Professional Documents
Culture Documents
145 Waldorf, MD
Family Mourning Soon-To-BE Retirees Anxiously Await Fate on Healthcare The Loss Of A Free Spirit
By Adam Ross Staff Writer By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The family of Britiany Marie Mercer, 17, who was killed last week in a car accident in Waldorf, is still grieving the loss of a beloved family member who was full of life and ambition. She wrote in her yearbook: Dream as if youll live forever, live as if youll die today, said Sherry Kohan, Britiany Mercers aunt. She lived life to its fullest. Kohan said that her niece was bright and cheerful and always enjoyed helping people. Her naturally gregarious nature had profound effects. She lit up the room when she walked in, Kohan said. Mercer was killed May 3 on Route 5 in the Forest Park Drive area of Waldorf according to Maryland State Police reports. State police say that Mercer was driving her Toyota southbound on Leonardtown Road when she lost control of her vehicle and crossed into the northbound lanes. An elderly couple from La Plata driving a Chrysler struck Mercers vehicle. The passengers, Stanley and Ruby Ketchal, 85 and 80 years old respectively, received incapacitating injuries and were transported to Prince Georges Hospital Center for treatment by state police helicopter. Mercers aunt said her niece never regained consciousness and doctors had to perform two surgeries at Baltimore Shock Trauma to try to stabilize her. Cohan said that they had to reIts not making big headlines, but it affects every St. Marys governmental employee. If the budget is passed as presented, those waiting for their graceful exit from the life of grueling and tenuous work that comes with running a county will have to wait a little longer: 9 years longer. The St. Marys Board of County Commissioners, poised to extend the amount of time a county employee works before becoming eligible for retiree health benefits, is embarking on a change that usually doesnt bode well for approval ratings. Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D- Great Mills) conceded that pushing back benefits from 16 to 25 years might not be the right thing for employees, but at the same time youve got a responsibility to all tax payers to do what is fiscally right. The county is reeling over hefty multi-million-dollar price tag on Other Post Retirement Benefits (OPEB), which forces all county governments and municipalities around the United States to pay into the retiree health benefits that ironically push those same benefits further from its recipients. Of the roughly 192 county employees with 5-to-14 years of service, according to Human Resources Director Sue Sabo, some, like Dave Chapman - a development facilitator in Land Use and Growth Management for seven years signed onto his job for the retiree benefits and not the salary. The benefits were attractive, said Chapman at Aprils budget public hearing at Leonardtown High School, salary was mediocre at best, but the combination of the two was enough to entice me to work in the county. See Benefits page A-
Britiany Mercer, 17, of California, was killed last week in an automobile accident in Waldorf.
suscitate Mercer several times before she died. She said Mercer was now in Gods hands. Everyone wouldve wanted it not to turn out like this but as it turns out with the extent of injuries she suffered its probably better shes in the hands of someone else. Police are still investigating the details of the accident. Mercers grandmother, Grace Shumaker, said that Mercers personality had even given her national exposure. Last year Mercer won 12th place in a national teen pageant as a comSee Britiany Mercer page A-7
Index TDRs:
Wave of the Future ?
SMAC Champs B-1
By Adam Ross Staff Writer The Rural Preservation District (RPD) Task Force is, in a way, repeating history as it builds support beams for a Transferable Development Rights (TDR) program that is viewed by many as collapsing under its own weight. TDRs are a way for landowners to sell their propertys development rights without giving up the ground under their feet. Under the current program, a landowner receives one TDR for every three acres of developable land they own. A developer can buy a farmers TDRs, and then use them to build elsewhere, while the farmer receives cash in hand. The RPD task force has a new vision for the plan, one that focuses on preserving more environmentally sensitive and agriculturally rich land for the future residents of St. Marys County. Historically, the problem has been compensating landowners enough to make participation in the TDR program worth their while. Ive been proposing that [the] RPD task force put together a program that is designed to complement the TDR task forces proposal, said Robin Hahnel, chairman of the RPD task force. There are reasons people havent severed TDRs; its costly and you dont know how many TDRs you are going to get. In essence, TDRs are a new currency in which the county is supplying a landowner who wishes to sell development rights for preservation purposes. Some landowners have been skeptical, scared and even lost behind the bureaucracy of what constitutes a TDR and if it will hold its See TDRs page A-7
Graduates of latest class from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy wait to get their diplomas at a ceremony in their honor at Chopticon High School. Of the 20 graduates, eight are assigned to St. Marys County as sheriffs deputies.
