Saturday Sunny 73° Local Weather Sunday Sunny 75° Thursday, October 18, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland By Guy Leonard Staff Writer By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Established 2006 • Volume 2 • Issue 42 • FREE By Adam Ross Staff Writer By Adam Ross Staff Writer By Adam Ross Staff Writer Op.-Ed .......... Page A - 4 Obituaries..... Page A - 7 Community... Page B - 1 Police ............ Page B - 4 Games........... Page B - 6 Classifieds..... Page B - 7 P IN E Y PO INT LIGH T H O U S E
P I N E Y P O I N T L I G H T H O U S E Thursday, October 18, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland Op.-Ed .......... Page A - 4 Obituaries..... Page A - 7 Community... Page B - 1 Police ............ Page B - 4 Games........... Page B - 6 Classifieds..... Page B - 7 For Continual News Updates Visit: somd.com Local Weather Friday Scat. T-Storms 77° PRSTD STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 145 Waldorf, MD Inside Established 2006 • Volume 2 • Issue 42 • FREE Saturday Sunny 73° Sunday Sunny 75° Thursday Partly Cloudy 79° County Times The Flu Shot B-1 By Adam Ross Staff Writer An increasing number of St. Mary’s County businesses have failed to comply with state guidelines designed to ensure a company is le- gally recognized by the state and is paying its taxes, according to James Hayden, an inspector for the county alcohol and beverage board. For years, some of the county’s bars and restaurants have operated with a liquor license in one name, and a trader’s license and charter’s license in another. The county’s al- cohol and beverage board brought the discrepancy forward this month’s after the state’s Comptroller Office found that The Roost Restaurant in Lexington Park was not in compli- ance. The Roost had a liquor license issued to an individual while its trad- er’s and charter licenses were issued to a corporation. “Making sure licenses are in the same name maintains a sense of se- curity that an upstanding citizen or business is operating,” said Christine Duray, deputy director of commu- nications at the state’s Comptroller office. Licenses have gone unchecked for years. In addition to The Roost, Hayden found approximately five other businesses with similar dis- crepancies, despite completing checks on just one third of all the county’s liquor license holders. Depending on the inconsistency, Hayden says the problem can cause taxes to be improperly levied. But the problem wasn’t previously un- covered until a business attempted to transfer its liquor license. The Roost operated this way for 12 years, and was only caught after owner Wil- liam A. Harris tried to transfer the li- quor license to a new owner. He was County Struggles to Identify Businesses By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Local pharmacists say a coming rule change in the way prices for Medicaid drugs are tabulated means they will either have to close their doors or stop seeing patients on the government subsidized program for medication. Southern Maryland independent pharmacists are ask- ing House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD 5 th ) to help push through a bill ensuring that they would re- ceive larger Medicaid reimbursements for the drugs they buy. They fear they will receive only a fraction of the pur- chase cost in Medicaid reimbursements if their bill does not pass, they said. Leo Mallard, co-owner of St. John’s Pharmacy in Hollywood, said the problem lies in the distribution net- work of drugs and the formula the federal government has devised to calculate the average manufacturer’s price for drugs. Some distribution networks ensure that drugs can be purchased at lower prices, while independent pharmacists must pay higher prices because, by law, they don’t have access to services like mail order for drugs. Mallard said that the government price formula takes into account all the distribution methods, drives down av- erage manufacturer’s prices and the reimbursement level, but leaves independent pharmacists to pay the highest costs. “Right now we make money but they’re about to change the formula,” Mallard said. “They’re using data sets that distort the realities of the marketplace. “And pharmacies that have to deal with that won’t stay in business or they won’t take Medicaid patients anymore.” A group of independent pharmacists held a press con- ference in La Plata last week to officially ask for Hoyer’s help in getting H.R. 3140, the bill they say will level the playing field, to a vote. The bill would exclude the lower cost distribution methods like mail order from the cost calculation for- mula that will go into effect Jan. 30, according to How- Independent Local Pharmacists Want Hoyer’s Help See Alcohol page A- See Radios page A-4 See Pharmacists page A-5 By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The president of the St. Mary’s County Fire Board says that the county’s firefighters need new mutual aid adios to communicate properly with other emergency responders from Charles and Calvert counties. The current system, he said, is not always com- patible and the lack of communication puts fire- fighters at risk when they are working together. John Nelson, president of the Fire Board and the 7 th District Volunteer Fire Department, sent a letter to the county’s Emergency Services Com- mittee Oct.2 asking them to forward their request to the Board of County Commissioners. The 24 requested radios would cost about $109,000, according to information from the Emer- gency Services Commission’s meeting minutes. The radios would be portable and hand held, Nelson said. The problems started about two years ago when the county purchased a then-new mutual aid radio system, Nelson said, that could not always be made to interface properly with radios from the two other Southern Maryland counties. “We now have a [GE] system and they [Charles and Calvert] have a Motorola system,” Nelson said. “The problem we’ve had for a couple of years is when we use the patch [method for con- necting the differing radios] and it doesn’t seem County Firefighters Want New Mutual Aid Radios Current system can’t interface well with Charles, Calvert By Adam Ross Staff Writer A Republican standoff on the Board of County Com- missioners Tuesday did little to diffuse the hiring of an assistant for John Savich, the county’s administrator, a position denied to his predecessor. Commissioner Kenneth Dement (R-Callaway) voted against the new full-time position, and Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) abstained. The board’s three Democrats voted in favor of adding the po- sition to government, and to appoint Sabrina Hecht, a Lt. Col. in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and a planner in Land Use and Growth Management, to fill it. Her salary of $73,000 will be funded from the commis- sioners’ reserve. Jarboe told The County Times Tuesday that although Savich is still the primary contact for county government department heads’, having an assistant gives him the op- portunity to delegate that responsibility – something Jar- boe is firmly against. “George Forrest had that dynamic,” Jarboe said of the last county administrator’s ability to work without an assistant, “and it was a good, successful dynamic.” Under former Commission President Thomas F. McKay in 2003, county government reorganized, elimi- nating the position of deputy administrator and four oth- ers high-profile jobs. Forrest had taken over as county administrator at that time, after serving as the deputy administrator. Forrest was removed as county administrator by a 3 to 1 vote in January, according to Jarboe, who wanted his contract renewed. The rest of the board, including Com- mission President Francis Jack Russell (D-Point Look- out) denied the vote ever happened, and insisted Forrest’s removal was out of his own desire to retire. At the time, Forrest confirmed that he was ready for retirement, but didn’t wish to comment on the reasoning behind it. County Dips Into Reserve to Fund New Full-Time Staffer Sabrina Hecht Named Chief-Of-Staff Despite Dissension on the Board See Hiring page A- By Adam Ross Staff Writer It’s an issue some St. Mary’s commissioners have said they would leave to the people, but Tuesday the board cut down any chance of a countywide referendum for transi- tioning to charter government. With a 4 to 0 vote, the commis- sioners decided to forgo the recom- mendation from the Forms of Gov- ernment Task Force to adopt charter government. Commission President Francis Jack Russell (D-Point Look- out) abstained. “I was the one that brought this to the table and encouraged the com- missioners to appoint the [task force], in fact some people have asked ‘why did you do it, and stir up that hornet’s nest?’” said Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) Tuesday. “The committee we appointed did an excellent job. Some of the them didn’t start out in favor of a charter, but were swayed by the testimony they heard, but as I get out, I don’t believe the public buys the fact that charter government is going to [less] expensive, [less] bureaucratic and [more] representative.” The commissioners would have needed three votes in favor of char- ter government to advance the pro- cess into its next gear - that would have included appointing a commit- tee to write the charter, and holding a countywide referendum. The coun- ty meanwhile, would have had to support the transition to charter by at least a two-thirds vote. Referendums have been held twice before, in 1972 and 1980, but both times the idea has been voted down. “I know what I’m hearing from the people,” said Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) an opponent of charter government who voted for the creation of the task force only so St. Mary’s County resi- dents could be educated and have a say. “People are very satisfied with local government. The issues we deal with are complicated, you can judge each person to the vote that are on public record. There are five people to make decisions, we come to a consensus, and people seem to like that form of government.” While the board shot down char- ter government, it advanced the in- vestigation of code home rule. With a 3 to 2 vote, the commissioners approved holding no less than four public hearings on changing from Charter Government Falls But Code Home Rule Still an Option See Option page A-4 County Administrator John Savich recruits a new assistant on the County’s dime. Photo Courtesy of St. Mary’s County Government
Transcript
PINEY POINT LIGHTHOUSEThursday, October 18, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland
Op.-Ed .......... Page A - 4Obituaries..... Page A - 7Community... Page B - 1Police ............ Page B - 4Games........... Page B - 6Classifieds.....PageB-7
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County TimesThe
Flu Shot B-1
By Adam RossStaff Writer
An increasing number of St. Mary’s County businesses have failed to comply with state guidelines designed to ensure a company is le-gally recognized by the state and is paying its taxes, according to James Hayden, an inspector for the county alcohol and beverage board.
