' a whole
new meaning, doesn't it?!

Also shows you how poor our education system has become and,

NO, I don't have the answers!

Hat Tip; Eric

Proper Wording Is Added To "Atheist" Billboard

Note to an Atheist--If you don't like the wording to the Pledge of Allegience (like so many Americans do) please feel free to write your own. Just leave ours alone!! Show some respect!
The “Under God” spray-painted by vandals onto an atheist billboard on Billy Graham Parkway over the weekend won’t be gone until just before July 4, a spokesman for Charlotte Atheists & Agnostics said today.

That’s how long it will take the billboard company to restore the sign, which featured an American flag background and quoted the original phrase from the Pledge of Allegiance – “One Nation indivisible” – before “under God” was inserted after “one nation” in 1954.

“They have to print an entirely new vinyl and then schedule a crane,” said William Warren. He added that his group has reported the vandalism to Charlotte police and spoken with a nearby Shell station about letting investigators inspect video from security cameras in hopes of identifying those who defaced the billboard.

The sign, which went up a week ago, was controversial for its message and for its location along a road named for Graham, a Charlotte-born evangelist who preached to hundreds of millions worldwide.

A state coalition of atheist, agnostic and free thinker groups is putting up the same billboard in five other cities in North Carolina. None of them had been defaced as of Monday morning, Warren said.

“A concerned citizen,” Warren said, emailed the group Saturday to report that the sign had been vandalized.

To spray-paint graffiti onto the billboard, the vandals had to get up and then climb a ladder that didn’t reach to the ground.

“Either it was two very tall people or they had a ladder to get to the ladder,” Warren said. “It looks like you’d have to do gymnastics to get up there.”

He said his group considered the vandalism an isolated act and not indicative of Charlotte’s religious community.

“It was done by one or two people off on their own who decided their only recourse was vandalism rather than having a conversation.” Warren said. “It does show how needed our message is. As atheists, we want to let people know we exist and that there’s a community here.”

Other than the vandalism, Warren said his group has received “mostly positive” responses to its billboard, including from some self-described Christians.

Plus, he credited publicity surrounding the sign with uptick in membership: “We have 58 new members.”

The Pledge of Allegiance, long recited by schoolchildren in their classrooms, was written in 1892 by a Baptist minister. But it included no religious language until “under God” was inserted by an act of Congress at the height of the Cold War. The addition was meant to distinguish the United States from the Soviet Union, which officially embraced atheism.

www.charlotteobserver.com

Ehrlich Will Announce Running Mate On Facebook!

Having accomplished his quest to reach 25,000 Facebook fans, Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. now says he will use the social media site for a major announcement this week: His selection of a running mate.

Ehrlich this morning confirmed via a video posted on his Facebook page what Kendel Ehrlich mentioned on their final radio show Saturday. His status update: "Can you guess who it will be? Stay tuned this week right here on facebook to find out who will run with Bob."

As of 1:30 p.m., many of the 58 commenters mention Dr. Ben Carson (who has said he is not interested). One commenter proclaims, "I am available," while others name-drop Republican favorites like party chairwoman Audrey Scott.

The former governor has been an avid Facebook user throughout his campaign, recently using it for a live chat and revealing tidbits now and again to supporters.

Gov. Martin O'Malley also has an active Facebook page with more than 10,000 fans. His latest posting, on Friday, was a link to his most recent attack ad.

Ehrlich says on the video that his lieutenant governor choice will be revealed in a few days. O'Malley is running with his current lieutenant governor, Anthony Brown.

www.baltimoresun.com

Accomack County Sheriff's Office Search for Suspects Wanted in Carjacking

According to Sheriff Larry Giddens, on Monday, June 28 at approximately 1:08 a.m., the Accomack County Sheriff's Office received a report that a man had been robbed and carjacked. Further investigation revealed that the victim had given an unknown subject a ride to the Parksley area along Lankford Highway where the victim was approached by a second suspect. The victim was assaulted by the suspects and taken to a bank ATM where money was withdrawn from the victim's account. The victim was then released near Mappsville and the victim's vehicle was taken by the suspects.

The stolen vehicle is described as a 1993 Jeep Cherokee 4-door, red in color, unknown Virginia registration.

