PRSTD STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 145 Waldorf, MD
Thursday, April 26, 2007 • St. Mary’s County, Maryland
Established 2006 • Volume 2 • Issue 17 • FREE
Local Colleges Lt. Gov. Brown Presents County With Nice Pay Day Review Security Plans In Wake Of Virginia Tech Massacre By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
and residents, “it’s your gift that I’m able to present back to you because you’re the taxpayers.” The System Reform Movement began more than a decade ago in Maryland to change the way services are provided to children and families in their communities. Through this model, agencies providing mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice and other community based agencies work to integrate their services so families have full access to the services. “Congratulations to the families and children of St. Mary’s County,” Brown said. “They now have access to local child-serving agencies and service providers that will allow children to remain at home while receiving treatment. This coordinated sys-
Officials at St. Mary’s College and the College of Southern Maryland are reviewing and updating their emergency readiness plans to better deal with the possibility of a shooting massacre like the one that occurred last week at Virginia Tech University, where a distraught and violent student took the lives of 32 people before killing himself. But neither institution appears ready to issue firearms to their security officers as a response to the threat posed by a gunman like Cho Seung-Hui who authorities say committed the nation’s worst school shooting. Spokespersons for both institutions said they were reviewing their emergency preparedness plans before the incident at Virginia Tech in light of threats from weather emergencies and outbreaks of the avian flu. Tom Botzman, vice president of Business Administration at St. Mary’s College said that for a small, liberal arts college, armed security was probably not the answer. “We do not have firearms on campus,” Botzman told The County Times. “That’s a conscious decision; I do not expect us to change that in the future.” Botzman did say, however, that the possibility could be discussed among students and faculty in the coming weeks as the college reviews and updates its security plan. “I’m sure that will come up,” Botzman said. Shane Hall, a student living on campus, said that students would not likely accept firearms being toted by security. “I think the student body would be pretty shocked and infuriated by it,” Hall said. “Especially given the tame
See Pay Day page A-
See Security page A-
Photo by Adam Ross
Commission President Francis Jack Russell and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown present a $600,000 to the children and families of St. Mary’s County for in-home and community based healthcare services.
By Adam Ross Staff Writer With the backdrop of the St. Mary’s governmental center, on the first warm and sunny day the county had in several weeks, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown presented a $600,000 grant Friday to the county’s Local Management Board to provide in-home and community based healthcare services to children and families. The Governor’s Office for Children selected St. Mary’s County to implement the Care Management Entity, which is designed to divert children from out-of-home placement through the development of community based services. “This is not my gift to you,” Brown said to 50 local leaders
Virginia Tech Supporters Index County and Pax Remember The Tragedy, River Forge Look For Healing Historic Partnership Track Meet B-1
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
By Adam Ross Staff Writer
Grand Opening B-2 Op.-Ed ..........Page A - 4 Obits .............Page A - 6 Police ............Page B - 5 Classifieds.....Page B - 7
For Continual News Updates Visit: somd.com
Local Weather Friday T-Showers 80° Saturday Partly Cloudy 71° Sunday Mostly Sunny 70°
State and local leaders huddled around St. Mary’s County Commission President Francis Jack Russell and Naval Air Station Patuxent River Commanding Officer Capt. Glen Ives Friday as they signed a historic agreement. In signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), both entities are committed to an open and candid relationship that recognizes the significance of Pax River as an economic engine to the county
The Garden of Remembrance at St. Mary’s College of Maryland was a lush green Friday but the most visible colors besides that were orange and maroon, the colors of Virginia Tech, worn by alumni and their families who came to remember the 32 victims of the nation’s most tragic school shooting ever. More than 100 mourned over a short ceremony, prayer and reflection. Cathy Williams, whose daughter graduated from Virginia Tech in 1999, was one of them.
Even though her daughter had left the prestigious institution eight years ago, Williams said the school still had a hold on her family’s heart. “That place just does something to you,” Williams, of Hollywood said. “We still drive five hours to watch every football game. We love it there.” Williams said that her memories of the campus were badly shaken by the massacre perpetrated by 23-year-old student, Cho Seung-Hui, April 16 as he gunned down almost three dozen of his classmates and school faculty before committing suicide. See Memorial Service page A-
See Partnership page A-
Residents Speak up: Ask Commissioners to Fully Fund Public Schools By Adam Ross Staff Writer The budget process for St. Mary’s County like many is not done over night, Tuesday the Board of County Commissioners stepped out of the spotlight and allowed over 70 residents to voice their See Residents Speak Up page A-
Photo by Guy Leonard
Paul Davis, his wife Amy and 4-and-a-half-month-old daughter Hailey attend a memorial service at St. Mary’s College of Maryland for the victims of the shooting massacre last week at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg,Va. Davis, of Lusby, is an alumnus of the university and Blacksburg is his childhood home. More than 100 alumni and family of alumni showed up to show their support for those dealing with the tragedy.
The County Times
Section A -
Library Director Seeks Budget Increase By Adam Ross Staff Writer Over the last year, the number of St. Mary’s residents visiting their local libraries has skyrocketed according to the St. Mary’s Library Board of Trustees. As a result, the trustees are requesting additional funding from the county, even after the library’s budget request was cut short last month by $39,000. In the trustee’s annual report to the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners
last week, Kathleen S. Reif, director of operations for St. Mary’s County Public Libraries, thanked commissioners for a $75,000 technology grant awarded this year, but pleaded for an additional $20,000 to pay out to employees of the library. “They’ve earned it,” Reif said. “If we don’t get the money we will still give it by dipping into our materials fund.” The libraries invested $290,000 into materials this year, up from $200,000 two years ago, but still well short of the national average, ac-
cording to Reif. “One thing we’ve learned is the Internet has not stopped people from checking out materials,” Reif said. “As a library director it’s extraordinary that St. Mary’s County has so many people that have an interest in walking out with a bag load of books.” Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R- Golden Beach) said he has learned during his tenure that if the commissioners don’t fully fund the libraries today, the county “will pay the price later.” “The need is growing by
St. Mary’s College Moving To Green Power By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The students at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s City hope to make their institution the first college in the state to purchase 100 percent equivalency of its electricity from renewable energy resources. The initiative comes more than a month after the student body voted by referendum overwhelmingly to pay more in student fees, $25 per student, per year to make the initiative happen. “The students wanted this and they taxed themselves to do it,” said Marc Apter, spokesman for the college. “This is definitely a studentled initiative.” The college will still get all of its electricity from SMECO, but the extra money raised from student fees —
about $45,000 a year starting next year — will go to buy energy credits that will support generators of clean electricity across the nation. That extra money will help make up the difference in the college’s electricity bill for the more expensive green power. These suppliers produce power from sources like animal waste, plant byproducts and solar and wind power. The college went public with their intentions officially April 21 as part of their Earth Day celebration and their commitment to make their campus completely environmentally friendly. Shane Hall, a member of the Student Environmental Action Coalition, which helped bring the green electricity initiative to fruition, said “offset is the keyword” in