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Joan Williams, newly installed president of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemens Association talks with Jeff Williams, the outgoing president, at their 60th annual conference at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department May 5. Joan Williams is the first woman and rescue squad member to head the organization.
St. Marys College Named Among Best Education Values In The Nation
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Being the states only public honors college, St. Marys College in St. Marys City is used to being recognized for its academic excellence and the quality of its students, but now it has earned a new honor. The Princeton Review, a recognized authority in evaluating the caliber of colleges and universities, named the college as one of the ten best education values in the country, meaning that students there have the opportunity to get the most bang for their tuition bucks. The college took its place among many larger schools like the University of Virginia and the University of California at Berkeley. College spokesman Mark Apter said the most recent honor was another step towards making the college a more prominent academic contender nationwide. We are aggressively working to becoming one of the nations best liberal arts colleges, not just one of the best liberal arts colleges in the state, Apter said. Wes Jordan, admissions director for the college, said the caliber of the students, faculty and the work they do there were responsible for the colleges being recognized as an outstanding institution. About 50 percent of our graduates go on to graduate school or professional schools, Jordan said. Thats a high percentage. You have a consistent pattern of students going on to be very successful at the next level. Over the past four years, 51 out of 55 graduating students who applied to medical school though the colleges pre-med advisory group were accepted to the school of their choice, Jordan said, further illustrating that graduating from St. Marys opened doors to greater opportunities. Along with a strong liberal arts curriculum, one of the core challenges that sets students at St. Marys apart is the St. Marys Project, a senior-thesis type project that more than half of the students choose to undertake, Jordan said. The students pursue the project along with their major and have to defend their work as part of their graduation requirement. Karyn Failstead, a graduating senior and English major did her project as a collection of non-fiction works about her own mothers childhood in comparison to her own. The challenges of the work, plus the open atmosphere at the college, she said inspired her to do her best. I feel like [the college has] given me opportunities from the very start to make my roots here, she said. The professors here figure that if youre good enough to be here, youre good enough to have a voice in class and to be a leader. Failstead said she quickly became a residence hall leader upon coming to St. Marys College, and in her senior year was assigned to help 165 underclassmen while finishing her own studies. Failstead said she is now moving on to a research staff job with the Duke University Medical Centers Department of Community and Family Health. Adrinda Kelly, senior editor at the New York Citybased Princeton Review, said the colleges education opportunities were second to none. The quality of education students receive is unbeatable, she said. The school shares our philosophy that learning extends beyond the classroom and does a great job supporting students who want to pursue community service or study abroad. St. Marys College was named the states public honors college back in 1992, Jordan said, by an act of the state legislature in an effort to boost the quality of liberal arts education in Maryland. The act made the college more difficult to enter and made it more attractive to some of the best students to attend. It was about keeping the best students in Maryland, Jordan said of the act. And it was also about avoiding the brain drain to other schools in other states. The colleges pristine setting on the St. Marys River also make it an attractive destination for prospective students, as does the low student ratio of about 12 students for every professor, according to the Princeton Review report. The report also confirmed that St. Marys College offers a high-end education at a bargain price. The overall cost of attending the school for one year is just under $20,000 for in-state residents but 84 percent of students in the 2006 entering class received some sort of financial aid and 100 percent of those who applied for federal student loans received aid. Many freshmen there apply for and receive some kind of aid from the college in either loan or grant form.
Retraction
In the May 3 rd edition of The County Times Newspaper, the article Rockfish Season Arrives With a Flurry of Activity and New Regulations incorrectly reported the allowed catch sizes of Rockfish. The information below was taken from Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service website: For 2007, from April 21 through May 15 anglers may keep one fish per person, per day between 28-inches and 35-inches in total length or one fish 41-inches or greater. Striped bass greater than 35-inches and less than 41inches must be released to the water unharmed - This ban on possession of striped bass between 35 and 41 inches is expected to reduce the harvest of migrant striped bass and avoid exceeding the 30,000 migrant striped bass limit for the spring season. Fish over 42-inches can be kept as Trophy Fish. From May 16 through December 15 anglers may keep two fish per person per day between 18 and 28 inches, or one fish between 18 and 28 inches and one fish over 28 inches.
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sioners regarding the future of the Senior Property Tax Credit program; and Responding to any inquires from the County Commissioners for St. Marys County regarding the Credit.
