The

Thursday, September 27, 2007 St. Marys County, Maryland

County

P IN

E US EY POINT LIGHTHO

Times
PRSTD STD US Postage Paid Permit No. 145 Waldorf, MD

Established 2006 Volume 2 Issue 39 FREE

County Construction Projects Come In $429,000 Under Budget For FY 07

Money to be available for FY 09
By Adam Ross Staff Writer Every month, St. Marys County has multiple construction and improvement projects taking place, each with a funding background, and each with the potential to come in under budget. Not all projects save money, but enough did in the fiscal year 2007 budget to roll over into $429,000 of real cash savings originally budgeted to be spent. Its a result of people managing projects closely and bringing them in under budget, said Elaine Kramer, the countys chief financial officer, usually by several hundred thousand dollars. Three to four times a year, Kramer and her staff closely examine the years Capital Improvement Plan projects. If savings are realized, the county rolls them into the reserve. The approach fosters accountability, and is considered by Kramer to be a more proactive approach than most other counties in the state. Any given month, the county administrators agenda at the Tuesday Board of County Commissioners meetings is littered with budget See Money page A-7

Governor Martin OMalley visits Budds Creek, Maryland, home of the 2007 Red Bull Motocross of Nations

Photo by Andrew Knowlton

See MXON page B-1

Accused Playground Shooter Enters Plea, Agrees To Help Police Investigation

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A 19-year-old man who was accused of taking part in a gang style shooting April 24 on Suburban Drive in Lexington Park has entered a plea admitting to two counts of first- degree assault and has agreed to aid police with information that may lead to more arrests in connection with the case. Jarrell Raheim Johnson had a plea hearing before Circuit Court Judge Michael Stamm Monday where he entered an Alford plea to the two first-degree assault counts, basically admitting that if the case went to trial the state would have been able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed those crimes. Johnson also pleaded guilty to a reckless endangerment charge related to the playground shooting. Johnson faces a maximum of 12 years of prison for his involvement in See Playground page A-5

Man Pleads Guilty To Two Armed Robberies

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Otis Scorpio Williams, the man charged with robbing three gas stations in April at gunpoint, pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery Sept. 24 in a hearing before Circuit Court Judge Michael Stamm. Williams, 23, originally faced two counts of armed robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery as well as two counts of second degree assault, but the other charges were not prosecuted by the states attorneys office as part of his plea agreement. That same plea agreement reduced Williams sentence from two 12-year consecutive terms in prison to two seven-year consecutive sentences for armed robbery. Williams will spend the next 14 years in prison as a result and will also have five years of supervised probation upon his release. John Getz, Williams public defender, told Judge Stamm that Williams actions back in April were desperate and that he meant no harm to anyone. He still doesnt realize this is a dangerous and violent crime, Getz said. He really cant put his finger See Guilty page A-8

Photo by Guy Leonard

Detective Antonia Malaspina, center, and Det. Sgt. William Rosado, right, of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations confer with a sheriffs deputy after the robbery at the Maryland Bank and Trust on Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park Monday.

Detectives Looking For Suspect In Daylight Bank Heist

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Detectives with the St. Marys County Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) are searching for a suspect caught on camera during a Monday afternoon robbery of the Maryland Band and Trust on Shangri-La Drive in Lexington Park. The robbery occurred at 1:48 p.m. when the suspect entered the bank and demanded money from a teller after claiming to have a gun, according to BCI information. After the clerk handed over an unknown sum of money to the suspect he then fled on foot back behind the bank and across Great Mills Road. When The County Times arrived shortly after 2p.m. having just learned of the robbery, patrol officers were still cordoning off the crime scene and detectives See Bank Robbery page A-

Inside
Braves B-1
Op.-Ed .......... Page A - 4 Obituaries..... Page A - 9 Community... Page B - 4 Police ............ Page B - 7 Games........... Page B - 8 Classifieds..... Page B - 9

Commissioners Optimistic for County Despite Workforce Housing Shortages

By Adam Ross Staff Writer It wasnt a detailed evaluation, but the St. Marys Board of County Commissioners addressed the business community Thursday and declared the county sound. St. Marys County is in pretty good shape considering the energy and commodity price increases, end of our local housing boom, the national credit crunch, and the state of Maryland fiscal problems, Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) said to the countys chamber of commerce over lunch at the J.T. Daugherty Conference Center. They call it structural deficit, but the state of Maryland has been spending more money than it has been taking in in revenue for See State Of The County page A-10

For Continual News Updates Visit:

Nutcracker B-4
Thursday T-Storms 83 Friday Mostly Sunny 80

somd.com
Saturday Mostly Sunny 73 Sunday Sunny 74

Local Weather

Commission President Francis Jack Russell prepares for his state of the county address Thursday at the J.T. Daugherty Center in Lexington Park.

Photo by Adam Ross

 Section A - 

The County Times

updates are made. The notification system is limited to only a few services, such as calendar events, press releases, and the sex offender registry. The website utilizes Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to track the movements of county sex offenders. Maps show a detailed listing of where those offenders are living, including offenders who may have registered with the state of Maryland but not St. Marys County. By entering your zip code, the website will update you when a new sex offender moves into the community. In fact, 90 percent of what goes onto the website is done by automated procedure, a long way forward from where the county started 11 years ago. Its astonishing to see how far weve come in the last several years The system has so many capabilities, they can start to change the way we do our work, County Administrator John Savich said. The website is also heavily linked to the countys reverse 911 emergency system. Users can go

Thursday, September 7, 007

directly to the website and sign up to receive the automated emergency services when needed, and Verizon partners with the county to pass over all of the newly connected landlines, so that the system can touch more households in case of emergency. The system can call up to 6000 people a minute, and has already been use din the past to notify county residents of road closures and police related things, Kelly said. I brag about this department a whole lot, Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. said. Over the last 9 years weve seen the dramatic changes. Mattingly went on to say the county has remained way ahead of the game, in relation to the rest of the counties websites throughout Maryland. Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe said members from the tri-county council have said St. Marys has the most advanced IT department, and is known throughout the state.

With Fresh Face, SMC Homepage Leads the State

By Adam Ross Staff Writer With over a million hits this year, the St. Marys County government website is hotbed of activity featuring multimedia packages, information bundles and automated services just a mouse click away. From land use and growth management permit and application information to a detailed and regularly updated online sex offender registry, the St. Mary Countys homepage combines over 4000 web pages from the countys slew of departments and partnerships. We have a wealth of information people are looking for, said Bob Kelly, director of information technology. Whether the status of permits, how to get a police report, what recreation parks and services are out there, or what companies are operating in the county, those are right at the users fingertips. The website was fitted with a new design this year in an effort to make the site visually appealing, but not flashy, Kelly said. The ultimate goal of the site is to make sure its information is current and accurate, but doing this is no easy task, especially with a technology department of just three people. The countys information technology department uses a web master, network manager and director to coordinate with a county full of administrative obstacles. By transferring the bulk of responsibility onto each department, Kelly said he enabled him to keep staffing levels low. In theory, the process is quite simple, and has been proved as such in the overriding success of the site. Officials from each county department are responsible to submit new and updated information as drafted to the countys public information officer Karen Everett. Once Everett has an opportunity to review the material, she then posts it directly to the website, according to Kelly. It puts the responsibility of having current information to the department that has the information, Kelly said, so they dont have to wait for us to do something, which is key to our success. Users can utilize an automated notification system that disseminates e-mails as press releases go out, or