For years, some of the county’s bars and restaurants have operated with a liquor license in one name, and a trader’s license and charter’s license in another. The county’s al-cohol and beverage board brought the discrepancy forward this month’s after the state’s Comptroller Office found that The Roost Restaurant in Lexington Park was not in compli-ance. The Roost had a liquor license issued to an individual while its trad-er’s and charter licenses were issued to a corporation.
“Making sure licenses are in the same name maintains a sense of se-curity that an upstanding citizen or business is operating,” said Christine Duray, deputy director of commu-nications at the state’s Comptroller office.
Licenses have gone unchecked for years. In addition to The Roost, Hayden found approximately five other businesses with similar dis-crepancies, despite completing checks on just one third of all the county’s liquor license holders.
Depending on the inconsistency, Hayden says the problem can cause taxes to be improperly levied. But the problem wasn’t previously un-covered until a business attempted to transfer its liquor license. The Roost operated this way for 12 years, and was only caught after owner Wil-liam A. Harris tried to transfer the li-quor license to a new owner. He was
County Struggles to Identify Businesses
By Guy LeonardStaff Writer
Local pharmacists say a coming rule change in the way prices for Medicaid drugs are tabulated means they will either have to close their doors or stop seeing patients on the government subsidized program for medication.
Southern Maryland independent pharmacists are ask-ing House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD 5th) to help push through a bill ensuring that they would re-ceive larger Medicaid reimbursements for the drugs they buy.
They fear they will receive only a fraction of the pur-chase cost in Medicaid reimbursements if their bill does not pass, they said.
Leo Mallard, co-owner of St. John’s Pharmacy in Hollywood, said the problem lies in the distribution net-work of drugs and the formula the federal government has devised to calculate the average manufacturer’s price for drugs.
Some distribution networks ensure that drugs can be purchased at lower prices, while independent pharmacists
must pay higher prices because, by law, they don’t have access to services like mail order for drugs.
Mallard said that the government price formula takes into account all the distribution methods, drives down av-erage manufacturer’s prices and the reimbursement level, but leaves independent pharmacists to pay the highest costs.
“Right now we make money but they’re about to change the formula,” Mallard said. “They’re using data sets that distort the realities of the marketplace.
“And pharmacies that have to deal with that won’t stay in business or they won’t take Medicaid patients anymore.”
A group of independent pharmacists held a press con-ference in La Plata last week to officially ask for Hoyer’s help in getting H.R. 3140, the bill they say will level the playing field, to a vote.
The bill would exclude the lower cost distribution methods like mail order from the cost calculation for-mula that will go into effect Jan. 30, according to How-
Independent Local Pharmacists Want Hoyer’s Help
See Alcohol page A-�
See Radios page A-4
See Pharmacists page A-5
By Guy LeonardStaff Writer
The president of the St. Mary’s County Fire Board says that the county’s firefighters need new mutual aid adios to communicate properly with other emergency responders from Charles and Calvert counties.
The current system, he said, is not always com-patible and the lack of communication puts fire-fighters at risk when they are working together.
John Nelson, president of the Fire Board and the 7th District Volunteer Fire Department, sent a letter to the county’s Emergency Services Com-mittee Oct.2 asking them to forward their request to the Board of County Commissioners.
The 24 requested radios would cost about $109,000, according to information from the Emer-gency Services Commission’s meeting minutes.
The radios would be portable and hand held, Nelson said.
The problems started about two years ago
when the county purchased a then-new mutual aid radio system, Nelson said, that could not always be made to interface properly with radios from the two other Southern Maryland counties.
“We now have a [GE] system and they [Charles and Calvert] have a Motorola system,” Nelson said. “The problem we’ve had for a couple of years is when we use the patch [method for con-necting the differing radios] and it doesn’t seem
CountyFirefightersWantNewMutualAid RadiosCurrent system can’t interface well with Charles, Calvert
By Adam RossStaff Writer
A Republican standoff on the Board of County Com-missioners Tuesday did little to diffuse the hiring of an assistant for John Savich, the county’s administrator, a position denied to his predecessor.
Commissioner Kenneth Dement (R-Callaway) voted against the new full-time position, and Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) abstained. The board’s three Democrats voted in favor of adding the po-sition to government, and to appoint Sabrina Hecht, a Lt. Col. in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and a planner in Land Use and Growth Management, to fill it. Her salary of $73,000 will be funded from the commis-sioners’ reserve.
Jarboe told The County Times Tuesday that although Savich is still the primary contact for county government department heads’, having an assistant gives him the op-portunity to delegate that responsibility – something Jar-
boe is firmly against. “George Forrest had that dynamic,” Jarboe said of
the last county administrator’s ability to work without an assistant, “and it was a good, successful dynamic.”
Under former Commission President Thomas F. McKay in 2003, county government reorganized, elimi-nating the position of deputy administrator and four oth-ers high-profile jobs. Forrest had taken over as county administrator at that time, after serving as the deputy administrator.
Forrest was removed as county administrator by a 3 to 1 vote in January, according to Jarboe, who wanted his contract renewed. The rest of the board, including Com-mission President Francis Jack Russell (D-Point Look-out) denied the vote ever happened, and insisted Forrest’s removal was out of his own desire to retire. At the time, Forrest confirmed that he was ready for retirement, but didn’t wish to comment on the reasoning behind it.
County Dips Into Reserve to FundNewFull-TimeStafferSabrina Hecht Named Chief-Of-Staff Despite Dissension on the Board
See Hiring page A-�
By Adam RossStaff Writer
It’s an issue some St. Mary’s commissioners have said they would leave to the people, but Tuesday the board cut down any chance of a countywide referendum for transi-tioning to charter government.
With a 4 to 0 vote, the commis-sioners decided to forgo the recom-mendation from the Forms of Gov-ernment Task Force to adopt charter government. Commission President Francis Jack Russell (D-Point Look-out) abstained.
“I was the one that brought this to the table and encouraged the com-missioners to appoint the [task force], in fact some people have asked ‘why did you do it, and stir up that hornet’s nest?’” said Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) Tuesday. “The committee we appointed did an excellent job. Some of the them didn’t start out in favor of a charter, but were swayed by the testimony they heard, but as I get out, I don’t believe the public buys the fact that charter government is going to [less] expensive, [less] bureaucratic and [more] representative.”
The commissioners would have needed three votes in favor of char-ter government to advance the pro-cess into its next gear - that would have included appointing a commit-tee to write the charter, and holding a countywide referendum. The coun-ty meanwhile, would have had to support the transition to charter by at least a two-thirds vote. Referendums have been held twice before, in 1972 and 1980, but both times the idea has been voted down.
“I know what I’m hearing from the people,” said Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) an opponent of charter government who voted for the creation of the task force only so St. Mary’s County resi-dents could be educated and have a say. “People are very satisfied with local government. The issues we deal with are complicated, you can judge each person to the vote that are on public record. There are five people to make decisions, we come to a consensus, and people seem to like that form of government.”
