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Thursday, August 2, 2007 St. Marys County, Maryland

Established 2006 Volume 2 Issue 31 FREE

Super Boost for Rescue Squad

By Adam Ross Staff Writer Marylands volunteer rescue squads are almost always forced to grovel, plead, sweat and work for money that provides oxygen to the countys emergency management services. So when Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin announced Thursday a $52,106 grant award to the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Co. #79 (HVRS), the rescue workers were elated. All of our funding is through donation, begging or whatever, said Robert Brookins, a Maryland certified first responder, ambulance driver and president of the Hollywood Auxiliary. For us to be chosen is a good thing. Brookins and company were just a day removed from the good news, and looking forward to the fitness equipment, medical evaluations and new blood borne pathogen resistant gloves and boots that the grant money would purchase. This means physical machinery and the renovations of a room to set that up, Brookins said. Everybody will be screened to ensure they are healthy when responding to help other people. For the third straight year, Brookins and his grant writing team submitted the operations and maintenance grants, which faced stiff competition from approximately 23,000 rival applications across the state. See Rescue page B-5

Sheriff Sacrifices Overtime Pay for Campaign Promise

By Adam Ross Staff Writer In last Novembers election, St. Marys County Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron promised to tackle a systemic drug problem trickling its way deeper into the county, and now is poised to put the departments money where his mouth is, even if somebody has to suffer. As of Tuesday, Cameron received approval from the Board of County Commissioners to promote a Sergeant from within the sheriffs department to a Lieutenant, charging that person with the duty of reorganizing and strengthening the vice narcotics unit. The promotion will cost $17,000 and likely complicate the departments next budget cycle further than already predicted. I think we have a problem over the sheriffs office with budgetary [matters], Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D- Great Mills) said. If the sheriff came in during the next budget and did not ask for one new initiative or one new personnel, his budget is still going up significantly. Commission President Francis Jack Russell (D- Piney Point) also expressed concern over the cost, adding that the promotion should have been part of the fiscal year 2007 budget cycle that concluded in June. I like Commissioner Russell would have preferred to done this at the budget hearings, Raley added, and looked at priorities. Cameron has aggressively followed his campaign promises, but the first budgetary implications of doing so appears ready to cast a dark cloud over the department. Raley warned Cameron that he would likely be before the commissioners in four or five months to request additional appropriations for overtime pay. Traditionally we kind of move monies around [to support that], Raley See Sheriff page A-5

Photo by Adam Ross

St. Marys Ryken High School attempts to rezone 28-acres of land surrounding its campus so it can eventually build an athletic complex.

County Owns Up To Their Mistake on Ryken Zoning

By Adam Ross Staff Writer A mistake made 22 years ago by St. Marys Countys Department of Land Use and Growth Management that improperly zoned the land surrounding St. Marys Ryken High School is slowing the schools plans to improve athletic fields, according to Denis D. Canavan, director of LUGM. Issues have been paramount now for two years, said Canavan to the St. Marys Board of County Commissioners at last weeks meeting, but now we have a clear avenue to correct the mistake. In 1985, planners in LUGM zoned Rykens 28-acre campus as a Resource Conservation Area (RCA) in accordance with 1984s critical area law. What planners didnt take into account was that Ryken was an institution on property already connected to a sewer. Under its current RCA zoning, Ryken is unable to build new athletic fields to improve its athletics department. Ryken is at a point where they want to start dealing with their long range plans, said Jeffrey Jackman, a senior planner with LUGM who sat in on a meeting at Ryken. Theyll know better what they have to work with and design for future needs if they have an [Intensely Developed Area] classification. However, Mary Joy Hurlburt, president of Ryken said the schools main motivation to get the land rezoned was to then request annexation into the town of Leonardtown. When asked why the annexation was desired, Hurlburt said it is where we get our water and sewer from. If the rezoning classification and annexation are both granted, Hurlburt said the school will begin planning for a new athletic complex. Were not even there, added Hurlburt. See Zoning page A-7

Students Pawn Basketball Shoes for Chess Boards

Rook Takes Knight, Students Go Crazy
By Adam Ross Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of St. Marys County Public Schools

Students test their chess savvy against teacher Janine Craven at the 21st Century/Boys and Girls Club After School Program at George Washington Carver Elementary School in February of 2006.

Inside

Chess in St. Marys schools isnt a completely new concept, but with funding from the state and loads of research suggesting that chess is a gateway to greater learning capacity, the community is working to encourage more checkmates. See Chess page A-9

Swim Meet B-1

Op.-Ed ..........Page A - 4 Obits .............Page A - 8 Navy News ...Page A - 9 Community...Page B - 4 Police ............Page B - 7 Classifieds.....Page B - 9

Drought Could Make Animal Feed Toxic

OMalley Seeks Federal Funds For Beleaguered Farmers
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Farmers can add possibly toxic levels of nitrates in corn to their worries this season on top of the drought that has withered much of their grain crop and forced them to feed hay to livestock. Officials with the Maryland Cooperative Extension, an arm of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources from the University of Maryland, say that corn and other crops cut down for animal feed that were stressed by the recent drought could cause illness in livestock if eaten. If we cut that corn down and feed it to the cattle, the levels of nitrates could be so high that it can be toxic to the cattle, said Ben Beale, extension educator. It can kill them or cause stunted growth. Cases of livestock suffering from nitrate poisoning are not common, Beale said, but farmers should take advantage of free testing of their felled grain offered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Farmers concerned about the safety of their grain can get the testing through the cooperative extension office, Beale said. See Drought page A-7

Health Department Issues Recall Warning For Contaminated Food

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The St. Marys County Health Department is warning county residents about food that is being recalled for possibly being contaminated with botulism. The food products come from the Castleberry Food Company in Augusta, Ga. and include 10-ounce cans of Castleberrys Hot Dog Chili Sauce, Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, and Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce with labels denoting the best buy range from April 30, 2009 through May 22, 2009. The recall warning also includes about 80 other products types from Castleberry that may also be contaminated according to one health official. There are a number of products ranging from chili sauce without beans See Contaminated page A-5

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 Section A - 

The County Times

attempted first-degree murder and two counts of solicitation of murder. The solicitation counts were added once Ryders case came to the St. Marys County Circuit Court for review. Ryder could face life in prison if convicted. Stanalonis said that without the report from the Department of Juvenile Services detailing Ryders condition and the severity of the crime, he automatically put in the motion opposing the move to juvenile court. He said that if the report recommends that Ryder be tried in juvenile court his office could agree to that proposal. While Mr. Ryder didnt succeed in having his parents murdered he did take a pretty substantial towards that, Stanalonis said. Based on what I know now I wouldnt have a problem recommending that he stay in adult court. But well wait for the report to make that determination. According to charging documents, Bureau of Criminal Investigators allege that Ryder, attempted to hire one of their undercover operatives to kill both of his parents June 2; investigators allege that Ryder made statements earlier that he wanted to hire a contract killer and investigators say they learned of this from a confidential source. Investigators conducted a covert operation at a Lexington Park motel and the undercover operative met up with Ryder there to discuss the alleged deal. Charging documents state that Ryder and the undercover operative started a conversation about the alleged scheme and a formal agreement was allegedly made at Ryders request to have the undercover operative kill Ryders parents. Ryder and the undercover officer also reached an agreement, charging documents al-

Thursday, August , 007

lege, as to the method of payment for the contract killings of his mother and stepfather. When asked how he wanted the murders to go ahead, Ryder allegedly said: Two bullets is all it takes. Once the agreement was made, charging documents state, other undercover officers who were conducting video and audio surveillance of the meeting placed Ryder under arrest. The case stunned the community and garnered national media attention for a brief time. Before the alleged incident, investigators said that Ryder had moved out of his parents house because disciplinary issues and court paper stated that he had quit school as of April this year. Ryder is still being held in detention pending his trial.

