PRSTD STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 145 Waldorf, MD
Thursday, July 19, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland
Established 2006 • Volume 2 • Issue 29 • FREE
Illegal Immigrant Believed to be Behind Three Car Wreck
Schools Still Recruiting For Critical Needs Teachers
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer St. Mary’s County Public Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano says there are still vacancies that need to be filled for hard-tostaff courses like math, science and special education. These courses are among the most important because students must score proficient of better on standardized tests in those subject areas or risk having the school system fall behind in its progress to meet federally mandated No Child Left Behind learning standards. Martirano said the county must take the same measures as other jurisdictions around the state and look outside Maryland borders for teachers with credentials in these critical needs classes as the state’s higher education institutions simply do not graduate enough teachers to fill the need. “The number of qualified candidates for those positions just aren’t there,” Martirano said. “The pot for those teachers is just so small and everyone is competing for them. “Special education teachers are a major, hot commodity.” Edward Weiland, director of Human Resources for St. Mary’s County Public Schools, said that See Teachers page A-
Index D-7 Tourney B-1
Photo by Guy Leonard
William Mattingly, a local farmer in Mechanicsville, looks out over one of his cornfields that have suffered greatly as a result of intense heat and poor rain this summer. Mattingly and county farm services officials fear the hardship that will come from diminished profits.
Drought, Intense Heat Wither Farmers’ Crops And Profits. By Guy Leonard Staff Writer William Mattingly was hoping to get a good corn crop this year. Grain prices were up because of interest in producing ethanol from corn and the profit margins were looking promising. It was a good plan, but after looking over his corn crop for the past several months, ravaged by sweltering heat and precious little rain, he may not see those profits any time soon. On one of his cornfields in Mechanicsville, the stalks were only about one-third of the size they should be, he said. He added that you could find much the same results at his 43 other plots spaced between Hollywood and Hughesville. “It’s going to hit very hard,” Mattingly said of the crop losses he expects this summer. “My worst year was back in 2002, but this year is worse.”
Op.-Ed ..........Page A - 4 Obits .............Page A - 7 Police ............Page B - 7 Classifieds.....Page B - 9
For Continual News Updates Visit: somd.com Local Weather Friday T-Storms 81° Saturday Partly Cloudy 81° Sunday Partly Cloudy 83°
See Drought page A-
Concert Planned For Ridge Looking For New Venue By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
Senior Center B-4
Mattingly is not alone. According to officials with the St. Mary’s County Farm Services Agency, a local arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers all around the county are reporting crop losses due to the extreme heat and low rainfall so far this summer. Amy Farrell, executive director at the farm service agency, said the drought has affected more than just corn and soybeans, the main summer crops, and has had an impact on fruit, vegetables and livestock as well. “They’ve all begun feeding hay [to their livestock] because their pastures are all burned up,” Farrell said. “They’ve stockpiled [livestock feed] for the winter but they have to use it up now in the summer.” Mike Russell, a Clements based farmer who makes most of his living working for the county’s Soil Conservation District, said the intense heat and lack of rain have drastically reduced the natural food sources that deer can find in the woods also.
pened in this county’s history.” Boatman said this was his establishment’s first offense and that it was not related to disorderly conduct or selling alcohol to minors. The beverage board held a hearing July 12 regarding
Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a 31-year-old man from Mexico pending charges that he caused a three-vehicle crash on St. Andrew’s Church Road Sunday afternoon. Lt. Daniel Alioto said the man, who police have not identified because he has not been officially charged, was in violation of U.S. immigration law. “He is not a U.S. citizen; he is in fact illegal,” Alioto told The County Times. “He’s facing a lot of different charges; the case is still under investigation.” Those pending charges include “immigration issues,” Alioto said. According to reports from the sheriff’s office, the suspect allegedly got out of his vehicle after the collision and attempted to flee the scene, but was detained by an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer from D.C. until deputies arrived. A motorist in one of the vehicles that was not at fault was flown out by emergency helicopter to a nearby trauma center, Alioto said, while the suspect in the case was treated at St. Mary’s Hospital. “He complained of various minor injuries,” Alioto said. Alioto said tests were also pendSee Immigrant page A-
Fire Marshal Investigating Two Trailer Park Arsons By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Investigators with the state Fire Marshal’s Office say they are looking for suspects in two arsons that occurred over the weekend at the National Mobile Home park in Lexington Park. The arsons occurred two days apart in the early morning hours of June 13 and June 15 at the same residence, according to Deputy Fire Marshal John Tennyson who is handling the investigations. “We believe they are connected,” Tennyson said. In the first incident an unknown suspect poured an ignitable liquid around the foundation of a mobile home and then set it on fire, fire marSee Arson page A-
The county department of Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM) has revoked a special use permit that would have allowed the Southern Rock band Molly Hatchet to perform on the ball fields behind a restaurant in See Concert page A- Ridge July 28. Denis Canavan, director of LUGM, said that there are plans to move the scheduled event to the nearby Sea Side View campgrounds but that no approval has been granted for that plan. The concert is scheduled to take place in a little over a week. This revocation comes on the heels of an Alcohol Beverage Board hearing that levied a stiff sentence against the owner of the establishment, Boatman’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, for noise violations at a June 16 event there. Scott Boatman, owner of the sports bar, said the beverage board’s decision to suspend his ability to sell alcohol at band concerts for 18 months because of overly loud music at the June 16 party that upset neighboring residents, was excessive. “We do apologize for any kind of inconvenience we caused the community by having a luau,” Boatman told The County Times Monday. “But we expect to be treated fairly. Photo by Guy Leonard “To be shut down for 18 months Mike Stephens, head of the band The Mike Stephens Project, plays some jazz tunes for guests of the Potomac Jazz and Seafood Festival for a noise violation has never hapat the St. Clements Island Museum in Clements July 14. This festival was the first time the event had been sold out.
The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Sharkfest Fun For All Ages Brittany Hailer Contributing Writer You would think that JAWS would have been enough to ruin the shark name forever. Truth is, this 20 million year old predator is nothing less than fascinating. To feed this fascination, July 14th was the Calvert Marine Museum’s annual Sharkfest. That morning a long line of eager families waited outside the museum for it to open. Once you paid your inexpensive admission the museum was yours to explore. David Poole’s Shark Poole was, of course, the main attraction. Kids of all ages huddled around the tank getting to pet these creatures of the deep. They absorbed all of Poole’s instruction and descriptions with the sharks at their fingertips.
