The County Times 2007-09-13 A Section

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Thursday, September 13, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland

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County Dips Into Emergency Reserve Despite Harsh Criticism

Murder Trial Opens Next Week

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

By Adam Ross Staff Writer Standing firm on the board’s agreement to steer clear of funding initiatives outside the budget cycle, Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) stood apart from his often tight and unified constituents Tuesday, and was the lone dissenter of using county reserves to improve the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville.

The dissension from Raley Tuesday followed a letter signed by all five of the county commissioners in June denying $30,000 to the shelter for the addition of three livestock stalls and an air conditioning upgrade because the request came prior to the 2008

Photo by Adam Ross

Overlooking Greens Rest subdivision in Great Mills where single-family homes are being built with the attached apartments, in some cases for rental purposes, according to Sabrina Hecht, a planner in land use and growth management.

SMC Considers Mandate On Rental Investment Properties

By Adam Ross Staff Writer

See Animal Shelter page A-

With the influx of military employees into St. Mary’s County and the hardening of national mortgage rates, more homeowners are turning into landlords, using their properties as rental investments to stay afloat. But that could change if the Board of County Commissioners pass a mandate requiring homeowners with accessory dwelling units to physically reside on the property.

Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) calls it a “loophole” in the system when homeowners with an attached extra living space rent out both the house and

Prosecutors Ride For Juvenile Diabetes

the accessory quarters to complete strangers. In some cases, homeowners move out of Maryland altogether, leaving the renters to manage the array of chores that come with living in a house.

The board is poised to do something about the mismanagement, unanimously voting Sept. 4 to authorize county government officials to draft a text amendment for the planning commission.

At this point, it is unclear what the draft might specifically restrict. The commissioners are in a unique position with Naval Air Station Patuxent River and its transient workforce who rent in part because of the county’s See Dwelling page A-

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Two prosecutors in State’s Attorney Richard Fritz’s office are going to tackle one of their toughest assignments this year starting Sept.

20 but it won’t be in front of a judge trying a case in open court. It will be on the open road riding lightweight bicycles in Whitefish, Montana.

Both Assistant State’s Attorney’s Daniel White and Joseph Stanalonis will ride a 105-mile course next week to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International’s (JDRF) effort to rid the world of the disease.

White rode out one race earlier this year and is going back to make more of an impact with about 200 other riders from around the nation.

“I do it to raise money and to raise awareness [of juvenile diabetes],” White said.

White’s connection to juvenile diabetes is a very personal one because his 6-year-old son was diagnosed with the disease last

St. Mary’s College a Top College in the Nation

structure,” said David Zylak, director of Public Safety. “We are waiting ‘till our neighbors [Charles and Calvert counties] go to a full rebanding to follow.”

Once Charles and Calvert counties complete the re-banding, St. Mary’s will follow suit for what Zylak deemed “a seamless transition.” Charles and Calvert are currently working towards receiving planning money for the re-banding, while St. Mary’s skipped the planning stage and went directly into the configuration stage of the process.

“Nextel is in the process of getting signatures to make sure everyone is progressing towards the final goal,” Zylak said.

Funded in full by Nextel Communications, the re-banding will likely cost $1.5 million, according to Elaine Kramer, the county’s chief financial officer. The county currently has $750,000 already set aside in its budget.

From academically rigorous liberal arts instruction to lush outdoor escapes, St. Mary’s College of Maryland is racking up a bevy of warm praise from some of America’s largest news outlets.

Newsweek magazine listed St. Mary’s College last month as the nation’s “Hottest [School] for Loving the Great Outdoors,” part of the magazine’s 25 Hottest Universities, Kaplan College Guide.

“This state school on the southern shores of Maryland has all the advantages of a small liberal-arts college without budget-breaking tuition. The academically rigorous school also has deep dies to nature,” reads the report from Newsweek.

Newsweek is just one of many national recognitions St. Mary’s has received over the last couple of years, but unlike the past, this acknowledgment is correlated with an influx of enrollment applications, according to Marc Apter, the college’s associate vice president of marketing and public relations.

“We have 79 applicants for next year, which is a long way from now,” Apter said Monday. “The applicants are basically attributable to the Newsweek article.”

Meanwhile, Apter said the students “focused on the environment and the sustainability of [the college’s] biology program,” are the reason Newsweek took an interest in the college in the first place.

St. Mary’s College runs the St. Mary’s River project, which has kept running data of the health of the Chesapeake Bay for 9 years. Run by professors Bob Paul and Chris Tanner, the program has been widely acknowledged as the “best research project focusing on the environment of the Chesapeake Bay,” Apter said.

The college’s student body also made environmental headlines when it voted to tax itself $25 a student to convert campus from oil powered electricity to wind powered electricity.

The student body has also contributed funds for the building of a river center

See Radio page A-

See SMC page A-

Photo by Guy Leonard

Assistant State’s Attorneys Joseph Stanalonis and Daniel White prepare to set out on a training ride in preparation for a ride in Whitefish, Montana that will raise money for research to find a cure for juvenile diabetes.

Inside Op.-Ed .......... Page A - 4 Obituaries..... Page A - 7 Community... Page B - 4 Police ............ Page B - 7 Games........... Page B - 8 Classifieds..... Page B - 9

For Continual News Updates Visit:

Scholarships B-4

See Murder Trial page A-

By Adam Ross Staff Writer

See Diabetes page A-

Chopticon B-1

The prosecution in the county’s only homicide case this year was victorious in its efforts to convict Johntonna Young, 20, of first degree murder last week when a judge allowed them to use a statement Young made during his arrest was used to incriminate him, according to States Attorney Richard Fritz.

During the motions hearing, attorney Sean Moran, Young’s public defender, tried to have a portion of Young’s statement suppressed that seemed to indicate he had admitted to shooting and killing a man in an attempted armed robbery early this year.

Moran attempted to persuade Circuit Court Judge C. Clarke Raley that the arresting officer Det. Antonio Malaspina was not credible when he said, on the witness stand, that Young admitted to the killing when he was arrested at a Waldorf apartment March 3.

Malaspina said in open court that was what the defendant told him, but that the statement was not recorded on an electronic recording device in the vehicle Malaspina had driven to the scene of the arrest.

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$1.5 Million Initiative Moves Forward To Alleviate Emergency Radio Interference

By Adam Ross Staff Writer A state funding boost will foster an emergency services upgrade of mapping software and radio re-banding, two unfunded initiatives from the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners 2008 budget.

The re-banding follows nearly four years of work between the county and the Federal Communications Commission to modify emergency service radios to minimize harmful public interference to safety communications.

Interference largely comes from commercial operations, including mobile phones. By shifting radio frequencies from the upper to the lower end of 800 megahertz, the county can greatly reduce the amount of interference to its emergency radio operations.

But the initiative comes with a cost, and has been ongoing for years.

“It’s a lot of technical rebuilding of infra-

The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, September 13, 2007

History Behind Maryland International Raceway Emily Finch Staff Writer

The first event at St. Mary’s Dragway, the NASCAR Top Fuel Championships, occurred in July 1967.

Spectators and racers from the tri-county area, and even some from beyond, turned out for the race, but it was a St. Mary’s County resident who won the race with a Hemi Small Block Chevrolet.

“After only a year of ownership,” said Royce Miller, current owner of MIR, “Laroque lost the track to Anne Arundel Asphalt because of overdue bills from the origi-

the track, renamed Budds Creek Raceway, was in the hands of another St. Mary’s After having four different County Resident, Bill Cairns. owners, three different names Few modifications were made and seeing a number of techto the facilities, and only a nological changes, Maryland couple events were hosted at International Raceway (MIR) Budds Creeks during Cairns’ still maintains its original lusownership. ter and county ties.

“He owned Bill Cairns It was almost 50 years ago Pontiac dealership on Route 5 that “the track” was originally as well as the raceway,” said built. Then, it was called St. Mack, “and soon enough the Mary’s Dragway. The owner two businesses just became too at the time, Joe Laroque, also much for him and he couldn’t owned a trucking and excajuggle both.” Budds Creek vating company in St. Mary’s Raceway was foreclosed in 1971.

The track was barely closed a year when Mack and his best friend Larry Clayton decided to purchase it. Mack, who owned another racetrack (Colonial Beach Dragway) nearby at the time, said he felt it was a good investment and thought “it could be fun.”

Giving it its current title, Maryland International Raceway, the two friends worked on improving the dragway and getting the old luster back.

Between 1972 and 1989, many adjustments were made to the grounds. A 90’ foot deep canyon that was in the place of the current tower and starting Photo by Emily Finch Midnight Madness at Maryland International Raceway is open every Fri- line was filled in with gravel to day night to street-legal vehicles, including cars, trucks and motorcycles. create more room around the starting line. The track then County. nal construction of the track.” raced four lanes with the first “He tried to build this Mack said “[Laroque] tried to digital timing system that regmonument,” said Todd Mack, do twice as much as was real- istered first, second, third and who worked for NASCAR istic with the construction of fourth places.