understanding how the project will work. “Because of where we are we have to buy from SMECO,” Hall said. “But we’ll be pumping money back into renewable energy.” That extra money will help promote the clean energy production that college students there would like to see become more pervasive. “Anything that happens good somewhere is effective everywhere because it’s all in the atmosphere,” Hall said. “And it’s the same with pollution.” Giselle Rahn, student trustee on the college’s Board of Trustees, said the vote in March to support the project was a landslide, but the college had to take $45,000 out of student reserves this year to get the initiative started because the increased stu-
Thursday, April 26, 2007
the day and by the age group,” Jarboe said, “and we are reaching further and further in both directions. There is also a potential partnership with the Southern Maryland Applied Research and Technology Consortium to establish an Internet café that would reach out to teens.” Still, Jarboe said he recognizes serious shortfalls in this year’s budget, especially if the Chesapeake Bay Public Charter School is able to open. The charter school has strugggled to keep up with its aggressive fundraising deadline and could be delayed by the St. Mary’s County Board of Education. “That is a huge difference in budget,” Jarboe said. “This year is the biggest challenge that I’ve ever witnessed. It’s my ninth year, and I can tell
you that if this year’s budget was relatively difficult, next year’s is going to be even worse.” Despite the budget difficulties, the libraries are steadily moving along – raising more than $100,000 this year with its Friends of the Library Annual Book sale. For the third year in a row, county libraries are open 62 hours a week, and 66 hours at the Lexington Park branch. Children up to the age of five can take part in a “my first library card,” where they can have access to more materials, more computers and more convenience features – including a self checkout machine in every branch. “Twenty to 25 percent of checkouts are on these machines,” Reif said. “Thanks to the technology grant we also
have scanners, color printers and a zoom tech machine.” According to Reif, the cost of utilities is also rising and will soon have to be addressed. Reif said she has toyed with the idea of increasing the costs of fines and fees, which would be able to cover the $9,000 utility increase. The St. Mary’s County Library now puts out a quarterly newsletter where residents will have a chance to learn about new services, new fees or anything or anyone the library is bringing into the county. The newsletter can be found on the library’s website, which also sports the library’s brand new logo. The St. Mary’s County Library has three branches – Lexington Park, Charlotte Hall and Leonardtown.
dent fees won’t start until next year. That’s when the college hopes to be fully supporting green electricity she said. Students even completed a survey saying they would spend more than the extra $25. “An overwhelming amount said they would support green energy over $100 per student per year,” Rahn said. “The vote came down to 1,005 to 75 in favor of green energy.” Other on campus projects that help the institution use less electricity from fossil fuels that many believe contribute to global warming include a geothermal heat pump for the boat house for heating and
cooling. Hall said the heat pump cost $130,000 to install but would be able to pay itself off in several years because it saves about $15,000 a year in electricity bills. An array of solar panels next to the library also produces two kilowatts of electricity for the campus. Larry Hartwick, capital project manager for the college, said there are also plans to replace multiple lighting, plumbing and heating fixtures on campus to help save energy. He praised the students for taking the initiative to do their part in protecting the environment. “The college has a long
history of commitment to the environment; the students here have been very active about educating the campus on environmental issues, particularly renewable energy resources,” Hartwick said. “We are willing to fund that extra cost to promote investment in renewable energy; unless we invest in the infrastructure it’s never going to happen.” The college has signed an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which will assist the college in finding the producers of renewable energy they need.
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301-863-3219 Photo by Guy Leonard
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Emily Scott, 13, of Frederick churns away on a bicycle that produces electric power from human effort to get a refreshing smoothie. Turner Chaundy, 10, of St. Inigoes holds on to the blender to make sure it doesn’t go tumbling down. The smoothie machine was on showcase at the Earth Day celebration at St. Mary’s College of Maryland April 21.
The County Times
Thursday, April 26, 2007
In Your Community An Evening of Story and Song Danny O’Flaherty brings the traditions of Ireland to Southern Maryland. Saturday May 19 at 7 p.m., at Lenny’s Restaurant. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets $20 in advance $25 at the door. Call 301-7370777 for more information.
Open House for Childcare Providers
The event is free and for the ages of 14 to 17. Please register by calling 301-475-2846 x1004.
Flea Market The Great Mills High School Botball Robotics Team will host a Giant Indoor/Outdoor Flea Market at Great Mills High School on April 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors
are wanted, but space is limited and must be reserved in advance. Please contact Allen Skinner at 301-863-4001 for more information on reserving space. All proceeds benefit the GMHS robotics team as they try to raise funds to attend the 2007 International Botball Competition in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Quilt Show Come out and see the beautiful quilts of Southern Maryland on display at the Loffler Senior Center on Chancellor’s Run Road on April 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. Admission to the show is $3. Tickets may be purchased from any of the senior centers. Raffle tickets will also be sold for
Section A - a “hand-made by the Honey Bees” quilt; the winner will be announced on Sunday at 4 p.m. You do not have to be present to win. For additional information or to find out how to enter a quilt in the show, call Sherrie at 301-475-4200 x. 1073.
Nats Game Southern Maryland Singles Social is hosting a singles sports event to see the New York Mets play the Washington Nationals. Lower view box seats will be reserved. The cost is $21 per ticket for
On Tuesday, April 30, from 6-8 p.m., at Leonardtown Library, 23250 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown Childcare providers can find out what the libraries have to offer them. See a preview of new preschool books and a Tumble Books presentation and learn more about WoW! Bags. Door prizes awarded. To register call 301-475-2846 x1004.
Ask a Master Gardener: Plant Clinic Tuesday, May 1, 11 to 1, Lexington Park Library, 21677 FDR Blvd, Lexington Park Drop in and ask a St. Mary’s County Master Gardener your gardening questions. Bring plant samples and/ or photos. Free to attend. Call 301-8638188 for more information.
Free Adult Computer Class – Introduction to Computers Tuesday, May 1, at 2 p.m., Lexington Park Library, 21677 FDR Blvd, Lexington Park. This basic workshop, introducing new adult computer users to the components, vocabulary and general use of the personal computer. The cost is free, but limited space is available. To register call 301-863-8188
this particular game. The game is scheduled April 28 at 7:05 p.m.
AAU Basketball The Girls AAU Super Regional Basketball Tournament at St. Mary’s College of Maryland on April 28 and 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Admission is $5 for adults and children six and over and $2 for children under 6.
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Book Discussion Discuss Antoine de SaintExpuery’s book, “The Little Prince,” Tuesday, May 1, at 7 p.m., at Charlotte Hall Library, 37600 New Market Road. The discussion is free and no registration is required. Call 301-884-2211 for more information.
Evening Story time Drop in for story time and family fun for all ages Thursday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m., at Leonardtown Library, 23250 Hollywood Road & Charlotte Hall Library, 37600 New Market Road. Call 301-475-2846 x1004 for more information.
CSI: Sciences of Forensics Help solve a crime that has been committed at the library while exploring the Science of Forensics through hands- on experiments. For ages 7 and over and free to the public. Registration is required. Funding provided by MIL Corp. Saturday, May 5 10 a.m. Charlotte Hall Library, 301884-2211 x 1004, 37600 New Market Road, Charlotte Hall, and 2:00 p.m. Leonardtown Library, 301-475-2846 x 1004, 23250 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown.