Suspect 1 is described as a black male, clean shaven, heavy build, approximately 30 to 40 years of age, wearing a blue shirt.

Suspect 2 is described as a black male, clean shaven, slim build, approximately 30 to 40 years of age, wearing a white t-shirt.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is asked to contact the Accomack County Sheriff's Office at 787-1131 or 824-5666.

www.shoredailynews.com

Washington's Rye Whiskey Set For Sale Again

MOUNT VERNON, Va. - The public has a chance to buy rye whiskey made from the same recipe George Washington used.

The first public tasting will be held on Thursday at a reconstructed version of Washington's original distillery near his Mount Vernon estate. Bottles are being sold for $85 apiece and the proceeds will benefit Mount Vernon's education programs.

The Virginia General Assembly previously approved the sale of limited quantities of the whiskey.
Washington was the nation's most successful whiskey maker in the years after his presidency.

By 1799, he was producing 11,000 gallons of whiskey a year. Washington died that year, and soon after the business fell off. In 1814, the distillery burned to the ground.

www.wtkr.com

Hurricane Preparedness Program Is Offered

Maybe it's not too late to register!

Preparing for an impending hurricane or other disaster is hard enough. But when you¡re caring for someone who is seriously ill, disaster preparation is even more difficult. The Caregiver Coalition, a partnership between Hospice and Palliative Care of the Eastern Shore, Eastern Shore Area Agency on Aging and Community Action Agency, Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital, ESCC, and the Alzheimer¡s Association of Southeastern Virginia are pleased to present this workshop:


Hope Is Not a Plan!
Tips for Caregivers on Preparing for the Hurricane Season

Monday, June 28, 2010, 12:00 pm ¡V 3:30 pm, Onancock Hospice Building, 165 Market St, Suite 3

Be sure to attend this informative workshop and learn about:

Making a Family Disaster Plan
Checklists and Supply Kits
Documents that Should Be Protected
Having a Place to Go
Special Preparations for Yourself and Your loved Ones
Post-disaster Scams
Facing a Hurricane, Experiences of a Katrina Victim
Post-Hurricane/Disaster ¡V How to Handle the Losses

There is no cost to attend; lunch and materials are provided. Transportation can also be arranged with advanced notice. This workshop is open to everyone in the community, but pre-registration is required. To register, call Brandon at 757-787-3310 x113.

Maryland's New War of 1812 License Plate

State officials are unveiling a new license plate that will become standard on all Maryland vehicles.

The Motor Vehicle Administration planned to introduce the new plates on Saturday during the agency's centennial celebration at its Glen Burnie headquarters. The plates feature a scene around Fort McHenry during the War of 1812.

The War of 1812 plates replace the black and white standard issue plates for all cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles, starting on Monday.

Officials say the new plate will be issued through June 2015.

What do you think of Maryland's new license plate?

• It's beautiful -- a much-needed improvement.
• This is the best Md. could come up with? Let's stick with the old plate.
• Ehh. It's not great, but not terrible either.
• Other (eave your comment below).

Created on Jun 13, 2010

View Results

VIA: Washingtonpost

More;

Questions and Answers for the War of 1812 Plate

Q.1: When will the War of 1812 standard plate be available?

A.1: Beginning June 14, 2010, the War of 1812 plate (right) will replace the black and white standard issue plate, for all passenger, trucks, disability, motorcycles, motorcycle disability and multipurpose vehicles. This new plate will be issued through June 2015.

Q2: Is the War of 1812 plate replacing all of the black and white plates? Is this considered replating?

A2: No, the War of 1812 plate is not replacing all black and white standard plates. If you already have standard black and white plates, you will keep them. As not all plates are being replaced, this is not considered replating.

Q3: I want to get the new War of 1812 standard plate. If I wait until it’s time to renew my registration, will there be a fee?

A3: Yes, you will be charged an additional substitute tag fee of $20.00 in addition to your renewal fee.

Q4: If I am purchasing a new vehicle after June 14, 2010, what will be the standard plate issued for my vehicle and is there an additional cost?

