Thursday, March 27, 2008 • St. Mary’s County

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Thursday, March 27, 2008 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland

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Police Seeking STEM Program Juvenile Given Extra Funding In Armed Robbery Case

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Investigators with the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations are searching for a juvenile they believe was an accomplice to the armed robbery of a pizza deliveryman March 19.

“The search for the suspect is continuing,” said Deputy Cindy Allen, referring to 17-year-old Michael Anthony McCoy, Jr. of

Change of Command Ceremony Draws Local and National Dignitaries Naval officers, family members, county commissioners, and others were present at the change of command ceremony for Rear Admiral Timothy L. Heely. whose 33 year career with the United States Navy had culminated with his post as the Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation at Patuxent Naval Air Station. Heely was relieved

by Rear Admiral William E. Shannon, who will be taking over the position. All members of the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners were present, as well as Congressman Steny Hoyer, who delivered a speech for the crowd.

Sheriff To Meet With Wildewood Community Wildewood residents will have their chance to discuss crime concerns with Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron April 2 when he meets with them during a community forum from 7p.m. to 9p.m. at the Wildewood Club House.

The Citizen Advisory Board will also meet there from 6p.m. to 7p.m. that evening.

Cameron plans to give citizens a briefing on crime trends in the community and will then host a question and answer session for residents or anyone who wants to address their concerns.

Health Department Suspends PERC Testing (Courtesy of Leslie Payne of St. Mary’s County Health Department) Due to declining seasonal groundwater levels, St. Mary’s County Health Department Environmental Health Services division has suspended wet season perc testing for all soil types. Health department staff conducted the last perc tests for the season on Friday, March 21st. Officials at the health department are citing declining groundwater levels as the reason, made clear by observing conditions within a network of monitoring wells in the county. Perc test applications received this season, which have not been scheduled, will be placed on hold and scheduled first when ground water levels are adequate for the next “wet season,” expected in 2009. Applicants may also request a refund, but they must reapply when the “wet season” returns, and they will lose their place in line for scheduling. For more information, contact Environmental Health Services at 301-475-4321.

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Congressmen Stenny Hoyer and Superintendent Michael Martirano

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer “Did I bring the check? Is that all I’m good for?” laughed Congressman Steny Hoyer, as students and teachers filtered into the media center at Spring Ridge Middle School on Tuesday afternoon.

The room was buzzing with dignitaries and educators alike when all congregated for a special presentation by Hoyer, who came to officially announce his contribution of $487,000 in federal funding for the County’s specialized programming emphasizing the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, commonly known as the STEM Academy.

Photo by Andrea Shiell

“What a shining example of STEM student success we have here in St. Mary’s County – I am proud to represent a county and a constituency that has taken enormous leadership in preparing young people to excel in science, technology, engineering, and math,” said Hoyer. “I am sure that we can expect great things as a result of the STEM Academy programming, and I am pleased that the federal government has partnered with you in your quest to educate and prepare tomorrow’s leaders.”

During the presentation, Hoyer also referred to the work of the 110th Congress to advance an Innovation Agenda in an effort to maintain

Photo Courtesy of St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Dept.

Michael Anthony McCoy

Lexington Park. “He should be considered armed and dangerous.”

The other suspect in the armed robbery, Marquis Anthony Robinson, 18, of Mechanicsville, has been arrested and charged with armed robbery. He remains incarcerated in

See STEM page A-

See Robbery page A-

House In Ridge Set Ablaze

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

One man who lived close by and saw the fire said he originally thought another vacant house just across the street from the one that was destroyed was the one on fire.

He found out soon after it was the one on his side of the road.

“It’s a little too close to home,” the man said.

Ewing said vacant, deteriorating homes like the one on Robinson Lane could pose tempting targets for potential arsonists as well as be liabilities to the property owners when anyone who gains

Authorities with the State Fire Marshal’s Office are still looking into details of the fire that destroyed a small, one-story house on Point Lookout Road the evening of March 21, but one thing is definitely known already.

“It’s obviously an incendiary fire,” said Howard Ewing, spokesman for the State Fire Marshal’s Office. “It was intentionally set.”

Ewing said investigators are unsure if an accelerant was used to start the blaze, but he did say they were sure it was started from the interior of the structure and worked its way out.

The house, situated on Robinson Lane in Ridge, was deteriorating and vacant at the time of the blaze, Ewing said.

“It was in the process of falling down,” Ewing told The County Times.

No suspects have been named as of yet in the arson investigation.

The call reporting the blaze came out at about 7 p.m. last Friday, and when nearby firefighters arrived the house was reportedly completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters were able to control the blaze about a half-hour after coming on scene.

No one was injured as a result of the fire, and the loss was estimated to be Photo by Guy Leonard about $5,000.

Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office say that the fire that destroyed this small abandoned house was set intentionally.

See Arson page A-

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Section A -

Man Sentenced To Five Years For Video Taped Assault

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Stamm sentenced a 20year-old Mechanicsville man to five years in prison March 21 for his part in beating another man last year while the incident was being taped.

Justin Suite was originally charged with first-degree assault in his attack on Shane Corcoran and a juvenile near Copsey’s Seafood Restaurant last June, but took a plea deal to seconddegree assault.

Another man charged in the beating, Richard Faxon, 20, of Brandywine, had already pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in the county detention facility.

Prosecutors argued that Suite and other of his confederates

lured Corcoran and the juvenile into a brutal beating that led to serious damage to Corcoran’s left eye.

Public Defender John Getz and a witness for Suite, Amber Cantrell, said Corcoran was not lured into the beating and that he had allegedly touched Suite’s female relative in an unwanted manner, prompting the fight.

Corcoran testified at the sentencing hearing that Cantrell had called him and asked him to hang out with her the day he was assaulted by Suite.

Despite this, Getz said, the beating Corcoran received at Suite’s hands was not justifiable.

“My client admits it was an assault… that it was excessive force,” Getz said.

According to court testimony, Corcoran was knocked down and repeatedly kicked in the head by his assailant.

Portrait of the Artist

Local Resident Wins Best Of Show at Film Festival Northern Virginia, and D.C., and it has become a lucrative business. “I’m a Jackie of all When first walking in to trades,” she laughed, pointing Shelly Wilson’s home, which to her watercolors, her portrait doubles as her studio, it was equipment, and her editing hard not to feel humbled. software while juggling an “It’s taken us two and a half SD video camera. “I like to years to build this home,” she tell stories, and whatever I can said, adding that there are still do to tell the story, that’s what plenty of things to do. She I’ll do.” walked through her large log Wilson was recently cabin, pointing out the details honored by the Baltimore of her design with a passion Videographers Association rivaling that of a professional at their annual film festival. architect. taking home four awards.

And as a member of the Wilson ended up winning Baltimore Videographers As- Best of Show for a memosociation, Wilson is not only rial video she had done, and passionate about her home, took home first place prizes but about her business as well, for unscripted wedding and providing photography and scripted non-wedding videos, videography services for cli- as well as second prize for a ents in Southern Maryland, teen safe driving public serBy Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

vice announcement she had done. She served as chairman of the film festival, “but that’s not why I won,” she laughed.

There were five people on the board that chose from over 30 entries in categories including unscripted wedding, scripted pieces, unscripted non-weddings, and commercials and PSAs. Wilson explained that the division of wedding and non-wedding categories was crucial, since there are many videographers who only cover weddings. She also explained that the association had to limit the number of entries to this year’s festival. “Last year we had so many entries we could barely get through them all,” she said.

“It was a great honor for

Commissioners Approve Budget For Public Hearing

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer It’s now the public’s turn to tell the St. Mary’s County Board of County Commissioners what they think of the fiscal 2009 budget they approved by a 4-to-1 vote Tuesday. Residents will get their chance at a public hearing April 22 at Leonardtown High School.

The total budget approved March 25 was $327.5 million, with $194.2 million of that coming from strictly county revenues.

The total capital improvement plan for construction of buildings came to $55.6 million.

The remainder of the funds are comprised of state and federal monies that go to the Board of Education, Board of Library Trustees and the College of Southern Maryland.

