The

Thursday, August 7, 2008 St. Marys County, Maryland

County
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

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Ryken Grads Fight Cancer On Lacrosse Field

Study Reveals Nothing Parents: Local New According To Soldier Local Delegates
Two delegates within St. Marys and Calvert counties say the findings of a recent transportation study naming the top priorities for Southern Maryland have long been known to officials here and the money used to fund the study could have been better spent. The study, from the Commission to Study Southern Maryland Transportation Needs, stated that an extra span for the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge, a western bypass for Waldorf and an upgrade for Route 301 and more public transit options for Southern Maryland were the top three most-needed projects. Del. Tony ODonnell (R-Dist. 29C) said he first voted on the bill in the 2005 legislative session when Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich was in office. Ehrlich vetoed the bill but his veto was overturned in a special legislative session. See Transportation page A-5

If we start doing transportation studies in the legislature instead of through the Maryland Department of Transportation, well have our lunch eaten. The study told us no more than what we knew five years ago. The money for the study could have been applied to needed road repairs instead.

Tony ODonnell (R-Dist. 29C)

Killed In Afghanistan Committed To His Mission

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The family of Sgt. Ryan Patrick Baumann, a soldier with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan, is mourning his loss after learning of his death on Aug. 1 but they say that they are beaming with pride at the work their son believed in wholeheartedly. See Baumann page A-

It was great to go up there and play lacrosse for a great cause and to have fun. Bryant Schmidt

Governors Cup Yacht Race Final Results

Weather forcasts proved to be wrong for this years Governors Cup Yacht Race, which kicked off at 6 p.m. on Friday with  to 8-knot winds and calm seas. Sailors in this years 35th annual overnight race had light winds and calm waters for most of the course. Returning to compete this year was an all-high-school crew from Southern Maryland. On board Age of Reason, sailors from Leonardtown and Patuxent High Schools won in their class (C-D). Their boat is a centerboard model 198 Bristol 355 captained by their coach, Stovy Brown, of St. Leonard, Maryland. Gordon Latrobe on Still a Gorilla (PHRF B) took home the Waldschmitt Award for the best in fleet. Jeremy Hutch i nson and crew on Meridian (PHRF AO) won the Alumni Trophy. Andrew Eyring and crew on Finn Photo Courtesy of David Noss from Baltimore (PHRF C/D) was honored with the Bickell Award, named for a racer who lost his life in a tragic accident sailing in the 1994 Governors Cup, and the Patuxent Partnership (TPP) trophy was awarded to Clarke McKinney and crew of The Riddler from Solomons, Maryland (PHRF A3).

John F. Wood (D-Dist.29B)

Lexington Park Named Third Best American Dream Town

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer People pine for small town America as though its gone, but its right here, said Gerald Goodwin as he sat near the entrance of the Church of the Ascension on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, a picturesque memory garden blooming behind him. Nearby, a thin line of cars whizzed by, traveling to or from any number of shops and centers along the stretch. See Dream Town page A-

Sgt. Ryan Patrick Baumann

Burglary, Assault, and Reckless Endangerment Charges

At midnight on August 4, deputies responded to a report of shots fired on Cecil Avenue in Leonardtown. Charles Eugene Castle II, 38 of Leonardtown, and Joshua Ezekiel Shafer, 30 of Compton, forced their way into a residence located on Cedar Street in Leonardtown, assaulting the homeowner and a second victim as all occupants of the residence fled the scene. Castle and Shafer then left the residence, but were met by another occupant, Matthew Fletcher Bernd, 20 of Leonardtown, who fired a .38 caliber revolver at them. Castle and Shafer have been charged with 1st, 3rd, and 4th degree burglary and numerous counts of assault, and Bernd has been charged with one count of reckless endangerment.

Bizjournals.com ranked 140 small towns across America for their quality of life, to include economic opportunities, housing markets and access to big cities, and Lexington Park ranked third in this years list of the best small towns in which to live.

Photo by Andrea Shiell

Lexington Park Man Charged in Attempted Car Jacking

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer On August 4, deputies responded to the Lexington Park Library for a report of a fight, but what was first reported as a fight ended up being an attempted robbery. Deputies learned that the alleged victim was walking to his car, which was parked in the library parking lot, when a black male grabbed him in a choke hold from behind and demanded the keys to the victims 1994 Dodge pick up truck. The suspect reached into the victims pockets and began searching for the keys while still demanding them from the victim, and as a result of the suspect yelling, attention was drawn to the scene. Arresting Deputy J. Kirkner reported that he spoke to two witnesses who claimed that the suspect was choking his victim while demanding his car keys. Bystanders then began yelling for the suspect to let the man go, at which point the suspect fled in the direction of Missouri Avenue in Lexington Park. A short time later, a man matching the suspects description was detained in the area of Rogers Drive, which is approximately 300 yards from Missouri Avenue and the site of the attempted robbery. The suspect, 18 year-old Joseph Lee Woolfolk of Lexington Park, was arrested and charged with attempted car jacking, which could result in 30 years in prison, second degree assault, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and attempted robbery, which could result in a 15 year sentence. Woolfolk was also charged with the attempted unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

Law Enforcement Hopes New Tool Will Save Lives From Domestic Violence
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Det. Julie Yingling remembers when she was a patrol officer responding to domestic violence complaints, all the officer could do if the victim did not want to cooperate with the investigation was give them a few phone numbers to call and hand them some pamphlets on how to get help. Now, things have changed for the better, Yingling said, with the advent of a set of questions officers now ask victims of domestic violence to see just how much danger they really are in. The new lethality screen for first responders, Yingling said, has become standard procedure for patrol officers to use when they roll up to what are often volatile situations. Theyre typically using them every single time now, Yingling told The County Times. Its not foolproof, but its a lot more than was happening before. The officer now asks if the suspect in the case threatened to use a weapon or kill the victim when they first arrive, when the victim is most likely to be cooperative, Yingling said. If the answer to those questions is yes, according to the assessment, then the officer immediately calls a counselor at Walden Sierra, Inc. who specializes in domestic violence situations, even if the victim does not want to talk to a counselor or cooperate. If we get them talking they see someone really does care, Yingling said. And even if they dont seek help, they know its there. More people have been seeking help once they know that someone is there to give it, according to Yingling. The key, she said, is to get the victim seeking help immediately in the domestic violence process, because if they do not, victims often make quick amends with their abuser and enter into a dangerous situation again. Kathy OBrien, director of Walden Sierra, said, according to state statistics, only a very small percentage about four percent of fatal domestic violence cases are connected with the victim seeking outside help. In 2004, there were three homicides in St. Marys that authorities linked to domestic issues between quarreling couples. In all three, the See Violence page A-5

Inside
Op.-Ed ...........Page A - 4 Obituaries.......Page A - 6 Community.....Page B - 4 Police ...............Page B - 7 Classifieds.......Page B - 9 Thursday T-Storms 87