A4: The War of 1812 plate will be issued as the standard plate for all passenger, trucks, and multipurpose vehicles. There is no additional cost other than your regular registration fee.

Q5: Can the 1812 plate be transferred to a different class vehicle (i.e. passenger vehicle to a truck)? Can the plate be repurchased like the Chesapeake Bay and Agricultural plate?

A5: You can keep your 1812 plate by repurchasing it on your new vehicle. The fee is the same as if you purchased a plate at the time of titling. You cannot transfer a plate to a vehicle that has a different classification.

Q6: Will a new issuance personalized plate be on the War of 1812 stock?

A6: All personalized standard passenger, multipurpose, disability, motorcycles, and motorcycle disability vehicles will receive the new standard War of 1812 plate. Trailers, Street Rod, and Historic vehicles will continue to be printed on the black and white plate. In addition, you can continue to receive an Agricultural or Chesapeake Bay personalized plate upon request.

Q7: If I already have a personalized plate and want to re-order it on the War of 1812 stock, will I have to pay a fee?

A7: Yes. A fee of $20.00 is required to replace a personalized plate.

Reactions mixed to commemorative 1812 license plate

Joseph Cox Jenkins clearly liked the new design of the Maryland license plate, featuring the U.S. flag flying over Fort McHenry amid rockets' red glare.

But the toddler, just shy of 2 years old, might never drive a vehicle with the new tags.

Motorists registering new cars and trucks will receive the new design only through 2015, according to the MVA. Anyone renewing registration who wants the new design will have to pay an additional $20.

Jenkins' parents and others who went to register new vehicles Monday — Flag Day — were among the first Maryland motorists to pick up the new standard-issue tags, which commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

The new plate features images from the war's 1814 battle at Fort McHenry. The sight of the bombs bursting in air above the fort's ramparts inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner".

Passenger and multipurpose vehicles will receive the new standard plates, as well as trucks. But drivers could transfer existing plates to new vehicles, said MVA spokesman Buel Young. Trailers, street rod and historic vehicles will get the black-and-white plate.

Drivers will still be able to request the Chesapeake Bay and Agricultural plates, for an additional $20 fee each time they register or renew.

Joseph Cox's father, Willie, and his wife, Jennie Jenkins, of Curtis Bay didn't realize that new plates were being issued until they saw the poster in the lobby of the Glen Burnie MVA.

"We picked the right day to come get tags," he said.

Jennie liked the new plates because blue is her favorite color. But Willie Jenkins wasn't sure whether it would go with the color of his tan Buick Regal.

Other drivers also liked the new plates. Mohamed Chehaima of Elkridge first saw the design when he opened the package outside the MVA building.

"Anything is new, you like it," said Chehaima, a native of Morocco who moved to Maryland 11 years ago. The plates were destined for a Nissan Altima for his 20-year-old son.

Not everyone was sold on the new image, however. Brittany Holloway of Catonsville was a fan, but her mother, Monica, was not.

"I like it. It's not plain like the all-white tags." said Brittany, who was picking up plates for her first car, a Honda Accord, at the Glen Burnie MVA on Monday.

But her mother said she didn't appreciate the new red, white and blue image.

Most people either love it or they hate it, said Conrad Snedgar, manager of Norman's Tags and Title Service, which has offices in Lutherville and Essex.

"There doesn't seem to be any middle ground," said Snedgar, as he stood in the parking lot at the Glen Burnie MVA offices.

He's waiting to hear the reaction of customers who ordered customized plates, who may not have known that they would come on the commemorative design.

But regardless how you feel about the design, there may be at least one side benefit.

"I got a new tag and the rest of my neighbors don't," Willie Jenkins said.

VIA: Baltimoresun.com

PRESS RELEASE SURF DOG RICOCHET ACHIEVES NEW MILESTONE - 10,000 FANS ON FACEBOOK... & RAISES ALMOST $30,000 FOR CHARITY IN THE PROCESS!

SAN DIEGO, CA, June 28, 2010… Surf Dog Ricochet, the SURFice dog who lives a lifestyle of helping others by pawing it forward, and who recently won 3rd place in the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Surf competition, has reached a new milestone - 10,000 fans on Facebook! This fan base has also help raise almost $30,000 in donations for Ricochet's charitable causes!