Drag Division at the time and the dragway, and it caused him MIR sold out during the was hired to help Laroque de- to lose [the track] in the end.” first U.S. Pro Stock Open in But a year later, in 1968, 1975. The response from the sign the dragway.

area was larger than expected.

“I was glad to have that many people there,” said Mack, “and to have the track up and running again.”

In late 1989, Mack and Clayton decided to lease the property to its current owner.

“It was only our second business meeting we had ever had,” said Mack, “which made Larry and I great partners, while still keeping our friendship.”

Miller and his wife Linda lived in Manasas, Va. where they owned an auto care service center when they began to lease the property. In February 1998, though, Miller bought the track from Mack and Clayton. “He decided he wanted to make a lot of improvements,” said Mack, “and although he wasn’t the highest bidder, I had a good feeling about him.”

The Millers moved to Newburg, in Charles County, in 2000 with their three children to be closer to the track. “[Linda and I] saw that we could make some capital improvements,” said Miller, “and since we bought the track that’s what we’ve been doing.”

Some of the many alterations and additions to the property include a plastic playground for children, a family section where no alcohol is permitted, two emergency track trucks for fire and rescue, an on-track fuel station with five types of fuel and nitro and CO2 filling stations, real-time Doppler radar, a jet dryer for quick track drying time, a live radio broadcast of events and

concession stands.

MIR offers more than 100 races a year, with four nationally televised. “We kept the name Maryland International Raceway because it gives us more national recognition,” said Miller, “but we added Budds Creek underneath it to keep that local attention.”

According to Miller, more than 200,000 people visit MIR annually. The larger races, such as the President’s Cup, have representatives from more than 30 states and Canada. “We are a great tourist attraction,” said Miller, “partly because we give sports enthusiasts a safe, affordable and legal place to race their cars.”

And with the Miller’s running the place, Mack has noth-

ing to worry about. “I chose my successor carefully,” he said, “and this is the kind of business you have to have passion for, and Royce has it.”

Maryland International Raceway Budds Creek is located seven miles south of Route 301 or nearly twelve miles north or Route 5 in Leonardtown on Route 234. It is open Saturday and Sunday with midnight madness for legal vehicles only on Friday nights.

Check the website at www. mirdrag.com or call the 24 hour race information dragline at 301-884-RACE for more information on scheduled events, specific times and fees.

Murder Trial

When Moran called Young to the stand he flatly denied saying anything to the arresting officers that linked him to the crimes with which he was charged.

“I don’t talk like that,” Young said.

When State’s Attorney Richard Fritz, who is prosecuting the case against the defendant, cross-examined Young on the stand, the accused continued to deny the statements in the arresting officer’s report.

“I didn’t say I killed anybody,” Young said. “I didn’t say I was involved in anything.”

Fritz said Young’s testimony was “certainly lacking in credibility.”

By the end of the motions hearing, Raley reaffirmed

the prosecution’s intent to use Young’s apparent statement against him.

“This statement supports the court’s finding that [Det.] Malaspina’s version is the truth and that the defendants version is not the truth,” Raley said. He then spoke directly to Young.

“It’s not that the police are lying, it’s you’re [Young] the liar.”

Young’s trial is set to begin Sept. 18 and will likely be the county’s most high profile case this year.

Young is also accused of participating in a string of armed robberies, with two accomplices, which included the local sporting goods store The Tackle Box, in which several firearms were stolen.

Detectives investigating the murder case said the gun used to kill Walters was an exact ballistic match to a 9mmcaliber Glock semi-automatic handgun stolen from The Tackle Box. A traffic stop by law enforcement recovered the allegedly stolen firearms near Leonardtown.

Young’s alleged accomplices, Crutien Bryan and Terrel Thomas, are also facing counts of armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with the events of late February.

If convicted of the first degree murder charge, Young faces a life term in prison.

Continued from page A- Young stands accused of the first-degree murder of Kenneth James Walter, 24, as the victim left his Lexington Park home for work at a local contractor in the early morning hours Feb. 27.

Police say Young attempt-

ed to steal items from Walter’s car when the victim confronted the defendant and was allegedly shot by Young.

Malaspina testified, though, that he read Young his Miranda rights before he questioned him about the Walter’s

killing. testimony Malaspina’s about what he said was Young’s confession to the killing, contradicted that of the defendant.

Malaspina asked Young in his arrest report: “Did you mean to shoot the white dude?”

Young answered, according to Malaspina’s report, which he repeatedin open court: “No, it was an accident. That’s not my style.”

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Photo by Emily Finch

Even motorcycles race Friday nights on the quarter mile strip at MIR. There are even certain requirements, such as a leather jacket and full-face helmet, specific to bikers.

Sex Offender Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A Chaptico man accused of having consensual sex with a 13-year-old girl in April was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of second degree rape last week.

Irvin Joseph Branson, 25, could face another eight years of jail time on top of the 12year sentence if he is paroled and breaks the law again, according to prosecutor Joseph Stanalonis, an assistant state’s attorney.

Branson was already on parole for another sex offense and was registered as a sex offender when he had sex with the 13-year-old girl Stanalonis said.

Branson would also have to serve an additional four years on top of his most recent 12-year sentence for violation of probation.

In both cases, the sex between Branson and the two teenage girls was consensual, Stanalonis said.

His most recent offense was a serious one despite the sex being consensual, Stanalonis said.

“It is severe,” the prosecutor said. “Any time a 25year-old is having sex with a 13-year-old, I think anyone would think that was a serious offense.”

In charging documents from the April sex offense by Branson, detectives working

the case wrote that Branson had sex with the 13-year-old girl at least three times while she was on Spring Break from school in about one week’s time.

Branson’s brother, Gary Branson, was also charged with having consensual sex with the underage girl and will appear in court later this month, Stanalonis said.

Gary Branson faces one count of second-degree rape at his Circuit Court trial.

In charging documents, detectives wrote that Irvin Branson, who lived in close proximity to the victim’s home, had admitted to knowing the girl was only 13years-old and that he had sex with her at both the Chaptico Community Beach and in the victim’s bedroom in her own home.

Detectives arrested Irvin Branson April 17, the same day they were informed of the offenses by the victim.

At that time, Irvin Branson was already on parole for a third degree sex offense with a 14-year-old girl committed sometime in late 2004.

Irvin Branson was 23 years old at the time, according to charging documents from the second case.

Irvin Branson was charged with six counts of third-degree sex offense, but was only prosecuted and found guilty of one count.

He received four years in prison for the offense ac-

cording to Circuit Court documents.

In that case, investigators were not informed of the offense until January of 2005, when the female victim, who was in a youth detention and treatment facility in Laurel at the time, came forward with her allegations, charging documents state.

In charging documents, detectives wrote the female victim alleged that Branson would have sex with her in various places including friend’s houses, at the victim’s home in northern St. Mary’s County and at a nearby beach.

In the charging documents detectives stated that the female victim told them Irvin Branson would often sell drugs for money and that he would ask her to have sex with his cousins for drugs.

No drug charges against Irvin Branson could be found in online court documents, and in charging documents Branson alleged that the victim would have sex for drugs, but that he was not involved.

In charging documents, Branson said he stopped having sex with the female victim, which happened more than 50 times by the female victim’s allegation, when he found out that she was 14 years old.

Branson said he believed that the victim was 17 years old, charging documents state.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The County Times

Section A -

Scientist Finds Evidence Of Elevated Pollutant Levels At Piney Point Project funded by local environmental group

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A chemistry professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland says he has found something in the air down in Piney Point, and it’s in greater levels than should be expected for a rural area.

Randy Larsen received funding late last year from the Potomac River Association (PRA) to do a three week air quality study near the NuStar petroleum storage facility because of complaints from residents about soot accumulating on outdoor furniture and inside air ducts.

Larsen said his findings over the three-week study, which was assisted by undergraduate students and released Aug. 21, show that the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are about 10 times higher than what they should be.

Larsen said he has not gathered enough data to ascertain exactly what the cause of these highly elevated levels are, though Erik Jansson, president of the Potomac River Association suspects that the elevated pollutant levels could be caused in part by ship traffic coming into and out of the NuStar plant.

Larsen did say that each time he or students went to check air quality readings they noticed that vessels docked at the plant seemed to be emitting exhaust.

Larsen said he wants to conduct more scientific tests to be sure.

“I’m not ready to make that leap of faith yet,” Larsen said. “But what I found bears more investigating.”

Jansson also said that heaters for the petroleum pipeline could also be contributing to the elevated pollutant levels there.

Larsen said that PAHs are a common finding in the atmosphere and are associated with some kind of combustion: campfires, cigarettes or vehicle exhaust to name a few examples.

But the concentration levels he found at a pier adjacent to the Piney Point lighthouse museum, which happens to be right next to a portion of the NuStar storage facility, were unique.

“The levels we found were around 50 to 100 nanograms per cubic meter,” Larsen said. “These concentrations are what you’d find in a city. They’re the same levels you’d see in Chicago or Baltimore.”

Larsen said that some PAHs are known to be the cause of cancer.