Juvenile Accused Of Murder-for-hire Could Be Tried As An Adult

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Officials with States Attorney Richard Fritzs office say they are waiting on a report from the Department of Juvenile Services to determine whether a 16-year-old from Valley Lee should be tried in adult court for allegedly trying to hire an assassin to kill his parents back in June. Pending that report the Office of the Public Defender has made a motion with the Circuit Court to have Cory J. Ryder tried in Juvenile Court. John Getz, supervisor of the public defenders office here in St. Marys filed the motion July 13. Getzs motion states that Ryder has not been subjected to any treatment available under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. There are many avenues of treatment that could be explored within the [juvenile justice system] to help rehabilitate the defendant. He is still a juvenile, Getz said of one reason to not try him as an adult. We hope to prevail. Assistant States Attorney Joseph Stanalonis made the motion July 24 to oppose moving Ryders trial to juvenile court, according to court records in St. Marys County Circuit Court. Court documents state that Ryder will be up for trial in December, with proceedings set to last four days. The states motion that would keep Ryder in the adult justice system stated that the severity of Ryders alleged crimes meant he should be tried as an adult. Ryder is currently charged with two counts of

Police Arrest Man For Burglarizing Same House Twice

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Investigators with the countys Bureau of Criminal Investigations have arrested a man they believe was responsible for breaking into and stealing valuable items from the same house twice in July. Lt. Rick Burris, BCI commander, said increased burglaries in the county were to be expected because of the rapidly increasing population, but this type of crime was unique. Its uncommon for a residence to be burglarized again, Burris said. Its unusual. Burris said investigators had no indication that Christopher Leon Watson, 18, of Lexington Park, their suspect in the dual burglary, was involved in any other burglaries that have occurred in the county but would look into other cases to see if there are connections to Watson. According to charging documents, Watson allegedly broke into the victims Lexington Park home for the first time on July 12 and stole jewelry, cash and a video game play system as well as games that were with the system. That alleged crime, charging documents read, was worth about $3,000. The charging documents further allege that Watson again stole the same kind of items from the victims residence, including a .22 caliber handgun, during the July 26 incident all valued at less than $500. Burris said Watson was one of their lead suspects in the first burglary investigation. Wed developed him as a suspect in the July 12 incident and then when detectives went to arrest him on July 26 they were able to determine that he had already burglarized the same home that same day, Burris said, adding that investigators were unsure why Watson allegedly chose that particular home. Charging documents allege that an anonymous witness who came into possession of some of the reportedly stolen items had contacted police regarding the burglary of July 12 just a few days after it occurred with information. When investigators went to Watsons home to interview him about the first burglary, charging documents read, Watson admitted to the first burglary by going through the woods to the victims nearby home, cut the power to their house and entered by breaking the screening on one of the windows. Investigators allege in the charging documents that Watson had handed over some of the reportedly purloined items and that he had sold or given away others. When the items were returned to the police station and the victim came to claim them, they informed investigators that their home had again been burglarized, according to charging documents, and investigators got an admission to the second crime from Watson. Police report that Watson used the same method to gain entry to the victims home. Charging documents read that investigators had begun their interview with Watson about 10 minutes after he returned from allegedly burglarizing the victims home. A search warrant revealed, charging documents allege, more items at Watsons home that matched the description of the items stolen from the victims home. Watson is being held without bail and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for each of the two counts of first degree burglary against him as well as a maximum sentence of 15 years or $25,000 for theft in an amount more than $500.

St. Marys College Provides Free Musical Event

Hawk Orchestra. The orchestra was composed of approximately 100 instrumentalists from all over Maryland. Some were from the Kennedy Center, some from the Baltimore orchestra, and even some from the military band. A few members were attendees and faculty of St. Marys College. The orchestra practiced their pieces together for eight weeks, twice a week at Bowie State University and at St. Marys College the Friday before the performance. The series takes nearly a whole year to complete. Barbara Bershon, the director for the entire event, said, We take a short breather in August but after that, its straight to work again preparing the next years event. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Several businesses and even individuals give the money needed to create the event. We have so many fantastic people giving their money to us, we owe a lot to their support, said Bershon. Between the sponsors, the volunteers, the sound and lighting technicians, and even the food vendors, the River Concert takes a lot of work, but according to Bershon, its well worth it to bring beautiful music to the residents of St. Marys County. St. Marys College will hold this event next year as well. Information can be obtained on their website www. riverconcertseries.com or through Barbara Bershon, 240-895-4107.

The River Concert orchestra performed for an audience of hundreds.

Photo By Amy Kaper

Amy Kaper Staff Writer

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The River Concert, held night of free pirate themed oron Friday, July 27th, brought chestral music. The River Concert is in hundreds of viewers for a sponsored by St. Marys College and runs for five weekends every summer. This is its ninth year running. The director for this years selection was Jeffrey Silberschlag, the musical director at the college. Siberschlag himself put together the entire musical program, including choosing the theme and all the performed songs. Daryl Huber The theme for this particular concert was Swashbuckling Under the Stars. The selections featured were Debussys La Mer, Berbers Concerto for Piano, Gershwins I Got Rhythm Variations, Korngolds Robin Hood Suite and Overture to Captain Blood, Waxmans Anne of the Indes, Debneys Cut Throat Island, and another of Korngolds, the Sea

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Thursday, August 2, 2007

The County Times

Section A - 

Lexington Park Branch Chief Calls It A Career

By Adam Ross Staff Writer The Lexington Park Library has been transformed, reinvented and rebuilt under the watchful eye of Janice Hummel, the branchs chief who has worked tirelessly for 20 years to ensure the librarys stability long after her retirement this month. Hummel arrived to the branch in 1988 as a part-time reference librarian. It took her just two years to advance to branch chief, a position she would hold for 17 years. Over two decades, as the world evolved technologically and the nature of education broadened, Hummel stood at the forefront, piecing together a library the community could be proud of. In fact, Hummel believes the three years it took to construct and organize the building the library occupies today as her most memorable achievement. Coordinating that activity and trying to open the doors and have everything ready said Hummel, who couldnt help but release a tired sigh when thinking about the arduous battle she and her staff went through in opening the library. I remember going home one day when we were in the process and thinking, I made 100 decisions today. Hummel laid the groundwork out, literally, but it is perhaps the work she did later that will be the most celebrated; a list so extensive Hummel dared not name those achievements without the aid of a self-crafted list. Sitting at a round wood table located comfortably inside of her office, Hummel peered down at two sheets of white computer paper, keenly moving through a list of programs, activities and construction projects she had a hand in. She took her time when reading those achievements, a modest approach to highlight quality over quantity. She read off six crowning achievements including: Indexing the old Saint Marys Beacon newspaper published from 1852 to 1980; starting up Lexington Park Librarys coffee bar, the Library Caf; and implementing the branchs art gallery exhibit. After the six, she pushed the paper to the side and said I think thats enough, any more and it gets boring. For her, that may be true, but for the thousands of people who continually benefit from the free services she has worked unremittingly to offer, the smiles, laughs and thank yous will probably never get old. Ill miss interacting with people, Hummel fires off when asked what she will miss the most about the library; the first question she answered without the slightest hesitation, And listening to their wonderful compliments and comments. That job will now be left to Terri Tresp, Hummels anxiously overwhelmed replacement. Just before Hummels interview, she was finishing up a training session with Tresp, who comes from Ann Arundel County. Tresp stood straight up, feet firmly planted, and rotated her head 180 degrees across the library, appearing to take in the enormity of her new role. Hummel offered to answer any questions she might have, and Tresp let out a slight laugh, suggesting there wasnt enough time in the day to answer questions whose likely only answers come from experience. After all, one lesson learned from Hummels career is that the pride and admiration earned in ones work often comes from building a new path, just as long as it leads to the same place. And according to Hummels distinguished colleagues, she didnt just build the path, she helped mold the place it leads to. Janice is one of those unique librarians who not only understands the minutia of our library business, but she also constantly kept focused on connecting with the many facets of a librarys community to ensure that the library services reflected the needs and wants our diverse residents, said Kathleen Reif, director of St. Marys County Library. Janice created a communitys library, not a librarians library. It is this legacy that we will work hard to maintain. From Hummels two successful grant applications, which fitted the library in 2003 with equipment and furniture for a computer lab, and in 2004 with a NASA exhibit, her achievements are still felt in St. Marys County. Commissioner Daniel H. Raley of Great Mills said the district was a better place because of her. Now, as the book on her career that started at the University of Maryland with a masters in library science comes to a close, Hummel said she is looking forward to traveling and working on hobbies. She has been married for 32 years, has two daughters and nine more days until retirement: just consult the wall outside her office, where coworkers have installed a countdown. And it is not because they want to see her go.
Photo by Adam Ross

Janice Hummel, Lexington Park branch chief shows off the extensive childrens section she helped build over her 20-year career with St. Marys County.