Makaela and Zachary Greenwald were not afraid of the Skate and Ray dissections.
Photo by Brittany Hailer
Caleb Shores was still anticipating the Shark tank, but the face painting had been his favorite part of the museum so far.
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seemed a little less enthusiastic, however. Many young observers walked right up to the table of fresh guts and blood. Mikaela and Zachary Greenwald learned about the skate digestive system. When asked what the coolest thing he saw so far was, Zachary simply stated, “Everything.” The Discovery Room was another hot spot for most participants. In fact, each group had 15 minutes in the discovery room to keep the crowds down. The kids didn’t seem to mind however. They busied themselves by hunting for ancient shark teeth or fossils. They learned about the diamond back terrapin, horseshoe crab, spider crab, clear nosed skate, and starfish at the touch tank. They dressed up as sailors and raised the sail in the Discovery Room sailboat. They all walked away learning something new and with a smile on their face. If you missed out on Sharkfest there is always next year. The marine museum is, of course, open year round providing fun and education for the whole family. It truly is a unique way to spend a summer afternoon.
Commissioners Authorize Moving Ahead On Winery Agreement By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
One hero!
ters for the excited audience to discover. Oddly enough children loved the dissection of the rays and skates. Parents
Photo by Brittany Hailer
A proposed winery on property owned by the Town of Leonardtown is picking up steam as the Board of County Commissioners voted to have county staff begin drafting a memorandum of understanding that will decide who will renovate the building the winery wants to call its home. The winery is part of a plan by a cooperative made up of 17 grape growers who are looking for a local market to sell their own county-produced wine. The winery project has been in the works for the past two years, said Richard Fuller, a board member of the Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative, which will run the facility once its up and running. The cooperative is also an alternative for farmers who had taken the state’s offer of a tobacco buyout nearly a decade ago to make a profit selling grapes. “We said let’s get started
on something now, while we’ve got this tobacco buyout money coming in,” Fuller told The County Times about the idea to start the winery. “Grapes turned out to be a good crop… it offers more money per acre than tobacco.” One of the only questions that has to be hammered out, Fuller said, was who would renovate the old warehouse near Macintosh Road and Route for the cooperative’s use; the county or the town. A public park is also part of the overall winery project. The other questions would be who would manage the purchase of equipment to set up the new winery, Fuller said. The new facility, which should be renovated by September according to the cooperative’s time line, will need fermentation vats, oak barrels for wine storage, de-stemming machines and grape presses. “All the things you’d see walking through a winery,” Fuller said. The winery will also make it easier for the handful
of local growers to ship their crop to market. “That means instead of driving three hours it’ll be 15 minutes,” said grape grower Steve Purvins of Bushwood. Purvins said that on three acres of land he is on average able to grow about 10 tons worth of grapes at about $1,000 per ton in sales. That translated into $10,000 in total sales. Elected officials for the county and the town both said that the project would likely be a boon to economic development and tourism in St. Mary’s. “We’re very pleased the co-op has gotten so organized so quickly,” said Leonardtown Mayor J. Harry Norris. “This is a project we can all be proud of.” Commissioner Thomas Mattingly (D-Leonardtown) said the project would be a help to farmers looking for profits in the absence of tobacco. “There are a lot of farmers trying to survive,” Mattingly said. “It’s a good plan… this is a good effort.”
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The County Times
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Section A -
Elementary Kids Get Jumpstart On Next School Year
Photo by Guy Leonard
Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano talks with Zachary Simmons, 7, of Lexington Park as he goes through an exercise during the first day of a jump start program designed to help school children who are not performing on grade level.
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The students sitting in class at Lexington Park Elementary School had just spent the whole day working math problems, brushing up on their reading and writing and going through practical science experiments. It was the middle of July and they were there because they wanted to be. “We have to make this fun and engaging,� said Susie Fowler, principal at Lexington Park elementary. “We’re competing with summer.� In one class of 2nd graders, Zachary Simmons, 7, of Lexington Park was taking a break playing with sets of 10 blocks, making structures and generally relaxing after a long day of academic practice. But even that had a purpose; to get children who had trouble counting by tens to master the skill. “It helps me make tens really fast,� Simmons said. “It helped me count from 10 to 100 easier.� It was something that he found tough in the past, Simmons said, now made easier by the fun exercises. He also observed the school’s garden as part of his science enrichment and got to see how peppers grow, he said. “We learned a lot today,� Simmons said. And that goal of rigorous learning throughout the 20day Jump Start course was exactly what school officials had in mind to get children ready for their next grade level, a grade level they were not really ready for before taking the program. These 100 students at Lexington Park elementary were those who just needed more classroom time to master basic skills. “Time is always a challenge,� Fowler said. “We have the children for a finite amount of time and we have to do the best we can. “This represents about 25 percent of our student body.� Teachers use the same materials they would during the normal school year from the state’s voluntary curriculum, Fowler said, which is in turn tested on the Maryland School Assessment. These tests determine whether a school is meeting federally mandated goals of teaching all children to be proficient in reading and math by 2014. The children who participate in the program live mostly in poverty, said Betsy Gay, coordinator of the program, and this program was designed specifically to meet their needs. “I think it’s very successful in meeting children’s needs academically, socially and physically,� Gay said. Gay said that the 100 students who showed up were out of 130 students who were invited to take part in the program. The remaining 30 did not come mostly because their families were moving out of state, to another school district, or simply had other plans. Gay was confident, however, that the vast majority of young children who needed the help were getting it. Fowler said that it was critical for students to come to school every day of the Jump Start course to gain the maximum benefit for next school year. “If they can’t commit to the whole 20 days we’d like to give that slot to another child who needs it,� Fowler said. The school system has offered the program to young children who need academic assistance for the past four
years, and replicates the program in two other elementary schools, Green Holly and George Washington Carver, the majority of whose students live in poverty and are eligible to receive federal education aid. Fowler encouraged parents to enroll their child in the program if they were invited. The chance for extra help with learning basic skills was invaluable, she said. “It’s important for the parent to take advantage of it, anytime the school system offers extra help,� Fowler said. “Education is the only ticket out of poverty; we know that and we’re very focused on that for our students.�
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The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Editorial & Opinion Winery Deserves Strong Support Under the efforts of the previous Board of County Commissioners along with the mayor of Leonardtown and the town council, the idea of a public winery and park to be located in Leonardtown was conceived. The county and town joined together to set the groundwork for this project with the town providing an appropriate site, which includes several suitable buildings and land. The county for its part appropriated funds and provided some additional land. The project is named the “Port