Appeal Likely In Murder Case Conviction

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The 20-year-old man convicted last week of murdering Kenneth James Walter will probably appeal the jurys decision in his case after a shorter-than-expected trial, according to his attorney. I would assume there would be an appeal, said public defender Sean Moran. That appeal would be filed within about 90 days when Johntonna Young receives his sentence, Moran said. Youngs trial lasted just two days after starting Sept. 18 and the jury returned guilty verdicts on charges against Young of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony. After hearing forensic and witness testimony presented by the state, and hearing arguments from the defense that the killing actually resulted from a struggle between Young and Walter for the gun that killed the victim, the jury took only about half-an-hour to return with its verdict. After the verdict States Attorney Richard Fritz was jubilant in getting the conviction. The jury convicted him all the way down the line, Fritz said. If [criminals] want to carry guns and commit crimes theyll be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The trial was marked by short stints of testimony by state witnesses and few instances of cross examination by the defense. Fritz called witnesses who knew Young, Crutien Bryan and Eric Brooks, who testified that Young had called and told them that he had shot and killed a man in the early morning hours of Feb. 27, as well as police and forensic investigators who confirmed that the gun found in Youngs possession during his arrest March 3was in fact the one used in the homicide. Bryan is also an alleged accomplice of Youngs in several armed robberies both he and Young are charged with committing prior to the homicide. Bryan was testifying against Young as part of plea deal, court testimony revealed. The defendant, who did not testify at his own trial, shot and killed Walter that February morning, according to court testimony, as the victim returned to his vehicle after kissing his girlfriend Melissa Guy goodbye before going to work at DynCorp. When Walter stooped down to enter into the car, court testimony showed, Young shot him just under the right eye from inside the vehicle. Police believe Young was attempting to steal items from Walters vehicle. The bullet traveled to Walters spine and severed it, a state forensic expert testified, and caused him to drop, completely immobilized. A second shot fired into the right side of Walters head was fired from farther away, Fritz said, was to ensure that Walter would not live to testify against Young. Moran, however constructed a different scenario of the events near the end of his clients trial to argue for imperfect self defense. Moran appealed to the court and to the jury to consider that the condition inside Walters car that morning dirt tracked in broken consoles and cracked vanity mirrors were sings of a struggle between Young and Walter. In his initial request to Judge C. Clark Raley to allow him to argue such a scenario to the jury the court seemed dubious. Where is the evidence in the record that the killing may have been self defense? Raley asked. Where is the evidence of the struggle? Raley, however, decided to allow Moran to make the argument in the interests of being conservative with the judicial process. Fritz eventually told Raley he had no objections but quipped: I could take Mr. Moran out to my old pickup truck and youd think World

War II was fought in there. Fritz told the jury in his closing arguments that the facts of the case fly in the face of any argument of self defense or partial self defense. Moran argued to the jury in his statement that the state had not ruled out the possibility of a struggle inside the vehicle and therefore could not prove that Young intended to kill Walter. Partial self-defense is certainly something you should consider, Moran told the jury. Theres evidence of a struggle the state cant prove willful, deliberate murder. But Morans arguments were not enough to convince the jury. Fritz said that the his office will seek life without the possibility of parole for Young.

Whether theyre in the market for a new home, apartment, condo or co-op, people still turn to the Classifieds first. Why advertise your goods and services in The County Times Classifieds? Over 11,000 eyes will see your ad. Readers are actively looking for your listing. Potential buyers can clip and save your ad. So the next time you want to sell something fast, get it in writing... Get it in the Classifieds! The County Times Classifieds 301-373-4125

Watch for our celebration in the October 4th issue!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

The County Times

Friday at the fair. Still, just being there brought back fond memories, even though it was time for work and not play. I came to ride the rides and play the games, Reppel said of his childhood fair memories. But my parents always came to see the horse pulls. Its a great family event. Theres something for the

Section A - 
adults to do, theres something for the kids to do and you can do it all at once. For Richards and his staff, though, once all the fun is over, it is back to the hard work and maintenance that make sure next years fair is just as memorable as this one. But he doesnt seem to mind. Its a full time hobby, he said.

Sixty-First County Fair Draws Record Breaking Crowd

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The 61st year of the St. Marys County Fair could mark the largest turnout in the seminal county events history, drawing about 55,000 people to the fairgrounds in Leonardtown over the weekend. years of operation, Richards said, with just a few exhibits when it first started out to the sprawling fairgrounds that are packed to near capacity with rides, games, food vendors, crafts displays and livestock displays now. We just built on what was here, Richards said of the different rabbits and hares in the adjacent exhibit and remembered that they could be cherished pets. I used to have one, she said, smiling as she looked in at the furry creatures. Livestock auctions were held throughout the day for those looking for prized farm the many workers who come together to make the fair possible. Its really grown tremendously in the past 60 years, Richards said. Theres so many more people volunteering everybodys just out there just doing their thing. Its very satisfying seeing the results it kind of gets into your blood. Since he was five years old, Daniel Reppel, now a deputy with the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office could remember coming to the county fair. Now he brings his wife and children to the fair when he can; but he was on duty at the Sheriffs Offices new mobile command center that

Gary Messer and his 5-year-old daughter Sydney take a gander at the prize chickens and other fowl on display at the St. Marys County Fair.

Photo by Guy Leonard

ints Helpful H Protecting Your

Hardwood Floors Vacuum (with beater bar off), dry mop or sweep ll hardwood floors. Use floor felt protectors under furniture. Do Not use household cleaners on your hardwood floors. These products will damage your wood floors. We are a proud dealer of the recommended Bona Hardwood Cleaner
Photo by Guy Leonard

When visitors got tired from looking at all the exhibits and playing games at the county fair there was always plenty of food and drink on hand to keep them refreshed.

The fairs president, John Richards, who is the longest serving person in that role in the fairs history, said the gate tallies all point to the fair passing its 50,000-person attendance mark from last year. Im sure this was our best year for the fair, definitely, Richards said. Each day this year was better than each day last year. Richards said the county fair is maintained and operated solely by volunteer labor throughout the year, making the achievement even more special. It makes us feel good, Richards said. The county fair has come a long way in its more than 60

the efforts to expand the fair over the past three or so decades. It was a small fair [at its inception] but it was a good one. Designed to be a family event, the fair had something for everyone. Gary Messer was walking through the livestock displays with his daughter Sydney, 5, of Charlotte Hall Sept. 21. Sydney Messer seemed to be having fun poking at the various barnyard fowl tucked away safely in their cages. Shes learning all about the chickens and the different varieties, Gary Messer said with a smile. Emily Miesowitz, 8, of Callaway, was taking in all

animals. For those who just wanted to have a little fun with animals, they could watch goose and pig races at a small track at the fairgrounds. Plenty of rides, musical acts and games of skill with prizes for the victorious lined the grassed avenues of the fair and gave people a chance to socialize. For a lot of people its an important weekend, Richards said. Its one of the nice things about being in St. Marys County. People can come and see people they havent seen all year. Richards also said the fair was a symbol of the countys spirit, which is as strong as ever, and the dedication of

Ready To Get Hardwood Flooring? Call Now!

(301) 475-5600
Special Financing Available

M-Th 9-5pm Fri 9-4pm Sat 9-1pm Evening Appointments Available

Hours:

October 6 & 7, 2007

Heritage Manor
Bring the Family to a cookout with fun, food, moon bounce, and a new subdivision. Lenders and Realtors will be on site to answer questions and guide you through the process. You will recieve $30,000 in

Free
options if you sign a contract during the Grand Opening

(240) 725 - 0540

www.HomeBuildersMD.com
To visit Heritage Manor Community: Rte. 5 South past Historic St Marys City. Left onto Heritage Hill Lane.

301-863-2400 ext. 241 office 240-925-1928 cell Email: jimmy.hayden@obrienrealty.com

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Editorial & Opinion

Governor Omalley Announces Income Tax Restructuring Plan: 95% Of Marylanders To Pay Less
For the most part we understand that government is difficult to administer. We certainly understand that few people will agree with every political decision, often government at its best is government by compromise. What we find most distasteful is government by smoke and mirrors. Governor OMalleys press release claims that 95% of Marylanders to pay less as a result of his proposed income tax restructuring. Maryland taxpayers are clearly led to believe they will pay less income tax as a result. The fact is, only those whose income is $15,000 per year or lower for an individual or $22,000 per year or lower for married couples will potentially pay a lower rate than they currently pay. Even some workers falling into those extreme low salary ranges may not see a decrease. For any individual making more than $15,000 per year or any married couple making more than $22,000 per year, you will pay either the same rate as last year, or more. So is the Governor saying that 95% of Marylanders make less than $15,000 per year? Sure sounds that way. The best we can make of the governors plan is that 95% of Marylanders will pay less than the increase that the other 5% will be getting. So for most Marylanders, there will be no increase or decrease in your income tax rate if the Governors proposed restructuring is passed by the General Assembly. Of course, if you get a pay increase next year, you will pay more taxes, and that is the good news. The Governor is attempting to close what he and some others want to call a budget deficit. By his accounts, there exists close to a $1.7 billion shortage between projected revenues and projected spending. Rather than increase spending at a rate, which Marylands current revenues would support, the governor would prefer to increase revenues. So now the bad news: For all the smoke and mirrors about Marylanders paying less, if the governors complete tax package makes its way through the General Assembly, more accurate would be the slogan that 90% of Marylanders will pay 80% of the tax increases. While soaking the rich, closing corporate loopholes, and taxing the sins all make for great political rhetoric, the only way to increase Marylands revenues to this grand of a scale is to soak working families. If the Governors tax increase proposal manages to make it through the General Assembly, it will be the largest tax increase in the history of Maryland. And that only gets the governor about half of what he wants. The other half he is hoping to get through slot machine revenues. Included in the Governors proposal so far is a 20% increase in state sales tax over what you pay now, plus you would pay sales tax on more services than currently. This is by far the biggest of the tax increases. This tax hits working families the hardest, and continues to drive retail sales outside of Maryland to surrounding states. Additionally, families will pay 20% more for vehicle titling tax. And gas to put in those vehicles; the gas tax would be linked to an inflation index, rising between 3 to 5% every year. Maryland would have one of the highest combined state and local tax rates of any state in the nation with the combined being as high as 9.7%. You would have to live in California or Rhode Island to pay more. Also proposed is a 14% increase in the Corporate Income tax rate, most of which will be passed on to working families through price increases and a 100% increase in the Cigarette tax. Now we give the Governor credit for being a great showman, in fact his Irish band is very entertaining, but no song and dance can spin this as a tax decrease for Marylands working families. The debate is far from over, and the General Assembly will have much to say about all this. We can only hope that whatever the final outcome, our legislative leaders will not try and bury the facts behind misleading quotes and headlines.