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Editorial & Opinion

Commissioners Created Budget Problems For Sheriffs Department, Not Current Sheriff
Everyone who lives in St. Marys County knows that illegal drug distribution and use in our community is a crime that must be addressed. Most people have been painfully aware of the increase in drug related activities for some time. Illegal drugs are the root of most crimes in our county today and it is time our community stages a war on drugs. Sheriff Timothy Cameron has promised to do just that. Through his many years in law enforcement Cameron has seen first hand the growth in illegal drugs and the damage it has caused in the past, and just as important, the threat it poses upon the youth of our community into the future. Sheriff Cameron has also heard from the citizens. During his campaign for election, Cameron heard from the community their concerns about illegal drugs, and vowed to do something about the problem. Cameron has shown steady progress focusing his department in order to achieve better results based upon strategic planning. He is now ready to deliver to the community the troops ready to battle the drug bad guys. There is much at stake here and every community leader should get behind the Sheriff in his efforts. We should expect results as well. Its not just a game of sitting on the side lines and rooting the team on, we need to give the Sheriff the resources he needs to fight the battle and the Sheriff should provide updates on progress, show he and his department can and are winning the battle. This is a priority; give him support and demand results. Unfortunately, on Tuesday the Board of County Commissioners expressed concern regarding the Sheriffs efforts. When Sheriff Cameron requested to use funds already allocated to the sheriffs department to create a Lieutenant position to lead the efforts of a reconstituted narcotics unit, several commissioners expressed reservation. Commissioners Raley and Russell expressed doubts, with Russell voting against the war on drugs. Commissioner Raley was concerned that there were budget problems looming in the Sheriffs office and those problems would be difficult to deal with during next years budget process. While Raley is right, the problem is he and the other commissioners created the problem. Former Sheriff Dave Zylak was given a blank check to spend at an alarming increase. In fact, from 2003 to today, the sheriffs office spending increased from $15.6 million to $26.7 million per year. An increase in spending of 70% in just five years while the countys population increased by less than 15% during the same period. Zylak was recently appointed by this Board of Commissioners to head the Department of Public Safety. During the four years of budget approvals with Zylak as sheriff only one commissioner objected to this level of spending increases, leading that commissioner to be the lone no vote twice, voting against the 2006 final budget and against the 2007 proposed budget. That one commissioner is no longer on the board as he did not seek re-election as commissioner. The commissioners were constantly warned year after year that spending increases such as this could not be sustained in future years, creating an agency which taxpayers could not afford to fund without tax increases. The bigger problem with the out of control growth in spending was the lack of accountability. Crime continued to grow, programs were cut back such as the DARE program which provided antidrug awareness to elementary school students, and no plan was ever presented to show how more money would be spent to produce a safer community. In fact, during one budget session, the former Sheriff was asked whether or not adding five new deputies to his force would result in five more deputies on the street, the former Sheriff responded that he could not guarantee that. While the commissioners are faced with significant budget challenges in the upcoming years, this Sheriff cannot be blamed for the mistakes of the past. Both the commissioners and the Sheriff will have to work together to find solutions to the budget problem in the future. In the meantime, the Sheriff should be encouraged to refocus his department and his expenditures to better meet the communities needs. The plan to attack the problem of illegal drugs is one the community wants and needs, we applaud the Sheriff for his strategy and action, we await positive results.

Charlotte Hall Library Celebrated 25 Years with Community Support

On Saturday, June 9th more than one thousand people walked through the doors of the Charlotte Hall Library to celebrate 25 years of community service. Many more people browsed the informational tables outside, shopped the farmers market, and walked the Three Notch Trail to the St. Marys County Welcome Center, Northern Senior Center and Historic Charlotte Hall. It was truly a Charlotte Hall community celebration. I would like to thank the following for their help with the planning and organizing: MarieNoelle Lautieri, Eleanor Ritchie, Cynthia Wright, Teri Wilson, Kathy Bailey, Carolyn Laray, Jim Swift, Dan Donahue, Donna Sasscer, Fred Shroyer, Marilyn Lash, Mary Foley, and the Charlotte Hall Library staff. Thank you goes to the following organizations and volunteers for participating: Dr. Janice Walthour, Dr. Joseph Roy Guyther, Joe Dunn, Carol Moody, Henry Fowler, The Wright Family, Southern Maryland Decorative Painters, Christmas in April St. Marys County, Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers, Fifth

District Homemakers Club, Farm Life Festival, Mechanicsville Optimists, 7:30 Club, St. Marys County Sheriffs Department, Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department, Chaptico Chargers 4-H Club, St. Marys County Health Department, Friends of Three Notch Trail, St. Marys County Welcome Center, Northern Senior Center, Saint Annes Anglican Catholic Church, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, St. Marys County Department of Economic & Community Development, St. Marys County Recreation, Parks & Community Services, Department of Land Use & Growth Management. Thank you to the

following local businesses, organization and individuals for their sponsorship: Apple Basket Antiques, Budds Creek Motocross Park, Charlotte Hall Car Wash, Charlotte Hall Radio Shack, County First Bank, County Wide Pool Service, Dunkirk Supply, Dr. Garner Morgan, DDS, 84 Lumber, Friends of the St. Marys County Library, Long & Foster Realtors, M&T Bank, Margaret & Rich Thaler, Mercantile Southern Maryland Bank, Mr. Tire, Northern Senior Center Council, Nancys Guys & Gals Hair Salon, Pats Corner Antiques, Ritas Water Ice, St. Marys County Department of Aging, Seymour New Auto

Parts, Schoenbauer Furniture Service, Inc., Shear Image, Sounds of the Boardwalk, Southern Maryland Regional Library, Southern Maryland Statuary, Southern Tire Auto Service, Tidewater Veterinary Hospital, True Value, Unique Chic, Wentworth Nursery Inc, and Winters Chiropractic. If anyone has been omitted, please forgive me. Thanks to all who participated and attended our 25th Birthday celebration! Mary Anne Bowman Branch Manager Charlotte Hall Branch St. Marys County Library 301-884-2211 x1006

James Manning McKay - Publisher Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager ...........................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Adam Ross - Government Correspondent ..............adamross@countytimes.net Andrew Knowlton - Sports Correspondent ...... andrewknowlton@countytimes.net

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

Pax River Sailor Arrested In Stabbing

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Investigators with St. Marys County Bureau of Criminal Investigation say that a military man is allegedly responsible for stabbing another after an altercation at a party July 27 in Great Mills. The suspect in the stabbing, Alex E. Serrano, 21, of Lexington Park, has been charged with first and second degree assault and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years for the first count and a possible 10 years for the second. The accused is a firearms instructor at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, according to information from BCI, and the Emergency Services Team performed the arrest. John Romer, public affairs officer for the naval air station, said Serrano is a gunners mate 3rd class and works at the indoor firing range on base. We used the tactical team because of the nature of the crime, said Lt. Rick Burris, commander of BCI. He was taken into custody without incident. According to police reports, the suspect and the alleged victim, Joshua Woode, got into a fight at a private party on Bective Way in Great Mills. The charging documents against Serrano allege that witnesses of the fight said he was the aggressor in the altercation. Woode went to St. Marys Hospital Center for treatment of a stab wound in his back near the kidney that had to be stapled shut. In the charging documents, investigators said Serrano admitted to picking up a knife during the altercation and punched Woode while the knife was in his hand. Burris said investigators were still trying to ascertain how the fight started. Its really unclear, Burris said. They were arguing but we havent gotten a clear reason for the altercation. Witnesses have given several reasons but we havent made a determination yet. The stabbing took place around 3:15 a.m., police reports read, and the tactical team arrested Serrano at his home at about 9:30 a.m. that same day. Cliff Everton, special agent in charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service branch at Pax River, said it was unclear what charges Serrano would face

from the military as a result of the incident. Right now its St. Marys purview, Everton told The County Times. It took place in town and the command will have to make a decision later as to what to do with him. Everton said NCIS was assisting BCI in its investigation. Serrano was assigned a 100 percent $20,000 bond to be released from the St. Marys County detention center. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 24.

Report Concludes Threat To Countys Water Supply

By Adam Ross Staff Writer St. Marys County pumps all of its water from three aquifers located deep below the earths surface, one of which may be facing extinction sooner than county officials expected if a 2002 report from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on the water supply from the Aquia proves factual. According to the report, water levels in the Aquia reached a critically low level in 2000, and should no longer be drawn from. If the Aquia were to dry up, it could not be resurrected. The four-page 2002 report was unexplainably overlooked when the same team put together its 2005 Maryland Geological Survey TriCounty Report, according to John B. Wheeler, chairman of the St. Marys Commission on the Environment and Water Policy Task Force. I dont know why it wasnt cited and neither does the Maryland Geographical survey, Wheeler said in front of the St. Marys Board of County Commissioners Tuesday. The report said the Aquia has reached its maximum allowable yield, meaning to us that nobody should be pumping anymore water out of the aquifer. That conclusion however was not part of the task forces 2005 report, endorsed by the commissioners in 2006, which said the Aquia could be tapped for another 23 years, even with a population increase of 67,000. The 2005 report further concluded that it would be in the best interest of St. Marys to tap the Patapsco aquifer for all major subdivisions, thus saving water levels of the Aquia and Piney Point/ Nanjemoy for new homeowners and small subdivisions. While the original contents of the 2002 report were focused on Aquias water levels for Anne Arundel County, Wheeler said its contents has implications for St. Marys County as well. The problem we see is our county water policy envisions the continued use of the Aquia, with no intention to stop using [it] Alternative sources must be explored, he added. The task force is planning to recheck the system and identify the conflicts between the 2002 and 2005 reports, Wheeler said. But in the meantime, St. Marys will continue to pull from the Aquia, which according to data released in 1994 had receded by 120 feet in some parts of Lexington Park. The report given to the commissioners Tuesday titled 2007 Update on A Potential Water Supply Problem, drew no clear answers but did call for the exploration of alternative sources and an aquifer recharge area. Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe (R- Golden Beach) asked citizens to cut their water consumption, which is at approximately 60 gallons a day per capita in St. Marys County, according to data gathered by Wheeler and METCOM. The problem isnt people in the future, Jarboe added, its the people today, we are all using too much water. Aquifers are not underground rivers a common public misconception but rather a collection of sand and gavel that when dewatered pack together with irrevocable damage to the aquifer, according to METCOM Director Steven L. King. Therefore, if the tri-county area were wrong, the impact would be lasting. We need to ramp up the urgency here, said St. Marys County Administrator John Savich, who is planning to send out letters to Dyson and the entire state delegation. Land Use and Growth Management Director Denis D. Canavan reminded the BBOC that house bill 1141 requires every jurisdiction to prepare water resource elements in its comprehensive plan by 2009.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