Commissioners approved the budget after weeks of paring down several million dollars to compensate for expected revenue shortfalls from the state; they also chose to keep $2.5 million, what they have termed as a budget stabilization reserve, held back to compensate

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Thursday, March 27, 2008 Moreover, after the assault, the victim and his mother claimed they were the victims of harassment and intimidation

by Suite’s friends.

Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel White said those involved in the melee had aspirations of becoming something like a local gang through their actions and associations.

“They wanted to be a gang but they weren’t very good at it,” White said. “That doesn’t mean someone won’t get hurt… they’re involved in very dangerous behavior.”

Getz said his client denied any type of gang activity.

For his part Suite attempted an apology to the court for his actions saying: “I don’t know what to say… I messed up.”

Stamm told Suite he was disappointed in his remarks because he did not hear “one word of apology” to the victims in the case.

“You permanently injured someone… fortunately that person did not die,” Judge Stamm told Suite, who had been warned by the judge earlier in court for jeering and acting impatient during the hearing. “You could’ve killed this young man, you could’ve fractured his skull and you could’ve killed him.

“You go up there [to the Department of Corrections] and you’ll only have one result, and that’s the infirmary.”

Part of Suite’s sentence included four years of supervised probation once he completed his five-year prison sentence.

me to be awarded with four awards,” she said. “I actually, unofficially, won five awards.

The very first video shown of the night is sort of an unlucky one. No one wants to be first. I volunteered to put in a “dummy” video as the very first video. It would have won 3rd place if it hadn’t been a “dummy” video.”

Wilson described her honor as a surprise, commenting that she has only been working in videography for four years, but adding, “I can’t imagine doing anything else…I think I’ll die with a camera in my hand.” While reflecting on the videography business in St. Mary’s County, Wilson noted that she had been all over the world, but she had found her niche to be most fitting here. “I’m a Hollywood wannabe that lives in a wannabe Hollywood…go figure.”

Shelly Wilson took home four awards at the Baltimore Videographers Association film festival, including Best of Show.

for any of those shortfalls.

Last week the county commissioners removed about $2.2 million from the budget, with $1.7 million of that coming out of Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron’s budget request.

Commissioners also have held off on any reclassification of pay grades for county employees who have been working at higher responsibility levels than normal as well as converting long-serving part time employees to full time status in order to save money.

The sheriff’s office budget allocation in the new budget came out to $30.3 million for a 12.1 percent increase over last year’s budget; but was still short of the original request of $31.5 million.

The Board of Education received just a two-tenths of a percent increase in their county allocation for a total of $76.1 million, but that amount made up part of their total $175.9 million budget allocation with state and federal funds.

“It costs a lot of money just to maintain the level of service,” said Commissioner Thomas Mattingly (D-Leonardtown). “There’ve been a lot of requests turned down in this budget.”

The total money recommended in the budget for the county commissioners and county administrator’s office totaled $1.26 million, an 11.5 percent increase over last year’s allocation.

The newly approved Department of Human Services was also included in the budget for a total of about $6.25 million, with about $5.5 million of that coming from grants, according to the new adopted budget.

The Department of Parks and Recreation received a 4.4 percent increase over last year’s budget to put them at about $3.8 million to operated; the Department of Public Works and

Transportation received a budget allocation of $17.5 million for a 5.8 percent increase.

Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) was the lone voice of dissention on approving the budget for public comment. He cited several allocations that he viewed as unnecessary expenditures.

One was the $850,000 budgeted to pay a contractor to take photographs of county homes to aid in better identifying the source of 911calls for emergency responders. Jarboe said that the commissioners have received letters from county residents protesting the project and that the money could be put to better use.

“Now they have the money for taking these photos but it might be better spent towards fire and rescue equipment or giving it back to tax payers.”

Jarboe was also concerned that the commissioners did not reduce their budget to compensate for three fire and rescue tax increases requested by the Hollywood and Lexington Park rescue squads and the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department.

Those increases, which were included in the newly adopted budget, will cause people to pay higher taxes in their districts without any tax relief elsewhere.

“Traditionally we’ve reduced our budget to compensate for that,” Jarboe said.

He also disapproved of a portable sound stage included in the capital budget that would cost about $130,000 and be used by the commissioners.

“If the commissioners need a stage we’ve got God’s green earth to stand on,” he said.

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The County Times

Thursday, March 27, 2008

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The County Times

Section A -

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Editorial & Opinion After Good First Year, Sheriff Cameron Stumbling In Year Two Two recent issues that seem to be going in the wrong direction have many in our community concerned.

The decisions and actions relative to gaming machines in St. Mary’s and the annual Sheriff’s Office budget request have suddenly put the new Sheriff on the hot seat.

Cameron seemed to have a real good handle on the job of Sheriff after his first year in office. A long time veteran of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department, he was able to hit the ground running. He brought a muchneeded moral boost to a department that suffered from years of weak leadership.

Cameron’s efforts so far to rid the community of illegal drugs and gang related activities have been at the forefront of his first year. While it is a long way from being called a successful strategy, we applaud his efforts so far.

It is very important that Cameron continue to show large

gains in this effort.

While showing good law enforcement and leadership skills, Cameron now faces difficult challenges that will test his political skills.

Cameron’s dream was to become a Chief of Police, he now finds himself in a political position as Sheriff, where the job requires more than police training.

After four years of seeing spending in the St. Mary’s County Office of the Sheriff increase each year by double digits, the citizens of St. Mary’s decided to change its Sheriff.

Tim Cameron easily defeated former Sheriff Dave Zylak on the promise of more accountability, fiscal discipline, and a more productive workforce.

Cameron certainly seemed to understand that St. Mary’s County taxpayers could not afford the spiraling increases in spending that the Zylak years had produced,

and seemed to offer voters a commitment to change direction in a way the public could afford.

With the average citizen realizing less than a 5 percent increase in income each year, having the cost of running the Sheriff’s Department increase at a rate two to three times that amount for 5 years in a row is like gas prices increase 50 cents a gallon every year for 5 years in a row.

And that is exactly what has happened to the Sheriff’s budget. This year, the Sheriff is expecting to make it 6 years of spending increases that far outpace the ability of taxpayers to pay the bill.

With nearly one third of the deputies having base salaries of more than $70,000 per year, and almost all of them enjoying healthy overtime salaries, it will be difficult to draw the line. But if Cameron expects to lead this organization for many years

to come, he will have to exercise more fiscal discipline than he has so far.

When the St. Mary’s County States Attorney offered his opinion that gaming machines were permissible under the law, provided the profits go to non-profits, Sheriff Cameron agreed.

Many local businesses installed the machines that have been in operation around the State of Maryland for years, including Calvert County.

Numerous local non-profits were enlisted to receive the proceeds and today, many organizations that provide much needed services to our community are relying upon this newfound source of funds.

Senator Roy Dyson, a long time opponent of slot machines wanted these machines removed from St. Mary’s County, so not to upset the many non-profit organizations benefiting from these machines, asked the

view to the policy. Too bad Maryland State property on the water is not subject to any local review.

Much flap was generated over the original boathouse project and the loss of the scenic view of the river in our beautiful first capital of the State of Maryland.

The college now wants to move the Tolerance statue from it’s now scenic view of the “side of the boathouse”. However, the real key point is how the SMC and its Board of Trustees was very “stealthy” in the approval process with little or no input from the community nor consideration for the millions coming out of tax payers pockets.

However, the real crime is the autonomy the college has in its construction and spending. In the mid 1970’s Governor Mandell got approval for SMC to bypass the Maryland Board of Regents Process. He told then President, Renwick Jackson, to spend, increase staffing, and do what is necessary to meet mid-Atlantic standards and gain accreditation. Little did anyone envision that 30 plus years later that SMC is still not subject to oversight from the State on spending. In President O’Brien’s regime the spending and construction has gone through the roof with only a casual approval from the rich, powerful and politically connected Board of Trustees. No wonder, St. Mary’s College tuition is the highest of Maryland State schools. Would our tax payers approve of satellite campuses in Italy, Africa, Oxford, Costa Rica and Chile?

How many tens of thousands of tax payers’ money are spent on SMC trips under the guise of “overseas studies”? Think we used to call those “boondoggles” in the Navy?