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Crafters Wanted The Bay District Volunteer Fire Department is looking for crafters for the May 6 Craft Fair. The event will take place at the BDVFD Station 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please contact 240-298-3305 to reserve.
Teen Writing Workshop Teen writing workshop with Author A.C. Crispin on April 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Leonardtown Library. Bring your writing samples (any genre but must be fiction) to receive feedback from A.C. Crispin, who authored Star Wars and Star Trek novels.
The Shops at Breton Bay • Leonardtown, MD 20650 • 301-997-1828
The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Editorial & Opinion Navy Base future in our hands, not politicians Patuxent River Naval Air Station is a business. We may sometimes think of it as we would a government agency, existing because it’s our government, and government never goes away. While the United States Navy is indeed a functioning unit of the federal government, the mission it carries out at Patuxent River Naval Air Station is based upon and supported by the same basic principles that any large corporation in America uses to do business. The base consists of various operating entities, some military and some civilian, not much different than say a company like General Motors would have operating at its research and devel-
opment facility. Pax River has competition, global competition, that every day tries to bring to market products that are more efficient, more reliable, more accurate, and more useful than the products developed and tested at Pax River. And Pax River has been very successful competing in the world of military aviation, better than anyone. Pax River is truly the best at what they do, providing outstanding military value to the United States citizens, just as successful corporations provide shareholder value to their owners. Many politicians are quick to take credit for the success of Pax River. Dur-
In fact, the process is uniquely designed to avoid influence by politicians. We should avoid letting the hollow promises of shortsighted politicians lead us to believe we have no worries in the future. The next Base Realignment and Closure is certain to be only a few years away. Our community has great influence over that process. As a community we would do well to understand what it means to be a good place for Pax River to do business and together as a community be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to assure our children will enjoy the benefits of Pax River in the future. Doing business in this community means being a
place where the nation’s best and brightest can live, raise families, and sustain their desired lifestyle. It means affordable homes in modern communities. It means expanded road networks to assure safe yet quick access to work, shopping and leisure. It means adequate school facilities with safe educational environments. It means a community that protects cultural assets yet paves the way for modest growth. How many times have we seen large corporations and even military bases unexpectedly abandon the community they have done business in for many years? Almost always the decision to do so has more to do with concerns about do-
ing business in that location in the future than with what has happened in the past. All too often these communities had changed in ways that were no longer attractive to the businesses and more important to the types of employees needed to compete in that industry. The old saying that there is no gain without pain is certainly true here. We cannot expect St. Mary’s to be the home to Pax River without enduring certain pains along the way. We should all be careful not to let short-term thinking and popular political rhetoric misguide our community.
of leaders’ are in place, there is no telling if the Cooperation Agreement, also referred to as the Memorandum of Understanding, will be upheld. If it is upheld and Pax River thrives in the county for years to come, than what Commission President Francis Jack Russell signed yesterday will be forever endeared. But for a revolutionary ceremony that was attended by a number of prominent local and national leaders, I would have expected a more specific document. The agreement is also one-sided. Of the six terms no mention of ways to engage and conditions outlined in future leaders in the same the agreement, not one is taiagreement. lored to the base’s impact on It does however, forge the surrounding community. a wonderful agreement be- Residents of St. Mary’s Countween this board and this ty were left completely on the commanding officer of Pax sidelines. River. Key word being “this.” Local leaders from the But as we all know, com- Southern Maryland Navy Almanding officers leave, and liance made mention in precounty commissioners terms vious meetings that there are run out. When the next batch
certain steps the base could take in reducing the impact of its mission on the community. Though the base’s mission is understandably the most important aspect here, these particular reduction measures, according to the alliance would have no negative impact on the mission. Those impact-reducing measures could include flight patterns and flight times flown by Navy personnel. It’s as if the Board of County Commissioners was so consumed with the nightmarish idea of losing Pax River to another Base Realignment and Closure they were willing to sell their soul to the base. While the landscape for Pax River was quite different 64 years ago, today, the county is nearing 100,000 residents. As the base grows, so does the county. Because of this you would think the two entities could come up with a more comprehensive
agreement that bridged future growth formulas and philosophies with the base’s future growth plans. Both entities need room to grow. However, the latter seems to be forgotten, or at least wasn’t included in this agreement. And the sad part of it all is the commissioners could have had it both ways. The contents of the Cooperation Agreement as is, are not the problem. It’s what it doesn’t include, and what was not discussed. Simple measures that would have at least recognized people already living within the proximity of the base. Besides that, I applaud the commissioners for stepping up and backing their words with action. That at least was a welcome sight in a political world that so often loses its gall to special interests and bureaucracy.
your guidance, support and patience. Planning a funeral service for a 16-year young loved one is indescribable and you so graciously allowed us to work through the process. Everything turned out just the way we envisioned it, and we are sure Ethan approved. Father Baer and Father Erly, the funeral service was beautiful and your words so eloquent. Your message will bring us strength and courage for many days to come. Although the day is still rather blurry, we heard your message. Christ Church, we are grateful for your continuous support. Ethan enjoyed being part of your youth group. We know that he will rest in eternal peace and be at home in the heart of Chaptico. It means so much to all of us the Ethan’s eternal resting place be in Christ Church Cemetery. You helped to make a very difficult decision seem so easy and obvious. We will visit him often. Your church also served us in another huge way when the women and men of your congregation took care of the
wake after the funeral service. These awesome people took care of every detail – setting up the hall, receiving the food, serving an enormous crowd, cleaning up the mess, and all done with a smile. You are all angels sent from heaven. We are so grateful. Again, the names are too many to list, but we send a sincere and deeply touching thank you to all our family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, employers, emergency personnel, classmates, and community members. Your kind deeds were noticed and made a huge difference. We will remember you forever in our hearts. To our parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends, thank you. To Cheryl, Kathy, Carla, Linda, Matthew, Davey, and Rodney – you took good care of us.
ing the last election, Roy Dyson took credit for personally saving Pax River from closing even while superimposing an Air Force jet onto his campaign propaganda that featured a picture of Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Since acquiring Pax River as part of his district, Steny Hoyer has worked overtime trying to market himself as the Congressman extraordinaire when it comes to keeping military bases open. St. Mary’s County, home to Pax River for more than 60 years knows better. Base closure and realignments have little to do with these politicians; they are strategic military (business) decisions that are based on military value.
Big City Boy, Small Town Heart
Cooperative Members
By Adam Ross Staff Writer The Cooperation Agreement between the Board of County Commissioners and Pax River is a document that comes along once in a great while. But there is no denying its importance is limited. The document in itself has no legally binding author-
ity on any one party. Further, it is specific to this Board of County Commissioners. It’s a posturing move, with little long-term significance for St. Mary’s County. The document is not very specific and includes no specific time frames of when certain meetings will take place and for how many years to come. It also makes
Thank You St. Mary’s County To the Editor, On the evening of April 4, we experienced the most horrific tragedy to ever affect our family – the loss of our beloved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, Ethan Chewning. We have spent the past two weeks forcing ourselves to think, move, and breathe. However, as unfortunate as that onesecond of our lives was, it was in the same moment we were reminded of how blessed we are.