of Leonardtown Winery”. The Southern Maryland Grape Growers Association was contacted to be the lead organization to oversee the winery operation. The charge was to form a cooperative open to people in our community to join. A cooperative which, among other things would support the preservation of farmland, make high quality wine from local grapes, and produce a good economic return. The town of Leonardtown would own and operate the public park, which includes
a kayak launch, picnic area, gardens, a bridge connecting to 58 acres of hiking trails. The winery and appropriate hospitality area, suitable for small to medium size gatherings would operate in conjunction with the parkland. With many landowners looking for agricultural crops suitable for land in St. Mary’s County that would provide a reasonable return on investment, grapes are one crop that holds much promise. Farming is nothing more than a business and the future of any business is determined by the
Letters to the Editor To the Editor: I have been reading your paper for a while now and find your coverage very good. But the story you had about Elm’s Beach really has me a bit concerned. I mean, I went there on school trips, and my mother and I often say we’re not going to return because of how hot it was when we went there. But that’s the only thing we had a problem with. I do hope it recovers because it’s not a bad place to be and the staff there treated me very well when I was there 15 years ago. In fact, once we had one of those overnight field trips, and the children wouldn’t go to sleep they were bouncing around in those tents until the staff needed to call their parents to pick them up. I was the only one who at least tried to sleep, but without much luck. And the next morning when the kids came back, I was allowed to stay in the staff cabin while the others had to go on a hike, I believe. I just sat there and drank Kool-Aid or Hi-C until everyone else came back. On another occasion, we swam in the lake, which was a big no-no, and they sent the kids home. But getting back to the topic, I didn’t think you could have too much bacteria in a place like the Elm’s because it is nestled in a swampy area. I could be wrong, but I thought swamps help reduce bacteria because of the gas they produce. Or do they produce more bacteria? In any case, it does sound like someone from the heath department wasn’t doing their job. They really should be watching that swamp down there. I mean, if there is too much algae in the water, doesn’t that mean there is too much bacteria in the water, or do I have that backwards? They surely should put up more warning signs though. I can’t imagine what would have happened if someone drank the water there. I would hate to see someone take ill or even die from poisoning, and I do hope they will get things straight and reopen the beaches. Jay Norris Leonardtown, MD
Dear Editor: The St. Mary’s County Health Department would like to publicly recognize Drs. Autumn and Adam Terry of All Kinds Veterinary Hospital in Callaway for their community minded professionalism in euthanizing a bat suspected of having rabies that had been involved in an animal to animal contact and is presumed to have had a human contact as well. Taking the best interests of the community into consideration, they provided the service without charge and expedited the quick transfer of the animal to health department couriers who delivered the bat to Baltimore for testing. Their actions June 29 helped to quickly resolve the rabies investigation. Each year, rabies cases increase during the summer months as people go outdoors and interact with their environment more. So far this year there have been three positive cases of rabies in animals. Raccoons, bats, foxes and skunks are the most common carriers of rabies, but our domestic animal population is also at risk. Unvaccinated cats, dogs, ferrets and livestock are at risk of rabies infection and may pass the virus on to their human companions and caretakers. It takes the combined effort of the health department’s Rabies Prevention and Communicable Disease Programs, St. Mary’s County Animal Control, animal care partners including local veterinarians and animal rescue groups such as the St. Mary’s Animal Welfare League, and the vigilance of our citizens to vaccinate domestic animals, maintain safe conditions, report incidents, and provide quick and appropriate response when rabies is suspected. Our thanks are extended to All Kinds Veterinary Hospital for supporting this effort. Daryl Calvano Director of Enviormental Health Services St. Mary’s County Health Deparment Leonardtown, MD
economics of the industry and the financial condition of that particular business. The best way to preserve farmland is through self-preservation, having a profitable crop growing on the land. As was the case when tobacco was in full production, one of the factors in having a profitable crop growing is to have a reliable market where the goods can be sold at a fair market price. With a commercial winery demanding local grapes, farmers could have a reliable market to sell their crops each
year, and the farmer also has an opportunity to benefit from the vertical integration of that crop. Grape growers who are members of the cooperative will hopefully one day benefit from the winery’s profits. While the first benefit of the winery is to offer help to our local agricultural industry, a second benefit of the winery is to promote tourism into St. Mary’s County. Located along the western shoreline, the winery is close to many historic sites along the Potomac River. In a county that relies heavily on defense
spending to support our local economy, creating assets to benefit our second largest industry is a sound economic development investment. Now the grape growers and wine makers association has done much of their homework and are ready to move forward to renovate and equip the building. The town is moving forward with plans for the adjacent park. This unique project has the potential to benefit our community in numerous ways. We hope that the present commissioners, the town commissioners, and the public at large will get behind this project.
Dear Editor:
Dozens of people spent the afternoon of June 24 at Greenwell State Park enjoying the sport of carriage driving. I’d like to thank the Plantation Driving Club for holding their event at Greenwell. Their dedication to the sport was evident as they shared their love of carriage driving with those in attendance. The club demonstrated the techniques of braking and training, dressage, driving through obstacles, precision driving through defined courses, and driving for the disabled. Different types of carriages were on display as was a life-size model of a horse hitched to a carriage, offering a firsthand look at what’s involved. All of the proceeds from this event directly benefit the Greenwell Foundation’s horseback riding program, and all of us at Greenwell are grateful for the support. Thank you, Kendall Sorenson-Clark Executive Director Greenwell Foundation Hollywood, MD
To The Editor: I would like to thank the County Commissioners not only for the opportunity to serve on the Task Force Board to study the different forms of governments, but also for taking the impossible and making it possible for their endless work for the past twelve years by bringing St. Mary’s County into the 21st. The Task Force Meetings have been a pleasure and experience not only to study the many books and papers given to us, but also to listen to the speakers relating to us the functions of their forms of government. County Commissioner, Code Home Rule, and Charter are the three forms of government we have studies and had many discussions. My choice was to keep our present County Commissioner form of government. The County Commissioners, in my opinion, are the closest form of government to the people and the most assessable. I cannot justify changing the County Commissioner form of government into the Legislative Branch. If five Commissioners can bring St. Mary’s County into the 21st century without the help of any other form of government that I feel the need to vote to keep the present form of government we now have. Pat Woodburn Compton Md.