Morgan State University was granted the same autonomy from Maryland in 2006 and already there is a scandal and question regarding $3 Million in construction projects. The original delegate who sponsored the Morgan State exemption is now siding with the Chairman of the Maryland Appropriations Committee who warned “autonomy is granted and it can be taken away”. The Baltimore Sun Reporter, Gadi Dechler, gave a great overview of this major potential scandal in the Feb 28th Baltimore Sun. Interestingly enough, our own St. Mary’s local delegate, John Bohanon, is chairing the committee investigating this potential criminal activity at Morgan State over construction projects. John – maybe you should chair an investigation into SMC spending and projects over the last 20 years. Where have the Enterprise and Washington reporters been? They were quick to spread the false arson threat on the boathouse. Likely this will never happen with the retired editor of the

Tax Payers Deserve Answers on “Money Trail at St. Mary’s College” St. Mary’s College (SMC) is reveling at the near completion of the 7,000 sq ft – $6.7 million waterfront playground 50 feet off the rivers edge. President O’Brien is gloating at her crushing of the opposition to the boathouse 25 feet off the river’s edge. She is selling pieces of the old boathouse at $300.00 each – seed money for the next project to benefit the rich, powerful and privileged. The board of trustees will likely give her an increase from her current $400,000 base salary plus her tens of thousands of perks.

One only has to drive through St. Mary’s City to see the huge river park project built on fill dirt and wet lands (why else do you pour 20-30 feet concrete footers for the building?).

Governor O’Malley said last month “we are going to stop encroachment on our precious

shoreline.” Oh yes, you refused a request to look into St. Mary’s College building on the river’s edge. Now the Governor plans to spend $50,000,000 to preserve the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. Rest assured, St. Mary’s College, St. Mary’s River Watershed Association and the illustrious Professor Bob Paul have their eyes on some of these funds for more projects like the $2 Million Bridge across Route 5 and shoreline erosion project. Boy, is that an oxymoron-SMC trying to preserve the river shoreline after they built almost on the rivers edge.

Many county citizens who try to build a dog house within 1,000 feet of the shoreline (18% of St. Mary’s County land is involved) will go through hell in the approval process and likely be denied. DOUBLE STANDARDS??? Now Maryland wants to add a State Level of Re-

Tax Cuts to Expire In two related stories on Friday, March 14, The Associated Press reported the options House and Senate members are debating regarding the tax cuts set to expire at the end of 2010.

“House Democrats would allow all of the tax cuts to expire, effectively raising taxes by $683 Billion from 2011 through 2013.” “The Democratic-written plan ... passed the House on a 212-207 vote with Republicans unanimously opposing it.”

House and Senate Democrats are divided on the issue. However, under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percent for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples.

Here’s an example of how this plan will affect American taxpayers. For a family in the 25 percent bracket, a jump of 3 percent results in a $1,800 to $2,400 a year increase in taxes.

Taxes in 1999 before deductions Taxes in 2008 before deductions Single making 30K - tax $ 5,053 Single making 30K - tax $ 4,099 Single making 50K - tax $10,653 Single making 50K - tax $ 8,844 Single making 75K - tax $18,029 Single making 75K - tax $15,094 Married making 60K - tax $11,204 Married making 60K - tax $ 8,218 Married making 75K - tax $15,404 Married making 75K - tax $11,458 Married making 125K - tax $30,342 Married making 125K - tax $25,958

I wonder how many people will have to take a part time job or work overtime to pay this additional tax burden? This plan comes after Marylanders recently suffered the biggest tax increase in Maryland history. It’s time to bring the out of control government spending to a halt! The problem is not that Americans pay too little in taxes, it is that Congress spends too much. We need a fiscally responsible leader serving us in the US Congress. That leader is Collins Bailey. Mr. Bailey’s web site says he will oppose any unbalanced budget, oppose any congressional pay raise, not participate in any government-paid junket or any other junket that he did not pay for himself, oppose any increase in the power of the executive branch or the size of the federal government, oppose government regulation of the Internet, oppose increased government regulations that would make health care: cost more, be less available or rationed, or decrease quality, not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program. seek to be the taxpayers’ best friend in Congress.

I encourage you to visit his web site - http://www.baileyforuscongress.com

Cynthia L. Jones Valley Lee

The County Times P.O. Box 250 • Hollywood, Maryland 20636 News, advertising, circulation, classifieds: 301-373-4125

Senator’s from Charles and Calvert Counties to do the job for him.

Senator’s Miller and Middleton first asked the Attorney General of Maryland to give his interpretation of the law. The Attorney General’s opinion was issued and seemed to suggest that the gaming machines are illegal.

On the basis of this opinion, the Sheriff decided to inspect the establishments which offered these machines and has now determined all establishments have illegal machines that must be removed.

The Sheriff has completely jumped the gun, and would be wise to think this through more carefully before taking any action.

First the Sheriff should recognize that the Attorney General’s opinion is based more in politics than in fact. Attorney General Gansler, in his first term as the Democratic A.G. has aspirations of being the next Democratic Governor of Maryland.

His opinion bodes well in maintaining good relations with Senator Mike Miller who is probably the most powerful person in Maryland’s Democratic Party.

In no other County in

the State of Maryland did the local Sheriff threaten to remove these machines after the Attorney General’s opinion.

Only more specific legislation to the point, or a judge’s order should give the Sheriff the cause to take this radical reversal of his previous opinion.

He would be wise to rely just as heavily on the legal opinion of his own State’s Attorney as that of the politicians in Annapolis.

The Maryland Senate has now passed legislation that would essentially outlaw the machines in St. Mary’s County while allowing the same machines in other counties to continue to operate. It seems that Miller has found a way to protect the non-profits in Calvert County while taking the revenues away from the non-profits in St. Mary’s.

While the Senator from St. Mary’s supports this unfair and unequal treatment of nonprofits, the Sheriff should wait to see if the legislation makes it’s way through the Maryland House of Delegates and is signed into law.

Washington Post on the Board of Trustees.

There must have been a great pipeline to the Maryland State Legislative funds. Maggie brags “we have gotten over $100 Million from the Maryland State Legislature in the last 10 years”. The pipeline must still be “wide open” as a big sign (with all the politicians names) that says: Coming Soon – SMC Academic Building - $25,399,100. Have you heard it is a bureaucrats building with zero classrooms?

Maggie has carefully manipulated the Board to include many key players. Congressman, Steny Hoyer gets “earmarks” - (ala pork funds) for SMC waterfront palace and other projects.”

Did you know that Steny Hoyer is a member of the Board of Trustees who decides how these funds are spent? Doesn’t that certainly appear to be a direct conflict of interest???

Another trustee has been pushing for St. Mary’s Yacht Club and pier extension for years. The Board of Trustees President has a relative on the rowing club so how could he really be impartial when citizens for preservation of Historic St. Mary’s City wanted the boathouse moved off the rivers edge and out of the Tolerance Statue (built in 1934 by citizens of Maryland) direct line of sight of the river.

Somebody needs to ask the question why $100 million gets spent at a college with 1900 students while institutions with 5 to 10 times the number of students get fewer Maryland and Federal dollars.

Where there is smoke there is fire!! The Maryland State Legislature needs to investigate how their $100 million was spent at SMC and if all expenditures were necessary and legal. In this day of deficits and the slowing economy, it is high time to make people account for every tax payer dollar. Maryland State Senator, Roy Dyson, is the only official who has had the courage to try to stop SMC grandiose projects, building on the river shoreline and prudent use of tax payer’s dollars. He has introduced a bill to strip SMC of their autonomy and put them back under the Maryland Board of Regents so they have to answer for the tax payer’s dollars like other Maryland colleges and universities.

Maybe we have a “Morgan State” scandal in our own back yard?? Let’s have a fair, detailed and independent (not SMC directed) of the college past funding and spending presented openly to the citizen tax payers of Maryland.

It is the RIGHT THING TO DO!!

Donald Beck St. Mary’s City, MD

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.

James Manning McKay - Publisher Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager............................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Andrea Shiell - Government Correspondent......andreashiell@countytimes.net Chris Stevens - Sports Correspondent............... ........chrisstevens@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Community Correspondent................guyleonard@countytimes.net Kara Fernald - Advertising Rep...........................karafernald@countytimes.net Barbara Spray - Advertising Rep......................barbaraspray@countytimes.net

The County Times

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Ramblings of a Country Girl

Reeve of the Shire Terri Bartz Bowles We are a blessed proud people, those of us who are

you may have slept through in high school. For instance, did you know that the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was

able to live in a place with so much history. It’s pretty interesting stuff, too, not the sometime boring history some of

the first in this new settlement that would become the United States of America? Pretty good, huh?