While the board shot down char-ter government, it advanced the in-vestigation of code home rule. With a 3 to 2 vote, the commissioners approved holding no less than four public hearings on changing from
Charter Government Falls But Code Home Rule Still an Option
See Option page A-4
County Administrator John Savich recruits a new assistant on the County’s dime.Photo Courtesy of St. Mary’s County Government
SectionA-� The County Times Thursday,October18,�007
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Do you spend yourweekends or free time fix-ingthingsaroundthehome?Many people do. We havebecome a do-it-yourself na-tion,spurredonbythemul-titudeoftelevisionprogramsandmagazinearticlestellingusjusthowtodoeverythingfrom building a bookcase
to refinishing a deck. While these projects may range indifficulty, they do share one commonelement:thechanceforinjury.
“Do-it-yourself projectscan be very rewarding tocomplete.ButmanyDIYersdiverightintoimprovements
withouttakingtherightsafe-typrecautions,”saysDonZe-man, home improvement ex-pertandhostofthenationallysyndicated “HomefrontwithDonZeman”radioprogram.“Withalittleknow-howandsome products that makeusing tools and other shopitems safer, the chance for
injurydropsdramatically.”Along with power-tool
injuries, falls, cuts and eyeinjuriestopthelistofpoten-tial hazards for ill-preparedDIYers. Woodcraft Sup-ply, LLC, the woodworkingindustry’s leading provideroftools,productsandeduca-tion,offersthefollowingtips
tokeepyou safe around thehouse.
SensorySafety
Being able to see, hearand breathe easily can pro-moteasafertimewhenwork-ing on projects. That’s whyone of the first steps to take istoprotectthemostimpor-tant tool for ado-it-yourselfproject.you.
•Protectiveeyewearisamustwhendoinganyrepair.Combining the flying dust anddebrisprotectionofgog-
gleswiththehardframeanddistortion-free lens of spec-tacles, the Spoggle is veryunique protective eyewear.Theframeof theSpoggle iscushionedagainstthefacebyasoftlaminatedfoamgasket(muchlikeskigogglefoam)to provide a comfortablebut tight dust-free fit. The product meets OSHA/ANSIstandards for primary eyeprotection.
•Thedustcreatedwhenusingpowertoolsisnotjustanuisance,itcanbehazardousto your health. So, whetheryou’reoperatingatablesaw,router, or sander a respira-tor is the solution.Considerthe Triton Powered Respi-rator for complete personalprotection.
•Hearingprotectioncansafeguard the delicate audi-tory system. Routine use ofloud power tools can con-tribute to hearing loss pre-maturely.Whenworkingin-doors,thesoundoftoolsmaybe amplified and cause even moredamage.
• Working safely alsomeans being able to seeclearlywhatyou’reworkingon. Therefore, task lightingshouldbeonyourlistofsafe-tyequipment.AnitemlikeaMagnetic or Clip-On BaseWork Light allows you toplaceilluminationjustaboutanywhere. The 360-degreeswivelheadandjointedarmadjuststolightanyworkareawithupto60watts.
ProtectYourDigits
Someofthemostappar-ent dangers associated withwoodworking and other do-it-yourselfprojectsisthepo-tential for cuts and amputa-tionsfromcuttingedgesandcontusions or broken bonesfrom kickback of stock.That’s why it is always es-sential to keep fingers and handsawayfrombladesandother fast-moving machin-ery.Pushsticks,pushblocksand feather boards help theDIYeraccomplishthis.
• A feather board is ausefultoolwhencuttingthinstockormakingan intricatebeadwitha router. It servesas an extra pair of hands, keepingthewoodinplaceona table saw or router table.Many woodworkers rely ontheMiterSlotFeatherBoard.Withtwolockingscrews,notjust one, this feather boardholds securely in a standard3/8-inch by 3/4-inch miterslot.ForDIYerswhoneedamore flexible feather board, try theMagswitchMagneticFeatherboard that can beplaced anywhere on a steeltableorfencesurface.
•Kickbacksoccurwhena saw seizes the stock andhurlsitbackattheoperator,resulting in any number ofbodily injuries. Kickbackscan happen when the stocktwists and binds against thesideofthebladesoriscaughtin the teeth. A blade that isnot sharpened, or that is setat an incorrect height, cancause kickbacks. Anti-kick-backdevicescanbeusedonsaws to stop this problem.Anti-Kickback Safety Roll-erscomecompleteandreadyto install on your fence orfixture. Yellow rollers rotate inaclockwisedirectionandwillnotrotatecounter-clock-wise,preventingkickbackontablesawsandroutertables.
• A push stick or pushblock can keep your fingers awayfromthecuttingbladeasyoufeedtheendofstockthrough.Forevenbettercon-trol,trytheAdvancedGRR-RipperÆ System that gripsand holds both sides of awork piece during a rippingoperation.Theproductmain-tains balanced pressure onthewoodasitpassesthroughandbeyondtheblade
Continued Bridge Inspection Scheduled for the Weekends of Oct. 20 and 27; Motor-ists Will Be Guided Across Bridge via Flag-ging Operation. This weekend, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is resuming its bridge inspection along the MD 4 Bridge over the Patuxent River, also known as the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge. The bridge inspec-tion will take place over the last two weekends in Oct., weather permitting. The bridge, origi-nally constructed in 1977, carries two lanes of traffic between Calvert and St. Mary’s counties along MD 4. To alert motorists of the upcom-ing work, SHA will place variable message signs along MD 2/4 and MD 235 advising of the upcoming lane closures. The bridge in-spection is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20; Sunday, Oct. 21; Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sun-
day, Oct. 28 between daylight and 12 Noon. Motorists will be guided via a flagging opera-tion across the bridge. SHA is also continuing its minor aluminum joint replacement project. Nighttime work is scheduled Sunday through Thursday, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.; motorists using the bridge during this time will be directed across the bridge via a flagging operation. During the day, temporary steel plates will cover the roadway joints under construction, along with temporary, cold-patch asphalt seals at the end of the each joint. Both lanes will remain open during daytime hours. Weather permitting, this work will be complete later this fall. SHA thanks motorists for their patience and coop-eration. Any questions about this project or others along State-numbered routes may be directed to SHA’s District 5 Office at 410-841-1000 or toll-free at 1-800-331-5603.
State Highway Administration To Temporarily Shift Traffic Along The Thomas Johnson Bridge In Southern Maryland
By Guy LeonardStaff Writer
Detectives with the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) are searching for suspects in the theft of $6,000 worth of copper wire from a Verizon facility in Leonardtown last week.
Sgt. Steve Hall, spokes-man for the sheriff’s office, said that there have been at least two other thefts of cop-per in the county within the past month-and-a-half.
“It’s been a mass hysteria across the U.S. because of the high price of copper,” Hall said. “Everybody from every-where is stealing to sell.”
Lt. Rick Burris, com-mander of BCI told The Coun-ty Times said that the culprits gained access to a supply yard at the Verizon facility October 8 and plundered the copper from a fenced in area.
The thieves made off with about 28,000 feet of the mate-rial, Burris said.
“It’s quite a bit,” Burris
said.According to reports from
the Web site Bloomberg.com, which tracks prices of pre-cious metals and other finan-cial data, copper costs nearly $4 a pound on the open mar-ket. In 2003, just four years ago, the price of copper was under $1 a pound.
Economists link the rise in copper prices to an economic and building boom in coun-tries like China, which needs more metal to fuel growth.
A similar crime occurred last month in Charles County, where thieves made off with bronze vases from grave plaques at Trinity Memorial Gardens in Waldorf.
Investigators there believe that the thieves took the vases for their resale value to scrap metal dealers.
Thieves took as many as 100 vases as well as other grave goods that had pre-cious metal contents from the cemetery.
Kristen Timko, spokes-woman for the Charles Coun-ty Sheriff’s Office, said that investigators have yet to make
arrests in the grave theft case.Burris said there was no
indication as yet that the two crimes were connected in anyway.
Detectives are also in-vestigating two residential burglaries that have occurred in the Queen Tree Road in Oakville.
Police confirmed their in-vestigation after the County Times was contacted by con-cerned citizens who live near where the break-ins occurred.
Both burglaries occurred at two separate homes on Oct. 8 and just a few days later on Oct. 11, according to Lt. Terry Black, commander of the sher-iff’s office patrol division.
Investigators have no sus-pects in the burglaries as yet, Black said, adding that money was stolen from at least one home and two reproduction black powder revolvers were stolen as well.