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James Manning McKay - Publisher Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager............................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Adam Ross - Government Correspondent...............adamross@countytimes.net Andrew Knowlton - Sports Correspondent....... andrewknowlton@countytimes.net
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Arson Continued from page A- shal reports said. The ensuing flame charred the foundation and set nearby vegetation on fire. “It was very minor damage to the plastic skirting [of the trailer] and it was a flash fire that extinguished itself,” Tennyson said. Fire marshal reports stated that there was only about $100 in damage in the first fire. On July 15 unknown suspects again used an ignitable liquid on the trunk of a car of one of the mobile home’s residents, setting it on fire and causing about $3,000 worth in damage to the vehicle. That fire, according to reports from the fire marshal,
was discovered by someone passing by the incident and it took firefighters about two minutes to put the car trunk fire out. Tennyson said that there are no suspects at this time in either case but that these kinds of crimes tend to occur more around this season. “It seems to pick up when the juveniles are out of school for the summer,” Tennyson said. “It was a busy weekend.” Fire marshals have already charged a juvenile with setting a shed on fire July 12, adding to the toll of arson fires around the county in recent weeks. “It was just a juvenile playing with fire,” Tennyson said. “He was just playing with fire and it got out of control.” That case has been turned over to the juvenile services
department for prosecution, Tennyson said. An arson that occurred in Golden Beach in June completely engulfed a small cottage and caused $300,000 in damage. State fire marshal’s investigating the case arrested two juveniles shortly after the blaze who were suspected of the crime. Investigators said that the arson was the result of a fire set after the suspects allegedly could not get a golf cart out of the homes carport. The investigators have also said that they believe the arson was gang related. Anyone with information regarding the two mobile home park arsons can call Tennyson at 443-550-6834.
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The County Times
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Ramblings of a Country Girl Photo by Adam Ross
Hunters and the Hunted Terri Bartz Bowles We have a couple of bunnies in our backyard. We started seeing them in early spring and they’re not a constant presence, but we see one or two a couple of times a week. They’re fun to watch and
we’ve enjoyed having them around. They like dandelions and it’s funny to watch rabbits eat with their high-speed chewing action. They’ll nip the dandelion stem down low, eating from the bottom up until they get to the fuzzy seed
Odd News
ball which they just spit out. Dandelions in the lawn don’t bother us, we kind of like them and would never spray weed killer because it would probably hurt birds and the good insects. So it was fine with us to have a little natural
Drought Continued from page A- And that has forced them into farmers’ fields all the more in search of sustenance. “There’s no grass or vegetation in the woods for them to eat in the woods,” Russell said. “This is the worst deer related [crop] damage I’ve ever seen.” Russell said that farmers would be fortunate to see a 60 percent crop yield this season, which he described as poor, and that it likely would not cover their bills. He said crop insurance was available to farmers, which is based on the average yield of the past five years, but farmers often only bought enough insurance to cover about 55 to 60 percent of their crop because to go any higher would be too costly.
dandelion control because the yard was becoming a little too yellow. Between the rabbits and the goldfinches eating the seed heads, we thought that was working out pretty well. One night when we came home late, we caught two
“You’ve got to have bushels [of crops] to make your living and pay your bills,” Russell said. Mattingly said that last year he was able to get 166 bushels per acre in corn, a good yield, and he was hoping to get at least 150 bushels per acre this year. After the lack of cooperation from the weather, though, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to glean a third of that this season. In 2002, which he considered to be one of his worst years, he was only able to get 51 bushels per acre on average and he feared this year would not benefit him as much. Russell said that soybean production was yielding about 27 to 35 bushels per acre this season, which is a low count from the usual 40 or so bushels that can normally be expected.
Immigrant Continued from page A-
OREGON- A man named Kent Couch decided it was time to fulfill his dream last weekend and set off in a lawn chair into the blue Oregon skies. Attached to the chair were 105 very large helium balloons, four plastic bags filled with 5 gallons of water acting as ballast, and a parachute. Also with Couch were devices to measure altitude and speed, and a GPS. He wanted to try to fly all the way to Idaho, but landed short about 193 miles from his home close to nine hours after taking flight. Couch knew it was time to land when he was coming dangerously close to running out of water, and he was nearing Hells Canyon. After landing and jumping out of the chair, the forceful wind swept away his chair and video recorder. Whether Couch will take another flight depends on if his wife Susan agrees. Right now, however, she thinking it will be a no. LOS ANGELES- Shira Barlow couldn’t believe all the wrong numbers and text messages she was receiving on her new cell phone, especially in the early hours of the morning. All the time random people were calling her phone and wondering why she told them she was a college student and they had the wrong number. The weird calls all began when Barlow was out with friends and dropped her old cell phone in a toilet. Soon after she replaced it, she realized that most of the callers where seemingly referencing someone named Paris. It was then that she found out she had been given one of Paris Hilton’s old cell phone numbers. The mystery was solved and Barlow finds the whole thing quite amusing. BEIJING- Bao Xishun, a herdsman from Mongolia and the world’s tallest man, who stands an amazing 7’9” tall, was married to a 5’6” saleswoman named Xia Shujian. Not only is Xia half Bao’s height, she’s also half his age (she’s 28 and he’s 56)! Xishun started looking for a bride earlier this year, sending advertisement all around the world. Turns out his wife was closer than he thought; Shujian hails from Xishun’s hometown of Chifeng. They were wed in a traditional Mongolian ceremony.