Now, what is a sheriff and why do we elect one? Some people think electing someone to a law enforcement position is odd, but it’s rooted in English history and the best part of it is this: the sheriff is responsible to the public, the public elects the sheriff and the sheriff serves the public at their pleasure. Pretty cool, huh? So, here’s the history lesson: there have been ‘sheriffs’ since the time of Saxon England, 990ish A.D.. but the office, if not the name sheriff, dates back earlier to the reign of Alfred the Great. That’s more than a thousand years!

It was Alfred who divided England into geographic units called “shires”; today we call them counties. The shire was led by a chief, who was called a “reeve”. This chief was called a shire-reeve, which

Section A - was shortened to shireeve and eventually became sheriff.

When the colonists left England and settled in their New World, they instituted the same government forms they were familiar with, including the Office of Sheriff. Where people settled on plantations and farms, the county system of government worked well and was strong and the Office of Sheriff was an important one. The first sheriffs were appointed but some counties soon began electing their sheriff. The process of electing the sheriff was the one that stuck and centuries later, we’re still electing our sheriff, the guardian of the county, accountable to the people of the county.

The first elected sheriff may have been in Virginia in 1651 but most historians agree that America’s first sheriff was James Baldridge, appointed in 1637 as Sheriff of St. Mary’s County. There are

Business Owners Want Answers On Gambling Machine Mandate

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Letters went out the beginning of this

week to all the local business that have been operating electronic gaming machines telling them whether the machines on their premises were legal but those

Murderer Serving Life Sentence Denied New Trial

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Circuit Court Judge Karen Abrams has denied a man convicted of a grisly murder that occurred here nearly 13 years ago a new trial, finding no evidence for his claims that he never intended to kill the victim and that the evidence used to convict him has been repeatedly tampered with.

Abrams’ opinion, handed down in late February, is the latest in a long line of attempts by Dana Russell Collins, who was assigned as an ensign to Patuxent River Naval Air Station in 1995, to repeal his life sentence for the killing of U.S. Navy Petty Officer Jerry Culbreath.

The killing was apparently provoked

by Culbreath having a relationship with Collins’ estranged wife. According to the prosecution, this led Collins to lay in wait for the victim and shoot him in the neck with a crossbow bolt.

In Abrams’ opinion, she wrote that Collins’ claims that bowstrings admitted as evidence against him were repeatedly switched, resulting in prosecutorial misconduct, had no evidence to support them.

Collins did not raise objections about the bowstrings at previous proceedings, her opinion stated, and thus he was not eligible for post conviction relief.

Collins claimed that the real bowstrings he purchased had never been used to fire a bolt from the crossbow, her opinion stated, instead Collins asserted that Culbreath died as a result of mutual combat between them when he stabbed Culbreath with a bolt as a defensive weapon.

Abrams said other evidence heard by the jury in Collins most recent trial was enough to find that he had planned to carry out Culbreath’s murder, no matter how it actually occurred.

“In this case, [Collins] purchased the crossbow with the intention of killing his

wife’s lover,” Abrams wrote in her opinion. “Whether he shot the victim with the crossbow or stabbed him with the bolt is immaterial; he still committed premeditated murder.”

A “how-to-kill” note detailing the plot and a chainsaw found in Collins’ truck were pieces to the puzzle that showed Collins had premeditated the act, Abrams said in her opinion.

Collins dismembered Culbreath’s corpse after he had killed him, court testimony showed.

“All of this evidence was more than sufficient for the jury to find premeditation,” Abrams said in her decision. “Thus, any error made was harmless, not prejudicial, and did not affect the outcome of the trial.”

Collins’ claims of ineffective counsel also fell short with Abrams’ decision, according to court documents, because he provided no proof the bowstrings had been switched or tampered with.

Collins’ attorney, then, was not in error for not objecting to their being admitted as evidence against him at trial.

Collins originally pleaded guilty to the charge of first-degree murder in 1996, but then argued he was hindered by ineffective counsel and was granted a re-trial in 2003 at the behest of a favorable ruling by the Court of Special Appeals.

Collins was again convicted by a jury of first-degree and second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Several appeals from Collins followed to ameliorate his sentence, which failed and his conviction was upheld.

Collins’ appeared Jan. 11 before Abrams again claiming he was the victim of prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective counsel.

business owners are still confused about the next step they’ll take.

“It was like a form letter,” said Dana Spicuzza owner of Petruzzi’s Italian Bistro in California. “It told us we weren’t in compliance but didn’t give us any reasons why.”

Spicuzza said that the letters did not detail whether all the machines in her establishment were legal or whether the noncompliance was based on how proceeds from the machines were dolled out to local charities.

Nor was there a time line given for disposing of the machines that may not be compliant with a recent opinion from the state Attorney General’s office stating that some machines operating here may be against the law.

Spicuzza said she had tried to contact the sheriff’s office for answers to her questions but had not received any answers.

“We’re trying to find out what we’re supposed to be doing… whether we have a time line or not,” Spicuzza said. “If they tell us how to come into compliance we’ll be happy to.”

Two weeks ago, after the opinion from the Attorney General’s office went public, Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron, some of his deputies, along with state troopers and officials from the state Comptroller’s Office checked all the establishments in the county reputed to operate the electronic gaming machines that resemble slot machines.

Afterwards some business owners went into a holding pattern to see what the compliance checks would reveal, while others decided to do away with their machines completely.

Some sent the machines back to the manufacturers in order to avoid any further hassles.

Friendly Tavern owner Arthur Pilkerton was one of them.

“We didn’t want to deal with the headaches,” Pilkerton said of the five machines he used to operate in his establishment. “They were gone before the sheriff came.”

Proceeds from the machines operations were used to benefit the American Legion post in Ridge, Pilkerton said.

But the machines also helped with his business, too.

“They brought business in for me, people would get lunch, come over and play,”

some reports of Lord William Baldridge being appointed in 1634 but I was unable to find data supporting that claim.

Thus, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department can proudly call itself “America’s First”.

Interesting stuff, isn’t it?

Did you have any idea of the history you’re surrounded by every day? St. Mary’s County is rich in history and you should take advantage of visiting the many historic sites and places of interest. Spring is upon us, seize a warm and sunny day to explore the beauty and history of this lovely county.

Here’s a trivia question for you: Which court is different than you normally think of court, is the last court you’ll need and is a court everyone will use at least once? Answer next week.

You can email the Country Girl at countrygirlramblings@gmail.com

Pilkerton said. “I wish we still had them.”

Deputy Cindy Allen, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said, in affect, that all the businesses would have their work cut out for them if they wanted to come into compliance with the law.

“There was not one [business] on that list that was 100 percent compliant,” Allen said.

Bob Sorrell’s, owner of Fred’s Liquors in Charlotte Hall, was just as confused about what to do with his gaming machines as Spicuzza.

“My frustration is we don’t know what part’s [of the gaming machine operation] not in compliance so we don’t know what to fix,” Sorrells told The County Times Tuesday. “If it’s just one area of the law maybe it can be fixed, or maybe eve if it’s all five areas of we can fix it.”

Sorrell’s read from the letter that his operation was “not compliant with one or more areas of the law,” but he said, like Spicuzza, that the letter did not say which areas of the law.

Sorrells expressed his frustration at what he called the unfair treatment of St. Mary’s County when it came to gaming machines.

The same gaming machines have been allowed to operate for several years in Calvert and Anne Arundel counties, he argued, and should be shut down if the machines here are not compliant with the law.

A bill strongly supported by State Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller (DChesapeake Beach) would eliminate such machines throughout the state but would allow places that have operated them for at least a year to remain in operation until January of 2009.

All other machines would have to be shut down by July 1 of this year.

That meant that the machines in Calvert and Anne Arundel could be allowed more time to operate while the machines here would be forced to go.

That bill passed the state senate last week by a 45-to-2 vote and is set for a hearing in the House of Delegates Thursday.

Lt. Daniel Alioto, commander of the Vice/Narcotics Unit of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, which has taken over the investigation, would not comment on the matter, but did say that he would answer the questions of business owners to assist them further.