Ricochet started her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SurfDogRicochet in December of 2009 to help raise awareness and funds for her charities. Now, just six months later, she's reached the 10,000 fan mark, which grows every day.

Many people join Ricochet's Facebook page after watching her inspirational YouTube video, "From service dog to SURFice dog", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4. They often leave comments such as "I watched the video and couldn't stop crying! She's so inspiring, so amazing!", or "Wow! After my tears dried I couldn't wait to learn more about you and all that you do. You're one of a kind!"

Although folks join Ricochet's page as "fans", they quickly become much more than that. They share a connection... a common bond, which deepens the relationship to one of mutual support, inspiration and friendship. Her 10,000th fan, Rosemary Catherine is the epitome of this shared connection, as both she and Ricochet support "Surfers Healing", an organization that exposes autistic children to the unique experience of surfing.

Another fan, Lara Davis who is studying to be a teacher for children with special needs shared the 10,000th celebration by saying "I was truly touched (and in tears!) I love the message and the outreach efforts ricochet puts fourth. I've always thought animals such as Ricochet could make a big difference in the lives of children".

Reaching this key milestone demonstrates how much Ricochet's worldwide community supports her efforts. Her supporters have helped her raise awareness and funds... to the tune of almost $30,000 for both human and animal causes! In fact, two fundraising campaigns were funded almost entirely by her Facebook supporters. A canine cancer walk garnered $1820 in donations, and an arthritis walk raised over $5580 in donations.

Ricochet sincerely thanks each and every one of her supporters, and looks forward to a continued relationship of actively engaging them in Facebook conversations, while providing them with updates featuring her day-to-day activities, fundraising efforts, causes, events, news, photos, videos, articles, and FUN! She is currently fundraising for Helen Woodward Animal Center's orphaned animals, and anticipates another successful outcome with the help of her amazing supporters!
Note: For more information, contact Judy Fridono at 707-228-0679 or pawinspired@aol.com. http://www.surfdogricochet.com. On Facebook & Twitter: "Surf Dog Ricochet"

Parents Try To Sell Baby For $25

Couple Arrested; Child In Protective Custody

SALINAS, Calif. -- Two Salinas parents face felony child endangerment charges after police said they tried to sell their 6-month-old daughter outside a Walmart store for $25, Salinas TV station KSBW reported. Patrick Fousek, 28, and Samantha Momasini, 20, were arrested Tuesday after two women reported Fousek approached them about taking his daughter for money, police said. The women, who said they didn't know if Fousek was joking or not, reported the incident to police. Officers then traced Fousek's vehicle to an apartment, where police said they found the baby and her parents, who were high on methamphetamine. The child has been placed in protective custody, while Fousek and Momasini were booked on suspicion of child endangerment, attempting to abandon a child and being intoxicated on methamphetamine.

VIA: wjactv.com

Dad accused in Walmart baby sale beaten in jail

SALINAS, Calif. — Jail officials in California said a father who was accused of trying to sell his baby for $25 outside a Walmart is recovering after other inmates beat him.

Patrick Fousek, 38, and Samantha Tomasini, 20, of Salinas, pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and drug charges on Friday.

Fousek appeared in court with a bruised eye and stitches. Sheriff's Cmdr. Mike Richards said the man was attacked Thursday at the Monterey County Jail. He also suffered two cracked ribs and is now being held away from the general population.

Fousek is accused of approaching two women on Wednesday and asking if they'd like to purchase his 6-month-old.

He and Tomasini were arrested a few hours later at their home, and Child Protective Services removed the baby from the couple's custody.

VIA: CHRON

ANNUAL New Church Fire Department 4th of July Celebration

REMINDER: Going on TODAY...........ONE DAY ONLY.....

LOTS OF FOOD, FUN AND FIREWORKS!!! DON'T MISS IT!!

NEW CHURCH -- The New Church Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company will hold its annual Independence Day Celebration this Sunday, June 27, from 5-9:30 p.m. at the New Church firehouse.