ing to see if alcohol was a factor in the wreck that occurred at about 2:10 p.m. July 15. “There was alcohol present in the [suspect’s] vehicle, but tests are not back yet,” Alioto said. According to information from the sheriff’s office, the suspect, who was driving a sports utility vehicle, tried to pass a vehicle that was stopped and careened off the roadway. The suspect in the sports utility vehicle lost control, according to information from
the sheriff’s office, and the vehicle rolled over and struck an oncoming vehicle going in the opposite direction. The alleged at fault vehicle was then struck by a third vehicle. There was a passenger in the at-fault vehicle, Alioto said, but it was unknown whether the passenger was also here in the United States illegally. Alioto said the 31-yearold suspect was likely a recent arrival in the country. “I don’t think he’s been in the states too long,” Alioto
Section A - bunnies in the headlights and they went ballistic. They started jumping up and down and back and forth but weren’t running away. They were next to the driveway and we didn’t want to run over one of the dumb bunnies, so we turned the headlights out and waited a minute. That didn’t work – when the lights went out they just went back to eating and when we turned them back on they went ballistic again. So we sat there with the lights on and eventually they hopped off into the blackness. They’re cute and they’re entertaining. They’re also starting to eat my violets and once they start on the violets, it’s a short hop (so to speak) to the other flowers and plants. We have plenty of yard where they can eat all the grass and clover they want, but I’m not too enthused about them making a buffet out of my flower beds. It’s not rabbit season yet, so we can’t have them for dinner and by the time rabbit season rolls around, they could have eaten everything I have! Those cute little bunnies make good eating; fried rabbit with some rabbit gravy is yummy. However, that’s not an option til later, so what do I do in the meantime? Well, nature may very well take care of my little rabbit problem. A couple of weeks ago, something swooped low
across the back yard. When I looked, I saw a hawk sitting on the ground just into the brush at the edge of the yard - right where the cute little bunny usually pops in and out of the woods. The hawk was looking around, he obviously missed his mark but at least I know he’s on the bunny trail. I chuckled with glee and ran to tell my husband the good news. We also have another predator in the neighborhood, a beautiful gray and red fox. It comes sidling out of the woods out back at the edge of dark, warily looking around. Ooh, find the wabbit, find the wabbit, I say to myself. Now I have two predators on the bunny trail. But Mother Nature has given me one more gift. On the way home one evening last week, just before dark, we saw something flying low across the path of the car and land in a tree in somebody’s front yard. We stopped, backed up and took a look. It was an owl! A big owl. A big beautiful predator of an owl. YES! We watched him for a while, they’re fascinating as they rotate their heads around checking out the scenery. I looked at my husband and smiled. He knew what I was thinking: between the hawk, the fox and the owl, my rabbit problem is solved.
If rain comes it could save crops that were planted later in the summer, Russell said, but it was too late to save most of the crops that were planted in late spring. Even if torrential rains came, it would likely run off from soil that had become hard and dry from the heat and do little good, he said. Mattingly said, by his measurements, Mechanicsville had received only 1.7 inches of rain. In June that amount was less at only 1.3 inches. In July the rainfall was a paltry three-tenths of one inch of rain. Last June Mechanicsville got a much healthier eight inches of rain, he said. Steve Reeves, head of the county’s planning commission and a farmer of smaller production capacity than Mattingly and others, said the bleak picture for farmers
meant that most would have to tighten their belts financially. “If you can’t ring the register then you can’t make the money to get through the nonproductive years,” Reeves said. “They’re going to be going to the banks or somewhere else to get money so they can put their crops in next year.” It was not an uncommon part of farm life, Reeves said. “We’ve had droughts before and we’ll have them again,” Reeves said. For farmers like Mattingly though, to see crops scorched and stunted as they are means more than just financial loss. “I’ve got a weakness for planting seed and watching things grow,” Mattingly said. “Now I try to cover my eyes when I’m driving by… there’s no bigger gamble in the world than what we do.”
said. “I was not advised of [the suspect] having any criminal record.” Alioto said that crash investigators were still gathering evidence and would relay the case to State’s Attorney Richard Fritz’s office for prosecution. Alioto said that “law enforcement contact is on the rise” with illegal immigrants in St. Mary’s County, and noted that several years ago illegal immigrants from Guatemala were arrested by federal authorities who were investigating a scheme involving the passing of fraudulent checks, an operation that Alioto called very successful. He said if county deputies
encounter an illegal alien in the course of their duties, even if they have not committed a crime, that contact is documented and forwarded to federal immigration authorities. However, the deputies will not arrest or detain any illegal immigrants if they have not been found committing a crime, Alioto said, and the county would leave that up to federal law enforcement. Documenting contact with illegal immigrants is something the sheriff’s office is getting used to, Alioto said. “It’s something that’s picking up steam, but until now it hasn’t been something we’ve had to deal with a lot,” Alioto said.
The County Times
Section A -
Concert Continued from page A- the violations that occurred at Boatman’s on June 16 and residents of Ridge came out to testify about the past event and to protest the July 28 concert. Canavan said that the revocation of the special use permit for the concert was necessary because of a myriad of concerns. “Even if their were no issues with the alcohol beverage board it would have been rescinded for health, parking, traffic and safety concerns,”
Canavan said Tuesday. At the July 12 hearing, Canavan testified that media reports about the concert quoted Boatman as saying that he had sold 2,500 advanced tickets, well over the 999 people allowed by Boatman’s permit. Boatman said that these numbers were false and that the board made their decision on bad information. Commissioner Daniel Raley, who said he was speaking as a private citizen July 12, asked the beverage board to withdraw the permit for selling alcohol outside of Boatman’s establishment to concert attendees on his ball
fields where the bands would play. “The economic engine driving this event is the ability to sell alcohol [outside the main structure],” Raley said July 12, adding that allowing the sale of alcohol on the ball fields in this case would be “detrimental to the Ridge area.” One resident giving testimony at the hearing, recalled the night of June 16, and called the loud music “God awful music next door”. The resident also said he heard profanity laced lyrics that were disturbing to him and his family.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Members of the beverage board received a petition from 127 residents of Ridge protesting the concert and the commander of the American Legion Post 255, Jim Yeatman there said his members had voted not to allow their lot to be used for concert guest parking. “We are against it,” Yeatman said. “They’re not parking there.” Boatman said he would have been willing to work with the community in the wake of the June 16 incident to prepare for the Molly Hatchet concert. “I feel apologetic for hav-
ing it on [the luau] at all,” Boatman said. “No one came to me to talk about [the Molly Hathcet concert], it was just ‘try and shut me down’… I was a little saddened by that.” Southbound Productions, the concert’s promoter, has since planned to move the performance to the nearby Sea Side View camp grounds, Boatman said, and that he helped the promoter find the new location. Other than that he said, his involvement with the Molly Hatchet concert, which he had advertised for months, is over. Boatman said he invested
close to $30,000 in hosting the Molly Hatchet concert and now that money is wasted. “I’m pretty much out of it now,” Boatman said. “That’s money I’ve lost now because of this.” Boatman said that he does not plan to appeal the decision.
Party Planning Tips for the Host With the Most Everyone loves a party, but planning one can be daunting. From the guest list to grocery shopping, you need a strategy to get it done. Use the organizer below to help you stay on track.
Three weeks before: * Plan your guest list and send out invitations. U.S. Mail, phone calls and e-mail are all options. * Take inventory. Do you have enough chairs, tables and dishes? Make plans to rent or borrow what you don’t have. Or, choose to use disposables.