“It’s an open investigation,” Alioto said.

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The County Times

Section A -

Odd News

Thursday, March 27, 2008

the funding would not be used for staff, but rather for “big ticket” items that the school system might not otherwise be able to buy.

Hoyer did forecast an increase in spending for similar STEM programs, saying that Continued from page A- Congress is trying to allocate $43.3 billion Crime Doesn’t Pay – But Bad Writing Does!

America’s leadership in the global market- for STEM research and education programs Acclaimed novelist Joan Brady announced recently that she won a $200,000 settlement place. “So much of the new global economy across the country.

Hoyer had a few comments on his alfrom a shoe manufacturer in Britain after claiming that the fumes from its factory in the is going to be focused on science, technoloengineering, and mathematics,” he said, gy, location of what he called a “good piece town of Totnes had sapped her creativity, forcing her to write violent second-rate crime adding that it is the responsibility of eduof change” for St. Mary’s County Public thrillers rather than literary works. She said the numbness in her hands and legs, caused to get their students enthused about cators Schools.

“When you hear the controversy by pollution from the factory, had made her settle on more simplistic, violent plotlines as learning. on capital hill about pork,” said Hoyer, “unshe focused her aggression on the factory owners.

Board of Education members were no derstand that there is good pork and bad doubt enthusiastic about the presentation. pork…and this is good pork.”

How Not to Avoid a Probation Violation School Superintendent Michael Martirano County Commissioner Daniel Raley described himself as “elated.” “It shows echoed that sentiment, calling Hoyer’s reTwo Californians, 24 year-old Denise McClure and 26 year-old Krystal Evans, were that they believe in what we’re doing,” said marks appropriate. “This is good pork,” he probably under the influence of drugs when they flagged down a DHL delivery van in an board member Bill Mattingly. agreed. “A bridge to nowhere is bad pork.” attempt to steal their urine samples from the driver.

Chief Academic Officer Linda DudderDudderar had similar comments as she Both women were on probation and required to have regular drug screenings, and they ar said that because the funds would most listed off some of the items that the funding believed that their most recent samples would test positive for drugs. likely not be recurring, the majority of the would be used for, saying, “we are always The women had attempted to stop one other van earlier that day, and the night before, funding would be used for textbooks, inter- grateful for, and ever hopeful for, positive it was believed that they had also tried to break into the county probation department. active technology, lab equipment, comput- pork.”

Evans told the driver she had forgotten to pack something and asked him to open up the ers, professional development, and trainback of the van, at which point the women jumped in and started searching for their tests. ing. Martirano echoed this by saying that After the driver heard them lamenting that they might go back to jail if the samples were submitted, he threatened to call police, at which point the women fled, leaving the samples behind.

As it turns out, Evans’ sample tested clean, though a cheek swab taken when she was arrested for her attempted heist tested positive for methamphetamines.

STEM

Gross-Out Jelly Beans Unveiled Customers who have splurged on extra sweets this year may be surprised (or disgusted) by a few new jellybean flavors on the market, including earwax, vomit, moldy cheese, skunk spray, and pencil shavings, to name a few.

Though savory flavors like garlic or buttered popcorn have been gaining popularity in recent years, Jelly Belly’s new line of “BeanBoozled” jelly beans have taken the savory trend to new levels, introducing packages of gross-out flavors that may pack a bit more punch than expected.

They come in boxes that include 20 eccentric flavors, each with their own color, and two sharing the same color. Described as an interactive tasting game, Jelly Belly spokeswoman Tomi Holt explained that the sharing of colors was meant to trick the tongue. “(It’s) so you don’t know what flavor you are tasting when you taste a white one – coconut or baby wipe.”

St. Patty’s Crack Special Undercover agents in Marrietta, Ohio arrested five suspects from their home and crackdealing headquarters after purchasing 4.37 grams of green crack-cocaine from them over St. Patrick’s Day. Washington County Sheriff Larry R. Mincks said the discovery may have been a coincidence since people had been known to color crack in the hopes that authorities would think it was candy. But similar arrests have been made over the holidays.

One deputy had arrested someone carrying purple crack rocks one Spring, around Easter time, and another deputy had confiscated red crack around Christmas.

“I don’t know if they’re Irish or not,” said Mincks of the suspects. “Maybe they just wanted to celebrate the holiday.”

Cruel and Unusual Punishment…Or Dinner?

What may sound like healthy prison food is now being called cruel and unusual punishment by prisoners.

A mixture of cubed whole wheat bread, nondairy cheese, raw carrots, spinach, seedless raisins, beans, vegetable oil, tomato paste, powdered milk, and dehydrated potato flakes commonly called “nutriloaf” is now the subject of a class action lawsuit being waged by the National Prison Project of the ACLU against prisons that serve the concoction.

Prison officials call it a complete meal, which is served very rarely to prisoners who have misbehaved and are put into solitary confinement, but prisoners claim that the recipe is so awful that they would rather go hungry.

Similar recipes have been used in prisons for decades, served as punishment for prisoners who throw urine, feces, trays, or utensils at guards, and it seems to have the desired effect.

This is not the first time that courts have been asked to weigh in on the food. In 1978, the United States Supreme Court ruled that “gruel,” a recipe used in Arkansas, may “be tolerable for a few days and intolerably cruel for weeks or months.”

In 1988, a federal court ruled that serving nutriloaf counted as punishment. Prison officials defend the concoction, however, saying that prisoners are given due process before being put on the unsavory diet.

Cultures Different From Ours In an effort to harness the power of popular culture in diplomacy, Japan has recently created an unusual government post; an “anime ambassador.”

A popular cartoon robot cat named Doraemon was appointed to the position by Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura “to deepen people’s understanding of Japan so they will become friends with Japan.”

Created by cartoonist Fujiko F. Fujio, Doraemon has become a popular cultural icon, especially in Asia. The robotic cat travels back in time using devices like a time machine and an “anywhere door” to help his friends time travel.

At the cat’s induction, actress Wasabi Mizuta, speaking Doraemon’s part from behind a paper screen, said, “I hope to convey to people abroad what ordinary Japanese people think, our lifestyle and what kind of future we want to build.”

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“The Middle-Class Millionaire” by Russ Alan Prince and Lewis Schiff c.2008, Currency Doubleday $23.95 / $27.95 Canada 228 pages, includes index O

ne of your neighbors has a new car – one of those high-mileage vehicles – and it’s pretty impressive. You’re thinking you might go car-shopping soon.

Last week, you bought a new cell phone on the advice of a co-worker. Hers has all these features and you could see the benefits of owning one yourself. In fact, you told your brother about it and he’s getting one, too.

You think you’re being smart. In the new book “The Middle-Class Millionaire” by Russ Alan Prince and Lewis Schiff, you’ll see that you’re very smart, but you’re also being swayed by a new class of Joneses you can’t wait to keep up with.

In places all over, suburbs are planned and built to cater to people who want to live in a Leave-It-to-Beaver-like neighborhood. If the suburb already exists, perfectly good houses are being torn down and replaced with “McMansions”. People are joining elite clubs that offer luxury “cabins” to members for family vacations. Parents are sending their kids to Ivy-League colleges, not just for the education, but also for the “contacts” they’ll gain.

What’s going on?

Prince and Schiff say that a recent study done on behalf of a magazine yielded some intriguing information: people with extremely high net worth ($10 million or more) rarely influence the buying decisions of others. They don’t rave about their purchases, and they don’t interact with people enough to sway shopping habits.

Surprisingly, those with less money are the ones with influence. People with net worth between $1 million and $10 million dollars – a sociological group the authors call Middle-Class Millionaires – are the ones we watch.

Most Middle-Class Millionaires, the authors say, are baby boomers who made their money rather than inherited it. They’re technology-minded, with an entrepreneurial streak. They’re family-focused, but work hard. Hobbies are great, but they’d rather make money than tinker.

“Experiences” are better than possessions. And quitting? It’s not an option for them.

But does it really matter where anybody falls on the scale? According to the authors, it does. Middle-Class Millionaires are changing the way government is run, purchases are made, products are manufactured, and cities are planned. Smart entrepreneurs are starting businesses to make the MCM’s life easier. Savvy corporations recognize their influence. Educators are guiding the next generation of MCMs to the future.