In Your Community
Blood Drive
The American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive at the 2nd District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad in Valley Lee on Monday, May 21 from 2 to 7:30 p.m. Donors may call 301994-1038 to schedule an appointment or for information. Walk-ins are welcome. Basket Bingo fundraiser on Friday, May 18, 2007, 7:00 p.m., at the Valley Lee Fire House. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $20.00 for regular books, with each additional book costing $5.00. Specials are 4 for $4.00 or $1.00 each. All children must be accompanied by an adult and must have their own ticket. All proceeds will benefit ongoing Piney Point E.S. PTA projects, including the new playground for students. For more details or to make reservations for a table of six or more people, please contact Ms. Kara Nelson at 301-8847072 or karanelson@verizon. net
Christian Concert
St. Paul United Methodist Church presents a Christian concert for all ages, featuring the Praise Team of Emmanuel Church. The concert will be on May 20 at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Donations will be accepted for Summer Youth Mission Trip. Location: 11000 H.G. Trueman Rd., Lusby at the corner of 765 H.G. Trueman and Route 497, Cove Point Road.
Bring Kids Club Card and decorate your own Mothers Day Cake!
8 Round Cake Single Layer $1.
Friday May 11th 4-8 pm Saturday May 12th 11 am - 6 pm
Flowering Hanging Basket Special
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On February 13, 2007, The County Times published a photograph depicting rescue personnel responding to an automobile accident that was taken from a story originally published by The Bay Net on February 12, 2007. The photograph is owned by The Bay Net and was used without credit, attribution, or authorization. The County Times apologizes to its readers and to The Bay Net for this incident of plagiarism.
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 Guy Leonard - Community Correspondent................guyleonard@countytimes.net Jimmy Hayden - Advertising Director ..............jimmyhayden@countytimes.net Eileen McDonald - Advertising Rep...............eileenmcdonald@countytimes.net
P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland 20636 News, advertising, circulation, classifieds: 301-373-4125
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on assumptions from issues A and B. Hahnel even went as far as outlining how and why the three issues can come together. In any case, discussing issues B and C prior to discussing issue A with Denis [Canavan] present next week makes very good sense, wrote Hahnel in his agenda Monday. This week I hope we can concentrate on issue B, and time permitting issue C. Only, that never happened. John K. Parlett Jr. decided the group wouldnt be able to discuss the terms of the compensation package unless he knew how much land he was considering. The disagreement led to an hour and half discussion of why the group could discuss Issue B before attacking Issue C. I hope we can keep from getting drawn into a premature discussion of different aspects of issue A, wrote Hahnel, which we can better address the following week with Denis present. The group did, and it resulted in nothing. The marathon continues.
Adam Ross Staff Writer The Rural Preservation District Task Force managed to accomplish nothing in its fifth meeting Monday. The meeting was so devoid of order and sense, it even took an extra half hour for the members to show up. But what I noticed most was an all too familiar scene
from one task force to another: disorder. Chairman Robin Hahnel did his best to set an agenda that he thought would lead the task force to its goal in a quantifiable way. If only the entire board was an economist. Hahnel, the Alan Greenspan of the group, is like a shark swimming with a sea of guppies. And thats not to say the other group members arent
smart, because they are. In fact, because of the groups diverse experiences it is quite capable of achieving the task. However, when the group has a question, they turn to Hahnel. When the group is confused, they turn to Hahnel. And when the group has a point of contention its usually with Hahnel. Ultimately, Hahnel will have his imprint on anything and everything
that comes out of this task force, and I expect that it will be a strong compensation package for landowners who want to preserve their land. It was his idea. He said it in the first meeting, and at some point in each meeting, the group has ended up back at that philosophy. As far as Hahnel is concerned, a legitimate compensation package is the only way to link the
My Grandmothers Garden