Greg Matula, spokesman for NuStar, based in San Antonia, Texas, said that the emissions from the plant of PAHs were “extremely low” with only about two pounds recorded in 2005 and 1.7 pounds recorded in 2006.

“They did not even approach emission thresholds that would make our PAH emissions reportable to the Maryland Department of the Environment,” Matula wrote in a statement to The County Times. “They are also far below any level that would pose any kind of threat to health or to the environment.”

Larsen gathered his data using a soot-collecting machine, a device that looks something like a stainless steel mailbox that sucks in air through a filter that allows researchers to measure the pollutant contents of the local air.

Larsen said that the experiment could have been compromised by something

as mundane as someone smoking heavily near the device, the nearby use of home heating oil, or possibly from vehicle exhaust emissions.

But he doubted those possibilities, he said.

“We saw these concen-

trations daily,” Larsen said.

“We’re trying to repeat the experiment and rule out these hypotheses.”

Jansson, whose organization funded the experiment to the tune of about $4,000, said that the PRA would also

investigate the situation at Piney Point.

“We’re going to monitor the ship traffic to see if we can match the readings with the ships coming in,” Jansson said.

Janet Johnson, president

of the Lighthouse Road Citizens Association in Piney Point, said that residents have had to learn to live with the storage facility.

The facility was first constructed shortly after World War II and there were attempts to turn it into a refinery in the early 1970 but those efforts were defeated in a countywide referendum.

Pollutants in the air, which she and residents suspect come from the storage facility, are nothing new, she

said.

“It’s something we’ve put up with for years, everyone’s concerned about it,” Johnson said, adding that she could not prove that the facility was the cause of the soot that has plagued some residents.

But the work done by Larsen and the PRA was sure to spark interest among the community, she said.

“We’d definitely be interested in more testing and we’d be interested in seeing the results,” Johnson said.

The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Editorial & Opinion Maryland has a Spending Problem, Not a Revenue Problem.

What a difference a nonelection year makes for those career politicians. It is hard to believe that it was only a year ago that O’Malley was running around Maryland telling folks how much better he could run the state than his opponent, then Governor Robert L. Ehrlich.

O’Malley promised to provide better funding for higher education to make college affordable for all Marylanders. He hasn’t, he has instead reduced funding for higher education.

O’Malley promised more funding for K-12 public schools, including a promise to fund the Geographic Cost Index. Part of the Thornton Plan, the Geographic Cost Index was devised to provide more funding to jurisdictions where the cost of education was higher, attempting to even the playing field around the state if you will. He hasn’t, in-

stead he actually now says he may have to reduce funding for K-12 education.

O’Malley promised greater regulatory oversight of utility companies and promised to provide relief to Marylanders who are now paying much higher electric bills.

He hasn’t, instead claiming now that the rate increases he promised would go away if you elected him governor now are justified.

O’Malley promised greater scrutiny over state land purchases, criticizing Ehrlich for “sweetheart” land deals, deals that actually were never sweetheart at all. After the liberal lead legislature spent nearly a year and several millions of taxpayer dollars to investigate Ehrlich’s land deals, they found that Ehrlich had done nothing wrong, leaving us to realize that the entire charade was really an effort to create a negative media circus

targeting the Ehrlich administration and those close to Ehrlich.

O’Malley promised to do better, he hasn’t, making his first big land purchase one that even his friend, the new state comptroller criticized.

A deal using taxpayer dollars to purchase land on the Eastern Shore that was overpriced swampland, owned by people with close connections to O’Malley.

While campaigning around the state just a year ago, usually along side of local senators and delegates of his same party who also were running for re-election, O’Malley made all these promises and more, yet never did he promise tax increases to pay for it all. If campaigns required telling the truth, O’Malley should have campaigned with the message: “I can manage Maryland better, with several new tax increases”.

To The Editor: As President of the Alumni Association of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and member of the Board of Trustees, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of the comments written recently regarding the new Rowing Center and the entire River Center project.

There has been criticism that plans of this project were not shared publicly or allegations that the project was “kept secret.” Over 1,000 people, including many alumni, have to date made donations to make this project possible. Along the way, there were presentations to various community groups and leaders including the St. Mary’s River Yacht Club, local Rotary clubs, the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association, and the County Commissioners, as well as numerous gatherings of alumni, parents, and friends.

Additionally, implications have been made that the College deviated from obtaining required approvals; accusations which are completely unfounded. One such claim is that the Rowing Center violates the Critical Areas Act. While the setback requirement from the water is normally 100 feet, the Critical Areas

Commission allows exemptions for certain facilities such as commercial marinas. The college’s waterfront is covered by that provision. Throughout St. Mary’s County, there are at least 20 other facilities that utilize this exemption to build within close proximity of the water.

St. Mary’s College was founded in 1840 as a living memorial to the first capital of Maryland. It was an independent educational institution then, and has remained so ever since.

In 1967, the female junior college became a four-year co-educational college, maintaining its autonomous Board of Trustees thanks to legislation sponsored by then-State Senator J. Frank Raley. In 1992, with the strong backing of former Governor William Donald Schaefer, the Board’s autonomy was reaffirmed and strengthened as St. Mary’s College was designated the state’s Honors College.

It concerns me that, according to reports, State Senator Roy Dyson may be considering sponsorship of legislation to relinquish the autonomy of the St Mary’s College Board of Trustees. The alumni of the college have long believed that having a separate

the revenue shortage idea, no longer do we hear the discussion about should taxes be raised, raising taxes is now a given necessity because there simply aren’t enough revenues to pay the bills. The debate now has turned squarely to “which taxes are we going to increase and how much”.

As we predicted 4 months ago, the governor is even talking about calling a “special legislative session” this fall to decide which taxes to increase. Why wait until next spring to raise taxes when it’s already been decide that taxes must be raised?

But Marylanders never signed up for all this. We were never told the truth. Some say voters should have been smart enough to know the price of campaign rhetoric. Regardless, the taxpayers deserve an honest debate in Annapolis about state spending, and a chance to vote for candidates

who promise to hold reasonable limits on state spending versus those who promise more state spending with tax increases.

The reason that O’Malley and many of his friends in the legislature claim there is a revenue shortage is because they plan to increase state spending by more than 8% next year. If state spending were increased by only 3% next year, suddenly Maryland’s revenues don’t look so bad.

How much is your paycheck going to increase next year?

Most families have to manage with increases each year of much less than 8%, why can’t our government?

The governor and the legislature are pretty certain they have convinced Marylanders that more revenue is needed, we believe given the choice, most Marylanders would prefer less spending.

St. Mary’s College Rowing and River Center

College Rowing Center Obeys All Laws, Contributes to Community To the Editor:

The voters may still have elected him, or maybe not.

The point is, truth in advertising, while not a political advertising requirement should be a moral requirement. Even those senators and delegates who supported O’Malley’s promises never bothered to tell you that it would require government dipping a few more hands into your pockets. They are not required to provide truth in advertising either, just say what is necessary to get re-elected.

Now the great stage in Annapolis has been meticulously set. O’Malley’s first 8 months in office was devoted to convincing Marylanders that their state has a financial crisis. Spending the 1.5 billion dollar surplus, which Ehrlich left behind, was the first step. After all, how can you cry broke with a few billion in the bank?

After 8 months of selling

governing board has helped St. Mary’s move forward and become the institution that it is today.

Year after year, St. Mary’s College of Maryland continually strives to find new ways to open college programs and facilities not just to alumni but also to neighbors and friends in the community. For instance, when the 1970s era gymnasium was expanded recently; a new Olympic size 50-meter pool was installed to complement the original pool.

This was in direct response to community needs.

Change is often difficult.

It is never easy to accept adjustments or revisions to our routine. It is my hope and belief that the completion of this project, and the many activities it supports for students, alumni and community members will more than outweigh the sacrifice made by building on the open space on which it now sits.

Peg Duchesne President, Alumni Association of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Member, Board of Trustees

I am appalled by the continuing coverage of Senator Roy Dyson’s view that plans for the St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) Rowing and River Centers are an “affront.”

This has been followed by letters to the editor by a few individuals who complain that their view of the River is now blocked as they drive on Route 5.

On Aug. 25, my husband and I dropped our sophomore off at the school and as we were leaving we drove past the new building and new site. We both commented on how the design and plan melded beautifully into the landscape. The architecture is stunning and reminiscent of an old boathouse. SMCM is nationally recognized for its waterfront campus, its sailing and rowing programs, and its dedication to the memory and preservation of historic St. Mary’s City. In recent years, the school has risen in national stature and serves as a model of how a public college can offer an almost Ivy League education at an affordable price.

It is recognized as a Green School, and sets new standards for an environmentally conscious community. It is also a source of employment in an otherwise underserved

economically depressed part of the county. The students at the school love and revere the River. It is a central part of their life and the Rowing and River Centers are long overdue. If they cannot be placed on the River, where would people suggest they be placed?

So, whose view is really being blocked? Wealthy landowners in the community? Commuters? It is hard to believe that “it is a major shock” to see part of the view obscured or that someone’s “joy is gone” by a building that brings young people closer to the River.