I’m a ways away from the minimum net-worth, but I was intrigued by this book. I have many of the traits. Am I a Middle-Class Millionaire in the works?

Authors Russ Alan Prince and Lewis Schiff indicate that it’s possible. There’s a short questionnaire in here that will help you decide if you have what it takes, and advice on changing yourself if you don’t. This book fascinated me, and I think it’s important information in today’s economy, no matter where you fall in line.

If you’ve been influenced by a member of this shrewdly-affecting group – and the authors say we all have – then pick up this book. “The Middle-Class Millionaire” gives you hundreds of little reasons to watch the Joneses closely.

The County Times

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Man Sentenced For Sex Offense, Attempted Arson

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A 45-year-old Lexington Park man will spend the next three years in the county detention center for having sex with a 14-year-old girl that resulted in her becoming pregnant and his pouring gasoline throughout his house in an apparent attempt to burn it down with it.

Keith Leonard Mackall received his sentence from Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Stamm March 21, as well as authorization to get work release to help pay child support for the child he fathered from the relationship with the then juvenile.

Mackall entered an Alford plea to the third degree-sex offense with the juvenile, which apparently occurred back in 2005. The Alford

Bonnie Beavan Named Teacher Of The Year Andrea Shiell Staff Writer As students and dignitaries crowded into the media center at Spring Ridge Middle School to welcome Congressman Steny Hoyer for his presentation of funding for the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program, an impromptu celebration broke out as eighth grade math teacher Bonnie Beavan entered the room. Beavan has been named St. Mary’s County Public Schools 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year.

“Doctor Weiland came to the school and asked me if Id like to represent the county as teacher of the year,” Beavan said. “This was at the end of February…so I knew, but I wasn’t expecting this…they caught me off guard.”

Hoyer greeted Beavan at the podium and took the opportunity to speak to her students, who had amassed in the media center to watch her being honored. “I came here just to talk about a few dollars,” he said, shaking Beavan’s hand.

“But this is more important.”

“Ms. Beavan is an extraordinary teacher who has changed the lives of many

students,” said superintendent Michael Martirano. “She exudes care and compassion, is fully committed to the success of each one of her students, and finds a way to reach each one of them regardless of their academic level.”

Beavan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in human studies from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2003, and her Master of Arts degree in leadership in teaching from the College of Notre Dame in 2007. She has served as a mathematics teacher at Spring Ridge Middle School since joining the school system in 2003. In conjunction with her teaching responsibilities, Beavan serves as a statistician and a gym supervisor for St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks, and she also has experience serving as a teaching intern and a leader for Young Life, a nonprofit Christian organization that mentors children. She has also been a basketball coach, a camp counselor, a Sunday school teacher, and a childcare provider.

With enough activity in her scant five years of teaching to make the most seasoned educator’s head spin, Beavan

exclaims, “I like to be busy… plus everything I do, I get to work with kids, and that’s the best part.”

“While her efforts are exceptional, Ms. Beavan’s results with students are phenomenal,” wrote Kathy Norton, assistant principal of Spring Ridge Middle School, in her letter of recommendation. “Her students’ quarterly assessments exceed all other math teachers in the county.

Section A -

plea meant that Mackall claimed his innocence of the charge but admitted there was enough evidence to convict him of the crime.

Mackall said in court he was suffering from a great deal of stress around the time of the attempted arson in August of last year but was on medication now to deal with his mental problems.

During the time of the attempted arson, Mackall had become embroiled in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend at the time that had spanned several days, according to court testimony.

At the end of those several days, court testimony showed, he had called his girlfriend, threatened to kill her if she left him and also threatened to burn down their house on Spitfire Court in Lexington Park.

Some of her students who began this year with basic (below average) scores are achieving advanced scores consistently. She not only has closed the achievement gap for our students, but outperformed all others on the Adequately Yearly Growth Charts.”

All county Teacher of the Year representatives will be honored by the Maryland State Department of Education during a meeting and luncheon in Baltimore on May 29th.

Beavan will represent St. Mary’s County Public Schools as a candidate for Maryland Teacher of the Year, the award for which will be announced at a banquet held in Baltimore on October 3rd.

Investigators found that Mackall had poured about five gallons of gasoline in different areas in the house in preparation to burn it down but revealed that he had also started to clean up the accelerant by the time they arrived, apparently eschewing any thoughts of setting himself ablaze.

“I think you have some mental health issues,” Judge Stamm said to Mackall. “You put yourself in a tough time.

“It’s fortunate that you didn’t burn yourself up.”

According to Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Stanalonis, Mackall will have to register as a convicted sex offender as part of his two consecutive 18-month sentences in the county detention center.

When asked about her ambitions for the coveted state or national honor, Beavan said, “it would be really cool…but given a choice I’d rather that we make AYP (Annual Yearly Progress)…last year we almost made it. We missed it by one category.”

So for Beavan, it truly has been all about the students, who she described as “students of the year” during her speech, and who wrote glowing descriptions of their teacher, some of which were read at the ceremony. “I feel like I was the only teacher on Spring Break that missed school and wanted to come back,” she said, smiling as she held a box of tissues.

Superintendent Michael Martirano, Bonnie Beavan, and Congressman Steny Hoyer.

Photo by Andrea Shiell

Arson Continued from page A- access to the homes gets injured on the premises.

“That’s always a concern when there are vacant houses around,” Ewing said.

“The logical thing to do is to tear it down; there’s a liability there.”

Francis J. Raley, chief of the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, said the old building was used yeas ago by the department as a training house when he first became a member. He added that it was especially susceptible to fire because of its age.

He could see a large column of smoke from his vantage point at home rising from the site of the blaze, he said.

There are a significant number of such buildings in the Ridge area, Raley said, and property owners often do not tear down old structures because they want to wait to get permits from the county first to build anew.

Raley said he believed the arson was an isolated, though disturbing, incident.

The main danger to these old, abandoned structures and houses would likely be more from accidental fire and not from arson.

“This is the first incident [of arson] we’ve had down here in a while,” Raley said.

“Hopefully, it won’t turn into anything more.”

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The County Times

Section A -

Robbery Continued from page A-

They also confirmed to their girlfriends, charging documents alleged, that they had stolen the victim’s cell phone.

Robinson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in District Court April 17.

McCoy is described as a black male, standing 6 feet, 1 inch tall, and weighing 150 pounds.

Anyone with information on McCoy’s whereabouts is asked to call BCI detectives at 301-475-4200 ext. 9058 or Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333.

the St. Mary’s County Detention Center on a no bond status.

According to District Court charging documents against Robinson, the pizza deliveryman who was allegedly robbed by the two suspects made contact with one of them, McCoy, between the apartment building to which he had just made a delivery and his vehicle.

Charging documents are not clear, but seem to indicate McCoy, noted as the “co-defendant,” as the suspect who produced a shotgun and demanded money of the victim.

“We believe McCoy is the one who actually had the weapon,” said BCI commander Lt. Rick Burris, who added that this was probably the first armed robbery of the year.

“Definitely armed robberies have been down, we made a lot of [armed robbery] arrests last year.

“This is an isolated incident; we have no other incidents linked to these suspects.”

Charging documents allege that after the two suspects took an undisclosed amount of money from the victim, they proceeded to search his car. And stole his cellular phone.

Both suspects fled the scene after the alleged robbery, information from BCI indicated.

According to charging documents, two Photo Courtesy of St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Dept. female witnesses, who were also the sus- Marquis Anthony Robinson pects’ girlfriends, claimed that both Robinson and McCoy told them that they had “robbed the pizza guy.”

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Please be our guest At Room with a Brew’s Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Reception April 4, 2008 at 5:00pm at our new location in Leonardtown! Refreshments will be served & Entertainment Provided by Fortunes Turn beginning at 7:00pm. Join Bob Augustine, Greg Penk, Curtis and Juliane Moss to celebrate the re-opening!

This Southern Maryland based group

combines tradition with contemporary folk, add in a bit of country and bluegrass, and have fun with adaptations of some popular tunes. Their rich vocal harmonies are accompanied by guitar, mandolin, bass, bouzouki, and resonator guitar. Fortunes Turn enfolds the audience in a “musical quilt.” Room with a Brew is now located on Route 5, across from the Leonardtown Tech

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Planning Commission Recommends Denial Of St. Mary’s Crossing

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission voted Monday night to recommend denying approval for a proposed high-density development on St. Andrews Church Road that could net the county a donated site for a new elementary school.