(As Proposed)

To The Editor:
This Sunday, September 30, 2007, Makenna Brinsfield, who is only 8-years old, will be holding a bake sale to benefit Hospice House. The bake sale will be held in front of McKays Food and Pharmacy in Leonardtown at the Shops at Breton Bay. It will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Makennas Uncle Dougie Haden, had Hospice care prior to his death and Makenna saw how much they do. So, at her Uncle Dougies viewing, Makenna pulled five cents of her own money out and put it in an envelope for Hospice because that is all she had in her pocket. Shortly thereafter, Makenna attended Camp Sunshine, sponsored by Hospice for young children and she loved this camp. Makenna is a very determined young woman and wanted to do something more. So she told her mother, Michelle Brinsfield I want to help the sick people get a house to live in for those nice people to help them. She wanted them to be able to go to a house, not the hospital. With no help or prodding, this remarkable young lady came up with this idea by herself. I am asking the good citizens of St. Marys County; please come out to the McKays Food and Pharmacy in Leonardtown this Sunday, the 30th of September between 10a.m. and 1p.m. Make a donation or buy some baked goods but please, come support this young lady as she tries to support a valiant cause. Charlie Breck Leonardtown, MD

Do you have something to say? Would like your voice to be heard? Send us a letter telling us whats on your mind!

The County Times

P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, MD 20636
Make sure you include your name, phone # and the city you live in.
We will not publish your phone #, only your name and city

Send to:

E-mail letters to: opinion@countytimes.net

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.

Roving Deer Population Heightens Risk of Motor Accidents

County Government Advises Drivers to Stay Alert for Deer Crossing County Roads
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer County government is warning motorists to be especially careful this upcoming fall as the local deer population comes into breeding season and begins to cross county roads more frequently. According to George Erichsen, director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation, the number of reported incidents of deer being involved in automobile accidents has risen sharply in just two years. Between 2005 and 2006 the number of reported accidents involving deer rose from 47 to 71, he said. Moreover, that number may only be a fraction of the actual deer-involved accidents since some go unreported and the numbers that the county agency collect only include county-maintained roads and not those run by the State Highway Administration. Erichsen also said the number of actual deer-involved accidents can be two to three times higher than the reported number. You know theres tons of fender-benders out there where people say Dont worry about it, Erichsen said. The number of these accidents this year already exceeds the number from just two years ago, with 43 deer reported killed according to data from public works.

The latest deer-kill data shows that there is an even distribution of accidents around the county. There are no parts of the county where motorists do not have to keep a sharp eye out. The locations recorded show that deer are killed on roadways as well traveled as Route 235 to roads like Flora Corner Road, which are nestled in more rural areas. According to the department of public works, most accidents occur between dusk and dawn; drivers are advised to drive the speed limit during the day and reduce their speed lower than the posted limit at night to help avoid hitting deer. Drivers should be especially wary in rainy conditions, in snow and in fog. Drivers should also watch out for more than one deer crossing roads at a time, public works information states, because deer often stay in herds and stay in an area one mile square. Road signs denoting heavily traveled wooded routes that intersect county roads should also be considered when driving, according to public works information, and drivers should slow down at night in these designated areas and look for deer eye shine near the roadway. For more information about avoiding collisions with deer, visit the county governments Web site at www.co.saintmarys.md.us/dpw/highways/deersafety.asp, or call public works at 301-864-8400.

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

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

Guy Leonard - Community Correspondent................guyleonard@countytimes.net Eileen McDonald - Advertising Rep...............eileenmcdonald@countytimes.net

Thursday, September 27, 2007

The County Times

ting grass or weed-whacking, there is plenty to do here to preserve the natural and historical resources in our area. ACLT has only

Section A - 
organization. All lands managed by ACLT are open to the public 365 days a year, free of charge, for environmental education, scientific research,

American Chestnut Land Trust

Emily Finch Staff Writer With almost 137,700 acres of land and 83,000 acres of water, Calvert County is making more room for residents and leaving less for its natural beauty. New shopping centers In October of 1987, after incorporating and receiving tax exempt status, ACLT purchased the lot on Science Cliffs Road. Becoming incorporated was the first step to preserving the land, said Stoffel, and part of that was because funds had to be raised to purACLT is located on the original tract of land purchased in 1986 off Science Cliffs Road in Prince Frederick. On the site there is a brief history of the area, visitor guest book and 15 miles of trails open all day, year-round. These trails take visitors through the woods and wetlands of beauunteers. Non-member volun-

Visitors check out the map of trails located on the 436 original acres owned by ACLT. Guided canoe trips around Parkers Creek and Governors Run are also available.

Photo by Emily Finch

American Chestnut Land Trust, Inc., located off of Science Cliffs Road in Port Republic, owns 900 acres and manages another 2000 for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Their goals are high in preserving the farmlands, woodlands and wetlands in Southern Marlyland.

Photo by Emily Finch

and housing developments have popped up everywhere from Solomons to Dunkirk over the past 25 years, but one place has been left untouched by construction equipment through all that time. The American Chestnut Land Trust, Inc. (ACLT) was started in 1986 to preserve a tract of 436 acres, according to Liz Stoffel, land manager of ACLT. There was land on Science Cliffs Road that would have been prime for a new housing development, she said, and a group of people from the area got together and decided they needed to preserve it.

chase the land. There were more than 120 charter members who helped in this process, and most used money from their own pockets to get the organization started. The original 436 acre tract grew quickly to 441, and now to 900 acres. ACLT owns and manages those 900 acres of farmland, woodland and wetland. [ACLT] also manages another 2000 acres for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said Stoffel. Most of the land is in the Governors Run and Parkers Creek watershed areas. The visitors center for

tiful Calvert County. ACLT also offers volunteer-guided canoe trips and nature hikes. ACLT now has more than 600 members, plus casual volunteers who donate a few hours here and there. We have a wonderful volunteer port, said Stoffel, and everyones help is needed and appreciated. Members of ACLT are not required to donate any time to the land trust, but can donate anywhere from $35 to $1000 annually. They receive a triannual newsletter and tickets to special ACLT events. There are also volunteers to assist the non member vol-

Photo by Emily Finch

The 15 miles of trails are free and open to the public all year long from dawn to dusk. ACLT volunteers and members maintain the grounds and offer guided trips through the land.

teers donate time or funds to the ACLT organization on an irregular, or even one-time, basis. [ACLT] can always use the help, said Stoffel, whether it requires knowledge of nature, advanced carpentry skills or simply cut-

three full-time paid positions. These include an Executive Director, Volunteer Coordinator and Land Manager. ACLT is on one of the last pristine watersheds in the area, and that is entirely through the efforts of this volunteer-based wounded and the local community stunned at the level of violence perpetrated that day. Lamont Carey is scheduled to have his trial on allegations that he actively opened fire on two rival gang members that day along with Johnson. Carey, who just turned 18 years old, will be tried in juvenile court Oct. 25 according to Stanalonis, facing first degree assault and reckless endangerment charges. Johnson originally faced an attempted second-degree murder charge for his part in the shooting but the state chose not to prosecute that charge as part of his plea agreement. According to charging documents, Johnson was involved in the shooting as a kind of retaliation for a domestic dispute between the local gang known as the Boom Squad, of which Johnson was a member. Johnson and fellow gang members gathered weapons and ammunition to confront the man, Joseph Payne, who had been involved in the domestic dispute with his wife earlier that day, charging documents state, and drove down Suburban Driver in several

and recreational hiking, birding, hunting, camping and canoeing. For more information on American Chestnut Land Trust visit http://acltweb. org or call their office at 410-414-3400. vehicles looking for Payne. When they found Payne, charging documents allege, Johnson and fellow gang members opened fire on Payne and his associates, including Sherron Torrill Bush who was struck by shotgun pellets. The gunfire erupted next to a small playground located on the main road leading down to the mobile home park and endangered as many as nine children who were playing there, investigators and prosecutors have said. The proximity of the playground to the shooting netted both Carey and Johnson their reckless endangerment charges. The shooting was the first of its kind in recent memory in St. Marys County and brought to light community concerns about gangs operating in neighborhoods like Lexington Park and Great Mills. Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron instituted a gang task force over the summer to ascertain the level of the gang threat and gather intelligence on their operations as well as concentrate on street level shows of law enforcement. The contents of the gang task force report have yet to be released.