Carnival rides, food, and games start at 5 p.m. Rides include the Motorized Swing Ride, Turbo Tubs, Fire Truck Slide, Dalmatian Fireman's Bounce, and Gone Fishing slide. No wrist bands will be sold.

"The Gone Fishing slide is a new ride this year," said Freddy Holland, fire company president. "It is a giant slide that's 30 feet tall and the kids will love it."

Also starting at 5 p.m. will be the rock climbing wall which is always demanding for even the most physically fit older kids and adults. The wall stands 24 feet tall and can hold as many as five climbers at once. Each person will pay $5 per climb.

For the eighth year, the pedal tractor pull for kids takes place at 5:30 p.m.

"The tractor pull is for kids up to age 10 and is free," said Holland. "It's fun to watch the kids working so hard to win with everybody cheering them on."

Barbecued chicken and barbecued pork platters will be available in the food booths. For $6 the chicken platter will include half a barbecued chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, and a roll. The $6 pork platter includes a barbecue pork sandwich, corn-on-the-cob, and coleslaw.

"This is the sixth year we've offered the chicken and pork platters," remarks Holland. "People really enjoy them and we sell out every time."

Clam fritters, hamburgers, hot dogs, boardwalk fries, pizza, funnel cakes, snow cones, ice cream, fried oreos, and fresh strawberry shortcake round out the food line up. Mike Shannon, a well-known local DJ, will provide entertainment throughout the evening.

The famous live auction starts at 7 p.m. and is one of the favorite events of the evening. "As always we have some great auction items and gift certificates donated by local businesses and individuals," says Holland, "and of course we'll auction several cakes made by some of the best cooks around."

Bring your lawn chair to enjoy all the activities including a special slide show at 9:20 p.m. and professional fireworks at 9:30 p.m. "Our fireworks and food are some of the best on the Eastern Shore," said Holland. "In these economic times your local volunteer fire companies need your support more than ever. Please join us for lots of fun this Sunday at the New Church firehouse."

Rain date is Sunday, July 11.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/

"Hands Across The Sand"

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Hundreds of people including Florida's governor joined hands on an oil-stained strip of beach in the Florida Panhandle as part of an international demonstration against offshore drilling Saturday.

Organizers of "Hands Across the Sand" said similar protests were held at beaches around the nation and in several foreign countries.

The demonstration also was intended to show support for clean alternatives to fossil fuels.

Gov. Charlie Crist returned to Pensacola Beach, where he walked with President Barack Obama on the snow white sand June 15. That was before gobs of goo from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico came ashore last week.

Demonstrators shared the beach with tourists and heavy equipment standing by in case more oil comes ashore.

Michael DeMaria, a clinical psychologist from Pensacola, led demonstrators from a pavilion to the shore like an environmentalist pied piper, tooting softly on a native American-style flute. He said he often tells patients to go swimming in the Gulf as part of therapy.

"It breaks my heart," DeMaria said of the spill. "It's amazing how healing just being by the water is."

A barefoot Crist held hands with his wife, Carole, and Joan Jackson, a middle school teacher in nearby Pace.

Dozens frolicked in the water, and Crist, who wore shorts, waded a few feet in as the demonstration broke up. He assured people the water was safe.

"I'm not convinced," Jackson said, adding that she's worried about adverse health effects from chemical dispersants used to break up the oil at sea.

www.wavy.com

Michael Vick Could Face Parole Violation

Nice role model to have had speaking to students in high schools! Maybe what Vick needs is to go back to prison and start a football team there! What a goon to take a chance, even if it was his birthday!


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - What began as a "dress code strictly enforced," star-studded birthday celebration for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and Newport News native Michael Vick, ended in gunfire, with Vick's name, again, in national headlines.

Media outlets have reported that the victim in the shooting--which took place near Town Center's Guadalajara, where the party was held--was Quanis Phillips, who was one of Vick's co-defendants in his 2007 dog fighting conviction.

"When it comes to federal probation it is always a fluid situation," said local defense attorney Andrew Protogyrou.

Both Vick and Phillips are on federal parole and have strict guidelines on what they can and can not do. Vick's probation officer will now investigate what happened at Guadalajara.