Shelby Guazzo, the commission member who made the motion to recommend denying approval for St. Mary’s Crossing to the Board of County Commissioners cited traffic congestion and environmental health among the chief concerns.

She said that St. Andrews Church Road is already a commuter corridor that funnels traffic to Patuxent River Naval Air Station, and 868 dwelling units plus an elementary school for 535 children would generate too much traffic to flow freely on the road.

The section of Route 4 had enough problems as it is, she told The County Times.

“While it’s highly used traffic corridor it’s not built that way,” Guazzo said. “We just cannot take the chance [of jamming traffic further] not for 868 houses plus a school for 535 children.”

Guazzo said the development, which would take place on a little more than 100 acres, would also present a danger to the health of the St. Mary’s River as it was “at the upper reaches” of the waterway.

She said she was concerned that sediment erosion from the development build out could foul streams and creeks nearby.

The debate between the developer, St. Mary’s Crossing LLC, and the planning commission has been going on for the

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past eight months with both sides unable to reach agreement on terms for approving the planned unit development, which must be approved by the county commissioners because it does not fall strictly within the county’s zoning ordinance.

John Norris, attorney for the developer, said that the decision of the commission was puzzling and that their decision was made on technical aspects of the project, like traffic flow, that could be mitigated.

“What they said is in direct conflict with the zoning ordinance,” Norris said.

“It was really on odd decision; it was kind of out of left field.”

Norris said that the commission jeopardized not only the possibility of the county getting a donated school site, which was highly prized by the county public school system, but also the extension of water and sewer to that portion of the development district.

The county could also stand to lose out on 150 units of work force housing, which are in great demand and short supply, Norris said.

Norris said he had hopes the county commissioners would override the planning commission’s recommendation when the development came up for final approval.

Guazzo said that while the developer might have “dotted all the ‘i’s’ and crossed all the ‘t’s’” they still didn’t meet the concerns that the commission had, even if it meant possibly turning down a site for a new school.

“They have to offer something extra and above ordinary for the benefit of the county,” Guazzo said.

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The County Times

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Section A -

Obituaries Mildred “Millie” Camile Carter, 48

Mildred “Millie” Camile Carter, 48, of Lexington Park died March 19 in the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore Born May 11, 1959 in Hollywood, Calif., she was the daughter of the late Walter B. Johnson and Doris F. Healy.

Millie graduated from Chopticon High School and attended the Community College for two years where she received her Nursing License. Millie worked at the St. Mary’s Nursing Center in Leonardtown for twenty-three years. She also worked at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, for temporary agencies, and was last employed at the Bayside Nursing Center. Millie married Stewart M. Carter, Sr. Sept.

1, 1999. She was a member of the Mechanicsville Worship Center in Mechanicsville. Millie loved to sing, dance, read, knit and play scrabble. She was also an avid Redskins fan.

Millie is survived by her husband, Stewart M. Carter, Sr. of Lexington Park, four children; Ronald D. Campbell (Kirby) of Hawaii, Larissa A. Campbell of Atlanta, Ga., Stewart M. Carter, Jr. and Steven S. Carter both of Lexington Park, two grandchildren; Jaron Campbell, and Jaylen Campbell both of Hawaii, seven siblings; Walter Johnson (Cindy) of Panama City, Fla., Emory Johnson (Debbie) of Bushwood, Martha Lamb (Douglas) of Mechanicsville, Mary Gail Peterson (Robert) of California, Michael Healy of Mechanicsville, John Healy of California, and Andrew Johnson of Mechanicsville, mother in law, Catherine Carter of St. Inigoes, seven brothers-in-law, five sisters-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Walter B. Johnson and followed by her mother, Doris F. Healy March 21, 2008.

The family received friends Wednesday, March 26 from 9 – 11 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown. A funeral service was conducted by Pastor John Smith, Jr. at 11 a.m. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown.

Condolences may be made to the family at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com.

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

Barbara “Jean” Hayden, 69

Barbara “Jean” Hayden, 69, of Hollywood, died March 17 in her residence.

Born June 26, 1938 in Hollywood she was the daughter of the late George Willard and Julia Christine Newton Clarke, Sr. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert W. “Toots” Hayden April 14, 1990. She was the loving mother of Joseph Herbert and his wife Cheryll of Mechanicsville, Brenda Galiton and her husband Spencer of St. George’s Island, Donna Walls and her husband Kevin of Quakertown, Pa., Donald B. Gray of Hollywood, and son-inlaw Daniel Larkin of Hollywood; seven grandchildren and her sister Nita Herbert of Hollywood. She was also preceded in death by her siblings Ruth Bostic, Ruby Conway, Ann Hope Abell, George Willard Clarke, Jr. and Lambert Clarke.

The family received friends in the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home Wednesday, March 19 from 5 – 8 p.m. with prayers being said at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service was held in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel Thursday, March 20 at noon with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment followed in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Hollywood. Pallbearers were Robert Clarke Abell, J. B. Abell, Jr., James W. Abell, Sr., Michael Clarke, John Samuel and Randy Abell.

Honorary Pallbearers were Richard Larkin, Andrew Walls, Jessica Herbert, Donald M. Gray, Robert Herbert, Megan Walls and Andrew Mills.

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

Alice Louise Lyon, 91 Alice Louise Lyon, 91, of Clements, died March 19, 2008 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Born Oct. 29, 1916 in St. Mary’s County she was the daughter of the late Herbert Lumbly and Sara Anna Rice Higgs.

She was preceded in death by her husband Hence Lyon in May of 1994, whom she married Feb. 14, 1930 in Leonardtown.

She is survived by her children: Roberta Keenan of Hollywood, Shirley Morgan of Maddox, Md., Thummy Lyon and his wife Brenda of North Beach, Teenie Lacey and her husband Bernard of Abell, Marie K. Pilkerton of Avenue and Saunders Ed Lyon of Clements; sister Marie Bowling of Accokeek; 19 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren and 32 greatgreat grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her children Kate Emma Harris, Truman Lyon and Roselie Lee Russell; siblings: Mamie Koller, Gorman Higgs, Herman Higgs and Robert Lee Higgs.

Mrs. Lyon was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident where she was a homemaker. She loved her grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and her little dog pepper. She made good homemade biscuits, and enjoyed going to thrift stores, collecting dolls, shopping for rings and watching old movies.

A Funeral Service was held Tuesday, March 25 at 10 a.m. in the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jessie Neat officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown.

Pallbearers will be Cindy Pilkerton, Jim Morgan, Joseph Lee Russell, Jr., Rebecca Russell, Harry Farrell, Jr. and Pat Lyon.

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

John “JoJo” Andrew Mattingly, Sr., 60

John “JoJo” Andrew Mattingly, Sr., 60 of Leonardtown, died March 23 in his home in Leonardtown.

Born May 15, 1947 in Leonardtown, he was the son of the late James “Booker” Virgil and Fayrene Hallmark Mattingly. He was the loving husband of Sara (Sally) Farr Mattingly.

He is survived by son, John A. Mattingly, Jr., and his wife Heather of Leonardtown and his daughter Danielle S. Edwards and her husband George of Roanoke, Va. as well as his grandchildren; Timothy J. Corley, Lauren E. Mattingly, Cole J. Mattingly and Julia C. Mattingly.

He is also survived by his brother James V. Mattingly, Jr., of Arlington, Va. and his sisters Katherine Frazier, Rosemary Cox and Patricia Robrecht and her husband Jimmy, all of Leonardtown.

Mr. Mattingly was in the first graduating class of Chopticon High School – 1966. He completed an electronics apprenticeship and was a technician for the U.S. Navy at Patuxent River Naval Air Station where he installed and maintained instrumentation devices in attack and fighter aircraft from which he retired in 1982.

He was a life-long Washington Redskins fan.

He also enjoyed his Indian motorcycle and restoring older model cars.