Playground
Continued from page A- the crime but may only face 10 years incarceration as part of his plea agreement if the information he gives to investigators proves accurate and useful. Hes agreed to testify against any other co-defendants if necessary, said Assistant States Attorney Joseph Stanalonis. Hes cooperating with the authorities, he has information about several other [suspects] who are not facing charges. Stanalonis said it was uncertain whether Johnsons information would actually lead to more indictments in the shooting. Well have to wait and see, Stanalonis said. Detectives from the St. Marys County Bureau of Criminal Investigations took Johnson into custody directly after his plea hearing Sept. 24 and began interrogating him in States Attorney Richard Fritzs office at the Circuit Court building. Johnson is one of two people suspected as active shooters in the incident in April that left two people in a rival gang

American Band by Kristen Laine

c.2007, Gotham Books $26.00 / $32.50 Canada 324 pages
Seen any parades lately? In most of the country, its hard to miss em. Starting early-early summer and running almost every weekend, you can catch floats with lazywaving princesses; politicians shaking hands; and local service groups dressed in costumes they wouldnt wear any other time. And then there are the marching bands. From the earnestly out-of-step offerings of mini-schools to the megamarchers from the biggest academies, those kids know that it wouldnt be a parade without music. In the new book American Band, author Kristen Laine follows the beat of a Midwestern high school marching band through a note-able year of dedication, exhaustion, frustration, and accomplishment. In many high schools around the continent, sports are King and athletes are venerated. But things are a little different in Elkhart, Indiana. In Elkhart, the cool kids are members of the Concord High School Marching Minutemen, an elite marching band that anyone can join. Author Kristen Laine spent a school year with those kids, the staff, and the community that helped mold musical champions. Laine followed band director Max Jones, a focused, driven man for whom sleep was a rare commodity and making good citizens of his students was the highest goal. Jones goaded, guided, and guilted kids into learning an ever-changing, seemingly-impossible championship-titleworthy musical routine. Winning was expected of kids like Grant Longenbaugh, a natural leader who struggled with his faith in God while he dealt with external demons in his life. People assumed the best from students like Amanda Bechtel, who lived for her music but knew there was life after high school without it. Everyone presupposed greatness from guys like Nick Stubbs, a young man with his sights on West Point. But frustration was a daily emotion for these overachieving, well-grounded kids and their band mates who struggled with a performance that never seemed to come together. The Minutemen won championships in the past, but only narrowly. Despite harsh schedules, lackadaisical attitudes, inexperienced newbies, and tardy choreography, Jones thought this 2005 band could be his best group ever. Could the kids prove him right? Im not telling. Read the book Like a literary maestro for a coming-of-age orchestra, author Kristen Laine tells the story of one community that went the extra stanza for its kids, and the kids who make their town proud. From the almost-obsessed director who cajoles, demands, and pushes his students to excel, to talented type-A kids who wouldnt dream of letting anyone down, to deadbeat band members who march to the music of a different drummer, Laine has a sharp eye for detail and lets you know the score. Her finale is perfect, with a crescendo that gives you goosebumps and ending notes that bring you up-todate in the lives of the Minutemen, their families, and their teachers. If youre a band parent; the member of a band, color guard, or show choir; or if you just want to read a great story on a unique-yet-universal subject, this book will strike a chord with you. American Band is music to your eyes.

St. Marys City St. Mary's City

DATE Fri. Sept. 28 Sat. Sept. 29 Sun. Sept. 30 Mon. Oct. 1 Tue. Oct. 2 Wed. Oct. 3 Thu. Oct. 4 HIGH 3:16 a.m. 4:05 a.m. 4:55 a.m. 5:50 a.m. 6:50 a.m. 7:56 a.m. 9:04 a.m. LOCATION Breton Bay Bushwood Wharf Colton's Point Point Lookout Piney Point Wicomico Beach Solomons Island LOW 9:27 a.m. 10:13 a.m. 11:01 a.m. 11:55 a.m. 12:56 p.m. 2:02 p.m. 3:10 p.m. HIGH "+31 min." "+45 min." "+50 min." "-45 min." "+9 min." "+58 min." "-1 min." HIGH 3:34 p.m. 4:21 p.m. 5:10 p.m. 6:05 p.m. 7:07 p.m. 8:17 p.m. 9:30 p.m. LOW "+29 min." "+45 min." "+24 min." "-43 min." "-8 min." "+63 min." "-2 min." LOW 10:19 p.m. 11:13 p.m. 12:08 a.m. 1:06 a.m. 2:07 a.m. 3:08 a.m. 4:07 a.m.

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Bank Robbery
Continued from page A- were taking statements from witnesses. The County Times received a citizen tip about the robbery soon after it had occurred. An ambulance and paramedic unit were called in to treat an employee at the bank suffering from chest pains. Crime lab technicians arrived to take evidence soon after and a police bloodhound from Calvert County was brought in to track the suspects trail as he fled from the bank. Detectives have released three photos of the robbery suspect, an African American male wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses with a short haircut. According to information from BCI the suspect appears to be between the ages of 25

The Bureau of Criminal Investigations has released these three photos of the Maryland Bank and Trust robbery suspect.

Ragu Pasta Sauce $.99

16 - 26.3 oz Jar, Asst. Var.

San Giorgio Pasta

Buy One Get One Free 16 oz Box, Elbow Maca-

roni, Cut Ziti, Vermicelli, Reg. or Thin Spaghetti or Rotelle

Fresh Baked Italian Bread $.99 Plum Tomatoes $.99 per lb. Frigo Ricotta Cheese
$
Prices Effective 9/28/07 - 10/4/07

and 25 years old with a thin to medium build. The suspect is believed to be about six feet tall. The quality of the photos will be helpful in finding the suspect according to Lt. Rick Burris, commander of BCI. Hopefully someone will recognize this person, Burris said. We were able to get some clear pictures were still in the early stages of the investigation. This is the second bank robbery in as many months in St. Marys County. The first bank robbery this year was at the Mechanicsville branch of the Bank of America August 17. Two suspects accused of car jacking and a failed robbery attempt in Montgomery County just a few days after the incident in Mechanicsville are currently in custody. Valeriy V. Kouznetsov, 23 and David Concepcion, 33, both from Rockville, were captured August 27 after an alleged failed armed bank robbery on Rockvile Pike. Detectives here have said that they must traverse the legal process in Montgomery County before they can be transported here. BCI detectives are asking anyone with information about the Maryland Bank and Trust robbery to contact Detective Tom Hedderich at 240298-2829 or 301-475-4040. Residents can also call Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333 to report information on the robbery and are eligible for up to a $2,000 reward.

Part Skim, Part Skim Low Fat or Whole Milk

3.99 32 oz Cotainer,

Call us today to start making your advertising campaign a success. (301) 373-4125

Jumbo Red or White Onions $.99 per lb. Seviroli Pasta Buy One
14 - 21.4 oz Pkg. Asst. Var.

Professional Sales T eam! Creative Ad Designs! Competitive Rates!

Advertise Your Business in a Newspaper That Reaches 11,000 households countywide weekly!

Italian Festival Herbs $1.99

Get One Free

Thursday, September 27, 2007

The County Times

who go faithfully every year. You know what the common thread was? They were having fun, enjoying the sites and sounds and the beautiful weather; just having fun with people they love. It doesnt get any better than that, in my opinion. The fair honors the past by continuing to have a strong agricultural presence. Lots of animals, not just the entries, but the jousting and horse shows and sheep shearing. The Home Arts building is one of my favorites. Just the name is great because canning and baking and sewing and knitting are just that an art form that at one time was absolutely essential when caring for your family. People canned the garden vegetables they grew because they would need them through the winter. So I love to see the efforts of those still practicing these time-honored arts from the heart. The Farm and Garden building had more entries this year than last and thats wonderful! When I was a kid, all the buildings were just bursting at the seams with entries but the numbers have declined over the years. Heres hoping for a true revival! There was a great agricultural display that reminded us that American farmers feed the world. We need to remember that. The fair is alive, each one has a personality and something special about it. Its great to see new entertain-

Section A - 7
ment each year. When you list all of the entertainment venues at the fair, you realize that the admission price is one incredible bargain. All during the fair, there is constant entertainment magic shows, puppets, singers, dancers, bands, a stiltwalker. This year, there was an incredible group of belly dancers. Think about it belly dancers in the auditorium and maybe 150 yards away there was an antique tractor pull. Is this a great fair or what? Ill say it again, there is something for everyone! The future of the fair is bright with anticipation. I know Ill be able to enter a couple of batches of cookies, see the pig and duck races and eat myself silly. I also know there will be new and wonderful entertainment. Well walk through the old auditorium and look at pictures of past fairs and enjoy the nostalgia. At the same time, well be wondering what new stuff well be able to enjoy at the next fair. The fair isnt just an event on the calendar, its an old friend that allows us to visit each year and be a kid again, just for a little while. Its an old friend I am loathe to say good-bye to each year and am ecstatic to greet again come mid-September. Make no mistake about it, as long as there is breath in my body, Ill be spending the weekend at the county fair.