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The County Times

Thursday, August 7, 008

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

Recently several St. Marys County citizens have received checks in the mail along with a letter notifying the citizen they are a winner of a lottery or receiver of some sort of funds. Deputy Cindy Allen, public information officer for the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office, says that the first cases of these types of letters originated in the northern end of the county, with two or three more in the southern end. This is a very common fraud scheme, she said. The letters have originated from outside the United States. The citizen is typically asked to deposit the fraudulent check into their account, and to send cash in order to pay processing fees, taxes, services charges, or to receive their gift. The money, usually equaling two or three hundred dollars, is then picked up by a receiver in a foreign country. The check comes back as being fraudulent and then theyre out the money they sent back, said Allen, who warns that once money is sent out of the country, it is nearly impossible to recover. If theyre sending money out of the country then theres no way to recoup it. The feds cant even recoup it. Its out of their jurisdiction. The Federal Trade Commission reports counterfeit or fake checks are being used in a variety of deceptive schemes to include the foreign lottery scam, which has recently been reported in St. Marys County. Other money schemes include check overpayment scams, which target consumers selling cars and valuables through classified ads or online auction sites such as Ebay or Craigs List. Unsuspecting sellers become victims when the thief passes a bogus cashiers check, corporate checks, or personal checks to pay for the item when purchased. They will reply to a classified ad or auction, offer to pay for the item with a check, and then come up with an excuse to write the check for more than the purchase price. The purchaser then asks the seller to wire back difference after depositing the

Money Scams Hit Southern Maryland Prosecutor Recent Cases Prompting Warnings Drops Charges Against Bank Robbery Suspect
check, and within a few days, the check bounces, leaving the seller responsible for the entire amount. In secret shopper scams, the victim is hired to be a secret shopper, and is asked to evaluate the effectiveness of a money transfer service. They are given a check, told to deposit in their bank account, and withdraw the amount in cash. They are then told to take the cash to a specified money transfer service and send the transfer to a person in another country. The victim is supposed to evaluate the experience, but the evaluation is never collected, and the victim is out of the cash. Allen said that thieves who use these methods typically target the elderly. She cited one instance where a fraudulent check was sent to a woman in St. Marys County who had passed away. The check was intercepted by a family member and reported to the authorities. Those who use these methods can easily avoid detection, because when funds are sent through wire transfer services, recipients can pick up the money at other locations within the same country, and it is nearly impossible for the victim to identify or locate the recipient. Allen said that warnings have been issued about these scams from the Sheriffs Office, but there are several things that people can do to avoid falling victim. Citizens are encouraged to know who they are dealing with, and to never wire money to strangers, to never pay for a fee for a free gift or prize, since it stands to reason that a free gift should be free. Never enter a foreign lottery, since the majority of foreign lotteries are fraudulent. Sellers using classified ads or online selling services should also use recognized escrow or online payment services such as PayPal. For more information on these and other types of scams, residents should visit http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/ edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre40.shtm. Allen said that the number one tip-off should be if someone asks you to wire money to a foreign country, but there are other signs that a check or offer that someone gets in the mail could be fraudulent. Basically, if it looks to good to be true, it probably is, she said. By Guy Leonard Staff Writer States Attorney Richard Fritz decided to not prosecute a Montgomery County man who had been accused of taking part in the robbery of the Bank of America in Mechanicsville last year. David Concepcion, of Rockville, was accused of helping another Rockville man, Valeriy Kouznetsov during the August 2007 robbery but had all charges against him, which included armed robbery, robbery, first-and-second-degree assault and the use of a handgun in the commission of a crime dropped, according to his attorney Public Defender John Getz. Concepcion has already pleaded guilty to one charge connected to an attempted bank robbery that took place in Rockville about one week after the Mechanicsville robbery. Kousnetsov still faces charges here but in Montgomery County he has already pleaded guilty to charges in the later attempted bank robbery, according to on-line court records. Getz said there were questions about whether Concepcion was even with Kouznetsov when he allegedly used a replica handgun to rob the Bank of America. Obviously were pleased, Getz said of the states decision to not prosecute the case against Concepcion. It appeared the stated had no evidence to put my client at the scene; there were no witnesses to identify a second person. Originally investigators here believed that both Concepcion, 34, and Kouznetsov, 24, had carjacked a vehicle in Montgomery County August 17 and used it in the bank robbery the same day in Mechanicsville. The car allegedly used to commit the crime was found later, abandoned in Prince Georges County. Fritz did not return phone calls for comment as of press time.

Mental Health Advocates Get New Home

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer For the past two years, the Southern Maryland chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Southern Maryland) has been run mostly out director Connie A. Walkers residence in Leonardtown. That has created numerous difficulties in directing those dealing with a mental illness, or trying to help someone who has one, to the treatment and resources they need. Then there is the problem of recruiting enough volunteers to help seekers get the assistance and support they need for their illnesses. Now, NAMI Southern Maryland has taken up residence in a new office in Lexington Park; the first time it has had an office since Walker took over directing the group. The office on Shangri-La Drive was donated to NAMI by the Community and Economic Development Corporation and the group only has to pay utilities on the place, Walker said. Its a lot of work to run mental health advocacy groups in rural areas, Walker told The County Times. They tend to operate out of the trunk of someones car. The needs of people looking for help in dealing with mental illnesses continued to grow, regardless of NAMIs housing situation, and that meant the group could no longer operate as it has been, according to Walker. We reached a tipping point; we had to have an office, She said. NAMI Southern Maryland does not provide treatment for those suffering a mental illness, but does point them in the right direction. Volunteers for the organization also help run classes that bring family members of the mentally ill together for support as well as to learn how to cope with the impacts of the disease and how to get treatment for their loved ones. Having the new office will help me and other volunteers, said Sarah Ashworth, who runs one of the support classes for NAMI. And itll provide consumers a place to learn, gain support and get resources they wouldnt get anywhere else. Best of all, the resources people have access to through NAMI are free, Ashworth said. With the new office, one member of the NAMI Southern Maryland board of directors said, will also come more people Photo by Guy Leonard who have needs. With an office theyd be more likely to seek help, said Pat Connie Walker, left, NAMI Southern Maryland director, and Jackie Harris and Sarah Ashworth, both recovery support group volunteers, at the groups
new office in Lexington Park on Shangri-La Drive.

Hemler. Its a physical presence and its a place for people to go seeking support. Walker said the local NAMI chapter is in lockstep with the concerns of the newly formed county Office of Human Services, which states that mental health is a growing issue in St. Marys County. But the countys location can make helping the suffering of others more challenging. Our issues are the same as rural areas all across the country, Walker said. Providers would rather practice in urban areas; they dont like to work in rural areas. The new office is funded entirely with donations to NAMI

Southern Maryland, Walker said, but NAMI tries to keep as many avenues open for those seeking help as possible. We partner here with all the providers one way or another, Walker said. Were pretty aggressive advocates. One of the main things NAMI is here to accomplish, Walker said, is not only to help provide access to treatment and resources but to show people that mental illness and shame need not go together. We want to provide better education and more understanding about mental illness, Walker said. And the stigma that comes along with that and shouldnt.

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Thursday, August 7, 2008

The County Times

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 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Editorial & Opinion