As we have dealt with the most painful event of our lives, we have been surrounded and supported by hundreds. From the St. Mary’s sheriff’s deputy that first delivered the horrible news to the deputies that later sat with our family and answered the questions we had to the hundreds of family and friends that participated in the funeral service on Friday, April 13. We have been comforted, supported, and loved by all. The support and kindness have been unbelievable. Although the names are
too many to list; and for that matter, often nameless, concerned solely in reaching out to support a grieving family, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken time from their busy lives to remember us and share in our loss. Kind-hearted and compassionate people from all over the community visited our homes with cards, food donations, plants and flowers, money, and the most heart-felt words of sympathy. We thank you all – when we were crumbing, you helped
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us to pull ourselves back together; when we were hungry, you fed us; and when we had a need, you fulfilled it. Words cannot begin to express our appreciation and gratitude. Thank you. We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the staff and students of Chopticon High School. What an impression these young people have left on our family! These young adults organized and participated in three separate candlelight vigils. In our darkest hours, these young adults helped our family to see light and feel warmth as we celebrated the life of our Ethan. It was an overwhelming experience to see such a large group of young people praying, reading scripture, and remembering all the wonderful attributes of Ethan. Thank you also to Margaret Brent Middle and Dynard Elementary Schools for remembering and honoring Ethan and our family with your kindness. Michael Gardiner, Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home director, you were a godsend. We appreciate
Sincerely, The Chewning/Quade Families Chaptico, Md.
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, April 26, 2007
Section A -
Partnership Continued from page A-1 and a protector of the United States. Pax River is the Navy’s premier site for naval aviation, research, development, testing and evaluation producing 19,000 jobs and an economic impact of $2 billion for the county. This make it important that the commissioners disallow urban development from encroaching the navy’s mission. “This is a real symbolic event,” Ives said just before the ceremony Friday that brought in national and state political figures including House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD 5th), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D). “The MOU formalizes our commitment.” Forms of encroachment are urban growth, airborne noise, frequency spectrum,
lighting pollution, threatened endangered species and maritime transportation issues that if not kept close track of can result in a naval station’s relocation, formally referred to as Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). In signing the MOU, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) agreed to take proactive measures, including meeting twice yearly with the Navy to collaborate over encroachment threats, new analyses and data and to establish a clear zone at Webster Field in Lexington Park. “Everything we can do now within our shoreline is so critically important to the livelihood of St. Mary’s County,” said Rear Adm. Steven R. Eastburg, commander of Pax Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, “and ulti-
Photo by Adam Ross
Commission President Francis Jack Russell and Capt. Glen Ives embrace in philosophy and in a handshake just after signing the county’s first ever Cooperation Agreement to protect Pax River from encroachment.
mately the nation.” The BOCC has already set several processes in motion over recent months, but had not formalized any of its initiatives until Friday. One of the board’s other plans is to prohibit residential development in zone two of the accident potential zone (APZ) surrounding the base. There are currently three zones surrounding the base: clear zone, APZ 1 and APZ 2. APZ 2 is home to 702 homes spread out over 1100 acres, which would be virtually unaffected if the text amendment was passed. However, any improvements or reconstruction efforts made on existing homes would have to be made with certain soundreducing measures. Pax River is awaiting the arrival of the Joint Strike Fighter, the presidential helicopter and unmanned aircraft systems. Those new aircraft proPhoto by Adam Ross Pax River Commanding Officer Capt. Glen Ives speaks with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) before Friday’s Memorandum grams present noisier misof Understanding signing ceremony.
Bomb Threat Rattles Leonardtown College Campus By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Students and faculty at the Leonardtown campus of the College of Southern Maryland said they were unaware of a bomb threat that took place there the evening of April 16 for about three days, leading them to criticize the institution’s administration for not fully informing them of the potential danger. The bomb threat made students more on edge last week; as it occurred the same day as the shooting massacre of 32 students at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. which is now the worst school shooting in the nation’s history. Brad Gottfried, president of CSM, said the faculty and student misgivings over the bomb scare caused the college to look at the incident to see if he and the administration acted properly. “This is a wake up call to how we respond to all kinds of things,” Gottfried told students and faculty Tuesday. “I’m not going to say this is the right thing to do… we’re really going to analyze.” Student Rachel Emerson, of Lusby, said the college should have made a greater effort to tell them about the bomb scare, even though law enforcement and administrators did not consider the message found last Monday as a “credible threat.” Emerson said she did not know about the threat until Thursday from a friend. She said she had not received any
e-mail or bulletin from the college about the incident. “I think we have a right to know what to do about our own safety,” Emerson said. “I may not have put much credibility to the bomb threat but I want that to be my decision.” One teacher commented that he was not informed of the bomb threat April 16 or the following day, even though the message apparently made some vague threat for that Tuesday. “I had no idea there was a bomb threat for Tuesday,” the instructor said in a meeting with Gottfried. “I would have opened up any package, any box or done any number of things I shouldn’t have done.” Lt. Daniel Alioto, commander of patrol operations for the sheriff’s department, said that they received the threat at about 5p.m. and that the college leadership cancelled all evening classes at 8p.m. That cancellation came about because of power outages due to weather and high winds, Gottfried said. When police and emergency services personnel arrived and conducted a search of the campus they found no explosive device, Alioto said. “We found something that could’ve been construed as an actual bomb threat and that’s how we handled it,” Alioto said. “It’s still an open investigation.” The sheriff’s deputy assigned to patrol Leonardtown has increased his rounds on the Leonardtown campus, ac-
Ives also recalled Hoyer’s passion for the base during a recent tour he made with Gov. Martin O’Malley and Brown. “I received a call from Hoyer’s office asking for a tour,” said Ives. “I got in four words, ‘yes sir, no sir’ and they were here for two hours. Congressman Hoyer led the tour.” Dels. Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-29C), John F. Wood Jr. (D-29A) and John L. Bohanan Jr. (D-29B), were all in attendance. Pax River was formally commissioned in April of 1943, 64 four years ago on 64 acres of land with 64 aircraft. Ives recited and sang the lyrics to The Beatles song “When I’m Sixty Four” to commemorate the ironic nature of the song’s meaning to the day’s event. “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64,” Ives said. “Now in 2007 as our partnership turns 64, the answer is yes.”
sions, reinforcing the base’s need for its privacy and space. “This is an asset of freedom,” Hoyer said to the onlookers at Friday’s ceremony. “We owe it to remain in an area that maximizes its mission and does not encroach on its job.” Lt. Gov. Brown, a 30year veteran of the U.S. Army who stills serves in the Army Reserves said Pax River was an important asset to both St. Mary’s and the state’s economies. Cardin, in his first visit to St. Mary’s County since being elected to the senate confirmed his support of the MOU and said he often over hears Hoyer talking about BRAC issues, even when nobody is around to hear him. “I’m often asked what my position is, and so I look to Steny,” said Cardin, which followed with laughter from the room. “‘Steny what is my position?’”