Ramblings of a Country Girl

Photo by Adam Ross

Did You Go?

Terri Bartz Bowles So, did you go to the St. Marys County Fair? I sure hope so! If you didnt, I sure hope you have a good reason because you missed so much good stuff! We just spent almost all of our waking hours at the fair these past two days. Every minute was good (except maybe the mess I made with that caramel apple) and were already talking about what were going to enter next year and looking forward to another great fair. If you didnt go, you missed all kinds of cool stuff. Its just amazing how much there is so much to see, do and eat at the fair. One friend said he hasnt been to the fair in years because its the same every year. The glory of the fair is this it honors the past, lives in the present and looks forward to the future. In some respects, the fair doesnt change and thats good because it honors the heritage of St. Marys County. In other respects, it does change because folks want to see and do different things. Truly, there is something at the fair for everybody. If you cant find one thing at the county fair that you enjoy, I feel sorry for you because you must be the sort of person who just cant be pleased. I talked to folks who had never been to the fair before and I talked to folks

Odd News
BEIJING - A coffee shop has opened in the center of the Forbidden City, the former Chinese imperial palace, replacing a Starbucks cafe that was scrutinized by the public and forced out by protest. The Starbucks outlet opened in 2000 to a media backlash so severe that museum authorities considered revoking its lease after just months. In response to the public outcry, Starbucks continued to operate, but without corporate signs. A campaign for its closure began building early this year, when a television anchor complained that the U.S. chains presence at the symbolic heart of the Chinese nation was trampling on Chinese culture. It finally closed in July. With wooden tables and chairs and pictures featuring Chinese culture, the Forbidden City Cafe serves not only coffee but also traditional Chinese beverages such as tea, the China Daily said to Reuters. The rectangular Forbidden City, formally known as the Palace Museum, covers 74 hectares (183 acres) surrounded by a moat to the north of Tiananmen Square and has a fabled 9,999 rooms. It was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987. Unlike the Starbucks coffee shop, the Palace Museum is the managerial authority of the cafe, Li Wenru, deputy curator of the Forbidden City was quoted as saying. LONDON Clocked at 172 mph, the fastest driver ever convicted of speeding in Britain was placed behind bars for 10 weeks Monday. Arrested from his companys Porsche 911 Turbo, Tim Brady, 33, was caught free riding the car without permission from his employer, a luxury car rental firm HelpHire PLC. Brady had reportedly nagged his boss the day before to take the Porsche out for a spin, but was not given permission. The denial did little to stop Brady from taking the car the next day. Brady admitted to dangerous driving at a hearing last month, and was banned from driving for three years. He will also have to take a new driving test before the country reissues his license. Car dealer Jason McAllister set the previous record in 2003, going 156 miles per hour. Brady reportedly quit his job the day after he was caught. SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine - Ten and three fourths burritos later, a day trader and aspiring pizza chef known as Eater X was crowned with the world burrito-eating championship. He finished his share in just a dozen minutes Saturday. I love Mexican food, he told the AP after his victory. A dozen entrants competed for $3,000 in prize money in front of approximately 100 spectators outside the Costa Vida restaurant. The burritos: 18 ounces of rice, black beans, pork, cheese and a mild sauce wrapped in a tortilla. Tim Janus, 30, of New York City, was Eater X and told the AP he prepared by eating candy for a day, which he said helped clear his system. The burrito record holder, Eric Badlands Booker, has retired from competitive eating and wasnt on hand to defend his title. But other well-known contestants from the eating contest circuit showed up. Sonya The Black Widow Thomas of Alexandria, Va., who holds a world lobster-eating title that she won in Kennebunkport, finished second by eating 10 Big Kahunas. Other notable eaters at the contest included Jason Crazy Legs Conti and Tim Gravy Brown. CARACAS President ugh Chavez spoke out against a new trend in beauty conscious Venezuela of giving girls breast implants for their 15th birthday. Now some people think, my daughters turning 15, lets give her breast enlargements. Thats horrible. Its the ultimate degeneration, Chavez said late Sunday on his weekly TV show that lasted a record eight hours. Venezuela beauty queens have regularly won world crows, and are well known throughout the world. Many women have plastic surgery in the oil-rich country where there is widespread spending on consumer items that would be considered luxuries in most other places. Chavez is seeking to change those attitudes. He wants to create what he calls the new man, in hopes of constructing a socialist society in the South American nation. Breast implants are advertised on TV and banks offer special credit lines for such operations. Breast implants cost thousands of dollars in Venezuela. I am calling on your conscience, fathers of this country, mothers of this country, they are our sons, they are our daughters, Chavez said. Chavez happily describes himself as ugly.

Money
Continued from page A- amendments to increase or decrease a projects budget. For fiscal year 2007, the county processed 60 of these requests. Fifteen on Oct. 3, 2006 three on Nov. 14, 2006, five on Dec. 19, 2006 and ten on June 12, 2007. The amendments ranged from a couple of hundred to thousands, to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Every year the county clears some money, it is just a matter of how much. Planning for the transfer station and the Wicomico Shores clubhouse renovation are two projects that came in over budget this year, although funds for the clubhouse are exempt financed and will be paid back over time. Each project has its own story In some cases we save money on projects and some need additional funding, Kramer said. Because we had savings in some we were able to move [the money] to others. Managing the countys coffers requires fine attention to detail, and

Kramer is charged with accounting for every penny. By adding state and federal funding into the mix, large sums of money become intertwined, and savings are not always as clear-cut as it might seem. In fiscal year 2006 the reserve closed out with a total of $1.4 million. However, the total county savings were only $845,000, some of that from impact fees, transfer taxes and collections, some money in unsold bonds. The unsold bonds give a little more debt authority to the county, Kramer said. [The reserve] fluctuates greatly if you consider that any capital projects can have any link from one to nine years [of budgets], she added. Weve always cleared some, but some years have been higher than others. The Board of County Commissioners approved closure for the 07 CIP reserve of $429,000 last week. The motion was made by Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) and seconded by Kenneth Dement (R-Callaway). The reserve will likely be rolled into the fiscal year 2009 CIP, although funds would be available for 2008 if the commissioners chose to access

them. Historically, the funds have been rolled into the next CIP, which would be 2009, but the board was curious when the funds would be made available. It would be possible to put the funds into 08 if there was a historically important reason to do so, St. Marys County Administrator John Savich said. However, Kramer confirmed Monday that there has been no indication from the board that they would use the reserve in 2008, even as the state of Maryland projects a $1.7 billion shortfall that will likely be passed on down to the counties. Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (RGolden Beach) reminded the board of education members that the reserve fund was not an open invitation to run away with funding requests. Another example of county staff led by Ms. Kramer and her finance people that are managing the countys money, keeping track of it and doing it in a very professional manner, Raley said. Not only finance people that play a key role, but others who watch the taxpayers money very good.

Board Stalls Sprinkler Ordinance

By Adam Ross Staff Writer The St. Marys Board of County Commissioners further stalled a decision to mandate residential sprinkler systems for all newly constructed one-and-two bedroom singlefamily homes Tuesday. The board has tentatively slugged along with the ordinance, which is heavily supported by volunteer and rescue squads, and Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D-Leonardtown), a volunteer fireman for 42 years. On Tuesday, the commissioners voted unanimously to extend the legislations deadline from Oct. 1 to Dec. 4, to allow land use and growth management officials more time to decipher the ordinances cost implications. Estimations made earlier this year projected a cost of $2 to $2.25 per square foot a $.50 increase per square foot over a pipe leading to a central water device. The commissioners have discussed a tax credit to offset those costs, although nothing firm has been hammered out. Denis D. Canavan, director of land use and growth management, said he hopes to bring the ordinance back in October, but would extend the deadline as a safety net. Commissioners Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) and Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) specifically asked for more detailed cost information. Jarboe has even hinted he will vote against the measure in part because of its implications to Amish and Mennonite communities. A proposed exemption to those communities was dropped from consideration. The cost of installing a sprinkler system, and whom it should fall onto, has been a heated topic. Further, cost estimates presented at the planning commission were from $2,500 to $6,000, which fueled a debate among that board ending in a 4 to 3 vote in favor of the recommendation. The price goes up substantially for home located in the Rural Preservation District, where there is no central water system. Another contending issue is with licensed contractors; the county has none and currently uses businesses in Charles and Anne Arundel counties to fulfill the current residential sprinkler ordinance requirement for multifamily homes. With the absence of qualified contractors to do the work it would likely create a horrendous logjam for new houses coming online. However, Mattingly confirmed that a number of businesses in the county have expressed interest in obtaining a license. At the beginning of the year seven counties had adopted the residential sprinkler ordinance. If the measure is approved it would become effective July 1, 2008. Mattingly made the motion to extend the legislations deadline seconded by Raley.