“We’re actively investigat-ing these [residential] burglar-ies… we’re always looking for citizen tips,” Black said.
Investigators On The Lookout For Copper ThievesResidential burglaries also under investigation
The following officer was recognized as Officer of the Quarter for the Second Quarter of 2007. Deputy First Class William J. Rishel has proven himself to be a valuable member of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy First Class Rishel is a dedicated, enthusiastic officer that never complains about an assignment and volunteers first for just about everything. He has even at times left his patrol to assist with calls for service that were of an emergency nature or holding in other areas of the county. Deputy First Class Rishel took this initiative without having to be asked. He helps other officers get their work done and he is most always the first person to arrive for roll call. During the months of April and May, he carried the most calls answered and arrests.
Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron takes great pleasure in recognizing Deputy First Class William J. Rishel as the Deputy Sheriff of the Second Quarter of 2007 for his dedication to the agency and the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
Sheriff Department Names Officer Of The Quarter
SectionA-� The County Times Thursday,October18,2007
St.Mary’sCountyissteeped inhistoryand tradi-tion;noneaswellknownastheSt.Mary’sCountyOys-ter Festival. The nationallyknownfolkfestival,thisyearin its 41st year, celebratestheopeningofoysterseasonon the Chesapeake Bay andhonors themen and womenwhomaketheirlivingonthelocalwaters.Startedin1967by the Lexington Park Ro-tary Club the event first drew just under 1,000 attendees.Todaythisweekendoffood,fun and fellowship drawsmore than 20,000 visitors,manyfromotherareasofthe
country. Notonlydoes thisfestival draw attention to amajorpartofourlocalhisto-ry,italsohasbecomeahugetourismdrawforSt.Mary’sCounty.
This year’s eventwillbeheldOctober20thand21st and will feature oystersfried, scaldedandstewedaswellasmanyotherlocalspe-cialties.Anewworldcham-pion will be crowned Sun-day at the National OysterShuckingContest.Saturdaythe National Oyster CookOff will delight your tastebuds.Bothdaysarepackedwith entertainment for the
whole family. Saturday’shours are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.Sunday’s hours will be 11a.m. - 6 p.m. Visitors over12 years of age are chargedanadmissionof$5.00. Theproceeds of this wonderfulevent benefit local charities andvariouslocalserviceandcivicorganizations. Plan tobringthewholefamilytotheonlyeventwhereslurpingisgoodmanners!
AGreatSt.Mary’sTradition
towork.”The system fails when county firefighters
leaveSt.Mary’stogoassistinemergencycallsinoneoftheothertwocounties,Nelsonsaid.Ifeither county’s firefighters come to St. Mary’s the radio system seems to functionproperly,hesaid.
Onerecentincidentwheretheradiomal-function put firefighters at risk was on a fire call in Calvert County, Nelson said, whereCalvert firefighters gave an evacuation signal overtheradiosthatdidnotregisterwiththeSt.
Mary’spersonnelcalledintoassist.“They sounded the fire evacuation and out
guysdidn’thearit,”Nelsonsaid.“Therehavebeen several other incidents where we can’ttalktotheothercounties.
“It’s a fire safety issue.”Communication was critical on the fire
ground, Nelson said, so firefighters could avoid dangerousconfusion.
CountyCommissionerThomasMattingly(D-Leonardtown) said that the public safetydirectors fromeachof the threecountiesareplanningmeetingstodiscusshowtosolvethe
“Thereappearstobeaproblemwithtrain-ingofthepeopleattheconsoleswhohavetoestablishthepatches…theremaybeaproblemwith either trainingor retraining,”Mattinglysaid.“We’retryingtoseeifthere’sarealneedtospendthemoney.”
Economicconcernsamongmanufacturersof theequipmentoftendidnotcoincidewiththe interoperability needs of the fire service, Fairfaxsaid.
“Theymaketheirproductsandtheydon’tgive a hoot about interoperability,” Fairfaxsaid. “It’s a major hassle because you don’twanttofavoroncompanybecauseA,BandCbought them first.”
Raleyhadoriginallymadethemotiontoacceptadvancingcodehomerulewithjusttwopublic hearings. But Commissioner ThomasA. Mattingly Sr. (D-Leonardtown) said hewouldn’tsupportthemotionunlesstherewereno less thanfourpublichearings,so that thecommunitycouldgettoknowtheissuebetterandhavetheirquestionsanswered.
“I don’t mean to belabor or delay thiswholeinitiative,”Mattinglyadded,“Ijusdon’tthink thegeneralpublichadhadenoughop-portunity toexpress theirviews.” In reality,thecountyhasplentyof time tomakeade-cision. Codecouldn’tbeadopteduntil2010.Oncethepublichearingprocessconcludes,thecommissionerswillhavetohaveatleastfourvotes in favorofcodehomerule for it tobeimplemented.
Six Maryland counties currently operateundercodehomerule;anoptionthat40per-centof the15-member formsofgovernmenttask forcewas in supportof. ElmerBrown,JohnMadel,andRichard“Dick”Gass, fromthe task force supported code. Code is lessdrastic of a change than charter governmentbecauseitkeepsauthoritytoaboardofcountycommissioners. Itdoeshowever,allowlocallawstobeenactedwithoutstateapproval–oneoftheprimaryreasonstheissuewasbroughtfourth.
“[Code]wouldnotimpactthestructureofthe commissioners or daily operations,” saidPatrickB.MurphyinanAugustmeetingwiththe commissioners. “It’s purely a legislativechange.”
From 2004 to 2006, approximately halfof the local laws sent toAnnapoliswereen-acted, according to statisticsgatheredby thetaskforce.Whilenotinallcases,manytimes,statepoliticiansareforcedtomakedecisionsinavacuumbecausetheyareunfamiliarwithSt.Mary’s regionalpriorities. Thisoften leavessmallinitiativesinlimbo.
Task force members against code homerulehaveciteditasmuckyreformunendorsedbythecourtsystem.
CharlesCountycurrentlyoperatesundercode home rule, along with five other counties. EightMarylandcountiesarecommissioncon-trolled,andninearecontrolledbyacharter.
OptionContinued from page A-�
ByGuyLeonardStaffWriter
The public is coming outtonight todiscuss the fateof thecontroversial Rowing Center/RiverCenterprojectatSt.Mary’sCollege,thecollegeitselfisonahighsecurityalertbecauseofper-ceivedthreatsofarsonagainstthenew facility and the communitygroupthatadvocatesmovingtheboathouseportionof theprojectis wondering how the situationhasbecomesotense.
Gladys Siegel, a member ofthegroupCitizensforthePreser-vationofHistoricSt.Mary’sCity,said that in theweek leadinguptotonight’smeetingshehasbeendelugedwithcallsseekinginfor-mationonthegathering.
Butnotallofthemhavebeenfriendly,shesaid.
Intwoinstancesshesaidsheand her group were verbally at-tackedbecause the talk of arsonhad been unfairly linked to thepreservationists,shesaid.
Siegel said she was able toresolvetheissueswiththeangrycallers,however.
The controversy came to aheadwhenthenewsWebsiteforalocaltabloidnewspaperpublisheda commentary stating that therehadbeenstatementsmadebyresi-dentsopposedtothedevelopmentthatitshouldbeburneddown.
In the article itwaswritten:“Many around the area openlystate that it ought to be burneddown but arson is never a goodidea.”
“It’s absolutely ridiculous,”Spiegel said. “Not one of ourgrouphasevermentionedanyofthosethings.”
Soon after the statements
posted on the Web site, the col-lege’s response was significant.
The administration has in-creased surveillance aroundthe project and increased secu-ritypatrolsthereafterconsultingwithlocallawenforcementaboutthe potential threats to the newfacility.
College president MargaretO’ Brien sent e-mails to collegestudents asking members of thecommunity to be vigilant andwatchout for any suspicious ac-tivity around the constructionsite.
O’Brien told The CountyTimes the administration hadbeen aware of threats of arsonsinceAugust.
“The profile shows that arson-istsoften feelcalled toacause,”O’Briensaidof lawenforcementadvicetheadministrationhadre-ceived.“We’renotinclinedtobebuffeted by intimidation… theworst thing that could happenwould be if harm actually wasdone.”