Terri Bartz Bowles Contributing Writer As spring begins to spew forth natures bounty in the form of good and fresh vegetables, I cannot help but think about the garden at my grandmothers house. My mom and my grandmother planted and cared for the garden all the through the summer and we enjoyed the bounty long into the winter. As is the way so often, its not until years later that one truly appreciates the goodness of previous periods. Each spring, my grandfather would plow the garden when he plowed the fields. My mother and grandmother would buy seeds and onion sets and seed potatoes from the feed store or the old Maryland Tobacco Growers Association store. The white and sweet potatoes had their own patch, as did the melons. My grandfather was a man who thoroughly enjoyed a good watermelon and a sizable patch of watermelons and cantaloupes ensured those sweet treats would be available come the heat of full summer. The list of vegetables grown, besides the potatoes, onions and melons mentioned, included peas, lima beans, tomatoes, carrots, beets, yellow and green string beans, broccoli, turnips, cucumbers and sweet peppers. In the fall, of course, the greens were planted kale, watercress and mustard. After planting and watering, the dreaded weeding would start. I did not like to weed! Nearly forty years later, I find myself content to sit among my flower beds and pull weeds by the hour but as a child, it was a hateful task that I wanted no part of. However, gardens take work and all labor available must be employed. My mother will tell you now that I didnt weed much and Im sure thats right. Im also sure that garden looked to my small eyes like a 40-acre field that Id never see the end of and so when would
I be able to play?! Weeding wasnt the only task I did not enjoy. It wasnt long before the garden needed to be picked and it needed it every day. Tomatoes and peppers were easy pickings, of course, any thing not a bean or a pod was fine. Picking peas wasnt too bad, you can feel the fullness of the pod and pick efficiently. String beans were a problem because you had to eyeball each one. They hid under the leaves and you had to search them out and make sure you picked all the good eating size beans. If you left them on the vine too long, they would be tough and not good eating. I much preferred picking yellow string beans, they were much easier to see even though hiding the way all string beans did! I absolutely love lima beans, they are far and away my favorite vegetable. I never loved picking, them though. You have to feel each pod to ensure there are mature beans inside and they have a thick pod; oh, theyre just no fun to pick! The next task wasnt so bad. After picking beans or peas, they need to be shelled and I remember a lot of afternoons on the porch doing just that. Then it was just a matter of washing the loot and preparing it for the meal. Everyone knows grandmothers are the best of cooks and my grandmother was no exception. With a bountiful garden,
though, theres no way we could eat everything that was produced during the course of the summer. So, my mother and grandmother canned and froze and put up for the winter. They also made relish I will tell you that I didnt eat relish then nor do I now. But, the smell of the ingredients was heavenly and I always wanted to help make it. Like a lot of good farm wives, my grandmother didnt use recipes; she was just a natural and fantastic cook. Now, my mother and I dont know how to make relish because my grandmother was able to just add this and that with no thought of ever needing to write anything like that down. Even though we cant make the relish, my mom and I still talk about it and remember the chopping and the smells and heat of the kitchen in the middle of summer. We dont remember it as a hot and tiring chore fit in between the work of cooking the regular meals; we remember it as time the three of us spent together doing something that would bring enjoyment and the remembrance of sweet summer to family members. And wed both of us give anything to stand in that kitchen again and smell the relish that my grandmother produced like so much magic.
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Obituaries
Mary Estelle Collins, 83