The County Times

sion, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness that moves progressively Continued from page A- downward throughout the body. The funding rewarded a The muscle weakness af- long and taxing process for fects the shoulders first, the the units grant writing comcounty health department mittee, who attended grantstated, moving to the upper writing workshops and spent arms, lower arms, thighs, countless hours preparing the calves and so on. application. Botulism poisoning can In a written statement also paralyze the muscles re- posted on the units website, sponsible for allowing a per- EMT Sarah Lacey said the son to breath and can be fatal. countless hours huddled The county health depart- around a laptop preparing the ment warns that anyone who FEMA Assistance for Fireshows these symptoms, or who fighters Grant Application has consumed the recalled had finally paid off. products should get medical The grant funding is treatment immediately. part of a program set up For more information through the U.S. Department about the recall visit the FDA of Homeland Securitys AsWeb site at www.fda.gov/oc/ sistance to Firefighters Grant opacom/hottopics/castleberry.html#recall. Residents can also call the health department at 301-4754330 for more information.

Section A - 
Program (AFGP). For years, the grant was limited to only fire departments, but in the past three years has been opened up to non-affiliated EMS units. First responders are our true heroes, protecting our homes, our businesses and our communities, said Mikulski, who serves on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the AFGP. Im grateful for the sacrifices they make everyday. The grant covers 95 percent of the proposed changes HVRS plans to implement, 15 percent more than non-rural units who have a higher tax base and must fund larger portions of such an initiative. In sum, HVRS will have to come up with approximately $2,200 to fill the units grant needs, Brookins said. A representative from Mikulskis office notified the unit of the award July 25, and statements were later released by both Mikulski and Cardin. Firefighter grants represent a major effort by the Federal government to ensure that our nations first responders have the equipment and training they need to do the job, Cardin said in the release. AFGP grants fund firefighting equipment, personal protection equipment, training, firefighting vehicles, firefighter/fire responder safety projects, and staffing recruitment and retention. Maryland fire departments and fire service organizations have received approximately $48.3 million through the AFGP.

Contaminated
Continued from page A- to chicken and beef stew, said Daryl Calvano, director of Environmental Health of the recalled products. I have sanitarians [inspectors] in their regular inspections looking for the products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the warning and product recall last week. According to information from the county health department the FDA has not traced any of the recalled products to St. Marys County, but Dr. William Icenhower, the countys chief health officer, is concerned for the public health because of the sheer volume shipped of the products in question. The county health department warned that anyone in possession of these recalled products should throw them away immediately; if the best by dates are not readable they should also be thrown out the health department advised. The same information from the county health department stated that the recalled products are being found on shelves in smaller grocery stores, dollar stores, independent food stores, drug store chains and convenience stores. Icenhower is also concerned that the recalled products might make it into local food pantries inadvertently as donations. Botulism can be fatal, according to the county health department, and symptoms can show up from six hours to two weeks after eating the contaminated food. Those symptoms can include doubled or blurred vi-

Rescue

Sheriff
Continued from page A- said. We could have a tough time with that now. Cameron said he was aware that his crime fighting initiatives, namely strengthening the narcotics unit, would render shortfalls elsewhere. Weve discussed and understand the short-term implications, Cameron said of the overtime pay, and we know thats a factor. Promoting a sergeant is only the first step in Camerons vision for a powerful narcotics unit aimed at tackling the drug rings that have grown with the countys population. There are currently seven personnel working in the narcotics unit, adding the lieutenant would make eight, and if the plan is followed, Cameron would bring on the ninth officer by the end of the school year, he said.

My scope is to make the vice narcotics unit selfcontained, Cameron added. The more people that know the more chance information will be leaked out. By adding to the unit, Cameron can shut off the administrative flow from the rest of the department, which will greatly enhance the units ability to keep intelligence and busts on an uninterrupted streamline. The new lieutenant will have considerable administrative tasks, but will also have the opportunity to help on the street level, a factor that swayed Raley to authorize the promotion. Russell however voted against the measure, saying it was a worthy cause, but he would like to see Camerons plan play out in a budget session. Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D- Leonardtown) voted for the promotion, and said that because drug use

is a significant problem in the county, Cameron would need additional help. I watched recently surveillance on a couple of operations, Mattingly added. The operations went down, but you have to keep picking at them, you cant solve them overnight because there back up and running as soon as you shut them down. The commissioners recently approved the hiring of four additional sheriffs deputies to be filled over fiscal year 2007. Those hires would likely be completed by October or November of 2007, according to Erin Shoemaker, fiscal manager of the sheriffs department.

Photo by Adam Ross

The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad will receive a grant to update equipment and health initiatives in the department.

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The County Times

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Summerstock Performs Crazy For You

Amy Kaper Staff Writer Last weekend, the theater troupe Summerstock performed the Gershwin musical comedy Crazy For You. The play was originally written under the name Girl Crazy in the 1930s by George and Ira Gershwin. It was adapted into the modern version by playwright Ken Ludwig. Crazy For You features several different Gershwin songs, some from Girl Crazy and some from various other Gershwin shows and movies. Ludwigs version won a Tony Award in 1992. The play is set in during the Great Depression. It follows the life of Bobby Child (played by 2007 Leonardtown graduate Bradley Silvestro), the son of a well-to-do banker. Childs dream in life is to dance, but his mother (played by 21 year-old Tessa Silvestro) has other plans for him. When she asks him to travel to Deadrock, Nevada to claim a small theater that failed to make its payments, Child reluctantly agrees, wanting to escape from the pressures of New York City and his obsessive ex-fiance Irene Roth, played by Chopticon senior Hanniel Sindelar. After arriving in Nevada, Child meets the theater owners daughter, Polly Baker (21 year-old Jenna Riehl), and immediately falls in love with her. In a desperate attempt to win her heart, Child impersonates famous theater owner Bela Zangler (played by Leonardtown senior Matthew Virts) and calls in New York dancers to assist him in putting on a show that will raise money to keep the theater in business. Director Bethany Wallace has directed the last two shows at Summerstock. When the previous director gave up her post after moving two years

Picture Courtesy Of Bethany Wallace

ago, she referred 23 year-old, music education major Wallace to the post. Wallace felt privileged to be able to work with such talented casts in her shows. Every cast member was very unique. They all brought something different to the show, she said. According to Wallace, the cast was also extremely dedicated. Many of the cast members were on summer vacation, but still managed to show up for the four hour rehearsals that took place five days a week. The most impressive addition to the show had to be the tap dancing. The entire cast tap danced at least once. After casting was done, every single member of the cast was required to go through a sort of dance boot camp to learn basic tap steps. They had four, two-hour sessions to ensure that everyone could tap during full company numbers such as I Got Rhythm. A specific set of tap dancers, the New York Girls, particularly added to the upbeat cadence of the show. These dancers included, Renee Garrison, Laina Locket, Jamie Szewczyk, Emily Frangenberg, Chelsea Hines, Alex Moderski and Alissa Bailey. They had numerous tap numbers, including I Cant Be Bothered Now and Nice Work If You Can Get It. A few improvements, however, would probably have added to the plays enjoyment. Scene changes were a bit dragged out. Feet could be seen running behind the curtain several times during the length of the show. Occasionally, one could also hear the full company singing off-key. Overall, the play was worth seeing. It had solid actors and actresses, phenomenal dancers, and wonderful casting choices. For a small St. Marys County troupe, Summerstock knows how to put on a pretty professional show. Watch out for Summerstocks next show, Seussical, being performed July 2008.