Perhaps people should be watching the road instead of the view. Students often have a hard time crossing Route 5 on the way to and from classes because motorists don’t slow down or grant them the right of way. As a result, an overpass is being planned.

I would suggest that Senator Dyson and others focus their concerns about higher education where they really matter—rising tuition costs, consistently low national ranking at some of our public institutions, insufficient student financial aid, and chronic failure of some K-12 school systems (particularly in St. Mary’s County) to graduate students and send them off to college.

SMCM has done quite well “down there,” as Senator Dyson refers to the location of the college. It is a success story and one that all of Maryland should be proud of.

A bit of “town/gown” controversy is inevitable, but I think many would question the motives of those complaining about the enhancement of a state, and even, national asset.

Moreover, these buildings are being constructed with private funds and have been in the planning stages for years.

Senator Dyson should keep his hands off SMCM other than the due diligence any public institution must receive. Why do he and a few misinformed individuals feel it necessary to take swipes at Maryland’s success story?

Perhaps it is to his advantage to placate a few disgruntled landowners or commuters who really don’t have a legitimate complaint. But he has other constituents as well, and they are likely to have a different point of view. And let’s not forget the students, because this is really about them and their education.

Kathi E. Hanna Prince Frederick,

Md

(Laurel and Leonardtown, Maryland)

Letters to the Editor If you wish to send a letter to the editor, please include your name, address and phone number for confirmation purposes. We will only publish your name and city of residence. We can withhold your name by request if circumstances merit it. We must receive all letters by Monday morning for publication in the next issue. Any letter received later than Monday will be held for the following issue.

Diabetes Continued from page A- February.

Since that time, it has been difficult for the family and his son to adjust to the change in lifestyle.

White’s son has to give himself six injections of insulin each day and check his blood sugar levels at least eight times a day.

His son’s plight, and the plight of millions of others around the world, spurred him on to do something about the

debilitating condition.

“A cure for him is a cure for a lot of people,” White said.

According to the JDRF, about 194 million people around the world suffer from diabetes, which is a leading cause of kidney failure, adult blindness and amputations that do not result from some form of trauma.

It also leads to nerve damage, strokes and heart attacks, the JDRF reports.

In 2002, according to the JDRF, diabetes counted for more than $132 billion in health care costs to

Americans.

There are two forms of diabetes, type 1, which is the juvenile onset, and type 2, which affects adults and is the result of a metabolic disorder.

The juvenile onset diabetes comes from an autoimmune disease.

Both he and Stanalonis have been working to cram training between their busy schedules in court to get ready for the tough ride ahead, but it hasn’t been easy.

Sometimes they are able to meet on weekends to ride a circuit on Patuxent River Naval Air Station to get in

shape.

“They do whatever riding they can during the week and then we get together on the weekends and do a little more,” White said.

Stanalonis said he would push to complete the 105-mile ride — it’s his first attempt — but anticipated much suffering if his initial training rides were any indication of what to expect.

“When I rode 30 miles last week I was in pain for two days after and had pain the same day,” Stanalonis said, adding that he plans to ride in 30 and 60 mile increments

to get ready for the 105-mile finale.

“That’s what we call training. I expect there will be eight days of pain after 105 miles.”

Stanalonis and White get into some good natured ribbing over the subject of what training has been accomplished versus expected riding goals.

“I’m committed to riding,” Stanalonis said. “They’ll have to drag me off the course if I don’t finish it on time.”

White said: “That’s a good attitude Joe.” White said he will use his

son’s condition and a picture of his family attached to the frame of his bicycle to keep him going.

“When I think about quitting I remember when [my son] doesn’t want to do what he has to do [take his injections and check his blood sugar]. We have to make him do it sometimes.

“He keeps going, I keep going. And I’ve got the easy part.”

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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The County Times

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Section A -

United Way Honors “Lights” Of St. Mary’s Radio

Continued from page A-

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

That ceremony is also the kick off for the United Way’s fundraising drive, in which the organization seeks Volunteerism may not pay, but it to raise $450,000 by the end of the year.

“That is a record number for this organization… so we can keep matters of the heart alive,” said Mary Lynn Stone, the organization’s honorary campaign chairperson. “We have quite the goal in front of us.”

Paul Snow, who has served for 13 years on the board of directors of the mental health service provider Pathways, is one such volunteer that helps the United Way thrive.

He is now the president of that board and helps direct its policies as well as promoting the efforts of Pathways to help treat people with mental illnesses and assist in their adjusting to a more normal life.

“There’s so much stigma that comes with mental illness and we’re trying our best to eliminate that stigma,” Snow said. “Mental illness can be treated.”

Photo by Guy Leonard Quiet and unassuming, the retired Paul Snow, president of the board of directors of Pathways, a mental health provider, observes Navy man said the award was a genuthe award he received from the United Way, along with 39 others, for their volunteer work in ine surprise to him. the community.

“It came out of the blue,” Snow certainly has rewards, like the satis- United Way, which is comprised of 39 said with a smile.

For Snow, the work of running an faction of helping others and know- member organizations ranging from organization that helped a group of ing that in some way, that effort helps rescue squads to religious and compeople with critical needs was enough munity based philanthropic groups, make the community a better place. to keep him going.

That is what motivated the 40 honors those 40 deemed to be the most “It’s something that enriches me,” people honored by the United Way of outstanding volunteers in the commuSnow said. “I enjoy the organization, St. Mary’s County to volunteer their nity at an awards ceremony. time, effort and talents to the member organizations they serve so selflessly as to be named “Lights of St. Mary’s.”

Each year the county chapter of the

watching it grow and help people and helping to bring them to where they need to be in life.”

Kelsey Bush, a youth coordinator with the county’s Division of Community Services, who received an award for his dedication to youth and families, said he, too, was surprised by the honor.

The award, though appreciated, should never be the reason anyone should volunteer he said.

“I don’t like fanfare,” Bush said.

“You do it because you love it… you do it because you want to give back.”

Bush helps youth who represent some of the toughest cases of being disturbed or distraught and need treatment and guidance in volunteering with the group Alternatives for Youth and Families.

The group was formed in the early 1970s to provided treatment and care for adolescents embroiled in family or personal crises.

Bush said, people who wanted to give back to their communities only needed to do as much as they could.

They should not worry about making a large impact, he said.

“There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t have it as good as you,” Bush said. “But from just being involved… you never know what the ripple effect is going to be in that person’s life.”

Thirty-eight more volunteers were honored for their efforts by the United Way Sept. 7 at the J.T. Daugherty Center.

The other honorees included: Bill and Sharon Rhodes of the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad; Kathleen Weigel of the Literacy Council of St. Mary’s County; Connie Walker, head of the Southern Maryland Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness; Elisabeth Eichel of the Pastoral Counseling Center of St. Mary’s; Larry Miller of Patuxent Habitat for Humanity; Debbie Drury of the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad; Laura Hammett of the Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad; George L’Heureux of the Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad; Liat Mackey of the Southern

Maryland Childcare Resource Center; Mark Jones, Sr. of the Southern Maryland Tri-County Action Committee and Penny Brueggemann of Special Olympics St. Mary’s County.

Other award recipients were: Gladys Taylor of St. Mary’s Caring, Anita Russell of St. Mary’s Hospital; Linda McInturff of The Compassionate Friends; Thurmon Harmon of the Three Oaks Center; Harriet Nettles of the Tri-County Youth Services Bureau, Inc.; Dakota Shelton of the United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Maryland; Scott Stahr of the United Way of St. Mary’s County; Mark Whitten and Anna Austin of Walden

Sierra; Marguerite Cheseldine of A Community That Shares; Steve Mattingly of The ARC of Southern Maryland-St. Mary’s County Services; Bill Vaughn of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maryland; Dawn Szot of Birthright of Southern Maryland and Hank Zitnick of Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area Council, St. Mary’s County.

Others also awarded were: Margaret Sawyer, Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maryland; Caren DePiazza of Care Net Pregnancy Center of Southern Maryland; Bobby Lynch of Catholic Charities; Heike Lasoski of the Center for Children, Inc.; LaRue

Bowen of The Center for Life Enrichment; John Winters of Christmas in April St. Mary’s County; Jane Kayser; Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, St. Mary’s County; Gene Lane of the Greenwell Foundation; Nick Parker of H.O.P.E.; Pat Simone of Health Share of St. Mary’s County; Joan Williams of the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad; Jan Barnes of Hospice of St. Mary’s; Terri Griest of Learning Disabilities of St. Mary’s County, Inc. and Amy Smith of the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Kramer called the negotiations with Nextel “long and changing with each passing week,” but added that the county is really close to awarding contracts.

The upgrade requires no additional channels or buttons, and is comparable to the system in place currently, according to Zylak. Coverage is also guaranteed, although some bad spots in the southernmost areas of the county are expected to persist.

“The FCC guarantees that it has to be at least as [effective] as the current system,” Zylak added.

According to Zylak, Nextel was the only carrier to have interference issues, and is solving the problem by implementing the re-banding initiatives.