Mary Estelle Collins, 83, of Leonardtown, Md. died May 2, 2007 in Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C. Born June 30, 1923 in Hollywood, Md., she was the daughter of the late James Victor and Nettie Lyles Scriber. Estelle grew up in Hollywood, Md. with five sisters and nine brothers. She was raised in St. Johns Regis Catholic Church and attended school in Hollywood, Md. In 1940, Estelle met and married the love of her life, the late James LeVaughn Collins, Sr. Together they shared 52 years of life and love. From this union three children were born; Regina, Elaine, and James. Along with being a homemaker, Estelle enjoyed fashion, planning parties, staying in touch with family and friends, watching television especially westerns and the The Waltons. Even though LeVaughn was the face out front, Estelle was the power behind the scenes with her soul food and desserts, known as Collins Catering. From her homemade rolls to her paper-thin sliced cakes, you were sure to enjoy atmosphere, laughter and countrystyle food at places such as Shirley K Hotel, Two Spot, and Club Paradise. Along with a full life surrounded by family and friends, Estelle found a new niche particularly in various activities at Cedar Lane through and volunteering her time and talents at Cedar Lane and through Helping Hands. This allowed Estelle to provide food and nourishment to the less fortunate and elderly citizens of St. Marys County. Estelle is survived by her daughter, Elaine (Willie) Gee of Capital Heights, Md., son, James L. (Theresa) Collins, Jr. of Hollywood, Md., three sisters, Civilla Crawford of Rockville, Md., Anna Adams of California, Md., Nettie Stevens of Leonardtown, Md., three brothers, Frank (Patricia) Scriber of California, Md., Phillip (Diane) Scriber of Hollywood, Md., Spencer Scriber of Hollywood, Md., nine grandchildren, 10 greatgrandchildren, and a host of relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Regina, sisters, Venita Kelly and E. Virginia Chappell, and brothers, Edward, Victor, Clarence, Stansbury, Saunders, and Douglas Scriber. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 9 from 10-11 a.m. in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, Md.; with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 a.m. Father John Dakes will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Bushwood, Md. Serving as pallbearers will be Thomas Brooks, Joseph Collins, Norbert Collins, Raymon Collins, Robert Scriber, and Stephon Scriber. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Md. 20650. High School in Loveville, Md., after graduation he attended Morgan State College graduating with a Bachelors Degree in History. He also received a commission in the U. S. Army through the Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC). While at Morgan he was a member of the Morgan State all male elite choir and the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He began his federal service with the Department of the Navy at the old Navy Annex. In 1969 he moved to San Francisco where he was employed for the past 35 years with the Environmental Protection Agency as a computer analyst. Jimmy enjoyed his family and friends, singing in St. Anthonys Church choir, gardening, attending his flowers and coming home for family gatherings. He loved ice cream and thought himself a wine connoisseur. He loved classical music and often attended the San Francisco Symphony with his friends. He was an avid San Francisco 49ers fan and attended their home games. He was an animal lover and enjoyed time with his dog Jasmine who was at his side when he passed. Jimmy had an infectious laugh and you couldnt help but love him. In addition to his mother and father, he leaves to cherish his memory and rejoice his life, three brothers and one sister; George (Chiquita) Forrest of Fairfax, Va., Lewis I (Eudora) Forrest of Dale City, Va., Barbara (Nace) Thompson of Leonardtown, MD, and Francis Bert (Margaret), Forrest, Sr. of Leonardtown, Md., nieces and nephews; Verion, Christopher, Patrick, Timothy, Marlene, Lewis II, Nocola, Michelle, Francis, Jr., and their families. He also leaves behind beloved friends in California: Marina Sarao and her extended family, Dr. & Mrs. Nelson Artega, DDS, and their family, Roxanne Johnson, Stacey Berfer, Joan and Coe Owens, Pat and Jim Hopkins, Neil Oliver, his friends and loving neighbors on Rhode Island Street and especially his best and trusted friend Bernard (Bernie) Granda. He was preceded in death by his grandfather and grandmother, the late Charles Forrest and Helen Burrell. The family received friends on Monday, May 7 in St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, Ridge, Md.; with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 a.m. Reverend Damian Shadwell was the celebrant. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Verion Forrest, Lewis Forrest II, Francis Forrest, Jr., Patrick Forrest, Christopher Forrest, and Timothy Forrest. Serving as honorary pallbearers were James R. Young, Willam Nace Bowman, Quincy Williams, and Kenneth Smith. Memorial contributions in Jimmys name can be made to the Cardinal Gibbons Institute Scholarship Fund, ATTN: Marvell Thornton, 8400 Autumn Way, Clinton, Md. 20735 or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in San Francisco, Ca. at 2500 16th St, San Francisco, Ca. 94103. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, Md. 20650.