The family received friends Tuesday, March 25 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, with Prayers being said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, March 26 at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Morganza, with Fr. Keith Woods officiating. Interment followed in the Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen. Pallbearers were Jeffrey Frazier, Jim Robrecht, Christopher Cox, King Norris, Frank Fenwick and Bryan Barthelme. Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 299, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

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

March 17 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown.

Born Nov. 22, 1921 in Winston Salem, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Eustis Holder and Matilda Welch Holder.

Mrs. Melton is survived by a son, Rohn Melton of Lexington Park, a daughter, Brenda Bentely of Richmond, Va., three grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband Cullen Lewis Melton.

The family received relatives and friends Thursday, March 20 from 9 – 11 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service was conducted at 11 a.m. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown.

Condolences to the family may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com.

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

Roselie “Rose” Lee Russell, 55 Roselie “Rose” Lee Russell, 55, of Abell, Md. died March 20 in her home.

Born Oct. 17, 1952 in Baltimore, Md. she was the daughter of Roberta Lyon Keenan of Hollywood, Md. and the late Freddy Gray and raised by the late Henson and Alice Lyon.

She was the loving wife of Joseph Lee Russell, Sr. whom she married Dec. 17, 1971 in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue.

She is survived by her son Joseph Lee Russell, Jr. of Abell; siblings: Marie K. Pilkerton of Avenue and Saunders “Sambo” Ed Lyon of Clements; and six grandchildren: Rebecca Russell, Courtney Russell, Cody Russell, Tiffani Russell, Destiny Russell and Anthony Russell.

Rose was a lifelong St. Mary’s County resident where she was a waterwoman for 36 years. She enjoyed taking care of her grandchildren, spending time on the water, doing crafts and cooking.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, March 24 at 10 a.m. in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, with Fr. William Gurnee officiating. Interment followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bushwood.

Pallbearers were Joseph Lee Russell, Jr., Timmy Goldsborough, Cindy Pilkerton, Kenny Ryce, Jim Morgan and Rebecca Russell. Honorary Pallbearers were Joseph Bubba Pilkerton, Bill Owens, Jim Russell, Harry V. Pilkerton, Jr., Thomas Goldsborough and Bernard Lacey.

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

James Clark Williams, Sr. 89

Ersel Virginia Melton, 86

Ersel Virginia Melton, 86, of Lexington Park died

James Clark Williams, Sr. 89, of Callaway died March 14 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Born April 7, 1918, in Mechanicsville, he was

the son of the late John Chun and Ada Mae Drury Williams.

He was the loving husband of Ellen Dora (Bean) Williams who preceded him in death Feb. 10, 2003.

They were married April 26, 1943 at Holy Face Church in Great Mills.

He is survived by his fourteen children; Elizabeth Norris and her husband Chally of Leonardtown, Jimmy Williams and his wife Tina of California, Ellen Ball and her late husband Charles of Leonardtown, Janice Hammett and her husband Wayne of Great Mills, Gary Williams and his wife Cathy of Hollywood, Johnny Williams and his wife Jenny of California, Susan Redmond and her husband Johnny of Leonardtown, (Twins) Joe Williams and his wife Rebecca of Leonardtown, and Mary Garner and her husband Boots of Hollywood, (Twins) Jack Williams and his wife June of Leonardtown, and Jackie Mays and her husband Mike of Callaway, Patricia Howes and her husband Randy of Edgewater, Ronnie Williams and his wife Kathy of Leonardtown, and Karen Bailey and her husband John of Clements; as well as 29 grandchildren; Wally, Joey, Brenda, Jim, Andy, Vicki, Wayne, Kim, Brian, Melissa, Gary Jr., J.F., Jennifer, Tony, Veronica, Valerie, Steve, Chris, Michelle, Darrell, Jessica, Justin, Julie, Amanda, David, Matthew, Maria, Robert and Brittani; and 21 great-grandchildren; Jake, Madison, Mariah, Eric, Taylor, Shoneta, Charlotte, Ashley, Madeline, Olivia, Blake, Sabrina, Tyler, Kendall, Jackson, Lilly, Casey, Cory, Kaleb, Cadence, Payton. He is also survived by his sister Mary Dyson of Leonardtown, and one brother Jack Williams of Brookville, Md. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Ella, his infant daughter, his granddaughter Samantha Bailey, his son-in-law Charles Ball, and three brothers, Stanley Williams, Thomas Williams and Guy Williams.

Mr. Williams was a lifelong farmer and loved working the land with his tractors. He supplemented his farm income with the following jobs: He worked for Bell Motor Company, Inc. where he transported farm equipment from factories all over the country to Bell Motor Company for them to be sold; he worked at McKay’s Implement on farm equipment; he drove a cement mixer and dump trucks for Charles County Concrete; he delivered the Washington Star Newspaper in St. Mary’s County; he drove school buses for St. Mary’s County public and parochial schools; and he was a landfill attendant for St. Mary’s County Government.

He enjoyed gardening; loved bluegrass music; playing cards, especially pitch and poker; watching NASCAR races hoping for a Dale Sr. or Dale Jr. win; he enjoyed watching baseball; watching his family play softball; going fishing and hunting, especially foxhunting; and in his later years caring for his beloved cat “Rabbit”.

The family received friends Tuesday, March 18 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown where prayers were said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, March 19 at 10 a.m. at Holy Face Catholic Church in Great Mills, with Fr. Joseph Sileo officiating.

Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers were his six sons James C. Williams, Jr., Gary B. Williams, Sr., John F. Williams Sr., Joseph S. Williams, Sr., Jack E. Williams and Ronald P. Williams.

Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Second District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1, Valley Lee, MD 20692.

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

Edward George Winnicki, 89

Edward George Winnicki, 89, of Leonardtown, and formerly of Watertown, Mass., died March 11 in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Born Jan. 16, 1919 in Detroit, Mich. he was the son of the late Juzef and Lucyja Jarkoska Winnicki.

He was the loving husband of Carmena Winnicki who preceded him in death Jan. 11, 2000. He is survived by his daughter Luci Koranek and her husband Rick of Chaptico as well as five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and his sister Helen Chwastek of Kalkaska, Mich.

He was preceded in death by his siblings; Joe, Walter and Steven Winnicki and Zigmund Gutowski.

Mr. Winnicki served in the United States Navy for four years during WWII. He moved to St. Mary’s County in 1997 from Watertown, Mass. where he was employed as a caretaker for the Archdiocese of Boston. He loved baseball and working in the yard.

The family received friends Saturday, March 15 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, where a funeral service followed at 11:30 a.m. with Fr. Timothy Baer officiating. Interment was private.

Contributions may be made to the Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

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

To Place a Memorial Ad Please Call The County Times at 301-373-4125

The County Times

Section A - 10

Thursday, March 27, 2008

St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee’s

Extra Stout Irish Stew

Annual Lincoln/ Reagan Dinner Principal Speaker

Ingredients: 2 pounds of boneless lamb or beef stew meat (lamb works best, but beef also works fine) 1-2 cups of all-purpose flour 2 TBS vegetable oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 1/2 cups of chopped carrots 4 or 5 small red potatoes, chopped 1 TBS dried thyme 1 TBS crushed rosemary ½ TBS rubbed sage Chopped fresh parsley 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced (optional) 4 cups of Guinness Extra Stout 2-? cups of water (more for thinner stew) Salt and pepper to taste (Note: All measurements are approximations. You may prefer more or less seasoning, so start small and add as you go.)

Preparation: Cut meat into 1-2 inch cubes, trimming off excess fat, place in a large Tupperware container and pour Guinness over top. Cover and let sit in refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

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Drain meat thoroughly, keeping beer marinade in a container to the side.

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In a large bowl, season flour with salt and pepper to taste. Dredge meat in flour mixture, shaking off excess, and set on a plate to the side.

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In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Working in batches, brown meat on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch, adding more oil if necessary. Transfer back to a plate.

Pour 1/4 cup of water into the pot, scraping up browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add onion and garlic, stirring occasionally until liquid has reduced and onions are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Return meat to pot. Add thyme, rosemary, and sage to taste.

Pour in leftover beer from marinade, and the rest of your water.

Lower heat and cover, simmering for 45 minutes to an hour until meat is tender.

Add potatoes, carrots, and more water or if needed. Cook covered until vegetables are tender and stew has thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in parsley before serving.

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Let stew cool completely before storing.

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