High Energy Cost Is No Stunt
The Republican Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner of Ohio, is leading the Republicans on the U.S. House floor in protest of the fact that the Democratic Majority last Friday quickly decided to adjourn for a 5 week summer vacation without allowing a yes or no vote on legislation that would provide for comprehensive energy reform, including offshore drilling. Boehners counterpart in the U.S. House of Representatives, Steny Hoyer, our Congressman from Marylands 5th Congressional District and the House Majority Leader has called the Republicans effort stunts on the House floor in a transparent political effort to manufacture headlines. The American Energy Act introduced by House Republicans is called an all of the above energy strategy. Meaning it takes into account a strategy for energy independence from a variety of fronts. The American Energy Act would increase the supply of American-made energy in environmentally sound ways, improve energy conservation and efficiency, and promote renewable and alternative energy technologies. Last Friday morning, rather than debate the issue of the American Energy Act and take a vote on the proposal, Steny Hoyer and Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker and Hoyers boss elected instead to recess for 5 weeks. Pelosi has publicly stated she will not allow a vote on the proposed legislation to take place. When Pelosi and Hoyer decide to adjourn rather than take up the issue that is crippling their constituents back home, the House Republicans objected and decided to stay in hopes the Democrats would change their minds and come back into session to vote on the proposed legislation. Pelosi instead ordered the microphones and lights in the U.S. House be turned off. The House Republicans remain in session on the House floor this week protesting the Democrats vacation without first voting on this important issue. Hoyer has not only called the Republican efforts a stunt but went on to say its a shame Republicans are more interested in playing games than enacting real solutions. Pelosi and Hoyer can offer a lot of political jargon to explain their decision. Both parties are filled with professional politicians capable of throwing blame elsewhere enough to confuse the American public. These guys, on both sides of the aisle can go back and forth all day about who has failed the American people the most. This is why Congresss approval rating among Americans is at an all time low. It is hard to find any other American institution with a lower approval rating. This is not how Americans expect their government to work. We are tired of politicians blaming everyone else while Americas problems go unresolved. You can give excuses all day Steny, and some might be valid, but you cannot refute the fact that Americans should be able to expect that you would at least be willing to vote on a piece of legislation that arguably seeks to address the number one problem effecting most Americans today. No political jargon, no matter the substance, can explain why you can not simply debate the legislation over a reasonable period of time and then have the members elected by the people do their job, vote. If the Democrats dont like the Republican sponsored legislation, they could introduce their own version of the American Energy Act. Bring two ideas to the table, let them both be debated and both voted on, let the best idea win, isnt that what Americans expect their government to do? Regardless of who is to blame for the American energy crisis we face today, the American Energy Act is legitimate legislation, which offers possible solutions. The voters should expect Hoyer and his colleagues to return to Washington now to debate and vote on this critical piece of legislation, even if it means Hoyer and Pelosi must end their vacation stunt.

America Should Drill For Oil While Developing Alternative Energy Sources
Your mother is the dear lady who graciously allowed the giver of all life (God Almighty of the Holy Bible) to fulfill his plan of brining you forth at his predetermined time. At least thats the manner is which nature has performed since the creation of mankind. Today, however, theres much in the news contrary to historical precedence, as another entity, whos not new at all, is vociferously lauded as responsible for your very existence. The entity to be revered is none other than Mother Earth. And man, is she hot about the way youve been plodding all over her with your big feet, to the point of demanding your fearful repentance from oil as placed underground by none other than her Creator! What once amounted to applying common sense to preserve, not pollute and properly tend to the environment on some semblance of order like unto that, which youd provide for your family and pets etc., is no longer adequate. Rational though has been supplanted by the religion of Mother Earth worship as preached by the self anointed leader of this cult himself, the Rev. Algore. He, along with Apostles Greenpeace and Sierra, Hollywood Disciples airhead

I wished to extend my gratitude to Sheriff Cameron & Commissioner Raley for their quick response in taking the first of many steps in the clean up of the infamous path to the Patuxent Park Project through the woods from Spring Valley in Lexington Park. I wish I had taken some before pictures because of the tremendous effect one day of clean up effort has had on the appearance of the path & surrounding woods. Many thanks as well to everyone from the Department of Corrections that worked the cleanup effort. This path has long been a

Thank You For The Path Cleanup

tioning the veracity of their new religion. Meanwhile, Republicans stayed behind to try and affect substantive and positive business on behalf of the best interest of all Americans- energy independence. Mother Earths ministers proclaim a false gospel whereas the Gospel of truth was and is the Good News of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has not, nor will He ever be replaced or relegated to a place of nominal obscuand loony, others compromise a very powerful and rity. His power made this world, among others and well-financed sect highly esteemed by liberal media. His power will sustain this world till such time as He Did you know, recently, between church buffets, her says otherwise. Its a safe bet itll still be here after right reverend gloomily prophesied mankinds soon you and I are long gone. demise if we dont heed his commandment to get off What can you do? Well, as God intended, you of the Devils milk (oil) immediately. We, unbeliev- are a free moral agent and are responsible for your ers, have been warned! own decisions and actions. May I respectfully sugPerhaps you are not counted among Mother gest you weigh your options and consequences, and Earth churchs increasing membership. Good for you. Strangely enough, with this religion, however, separation of church and state doesnt apply and you cant escape her influence. Proudly deluded, the overwhelming majority of the newly evolving Democrat Party is among Mother Earths most ardent and prostrated believers and their false religion affects all Americans. If you think that Democrat Party cares about you, think about this. These church prophets are so concerned about the cost of gas and its adMay I take this opportunity to thank the verse effects on your dwindling finances (along with Hollywood ambulance team that let me ride in its causing increased unemployment and businesses the ambulance on July 21st when my husband succumbing to bankruptcy) that they brazenly closed of 46 years, Bill got sick. We made our virgin up shop and sent the members home for a five-week visit inside of St. Marys Hospital in nearby vacation at your expense. They will not tolerate ques- Leonardtown, Md. We arrived at the hospital between 9 and 9:30 a.m. Since we got there relatively early we were able to get an emergency room cubicle. We found the entire staff to be helpful and professional. They answered our questions and did their jobs. I saw several employees on their computers there. We got a room on the third floor mid afternoon on Monday. He had a CAT scan, and MRI, a Doppler way of legitimate travel between these two scan of his corroded artery in his neck and of neighborhoods and, Im sure, will continue course several checks of his vitals. to be. Unfortunately, the path harbors a great So if you have to acquire the patience of deal of illegitimate activity & travel. Im sure Job and the Wisdom of Solomon, please be this first cleanup effort has sent a signal to all prepared to wait. On Monday, July 21st in the that the path is changing for the better. afternoon the emergency room was filled to I look forward to the next steps in the cleanup of illegitimate & illicit traffic, for the safety of those in both neighborhoods. On behalf of my neighbors, thank you again. Pete Greivell Lexington Park

conclude with the following trust Jesus Christ, alone for your souls eternity and trust American ingenuity to safely extract oil within Americas parameters for the here and now. The Earth is not your mother and using our own oil is not sinful, but, rather, wise and in the best interests of the welfare and economy of this free nations. Support efforts to drill here, drill now, save money and enjoy life while simultaneously supporting interests in fast tracking alternative sources and energy as developed by good ol Marican ingenuity. Remember, viable alternatives will be years in developing along the pipelines of success, so be patient. Now go hug your mother. Chester M. Seaborn, Jr. Mechanicsville, Md

Blessed To Live In A Community with Good Neighbors

capacity. My husband only had to stay one night and two full days. As senior citizens we choose to live in Wildewood Retirement Village, for two years now. Weve attended social activities, used the neighborhood pool, attended bible study groups, exercise classes regularly and played cards at the near by clubhouse. Some of the medical personnel at St. Marys Hospital include Nicole, Christine, Bob, Dr. Harvey, Kitty from the gift shop and the ambulance crew including C.J. We are very blessed to have concerned neighbors friends and family members to help in our good times and bad times of our day by day living Margie and Bill Myers California, Md

Natural Solutions to Childrens Health

An article appearing in your publication on page B7 of the July 24 issue concerned the linkage of ADHD with Food Additives. This is certainly nothing new, but it is wonderful that you are bringing it to the attention of the people of Southern Maryland! In fact, children afflicted with ADHD and ADD have been helped for years by following the Feingold Diet and by becoming in some cases Gluten (most grains) and Casein (most dairy) free. But there is a lot more to the treatment of these diseases which have reached epidemic proportions than just watching what the children eat. There are simple non-invasive tests which can be done that show exactly where a childs body is not functioning well and then indicate how to intervene naturally in a way to help the child to function as normally as pos-