E d w a r d Ed Anthony Gray, 87, of Leonardtown, Md. formerly of Philadelphia, Pa. (K&A Section) died April 30, 2007 in Doylestown, Pa. Born February 18, 1920 in Philadelphia, Pa. he was the son of the late Edward and Susannah Anne Wilson Gray. He is survived by his nephew: Richard Crager and his wife Janice of Leonardtown, Md., niece: Virginia Joyce and her husband Trevor of Philadelphia, Pa.; great nieces and nephews: Richie Crager of Miss., Tony Crager of Leonardtown, Md., Chris Crager of Boston, Mass., Janice Marvel of Md., Virginia Engle, Susan McNeill of Yardley, Pa., Charles Wilson of N.J., Angelique Prima and Robert Wilson both of Warminster, Pa., Heather Peronace of Doylestown, Pa.; 18 greatgreat nieces and nephews and one great great-great niece. He was preceded in death by his sisters: Betty Crager and Veronica Grant; one great-great nephew: Nicholas Crager. Mr. Gray moved to St. Marys County from Philadelphia, Pa. in Aug. of 1996. He worked as a trouble shooter for Philco/Ford. He enjoyed going to the Garvey Senior Center, he liked to dance, play guitar, sing, play cards especially pitch and he loved watching the redskins and orioles play. In his younger days he played for the Kenington Rookies in Philadelphia, Pa. as a pitcher. He was very knowledgeable about sports facts, both football and baseball. He also loved St. Marys County and its people. The family received friends on Friday, May 4th at Madeline Aurelia (DafBurris Funeral Home, 9708 Frankfurt Avenue, Philadelfan) Gateau, 93 phia, Pa. 19114. A Funeral Mass was held in Christ the Madeli ne King Church, Morrell Avenue Aurelia (Dafand Chesterfield Road. Interfan) Gateau, ment followed in Ressurec93, of Tall Timtion Cemetery, Bensalem, Pa. bers, Md. died Contributions may be made May 7, 2007 at to Hospice of St. Marys, P.O. her residence. Box 625, Leonardtown, Md. B o r n 20650 and/or Leonardtown March 8, 1914 in Stafford County, VA, she Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. was the daughter of the late Box 299, Leonardtown, Md. Branson Daffan and Susie 20650. Arrangements provided by the Burris Funeral (Staples) Daffan. Mrs. Gateau was Eucha- Home, 9708 Frankfurt Av-
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in her grades and her high school career. She was a lovely young lady who the teachers all thought highly of, Johnson said. She cared about her grades. Johnson said Mercer made quite a few friends during her studies at Calvert high and she was always willing to help other students with their work. She was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America there and was attending classes in the schools Academy of Finance. She also kept stats for the wrestling team, Johnson said. Mercer is the third county resident to die in a car crash since April. The first was Ethan Chewning, 16, of Chaptico and the second was Kenneth Kenny Bacon, 23, of Leonardtown.
New Sheriff
Continued from page A-1 where they were awarded their diplomas during a ceremony in Chopticon High School in Chaptico. The training was intense, and included physical workouts, academic instruction in law and police procedures, firearms and marksmanship, defensive tactics and operating a vehicle at high speeds safely. Lt. Reynal Aportedara, commander of the criminal justice academy, said the objective was to mold recruits into the best law enforcement officers possible with a warrior mentality. We broke them down and then we built them back up, Aportadara said. Two St. Marys County sheriffs graduates took first and second place in the academy class for scholastic aptitude, scoring in the high 90s on their tests. Deputy Scott Ruest took second place and told his new commanding officer he wouldve liked to have best his colleague Deputy Michael Boyer, but was still happy with his performance. Youve got two from St. Marys [in the top scholastic slots], so its still good, he told Cameron. Deputy Megan Shreiner, born and raised in St. Marys and now living in Calvert County, was anxious to get on with her duties. It feels great, Shreiner said of graduating. Im finally through it; its been a long time in coming. Shreiner said she started training one-and-a-half years ago at the academy, but tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the course and had to drop out and wait for it to heal. Before becoming a sheriffs deputy, Shreiner had been a police officer in the U.S. Army and had decided law enforcement was the career path she wanted to pursue. Shreiner, 23, celebrated
Britiany Mercer
Shumaker said her granddaughter had top grades in school. According to information in Mercers obituary, she was originally born in La Plata but had lived in St. Marys most of her life. She attended three different schools here and left Great Mills High School to attend class at Calvert High School in Calvert County. She maintained a residence in the county, Shumaker said, but she lived with family friends there to attend the other high school. Susan Johnson, principal at Calvert High School said that Mercer was an attentive student who put great stock
TDRs
Continued from page A-1 value. We should consider an advisory committee with different parties that have a stake in a well functioning program, said Hahnel. This way [landowners] have some sort of guarantee because they are being compensated with TDRs and not cash. The RPD task force aims to change that sentiment by establishing a strong market for TDRs that utilizes a healthy supply and demand market. The idea is to create an alternative that is financially attractive enough to attract volunteers, said Hahnel. I dont see too many obstacles in creating such a package where we could afford to offer a considerable amount to landowners. Although the RPD task force has only met five times and has not yet rendered a recommendation to the Board
Photo by Guy Leonard
of County Commissioners, residents familiar with the current TDR program are up in arms over some of the proposed changes. Letters to The County Times and other local media outlets have detailed concerns mainly stemming from the costly exchange of a family conveyance. Currently, a TDR is valued anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000, and would cost that much to convey three acres to a family member. The regulation is troubling to farmers who have struggled to maintain their farms through the years. The RPD task force has yet to address this inefficiency in the system and others, including a clause that guarantees a developer set aside 50 percent of its acquired land for open space in the Development District. Its mind boggling and a terrible inefficiency, said Hahnel, naturally, correcting it means efficiency gain, but now what do you with it? Share it with achieving the public goal of affordable
housing and effective land preservation? John K. Parlett Jr., a developer and member of the RPD task force said he would be interested in the prospect of building more affordable housing for the arriving workforce whose median incomes in most cases are not enough to meet the costs of living prevalent throughout the region but only if the amount of required open space was reduced. Whatever the task force comes up with, their ideas will be heard at the May 14 meeting when Land Use and Growth Management Director Dennis Canavan offers his idea of a floating zone. A floating zone would be a sliding scale, to downzone property deemed agriculturally rich or environmentally sound. The zone is established by eligibility rules and selection criteria, and is completely voluntary.