Construction continues onthe River Center portion of theproject,whiletheRowingCenterprojecthasbeencompleted.
The preservationists havebeen circulating a petition inthe community for Gov. MartinO’Malley to issue a stop workorder on the River Center por-tionandmovetheotherbuildingtoanothersitethatdoesnotblockthevistaalongRoute5.
Areportfromanadhoccom-mittee thatwas tocomeupwithrecommendations as to whetherthe Rowing Center should bemovedcouldnotcomeaconsen-susandforwardedtheirreporttothecollege’sBoardofTrustees.
The report revealed somestrong views about the project’scurrentlocation.
“Verystrongandhighlyemo-tional opinions in favor of mov-ing theRowingCenterwere ex-pressedbysomemembersofthe
committee,”thereportstated,andfurtherstatedthat“somecommit-teemembersfeel there isa levelofskepticismconcerningthecol-lege’sactionsandintent.
“Some committee membersbelieve that unless the RowingCenter is relocated torestore theviewshed, there is thepossibilitythat trust of the college will benegativelyimpacted.”
“Sacrificing functionality by moving the Rowing Center fur-ther from the water to restore asmallsectionof theoverallviewoftheriverwouldbeamistake,”thereportstated.
Joe Dick, of Scotland andowner of St. Michael’s Manor,said that he was neutral in hisfeelingsabouttheprojectwhenhesatonthecommitteebutthoughtthatmanygoodideascameaboutthatcouldbecompromises.
One,whichdidnotmakeittothe final cut of the report, was to switch the places of the parkinglotandtheadjacentRowingCen-
In themeantime,Siegel saidsheandhergroupwantthemeet-ing set for the Ridge VolunteerFire Department at 6:30 p.m. togoaheadsmoothlyandallowforallsidestobeheardontheissue.
“It’s gotten absolutelyout ofhand,” Siegel said of the threatsandtheheightenedsecurityatthecollege.“We’recallingforcalm…let’ssitdownandtalkaboutthisasadults.”
TensionLeadsUpToTonight’sRowingCenterMeeting
Construction continues on the River Center portion of a controversial project at St. Mary’s College of Maryland that has some St. Mary’s City residents complaining the scenic vista of the river is hindered. The Rowing Center (foreground) has already been completed.
Photo by Guy Leonard
Thursday, October 18, 2007 The County Times Section A - �
St. Mary’s City
By Guy LeonardStaff Writer
Officials with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are on the lookout for deer infected with a disease called EHD-2 that is spreading through the some 250,000 deer in Maryland.
Brian Eyler, Deer Project Lead-er, told The County Times that the disease, which can be fatal to deer, could affect hunting in isolated areas where the infection is detected.
So far there have only been about 75 deer reported infected with EHD-2, a hemorrhagic disease passed by biting gnats that can cause serious tissue and organ damage in deer, in St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert and
Prince George’s County, Eyler said.“To a hunter it [the drop in deer
population] might not be negligible in that local area,” Eyler said. “A hunter might see a decline in the deer population for one to possibly two years.”
Eyler said some scientists believe that the current drought conditions in Southern Maryland could contribute to the spread of the disease.
As the water sources dry up and deer have to congregate in closer proximity to each other at whatever water spots are left, gnats surround-ing them can bite and infect more deer with the disease.
The disease is not communi-cable between deer, Eyler said, but can only be passed through what are
called “no-see-um” gnats that are so tiny they can barely be seen, if at all.
George Timko, a deer biologist with DNR, said the disease can cause ulcers on the pads of the mouth and the tongue of the deer as well cracks on the cervids’ hooves.
The disease, which is similar to a condition called blue tongue disease, also causes fever and organ damage, Timko said.
Deer who succumb to the dis-ease are often found near water; drinking as much as they can to try and cool off.
“We don’t advise any hunter to harvest and consume any sick ani-mal,” Timko said. “But if the deer has survived the disease… there’s
no evidence that it can harm the hunter.”
However, according to published facts about the disease from DNR, deer that exhibit outward signs of the diseases like sores and ulcers can de-velop secondary infections.
Deer harvested that have these signs should not be processed and eaten, the DNR warned.
Jim Swift, a DNR employee who works on Patuxent River Naval Air Station, said that there have been no reports of the disease on station so far this year and that the deer herd there is running strong.
“It’s the highest we’ve seen it in 10 years,” Swift said, adding that the disease can cause mortality rates as high as 25 to 50 percent in severe
cases. According to published facts
from DNR, deer who suffer from the disease initially lose their appetite as well as their fear of man and grow weaker and weaker.
Excessive salivation is also a sign of the disease — most fatalities occur in the late summer and early fall months — as well as shortness of breath and a comatose state.
Deer that are found dead this time of year without visible injuries should be considered possible EHD cases and reported to DNR.
Eyler said that the disease usual-ly breaks out about every five years, with the last large outbreak occur-ring in 2002.
2007 was the expected year for the disease to make its comeback, he said.
“We were due,” Eyler said.
Keep Safety In Mind With Halloween Hijinx
It’s that time of year when ghosts and ghouls frolic with witches and
vampires. Towns are transformed by jack-o-lanterns offering their
Cheshire cat grins, while homes are awash in Autumn hues and dotted
with spider webs and garden gravestones.
Halloween is a magical time for kids, but it’s also a time of year where safety should be as much a priority as collecting candy.
Scare TacticsIn advance of Halloween, follow this advice.
q Help children choose costumes that will be safe. Hems should be rea-sonably cut so that tripping will not occur, and proper footwear should be worn.
q Masks can be hot and obscure vision. Consider water-based, hypoal-lergenic face paints instead. Use caution when applying around the eyes.
q Stock up on glow sticks or flash lights children can carry. This way they’ll be able to illuminate the way when dusk falls. They’ll also be more visible to other pedestrians and drivers. Inexpensive flash lights are often sold at home centers and supermarkets. What’s more, they typically come in orange - perfect for Halloween.
q Map out an area that the children are allowed to visit, one you feel is safest. Set curfews. One safe option is to plan to take trick-or-treaters to a shopping or strip mall, where store owners often oblige candy-seeking children. It’s well lit and public enough to improve the safety odds.
While a home can be decked out to fit with the Halloween theme, it should also be safe enough to welcome visitors to the door.
q Take the time to identify and remove tripping hazards leading to the doorway. These may include flower pots, decorations, garden hoses, etc.
q A spooky appeal is one thing, but your front door and walkway should be well lit enough for trick-or-treaters to make their way safely.
q Animals may be extra jumpy or weary on Halloween - they’re simply not used to the added activity. Keep your pets locked safely in another room so they won’t lunge for the door, or worse, get outside.
q Consider purchasing non-food fun treats for those who come a-call-ing. They’ll be safer and more fun alternatives to sugar-laden candies. Or, healthy, individually wrapped foods can be another unique idea.
q Keep a first aid kit fully stocked and nearby in the event of accidents. It is also a good idea to learn CPR and The Heimlich Maneuver as extra precaution for children who are gobbling up treats en route to your door.
House of Horrors?
It’s easier to control safety at home, but while out and about, there may be inadvertent dangers.
q Explain that children should remain on the sidewalk or illuminated paths. They should know the danger of darting out into the street or across driveways and alleys. Drivers can have a difficult time making out children in the twilight.
q Obey all local traffic and pedestrian regulations, such as crossing at crosswalks.
q Assign a chaperone, either you or perhaps an older sibling, who can accompany younger children. Don’t let young kids go out alone.
q Children should not enter the homes of strangers. Be sure they are aware of this rule.
q Inform children not to indulge in their treats before they get home.
Once trick or treating is over, the safety measures continue.
q Treats need to be thoroughly checked by an adult when children get home. Tampering is rare, but proper precautions should always be tak-en.
q Divide up the candy so that it can be enjoyed over the course of days following Halloween, and not just gorged on the day after.
q Make sure treats are age-appropriate, and keep candy out of the reach of young children. Some may pose a choking hazard.