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The County Times

things to get started. Next is Hollywood, home of awesome French fries, and then Ridge always rounds things out by giving us our last taste of carnivals for one more summer. See, if you are from around here, you know what order the carnivals happen. Its just part of the county scene, what makes the county, well - the county. Whats so much fun about the carnivals? Pretty much everything. There are rides, of course, and my personal favorite is the carousel. There are games to play and prizes to win. There are raffles for both prizes and cash, in addition to two bicycles being given away, usually each night. And theres bingo I do love to play bingo. Its cheap and fun and you can sit there for as long as you want, listening to the sounds of the carnival, catching a breeze and eating your fries, hoping youll be the next one to call out Bingo! Of course, youre going to run into folks you know at the carnival because all fun and reasonable people are going to the carnival for at least one night during the course of it. You chat with old friends, see how big their kids have gotten, catch up on the news. Youre gonna hit the beer stand and get your 10 oz. Budweiser. From comments Ive

Section A - 7
received from non-natives, it would seem that not all carnivals have a beer stand but again, thats part just part of St. Marys County. You have to have a beer stand and you have to sell 10 oz. cans. The absolute best part of the carnival, though, is the food. I dont know if you realize it or not, but theres a law that requires all carnival attendees to have at least one slice of carnival pizza. Its not authentic New York pizza or anything like that; it tastes different from every other kind of pizza and you can only get it during the carnivals. It is called carnival pizza because thats what it is and it is a unique taste sensation. You also should have French fries. Other requirements include sno-cones or ice cream, and cotton candy. There are burgers and dogs and nachos and all that stuff, so just go for dinner and then graze for a couple of hours. Just dont miss going to a carnival this summer. I dont need to encourage the natives, we already know that going to the carnival is a summer requirement. I do want to encourage the rest of you, though. Go, eat, play, ride and enjoy a little slice of the kind of event that builds a community, makes it last and makes it a worthwhile place to live.

Ramblings of a Country Girl

Photo by Adam Ross

Ah, The Carnival

Terri Bartz Bowles Yea! Its carnival time! I feel like Snoopy doing the happy dance at supper time! How great is it to live in a place where the volunteer fire departments and rescue squads still put on a carnival every summer? Its pretty darn great, thats what. In St. Marys County, carnivals are a tradition and part of what makes the county the great place that it is. Its the little things that are really the treasures of day-to-day life and long-standing events like the firemens carnivals are one of those things. There arent as many as there used to be. Theyve dwindled down over the years for various reasons and were down to three. Mechanicsville, my hometown, has always had the first carnival of the season. When its time for the Mechanicsville carnival, were all ready; its been so long since carnival time the year before, were longing for

Zoning
Continued from page A- The rezoning process is not a given, however, as Rykens application will undergo careful analysis and scrutiny by Land Use and Growth Management, the Planning Commission and the general public. However, LUGM is likely in support of rezoning all 28 acres as IDA, Jackman said. I do think we have a preliminary recommendation, Jackman told The County Times. Were supportive of correcting the mapping area, but Im not sure if its a por-

tion of the property or all the property. Planners are also considering a Limited Development Area (LDA) classification, which would be less accommodating to the needs of Ryken. However, because of the demand to preserve critical areas and limit rainwater runoff, Ryken will likely be evaluated from those standpoints as well. Jackman said a growth allocation program started in 1990 would likely be used to rezone the 28 acres. That program was designed to allow up to 15 percent, or 1100 to 1200 acres of land classified RCA, to be converted to

another category. Jackman was unsure of how much growth allocation has been used in programs 17year existence, but said it was a relatively small amount. In 1990, when we were putting the program together, it was thought that there would be a greater [demand] for landowners in a position of low density, said Jackman. But there hasnt. Commissioner Daniel H. Raley was concerned that if growth allocation was levied, it might go unused, a similar situation the town of Leonardtown found itself in years ago. Raley wanted to know if the commissioners awarded

the growth allocation and it wasnt needed, could they get it back. Last Tuesday, Canavan told the commissioners he was unsure if they could get the growth allocation back and would look into it. Canavan has since not returned repeated phone calls from The County Times for an update. According to Jackman, this effort has been ongoing for about a year. We had a hearing last fall, Jackman added, but the issue stalled. The next step is a public hearing to be held August 13th at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Marys County Governmental Center.

Odd News
BUENOS AIRES- In the small city of Villa Mercedes, which is in central Argentina, a blackout in a major hospital last Saturday almost cost Leonardo Molina, 29, his life. Molina was undergoing emergency appendix surgery when a total blackout left his surgeons in the complete dark. One of Molinas relatives apparently went and got a couple cell phones from people in order to provide some light from the screens. The generator was supposedly malfunctioning and could not provide its required emergency power. Witnesses say the power was out for almost an hour, but a hospital representative say it was only a maximum of 20 minutes. Needless to say, the surgeons did finish the operation safely and effectively. What a scare! CHARLESTON, Ill.- Note to college applicants: make sure you send your applications in neat envelopes and packages with well-written hand writing if you dont want to be a suspected bomb threat! The Eastern Illinois University campus was evacuated last Friday because a mail carrier noticed a package addressed to the universitys admissions office in sloppy writing, with no return address. The package became suspicious because there were misspellings, and there was tape all over the outside. Police notified the bomb squad who then x-rayed and examined the package before finding out it contained only an application to the school. Now the question is, since it is just an innocent application, will this incident affect the persons chance of getting into the school? Most likely not, according to a university spokeswoman. MINOT, N.D.- How disappointing would it be to lose out on $1,000 because you forgot a punctuation mark?! Surprisingly, that actually did happen to Kevin Taylor, 30, of Minneapolis. The North Dakota State Fair was holding a text messaging contest when it was down to the last two competitors, Taylor and Beth Brevik, 32, of Minot. During the sudden death round, Taylor was first to put down his phone, but when the judges verified his answer, they revealed that he had forgotten the exclamation point at the end of his phrase. So, he had to settle for $200 while Brevik got the grand prize of $1,000. As for Brevik, shes thankful for her luck.

Drought
Continued from page A- Weve never had a large animal die off that I know of, Beale said. But its always something we need to be cautious of. The recent drought and intense heat have ruined many farmers crops of corn and sorghum, and farmers have started to cut down those plants that are unfit for human consumption and giving it to their livestock, especially since the drought has dried up many pastures that farmers normally use for livestock grazing. The decrease in feed stocks for farm animals has forced some farmers to use hay or some of the livestock feed they had saved up for the winter now. That means a feed deficit and more costs to farmers, Beale said, along with the possibility that some of the corn they want to use could be toxic. It can be a double blow,

Beale said. Right now [nitrate levels] are low to average but as time goes on therell be crops with [high nitrate levels. Farmers can combat the toxic effects of nitrates in their grain feed stocks by mixing the feed with other types with low nitrate contents or placing any nitrate rich feed in a silo. By sitting in a silo, the nitrates in the grain will be eliminated by a slow fermentation process, Beale said. It effectively brings the nitrate load down to safe levels, he added. Farmers who may have the most concerns are the ones that cut down feed plants from fields that use a large amount or manure or nitrogen based fertilizer. Plants may also absorb high levels of nitrates after a drought breaking rain when they quickly take in a large amount of water that is saturated with the nitrates, Beale said. The drought has become such a problem that during his visit to Southern Maryland,

Gov. Martin OMalley (D) said he has asked the federal government to declare the region a disaster area and make emergency funds available to farmers to help cover their losses. Working with the State Farm Service Agency and the Maryland Department of Agriculture, we estimate that farmers in Maryland have lost between 30 and 60 percent of their crop, OMalley said in a statement. By requesting this disaster designation we hope to provide some relief to our local farmers. Amy Farrell, executive director of the St. Marys County branch of the Farm Service Agency, said any relief from the federal government would have to wait until after August 10 at the earliest, when her group would submit another report of actual crop losses required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enact the disaster relief. Right now were gathering data for the report, Farrell said. [Federal aid] doesnt happen quickly.

Sporadic rains from July 26 to July 29 would be helpful said one farmer, but farmers needed much more rain fall to have any hope of salvaging their soybean crop. I guess it helped some, but its a little late, said California-based farmer Raymond Norris. It could help with the soybeans, but at this point youd be lucky to get half of a crop. The recent spotty rains could also help alleviate the plight of farmers looking to feed their livestock in pastures. Itll definitely help them, if they got it, Norris said. They really need that water. Norris said a break in the drought would help get the fall wheat crop off to a good start. Maybe we can get a good wheat crop planted, maybe thatll help with some of the losses, Norris said.