"The fact that two felons are in the same room doesn't mean that they know each other is there," Protogyrou added. "It's a party, it's packed, it's crowded. They may not know the other person was there. On the other hand, if they are in the same place and they are seen associating and seen together, that's a violation."

Virginia Beach police are still working to piece together details from the party and what happened after.

www.wavy.com

Discovery Center holds grand opening of aquarium

According to Savanna Hastings, 11, the skin of an Atlantic sturgeon feels a lot like sandpaper.

Kayla Robertson, 14, had a different opinion.

"I think it's more like leather," Robertson, a Salisbury resident, said.

However, both girls agreed that they were not afraid to put their hand into the shallow tank holding three small sturgeon at the Delmarva Discovery Center on Saturday.

"I've touched a stingray, and I was more afraid of them than a sturgeon," Robertson said. "Its nose reminds me of a mole."

Three of the prehistoric-looking fish have taken up residence at the Delmarva Discovery Center, causing children and adults to linger as they watch the animals float around the now-completed aquarium.

"I call them Gilligan, Skipper and Mr. Two Whiskers," Jennifer Rafter, aquarist for the center, said of the three 2-year-old, foot-long Atlantic sturgeon that call the tank home. "But that's just me. Maybe we will let the public give them real names."

The fish were on display Saturday as the center celebrated the grand opening of the 6,000-gallon aquarium, which features animals native to the Pocomoke River. The tank, which is set to 65 degrees to mimic the river, currently features the sturgeon, longnose gar, crappie, white perch and baby bluegill. A diamondback terrapin named Scorchy -- after the late local TV personality Scorchy Tawes -- is also known to make appearances.

"The Pocomoke River isn't this clear," Rafter told a crowd of about 30 children and adults gathered around the viewing window. "But if we made the aquarium look like the Pocomoke River, you wouldn't be able to see the fish."

What's more, sturgeon are very now very rare in the river. The animals, which can grow up to 15 feet and live for decades, were once common in the area, using the fresh and brackish waters to breed and mature before spending their lives in the ocean.

"They were plentiful until the late 1800s when they were overfished for their caviar," Rafter said.

The three sturgeon in the aquarium are on loan from Maryland Department of Natural Resources hatcheries, which provided the additional animals to stock the touch tank as well.

"Most kids don't mind touching them," said Chuck Stence of the DNR restoration program, affectionately referring to the fish as charismatic megafauna.

Most importantly, while the sturgeon eat fish and other animals, they don't bite.

That's good for Rafter, who frequently gets into the tank to clean or feed the fish. On Saturday, visitors watched as she held out pieces of scallop and silverside for the sturgeon.

"It was really cool," said Nicholas Drechsler, 10, adding that it was the best part of his visit to the center. "It was cool that she fed them."

Robertson said she would happily volunteer to get in the tank to serve the fish lunch.

"I'd like to be able to do that," she said. "I'd like to be in there with them, as long as there are no sharks."

Her sister, Anna Robertson, 11, wasn't so sure.

"I'd rather be on the other side of the glass watching," she said.

VIA: DelmarvaNow.com

Some fees rise in Pocomoke fiscal plan

Taxes were set to remain the same in the 2011 budget, but some other fees are expected to rise.

The Pocomoke City mayor and council passed the $10 million budget, leaving the tax rate at the same level property owners paid for the past year -- 75 cents per $100 of assessed value on homes, 76 cents per $100 for other real estate.

Fees and charges that affect a majority of residents, such as water and sewer charges, will also remain the same.

Some fees, such as hearing fees and dock fees, are scheduled to increase.

A new ordinance which will impose a penalty for repeated false alarms has been studied and given the OK for a subsequent hearing.

According to City Manager Russell W. Blake, the Pocomoke Police Department responded to 180 false alarms in the past six months, an average of one per day. The fire and ambulance departments have also been hit by numerous false alarms.

The proposed ordinance would allow three violations within a calendar year. The fourth violation would result in a fine of $25 for residential alarms and the fifth violation would call for a $50 fine. Any commercial site that has a fourth alarm within the calendar year would be given a $50 fine and a $100 fine for the fifth alarm.

The council is considering renewing an agreement with a gas company.