Nextel replaced 125 emergency radios that were unable to be re-banded with comparable radios. However, the replacement radios “weren’t really the radios we would like to have,” according to Zylak, so the county negotiated with Nextel to include upgraded radios.

The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing Sept. 4 for the re-banding project, but nobody signed up to talk and no comments had been submitted by mail.

“I appreciate the work of a lot of people within county government… This is very technical and very important, I’m hopeful we can get it concluded,” Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) said.

In other news, The Maryland Emergency Numbers System Board awarded the county approximately $604,000 to upgrade existing mapping software, according to Kramer.

The software will go a long way toward helping first responders locate calls as well as colleagues.

Zylak called the upgrade “a good thing, very beneficial to operations to fire and rescue.”

40 happy kids.

One hero!

The big bounce house. The helium balloon inflator. Everything to make their day special. For rent. Along with party supplies and advice, all in one place.

St. Mary's City St. Mary’s City DATE Fri. Sept. 14 Sat. Sept. 15 Sun. Sept. 16 Mon. Sept. 17 Tue. Sept. 18 Wed. Sept. 19 Thu. Sept. 20

LOW -------9/14 10:57 p.m.

9/15 11:34 p.m.

12:11 a.m.

12:54 a.m.

1:46 a.m.

2:47 a.m.

HIGH 4:16 a.m.

4:53 a.m.

5:30 a.m.

6:09 a.m.

6:53 a.m.

7:47 a.m.

8:49 a.m.

LOW 10:11 a.m.

10:36 a.m.

11:05 a.m.

11:42 a.m.

12:28 p.m.

1:21 p.m.

2:23 p.m.

LOCATION Breton Bay Bushwood Wharf Colton's Point Point Lookout Piney Point Wicomico Beach Solomons Island

HIGH "+31 min." "+45 min." "+50 min."

"-7 min." "+9 min." "+58 min." "+32 min."

LOW "+29 min." "+45 min." "+24 min."

"-19 min."

"-8 min." "+63 min." "+50 min."

at HIGH 4:29 p.m.

5:01 p.m.

5:34 p.m.

6:11 p.m.

6:56 p.m.

7:51 p.m.

8:56 p.m.

Route 246 & Great Mills Rd. Lexington Park, MD 20653

301-862-7702

The County Times

Section A -

Ramblings of a Country Girl

Photo by Adam Ross

County Fair Terri Bartz Bowles Newcomers and others ‘not from around here’ have been heard to ask, “What’s the big deal about the county fair”? And I think to myself – these poor souls grew up in a place where there wasn’t a county fair! They’ve been deprived! For the uninitiated, let me share a few things about the fair. First and foremost, it’s a social event. You see people you haven’t run into

for a while and catch up on things. It’s entertainment, of course. It’s even educational.

But the main thing is, it’s just fun!

The anticipation begins when the Fair Guide is published. First, you look through the whole thing, checking out each page. Then you go back and look at the Schedule of Activities. You plan out what you want to do and see because you don’t want to miss anything. Then you go

through the Exhibitor Classes and decide what you’re going to enter this year. That new cookie recipe your family raved about? Yea, that will surely win a ribbon! What’s in the yard or garden that’s worthy? What will be blooming at fair time; what will be ripe? What about something knitted? Sewn? The scrapbook just finished?

Then, before you know it, it’s here! You go to the fairgrounds on Wednesday and

enter your best. You wonder all the next day how you did.

Then you use your free Exhibitor Thursday night pass to go and see if you won. Of course, it’s the ultimate to see the blue ribbon on your entry. But it’s great to win any color. And it’s just plain fun to enter.

Then you buy your Season Pass so you can spend as much time as possible at the fair. It’s only one weekend a year so you make the most of it. There’s so much to see and do, everyone can find something they like. Animals, flowers, vegetables and fruits, singing, dancing, tractors, babies, maybe a magician or stilt walker. And the food!

From local favorites to ethnic specialties, you can spend the whole three days at the fair and never eat the same thing twice.

The sights, the sounds, the smells, the smiles. I love the fair. From the babies in the contest to the couple who have been married for 50 years looking at the beekeeping exhibit together, it’s an indefinable thing that is good for your soul. It’s a slice of life.

What’s the big deal about the St. Mary’s County Fair?

What isn’t a big deal about the St. Mary’s County Fair?!

Thomas Johnson Bridge Awaits Fate

By Adam Ross Staff Writer A possible expansion of the MD 4 – Thomas Johnson Bridge could be 9 years away, and that’s if everything goes perfectly, according to representatives from the Maryland State Highway Administration.

But as is often the case, highway projects encounter holdups from a host of organizations and entities that have a stake in the size and scope of the project. Funding is another issue, planning for the bridge’s expansion is expected

to balloon into the $9 million range.

On Tuesday, representatives from SHA offered the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners three plausible alternatives to dealing with the Johnson Bridge.

One alternative was to leave the structure alone, and keep up with its regularly scheduled improvements. Alternative two calls for minor construction and operational enhancements including traffic signal and intersection improvements leading up to the bridge. Alternative three breaks down into three op-

tions: convert the bridge to a two lane one-way bridge, make it a one-way bridge, but add a 10-foot wide shoulder with shared pedestrian and bicycle lanes, or add two lanes with a 10-foot shoulder on each side and a shared use pedestrian and bicycle lane.

In alternative three, SHA’s plan currently calls for a 30-foot median with an open section to allow leeway for the plans to change.

SHA hopes to have the design approval by the winter of 2011. For that to occur, SHA still needs an additional $4 million in funding.

As the project picks up steam it is expected to encourage studies on intersections close to the bridge, including the intersection at Route 4 and Route 235. Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (DLeonardtown) called the intersection a “major interchange” for St. Mary’s County and encouraged officials at SHA to include in the project.

The SHA report budged another year and a half for project management, 2 or 3 years for engineering, and 3 years for construction, if the goes through the process without hold up.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Odd News BAY SHORE, N.Y. - A 74-year-old man appeared to be an easy target to a lurking mugger with a tire iron in hand, but things are not always how they appear. Bruce Ferraro had no idea someone was following him as he walked out of a department store at the South Shore Mall on Saturday and got into his car, police said. But then a man pounded on Ferraro’s window and demanded cash. “Ferraro told the Associated Press, ‘What, are you kidding me?’ and he actually gets out of the car,” said Det. Sgt. Thomas Groneman, of the Suffolk County Police Department. The mugger demanded Ferraro hand over his wallet, calling the Bay Shore resident an “old man” and threatening to hit him with the tire iron, Groneman said. Instead, Ferraro grabbed the bar and the two fought, until the septuagenarian managed to snatch away the tire iron, police said. Groneman said Ferraro did “a good job” of disarming his would-be assailant, though he would not recommend other people attempt such a brazen act of self-defense. Without the weapon, the 32-year-old suspect ran to his car and attempted to drive away, police said. But the vehicle stalled, and the man got out of the car and fled on foot. Ferraro later helped police identify the suspect. The man was arrested later Saturday at his home in West Babylon. Police charged him with attempted robbery and he was being held on $10,000 bail in Riverhead. Ferraro’s only injury was a scrape on the wrist.

Merrimack, N.H. - A New Hampshire teenager had her yearbook picture rejected because she was holding a flower. Merrimack High School student Melissa Morin’s senior photograph showcased her with a small red flower. However, because props are not allowed, school officials said the picture would not make the yearbook. Morin, 17, who loves acting, is sitting on a costume trunk backstage at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. She is wearing a black and white sundress and is holding onto the flower. “I totally understand that schools have right to dictate policy,” Manchester photographer Brett Mallard told the Associated Press. “I think the issue is people need to be made aware that we’ve thrown common sense out the window. When we’re restricting kids from holding a stupid flower in their hand, it’s kind of silly, quite frankly.

The policy is in response to a controversy in 2005 in Londonderry, where a student posed with his gun. A judge ruled in favor of the school, but Merrimack officials told the Associated Press they didn’t want to to face familiar scuffles. “I understand (the school’s) dilemma in trying to make it black and white ... and not blur the line,” Kathie Roy told the Associated Press. “On the other hand, if something is allowed in the classroom, something benign, then I think it’s perfectly acceptable (to allow it in a photograph).” If Morin wants to have the picture published in the yearbook she can buy advertising space in the back of the yearbook. Parents are offered the chance to buy a spot and write messages if they wish.

Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) applauded SHA’s willingness to include a pedestrian and bicycle path across the bridge.

“Many years ago when I was crossing the bridge I remember I had to run and then when a care came by I had to jump on the railing,” Jarboe said. “That’s like being be-

tween the devil and the deep blue sea, literally.”

Jarboe asked SHA to look into using fairies that could run from the bridge to Pax River during rush hour as a temporary solution to easing traffic across the bridge while it awaits its fate.

Navy News First Time for Low Collateral Damage Bomb Amy Kaper Staff Writer

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from the Naval Air Warfare Center- Weapons Division (NAWCWD), China Lake, Naval aviators recently Calif. The PMA-201 team targeted enemies for the first delivered a solution in only time using the Low Collat- 16 months from war fighter eral Damage Bomb (LCDB), need to fielded capability, a specialized weapon devel- delivering LCDB to Naval oped at Naval Air Systems units in April of this year.

