VOL. 14 NO. 42
THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010
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News Alumni - The Laurel Alumni Association held their 20th banquet and awarded $55,500 in scholarships. Page 5 GRADuATiOn - See the local graduates in a special section inside the Star. HEROES - Deborah Waller inspires others by her example. Page 8 lEGAl FAiluRES - Report lists times Dr. Earl Bradley should have been reported. Page 13 POliCE - Search is on for a man who attempted to lure a 6-year-old girl into his car. Page 21 BEnEFiTS - Help pours in for family injured in an explosion. Page 10 HOW SWEET - Get your history book at the annual St. Philip’s Strawberry Festival on Saturday. Page 23 POliCE/COmmuniTy RElATiOnS - On Monday night, May 17, both state and federal representatives attended the Mayor and Council meeting to offer their support to help the town facilitate conciliation between the police department and the African-American community. Page 4
Sports STARS OF THE WEEk - A Laurel track and field athlete, a Delmar baseball player, a Delmar soccer player, and a Sussex Tech softball player are this week’s Laurel Stars of the Week. Page 28.
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COnFEREnCE CHAmPS - Shown (l to r) are members of the Laurel varsity softball team, the 2010 Henlopen South and Henlopen Conference champions: front- Brooke Evans, Jenna Cahall, Kelsey Willey; second row- Keyona Horsey, Breada Boyce, Logan Green, Alexis Hudson, Bree Venables; back- head coach Jodi Green, coach Nikki Johnson, Alexis Oliphant, Kelsey Oliphant, Mariah Dickerson, Stephanie Wheatley, Taylor Oliphant, coach Danielle Shields, and coach Rick Henderson. See stories on pages 24 and 30. Photo by Mike McClure
Mayor responds to complaints about police with committee By Tony E. Windsor Making good on his promise to act on concerns of police abuse, expressed by largely African-Americans in the community, Laurel Mayor John Shwed took action Monday night. In previous weeks Shwed had committed to appointing a committee representing a cross-section of the community and the town government to begin dialogue to help improve police/community relations. On Monday night, May 17, Shwed said he had appointed members of a special “Committee to Improve Relationships between the Laurel Police Department and the AfricanAmerican Community.” The goal of the committee, according to Shwed is to discuss and recommend to Laurel
Mayor and Council ways to improve relationships between the Laurel Police Department and the African-American community “with the focus on the future rather than the past.” Shwed said meetings will be cochaired by Councilwoman Robin Fisher and Council President Terry Wright. Members of the committee include the Rev. Lawrence Bell, who will be representing MOCA, Dannora Elzey, Jeff Hill, Wayne Hooper, Jonathon Kellum Sr. Cheryl Martin, and Capt. Ricky Richardson and Chief Michael Wilson of the Laurel Police Department. Shwed said initial meetings of the committee will be held at Laurel Town Hall and a member of the Town’s administration staff will record min-
utes. He is asking that the committee submit a report to Mayor and Council no later than the first council meeting in September. He is also requesting that implementation status of any proposed recommendations be submitted to Mayor and Council in time for the first council meeting in January 2011. I feel this committee is made up of a great group of people and I wish them well as they carry out their work,” Shwed said. The committee came about after a group of about 35 African-American individuals came to Town Hall and expressed allegations of such conducts by police as racial profiling, harassment, bullying and verbal and physical abuse aimed primarily at AfricanAmericans.
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