Shop at a grocery store that stocks genuinely local products, and support the Buy Local Challenge! Pledge to “eat local, eat fresh!” during Buy Local Week. You’ll enjoy food that’s bursting with flavor and nutrition, and you’ll help our farm community keep growing! When you discover the benefits of buying from your nearby Mckays, stocked with foods from local farms, we hope you’ll decide to shop local year round!
* Plan the menu and prepare the shopping list. Note which foods can be made ahead and frozen.
Two weeks before: * Plan your decorations and centerpieces. Consider adding a festive flourish to your table with edible topiaries that are not only fun decorations, but help you serve food, too. Instructions are at right, or log onto www.styrofoamcrafts.com. * Prepare foods that can be frozen. * Choose the party music.
One week before: * Contact guests who have not yet RSVP’d. * Shop for non-perishables and store them in a convenient place. * Clear away clutter and create space for a crowd. If necessary, hire a cleaning service. * Make room in the closet for coats.
Two days before: * Set the table with linens and serving pieces. * Shop for perishables and prepare remaining menu items. * Create your decorations.
For More information concerning the Buy Local Challenge, visit www.buy-local-challenge.com
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Leonardtown, MD 20650
Hollywood, MD 20636
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* Set up the bar and beverage area.
Our final advice: Ask friends and family to help out. And, enjoy the party!
The County Times
Thursday, July 19, 2007 2007
Section A - 1
Obituaries Bernard Hale “Sammy” Baird, 79
Bernard Hale “Sammy” Baird, 79, of Avenue, Md., died July 11, 2007 at his residence. Born Feb. 4, 1928 in Blountville, Tenn., he was the son of the late Carl and Mary Diecy Smith Baird. He is survived by his children; Bernard W. Baird, Carolyn A. Lumpkins, Richard Wayne Baird and Robert Keith Baird, Sr., all of Avenue, Md. He is also survived by his sister Sylvia Stevens and his brother Cletis Baird, both of Banner Elk, NC as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his siblings; Ledford Baird, Virginia Baird and Wilton Baird. At a young age he enlisted in the US Navy and later owned and operated B&W Drywall Company; retiring in 2003 after 50 years of employment. Sammy moved to St. Mary’s County in 1968 where he loved playing his guitar, singing bluegrass and country music and fishing. He also belonged to the Mechanicsville Moose Lodge. The family received friends on Friday, July 13th 2007 at the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md., where a funeral service was held on Saturday, July 14th, 2007 where Bishop William McClean officiated. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md. Pallbearers were Francis I. “Pete” Lumpkins, Francis I. “Petey” Lumpkins, Jr., Clinton B. Lumpkins, Robert Keith Baird, Jr., Trampas Goldsmith and Darrell Wise. Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Marie Taubert Colleary, 45
Marie Taubert Colleary, 45, of Piney Point, MD died July 14, 2007 at her residence. Born June 25, 1962 in Portland, Ore., she was the daughter of Edward J. Taubert of Smyrna, Del. and Nellie Campbell of Mountain Lake Park, Md. Mrs. Colleary graduated from Largo Senior High School. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, reading and spending time with her extended family. She was looking forward to being a grandmother. She married J. Michael Colleary on May 30, 2004 in Valley Lee, Md. In addition to her parents and husband, she is survived by three daughters, Crystal Gray of Lexington Park, Md., Christine Welch and her husband, Joshua of Midway Park, N.C., and Jessica Grannis and her husband, Richard of Lusby, Md., step-mother, Mary Taubert of Smyrna, Del., step-father, Conrad Hen-
ken of Mountain Lake Park, Md., four siblings, Virginia Walsh and her husband, Gary of Greenville, Tenn., Mark Taubert and his wife, Jen of Brooms Island, Md., Robert Taubert and his wife, Nancy of Bowie, Md., and Carrie Taubert of Smyrna, Del., maternal grandmother, Catherine Adamson of Valencia, Calif., and many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. All services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to OPIS at St. Mary’s Hospital, P.O. Box 527, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or HOSPICE House c/o HOSPICE of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md. Condolences to the family may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Kathryn Isabell Craig, 68
Kathryn Isabell Craig, 68, of Lexington Park, Md, died July 10, 2007 at her residence. Born Sep. 12, 1938 in Sharon, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Robert S. McConnell and Theda L. (Jennings) McConnell. On April 5, 1957, she married Donald Edward Craig and he preceded her in death in 1993. Known by her close friends as “Kate”, she and her family settled in Lexington Park, Md. She proudly served as a substitute teacher for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. Mrs. Craig also was active in youth sports and was the team mother for several years for baseball teams. Mrs. Craig was a resident of the Lexington Park Adult Community and enjoyed handcrafts, making dolls and afghans for her friends and family. She is survived by her four children, Jennifer Holcomb of Cleveland, Ga., Ellen Hobby of Waldorf, Md., Donald Craig and Douglas Craig, both of Columbia, Md., sisters, Evelyn Higbee of Fredonia, Pa., Susan Benfield of Mechanicsville, Md., four grandchildren, John Craig, Sean Mayer, Angela Hobby, James Hobby and spiritual granddaughter, Michelle Tefft. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her sisters, Karen McConnell and Roberta Bender. The family received friends Tuesday, July 17, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. A Funeral Service was conducted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Pastor Curtis King will conduct the services. Interment will follow in Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Md. Serving as pallbearers will be Sean Mayer, John Craig, James Hobby, Richard Tefft, Frederick Harding IV, and Charles Welch. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, 910 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale Street, Memphis, TN 38105, or Gideon Bible Society, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Catherine Patricia “Patsy” Nickless, 63
Catherine Patricia “Patsy” Nickless, 63, of Lexington Park died July 9, 2007 at her residence. Born Dec. 16, 1943 in Scotland, Md., she was the eldest daughter of the late Nelson E. Dean and Catherine P. Dean. Pat was a devout Catholic of St. Cecelia’s Church and member of its Choir for many years as well. She joined the army in 1961, where she met and married her former husband, Chuck. After marriage she became a homemaker and mother for many years before she returned to the workforce in the late 1980’s. She was an amazing woman who touched the lives of many, especially her family. In recent years, Pat was content to enjoy her grand children and crochet award-winning doilies and angels. Many of her angels were used as gifts to people with terminal diseases. Pat loved children, and especially loved a good laugh. She will be missed but will live in our hearts forever. Pat is survived by her ten children and their families; Virginia & Mike Richardson of Albuquerque, N.M. and son, Christopher, Theresa & David Quade of Lexington Park, Md., and daughter, Amanda, Charles & Joanne Nickless of Lexington Park, Md., James & Robin Nickless of Cheltenham, Md., and daughter, Amanda, David & Tina Nickless of Lexington Park, Md., and daughters, Christina, Cathleen, Holly, Alyssa and son, Matt, as well as grandson, Brandon, Juanita & Daniel Palmer of Pocahontas, Ariz., and son, Daniel and daughter, Cynthia, Rebecca & Marc Edwards of Lexington Park, Md., and sons, Scott and Nathan, Keith Nickless of Lexington Park, Md., and sons, Tristan and Dillon, Della Nickless & Victor Proctor of Lexington Park, Md., and daughter, Elaina and sons, Patrick and Tyler, and Darryl & Liz Nickless of Gaithersburg, Md., and sons, Carter and Samuel. She is also survived by her brothers; James, Leonard, Arthur, Edward and George, and sisters; Brenda, Mary Lou, Shirley, Hazel, Winifred, Crystal and Carol. The family received friends Friday, July 13th from 5-8 p.m. in St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church, St. Mary’s City, Md. Prayers were recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, July 14th at 10 a.m. in the church. Interment will follow in St. James Cemetery, Park Hall, Md. Serving as pallbearers will be family and friends. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lexington Park Rescue Squad or American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. Arrangements by Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.