Tide Report
St. Mary's City
DATE Fri. Aug. 3 Sat. Aug. 4 Sun. Aug. 5 Mon. Aug. 6 Tue. Aug. 7 Wed. Aug. 8 Thu. Aug. 9 LOW ----------12:38 a.m. 1:38 a.m. 2:41 a.m. 3:46 a.m. 4:49 a.m. 5:49 a.m. LOCATION Breton Bay Bushwood Wharf Colton's Point Point Lookout Piney Point Wicomico Beach Solomons Island HIGH 5:29 a.m. 6:22 a.m. 7:21 a.m. 8:25 a.m. 9:33 a.m. 10:39 a.m. 11:40 a.m. HIGH "-17 min." "+45 min." "+50 min." "-41 min." "+9 min." "+58 min." "+8 min." LOW 11:52 a.m. 12:36 p.m. 1:26 p.m. 2:23 p.m. 3:29 p.m. 4:37 p.m. 5:43 p.m. LOW "-12 min." "+45 min." "+25 min." "-19 min." "-8 min." "+63 min." "+16 min." HIGH 5:58 p.m. 6:50 p.m. 7:47 p.m. 8:49 p.m. 9:54 p.m. 10:59 p.m. -----------

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The County Times

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Obituaries
James Thomas Beavers, 74
James Thomas Beavers, 74, of Avenue, Md. died July 26, 2007 in St. Marys Hospital, Leonardtown, Md. of complications from leukemia. Born Dec. 14, 1932 in Washington, DC, he was the son of the late John Edward Beavers and Pauline Emma (Regan) Beavers. Mr. Beavers graduated from Chamberlain Technical School in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army Medic Core in the early 1950s, and worked as a plumber and excavator. He enjoyed horseracing, baseball, and was a member of the American Legion. He married Joanne Elizabeth Beavers on October 16, 1954. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joanne Elizabeth Beavers of Avenue, M.d., three children, James Patrick Beavers, Sr. of St. Leonard, Md., Jeanette Elizabeth Hatchell of Chesapeake Beach, Md. and Jason Edward Beavers of Port Republic, Md., brother, Richard Cornelius Beavers of Edgewater, Md. and six grandchildren, Crystal Rose Garten, Megan Wyatt Beavers, James Patrick Beavers, Jr., Shane Robert Beavers, Jessica Elizabeth Beavers, and Wyatt Christopher Beavers. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters, Elizabeth Gasch and Eileen Pauline Beavers and brothers, William Al Beavers, John Edward Beavers, Jr., and Stanley Patrick Beavers. The family received friends Sunday, July 29, 2007 from 1-5 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md.. Prayers were recited at 3 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, July 30, 2007 at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bushwood, Md.. Father Early will be the celebrant. Interment followed in Chesapeake Highland Memorial Park, in Port Republic, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, St. Marys County - Unit 350, P.O. Box 1032, Lexington Park, MD 20653 and/or OPIS of St. Marys, P.O. Box 527, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, Md. was a member of the Knights of Columbus and he enjoyed gardening, wood working and latch hooking. The family received friends on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 from 5 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Pa., Leonardtown, Md., where Prayers will said at 7 p.m.. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. in St. Johns Catholic Church, Hollywood, Md. with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suitland, MD 20746. Pallbearers will be Justin Davis, David Knutson, David Knutson, Jr., Bob Hicks and Randy Carroll. Contributions may be made to St. Johns Building Fund, 43927 St. Johns Road, Hollywood, MD 20636 and/or Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. He passed away on Fathers day to be with his Heavenly Father. We love you, Dad, and will miss you, but we know well meet again. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary D. Hartshorn and daughters, Susannah Lynch and Sarah Sally Brown both of Hollywood, Md. and Beth Beardall of Halton Hills, Ontario, their spouses, six grandchildren and two brothers, William Hartshorn and Elden Hartshorn. The family will receive friends on Friday, August 3, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md.; where a Memorial Service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Inurnment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to HOSPICE of St. Marys, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or CareNet Pregnancy Center of Southern Maryland, P.O. Box 31, Lexington Park, MD 20653. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD. with his grandchildren. He was always a devoted single father and is survived by his three loving children, William Benjamin Johnson, III and his wife Theresa, Jennifer Renee Johnson and her companion Joey Bean, Heather Marie Brooks and her husband Joseph and his son-in-law Justin Lee Smith all of Hollywood, Md.. He is also survived by seven grandchildren who he referred to as Pop Pops Babies, Bailey Michelle Smith, Laila Marie Brooks, Hannah Nicole Smith, William Benjamin Johnson, IV, Travis Christopher Johnson, Alyssa Anne Bean and Baby Girl Brooks due in September. In addition to his children and grandchildren, he is survived by his Mother, Lillian Maria Johnson of Leonardtown, Md., his sister Gloria Abell and her husband Jackie of Hollywood, Md., Joyce Dennis and her husband Roger of Mt. Pleasant, MI his brother Walter Johnson and his wife Joyce of California, Md., his sister Carolyn McMahon and her husband Tommy of Bakersville, N.C., his sister Mary Vaughan and her husband Steve of Lexington Park, Md., his brother Donald Johnson and his wife Theresa of Leonardtown, Md. his brother Michael Johnson and his wife Charlene of Leonardtown, Md. his sister Debbie Fulton and her husband Mark of Hollywood, Md. and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father William Benjamin Johnson, Sr., his sister Dottie Johnson and his niece Julie Dennis. He was a lifelong St. Marys County resident where he worked for Johnson Plumbing. The family received friends in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home on Monday, July 30, 2007 from 5 8 p.m. with prayers being said at 7 p.m.. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Johns Catholic Church, Hollywood, Md. on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 10 a.m. with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown Md.. Pallbearers will be Tom Guy, Mark Fulton, Brandon Johnson, Justin Smith, Brent Guy and James Vaughan. Honorary Pallbearers will be Donald Johnson, Michael Johnson and all of his grandchildren. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Pa. B.P.O.E. Elks lodge in Lexington Park, MD, and the Navy Wives Club. While her children were attending Catholic schools in the county, Mary was an active parent volunteer. After Mary and Walter retired in 1980 they purchased a second home in Indialantic, FL and became snowbirds spending the winter in sunny Florida. During their retirement years, Mary pursued her love of travel, and she and her husband took many wonderful vacations around the world. As their health began to fail, Mary and Walter moved to the Hermitage Assisted Living Center in Solomons where Walter died in 2002. They were married for 57 years. Mary stayed on at the Hermitage where she could still be close to many familiar friends. She is survived by her children, John Popp and his wife, Joyce of Greensboro, N.C., Nancy Mercure and her husband, Jim of Reston, Va. and Larry Popp and his wife, Louise of Salt Lake City, Utah, nine grandchildren, Michael and his wife, Dawn, Kelly and her husband, Joel, Aimee, Ryan, Jeremy, Dan, Amanda, Julia and Lauren, and five great-grandchildren, Adam, Devin, Coreena, Jeremy, and Maria. In addition to her parents and her husband, Mary is preceded in death by her brother, Joseph Dawson. The family will receive friends on Monday, August 6, 2007 from 6-8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, Md.. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Funeral service was conducted on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.. Serving as pallbearers will be John Popp, Larry Popp, Jim Mercure, Michael Popp, Ryan Sides, and Jeremy Sides. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association, Southern Maryland Office, P.O. Box 1889, LaPlata, MD 20646. Condolences to the family may be made to www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. was a fun loving and very outspoken person. You never had to wonder how she felt about anything because she would always tell you. Her family and friends will miss her. Penny stood the test of time during her battle with cancer and she never complained. It was her faith in God that kept her going. Yet God gave her strength to go just a little farther. And today, we submit and bow in humble submission to the perfect will of God. She is survived by her son, Desmond Manilito of Lexington Park, Md., nine sisters, Clara Collins, Lois Taylor, Deborah Newkirk, all of Lexington Park, Md., Constance Brooks of Park Hall, Md., Audrey Hill of Lexington Park, Md., Faith Campbell of Park Hall, Md., Karen Davis of Capital Heights, Md., Rachel Brooks of Lexington Park, Md. and Candy Carroll of Park Hall, Md., four brothers, Louis Brooks, Jr., Hardin Brooks, both of Park Hall, Md., Delroy Brooks of Annapolis, Md. and Eric Tony Brooks of California, Md., two uncles, Robert and Henderson Brooks, nephew, Keith Brooks, affectionately known as little brother, three special sisters, Agnes, Angela, and Anita Brooks, godchildren, Derrick Carroll, Talisha Campbell, Marquis Hill, Sherman Knott and Jayla Morgan, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by two brothers, Marshall and Randy Brooks. The family will receive friends Friday, August 3, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. in Oasis of Victory Christian Church International, Lexington Park, MD. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service will be conducted on Saturday, August 4, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. in the church. Pastor James O. Spence, Jr. will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Park Hall True Holiness Church Cemetery, Park Hall, Md.. Serving as pallbearers will be Eric Brooks, Jr., Keith Brooks, Reginald Brown III, Tyrik Campbell, DeWitt Taylor, and Rodney Taylor. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Randy Brooks, Jr., Troy Brooks, Juwan Carroll, William Fenwick, Brandon Livingston, and Dwight DJ Taylor, Jr. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD.