St. Marys County Sheriff Timothy Cameron presents a diploma to Deputy Megan Shreiner, one of eight graduates from the latest class from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy.
Raises
Continued from page A-1 commissioners approved the contracts Tuesday. Ive been in this type of hiring for awhile, and it went very smoothly. Elaine Kramer, chief financial officer, Phil Rollins, director of Recreations, Parks and Community services, Denis D. Canavan, director of Land Use and Growth Management, George Erichsen, director of Public Works and Transportation, Lori Jennings-Harris, director of Department of Aging, and County Attorney Christy H. Chesser were the staff reemployed by the county starting July 2, 2007. All of the department heads besides Everett, Zylak, Jennings-Harris and Sabo make $100,000 or more. Meanwhile, Bob Schaller, Ph.D., was appointed as director of Economic and Community Development, a position Savich previously held, and had been attending too even as county administrator. Bob Schaller is the right person for this job, said Commission President Francis Jack Russell. He is a lifelong county resident and is committed to helping us find the right balance between a rich place in heritage and tradition and a growing community of technological change and progress. Schaller currently chairs the College of Southern Marylands Department of Business, Economics and Legal Studies. He has over 30 years of experience in all phases of business management, according to a press release distributed by county government. The county searched for a replacement to Savich for several months, but during that time failed to interview even one candidate in person, other than Schaller, according to Sabo. Sabo said two candidates were given phone interviews, and 11 applications in total were received for the position. The hiring of Schaller is eerily similar to the hiring of Savich as county administrator in that no other applicants were interviewed in spite of human resources receiving of eight applications. Sabo said she has heard no positive or negative feedback from the community regarding either the hiring of Schaller, or the sustained employment of the five department heads. This group of department heads is extremely responsible, said Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (DGreat Mills). More so than some Ive had contact with in the last nine years Ive been here.
he said. Paul said his research data did not measure the amount of the sediment, but he did say oxygen levels in the river, particularly at the bottom, went to zero or near zero at times in the summer months as a result of the increased sedimentation. He said the action strategy would quantify just how much sediment was settling into critical streams in the watershed. Everyone thought it was really clean and pristine out there but its not, Paul said. He explained that the increased sediment and run-
off in streams brought in nutrients that allowed algae to grow, but when it died and fell to the bottom in the summer time, it rotted and depleted the oxygen at the rivers bottom. It kills everything; oysters, worms and insects, Paul said. Mattingly said if the sediment was coming from increased development, the county would have to take steps to correct it. If it is coming from development we need to make sure we implement the best storm water management practices available to protect the watershed.
Veith said that the work of the two-year study should include provisions to protect trees and other forestation nearest to streams in the watershed and find ways to reduce the number of impervious surfaces, such as asphalt driveways and streets, that prevent rain water from seeping into the ground and instead forced it to run off and take mud and dirt with it. We need less asphalt and fewer pipes with runoff, Veith said. We need to let the rainwater soak into the ground and keep big floods from wiping out stream banks.
Section A -
Benefits
Continued from page A- Raley said Chapman has been in correspondence with the commissioners, and they are doing their best to find a middle ground. Because Chapman is stuck in the middle of the proposition, he would no longer be able to receive his retiree health benefits at age 63 as he originally planned. Instead, he would have to wait until he is 72 years old, a prospect he said he is not happy about. And yet things could get even worse in the future for Chapman and others in his situation. Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) has said this budget is the most daunting he has come across in all his years,
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