Congress Is Dysfunctional: Throw Them Out

known to Big Government. Who needs to Patriot Act, or Real ID, to have their rights, their privacy, invaded now? Do you really want the IRS to know that you stopped at Arbys on your way home from picking up your prescription for AmbienCR at CVS? And what about the burden placed on businesses having to report all this? If we dont realize by now that WE, the ordinary citizens of the United States, are the ones who are going to take it in the shorts, and start using the power we have left, it is all over but the shouting. I intend to do the one thing I as an individual can do: I am voting for Collins Bailey for Congress in the 5th District this November. Collins has a clear understanding of economic issues. We need to throw our dysfunctional Congress out on their ears and send responsible, moral leaders to Washington. Beth Fitch Clements, Md

Our housing industry is once again in trouble. Many of our politicians in Congress will tell you that they have done something about it, by overwhelmingly passing (272 to 152) the Housing Bill on July 23rd. But what exactly, in plain English, did they sible in life. These tests have become known do? Well, for one thing, they are continuing as Functional Tests and, while not generally to buy Housing and Mortgage Securities using accepted by the wide medical establishment, Treasury Bills. For those of us who are normal they have helped millions of children to make people, that means that the assets or currency is guaranteed by are these Freddie Mac and great progress in life. I would encourage parents of these chil- Fannie Mae loans, i.e., the very money thats dren to see out a physician who believes in in trouble (read: not there). Great. Okay, the bill is reportedly 600+ pages natural solutions to their childs problems, or to long. What else is in it? Try, the increased seek out a qualified Nutritionist to help them. In the meantime, thanks to The County spending associated with the housing bailout Times for giving parents this valuable infor- will move our National Debt up by about 800 mation, which has been held back from them billion dollars. Not a typo. $800 billion. Dont get involved with all the financial for too many years. stuff? Ok, how about this: Buried in the bill is another provision: Every Credit Card transacDr. Thomas E. Baldwin tion in the U.S. will be reported to the IRS. So Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition now, (and this has to be violating the HealthTall Timbers, Md care Privacy Act), everything you do will be

Letters to the Editor

If you wish to send a letter to the editor, please include your name, address and phone number for confirmation purposes. We will only publish your name and city of residence. We can withhold your name by request if circumstances merit it. We must receive all letters by Monday morning for publication in the next issue. Any letter received later than Monday will be held for the following issue.

The County Times

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

James Manning McKay - Publisher Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager ...........................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Andrea Shiell - Government Correspondent......andreashiell@countytimes.net Chris Stevens - Sports Correspondent .............. ........chrisstevens@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Community Correspondent................guyleonard@countytimes.net

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The County Times

recipes than Ill ever have time to try. And more scrapbooking than Ill have ever time to do. The great thing about reading, though, is you can read a book ten minutes at a time. You cant try a new recipe in ten minutes. And theres no point in even sitting down at my scrapping table for ten minutes. For one thing, Id start and an hour later, Id think about 15 minutes had passed! But reading, you can squeeze some in anytime, anywhere. I did make a list of books I want to read. It includes some new ones and some classics. It also includes a variety of fiction and non-fiction. And dont forget the magazines; magazines are great for summer reading. Sitting by the pool, lazing on the beach magazines are made for that. Sometimes, summer reading is about light, easy and entertaining books and short stories. When its hot and youre feeling lazy, you just cant concentrate too much and reading something challenging doesnt fit the bill. Vacation and poolside reading call for fluff. I strongly believe you should read a variety of things some fluff, some non-fiction, some fiction, some magazines. And of course, you should read a newspaper at least some of the time. Some more good reading you can indulge in between now and time for the St. Marys County Fair is the Fair Guide. It just came out this week. Peruse it now and plan your entries! I also like to spend some time revisiting old favorites. Once in a while, you want to read something beloved and familiar, you want to touch base with an old friend again. Anything by Jane Austen is a great favorite of mine. Pride and Prejudice is my particular favorite, but I love Jane. I enjoy Brit lit, I

Section A - 
have to say, both classics and modern. Another favorite is I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, who also wrote The 101 Dalmatians. I enjoy Agatha Christie novels, the Hercule Poirot stories are wonderful. And Ken Follett is a wonderful author, each of his books is quite different. He explores an amazing variety of topics and his books are all captivating. If youre looking for witty stories, do read some of the Jeeves and Wooster stories by P.G. Wodehouse. Check out the Book Section of the newspaper, visit the library and talk to the librarians, ask your friends what theyre reading. Then grab something and spend ten minutes or a lazy afternoon indulging yourself. I did and it was great. You can email the Country Girl at countrygirlramblings@gmail.com Johnson said. In other business the commissioners also passed a tax credit for homeowners who voluntarily install a sprinkler system in their homes to suppress fires. The tax credit allows for either a $1,500 credit for voluntarily installing a new system in new home or a $2,000 payment to retrofit an existing home. The ordinance applies to one-or-two-family dwellings and the tax credit is good from February of 2008 to February of 2011. The ordinance intent is to encourage owners of homes built in rural parts of the county, that are not required to have a sprinkler system installed because they were on private wells, to do so.

Ramblings of a Country Girl

Summer Reading
Terri Bartz Bowles Did you make a list of summer reading you wanted to accomplish? Did you buy a new book or two to take on vacation? The problem, of course, is that there are way too many books to read and not enough time to read them all. I know, its like that with a lot of stuff. I have more

Commissioners Vote To Send Wind Turbine Ordinance To Public Hearing

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The prospect of allowing home owners in St. Marys County to generate their own electrical power using a private wind turbine could be one step closer to reality after the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to send the authorizing zoning text amendment to public hearing. The text amendment, if approved, would allow homeowners to use a system that amounts to a type of windmill that could generate up to 100 kilowatts of electricity on a piece of property at least half-an-acre in size. The ordinance would allow for a tower to be built that was 150 feet or less to support the blade of the turbine, according to information from county government. The prospect of opening up new alternative energy sources to cut down power costs for homeowners was especially attractive to Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach). Its a great idea, Jarboe told The County Times. Its free energy and you cant beat the price. St. Marys Countys proximity to the water also opened up the possibility of harnessing the sea as well as wind to provide electricity, Jarboe said. We could become a center for alternative energy, he said. Its time [alternative energy] has come. One local man who has been pushing for authorization to begin his own wind power project is hoping for the best with the text amendments approval. Rich Johnson, of Valley Lee, said he started his project back in April and is just waiting for the text amendment to pass to have his turbine shipped in. The power used by his residence racks up a big bill every year, he said. Weve been drawing about 35,000 kilowatts a year, Johnson said. And that translates into about $5,000 a year. Im just trying to save my pocket book.