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Navy News
NAWCWD Leadership In New Hands
Amy Kaper Staff Writer Rear Admiral Mark Skinner passed his position of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) to Rear Admiral David Dunaway during a change of command ceremony held Sept. 18. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Commander, and former NAWCWD Commander, Vice Admiral David Venlet, the keynote speaker said that despite the title of the ceremony, there would be little change in the operations and quality of NAWCWD. Mark and Dave have a lot in common, Venlet said. Both of these gents are from Texas. Both grew up believing that football is a religion. Both think the only thing worth driving, on the road, is a pickup truck. And both love the outdoors. But above all, Mark and Dave are both fine Navy officers and excellent leaders. Three years ago, Skinner came to WD from Patuxent River. His next assignment brings him back to Southern Maryland where he will head the Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft Programs. Venlet reminded those in attendance that a commanders job is more than just celebration and ceremony. Along with the development and testing of Navy weapons and systems also comes risk and concern for safety. So, when test squadrons like VX-30 and VX-31 have no class A mishaps on your watch, its clear that safety is the commanders top priority, Venlet said to Skinner. Dunaway, who has served two previous tours with the Weapons Division, returns from his most recent assignment as deputy for the Program Executive Office for Air ASW, Assault and Special Mission Programs at Patuxent River. Venlet referred the audience to the program for details of Dunaways career and instead chose to speak about his character. What I want you to know about him is that he is a man of high integrity, enormous energy, and is greatly respected in the naval aviation community, Venlet said. Dave, I know Weapons Division will thrive under your care and direction. Venlet, who participated in Dunaways frocking ceremony in August, told the new WD commander that for a first flag assignment, its tough to beat a tour at Weapons Division. I feel like Im at home, Dunaway said. I really appreciate this place - the view of the Sierras, the rumble of jet engines on the runway, and the pintails at Point Mugu. Im ecstatic to be back here. The new WD commander announced that his priorities were family, teamwork, stewardship, people and trust. I care a lot about family and I intend to foster that, he said. This is an organization of people who know their mission; my job is to break down the barriers that get in your way. The warfighters have to know that we are behind them, and that we will continExcerpts of this article ue to listen to their needs and were taken from a statement satisfy their requirements. issued by Renee Hatcher. Its been a unique opportunity to serve here, and as I think about what I take forward, one image comes to mind people, Skinner said. The Weapons Division and AIR-5.0 have world-class laboratories, ranges and facilities, but its the people who bring the products and services to life. Youll definitely be able to count on the people of AIR5.0 and Weapons Division, Skinner said to his reliever. I once told someone that the people of Weapons Division are like the fire and forget missiles they develop, test and put into service. Give em a mission, load em on the wing and let em go. Folks here know how to carry the load.

Saint Inigoes Man Pleads Guilty To Child Porn Charges

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Andrew Vincent Mattingly, 28, of Saint Inigoes pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to possession of child pornography. Mattingly was found to have between 10 and 150 images of child pornography downloaded on his computer and also subscribed to illegal child pornography Web sites that had images of children as young as 8 years old. Mattingly could face up to 10 years in federal prison for his crime with supervision for life thereafter. Sentencing has not been scheduled in Mattinglys case. According to information from U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosensteins office the case against Mattingly began back in September of 2004 when federal agents in Detroit, Michigan raided a residence of a person who created and hosted illegal child pornography Web sites. In reviewing the on-line payment records kept by the suspect, agents with the FBI were able to determine that Mattingly was one of the subscribers. On Feb. 5, 2005 FBI agents contacted Mattingly at his Owensville Way residence and conducted an interview with him as well as seized a computer that Mattingly used to access the illegal child pornography sites and save images from them, according to information in Mattinglys plea agreement. Mattingly admitted to downloading child porn images, saving them to a computer disk and then destroying the computer disk. He also admitted to using a payment service to subscribe to those illegal child pornography sites, according to plea agreement documents. One image found by agents on Mattinglys computer, according to his plea agreement, showed a prepubescent performing oral sex on an adult male. The images found on Mattinglys computer, according to information from federal law enforcement releases, were all of minors under the age of 12 years old.

First-time Offender Pleads Guilty To Rape Charge

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Gary Branson, the man who was charged in April with having sex with an underage girl, pleaded guilty to second-degree rape Monday before Circuit Court Judge Michael Stamm. Branson, 22, of Chaptico, will receive only 18 months in the county Adult Detention Center in Leonardtown for his crime as a result of his plea agreement with the States Attorneys Office. Bransons six year prison sentence was suspended per the plea agreement and he must also submit to five years of probation upon his release. Additionally, he will not be allowed any contact with the victim in the case, a 13year-old girl, or any unsupervised contact with females under the age of 18. Gary Bransons brother, Irvin Branson, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for having consensual sex with the same underage girl about the same time as Gray Branson. Irvin Branson admitted to having sex with the girl four times, charging documents related to the case allege, including twice in the victims own home. Gary Bransons sexual intercourse with the victim was also consensual but still illegal, according to Joseph Stanalonis, the assistant states attorney prosecuting the case. Thats exactly what it is, its statutory rape, Stanalonis told The County Times after the hearing was adjourned. Judge Stamm said Bransons crime was serious and warned Gary Branson that if he violated any conditions of his probation once he was released he would pay a stiff penalty. Judge Stamm said the only reason he agreed to reduce Gary Bransons sentence was the fact that the second-degree rape was his first offense. Youve got your deal today, that deals in concrete, Judge Stamm told the defendant. If you violate any condition of probation you will do the rest of your time. Judge Stamm said he couldnt see how a 13-year-old girl can have consensual sex with a 22-year-old despite what had been alleged in the case. Gary Branson told Judge Stamm that he was ready to start his sentence so he could get on with his life. Id like to say Im sorry for what happened, the defendant told the court. I just want to put this behind me and try and change for the better. Branson will also have to register as a sex offender as part of admitting his guilt to the second-degree rape charge. Gary Branson has already served several months in prison, according to circuit court documents, but none of that time will count towards his 18-month prison sentence.

Guilty

Williams simply said It was a mistake. Thats a pretty big misContinued from page A- take, Judge Stamm told Williams. I find it inexcusable on why he did it. you did this. When Judge Stamm This armed robbery is asked Williams if he had any something [the victims in the statement about his actions,

cases will] never forget. Judge Stamm said that while the gun used in the robberies was not a real firearm, it was still dangerous and that having a weapon pointed at them would likely traumatize the victims for a long time.

Judge Stamm also ordered a drug assessment be made of Williams and that he undergo any drug program that was recommended by his probation officer. Getz, on behalf of his client, told Judge Stamm that he did not believe his clients actions had anything to do with stealing money to buy drugs. According to information from the St. Marys County Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Williams used a pellet gun that bore a close resemblance to an actual handgun is the commission of his crimes

from April 4 to April 14, a period of nearly two weeks. The first robbery occurred at the Shell gas station located on Pegg Road where, according to the indictment against Williams, he robbed the clerk or the store and fled with cash. On April 12, a second indictment charged, Williams robbed the Shell gas station located at Esperanza on Route 235 and made off with more cash. Two days later, indictments allege, Williams attempted to rob the Shell sta-

tion in Callaway but the clerk on duty did not comply and chased Williams, who fled on foot, out of the store. Investigators tracked Williams to a residence in Piney Point and made the arrest there, finding the pellet gun they believed Williams used in the robberies. The attempted robbery in Callaway was dismissed as part of Williams agreement to the plea deal where he admitted his guilt in the other two armed robberies.

We are at your service with:

n A professional sales team n Creative ad design services n Competitive rates n A community service oriented publication

Call us today to start making your advertising campaign a success.