Ruby Marie Gray, 7,

R u b y Marie Gray, 78, of Lexi n g t o n Park, Md. died July 26, 2007 at St. Marys H o s p i t a l . Born July 26, 1929 in Floyd, Va. she was the daughter of the late John E. and Almeda E. Sowers Alderman. She was the loving wife of the late Lloyd A. Gray whom she married in July of 1947 in Mt. Zion Church, Laurel Grove, Md. She is survived by her sons Lloyd Edward Gray, Gary Dale Gray and David Alan Gray, all of Lexington Park, Md,, her sisters; Gertha May Aldridge of Floyd, Va., Freeda Oneda Gragan of Loveville, Md. as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her siblings; Edgar Ellis Alderman, Elizabeth June Sowers, William Henry Alderman, Lula Alice Alderman, Hazel Louise Alderman and Selva Jean Alderman. The family received friends on Monday, July 30, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. in Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md.. A Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 10 a.m. in the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Sheldon Reese officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md.. Contributions may be made to Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 339, Lexington Park, MD 20653. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

John Kauffman Hostetler, 73

John Kauffman Hostetler, 73, of Charlotte Hall, Md. died July 31, 2007 at his residence. Born June 28, 1934 in Belleville, Pa. he was the son of the late Elizabeth F. and Rufus J. Hostetler. For arrangement details please visit our website at www.mgfh.com. A full obituary will appear at a later date.

Kevin Allen Jaros, 16

Burnell Bennings, 6
Burnell Ben nings, 86, of Mechanicsville, Md. formerly of Riverdale, Md. died July 28, 2007 in St. Marys Hospital. Born April 11, 1921 in Prattsville, Ark. he was the son of the late Ruby Yates and Leonard Homer Bennings. He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine Chase Bennings whom he married in 1943 in Washington, D.C. He is survived by his children: Barbara Bennings and Burnell B. Bennings both of Mechanicsville, Md. and John Bennings of Eldersburg, Md.; siblings: Charles Bennings of Redding, Calif., Carson Bennings of McKinleyville, Calif. and Gloria Deere of Malvern, Ark.; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his daughter: June Marie Courtney; siblings: Bobby Bennings and Germaine Livingston. Mr. Bennings attended Central High School, he moved to St. Marys County in 2001. He worked as a facility manager for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for 11 years until his retirement in 1981. He also served in the U.S. Navy for 36 years from 1940 1976 during WWI where he was stationed in the South Pacific and the Atlantic. He

K e v i n Allen Jaros, 16, of Laurel, Md., and formerly of Hollywood, Md. and Lusby, Md. died July 26, 2007 at Childrens Hospital. Born June 12, 1991 in Leonardtown, Md. he was the son of Edward and Debbie Grilli Jr. of Laurel, Md.. He is survived by his siblings Tina Mathis, Matthew Mathis, Edward Grilli III and Adam Grilli, all of Laurel, Md.. Kevin was a student at Ruth Parker Eason High School, Millersville, Md.. The family received friends on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 from 58 p.m. in Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md. where prayers were said at 7 p.m. led by Pastor Clyde Phillips. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Phillip Schol officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, Md.. Pallbearers will be Jerry Jaros, Jesse Robert Hartshorn, 7 Long, Matthew Mathis and Robbie Russell Arrangements Robert Hartshorn, 78, of provided by the MattingleyHollywood, Md. died June Gardiner Funeral Home, Pa.. 17, 2007 in St. Marys Hospital, Leonardtown, Md., from William Benjamin complications due to a debilitating stroke suffered in April Billy Johnson, Jr., 50 2006. W i l Born Aug. 3, 1928 in liam BenjaKensington, Md., he was the son of the late George Ernest min Billy and Essie Johnstone (Mc- Johnson, Jr., 50, of HollyCutcheon) Hartshorn. Mr. Hartshorn graduated wood, Md. from Dartmouth College in died sud1950, with a BA in History. denly, July He served in the United States 26, 2007 in Air Force. He continued his Washington education at Northrop Insti- Hospital Center. Born June tute of Technology in Califor- 27, 1957 in Leonardtown, Md. nia and earned a BS in Elec- he was the son of Lillian Matronic Engineering. In 1966 ria Johnson of Leonardtown, he moved his family to St. Md. and the late William Marys County and began his Benjamin Johnson, Sr. Billy career at Patuxent River Naval was one of a kind and youll Air Test Center. He retired never find a better man. He after 25 years of dedicated was friendly to everyone he service to our country as an met and would go out of his Electronic Engineer at NATC, way for anyone who needed Department of Electronic anything. He enjoyed playing Warfare and Reconnaissance. cards, taking trips to Dover, His passions were avia- reading the newspaper, watchtion, history, genealogy and ing western movies and most importantly spending time working on his small farm.

Penny Michelle Brooks Simms, 46

P e n n y M i c h e l l e B r o o k s Simms, 46, of Lexington Park, Md. died July 28, 2007 in St. Marys Hospital, Leonardtown, Md.. Born Feb. 28, 1961 in Leonardtown, Md., she was the daughter of the late Louis Marshall and Rose Rebecca Dyson Brooks. She grew up in Park Hall, MD and attended Great Mills High School. She completed Blades Beauty Academy in 2000. On June 25, 1988 she was united in marriage to the late Clarence Edward Simms, Sr. One child, Desmond Manilito was born to this union. Penny was employed with the federal government for 21 years. She last worked as a Management/ Program Assistant with the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md.. She received her early Christian training at Park Hall True Holiness Church in Park Hall, Md., formerly House of God Gates of Heaven Mission #2, under the leadership of the late Bishop John Clifton. It is there where she first accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Later in her Christian walk, she joined Oasis of Victory Christian Church International under the leadership of Pastor James Spence, Jr. Penny was a wonderful mother, daughter, godmother, sister, and special friend. She

Mary Dawson Popp, 4

M a r y D a w s o n Popp, 84 of Solomons, MD died on June 27, 2007 in Her mitage A s s i s t e d Living Center, Solomons, Md.. She had Alzheimers disease. Born April 18, 1923 in Chicago, Ill., she was the daughter of the late Joseph Dawson and Charlotte (Bradley) Dawson. She was educated at Aquinas Dominican Catholic High School. After two years of secretarial school, she went to work at the Naval War College in Chicago where she met her husband Walter, a career Navy man. Mary and her family lived in St. Marys County since 1957 when her late husband, Walter, retired from the Navy and went to work at Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center. They loved living in St. Marys County, where they made great friends and were active in the religious, civic, and social activities of the county. Although Mary was primarily a housewife and mother, she worked for a number of years as office manager for Dr. Lee George, a close friend and dentist in Leonardtown, Md.. She was also an active member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the

Ethel Ardene Wilson, 79

E t h e l A r d e n e Wilson, 79, of Leonardtown, Md. died July 28, 2007 in St. Marys N u r s i n g C e n t e r , Leonardtown, Md.. Born March 18, 1928 in Beaverton, Ore., she was the daughter of the late Leo Carl Drone and Anna Cecelia (Carlson) Drone. Ardene, as she was known throughout her life, worked for the Air Force Systems Command on Andrews Air Force Base, MD for several years. She retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington, D.C. in April of 1987. She is survived by two daughters, Michelle D. Block of Bluffton, SC and Marsha A. Dyson of Leonardtown, Md., one son, Jeffrey L. Wilson of North Beach, Md., sister, Dorothy L. Tobin of New Berlin, WI, brother, Edward F. Drone of Chilton, WI, two sisters-in-law, Marion L. Barnett of Whittier, Calif. and Audrie L. Wilson of Eau Claire, WI, six grandchildren, Kyle H. Tabor of Rockville, Md., Joanne D. Patane of Frankfurt, Germany, Carl S. Dyson of Leonardtown, Md., Neal C. Dyson See Obits page A-10

Thursday, August 2, 2007

The County Times

they are presented a series of problems and they have to evaluate and make decisions. Practicing those skills helps in ways of learning. Smith is one of many who believe the values of chess are far reaching in todays educational system, which also coincides with the views held by Marylands political leaders. In 2006, the Maryland General Assembly appropriated $255,000 to the Maryland State Department of Education for chess in schools. State officials awarded 24 programs across the state with up to $10,000 in grant funding to support their chess initiatives. While the money was seen as a positive step towards enhancing students access to the game around the state, according to Renee Cottman-Reyes, an education specialist for MSDE, the state didnt go as far as others have in the past. New Jersey passed a bill legitimizing chess as a unit of instruction within the elementary school curriculum in 1992. Meanwhile, CottmanReyes said MSDE received 33 proposals, and due to the quality of most of them, MSDE funded four more proposals than it initially planned. St. Marys Countys proposal was strong enough to land it $10,000, which was used to aid and expand a previously developed program that has received support from a variety of organizations and local management boards around the county. As part of the project abstract submitted to the state, SMCPS wrote a key feature of the program is that it serves all three levels of schools: elementary, middle and high. This allows the program to build a cadre of chess players who increase their skills year after year The countys program will encompass 105 students at six schools and a seventh location known as the Global Village After School Program put out by the Institute for Human Growth and Development. The program will be strictly an after school activity except at Great Mills High School. Most programs only fund one school, Smith said, but we can stretch it because we have a lot of infrastructure already in place. Smith added that the school board hopes to eventually grow the program so that it is in every school within the St. Marys system. Five site leaders from the Boys and Girls Clubs will work in the programs schools and organize the activities. In addition, a staff member or community leader will be hired by each school to run the program. According to Smith, the person hired will receive either an hourly rate or stipend, but does not have to be an expert chess player. If they are just familiar with the game that is good, Smith added. But even if they arent we will have some materials available that make it pretty easy to learn the game. Its just as important to us to hire someone able to motivate kids and structure the program. Six local tournaments are planned for next year, which will include four in house tournaments and two countywide tournaments between local schools that will be hosted by Great Mills High School. Smith said he has also been in discussion with superintendents from other counties and hopes that in the next year or two they can set up statewide tournaments. We want chess to be something that kids are excited about, Smith said, in the same way they are interested in basketball or [physical] sports.