Johnson said he had investigated the solar power option for his home but said he had to wait too long for the payback benefits to have any effect, but wind power seemed to be the right choice. The more I looked into it the better it looked, Johnson said. The company that provides the operating system he has chosen, Wind Turbine Industries Corporation, states that at about 10 miles-per-hour of operation the system can produce 19,700 kilowatt hours, Johnson said. At 12 miles-per-hour the system can push upwards of 33,000 kilowatt hours of electrical power, he said. Conservatively, Ill save about 60 percent on my bill easy, quite possibly up to 96 percent,

Violence
Continued from page A- women were shot. It was this level of lethality in St. Marys County, where homicides are so rare, that made law enforcement take notice. We had a very deadly year, said Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron. You should do everything you can do to not have any more casualties. And weve had a lot of casualties. Yevonnie Lowe, crisis program coordinator for Walden Sierra, Inc., said the new assessment helps not

only the officers determine the threat level in a domestic violence case, but also gives victims the feeling that they are not alone. I do know theres been a greater number of victims calling Walden for services, Lowe told The County Times. Were trying to empower the victim, even in the midst of the chaos. Domestic violence victims often fear cooperating with the police or counselors because their abuser is often their sole provider for income, food, housing and other necessities. By going through the assessment immediately, and getting in touch with a

counselor, they find out that they can receive emergency housing and food for themselves and their children if needed as well as counseling services. The assessment has only been in use since April 15, Yingling said, but has already made inroads into the Asian community, where, she said, women have always been reluctant to even call the police for domestic violence much less cooperate in an investigation into their abuser. Thats was a population we never could reach before, Yingling said. Theyre actually reaching out for help. Since the inception of the assessment, 34 victims

have contacted Walden Sierra for help after answering the questions, four of whom, along with their children, have received emergency assistance. The remaining 30 have received counseling sessions and follow-up appointments to include trauma counseling, according to information from Walden Sierra, Inc. Sometimes just getting victims to take part in the counseling is a victory, Yingling said. Even if they dont get services, they know whats there, Yingling said of the assessment. It helps them appreciate how dangerous their situation is.

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Transportation
Continued from page A- ODonnell said he voted to uphold Ehrlichs veto, which eventually failed. They overrode his veto for political reasons, ODonnell told The County Times. If we start doing transportation studies in the legislature instead of through the Maryland Department of Transportation, well have our lunch eaten. ODonnell said if transportation studies were continually brought up for votes in Annapolis, then the counties with the most political clout Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince Georges will always get the lions share of transportation money from the state. That could leave Southern Maryland continually waiting for its share, he said. The study was conducted by a company called Cambridge Systematics, Inc., based in Bethesda, in cooperation with A.G. Samuel Group, Inc and Sabra, Wang and Associates, Inc. The study also included the assistance of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and The Maryland Department of Transportation. Estimates of the studys cost, dated back to 2005 from state legislature records, reached about $200,000. The fiscal note for the bill that authorized the study, SB 281, stated back in 2005 that the study could be redundant. MDOT advises that some of the tasks required by the bill duplicate or overlap with existing or future studies, the note states. Presumably the cost of the analyses would be lower as a result. However, it is unclear how much previous or current analyses conducted by the state or [Tri-County Council] could be used to reduce the cost of the bill. MDOT advises that it can be as expensive to update earlier data as it is to collect it. The executive summary of the report states that the 21-member commission that compiled the report did so to update the 1998 Southern

Maryland Regional Strategy-An Action Plan for Transportation. Substantial growth in the region and changing commuting patterns have created the need to update the 1998 effort, the studys executive summary states. Del. John Bohanan (D-Dist.29A) argued that the needs study was necessary because it showed what could be accomplished when the three counties, St. Marys, Charles and Calvert, as well as portions of Anne Arundel and Prince Georges, could do when they focused their efforts. When you have all three counties speaking in unison its a much more powerful force, Bohanan said. It [the study] helps prioritize transportation needs for the region no one else in the state has done that. Del. John F. Wood (D-Dist.29B) said he, too, voted to pass SB 281 in 2005 and override the Ehrlich veto, though he said he had personnel reservations about the bill and the need for the study. When you talk about $200,000, I think it was a lot of money, Wood told The County Times. And we already knew where the problems were. The study told us no more than what we knew five years ago. Wood said the money for the study could have been applied to needed road repairs instead. We couldve fixed a lot of potholes with it, Wood said of the $200,000. It was like giving a donation to these people [the contractors who conducted the study.] But why did Wood vote for the study even though he said he believed it was not needed? Because it was a Southern Maryland issue, Wood said. It made some people in the delegation feel good and look good. Sometimes you just close your eyes, grit your teeth and push the button. The assessment showed there were between $6 billion and $7.3 billion-worth of transportation system needs in Southern Maryland with $2.1 billion to $2.4 billion as the top priorities. The rest were projects in counties that had regional significance, according to the report.

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 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Obituaries
Sergeant Ryan Patrick Baumann, 24
Sergeant Ryan Patrick Baumann, 24, of Jeffersonville, Ind., died Aug. 1 during active military duty with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. Born Sept. 17, 1983 in Loveland, Ohio, he was the son of Cindy Lohman of Lexington Park, and Robert T. Baumann of Jeffersonville, Ind. In addition to his parents, Ryan is survived by his sister, Christina Baumann of Mesa, Ariz., stepfather, Gary Lohman of Lexington Park, grandparents, John Boggs of Dayton, Ohio and Edward Baumann of Loveland, Ohio and fiance Lauren Smith of Lexington Park. Family will receive friends Sunday, Aug. 10 from 2 5 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown. Prayers will be recited at 4 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted Monday, Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. at 2 p.m. Condolences to the family may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Joseph Albert Green, 79

Ellie Marie Cantrell, 48

Ellie Marie Cantrell, 48, of Lexington Park died July 28 in her residence. Born March 9, 1960 in LaPlata, Md. she was the daughter of the late Sterling Lee Few, Sr. and Ina Mae (Patrick) Few. Ellie enjoyed camping, fishing, riding motorcycles, and shooting pool. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her fianc Robin Leon Thompson who made her life complete with the strength of his love and devotion. Ellie is survived by her children, Douglas I. Cantrell of Lexington Park, Christopher R. Dutton, Jr. and his wife Christine of Oswego, N.Y., Jeremy D. Parady of Waldorf, Md., and Jamie L. Parady of Baltimore, Md.; grandchildren, Cameron R. Dutton of Oswego, N.Y. and Andrew Watson of King George, Va.; brothers, Jason Few of Waldorf, Md., Charles Few of Alaska, and Sterling L. Few, Jr. of New Mexico. Family received friends for Ellies Life Celebration Saturday, Aug. 2 from noon 2 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown. A funeral service was conducted at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment was private. Memorial contributions may be made to Childrens Hospital, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009. Condolences to the family may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Joseph Albert Green, 79, of Lexington Park died July 30 in his residence. Born March 30, 1929 in Maryland, he was the son of the late James Albert Green and Julia Ann (Dorsey) Green. Joseph, Big Joe, received his education at St. Peter Claver School in Ridge. He received his Christian experience at an early age in St. James Catholic Church and St. Cecilias Catholic Church. At age 21, Big Joe joined the U.S. Army to serve his country. He was a member of the 45th AAA Gun Battalion. He received an Honorable Discharge from the military in 1953. After returning home, Joe continued to serve his country in the U.S. Army Reserves for five years. He later pursued his love for cooking. He served as head chef at Harry Lundenburg School of Seamanship in Piney Point. He also held many positions as foreman for numerous asphalt companies. He retired from F.O. Day Asphalt Company. Big Joe loved to have a good time. Among his hobbies were fishing and playing cards with his friends. Big Joe is survived by his wife Cheryl Green, children, Joseph Darrell Green (Dalerie) of Upper Marlboro, Md., Ricardo Barnes of St. Inigoes, Vickie Medley (Mark) of Mechanicsville and Joseph Aloysius Green of Lexington Park; five grandchildren, Yolanda, Shaleta, Jawanza, Terrance and Shaquan and three beloved young men, Dontavious, Delante and DeAngelo as well as a host of relatives and friends. Family received friends for Big Joes Life Celebration Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 5:00 8 p.m. in St. Cecilias Catholic Church, St. Marys City. Prayers were recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Aug. 7 in St. Cecilias Church at 10 a.m. Father Scott Woods will be the celebrant Interment will be Monday, Aug. 11, at 11 a.m. in Maryland Veterans Cemetery, 11301 Crain Highway, Cheltenham, MD 20623. Condolences to the family may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Lee Hall. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Richard Lee Hall. She is also survived by her son Bryon Lee Hall and daughter Mary Shannon (Hall) Evans. In addition, she has several grandchildren; Joshua and Jeremy Hall, Rachael Sierra Evans and Tiffanie Lee Hall (Daughter of David) and a brother Bill D. Davis of California state. Willene was active in her church before her illness. She was Grandma to many of the kids where she taught Sunday school. She had many friends who enjoyed her kind words and loving heart. She always had a hug for anyone that needed or wanted one. Willene was wonderful with crafts, and would spend hours making beautiful ceramic pieces and quilts to give as gifts to people she cared about. She loved to make people smile. She also took in and gave shelter to many young people who needed love and some stability. She tried to foster until her ill health stopped her. Her favorite things in life were family, especially her children and grandchildren. She loved to take spur of the moment day-trips, packing the family in the car, destination unknown with a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. She also loved her many pets. She was born and raised in California State. She met her husband in San Diego, Calif. where he was stationed at the Naval base in Imperial Beach. Her husband Richard retired from the Navy and they settled in St. Marys County. The family will receive friends Thursday, Aug. 7 from 5 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown. A funeral service will be held Friday, Aug. 8, at 11 a.m. in Patuxent Baptist Church, Chancellors Run Road, Great Mills, with Pastor Richard Young officiating. Interment will follow at 3 p.m. in Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Md. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Wanda Michelle Shelly Oliver, 33, of Mechanicsville died July 29 in St. Marys Hospital. Born Nov. 21, 1974 in Leonardtown she was the daughter of Wanda Jackie Oliver Lathroum of Mechanicsville and the late Dennis Edwin Oliver and stepfather Ricky W. Lathroum of Mechanicsville. She is also survived by her sisters Cassie Lathroum and Krystle Lathroum, both of Mechanicsville and her brother-in-law Jonathan Howsare, grandmothers Virginia Jenny Oliver and Ann Louise Shotwell Blankenship. She was preceded in death by her sister Ann Marie Lathroum and her grandfathers Edward Oliver and Frank Shotwell. A lifelong resident of St. Marys County, Shelly attended Chopticon High School. She enjoyed listening to country and bluegrass music. Her favorite artist was Allison Krause. She enjoyed shopping with family and friends spoiling her nephews Shawn and Jackson. She always gave to people in need. The family received friends Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, where prayers were said at 7 p.m. A funeral service was held Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. in Christ Episcopal Church, Chaptico, with Rev. William Jesse Neat officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were her Godfather Glenn Shotwell, Sr., Jonathan Howsare, Bret Reed, John Taylor, Jr., Ralph Ernst and Tommy Copsey, Jr. Honorary pallbearers were Franklin Shotwell and Joshua Maggio. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Robert Loys Sminkey, 76