Command.

“Our Naval war fighter deNaval aircraft dropped a pends upon us to provide the GBU-51/B laser-guided bomb right capability at the right with the low-collateral damage time at an acceptable cost. explosive on an enemy target When the combatant comin Iraq July 27 after insurgents mand submitted their low colwere identified setting up an lateral damage effects urgent improvised explosive device need, we were able to quickly along a convoy route. Forward and efficiently energize the Air Control, (FAC) observing Precision Strike Weapons the insurgents, directed an team to identify a cost-effecF/A-18 assigned to VMFA- tive solution in record time,” 121 to the successful strike. said Captain Mat Winter, PreA second drop was recorded cision Strike Weapons proAug. 12 in Iraq. FAC observed gram manager. “The PMA/ two vehicles in known terror- NAVAIR acquisition profesist-held territory making a sional team performed exweapons transfer. Two F/A- cellently, and we delivered a 18’s assigned to VMFA-121 solution into the war fighters’ vectored to the targets. The hands in just 16 months. This aircraft destroyed a van with accomplishment is a tribute to an AGM-65E Maverick and our acquisition agility facilia sedan parked in a vacant lot tated through our cross funcoff the road using a GBU-51/ tional Air Launched WeapB with low collateral damage ons Team communications. explosives.

Today is even more fulfilling Examination after the now that LCDB has been sucJuly and August attacks cessfully deployed in comshowed the bombs had suc- bat and achieved the results cessfully detonated while the war fighter requested.” effectively limiting damage Air-to-ground weapons hisbeyond the intended target. torically were produced to After early experiences in deliver the maximum amount combat, the Fleet had request- of explosive effect possible. In ed just such a solution for modern urban warfare, there unwanted collateral damage is often little delineation bein direct attack bombing sce- tween friendly, neutral and narios. The Navy’s Precision enemy forces, which requires Strike Weapons Program Of- better blast and fragment confice (PMA-201) at the Patux- trol. The BLU-126/B - the ent River Naval Air Station designation for the LCDB led the LCDB acquisition ef- - allows tactical aircraft to fort using technical expertise employ a precision strike

weapon that limits unintended damage. Both missions demonstrated this unique capability of inflicting a lethal blow with minimal collateral damage to surrounding buildings or roadways.

The key feature of this bomb concept was modifying the BLU-111 500-pound bomb to reduce fragment quantity and velocity. The modification reduces the mass of the main-charge explosive to less than 30 pounds, and the removed explosive mass is replaced with inert material that maintains the mass properties. The BLU-126/B is externally identical to the 500 lbs. BLU-111, but contains less explosive mass producing a reduced fragmentation pattern and blast radius. The program developed the weapon for use in situations where friendly forces or civilians are close to the target. The BLU-126/B can be used with the same guidance kits as the BLU-111, including those for laser guided bomb and joint direct attack munitions.

The PMA-201 team, comprised of engineers, logisticians and testers from both Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland and the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division China Lake, Calif., worked as part of the Naval Aviation Enterprise Air Launched Weapons Team to swiftly bring this “lethal-enough” and cost-effective capability to the Navy and Marine Corps war fighter, said Winter.

Excerpts in this article were taken from a written statement by Chuck Wagner.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The County Times

Section A -

Obituaries Mary Bullis Barnes, 79 Mary B u l l i s Barnes, 79, of Park Hall, Md., died Sept.

4, 2007 in Wa s h i n g ton Hospital Center, Washington, DC. Born Nov. 9, 1927 in Park Hall, Md., she was the daughter of the late Anna Barnes and William McClain Dorsey.

Mary was reared by the late Jesse and Mary Ellen Taylor.

Mary received her education in the St. Mary’s County Catholic Schools. During her lifetime, she worked as a selfemployed domestic engineer.

Accepting Christ at an early age, Mary was a lifelong member at Zion United Methodist Church in Lexington Park, Md. She was the President of the Usher Board until her health failed. She always greeted you with a smile and warm welcome. Mary also served as a Communion Steward and a member of the kitchen committee.

“Little Mary” as she was affectionately called, enjoyed cooking, baking cakes, rice pudding and making homemade root beer. She was always active in the welfare of the community.

Mary leaves to cherish her beloved memories a devoted son, William Charles Fenwick, a loving daughterin-law, Sherri, one grandson, Wm. LeVar, all of Park Hall, Md., and goddaughter, Shell Jackson. Mary also leaves a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

The family received friends on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007 from 10-11 a.m. at Zion United Methodist Church, Lexington Park, Md., where a Funeral Service was conducted. Reverend Dr. Brian W. Jackson conducted the service. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md. Serving as pallbearers were Melvin Fenwick, Arthur Martin, Morris Fenwick, Andre Shubrooks, Tony Hatton, and James Taylor. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Norman Bailey, John Taylor, Richard Sims, and Thomas B. Waters.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

Mary Elizabeth Carroll, 77 Margaret Elizabeth Carroll, 77, of Washington, D.C., formerly of St. Mary’s Cou nt y, died Sept. 3, 2007 at the Community Hospice of Washington, D.C. Born June 26, 1930 in St. James, Md., she was the daughter of the late Webster W. Hall and Mary Frances Hall. She was one of 14 children.

Margaret attended St. Peter Claver Elementary School and Cardinal Gibbons High School in Ridge, Md. Margaret was a member of Nativity Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. and was a member of the Traditional Choir for more than 20 years.

Margaret worked in the food service profession most of her life. She retired from the District of Columbia Public Schools. She loved to bake, especially those delectable homemade rolls, cakes, and pies. Margaret touched the lives of many people from the beginning of her career until she was called home to be with her Lord.

Margret was married to the late Talbert Joseph Carroll for 22 years. Growing up in a strong Christian environment

laid the foundation for Margaret’s future hard work and strong family orientation. She loved to dance and her rendition of the “Electric Slide” was something to behold. Her passion for this dance was undeniable.

She is survived by her two daughters, Margaret Ann (Al) Hayes of Owings, Md., and Francine M. Carroll of Washington, D.C., a granddaughter, Mykia Carroll, four brothers, Joseph (Ola) Hall of Long Island, N.Y., Ernest (Emma) Hall if Lexington Park, Md., James (Claudette) Hall of Washington, D.C., and John (Mary Jane) Hall of Lexington Park, Md., three sisters, Nellie (Francis) Nolan of Lexington Park, Md., Christine (Willie) Poole of Silver Spring, Md., and B. Marie Blackmon of Washington, D.C., and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Talbert, three brothers William Hall, Raymond Hall, Bernard Hall, and one sister, Rose Mary Fenwick-Yates.

The family received friends Friday, Sept. 7, 2007 from 9-10 a.m. in St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church, St. Mary’s City, Md., where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated. Reverend Damian Shadwell was the celebrant.

Interment followed in St. James Cemetery, Lexington Park, Md. Serving as pallbearers were Michael D. Hall, Sr., John R. Hall, Jr., Patrick R. Hall, James Edward Carroll, Russell Carroll, and Sheron Chase.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD.

Mary Elizabeth Emmart, 78 Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Emmart, 78, Mechanicsville, Md., died Sept.

8, 2007 in Leonardtown, Md. Bor n Nov. 30, 1928 in Baltimore, Md., she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Catherine “Haas” Golderman. She is survived by her children: Michael and his wife Barbara, Dan and his wife Ellen, Thomas and his wife Teresa and Glenn and his wife Tracy, all of Mechanicsville, Md. She is also survived by her sibling Al Wehner of Orlando, FL, eight grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her siblings Louis and Edna Golderman. The family received friends on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 from in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said at 7:00 p.m.

A Graveside service was celebrated on Wednesday, Sept.

12, 2007 at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Baltimore, Md., with Fr. Peter Alliata officiating. Pallbearers were: Michael Emmart, Danny Emmart, Tommy Emmart, Glenn Emmart, Ryan Emmart and Al Wehner.

Contributions may be made to: Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 15, Mechanicsville, MD 20609 and/or the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 1889, La Plata, MD 20646. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Salvator Victor “Sal” Greco, 89 Salvator Victor “Sal” Greco, 89, of Lexi ng ton Park, Md., died Sept. 3, 2007 at his residence after a battle

with cancer.

Born June 19, 1918 in Manhattan, N.Y., he was the son of the late Frank Greco and Filomena DiGiorno Greco.

Mr. Greco grew up in New York City, where he developed an early interest in aviation and aspired to be an engineer. He entered the Navy in 1938 and served aboard a destroyer ship, the Whitney, during World War II. He began as an apprentice seaman and worked up to Chief Fire Control man and later received a commission as Ensign. His Naval career ended in 1945 with a medical discharge.