After the Pillaging
Roughly 40 million costume-clad tricksters, ranging in ages from 5 to 14, take to the streets each year in search of Halloween booty. With so much volume in areas across the country on one particular day, and the naivete of this target age group, the responsibility falls on parents and other well-minded adults to ensure Halloween is a safe time for trick-or-treaters. There are measures to take whether you’re manning the door or escorting the
troops around town, in addition to general tips to heed. Check off each item as you complete the task.
Haunting the ‘Hood
State On The Watch For Debilitating Deer Disease
ard Schiff, executive director of the Maryland Pharmacists Association.
That means that there would be a fair and accurate reimbursement system for in-dependent and retail pharma-cists, according to Schiff.
Stephanie Lundberg, spokeswoman for Hoyer’s of-fice, said the majority leader understood the pharmacists’
plight.“Congressman
Hoyer is completely sympathetic to the concerns of indepen-dent pharmacists re-
garding Medicaid reimburse-ments,” Lundberg said. “He’s hopeful Congress can address this issue in timely fashion.”
Lundberg said the key to passage of the bill would be for Congress to find a source of funding to ensure pharma-cists got a fair reimbursement for drugs.
Jon Johnson, manager at
County Drug in La Plata, said that 36 percent of his business comes from Medicaid patients and the passage of the legisla-tion was critical to keeping his doors open to them.
He said community phar-macies offer a more personal-ized service to many senior citizens who have come to trust them. Services like free delivery of medication were important to many elderly customers who were also Medicaid consumers, John-son said.
“They require more than
PharmacistContinued from page A-�
just handing them the medica-tion and sending them out the door,” Johnson said. “What we’re asking for is a level playing field.
“You cannot lose money on every sale and make it up in volume.”
Marie-Therese Oyalowo, an independent pharmacist in Bowie, said the close person-al service she now provides is threatened by the coming rules change if the correcting legislation is not enacted.
“I have the personal satis-
faction of making a difference in someone’s life,” Oyalowo said. “If they reimburse us lower than the drug prices we are paying, then how are we supposed to stay open?”
Solomons Island "+9 min." "+83 min."Photo by Guy Leonard
Ed Kerns, co-owner and head pharmacist at St. John’s Pharmacy in Hollywood inspects some prescription medica-tion before being dolled out. Independent pharmacists are calling for passage of a bill that would increase their Medicaid reimbursements for medication.
SectionA-� The County Times Thursday,October18,2007
Photo by Adam Ross
Ramblings of a Country Girl
OddNews
PersonalMuseum
TerriBartzBowles
We’ve been working oncleaningoutourgarage.Oneof my co-workers mused atthe futility of the task sinceit’s just going to get messyagain. I agreewith that.Theproblemis,wejustcan’tstuffany more junk in it, so it’s
timetocleanitoutandmakespace.Then,inayearorso,we’ll have some more funcleaningitoutagain.It’shardworkcleaningoutthegarage,andatestofhowwellyouandyourspousegetalong.Italsoinvolves a surprisingamountofemotion.
The physical work is
goodforyouandyoufeellikeyou’re accomplishing some-thing as you pull stuff outandsort it intovariouspiles.You’retiredat theendofthedaybutit’sthatgoodtiredyouget from physical exertion.Youlookatwhatyou’vedoneforthedayandyoufeelacer-tainamountofprideandac-
complishment. You think toyourself, why don’t we keepitclean,whydowe let itgettothisstage?Butthenyou’ddeny yourself that ‘comple-tionof a daunting task’ feel-ingthatissonice.Isitworthit?No,butit’sthebestIcancomeupwith.
You look at the stuff
you’vesortedoutandwonderwhyyouhaveallthesethings.WhydidIsavethat?WhatamI evergoing todowith this?What purpose did that everserve?Arewereallygoingtousethis,Imean,ever?Whatwere we thinking when webought that? Hmm, I thinksomebody gave us that butwe’veneverused,sowhykeepit?It’sgreatifyoucanagreeontheanswerstotheseques-tions,butlet’sfaceit,that’snotgoingtohappen100%ofthetime. And it’s always easiertowanttogetridoftheotherperson’s stuff and call yourownvaluableandworthkeep-ing.MyhusbandandIdon’tliketoseethingsgotowaste.We’resaversandrescuersandrecyclers.Wemadetwotripstorecyclingandhadoneloadoftrash.Wealsomadeatrip(loaded down!) to the thriftstore. That was all relativelyeasy.Thegaragewassobad,wewereinclinedtogetridofthings to make room. Aftertheinitialbigsweep, though,it gets harder. There arethings that aren’t quite goodenoughtodonateandtheyaretoo good to throw away, butwedon’tneedthem.Whatdowedowiththem?Andwhataboutthestuffthatoneortheotherofuswantstogetridofbut the other one stands fastandwantstokeep?Andwhatif you convince your spouseandyougetridoftheoffend-ingitemonlytowant/needitsixmonthsfromnow?Thatis
neverpretty.Theemotionscomefrom
remembering where or howyou got something, that de-fensive posture as you fight to keepit,thefrustrationasyouarguetogetridofit. You’retired of the mess and tiredfromworkingandnervesareonedge.Youloseallsenseofreasonandyou’rereadytoputyour spouse in the recyclingpile.That’swhen it’s time toput the offending item asideandmoveontomoreneutraltasking.Istartedtothinkthatthe stuff in our garages, at-tics,storageareasisallakindof personalmuseum. It sortof defines us. These are the things that are important tome.ThisisthekindofstuffIwanttosave,Idon’twantthesethings lost forever. Someofit makes sense and some ofitdoesn’t. Igenerallybelievethat we all have too muchstuffand thestuffweighsusdown. But I’ll fight you tooth and nail over some of mystuff. Itmight look like junktoyoubutitmeanssomethingtome.Itmightnotmakeanysense, itmightnot serveanypurpose, but I want to keepit.Andallmy stuff isworthkeeping.Unlikesomeof thatstuffmydearhusbandwantstokeep…….hmm,Ithinkit’snegotiation time. You keepthis, I’ll keep this and we’llget ridof that.Deal? Great.Now,what about that pile ofjunkoverthere?
DESTIN,Fla.–Sixfriendsgotmorethanwhattheybar-gainedforwhentheyhookedan844-poundsharkintheGulfofMexico.Thegroupwasaboarda52-footcharterboatlookingtocatchgrouper70milessouthwestoftheFloridaPanhandleas part of a fishing tournament. To pull the shark in took Adlee BrunerandfriendsmorethananhourSaturday,butuponmak-ingitbackhometheylearnedtheircatchwasarecordforthedecades-old Destin Fishing Rodeo. Bruner has fished for 40 years, but never seen a fish that big, he said. The mako shark was first spotted eating grouper and scamp they had hooked. Oneoftheteammembershookedatwo-footamberineonasbaitandtossedintothewater.Thesharkeventuallycaughtonandgaveuponceitstailwasroped.Buteventhen,thesharkwasimpossibletogetintheboat.Thementiedittothesternandtoweditbacktoland.Afterthesharkwasgutted,itstillweighed638pounds,breakingthetournament’sprevioussharkdivisionrecordby338pounds.
SEATTLE – An NBC television camera affixed to a wire that hung above the field in Sunday night’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks collapsed, nearlyhittingtwoSeattleplayersandcausinga10-minutedelay.Thecrashing camera came after a Saints timeout with 11:24 re-maining in the first quarter. The camera slumped and fell a fewyardsfromquarterbackMattHasselbeckandtherestofthehuddlingSeahawks.NBCpersonnelrightedthecamera,butsoonafter,itfellagainnearlyhitBobbyEngram,aSeahawkreceiverwhowaswalking to the sideline. Not surprisingly,the Seahawks lost the game 28-17, and left their home field to aslewofboos’.Hasselbecksaidafterthegameitmusthavenot been the Seahawks night. Game officials cleared the field after the camera’s second fall and gave the network time to fix theproblem.SeahawksheadcoachMikeHolmgrenstaredatthecamerainwhatappearedtobedisbeliefasthecamerawastestedforsafety.