Robert Loys Sminkey, 76, of Leonardtown died Friday, July 25 in St. Marys Hospital in Leonardtown. Cmdr. Sminkey was born Sept. 3, 1931 in Philadelphia, Pa. He was the son of the late Loys Albert and his wife Dorothy. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline; his mother Dorothy of Rochester, N.Y. who will shortly be the glorious age of 96; his children Robert of Summerville, S.C. and Sue Drew of Beverly, Mass.; his brothers Bill of Rochester, N.Y. and Don of Bowie, Md. and his grandchildren Jonathan Drew of Austin, Texas and Kimberly Drew Chicago, Ill. The 31-year Navy veteran retired from active duty in 1979, ending a distinguished Navy career. Cmdr. Sminkey enlisted in the Navy in September 1948. His enlisted service as a Quartermaster included sea duty on board USS Sea Leopard (SS-483), USS Burrfish (SSR-312), USS Sennet (SS-408), USS Guavina (AOSS-362) and a shore duty tour as an instructor at the Submarine School in New London, Conn.. In April 1958, Cmdr. Sminkey was ordered to Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. and upon graduation was commissioned as an Ensign. He subsequently served aboard USS Becuna (SS-319) and then on USS Sea Robin (SS-407). He reported to the Fleet Intelligence Center at Port Lyautey, Morocco for duty as Underseas Warfare Officer in March 1963, and the following year transferred with that command to Jacksonville, Fla. After completing navigator training at Dam Neck, Va. in 1965, Cmdr. Sminkey made four deterrent patrols as navigator on USS Fran-

cis Scott Key (SSBN-657) and then served as executive officer on USS Threadfin (SS-410). From 1971 through 1976, Cmdr. Sminkey directed the operations of the Mediterranean Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine Force for Commander Submarine Flotilla Eight and Commander Submarine Group Eight at their headquarters in Naples, Italy. Cmdr. Sminkey was further assigned as Assistant Operations Officer, Force Navigator and Trident Program Manager on the staff of the Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, Va. Cmdr. Sminkey completed his career as the First Commanding Officer of the Naval Submarine Support Base, Kings Bay, Ga. June 6, 1979. Cmdr. Sminkeys awards include three Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal with European clasp. Bob Sminkey kept himself very busy upon retirement and relocation to St. Marys County. He was an active member of The Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution, Thomas Stone Chapter; St. Marys County Genealogical Society and the United States Submarine Veterans of WWII. He enjoyed researching and writing countless ships histories for the organizations website. A Memorial Service will be held Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. in Ft. Myers Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery with Interment to follow. Contributions may be made to Hospice House of St. Marys, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

late Charles Maddox. She was the loving wife of Milton Warren Williams. She is survived by her daughters Jamie Dawn Williams of California and Kelly Marie Williams-Corigan of Port Deposit, Md., her sisters Monica and Pam Smith, both of California, Maurice Roach of Benedict and Bobby Roach as well as one grandchild. She was a service adviser for Alban Tractor Company for 27 years. The family received friends Monday, Aug. 4 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown from 10 11 a.m. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. with Rev. Keith Schukraft officiating. Interment followed in Mt. Zion Cemetery of Laurel Grove, Mechanicsville. Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Marys, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Benton Bud Carl Zander, 70

Roland Wayne McCready, 59

Roland Wayne McCready, 59, of Hollywood died Aug. 1 in his residence. Born May 11, 1949 in Prince Frederick, Md., he was the son of Dorothy May McCready of Lusby, Md. Roland was an avid motorcycle rider. He enjoyed caring for his truck and spending time with his family, friends and dogs. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth L. (Scott) McCready of Hollywood; a daughter, Sheila Kay Squires of North Carolina; and his brothers Dennis Bayliss of Lusby, Md. and David Knight of Texas. Family received friends Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 4 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown. A funeral service was conducted Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Pastor Kenneth Parker, Jr. conducted the service. Interment will be private. Condolences to the family may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Louis Marshall Thompson, Jr., 84

Louis Marshall Thompson, Jr., 84, of Avenue died Aug. 4 in his residence. He was born July 20, 1924 in Dynard, to the late Louis Marshall and Catherine Eleanor Harris Thompson Sr. He was the loving husband of Rose Lee Thompson of Avenue. The family will receive friends in the Mattingley- Gardiner Funeral Home on Thursday, August 7, 2008 from 5 8 p.m. with prayers being said at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday August 8, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, Md with Fr. William Gurnee officiating. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetary, Bushwoood, Md Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Mary Willene Hall, 65

Catherine Marie Williams, 61

Catherine Marie Williams, 61, of California died July 31 in her residence. Born Sept. 26, 1946 in Washington, D.C. she was the daughter of Catherine M. Wood of California and the

Wanda Michelle Shelly Oliver, 33

Benton Bud Carl Zander, 70, of Leonardtown died Aug. 1 at Civista Hospital in La Plata, Md. Born April 22, 1938 in Ohio, He was the son of the late William and Helen Zander. Bud was a long time and respected employee at the NSWC Dahlgren, Electromagnetic and Sensor System Department and President of the AFGE, Local 2096. Outside of work he enjoyed playing darts, billiards, working on cars, fishing and hunting, but most of all he loved spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife Sylvia L. (Hanson) Zander of Leonardtown; three children Amanda, William and Virginia Zander all of Leonardtown; and one grandchild, Sunny Hawes. Bud is also survived by his sister Carolyn Fitzgerald of Georgia. He was preceded in death by his brother William Zander. Family will receive friends Saturday, Aug. 9 at 11 a.m. in the Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Marys City, for a Memorial Service. Reverend John A. Ball will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery. A reception will follow in the parish hall. Memorial Contributions may be made to the St. Marys Parish Building Fund, P.O. Box 207, St. Marys City, MD 20686 or the Christian Education Fund, P.O. Box 207, St. Marys City, MD 20686. Condolences to the family may be made at www. brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown.