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cording to Alioto. Alioto would not divulge what shape the threat took that day, whether it was some kind of note or otherwise because deputies were continuing to search for leads in the case. Alioto said that the person who left the threat may have only been engaging in a practical joke. He said if that were the case, the person should come forward to avoid prosecution. If they did not, Alioto said, the person responsible could face serious consequences if the sheriff’s office were forced to pursue an investigation that went nowhere. “Sometimes people think that’s funny,” Alioto said. “It’s not something we’re going to take lightly. We don’t want people out there crying ‘Wolf!’ especially when we have real emergencies that need attention.” Alioto said not only would the responsible party be prosecuted but that the sheriff’s office would seek restitution for all the money and man-hours spent on solving the case. “It’s not going to be taken as well if they don’t come forward,” Alioto said.
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Obituaries Hattie Louise Bludson, 90 Hattie Louise Bludson, 90, of Lexington Park, Md. died April 20, 2007 at CiVista Medical Center. Born January 15, 1917 in North Carolina, she was the daughter of Thomas Jackson and Carrie Davis. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 27, from 9-10 a.m. at the First Missionary Baptist Church, Lexington Park, Md. where a Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. For further information on her services, visit our website at www.mattingleygardiner. com. A full obituary will appear at a later date.
Lois Kettner Bradburn, 85 Lois Kettner B r a d burn, 85, of Leona rdtow n, Md. died April 17, 2007 at her residence. Born December 28, 1921 in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late James D. Kettner and Florence Virginia (Eichelberger) Kettner. Mrs. Bradburn was Chaplain for the American Legion Auxiliary Post #255, in Ridge, Md. and also a member of the Ladies of Charity of St. Michael’s Church, Ridge, Md. She is survived by her daughter, JoAnn Kelly of Alexandria, Va., her son, John Bradburn of Fairfax, Va., sister, Emily Gannon of Wilmington, N.C., three grandchildren, Eric, Melissa, and Keaton, and four great-grandchildren, Brennan, Connor, Brooke, and Chase. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Warren Bradburn and her sister, Florence Finnacome. The family received friends on Saturday, April 21 from 9-10 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md., with a Memorial Service being conducted at 10 a.m. Father Maurice O’Connell of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Ridge, Md. conducted the service. Inurnment was private. Memorial contributions may be made to HOSPICE of St. Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md. 20650 and/ or St. Michael’s Church, P.O. Box 429, Ridge, Md. 20680. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Angel Angelina Bush, Infant Angel Angelina Bush of Lexington Park, Md. died April 20, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, Md. Born April 20, 2007 in Leonardtown, Md., she was the daughter of Scott Tyrone Bush and Helen Angelina (Hawkins) Bush. A Memorial Service will be conducted on Friday, April 27, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in Solid Rock Church, Port Republic, Md. Pastor Berger will conduct the service. Interment will be private. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Md. 20650. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
George Bernard Cullins, Sr., 95 George Bernard Cullins, Sr., 95, of Coltons Point, Md. died April 21, 2007 in St. Mary’s Nursing Center,
Leonardtown, Md. Born February 23, 1912, he was the son of the late George Henry “Gummy” and Martha Belle Deane Cullins. He was the husband of the late Agnes Elizabeth Nelson Cullins, whom he married on February 23, 1941 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza, Md. She preceded him in death on January 27, 1997. He has one son, George Bernard Cullins, Jr., a daughter in-law Rita Alvey Cullins of Bushwood, Md., two grandchildren Glenn Cullins and his fiance’ Valerie Ryan of Mechanicsville, Md. and Tracey Cullins Jubeck and her husband Todd Jubeck of Leonardtown, Md., five great grandchildren Lara Barreros, Mackenzie Loewe, Ty and Elle Jubeck and Danny Ryan, one brother Andrew Cullins of Arlington, Va. Preceding him in death were three brothers Wilbur Cullins, Joseph Cullins, and John “Jack” Cullins and one sister Alice Guy. He was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, Md. all his life except four years serving in the U.S. Navy where he was a threesport standout in boxing, football and softball. He attended River Spring’s and Holy Angels elementary schools, River Spring’s High School and graduated from Margaret Brent High School in 1932 as president of the schools first senior class. During his working years he was a clerk at the IGA store in Leonardtown, Md., insurance agent with People’s Life Insurance Co. of Washington, D.C. and Home Beneficial Life Insurance, Richmond, Va., a rural mail carrier contractor and a salesman with Frederick P. Winner Liquor Co., Baltimore, Md. He worked with newspapers for 55 years, serving as sports editor for the St. Mary’s Beacon from 1941 – 1956 as a business manager and sports editor with St. Mary’s Journal 1957 – 1959. In 1960 he and his wife founded The Pilot, an all sports publication, the first of its kind in the State of Maryland and ran it successfully for 26 years, closing down the press and retiring in 1986. He was a sports person all his life and was considered one of the county’s best all around athletes. He had the honor of not losing a single event in track and field during his 12-year school career and held county records in six different events. His favorite event was the 440 yd. dash, which he won four straight years in high school, breaking the county record in his sophomore year and breaking his own county record in his junior and senior years. He was also an outstanding player on the soccer and baseball teams. He organized the St. Mary’s County Catholic Baseball League in 1943 and served as its first president and managed the Holy Angels team during the league’s maiden season. In 1947 he organized the St. Mary’s County Girls Fastpitch Softball League and managed the Holy Angels CYO team to three straight league championships, compiling a record of 51 straight victories. In 1950 he organized the Holy Angels CYO girls basketball team and was its coach for seven years, winning the So. Md. CYO Championship each year, plus three straight Maryland Invitational Classic titles and the National Sisters of Charity Invitational Championship in 1956 held at Georgetown University’s McDonough Gym in Washington, D.C. In his seven years as the team’s coach, the team went 72 games without a defeat after losing its first game for a 72-1 record. In 1957 he became the girls basketball coach at St. Mary’s Academy in Leonardtown, Md., compiling a record of 89-10 over six years winning six straight So. Md. Catholic High School championships, five straight St. Mary’s County titles and two Tri-State Invitational pri-
vate school championships. He also coached boxing at Holy Angels School, track and field and goalball (a game he created) at St. Mary’s Academy. In 1964 he became manager of the Potomac Gardens men’s team in the St. Mary’s County Rocking Chair Softball League, compiling a record of 43-7 over three years, finishing second in 1964 in a special playoff after three teams finished the regular season tied for first play. In 1965 and 1966 the team won backto-back league and county championships. He also received the following honors: Presidential awards: Rocking Chair Softball League 1979, St. Mary’s County Women’s Softball League 1977 and the St. Mary’s County Young Men’s League 1982. Appreciation Awards: St. Mary’s County Slowpitch Softball League 1980 and Budweiser Softball Tournament League 1983. Hall of Fame Awards: Rocking Chair Softball League 1982, Women’s Softball League 1991, St. Mary’s Ryken High School 1989, ASA and St. Mary’s County Hall of Honor 1984. The family received friends on Tuesday, April 24 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 10 a.m. in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, Md. with Fr. LaHood officiating. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bushwood, Md. Pallbearers will Francis Nelson, Joseph Nelson, David Nelson, William Cullins, George Guy and Deane Guy. Contributions may be made to the 7th District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, Md. 20609 and/or Holy Angels Catholic Church, 21335 Coltons Point Road, Avenue, Md. 20609. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Maria DeAngelo, 91 Maria DeAngelo, of Leonardtown, Md., formally of Orlando, Fl., and Mamaroneck, N.Y., died April 21, 2007 at the age of 91. She is the former Maria Trapasso, born December 27, 1915 to Elizabeth (Maglio) and Frank Trappaso. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dominick, her parents, six brothers and a sister. She is survived by her sister Catherine Aqualino, three children; Elizabeth Servello and her husband Anthony of Hollywood, Md., Joseph DeAngelo and his wife Kathy of Hamilton, OH and Frank DeAngelo and his wife Cynthia of Palm Coast, Fl. She is also survived by six grandchildren; Dustin DeAngelo of Jacksonville, Fl., Christopher and Lahn Servello of Naples, Italy, Joseph DeAngelo of Hamilton, OH, Jeffery and Jennifer Servello of Annapolis, Md., Samantha and Jonathan Sinclair and Danielle and Martin Lawson, all of Atlanta, Ga. and four great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 25 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, White Plains, N.Y.Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Memorial Contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Nursing Center, 21585 Peabody St., Leonardtown, Md. 20650 and /or St. John’s Church, P.O. Box 69, Hollywood, Md. 20636. Arrangements in New York were provided by McMahon Funeral Home, White Plains, N.Y. Local arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A, Leonardtown.