Steve Ashcraft, vice-president of Eastern Shore Gas Co., met with the Council to request renewal of the gas company's franchise agreement. The 11-year agreement runs out in October.

VIA: DelmarvaNow.com

Charges Dropped in Cell Phone Recording Arrest

Sheriff says citizens have right to record police in public in most cases; Incident is under internal investigation; Citizen says she is now fearful of police.

Yvonne Shaw holds the cell phone she used to publicly record police who responded to an incident in her neighborhood. Ms. Shaw was arrested by Cpl. Patrick Handy of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office for "illegally intercepting his communication via cell phone camera." Shaw said that she began recording Handy and another deputy because he was cursing at her friend repeatedly and treating her in a disrespectful manner.

LEONARDTOWN, Md. (June 24, 2010) -- In the wake of an incident that involved the arrest of a woman who recorded a sheriff’s deputy with her cell phone during a noise complaint call more than a week ago, State’s Attorney Richard Fritz has said he will drop the charges against the defendant in the case.

Fritz said that in most cases police operating in the public have a reasonable expectation of being recorded; he added that the officer likely had probable cause to make the arrest for intercepting his communications but proving that in court beyond a reasonable doubt was unlikely.

Fritz, who said he did not view the cell phone recording made by Yvonne Shaw, said that from the charging documents he read the officer in question, Cpl. Patrick Handy, did nothing wrong in disbursing a disturbance June 12.

“I believe he was doing everything right,” Fritz told The County Times Wednesday.

Shaw, 27 of Great Mills, was relieved at the news.

“I’m very pleased at that; I didn’t think that I had done anything wrong,” Shaw said.

Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron also has said that citizens have the right to record events in public, including those that involve police officers, in most cases.

Cameron said there were cases where it was inappropriate for police to be recorded via either camera or by voice, such as when they were taking witness statements, but while in public there was a reasonable expectation that they might be recorded.

Cameron said that he had been seeking funding for years to get cameras installed in patrol cars to record events that could prove the innocence or guilt of an officer that had a complaint filed against them.“

I’m adamantly in favor of it,” Cameron said.

Cameron said that the incident that resulted in Shaw’s arrest by Handy for her recording his interaction with members of the Colony Square community in Lexington Park was continuing.

According to charging documents, Handy arrested Shaw for allegedly illegally intercepting his communication via cell phone camera June 12 and that she was making the recording to try showing police were harassing citizens.

Cameron said it was too early in the investigation to comment on whether Shaw’s arrest was inappropriate or whether the deputy should have confiscated her cell phone.

For her part, Shaw said the incident had left her fearful of the police.

In an interview Monday Shaw said that she began recording Handy and another deputy because she claimed that he was cursing at her friend repeatedly and treating her in a disrespectful manner.

When another deputy noticed that Shaw was recording Handy and his alleged profanities, Shaw said he came up to her and snatched the cell phone away and attempted to access the recordings on the phone.

“Handy was being so nasty that he didn’t notice I was recording him,” Shaw told The County Times. “He was in my phone for like 10 minutes.”

Shaw said that she has spoken with police investigators since the incident but declined to say exactly what those conversations were about. Cameron confirmed that investigators have been in contact with Shaw about the incident.

“To be honest I’m kind of scared,” Shaw said. “But you shouldn’t be afraid of the police.

“It’s really too much for me.”

Cameron said the case was a priority for investigators to complete.

“This case is important,” Cameron said. “I think the public is keen to see what happens.

“She’s got no reason to be afraid of him [Handy] or the police. But we’re aware of allegations from her and others.”

Cameron said that officers are not supposed to use profanity generally in the course of their duties.

“That’s not the conduct you want from your personnel,” Cameron said.

But the area that Shaw was in on the night her cell phone was seized has been a concern for police, Cameron said, and needed greater enforcement efforts to combat drug dealing, vagrancy, public alcohol consumption and trash dumping.

“There are a lot of problems there,” Cameron said, adding that residents there had pleaded with his agency for police help. “That community is being held hostage to a degree.”

RELATED INFORMATION

Maryland prosecutors hold different interpretations of state’s wiretapping law, Photography is Not a Crime Web site, June 24, 2010

VIA: SMO