Section A - 

Chess
Continued from page A- St. Marys County Public Schools, in conjunction with the Institute of Human Growth and Development and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland, will initiate and expand seven chess programs this fall that are part of its Chesapeake Chess Project. Students at George Washington Carver, Lexington Park, Green Holly and Park Hall elementary schools; Spring Ridge Middle School and Great Mills High School will be afforded the opportunity to learn and cultivate their understanding of the game, and then compete in countywide tournaments to gauge achievement. For years, the implementation of chess into school curriculums has been carefully studied and widely considered beneficial to students who regularly show increased problem solving, math and reasoning skills from playing the game. A lot of research says kids that learn chess are helped academically, said Mark Smith, coordinator for special programs at St. Marys County Public Schools, because

Photo Courtesy of St. Marys County Public Schools

Studies show playing chess enhances students cognitive abilities to problem solving and reason.

Navy News
New Anti-tamper Office At Pax Now In Full Swing
Amy Kaper Staff Writer The Department of the Navy (DON) has recently put a new anti-tamper office, with the technical warrant holder now located at Pax. The responsibility for anti-tamper (AT) work was changed at first to NAVAIR from the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy in 2005. The first year was developing policy and processes and bringing the company into complete operation. The (AT) director, Don Traeger, said, We are now fully engaged, even though there are still some Navy programs unaware of the change. The aim of the department, according to Traeger, is to prevent, or at least delay, infiltration by unwanted sources outside of the Navy. The Navys main concern reverse engineering. Reverse engineering is a process in which an individual or a team takes something (e.g. a mechanical device, an electronic component, a software program) apart and analyzes its workings in detail. The reverse engineers then usually to try to make a new device or program that does the same thing, without exactly copying anything from the original so as to not infringe on a copyright set down by the inventors. There are many commercial reverse engineering vendors; software and firmware tools; even workshops on reverse engineering techniques. We want to make it more difficult if the system falls into unauthorized hands, either on the battlefield or through foreign military sales, he explained. Anti-tamper is designed to make it difficult to open the systems and obtain critical program information and technology. Anti-tamper implementation is a Department of Defense requirement, with each service department having their own technical authority. Each of the Navys system commands, the United States Marine Corps, NAVAIR, NAVSEA and SPAWAR, have their own technical warrant holder responsible for endorsing their program AT plans. With the apprehension of an endorsement, the plans then go to the Navys AT office at Patuxent River where funding dustry team, said Doug Isleib, U.S. Navy program manager, Presidential Helicopters Program. We all should be proud of this accomplishment as we look forward to the day when these helicopters are landing on the South Lawn of the White House. Before TV-2 is delivered to the test facility at Pax River this fall for structural testing, the aircraft will complete initial shake-down flying and embark on flight trials to test the newly integrated avionics systems and aircraft systems. The VH-71 industry team issues, technical processes and collaboration efforts are discussed. The AT Technical Warrant Holder responsible for AT execution across the DON at that level is Darrell Cole. One of the main reasons our office was formed was to align anti-tamper within systems engineering, said Cole. Now we are able to integrate anti-tamper into the engineering and engineering review processes, as well as oversee multiple procedures and improve partnering efforts. Cole then forwards those plans to RDML Steven Eastburg, Commander, Naval Air Warfare System, Aircraft Division, with bhis recommendations for the final endorsement. Anti-tamper is not a silwill build a fleet of Marine One helicopters in two increments. Four test aircrafts and five pilot production VH-71 aircrafts comprising the Increment 1 phase are to be delivered through 2009. Increment 1 will satisfy the pressing need for an air system with enhanced performance. Increment 2 will see a significant increase in aircraft performance, and will feature technical enhancements designed to give command and control capability while in flight. Aircraft final assembly will be by Bell Helicopter in Texas with missionization by ver bullet and it isnt a substitute for other security practices, he said. It is simply the last line of defense. said Traeger. The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) is offering a Program Manager Introduction to Anti-Tamper class (CLE 022) discussing DOD critical technology and how AT fits within the spectrum of DOD activities on protecting Critical Program Information. For more information go to http://www.dau.mil/. Excerpts of this article were taken from a NAVAIR press release written by Vicki Falcn.

Presidential Test Helicopter Completes Maiden Flight

Amy Kaper Staff Writer On July 3, the presidential helicopter VH-71 was tested and successfully completed its maiden flight. This achievement signified a momentous milestone in the development of the United States Presidential aircraft. The designated Test Vehicle #2 (TV-2) was assembled and prepared at an AgustaWestland facility in Yeovil, UK. It is the first test aircraft built principally for the VH71 Presidential Helicopters Program. During the 40-minute flight, AgustaWestland Chief Test Pilot Don Maclaine and Senior Test Pilot Dick Trueman performed general aircraft handling checks, tested flight characteristics at varying speeds up to 135 knots, and evaluated the on-board avionics systems. Seeing our first VH-71 test vehicle flying is an important stepping stone and an exciting event for the entire program, the culmination of a tremendous amount of work by the Government and In-

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in NY. When completed, the Marine One will be the worlds most technologically advanced helicopter that safely and reliably transports the president and vice president of the United States, heads of state and other official parties both at home and abroad with mobile Oval Office in the sky capabilities. These Oval Office in the sky capabilities feature tools for presidential support. Initial Operational Capability of the Presidential helicopter is scheduled for late 2009.

 Section A - 10

The County Times

25, 2007 in Prince G e o r g e s G e n e r a l Hospital, C h e v e r l y, Md. B o r n Aug. 1, 1940 in Leonardtown, Md., she was the daughter of Mary Virginia Gatton and the late Joseph Elmer Grove. A lifelong resident of St. Marys County, Mrs. Wood drove a school bus for the St. Marys County schools for 18 years. She also was a homemaker. In her spare time she enjoyed sewing and canning her vegetables. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Alfred Wood of Mechanicsville, Md., her six children, Brenda Lee Manize and her husband, James of Newport News, Va., Thomas C. Wood of Eastern Shore, Md., Joseph Harry Wood and his wife, Cheryl of Mechanicsville, Md., Robert Lee Wood and his wife, Lisa of Mechanicsville, Md., Jason McKinley Wood and his wife, Sandra of Mechanicsville, Md., Loretta Lynn Wood of Hollywood, Md., sister, Louise Thompson of Clements, Md., half-brother, Jay Gatton of Hollywood, Md., 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In addition to her father, she is preceded in death by her sister, Patricia Ann Lahocki. The family received friends Friday, July 27, 2007 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. in Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home Chapel, Charlotte Hall, Md., where a Funeral Service was conducted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 10 a.m. Reverend Tom Campbell of Gospel Light Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Md. will conduct the service. Interment will follow in Mount Zion Church Cemetery, Mechanicsville, Md. Condolences to the family may be left at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Obits
Continued from page A- of Waynesville, Mo., Kristen R. Dyson of Washington, DC and Paul J. Patane of Minnetonka, Minn., four nieces and two nephews. In addition to her parents, Ardene is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Ellsworth Wilson who died on December 24, 2004. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 from 6-8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel, Leonardtown, MD. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimers Association, Southern Maryland Office, P.O. Box 1889, LaPlata, MD 20646. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. in Leonardtown, MD.

Photo Courtesy of SMECO

Mary Jean Wood, 66

Mary Jean Wood, 66, of Mechanicsville, Md. died July

Martin OMalley with SMECO officials and local legislators outside the Cooperatives Hughesville headquarters. From left: Maryland Del. John Bohanan, SMECO Director Gilbert Bowling, Maryland Del. Sally Jameson, SMECO Director W. Rayner Blair III, SMECO President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Slater, OMalley, SMECO Director Richard A. Winkler, SMECO Board Chairman Daniel W. Dyer, and SMECO Directors W. Michael Phipps, James A. Richards, and J. Douglas Frederick.

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