Irma Agnes Delozier, 89 Irma Agnes Delozier, 89, of Leonardtown, Md. died April 20, 2007 in St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Leonardtown, Md. Born October 7, 1917
in Leonardtown, Md., she was the daughter of the late William Alexander Morgan and Caroline (Thompson) Morgan. She was a life long resident of Greenbriar Road in Leonardtown. Her hobbies included doing word searches and crossword puzzles. For years she loved playing Bingo at Father Andrew White School in Leonardtown. She had two green thumbs when it came to flowers and gardening. She was faithful in praying the rosary daily. She is survived by her two sons, John Wayne Delozier, Sr. of Leonardtown, Md. and Douglas Francis Delozier and his wife, Denise of Mechanicsville, Md., five grandchildren, Dawn, Wayne, Brian, John, and Irma Delozier, and two great-grandchildren, Amber Lynn Delozier of Okla., and Ashley Nicole Mattingly of Lexington Park, Md. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, John Jefferson Delozier, and her siblings, Helen Hughes, Vertie Parker, Willie Morgan, and Carroll Morgan. The family received friends Tuesday, April 24 from 5- 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md., with prayers recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 25 at 11 a.m. in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, Md. Father John Dakes will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Lihu Wright, John Delozier, Wayne Delozier, Brian Delozier, Billy Hughes, and Jason Yotko. Memorial contributions may be made to HOSPICE of St. Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md. 20650. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Suzanne “Sue” Henning Linley, 67 S u z a n n e “Sue” Henning Linley, 67, of Leonardtown, Md. for merly of Vero Beach, Fl. died April 17, 2007 at her residence. Born February 17, 1940 in Salem, OH she was the daughter of Helen Adrienne Williams Henning of Salem, OH and the late Al Henning. She is survived by her daughters: Lisa Brubacher of Leonardtown, Md., Lori Mason of Howell, Mich. and Diane Lucey of Lewis Center, OH; sister: Marcia Henning of Los Angeles, Ca. and four grandchildren. Ms. Linley was a chemistry teacher for Vero Beach High School until her retirement in 2002. She was a member of the National Audubon Society; she enjoyed gardening, woodworking and spending time with her grandchildren. The family received friends on Monday, April 23 from 9:30–10:30 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where a memorial service was held with Rev. Keith Schukraft officiating. Interment was held in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Southern Maryland Audubon Society, P.O. Box 181, Bryans Road, Md. 20616. Arrangements provided by the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Grace Kathryn “Sally” Severns, 68 Grace Kathryn “Sally” Severns, 68, of Lexington Park, Md. died April 17, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospital. Born November 9, 1938 in Centeral City, Pa., she was the daughter on the late Raymond and Eslie Mills. She was the loving wife of her late husband Joseph Christopher Severns who preceded her in death on December 8, 2002. She is survived by her daughter: Christine Jack-
Thursday, April 26, 2007 son of Sanford, Fl. and four grandchildren. She is also preceded in death by her daughter: Vickie Kiger. All services will be Private. Arrangements provided by the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Kathryn Stauffer Stauffer, 3 Kathryn Stauffer Stauffer, 3, of Loveville, Md. died April 20, 2007 at her residence in Loveville, Md. Born December 9, 2003 in Leonardtown, Md. she was the daughter of Nathaniel Brubacher and Miriam Martin Stauffer. She is also survived by her siblings; Linda, married to Sheldon Martin, Nathaniel Jr., married to Lorene Martin, Lucy, Joseph, Matthew, Marilyn, Edwin, Lorraine, Minerva, Richard, Darlene, Judy, Steven, Dwayne and Kurvin Stauffer, all of Loveville, Grandparents; Joseph and Esther Stauffer of Ephrata, PA, and Annie G. Stauffer of Loveville and the late David M. Stauffer. The family will receive friends at their home on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 from 3-8 p.m.. A prayer service will be held on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 9 a.m. in the family home in Loveville, Md. Funeral Services and Interment will follow at 9:30 a.m. in The Loveville Mennonite Church and Cemetery, Loveville, Md. Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Elizabeth Wilson Whetstone, 83 Elizabeth Wilson Whetstone, 83, of Columbia, Md. died April 17, 2007 in St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Leonardtown, Md. Born December 10, 1923 in Cope, S.C., she was the daughter of the late Joseph Earl Wilson and Mary Drawdy Wilson. She is survived by her daughter, Pamela W. Fox of Columbia, Md., her son, Stephen T. Whetstone of Hollywood, Md., and four grandchildren, Caitlin Fox, David Fox, Emily Whetstone, and Noah Whetstone. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Tom Whetstone. The family received friends Friday, April 20 from 1- 2 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md., with a Funeral Service being conducted at 2 p.m. Reverend Sheldon Reese will conduct the service. Interment will be on Monday, April 23 in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, in Walterboro, S.C. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Southern Maryland Office, P.O. Box 1889, LaPlata, Md. 20646. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
Malachi Ian Young, five months Malachi Ian Young, five months, of Lexington Park, Md. died April 20, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospit al, Leonardtown, Md. Born October 22, 2006 in Leonardtown, Md., he was the son of Jamaine Rose of Virginia Beach, Va. and Kaleena DeShaun Young of Lexington Park, Md. Malachi always had a smile on his face from the time of his birth to his passing. In addition to his parents, he leaves behind to mourn his brothers, Christian Alexander Bell of Fort Worth, TX, Jalen Alan Rose and Jeremiah Michael Young, both of Lexington Park, Md., grandparents, John Edward Young of Prince Frederick, Md., Elizabeth Denise Young of Lexington Park, Md., Marie Rose and John Green, both of Manning, S.C., uncles, Johntonna Euron Young and Joseph Eimyad Young, both of Lexington Park, Md., John Alexandria
Rose of Virginia Beach, Va., Troy Donell Rose of Silver Spring, Md., aunt, Shenick Nichole Kind of Fayetteville, N.C., step-aunt, Serella Bynoe of Prince Frederick, Md., great-grandparents, Betty Ann Goforth of Lexington Park, Md. and Joseph Edward Suter of Oakville, Md., and a host of great-aunts, great-uncles, and cousins. Malachi was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Cecial D. Young, Marie L. Bowan, and John Henry Stukes. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 from 10:30-11 a.m. in Zion United Methodist Church, Lexington Park, Md.; with a Funeral Service conducted at 11 a.m. Dr. Reverend Brian Jackson will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Great Mills, Md. Serving as pallbearers will be Jordan Carter, John Rose, Troy Rose, and Akeem Hawkins. Memorial contributions may be made to the SIDS Institute, 630 W. Fayette Street, Room 5-684, Baltimore, Md. 21201-1585. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Md. 20650. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.