Mary Willene Hall (formerly Davis), 65, of Lexington Park passed away Tuesday, July 29 in Georgetown University Hospital after an extended illness. She was preceded in death by her parents Mary Ruth Adams (Davis) and Ebb Willis Davis and a son David

To Place a Memorial Ad Please Call The County Times at 301-373-4125

Thursday, August 7, 2008

The County Times

Section A - 7

County Officials Prepare for Record Voter Turnout

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Brenda Burch enjoys the current tranquility of the office after her lunch break at the Board of Elections in Leonardtown, but between now and the Presidential General Election Nov. 4, when a large voter turnout is expected, she will have fewer and fewer moments to herself. Were expecting that were going to have a very good turnout this year, she said, adding that the state of Maryland is projecting that between 80 and 85 percent of registered voters will make their way to the polls on Election Day. In St. Marys County, there are over 58,000 registered voters, including 24,845 Democrats and 23,152 Republicans. In addition to a handful of Green Party members and Libertarians, more than 10,000 are unaffiliated. But all told, this will equal between 46,000 and 50,000 people heading to polling places that Tuesday to participate in the election. Not only will this years race be a landmark decision for the White House, but the much-discussed slots referendum will be on the ballots as well, and Burch said that will draw even more people out to vote. The St. Marys County Board of Elections is working with the Maryland Association of Elected Officials to create a positive voter experience. Preparations include developing a strategy to minimize lines for voters, and continuing to employ trained, skilled and knowledgeable Election Judges at the polls to assist voters on Election Day. Burch said the Board of Elections will have more people working at the polls this year, and offer more extensive training to new poll workers as they come in. Though the department is still looking for more poll workers and Election Judges, Burch said she does not anticipate a significant shortage. Burch added that the most important thing voters can do to minimize their wait time is to call the Board of Elections to verify that their information is correct. We want to get the word out that we want voters to call in or come by, she said, adding that the deadline for voter registrations or a change of information on voter records is Oct. 14. As for the anticipation of long lines on Election Day, Burch said that early in the morning and later in the afternoon are peak times for voters to come in and cast their ballots. She recommends that people come in during the off-hours to avoid waiting in line. In the meantime, St. Marys County voters are reminded to register or update their information by Oct. 14. Practice ballots will be sent out after the ballot is certified Sept. 11, between Oct. 28 and 30, and the deadline for absentee ballots is Oct. 28. Forms for absentee ballots can be downloaded from the Board of Elections website. Enjoying her few moments of free time, Burch sighed and smiled. I really do think this will be a historic election, she said. Im really hoping we can accommodate all those people.

Annual Test Planned For Countys Code Red Emergency Notification System
On August 7, 2008 at 7:00 pm the Board of County Commissioners for St. Marys County and the Department of Public Safety will be conducting an annual test of the Countys Code Red Emergency Notification System. CodeRED is a high speed telephone calling system capable of delivering customized pre-recorded emergency messages directly to homes and businesses, individuals and answering machines, at the rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. Do not be alarmed. This will be a test used to better prepare emergency responders prior to emergency response efforts. During an actual emergency, the system will be deployed to warn and advise you of emergencies by calling phone numbers registered with 9-1-1, emergency services. If you would like to register an additional phone number (mobile or work) to

SMCPS Releases MSA Results

(SMCPS Press Release)
St. Marys County Public Schools has recently posted another year of consistently high scores across all grade levels on the Alternate Maryland School Assessment (Alt-MSA). The Alt-MSA is a state administered assessment required under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. In Maryland, students with disabilities participate in either the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) in reading, math and science (with or without accommodations, as appropriate) or in the Alternate Maryland School Assessment (Alt-MSA) in reading, mathematics, and science as determined by the students Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team. The Alt-MSA is a portfolio-based assessment that assesses students with significant cognitive disabilities on their attainment of individually selected extended reading, math and science objectives in grades 3-8 and grade 10. SMCPS students demonstrated outstanding achievement on Alt-MSA as demonstrated by the following: SMCPS students exceeded state averages in students achieving proficient/advanced in all grades assessed in both reading and math; 93-100% of the students assessed in Grades 3-8 were proficient/advanced in Reading 93-100% of the students assessed in Grades 3-8 were proficient/advanced in Math had ruled the country with iron fist. He was very proud of the work he was doing, Cindy Lohman said. He loved the army. He told me that if he wasnt participating in the operations that the army was involved in it would be like sitting on the sidelines. Baumanns mother said that her son had grown up living around military bases in Germany when she was working as a civilian nurse in the army. It was his exposure to the military at an early age, she said, that influenced her son to seek a career as a soldier. Ryan Baumann grew particularly attached to troops from the 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Europe, his mother said. That was his life, those were his heroes, Cindy Baumann said. All 10th Grade students enrolled and assessed in St. Marys County Public Schools scored proficient/advanced in math and reading. The following schools posted 100% proficient/advanced scores for their assessed students in both reading and math: Benjamin Banneker Elementary Green Holly Elementary Park Hall Elementary Piney Point Elementary Ridge Elementary Esperanza Middle School Spring Ridge Middle School Great Mills High School

(St. Marys County Government press release)

be called during emergencies at or near your home address, please visit our emergency notification website at: http://www.co.saint-marys. md.us/emergencycodered.asp. You can also sign up for the Weather Warning System and receive telephone notification for Tornadoes, Flash Floods, and Thunderstorm Warnings. The system sends these notifications 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing the needed time to prepare for severe weather events. This becomes even more critical if a tornado comes through your area during the night, when television, radio broadcasts and sirens are less effective. For further information please contact Ms. Michelle Lilly, Manager, Emergency Management Division at the Department of Public Safety 301-475-4200 ext 2124.

These results demonstrate our high expectation for all students, said Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools. These results are also a testimony to the hard work of our students, the support of our parents, and the outstanding work of our entire staff. Teachers and Administrators are extremely pleased with the resulting scores. This level of achievement demonstrates that the continued focused efforts in staff development, curriculum alignment, collaboration, and data collection are resulting in substantial student achievement for all students in St. Marys County Public Schools.