301- 373-412 5

PO Box 250 43251 Rescue Lane Hollywood, Md 20636 countytimes.somd.com

Thursday, September 27, 2007

The County Times

Section A - 

Obituaries
Charles Henry Ball Jr., 61
in Hughesville, Md., he was the son of the late John Jasper and Agnes Marie Thomas. He was the husband of Ernestine Douglas of New Market, Md. He is survived by his daughter Ellie Battle, his siblings; Charles Seabright Douglas, Diana Fuller, Judy Marie Spears, all of Mechanicsville, Md., and Hellen Cole of Wicomico, Md. He is also survived by his brother in law, Thomas Spears and sister in law, Morlyn Douglas, both of Mechanicsville, Md. He was preceded in death by his brothers James Andrew and Jasper Lewis Douglas and his brother in law, Theron Fuller. A lifelong St. Marys County resident, Leroy graduated from Banneker High School and was employed as an auto mechanic. He loved music, especially the guitar, race cars and sports. The family received friends on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 in the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home Chapel, where a Funeral Service was held at with Fr. Peter Alliata officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were William Brown, Anthony Spears, Lance Jones, Eric Spears, William Dotson and Garnell Douglas. Honorary pallbearers were Stephen Douglas and Howard Douglas. Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. Eppard and one great-granddaughter, Taylor Eppard, all of Chesapeake Beach, Md. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Lou Eppard and Ann E. Gallagher. A Memorial Service will be conducted Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Hollywood United Methodist Church, Hollywood, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House c/o Hospice of St. Marys, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD. hart, Daniel Fluhart, Andrew Crawford, John Fluhart, David Crawford and Frederick McConnell. Arrangements provided by the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home, P.A

Joseph Hiram Hewitt, 3

Charles Charlie Henry Ball, Jr., 61, of Medleys Neck, Md., died Sept. 20, 2007 at his residence after a battle with cancer. Born March 5, 1946 in St. Marys County, he was the son of the late Charles Henry Ball, Sr. and Laura Mae Ball Spalding. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Ellen Mae Williams Ball; two children, Charles Andrew Ball and his fianc Michelle Griffin, Victoria Marie Adkins and her husband Brian Adkins and his grandchildren; Ashley, Maddie, Olivia, Charlotte, Sabrina and Blake. He is also survived by his sister, Sara Woodburn and her husband David (Teeny), of Leonardtown, MD, his brothers; William E. Ball and his wife, Barbara of Leonardtown, MD and Gary F. Ball and his wife Patti of Ohio. He was preceded in death by his sister, Eleanor Ann Russell. Charlie loved his family and enjoyed being with his friends. He worked at various trades during his life, including carpentry and had his own welding business, Fireball Welding, until March of this year when his illness caused him to stop working. His greatest love was the water where he would crab, fish and oyster and always looked forward to the start of the oyster season. He was also an avid Nascar fan, always watching for the Fords to win. The family received friends on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 at Our Ladys Church in Medleys Neck with Fr. Thomas LaHood officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Teeny Woodburn, David Woodburn, Donald Knott, Scott Smith, Eugene Quade and James A. Knott. Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy Cook, Parran Bean and Ross Owens. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Marys, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements provided by the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home, P.A

Mary Catherine Herberg, 60

William H. Eppard, Sr., 7

Joseph Leroy Douglas, 5

Joseph Leroy Douglas, 59, of Mechanicsville, Md., died Sept. 14, 2007 in St. Marys Hospital. Born September 21, 1947

William H. Eppard, Sr., 79, of Hollywood, Md., died Sept. 21, 2007 at his residence. Born Dec. 18, 1927 in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Dr. George Irving Eppard and Louise Hiller Eppard. Mr. Eppard worked at Safeway Stores, Inc. in Prince Georges County and Washington, D.C. for 33 years. He was interested in refinishing antique furniture and woodworking. He had a love of boating and the water. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Juanita D. Eppard, two sons, Bruce A. Eppard of Crofton, Md., William H. Eppard, Jr. of Washington, DC, siblings, Virginia Styles of Vienna, VA, Philip Eppard of Camp Springs, Md., Dr. Leonard Eppard of Masons Neck, Va., Jan Sodolski of Middleburg, Va., and Susan Eppard of Miami, Fla., two grandsons, Brian Eppard and Jon

Mary Catherine M.C. Huntt Herberg M.C., 60, of Belle Chasse, La., and formerly of Hollywood, Md., died Sept. 22, 2007 at her residence in Hollywood. Born Sept. 6, 1946 in Leonardtown, Md., to Mary Agnes Russell Huntt of Hollywood, Md., and the late George Enoch Huntt. She was the loving wife of Richard Herberg, Jr. whom she married on May 13, 1967 in St. Johns Church, Hollywood, Md. She is survived by her children; Garrett Russell Herberg of Belle Chasse, La., Mauricio Rodriguez of St. Charles, Mo. and Georgia Daniele Breeding of Prairieville, La.. She is also survived by her sisters, Linda Huntt Crawford of Herndon, Va., and Diana Huntt McConnell of Woodbridge, Va., and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Richard Herberg, III and her brother George Enoch Huntt, IV. A graduate of Leonardtown High School, Class of 1965 Catherine attended St. Marys College and the University of New Orleans with a bachelors degree. She belonged to Rosa Mystica Rosary Group in Wagaman, La., and was a grammar school teacher at the Immaculate Conception School in Marrero, La., for 23 years, retiring in 1988. The family received friends on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers said. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007 in St. Johns Catholic Church with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Thomas Flu-

Joseph Hiram Hewitt, 93, of Avenue, Md., died Sept. 13, 2007 in Washington Hospital Center. Born Nov. 28, 1913 in Medleys Neck, Md., he was the son of the late Hiram and Madeline Roe Long Hewitt. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Martina Murphy Hewitt on Sept. 4, 2003, whom he married on April 16, 1938 in Newport, Md. He is survived by his sisters: Pearl Hewitt Long of Temple Hills, Md., Ruby Hewitt Cheseldine of Bushwood, Md., and Frances Hewitt Ruark of Salisbury, Md. He was also preceded in death by his siblings: Francis Frederick Hewitt, Helen Hewitt Ruark, William Benjamin Hewitt, John Stanley Hewitt, James Roger Hewitt and Mary Hewitt Richardson. Mr. Hewitt was a member of the Knights of Columbus # 2065 and the Mechanicsville Moose Lodge # 495. He enjoyed fishing and crabbing. The family received friends on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers were said. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007 at in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, Md., with Fr. William Gurnee officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md. Pallbearers were: Raymond Murphy, Steve Murphy, Freddie Hewitt, Keith Hewitt, Kenneth Murphy and Paul Evelius. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

of Abell, Md., died Sept. 23, 2007 at Georgetown University Hospital. Born Oct. 25, 1933 in Sistersville, W.Va. he was the son of the late Harry Martin and Chloe Mae Fluharty Irvin. He was the loving husband of Rachel Ann Irvin whom he married on Dec. 7, 1953 in Westover, W.Va. He is survived by his children; Sheila Corbin of Waldorf, Md., Joseph M. Irvin of Mechanicsville, Md., and Charles R. Irvin of Bel Alton, Md., his sisters; Harryette Frazier of Ark., Mary Slivinski of OH, Nancy Thompson of Va., Sally Wenzel of Ind., and Lynda Franz of N.M. as well as seven grandchildren and three greatgreat grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his siblings Jerry, Paul and Patty Irvin. A graduate of Pine Grove High School, Class of 1951, Joe also attended McKendree Law School and was employed as a supervisor for Rolls-Royce Aircraft Engines for 14 years, retiring in September 1987. He was enlisted in the Air Force from January 1951 to March 1971 where he served in Korea and Vietnam. Joe moved to St. Marys County in 1994 from Prince Georges County and his favorite hobby and sport was playing golf. The family will receive friends on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007 from 2 5 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md., where prayers will be said at 3 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, Oct. 1, 2007 at 11 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. William McClean officiating. Interment will follow in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Md., at 1 p.m. Pallbearers were Mark Corbin, Randy Corbin, Russell Bednarik, Joe Harold Miller and Charlie Corbin. Contributions may be made to the Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, Md., 20609. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

She lived 20 years in Venice, Fla., where she did volunteer work for Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, Widowed Persons and NARFE. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Walter J. Michalski Sr. who died Feb, 1983. She is survived by her son, Walter Michalski, Jr. his wife Rebecca Sue, Grandson Todd Holdcraft and his wife Kelly, Granddaughter Rebecca E. Michalski, Great grandsons Trent and Carson Holdcraft and, her sister Mary Santangelo Rice. The family received friends on Monday Sept. 24, 2007 at the Altmeyer Funeral Home Denbigh Chapel and a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at on Sept. 25, 2007 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Avenue, Md. Internment followed at Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md. Arrangements are under the care of Altmeyer Funeral Home Denbigh Chapel, 12893 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA. 23608. Local Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Spencer Preston Whalen Jr.