MONTERREY,Mexico–AMexicanpriestpunchedapo-licemanwhocaughthimdrivingdrunkenlythroughthestreetsofthenortherncityofMonterrey.PriestManuelRaulOrtegawasnotwearingaclericaldressbutclutchedaprayerbookasthe traffic cop pulled him over earlier this week. Ortega al-legedly launched himself at the traffic cop and punched him, landinghimabriefstintbehindbars.Hewasreleasedafewhours after his arrest after paying his fines for the offenses. Monterrey is in themidst of clampingdownonwidespreaddrunkendrivingfueledfromtequilaandbeer-fueledlunchesandparties.
WOODLAND,Calif.–Adentistaccusedoffondling27female patients is trying to keephis dental licenseby argu-ingthatchestmassagesareanappropriateprocedureincertaincases.MarkAndersonisthedentistinquestion.Hisattorneysaysdentaljournalsdiscusstheneedtomassagethepectoralmusclestotreatacommonjawproblem.PolicesayAndersonsaidduring recordedphonecalls thathe routinelymassagedpatients’cheststotreattemporo-mandibularjointdisorder,orTMJ,whichcausesneckandheadpain.TheattorneytoldanadministrativelawjudgeatahearingthatheshouldletAnder-sonkeephisdental license. Andersonwouldbesupervised,andnolongerabletodothechestrubs,ifthepleaisaccepted.Anderson’sdentallicensewassuspendedlastmonth.Hewaschargedwithtwomisdemeanorcountsofbatteryandsexualbattery.Meanwhile,YoloCountyprosecutorsareinvestigatingmore than two-dozencomplaints fromwomenwhosay theywere also groped in Anderson’s chair over the last five years.
subpoenaedtothealcohol beverageboardandgiven30days to make thenecessary namechanges to avoid
anactualtransfer,whichinvolveslegaladvertis-ing,signedandcompletedapplication,healthandfire marshal approval, licensing and occupancy permits.
Nowtheattentionturnstowherethesystemfailed.Trader’slicensesareissuedbytheMary-landcircuitcourtswhilecountyalcoholbeverageboards issue liquor licenses. According to Du-ray,thecountydroppedtheballbynotdoingthechecks and alerting the comptroller’s office when aninconsistencywasfound.Shedidn’tthinkrun-ning everything through the comptroller’s office wouldbeaviablesolutionbecauseitwouldforcebusinessownerstoAnnapolisforminorthings.
“[The system] is working; it’s not per-fect,” Duray added. “I’m sure there could beimprovements.”
Haydenblamesasystemboggeddownbybu-reaucracy.PatriciaInsleyhowever,theSt.Mary’sCounty Alcohol Beverage Board administrator,said the comptroller’s office is likely the culprit.
“They’re theones thatarefollowing it,”shesaid. “They file for the corporation and get a copy ofthatlisteveryrenewaltime.Thecomptrollerknowsifthereareanychanges,sotheyshouldbetheonesthathaveitbeforewedo.”
Inotherbusiness,27indi-vidualswerecitedinSeptemberfor driving under the influence ofalcohol,accordingtodeputyEmory Johnson, the county’salcohol enforcement coordina-tor. One of the citations wasissuedtoaminor.Therewere19 violations issued to indi-viduals with a controlled sub-stance. Twenty-five bars and restaurants were given a ran-dom compliance check, threeofwhichsoldalcoholtoanun-derage informantpossessingafake identification card.
AlcoholContinued from page A-�
Through the late 1980s,andmostofthe1990s,deputycounty administrators as-sisted county administrators,andactedinasimilarcapacityasHechtwill.WhileForrestlastedwithoutanassistant,heformallyrequestedoneinlastyear’s budget. Savich pulledtherequestuntilhehadmoretime to evaluate the demandoftheposition,hesaid.
SavichsaidhewillutilizeHechtasaliaisontohealthandhuman services, an overseerofday-to-daytrackingofeachdepartment, and as an extraset of eyes to improve “thewaywedobusinessbydoingmorewith lesserrors.” Sav-ichsaidthepositioniscriticalforaddressing theamountofactivity going on, but con-firmed after Tuesday’s meet-ing that his office is not doing anythinglogisticallydifferent
thanhispredecessor.“Iclearlythinkthereisa
needforassistance…Itwouldrelieve the administrator ofsomeof theresponsibilityhewould have with direct in-volvement that he could as-signtothechief-of-staff,”saidCommissioner Thomas A.Mattingly (D-Leonardtown),beforehemadebothmotionstocreatethepositionandap-pointHechttoit.
The Board of CountyCommissionershasoftenpat-ted itsownbackfor runningcounty government with arelatively small and modeststaff. Before the chief-of-staffaddition,therewere700full-timeemployees incoun-ty government working fora county with over 100,000residents.Thisboardhaskeptespecially close eye on thecreationofnewpositionsbe-causetheyareoftenlongtermfinancial commitments, and because a $117 million statebudget shortfall is expectedtotrickledownonlocalgov-ernments. The commission-
“I have some concerns,”Dement said. “During thebudget process there wereitems that needed attentionthatdidn’tgetit.”
However,bothdissentingcommissioners affirmed their positivefeelingsforHechtandherabilitytodothejob.
Savich interviewed sev-eral candidates, but it wasHecht’s management experi-ence with the United StatesMarinesthatwonherspecialattention.
“This is bitter sweet be-causemystaffisgreatandmyboss is a great boss,” HechtsaidoverthetelephoneTues-day. “But I know I’m mov-ingon to things that are justaschallengingandmoreso.Ihopetomakeadifference.”
She said Savich soughther out for the position, andthat it seemed to fit her quali-
fications perfectly. Hecht completed a tour
inIraq,andironicallywasthecommanding officer to Jar-boe’ssonthere.WhileLandUseandGrowthManagementattemptstoreplaceHecht,shewillcontinuetoassisttheDe-velopment Services DivisionwithinLUGM. Hecht’s newgig officially starts on Nov. 5.
Hecht has been workingfor county government forapproximately one year, andliving in the county for six.She’sheldanumberofposi-tionsintheUnitedStatesMa-rineCorps includingPlatoonCommander, Logistician,Company Commander, Proj-ect Manager and FacilitiesMaintenance Officer at Camp Taqaddum, Iraq, and Execu-tive Officer of the Marine Corp PeaceTime WarTimeSupport Team. Hecht ob-tained her bachelor’s degreein International RelationsfromtheUniversityofSouthCaroline, and anMBA fromMercerUniversity.
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Thursday, October 18, 2007 The County Times Section A - 7
Elizabeth Veronese Wil-lett, 88
Elizabeth Veronese Wil-lett, 88, of Scotland, Md., for-merly of Arlington, Va., died Oct. 13 at her residence. Born June 26, 1919 in Washington, D.C. she was the daughter of the late George Tewksbury and Eva Marie Rechard Rich-ardson. Her husband Arthur Moulden Willett whom she married on March 15, 1943 in the Community Method-ist Church, Arlington, Va, preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughters: Marie A. Cook of California, Md., and Janice L. Cooke of Fairfax, Va; three grandchil-dren: Robert Arthur Cook of Ridge, MD, Pamela Cooke Drechsler of Centerville, Va., and Kimberly Elizabeth Cook of Leonardtown, Md. and four great grandchildren: Todd Alan Lee Drechsler, Megan Michelle Elizabeth Drechsler, Justin Arthur Cook and Mi-randa Lee Cook. Mrs. Willett moved to St. Mary’s County in 1970 from Arlington, Va. She was a member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, Arlington County Professional Firefighter’s Auxiliary and 1st Friendship United Methodist Church.