Following this time in the Navy, Mr. Greco came to St. Mary’s County and began his civil service career with the Department of Defense. He began as a technician at Armament Test and at the same time pursued educational opportunities offered by his employer. After completing undergraduate courses through the University of Maryland and passing the Civil Service Equivalency Exam, he fulfilled his dream of becoming an engineer. He then began his career as an Electronics Engineer with the Naval Electronic Systems Test and Evaluation Facility. He became active in the field of TACAN, eventually writing a book, “TACAN Principles and Sitting Criteria”. Mr. Greco retired from civil service in 1977 and began work as an engineering consultant, working primarily for the Canadian government.

Mr. Greco’s greatest passions in life were spending time with his family, gardening, and tinkering with electronic devices.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Esther, three children, Deborah Greco of California, Md., Robert Greco of Norfolk, Va. and Camille Colvin and her husband, Scott of Leonardtown, Md., five grandchildren, Eric Colvin, Brandon Colvin, Kelsey Colvin, Nicholas Colvin and Carly Colvin, three nieces, two nephews, three great nieces, one great nephew, one greatgreat niece and three greatgreat nephews.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his four siblings, Peter Greco, Annette Greco, Rose Greco Milano, and Alfred Greco.

A Memorial Service was conducted on Sept. 7, 2007 at the Leonardtown Baptist Church, Leonardtown, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or to American Cancer Society, St. Mary’s County - Unit 350, P.O. Box 1032, Lexington Park, MD 20653.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

Alma Theresa Lacey, 78 Alma Theresa Lacey, 78, of Maddox, Md., died Sept. 5, 2007 in Leonardtown, Md. Born Aug. 19, 1929 in Maddox, Md., she was the daughter of the late Phillip Parran and Margaret Theresa Bohle Lacey.

Miss Lacey graduated from St. Mary’s Academy Class of 1947. She enjoyed playing the piano and organ.

The family received friends on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, Sept. 10, 2007 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bushwood, Md., with Fr. Francis Early officiating. Interment followed in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were: Cecil Bell, Greg Bell, Andy Bell, Leroy Lacey, Regie Hancock and James Hancock.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the 7th District Volunteer Rescue Squad and/or Auxiliary, P.O.

Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Marilyn Elizabeth Mathes, 57 Marilyn Elizabeth Mathes, 57 of Hollywood, Md., died Sept. 1, 2007 peacefully at her home after a long, valiant fight against breast cancer.

Born Sept. 9, 1949 in Long Island, New York, she was the daughter of Norma Hayes Mathes Knight of Edgewater, Md., and the late Harold Mathes. She was the loving wife of Gary J. Meekins whom she married on Sept. 26, 2004.

She graduated from Kings Park High School in Kings Park, New York and subsequently obtained her Bachelors of Arts degree from St. Joseph’s College in Emmitsburg, Md. She moved to St. Mary’s County in 1971, where she was employed by St. Mary’s County Public Schools as a third grade teacher at Town Creek Elementary School.

She earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Bowie State College in 1978. She served in a variety Special Education positions during her tenure with St. Mary’s County Public Schools. On July 1, 2005, she was named the Director of Special Education, a position she held until her retirement in August 2007.

She was dedicated to improving opportunities for children with disabilities in St. Mary’s County by developing Special Education programs and services, assisting these children to achieve their fullest potential. She was passionate about her profession and had a gift for recruiting and mentoring teachers.

Marilyn was a gentle, compassionate person, and faithful friend.

She was known for her sense of style.

She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, shopping, antiquing, reading, and traveling with her husband.

She loved driving her 1998 Ford Mustang convertible.

In addition to her husband and mother, she is survived by her sister, Patricia Morriarty of Edgewater, Md., brother, William Mathes of North Carolina, nieces, Lynn Morriarty of Washington, D.C., and Cynthia Mathes of North Carolina, nephews, Michael Morriarty of New York, Brendan and Liam Mathes of North Carolina, great niece, Sophia Morriarty, and great nephews, Joseph Morriarty and Brendan Morriarty.

In addition to her father, she is preceded in death by her

step-father, Walter Knight.

The family received friends Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007 from and Friday, Sept.

7, 2007 at Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md. Prayers were recited on both evenings. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007 at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church in Hollywood, Md. Reverend Ray Schmidt was the celebrant. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers were R. Chip Dudderar, John Felicitas, Henry Fowler, Jr., Sam Fulp, Jack Greely, Randy Martin, John Raley, and Frank Staebler.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Marilyn Elizabeth Mathes Scholarship Fund for aspiring special education teachers, c/o Norris and Dudderar, Attorneys at Law, P.O. Box 1039, California, Maryland 20619 or c/o the Mercantile Bank, P.O. Box 655, Leonardtown, MD 20650, National Brest Cancer Foundation, 2600 Network Blvd, Suite 300, Frisco, Texas 75034, or to Hospice of St. Mary’s P.O. Box 625 Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

wife, Joan Teresa Newman and his siblings.

A Graveside Service will be conducted on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007 at 1 p.m. in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

Domarion Latrelle Wood, 3 months Domarion Latrelle Wood, 3 Months, of Lexington Park, Md., died Sept. 1, 2007 in Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, Md. Born May 6, 2007 in Baltimore, Md., he was the son of Colleen Michelle Wood and Domonique Terell Barnes.

The family received friends on Monday, Sept. 10, 2007 in First United Penecostal Church, Lexington Park, Md., where a Funeral Service was conducted. Pastor Jerald Staten conducted the service.

Interment followed in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Great Mills, Md. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md.

Maurice Stephen Newman, 76 Maurice Stephen Newman, 76, of Lexington Park, Md., died Sept. 3, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, Md. Born Feb. 17, 1931 in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Stephen Newman and Cecile Guillaume Newman.

He is survived by his three sons, Bruce Newman of Lexington Park, Md., Michael Newman of Stafford, Va., and Mark Newman of Dover, Del., five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his

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The County Times

Section A -

Dwelling Continued from page A- exorbitant home prices, or buy and then leave, but hold onto the home as a rental investment property.

Perhaps the justification succumbs to large developers ruining it for the smaller investor.

Under the current zoning ordinance, large single-family home developments, of any size, can add accessory dwelling units to the home. Also referred to as “mother-in-law apartments,” accessory apartments are then rented out to a separate tenant than that of the single-family home. What was a development approved for a certain number of families could double with no regulation, compromising an adequate public facilities’ report, which determines the development’s impact on schools, roads and public services.

“The biggest issue is that neighborhoods don’t want these all to be rentals,” said Sabrina Hecht, a planner with the county’s Department of Land Use and Growth Management. “If we require the owner of the lot to live in the accessory unit or the dwelling unit, then its controlled and they’re going to enforce clean up.”

Hecht cited the Greens Rest subdivision off Flat Iron Road in California as one example of a major single-family home development being built with the addition of attached apartments, both for rental purposes.

Other counties have taken similar action. Montgomery County, for example, requires a separate permit application for “mother-in-law apartments,” which are granted by the board of appeals.

But the mandate would be particularly unkind to Pax River, an institution St. Mary’s has tirelessly committed to, crafting the county’s most recent land use policies specifically to nurture its growth potential.

Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D-Leonardtown) suggests a variance for military personnel who have constructed an accessory apartment and moved, but plan to retire to the county.

Some military personnel are required to transfer every three years.

“We have a lot of people assigned to the base, buy a home, and then transfer [bases],” Mattingly said. “They keep the home and rent it, maybe it’s a property with an accessory, but they keep that home when they move onto the next duty station with an expectation of maybe moving back and retiring here.”

However, whether the amendment’s additional language will include only military personnel with this particular circumstance, or scenarios non-military residents might encounter is undecided.

Mattingly asked Hecht and land use director Denis D. Canavan to include additional language that might spare military personnel from the mandate. But absent from Mattingly’s request was an exception for others who might find themselves in similar situations.

On Thursday, Mattingly backed away from his original plea, and said he hoped the amendment would “look at all the various scenarios and outcomes” homeowners beyond the military might find themselves in.

“We have to look at all the various scenarios that play out here to make sure they don’t have a negative impact on people,” Mattingly added, “but at the same time we need to be closing the loophole.”

Hecht said her understanding of the request was that it would be directed for military personnel, but that the amendment could encompass other “general scenarios.”

“There are provisions in our ordinance currently that allow in case of a hardship, at the director’s discretion, a family conveyance on a private road before the five year mark,” Hecht said on Thursday. “So it may not just be targeted for the military.”

However, the principal question will likely revolve around who the mandate affects, not who it exempts.

With the process still in the early stages, it is unclear how land use and growth management officials will separate large developments from private homeowners who want to rent out their properties. But Hecht said the intent of the proposal is to eliminate abuse of the current ordinance, likely meaning the language will be directed to larger developments.

“We’re not trying to stop an owner of a lot from having an accessory dwelling

Animal Shelter Continued from page A- budget’s finalization.

“Our FY2008 budget deliberations and the allocations were finalized and approved on May 29, 2007… We do not intend to re-visit any allocations that were approved, unless experience warrants, after completion of our audit and several months of FY2008 revenue collections,” the letter states to Charles County Commission President Wayne Cooper.

Yet just two months later, the board voted 4-1 in favor of taking $15,000 from the county’s emergency reserves to push the project forward.