Elizabeth Ann “BettyAnn” Smith, 50
Elizabeth Ann “BettyAnn” Smith, 50, of Great Mills, Md., died July 14, 2007 in Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. Born Sept. 21, 1956 in Leonardtown, Md., she was the daughter of Mary Frances (Courtney) Hudson of Cleveland, Ohio, and Donald Moore of Lexington Park, Md.. Betty Ann was a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, sister and niece. BettyAnn was always there for her family and always insisted on helping where she could. The family loved her and felt without her presence at family functions the events just were not the same. At times she would be one of the last ones to leave just so she could help. She is a special soul who will be sorely missed by all of her aunts and uncles to whom she was more like a sister to them - all growing up at the same time. Betty Ann was also known to her kids’ friends as Momma Betty. BettyAnn finally moved into the home of her dreams and she just began to decorate two weeks prior to departing this life. She was so excited about what she could do to make the house her home. BettyAnn really enjoyed cooking and having Sunday dinner for her children, grandchildren, parents, sisters, nieces and nephews. She enjoyed having late night conversations on the phone with her closest friends, Phyllis Griffith and Monica Jones. BettyAnn loved the music of the Gridlock band and would take every opportunity to hear them play. In addition to her parents, Betty is survived by her three children, Richard Lavelle Smith, Jr., DeAnthony Travon Young and Monchelle Renee Young, all of Lexington Park, Md., stepfather, Samuel Arthur Hudson of Cleveland, Ohio, stepmother, Laura Moore of Lexington Park, Md., four sisters, Renee Booker of Cleveland, Ohio, Juanita Sewell of Great Mills, Md., La-Ronda Johnson and Donnita Moore, both of Lexington Park, MD, two brothers, Donald Moore Jr. of Honolulu, HI, and Thomas “Tommy” Moore of Great Mills, Md., four grandchildren, Rickita L. Smith, Kenya Hawkins, Kayliah Shearn, and Rickhi L. Smith, four nieces, LaToya N. Sewell, Alondra Johnson, Ariah Moore, and Janecia Moore, six nephews, Joshua Smith, Devon “Bone” Johnson, Andrew L. “Chocolate” Sewell, Jabari Moore, Aaron Moore, Jihad Moore, and Ismaiil Moore and two greatnieces, Alayni Carroll and LaTiana “LaLa” Adams, future daughter-in-law, Shatoni Stout, godmother, Catherine Herndon and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandmothers, Elise Frances Berry and Malissa Floyd Moore, grandfathers, Joseph Edward Berry and Thomas Moore, and her natural grandfather, Francis Briscoe. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 20, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Lexington Park, Md. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. in the church. Father Jack Kennealy will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Michael G. Briscoe II, David L. Price II, David D. Thompson, Raleigh J. Dickerson, Horace B. McClane, Jr. and Thomas A. Moore. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Joseph Berry, Michael Berry, Wayne Berry, Joshua Smith, Andrew Sewell, Devon Johnson, Donald Moore, Jr., Ricky Ray Hewett, LeAnder Webb and Elvis Dorsey. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.