The County Times
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Pay Day Continued from page A-1 tem of care can provide service to a variety of children in community settings, without compromising the quality of the programs.” The grant amount of $600,000 is enough to provide services to 20 children and their families. Local Management Boards are funded through the Governor’s Office for Children, and bring together local child-serving agencies, local service providers, users of services and other community representatives to empower local stakeholders in addressing the needs of their communities. “We are proud to be a partner with the O’MalleyBrown administration and the state, in development of local resources to prevent long
term out-of-home placement for the children of St. Mary’s County,” said Bennett Connelly, executive director of St. Mary’s County Leadership Management Board. Brown said he promised over his campaign to deliver and intends to keep that promise, citing children’s healthcare as a top priority. The county chose Maryland Choices to develop a local system of care that is family centered, community based, culturally sensitive, outcome driven and fiscally accountable. “This grant can make the difference between a healthy and traumatized child,” said Brown. “We are building a bridge for children to cross over from being a threat to a huge asset.” Commission President Francis Jack Russell welcomed Brown to St. Mary’s County and thanked him on behalf of the entire Board of County Commissioners for
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the grant. Just before the ceremony, Brown introduced himself and spoke with approximately 20 local children. St. Mary’s County is the third county to receive a Care Management Entity behind Baltimore County and Montgomery County. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity to move Maryland and local government towards development of local care systems through partnerships between local management boards and the Children’s Cabinet,” said Connelly.
Photo by Adam Ross
Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown meets with kids in front of the governmental center Friday before presenting a $600,000 check to provide in-home and community based healthcare services to children and families.
Memorial Service Continued from page A-1 Williams couldn’t believe the media reports as they rolled in last week. She also feared for her nephew, who attends Virginia Tech as a freshmen studying engineering. “I thought ‘Oh my God, not there,’” Williams said. “You just can’t comprehend something like that happening on a campus like that at that time.” Williams said the worst part of the tragedy was that losing the victims was like losing family members because they all shared a part of Virginia Tech. “You just can’t comprehend someone hurting 32 members of your family,” Photo by Guy Leonard Williams said. “When you’re Father John Ball of Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Mary’s City leads the memorial service at St. Mary’s College of a Hokie [the school’s mascot] Maryland for the 33 people killed in the nation’s worst school shooting massacre. you’re all a family.” Attendees included Sen. Roy Dyson and the college’s president Jane Margaret O”Brien and Virginia Tech alumni Jane Margaret O’Brien, and their families.
Residents Speak Up of County Commissioners entered into a Bridge to Excellence agreement aimed at increasing funding to public schools from based off yearly enrollment figures. However, in the last three years enrollment figures have not risen as planned, but instead with the addition of academic programs, Other Post Retirement Benefits (OPEB) and the Chesapeake Charter School, public schools’ budget has ballooned to over $19.5 million more than last year. Representatives from the Navy, teachers and students used their three minutes to voice support for the Board of Education’s budget request. “I’m here asking for full funding so that all special education students can have the help that they need,” said Chris Young, a handicapped seventh grader at Margaret Brent Middle School. A strong support group for after school programs, namely the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Mary’s County was also in attendance. Over 20 members
of the Boys and Girls Club held up signs and clapped in support of the clubs. To date, the commissioners have not allocated any money to the local Boys and Girls clubs, despite a request of $180,000. This budget year has been viewed as particularly difficult because of the county’s priority in funding OPEB. Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) said this budget has been his most difficult to navigate over his nine year in county government. “If this one was relatively difficult,” added Jarboe, “next year is going to be worse.” All state and local municipalities, and county governments have to pay into post retirement benefits, and the longer the county waits the more potential there is to jeopardize the county’s recently improved bond rating. Last year, county government addressed OPEB by allocating $3.5 million to start funding for it at the county level. But this year the county is putting aside $10 million for OBEB, which according to Chief Financial Officer Elaine
Kramer save the county speaking the needs plus the vate entities. The St. Mary’s wants usually exceeds what County Sheriff’s Office was $600,000 a year. not one of those entities cut, The other large initiative you have to spend.” When the process started but instead received a 15.3 in the year budget is the implementation of a Solid Waste the commissioners received percent increase, which added and Recycling Enterprise an operating budget of over five positions and replaced 16 fund, which charges fees in $192 million, but had rev- vehicles. “It has not been easy beorder to offset expenses. The enues of over just $172 million enterprise fund, in addition to work with. The funding cause behind the dollar signs to a $60 dollar annual fee for gap forced the commission- are faces,” said Russell, “faces trash disposal will allow the ers to prioritize and cut fund- we know very well.” commissioners to balance the ing to several public and pribudget without raising property or income taxes. “ We’ve spent months getting to this point in the budget process and it has not been easy,” said C o m m i s s io n President Francis Jack Russell (D-Point Lookout). “Whether you’re a team with $1.70 or a commissioner dealing with $170 million, the concepts and challenges Photo by Adam Ross are the same. Executive Director of Sotterley Foundation Michael J. Lane thanks the commissioners for G e n e r a l l y their past support, but requests them to reconsider fully funding Sotterley’s $75,000 budget
as well as one part time for a campus of more than 1,800. At St. Mary’s College there are 15 members of the public safety staff for a campus of more than 1,900 students. Like St. Mary’s College, CSM is also reviewing how it will respond to the threat of an armed, homicidal gunman but Stevens said that firearms are out of the question as a security option for the near future. Stevens said that security officers on the campuses around Southern Maryland would have to be upgraded to special police officer status like those working at St. Mary’s College if the decision were made to issue firearms. Stevens said that security officers and those they protect always benefited from added
training, but she did not say that training would include firearms. “It may come out [of the emergency plan review] that we need more types of training,” Stevens said. “We heard comments from people who say they’d like to see us do more.” Some students at CSM said they would feel safer on campus if they had armed security after the college’s president, Brad Gottfried, posed the question. Gottfried said that armed security could be a point of discussion in reviewing the college’s emergency plan. “I support our security being well trained and armed,” said student Michelle Morrison. “It’s nothing to fear if