June A. Thomas, 89
June A. Thomas was born June 2, 1918 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She passed away on Oct. 8. At the time of her death, she was living at Cedar
Lane Apartments in Leon-ardtown. June was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Walter R. Thomas of St. George’s Island, Md., and her parents, Albert M.R. Christensen and Marie Jensen Christensen originally from Denmark, three brothers and one sister. She is survived by the following near and dear family members; Eve Kel-ley (Wayne), Vivian Evans (Robert-deceased), Louise Christensen-deceased (Har-old-deceased), Betty Chris-tensen (Wilford-deceased), Paul Christensen (Donna), Genevieve Pastore (William R.), all of Salt Lake City, UT, Imogene Russell, (Emmitt-deceased) of Lexington Park, and Carol Thomas (Shirlie) of Falls Church, Va. While visit-ing family in San Francisco, Calif., during World War II, June met Walter Thomas who was stationed at the Presidio. After the war, in 1946, they were married in Lexington Park, Md. Most of their mar-ried life was spent on St. George’s Island. She worked at the Post Office in Piney Point, at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and she also managed “The Town and Ca-sual Dress Shop” in Lexing-ton Park, which is no longer in business. While living in San Francisco she worked for Grant Bros. Jewelers. It was her desire that all her friends, neighbors and loved ones know that she cherished each one and that they know how grateful she was for their love and friendship.
George Purnell Freder-ick, 85
George Purnell Freder-ick, Sr., better known as “Pur-nell”, 85, of Abell, Md., died Oct. 8 at his residence. He departed this life as he lived it, surrounded by the love and support of family and friends. He leaves a legacy filled with love an admirable strength.
Born August 25, 1922 in Clements, Md., he is the son of the late John Frederick and Catherine Lena (Thom-as) Frederick. Of this union
twelve children were born: six boys; Douglas, John Henry, William, Oscar, Joseph; and six girls; Florine, Alice, Ag-nes, Catherine, Henrietta and Dorothy.
Purnell was raised in Clements and was educated in St. Mary’s County Public Schools. While working at Banneker School, he met Rita Dickerson of Abell, Md. On January 1, 1942, Purnell and Rita married. Through their union twelve wonderful chil-dren were born. The Freder-ick’s are such a loving family; they opened their hearts and adopted three children. No, it didn’t stop there – they raised numerous children through out the years through the So-cial Services Foster Parenting Program.
Purnell joined the United States Army January 7, 1943. His first tour of duty was in Australia, June 1943. While serving his country, he re-ceived the following mili-tary honors: Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific The-ater Service Ribbon and the American Theater Service Ribbon. Purnell received an Honorable Discharge on No-vember 20, 1945 as a Techni-cian Fourth Grade.
When Purnell returned to St. Mary’s County, he worked in diversified occupations, which included tobacco farm-ing, waterman, school bus contracting and supervisor of custodians for St. Mary’s County Schools. While in this capacity, he suggested employing physically disabled people to work as custodi-ans in the St. Mary’s County Schools – a suggestion that is still being implemented to date. In appreciation for the dedication and commit-ment Purnell displayed in his daily life, Leonardtown High School named a scholarship after him; the George Purnell Frederick Scholarship Award. This award is presented to a student who has worked hard throughout the year showing leadership, humanitarianism and a scholarship. In 1952 he was an Engineer at the Patux-ent River Naval Base. He re-tired from St. Mary’s County Public School system after 27 years of service. Because of his commitment to his com-munity he was elected to serve on the Board of Direc-tors for the Southern Mary-land Electric Cooperative. He served this appointment from July 11, 1977 until March 31, 2007. Purnell was a founding member of the Minority Busi-ness Alliance. One of the ma-jor accomplishments of this project was the development of a low-income area that was redeveloped to provide better, affordable homes in the Af-rican-American community.
Purnell Frederick’s legacy will continue for decades to come as his image is on dis-play at the St. Clement’s Is-land Museum. This is truly a high honor for man who has given so much of himself to his community.
Linda Suzanne Powell, 53
Linda Suzanne Powell, 53, of Hollywood, Md., died Oct. 10,at her residence.
Born August 6, 1954 in Leonardtown, Md., she was the daughter of the late Wil-liam B. Norris and Doreen A. (Miles) Norris.
She is survived by her husband, Walter Roy Powell, her two sons, Jesse Lee Powell and Adam Jacob Powell, all of Hollywood, Md., two sisters, Margaret Anne Short and her husband, Walter of Stuart, Fla., Deborah Lynn Brookins and her husband, Robert of Hollywood, Md., one broth-er, Anthony William Norris and his wife, Wanda of Hol-lywood, Md., sisters-in-law, Debbie Miller and her hus-band, Marvin of Huntington, Md., and Pam Carlson and her husband, Jerry of Vero Beach, Fla., brother-in-law, Roger Powell and his wife, Lynn of Hollywood, Md. In addition to her parents, her brother-in-law, Larry Keith Powell, pre-cedes her in death. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House c/o Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
John Henry Armstrong, 86
John Henry Armstrong, 86, of Clements, Md., died Oct. 8 at his residence.
Born September 20, 1921 in Bushwood, Md., he was the son of the late Henry Nelson Armstrong and Annie Marie (Thomas) Armstrong.
John attended Fenwick School, after completing school he was drafted into the Army in 1942. He served in World War II, until 1945, when he received his honor-able discharge. Upon return-ing home, he met Mary Bea-trice Herbert, and on August 17, 1946 in Washington, D.C., they married. They resided in Washington, DC for 40 years. He worked for Quaker City and Senate flooring, where he learned a trade in carpentry and tile laying. He decided to become self-employed, nam-ing his business John’s Tile and Linoleum Services. After semi-retiring, they returned home to Clements.
John loved cooking for family and friends during special occasions. He en-joyed having everyone around laughing, eating, and playing cards. He enjoyed hunting with his club members equal-ly as much. He lived each day to the utmost and took every-thing the world has to offer in stride.
John leaves behind to cherish his memory three children, Stanley Ignatius Armstrong of Mechanicsville, MD, John Henry Watts of Washington, D.C., and Sharon Armstrong of Clinton, Md., nephew, Robert Armstrong, Jr. of Clements, Md., eleven grandchildren, three brothers, Samuel Armstrong of Bush-wood, Md/, Frank Armstrong and his wife, Yvonne of Largo, Md., and Robert Armstrong of South Carolina, sister, Mar-garet Emily Armstrong and her husband, Ernest of Bush-wood, Md., sisters-in-law, Helena Holt, Barbara Whalen and her husband, Spencer, and Margie Armstrong, brothers-in-law, Willams Herbert, Jr. and his wife, Katie, and Jo-seph Somerville and his wife, Delores, and a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In addition to his par-ents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Beatrice Armstrong, brothers, James, George, and Andrew Arm-strong and sister, Annie Carter.
Betty Jean Hodgson, 77
Betty Jean Hodgson, 77, of Solomons, Md., died Oct. 3 in Asbury-Solomons Health Care Center in Solo-mons, Md. Born April 14, 1930 in Brockton, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Leo V. Anderson and Esther Capps Anderson. Ms. Hodg-
son lived at Asbury-Solomons Island Retirement Commu-nity in Southern Maryland. Her husband, Donald Wayne Hodgson, and special friend, Dawn Norris, survive her.
Charles Albert Wheeler, 74
Charles Albert “Steam-boat” Wheeler, 74, of Chap-tico, Md., died Oct. 9, in Georgetown University Hos-pital. Born October 14, 1932 in Chaptico, Md., he was the son of the late Joseph Latham and Alice Maude Russell Wheeler. His wife Mary Lou-ise Wheeler preceded him in death on February 14, 1998 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonard-town, Md., whom he married on July 8, 1967 in Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, Chaptico, Md. He is survived by his children: Kim Marie Parrish of Leonardtown, Md., Yvonne Lynn Parrish of Mad-dox, Md., Carol Anne Wood and Walter Fred Parrish, Jr. of Lusby, Md., and siblings: Agnes Cecelia Long of Great Mills, Md, James Leonard Wheeler of Chaptico, Md., and Ann Maude Patton of Cal-laway, Md. He was also pre-ceded in death by his siblings: Joseph Aloysius Wheeler, John Ernest Wheeler, Thomas Sylvester Wheeler, George Bernard Wheeler, Mary Susan Latham and William Francis Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler was a life long St. Mary’s County resident where he worked as a self-employed waterman un-til his retirement in 1997. He served in the U.S. Navy for 2 years from December 8, 1955 until September 7, 1957 he re-ceived an honorable discharge and was recommended for re-enlistment. He was a mem-ber of the Waterman’s Asso-ciation. His hobbies were boat building, auto mechanics and gardening.
Obituaries
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SectionA-� The County Times Thursday,October1�,2007
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