Helen Mae Stetler, 85 Helen Mae Stetler, 85, of California, Md., died July 14, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, Md. Born May 19, 1922 on Lewistown, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Lee Reed and Mae (Moyer) Reed. Mrs. Stetler worked as a Budget Analyst for Comptroller NATC. She married Russel Clifford Stetler on September 20, 1941 in Lewistown, Pa., and he preceded her in death on Oct. 20, 1998. She is survived by her son, Russel L. Stetler of Racine, Wis., two sisters, Sarahann Shenk of Mechanicsburg, Pa. and Marie Erb of Belleville, Pa., four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Doris Jane Zenz. The family received friends Tuesday, July 17, 2007 from 9-10 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md.; where a Funeral Service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Reverend Tom Manning will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Marguerite Amy Tucker, 93
Marguerite Amy “Margaret” Tucker, 93, of Hollywood, Md., died July 7, 2007 at St. Mary’s Nursing Center. Born Aug. 10, 1913 in Hollywood, Md., she was the daughter of the late Clyde Joseph and Effie Elizabeth Joy Wallace. She was the loving wife of Charles I. Tucker, Sr. whom she married on Oct. 11, 1931 in Hollywood, Md., and who preceded her in death in 1999. She is survived by her children; Charles I. Tucker, Jr. and his wife Snookey, of Avenue, Md., Clyde LeRoy Tucker and his wife Phyllis of Venice, Fla., James Allen Tucker and his wife Cindy of Inman, S.C., Darlene Ann Tucker Guyther and her husband Robin of Leonardtown, Md., Katie Magdalene “Max” Tucker McConnell and her husband Arthur of Lexington Park, Md., her brother Tony Wallace of White Hall, Md., and her son in law Mike Rodgers. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Pamela A. Tucker Joy, Cheryl A. Tucker Baez, Keith A. Tucker, Denise M. Rodgers D’Amico, Dennis M. Rodgers, William A. Tucker, Dana Tucker Gladysz, Emily E.E. Tucker, Amy M. Brown Wallace, Katrina L. McConnell Beyer, Charles A. McConnell her great-grandchildren; Chad Joy, Jackie Joy, Elaine Fogelman, Melissa Johnson, Krissy D’Amico, Kyle D’Amico, Ethan Tucker, Jonathan Gladysz, Nathan Gladysz, Laura Breck and Ashley Beyer, as well as her great-great-grandchilden
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Ashlyn and Austen Fogelman and Jacob and Riley Johnson and Mia Johnson. She was also preceded in death by her daughter Phyllis Delores Tucker Rodgers, her sisters Emma Readmond and Grace Fousek, her brothers Robert Wallace and William Wallace as well as her brother in law Carroll Tucker. A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, Margaret was a homemaker who loved to sew and embroider and she made many beautiful quilts in her life. She was a member all of her adult life of Hollywood United Methodist Church. The family received friends for a visitation/viewing on Thursday, July 12, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. in Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md., where prayers will be said at 7 p.m. with Rev. Ann Strickler officiating. A Funeral Service was held on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 10:00 AM at Hollywood United Methodist Church, Hollywood, Md., with Rev. Ken Walker officiating. Interment followed in Joy Chapel Cemetery, Hollywood, Md. Pallbearers were her nephews, Douglas and Wayne Tucker, her grandsons Chuck McConnell and Keith Tucker, and her great-great grandsons, Chad Joy and Nathan Gladysz. Contributions may be made to Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Police Working Leads In Pharmacy Robbery By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Investigators with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office are looking to the community to help solve the latest in a string of armed robberies; this time it involved a suspect who robbed employees at St. John’s Pharmacy in Hollywood at gunpoint. So far, the response from the community in helping investigators close the case has been significant. “We’re getting a lot of leads and a lot of calls from citizens and we’re following up on all of them,” said Lt. Rick Burris, commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. “We’re certainly concerned when something like that happens; I don’t know why there seems to be a surge [in armed robberies] right now.” Information from the sheriff’s office stated that the armed robbery took place June 11 at about 5:30 p.m. and that a white male with a thin build and standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall entered the business and demanded money and prescription drugs while displaying a weapon. The employees complied with the suspect’s demands, and the suspect, who was
wearing a bandana over his face, fled in a tan or beige colored four-door car. No one was injured in the incident. Burris said police are not releasing the amounts of money or drugs that were stolen for fear that it might hinder the investigation. Police are still investigating two armed robberies that took place in Charlotte Hall June 29 and July 3. Burris said that since the suspects in the two cases were similar they might be related. The first crime occurred at the Domino’s Pizza on Charlotte Hall Road when two suspects took money from the establishment while holding an employee at gunpoint. The second crime occurred at the 7-Eleven convenience store on Three Notch Road where the suspect, using a handgun, entered and demanded money of the employee on duty. Burris said that these two incidents and the St. John’s robbery do not appear to be connected. Police also took two men into custody July 4 after they allegedly committed a home invasion and armed robbery at an apartment house in Leonardtown on Medley’s Neck Road.
The two men, Derrick Medley and Trey Barnes, are accused of kicking in the doors of residents demanding to know where one of the residents was, according to information from the sheriff’s office. When they found the man they were looking for, charging documents read, they demanded money and marijuana. When the victim handed over the marijuana, a physical altercation ensued and Barnes allegedly fired a shot from a handgun down the hallway, according to charging documents. The suspects fled when the gunfire erupted and police arrested them soon after. Burris said the recent spate of armed robberies was a serious concern to law enforcement, but that the Bureau of Criminal Investigations was keeping pace with the incidents. “Fortunately, we’ve been able to close most of these cases,” Burris said. Anyone with information regarding the St. John’s Pharmancy robbery can call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333 or detectives at 301-475-4200 ext. 1947.
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Sheriff’s deputies cordon off the parking lot of St. John’s Pharmacy in Hollywood June 11 after an armed robber entered the establishment and demanded money and prescription medication at gun point.
overall there are a significant number of teacher positions beyond the critical needs areas that must be hired before the beginning of the 2007 to 2008 school year. “We still have vacancies out there [for science, math and special education],” Weiland said. “We’re about 70 percent filled on positions across the board in elementary, middle and high school levels.” Weiland said that of the approximately 2,300 employees in the school system, 1,300 were teachers. The school system is continuing aggressive efforts to fill all the positions before school starts, Weiland said. “We’ve looked all over,” Weiland said. “We recruit all along the East Coast, Pennsylvania, New York, throughout the south and in Virginia.” Weiland said that most of the time the school system has all its teacher vacancies filled in by the time school starts. While the system is looking for scarce teachers to fill critical positions, there appears to be no shortage of teachers who meet federal guidelines for being highly qualified. Martirano said St. Mary’s ranks second in the state for having highly qualified teachers, those who meet state certification standards and have a specialized knowledge in a core subject area like math, history, language arts or science, just behind Allegany County. Currently, about 94 percent of classes are taught by highly qualified teachers, Martirano said, which is up from 93 percent last school year. In Allegany County about 98 percent of classes are taught by highly qualified teachers, Martirano said. “We make this a huge
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Teachers
priority for our schools,” Martirano said. “We want the best teachers in front of our students.” And with the opening of the new charter school in Lexington Park, and an additional 50 to 60 teaching positions added to the school budget, the school system will likely be hiring more teachers than it has in recent memory, the superintendent said. “This could be a banner year for hiring teachers,’ Martirano said. Usually the system hires about 140 to 150 teachers each year, but this year that number could rise to 200, according to the superintendent. Martirano has added a recruiting specialist to the human resources department, he said, to help hire more teachers to fill the needs of the system — and there is particular focus on hiring minority teachers. The system has met federal requirements for hiring 100 percent of highly qualified teachers for all of its Title I schools, or those schools with a majority of students who are living in poverty and thus are considered at risk for falling behind academically. “It’s very important to achieve [all highly qualified teachers in Title I schools] regardless of what No Child Left Behind requires,” Martirano said. There are four such schools in St. Mary’s County: Park Hall, Green Holly, Lexington Park and George Washington Carver elementary schools. Martirano said he was also counting on the positive atmosphere in county schools to attract teachers to come here. “We have a superior school system here and teachers want to teach here,” Martirano said. “We have supportive parents, respectful kids and they come ready to learn.”
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