Raley cited similar denials from the board, collectively, against funding budget requests from Walden and Sierra the College of Southern Maryland and Leah’s House – all submitted after May 29th. The board denied each request.

“I would hope we have similar deviations,” Raley said of Tuesday’s decision and its hypocritical nature.

The project was resubmitted to the commissioner’s agenda after Charles and Calvert counties approved their

unit,” Hecht said. “I want to have one, one day, I just haven’t had a chance to build it yet.”

County Administrator John Savich said the exceptions were a “general discussion to give land use and growth management something to think about.”

“Sometimes you want to create an exemption and you realize you cannot do it,” Savich added.

When the mandate reaches the planning commission, it will likely include language likening it to all accessory units constructed after the effective date, according to Christy Chesser, the county attorney.

How a developer or private citizen would go about lifting the mandate, Chesser would not comment on, but equally as confusing to Chesser and county government is how the county plans to enforce the mandate if passed.

Hecht proposed sending the sale of lots, with two or more dwelling units, to the board of appeals. However, the appeals board is already bogged down with cases, Hecht said. Another suggestion includes having new homeowners sign an affidavit.

“I don’t want to do away with the concept of citizens having an opportunity to be able to construct an accessory structure for their parents,” said Raley, adding that he constructed an accessory structure on his land under the county’s current zoning ordinance.

Still, the board is united in its support so far of some sort of restriction on homeowners’ ability to rent out multiple properties without living there.

“What’s worse is when two John Doe’s move in and they are both renting,” Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) said. “That is when the controls are lost and there is a real challenge.”

Raley made the motion to send the mandate into its writing phase, seconded

by Commissioner Kenny Dement (RCallaway). The text should make its way to the planning commission within the next two months, Hecht said.

“Right now we have to be openminded with where we want to go,” Savich said, “and see the process with the planning commission and what type of public comment there is.”

Elaine Kramer confirmed that the budget request for the shelter came in after the budget had been approved calling it “one of several that had came through an interesting path, that is, outside the budget cycle.”

Raley told The County Times that he has heard rumors of the state passing half of funding of teachers’ pensions to local government, along with a host of other possible scenarios that could bog down next year’s budget.

When asked if Raley was disappointed in the board’s decision, he said, “the vote is the vote.”

The seldom heard commissioner, Kenny Dement (R-Callaway), said he had concerns with the funding the project, and was aware the commissioners had tabled similar requests, but working with the tri-county area was a necessity.

“Animals have no free will and are in a tough situation,” Jarboe added, “and sometimes you have to deal with things on a case-by-case basis.”

Meanwhile, Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D-Leonardtown), who very rarely clashes with Raley, voted to approve the funding, saying it’s not the first time the

portions of this joint funding effort. The shelter off Route 231 is run for and by all three counties.

The rest of the board cited the backing of Charles and Calvert, and the desire to complete the shelter before winter as their reasoning to vote for the project.

“I recognize Raley’s concerns,” said Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) at Tuesday’s meeting, “but at this point in time winter is coming and the other counties have provided the funding. I would not want to be the county to point the finger and see animals outside in snow and rain suffering.”

The commissioners’ emergency reserves totaled $716,673 before Tuesday’s vote. The shelter’s funding will the first time the commissioners will break their resolve to be fiscally prudent until the looming state budget crisis is thoroughly evaluated.

Photo by Adam Ross St. Mary’s County Livestock apprehended by Animal Control will soon have an upgraded facility in Chief Financial Officer Hughesville Md., to roam.

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commissioners have followed a similar course of action.

“It’s important that folks managing that understand our budget process and adhere to it,” Mattingly said. Mattingly made the motion to approve the funding for the project minutes later.

The shelter in Hughesville currently has a barn for livestock with three stalls, which houses approximately 100 animals from pigs, sheep, cows and chickens. The average confinement time for an animal is two to four weeks, and the shelter takes in approximately 3400 animals a year, according to David Zylak, director of St. Mary’s County Department of Public Safety.

Charles and Calvert counties have agreed to their portions of the project via a commitment letter. St. Mary’s County utilizes about 34 percent of the shelter.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Xaverian Brother Accused Of Sex Offense Free On Bond

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Philip Michael Spoelker, 64, the Xaverian brother and former Ryken High School science and biology teacher accused of molesting a15-year-old male freshman back in 1978 is free on bond after an appearance in District Court Tuesday morning.

Spoelker had to provide 100 percent of a $10,000 property bond to be released from his incarceration at the St. Mary’s County detention center, court papers showed.

According to Cpl. Michael Gray, a detective with the county Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Spoelker arrived in the county Tuesday morning and was briefly incarcerated at the detention center while awaiting an appearance before a District Court commissioner.

Spoelker turned himself in at the sheriff’s office, according to information from BCI, and was formally charged with one count of child abuse and one count of fourth-degree sex offense.

Spoelker was arrested two weeks ago in Venice, Fla. on a county fugitive warrant charging him with the same crimes and was taken into custody but was later released on a $25,000 bond.

Spoelker was employed at Manatee Community College as an adjunct teacher of science but was terminated by the college after his arrest because they deemed he could no longer fulfill his teaching duties.

Spoelker’s counsel, LaPlata attorney John Mudd, declined to comment on the charges against his client.

Spoelker’s arrest came after a five-month investigation

by BCI detectives when they were contacted by the alleged victim in the case nearly 30 years after the molestation incident allegedly occurred.

Charging documents state graphic details of the alleged abuse.

In court papers detectives said that Spoelker made contact with the victim after they had had an operation that had left a scar.

Spoelker had asked the student, charging documents said, to show him the scar once and then again in a storage room

SMC Continued from page A- headquarters for the St. Mary’s River project and nationally recognized sailing team. The river center will be powered by energy from geothermal heat pumps, Apter said.

Equally as impressive was a U.S. News and World Report magazine review of America’s best colleges, which cited St. Mary’s as the top public traditional liberal arts college in the nation alongside New College of Florida.

There are 266 liberal arts colleges in the nation, 27 of which are public. St. Mary’s tied for 87th overall in the U.S. and World Report rankings of the nation’s top liberal arts schools, moving up eight spots over last year.

“The U.S. News and World Report ranking is noteworthy,” said Maggie O’Brien, president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, in a written release, “as is our distinction in having the highest graduation rate among Maryland’s public universities and colleges.”

The magazine cited increases in the percentage of incoming freshman that were in the top 10 percent of their high school class fro 34 to 36 percent, and the 6-year graduation rate increased from 72 to 80 percent.

However, even though the U.S. News and World Report magazine ranked St. Mary’s College of Maryland tied for first of traditional liberal arts colleges,’ the school actually tied for fourth among public

where there was more light.

Once inside the storage room at the high school, charging documents allege, Spoelker told the victim to unbutton his pants to better see the scar.

Charging documents state further than Spoelker allegedly pulled down the student’s pants and underwear and began fondling the victim’s genitals.

The victim allowed Spoelker to continue, charging documents allege, for about 10 minutes because he was “scarred to move or say anything.”

Eventually the victim pulled away from Spoelker, charging documents stated, and retreated to a classroom where a teacher and students were and Spoelker told the victim he would talk to him later.

The victim immediately went home, according to charging documents, and reported the alleged incident to his parents, whereupon the victim’s father went to the school and reported the incident to then principal Bro. Matthew Burke.

According to allegations in charging documents, Burke said that if the victim or his father declined to report the incident then he would see to it that Spoelker would be removed from the school at the end of the school year.

After the summer break Spoelker was still teaching at the school, charging documents state, and he allegedly “stalked” the victim in the hallways, including observing the victim while he urinated in the bathroom.

The victim also alleged that Spoelker would block the victim’s exit from the bathroom and push his penis and waist area against the victim as he passed.

On July 16, when investigators initiated a recorded phone call between Spoelker and the victim, charging documents allege, Spoelker admitted he touched the victim inappropriately and apologized.

The call lasted for nearly an hour, charging documents stated.

During a second recorded call the next day, Spoelker again apologized for inappropriately touching the victim despite saying earlier that he had been advised not to talk about the incident for legal reasons.

non-traditional liberal arts colleges, behind the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the Virginia Military Institute. Last year, only VMI was among the military academies included on the list, and St. Mary’s College ranked second.

U.S. News and World Report rankings’ methodology is based on quantitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality, and on a nonpartisan view on education from the magazine’s staff, according to its website.

And the good press keeps on building: the Fiske Guide to Colleges has consistently ranked St. Mary’s as one of the 43 “Best Buy Schools” in the country, for the college’s affordable and rich curriculum.

In 2006, the Fiske Guide said of St. Mary’s College; “The State of Maryland decided to make St. Mary’s its public ‘honors college,’ and the rest is history.”

The Princeton Review this year released its “Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges,” which ranked St. Mary’s number 10 overall behind the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Barron’s Best Buys ranked St. Mary’s in the top 10 percent of U.S. colleges.

St. Mary’s also found itself in Kiplinger magazine’s top 5 best value colleges, forbes. com’s America’s most connected campuses, and The Washington Post cited it “a great place to get an ivy league education at a public school price.”