Whalen Jr., Spencer Preston on Thursday Sept. 20, 2007 of Charlotte Hall, Md. Beloved son of Spencer Sr. and Barbara Whalen. Also survived by his life partner Patrice Harris and a host of other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held Friday Sept. 28, at Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church 37345 New Market Road Charlotte Hall, Maryland 10 am until home going services 11 am. Interment Church Cemetery Arrangements entrusted to Adams Funeral Home PA. Aquasco, Md.

Josephine Jodi Agnes Santangelo Michalski, 88

Joseph F. Irvin, 73

Joseph F. Joe Irvin, 73,

Josephine Jodi Agnes Santangelo Michalski, 88, born May 18, 1919 and raised in Frederick, Md. She is from a family of ten brothers and sisters. Josephine lived most of her married life in Baltimore, Brooklyn, Glen Burnie and Coltons Point, Md.

The family of the late PENNY MICHELLE BROOKS SIMMS wished to express our heartfelt appreciation for the many acts of kindness, our outpouring of love, comfort and compassion during the illness and bereavement of our dear beloved PENNY. Special thanks to the Park Hall Community, First Baptist Missionary Church, Zion United Methodist Church, Greater Morning Star Pentecostal Church and Oasis of Victory Christian Church International for all their services. Thank you and GOD bless you.

Four Ways to Support Someone Whos Grieving

The loss of a friend or loved one is seldom easy. Grieving is experienced differently by all, therefore it is often difficult to know how to support and comfort a person during this time. People are often surprised that grief affects them in so many different ways, whether it is physically, emotionally, psychologically or spiritually. Because grief is not talked about, it comes as such a surprise. said Lulu Orr, executive director of The Good Grief Center, a Pittsburghbased nonprofit bereavement center aimed at helping people cope with grief. Keep in mind there are ways to show you care and help the person through a difficult time. 1. Spend time together Its okay to have some alone time, but it is important to balance that time with friends who understand. Get-togethers or routine errands, such as trips to the supermarket or going out for a bite to eat with someone supportive, can be helpful. Encourage exercising or taking walks outdoors to promote well-being with physical activity, fresh air, and sunshine. 2. Present new ways to work through loss - People are always looking for ways to help someone who is grieving and the Care Package, developed by The Good Grief Center, helps an individual work through loss in a healthy, effective manner. The Care Package includes a journal, a CD with carefully chosen tracks of guided meditations and comforting music, and Quiet Moment Cards, which offer helpful quotations and suggestions on dealing with grief. Customers also have the option of adding a blooming orchid grown by the Manchester Bidwell Corporation, another community-based nonprofit organization. The orchid and all of the contents of the Care Package last far longer than traditional cut flower arrangements and also offer much needed guidance and support. People who have received the Care Package describe how reassuring and uplifting it is and in turn use it when they need to support a friend, Dr. Edward J. Donnelly, M.D. who received a Care Package, says. Because of thecomfort Ive seen it provide, I recently sent one to a colleague. 3. Communicate - Many people dealing with grief find that when others talk about their feelings, its easier for them to open up as well. Be it through support groups or just one-on-one time with a friend or relative, oftentimes sharing your grief and telling your story helps facilitate the healing process. There are also a number of Internet sites that offer online chat rooms for anonymous conversations if face-to-face meetings arent what a person desires. 4. Practice patience There is no set timetable for dealing with grief. People learn to live with their loss rather than getting over it in a specific timeframe. For some people, it takes longer than others. Simply knowing there is a friend or an organization who understands can not only help someone feel less alone, but it also can do wonders for helping a person embrace life again.

There are many ways to support a person during a time of loss.

 Section A - 10

The County Times

W o r k f o r c e housing was the only issue Dement talked about over his four minutes, hastening to add that he was a listening commissioner. If you have questions, I might pass them on because Im not going to give you the answers you want to hear, Dement said to the chamber. Meanwhile, Commission President Jack Russell (D Point Lookout) was more open to fielding questions, but had a problem answering them. When a question regarding taxable real estate and open space that has no market value was posed, Russell was caught off guard, couldnt answer, and said he would consult county staff. Several minutes later Russell revisited the question saying it would perhaps be best to ask the question to one of the states delegates. Other questions posed to the board involved transportation concerns, recruiting workers to fill businesses, and economic implications of the countys mandatory sprinkler

Thursday, September 27, 2007

State Of The County

Continued from page A- more time and these people out here who have businesses know you cant do that. The board, made up of three Democrats and two Republicans, has spent most of its first 10 months out of the public spotlight, finding consensus on many of the issues that come to the table Tuesday mornings. On Thursday, that consensus was reaffirmed the most pressing issue highlighted in four of the five commissioners speeches was workforce housing. Some people cannot even make a mortgage payment, and thats our challenge here in St. Marys County, Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) said. We have to take care of our own at the lower economic status, people who have worked here years and years and really need a break. Jarboe has been a leading voice of workforce housing initiatives, and the only comNaval Air Station, which accounts for more than 80 percent of the countys economy and 20,000 jobs, has also been pinched by home prices. Earlier this year, the task force reported that two earner households would have to make over $80,000 to be approved for a mortgage of $337,501. But in February, there were only 200 homes in the county available for $325,000 or less. If a dual earner family earns more than $83,270 a year, it is not eligible for workforce housing. With the American economy continuing to sputter, and the further decline of the housing market, home mortgage companies are tightening up borrowing requirements. For the first time in years, lawmakers in the United States Senate are shopping the word recession. Interest rates on adjustable-rate mortgages made during the housing boom are going up, and bankruptcy and

Photo by Adam Ross

Del. John F. Wood (D-29A) joins the commissioners Thursday for the St. Mary s state of the county address.

lessen encroachment. Lastly, Raley confirmed that the economic impact of the sprinkler ordinance, if adopted, could be substantial. He said the county is looking

at ways to give a possible tax credit to help soften the blow, and hopefully insurance savings will help offset those costs. We are giving it every

consideration, Raley added, because we owe it to the people to make sure they have safe housing, and we owe it to our [rescue squad] volunteers.

St. Marys Yachting Center 46555 Dennis Point Way Drayden, MD 20630

301-994-2404
Fax:301-994-2405 www.stmyc.com

Comming October 14TH 2007

Photo by Adam Ross

Sunday Brunch
Call For Reservations 301-994-2404

Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron and Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D-Leonardtown) talk before Thursdays state of the county address in front of the St. Marys Chamber of Commerce.

missioner to publicly support trailer parks as a viable and necessary part of full-filling such endeavors. Under current St. Marys County zoning ordinance, trailer parks are not allowed to be built unless as part of a Planned Unit Development (PUD), which must go through the proper planning processes with the Planning Commission and be approved by the commissioners. Trailer parks are an important part of affordable housing, and within our code we need to be creative so that our young people can continue to live, work and retire in St. Marys County, Jarboe said. With homeownership out of reach for 61 percent of the countys two-earner households, according to a report released earlier this year from the Workforce Housing Task Force, the county is struggling to recruit and retain skilled workers. Patuxent River

foreclosures are following. St. Mary Countys median yearly income is $71,000, a statistic Raley deemed amazing. However, it confirms the boards concerns that more needs to be done. If you really look around, we are working hard and making significant progress, Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D-Leonardtown) said of the countys workforce housing initiatives. There are a lot of things on the forefront that are coming along. Commissioner Kenneth Dement (R-Callaway) pointed to the nearing completion of The Gateways, a 42-townhome workforce housing development in Lexington Park aimed at families who bring in a combined income of $60,000 or less. The project should be completed by spring of 2008, according to Dennis Nicholson, director of the countys housing authority.

ordinance for all new singlefamily developments, which is still under public debate. Russell tackled the recruitment questions, saying not all of the countys elementary students are going to be rocket scientists or airplane people. We need to find a way to get different courses back in our tech centers, Russell added, to be the basics of keeping this economy flowing. On the transportation question, Jarboe continued to push for alternative transportation methods, citing an additional bus route for the seventh district and increased bike lanes. If you have a nice bike lane a guy or gal could cruise right in [to Pax River], not burn any fossil fuel, and cruise out, Jarboe spoke of a bike lane that could be built from the base to future Navy housing that would likely be built three or four miles form the noise attenuation zones to

Advertise Your Business In

Ne

Reaching 11,000 households countywide weekly on Thursdays.

ws pape

s t I Tha

(3

3-4 1) 37 0

At Y our S er v
125

Call us today to start making your advertising campaign a success.

With ce i

n A professional sales team n Creative ad design services n Competitive rates n A community service oriented publication