they are well trained.” Currently the security personnel at CSM only have portable radios to stay in touch with each other, along with cell phones to call sheriff’s deputies in case of a serious emergency. Stevens said there are more patrols at CSM campuses to ensure security and that an emergency call box system for the parking lot at Leonardtown is coming soon. Karen Smith-Hupp, spokeswoman for CSM, said that the college is also considering ways to quickly communicate with students in an emergency such as text messaging on cell phones. Currently CSM uses a public announcement system and e-mails to faculty, staff
Continued from page A-1 concerns on fiscal year’s 2008 budget slated for approval in May. A number of speakers voiced support for Superintendent Michael J. Martirano’s budget proposal, which as of Tuesday the commissioners had cut short by approximately $2 million. “We have a new superintendent in town these days who had sharpened his pencil with no fluff,” said Jan Emerson, president of the Education Association of St. Mary’s County. “The county needs to provide the funding.” Emerson, with a group of approximately ten others distributed graphs before the forum to arriving members that outlined a declining percentage of funding to public schools in relation to the county’s rising budget, which last year topped $180 million. Last year, the funding for public schools was at an all time low of just over 41 percent, according to the graph. In years past, the Board of Education and the Board
Security Continued from page A-1 nature of the campus.” Botzman said that the security personnel on campus are sworn officers with police academy training and have arrest powers on campus. Campus security officers are armed with pepper spray and handcuffs. Priscilla Stevens, director of Public Safety at College of Southern Maryland (CSM), which has a campus in Leonardtown, said that security personnel there have no weapons and do not have arrest powers. There are two full time public safety personnel there
president of the college, said that the students and faculty were still in deep mourning for the loss of life at Virginia Tech. “We are all part of one another; what happened at Virginia Tech is what could also happen here at St. Mary’s,” O’Brien said. “We are saying [to the students and faculty at Virginia Tech] we are with you.” O’Brien thanked all those Virginia Tech alumni and families who turned out to the memorial service. “We welcome all of you who come to share our grief and our joy,” O’Brien said. “St. Mary’s and Virginia Tech are drawn together today in tragedy but forever more in compassion.” Paul Davis, a Hokie alumni who grew up in the
Blacksburg area where the university is located, said that he and his family were just getting over the initial shock of the tragedy. He said his father, who is a professor at the university, was in the building next to the one where the shooting occurred. “It’s still shocking when you see the news and the stories about what happened,” Bailey said. “He [Cho] could’ve easily come into the building he [his father] was in.” It would take time to come to grips with the tragedy there, Bailey said, but that healing would come eventually. The memories of his boyhood home and the good times and Virginia Tech were stronger than the tragedy. “I’m just trying to work to get over it and move on,” Bailey, of Lusby said. “It’s still home, though. I’m not going to be discouraged from every going back.”
request. The commissioners so far have set aside $50,000 for that request.
and the local media to get out emergency messages. They do not use student e-mails in an emergency because they are private e-mail accounts and not attached to the college e-mail system. CSM could not be sure they would get the message in time, Smith-Hupp said. St. Mary’s College uses campus-wide e-mail and postings on its Web site to alert students. The college is also considering using cell phone alerts in the near future. Botzman said that there are no plans to increase the number of security personnel at St. Mary’s but that students and security officers both were taking a more careful watch during their day. “There’s more vigilance
right now on campus, but we’re not changing the number of security personnel on campus,” Botzman said. Botzman said that since the Virginia Tech massacre was only one week old, it was too early to tell exactly what plan the college would formulate to deal with a similar tragedy. “We have a new scenario to consider as we revise our emergency plan,” Botzman said. “We will supplement our emergency plan; we want to react in a way that will make sense on our campus.”
The County Times
Section A -
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Jarboe Spars With DPWT over New Transfer Station’s Delay By Adam Ross Staff Writer The St. Andrews waste transfer station, originally slated to be built by July and running in September, won’t even come close to that target after being deemed an overly aggressive timeline by George Erichsen, director of Public Works and Transportation. But unlike St. Mary’s County Commissioner Larry Jarboe who said it was disappointing to see the project behind schedule, Erichsen says the timeline was miscalculated and might actually be ahead of schedule. “You can’t go any faster,” Erichsen said in a phone interview after Jarboe called
the transfer station’s delay “unfortunate.” “We stuck [the transfer station] in the operating budget but had to move it out.” Three days earlier, Erichsen went in front of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and had $870,000 set aside for the station moved from the fiscal 2007 reserve into the fiscal 2008 capital improvement plan. At the commissioners April 17 meeting Jarboe said the cost to drive local trailers into Virginia and across the bridge was incurring an unnecessary cost to the county. Initially Erichsen was caught off guard by Jarboe’s comments, saying he didn’t know what Jarboe was talk-
ing about. In October and November of 2006, Public Works and Transportation received approval from the county on its solid waste plan, and approval from the state. “We figured if we put the monies in 07, and it was approved in December of 06 that we could operate in 08,” said Erichsen. “But that was overly aggressive. It appears it’s constantly moving, but it’s not.” Erichsen added that it was more important to start taking care of the county’s commercial sector that “right now is on its own,” than to bring in revenue. “We don’t have to build the transfer station at all,
what we have to do is address the solid waste needs of St. Mary’s County,” said Erichsen, “and telling our commercial sector to find their own way is not the statesman like thing to do.” Jarboe was unimpressed with Erichsen’s explanation Friday saying “as far as I’m concerned when you have a timeline off, you have a delay, there’s no difference.”
Neighborhood concerns over noise and smell produced by the station in part delayed the process, said Jarboe. He even placed blame on the county for not “pushing the Board of Appeals to act faster.” Jarboe didn’t know what the total lost profits for the county would be, but said even if it was $250,000 a year it would make “a huge difference, especially considering we are only going to public hearing with about $38,000 to play with.” Erichsen now expects the station to be fully operational in fiscal 2009. “If we get to be open two or three months earlier I would
suggest not allowing the commercial sector in,” said Erichsen. “Let’s get it up and running to get the bugs out.” The projected cost for the finished transfer station is approximately $5 million. The project received approval from the Board of Appeals, after it was initially tabled so board members could visit the site located at the St. Andrews Landfill off St. Andrews Church Road. “This board and the overwhelming majority know the value of the landfill and that it’s the right thing to do,” said Commissioner Daniel H. Raley. “We need to get this transfer station done.”
Prices too low to advertise! Photo by Adam Ross
Single stream recycling is now a part of St. Andrews Landfill, but with the addition of the solid waste transfer station in 2009 the county’s effort to respond to the need of the commercial sector could also be met.
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