Baumann
Continued from page A- Baumann, 24, from Great Mills, died of wounds he sustained from an improvised explosive device (IED) that detonated near his vehicle while he was on a mission to aid Afghan villagers, according to information from both his family and the U.S. Army. He was assigned to operations with the 4th Brigade Combat Team. He was doing what he believed in, said Baumanns stepfather Gary Lohman. He was making a difference over there, you know he was. Baumanns stepfather said his son was part of a group of soldiers who would help provide assistance to Afghan villages near his outpost; this included anything from medical supplies to items that allowed children to attend school. Sometimes it was simple things like

pens and notebooks for school children, Gary Lohman told The County Times. Things that are inconsequential to us but that mean the world to them. Just two weeks prior to his death Aug. 1, Baumanns truck had been struck by another IED while he was on a mission, destroying the front portion of his vehicle, Gary Lohman said, but his son survived with a concussion. Gary Lohman said his stepsons devotion to duty and to the mission of winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people was so strong that just a few days of guard duty to allow him to recover made him long to get back into action. He said he was frustrated that he wanted to get back out there, Gary Lohman said. Baumanns mother, Cindy Lohman, said that her son had served a tour in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan and had seen combat. But she said that fighting was not so much her sons main goal as it was being a part of missions that helped the Afghan people form a new life that helped them turn away from and resist the extremist elements of the Taliban that

Ryan Baumann moved with his family to Great Mills in 1996 and entered Esperanza Middle School as a 6th grader and later graduated from Great Mills High School in 2003. He loved soccer, cars and photography, his mother said, and was prone to joke around. But when it came to the military and work he was all business, his mother said. Baumann is survived by his parents as well as his father Robert Baumann. He also leaves behind a sister, Christina Baumann, and his fiance Lauren Smith. Though her son is gone, Cindy Lohman said she and her husband will continue to support the soldiers in her sons unit with care packages or any other way they can. We believe in what theyre doing, she said. We know its the right thing.

Dream Town
Continued from page A- Gerald, a Lexington Park resident who recently moved from Leonardtown, has pointed out what some websites have concocted complex formulas to uncover. With sprawling metropolises taking over larger and larger chunks of the United States, it may be hard to recognize where our small towns have gone. But Americans are certainly warmer to the idea of living in small towns than anywhere else in this country. Recent surveys reveal that less than 10 percent of people want to spend their retirement in urban centers, and more than 90 percent plan to move to rural towns or suburbs. Two thirds of people surveyed in 1998 by Professional Builder magazine said they would prefer to build homes far away from major cities, and a large majority of people surveyed by Adweek in 2002 said that small towns were the best places to live. The ideal setting even has a name, according to Bizjournals.com. Those small towns that manage to stay far enough away from cities or major metropolitan areas to block insane traffic patterns, congestion, and crime or poverty problems that have blighted larger, more cosmopolitan areas for years, while still staying close enough to these areas to make commuting to work or commerce easy, are called dream towns. A recent article on Bizjournals. com has designated Lexington Park as the third best American dream town, a small town or micropolitan area that manages to avoid the bustle and chaos of the more heavily populated metropolitan areas while holding on to a well educated, well paid population of close knit residents. According to Bizjournals methodology, a study of 140 micropolitan areas divided into four clusters, including New England, Midwest, Montana, and Seaside, done using information from the U.S. Census Bureau, ranked towns by their size, population, percentage of educated adults, housing costs, traffic, and proximity to big-city attractions. Micropolitan areas, by definition, have between 10,000 and 50,000 residents including their surrounding countrysides. Torrington, Connecticut topped this years list of the top ten small towns to live in, with nearly a third of residents holding college degrees, the second highest income level in the metropolitan area, and New York and Boston being close by. Bozeman, Montana ranked second with nearly half of its adults holding bachelors degrees, the second lowest unemployment rate of any U.S. micropolis, and the second lowest poverty rate of any comparable area.

Third place went to Lexington Park, Maryland, boasting the highest median household income in micropolitan America ($71,158), an impressive housing market (the median house value is listed as $322,000), and a highly educated adult population that has nearly a fourth of adults over the age of 25 holding bachelors degrees. What this means for St. Marys County residents, particularly for those in Lexington Park, is that they are fitting into the limelight of a re-

cent national trend, which is moving people away from bigger cities and more to areas like Southern Maryland. Many cite quieter neighborhoods and closer-knit communities as major advantages to living in smaller towns. Economic and Community Development Director Bob Schaller said that this recent attention for Lexington Park was remarkable. Its the only town east of the Mississippi, below New England, that was in that group, he said, adding

that revitalization efforts, including a streetscaping project expected to add medians and landscaping to the stretch of Great Mills Road from Shagri-La Drive to St. Marys Square, multiple building projects, and preservation of historic communities like Patuxent Park, could use the traction of extra media coverage for the benefit of the town and others like it. I think if nothing else its caused a great deal of discussion we need to do everything we can to really take advantage of it.

This view of the garden by the Church of the Ascension on Great Mills Road is one of the highlights of Lexington Park, which was named the third best American dream town by Bizjournals.com.

Photo by Andrea Shiell

 Section A - 

The County Times

Thursday, August 7, 200

weve got a new attitude...

Patuxent Plaza 13920 Solomons Island Road South Solomons, Maryland 410/326/3999 Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am until 9pm Sunday 8am until 7pm Prices good August 7 - 21, 2008.
Not responsible for typographical errors. All items may not be available at all stores. Photos are for representation only and may not be actual product.

...AND a new store interior too! We understand the healthy lifestyle you want to live and we are stepping up to meet your needs! Woodburns Gourmet Market is now Woodburns Lifestyle Market, offering the best in Natural and Organic product choices including Wild Harvest! Thank you for being so patient with us as we transition to our new look and lifestyle format, we know youll be pleased with the results! Check below for some FANTASTIC deals and a SNEAK PEEK at just a few of the NEW THINGS in-store!!

U.S.D.A. Choice Certified Black Angus Beef

New York Strip Steak

Wild weve got a new attitude... Harvest Organic Milk

Whole, 1%, 2%, or Skim 64oz.

$5.99lb

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Did You Know?

Premium Organic Bananas

3lbs/$1.00 $1.99lb

Free And Gluten Free Split Chicken Breast Products. In Our Freezer We Have Ener-G Breads, Food For Life Breads, Kinnikinnick Breads, As Well As Bagels, Brownies, Assorted Varieties Pizza, Muffins, Baking Mixes, Crackers, Cookies, Macaroni And Cheese. Stop And See What We Have!! Ask To See 16-20 Ct. Steamed At No Extra Charge What Else We Can Get For You. We Can Special Order It For Your Needs. Join Our Milk Club! Buy 8 Half Gallons Wild Harvest Milk & Recieve

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Boardwalk, Carnival Games, Sand Volleyball, Water Slide, Fire Truck Hose-Downs, Moon Bounce, Face Painting, Sand Art, Balloons, Classic Cars & Corvettes, Photo Exhibit, Jump Rope & Hula Hoop & Limbo Contests, Hula Dancing, Jazzercise, Magic Show, Clown, Games, Prizes, Crafts, Displays, Food & More!

FUN FOR ALL AGES!!

PIRATES ONS OF S
Traffic into the downtown area will be detoured to free parking areas around the Town OR Park at the College of Southern Maryland and take advantage of the free shuttle service provided by the St. Marys Transit System (STS) into town. downtown Leonardtown.

LIVE MUSIC BY

$1.99 pint

weve got aJumbo Prem. Texas newGulf Shrimp attitude...

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GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS, GREAT TIMES

Ever y Wednesday In August

CRABS CRABS CRABS CRABS CRABS CRABS

weve got a new attitude...

BEACH PARTY on the Square is sponsored by the Commissioners of Leonardtown and The Leonardtown Business Association.
Event funded in part by a grant from the St Marys County Art Councils Community Arts Development Grant Program and the Maryland State Arts Council

Karaoke Wednesdays 7 - 11 PM
AND

eabreeze

All You Can Eat Crab Legs & Shrimp

301-373-5217
Mechanicsville, MD Located on the Beautiful Patuxent River

OPEN YEAR ROUND