Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Carroll Co States Attorney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carroll Co States Attorney. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

November 11, 2007: the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Reprinted by request

November 11, 2007: the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Reprinted by request on June 26, 2013: Veterans Day: 

“The Wall” at 25

November 11, 2007 by Kevin Dayhoff (998 words)




This year Veterans Day is also the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, in Constitution Gardens adjacent to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.  The Memorial, well known as “The Wall” was dedicated on November 13, 1982.

“Remembering Vietnam - The Wall at 25,” is the subject of a stunning original Smithsonian Channel Documentary.  The program will be simultaneously web-streamed on the Smithsonian Channel Website - www.smithsonianchannel.com with its on-air broadcast to DirecTV subscribers on Channel 267 this evening at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

My colleague at The Westminster Eagle, Heidi Schroeder and I were provided an advance copy of the documentary.  We had been contacted for research information by Lynn Kessler-Hiltajczuk last summer.

Ms. Kessler-Hiltajczuk is a writer-producer for Alexandria-based LK Productions and served as an independent producer for the program.  She was looking for additional information on Lance Cpl. Muriel Stanley Groomes, a Carroll Countian who was killed in Vietnam on Nov. 2, 1968.

Ms. Schroeder writes that in “addition to a history of The Wall's construction and interviews with veterans, the documentary provides a sneak peek into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection, which features over 100,000 items that have been left at The Wall.”

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund founder and president Jan Scruggs calls the program "the best documentary film about the wall I've ever seen."  After reviewing it several times, I could not agree more.

In the many years since the dedication of The Wall, the memorial has evolved into a national shrine for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam – an often misunderstood and inaccurately reported conflict. 

It has also become a tribute to the American veterans who served our country in that long-ago war thousands of miles away from the comfort of our living room. 

Veterans such as the current Carroll County State’s Attorney, Jerry F. Barnes, (and former Frederick County assistant State’s Attorney) who choose to forego what would have been an easily available draft deferment in May 1968 and joined the Army.

It was in that month, that the 1966 Westminster High School graduate received his draft notice.  According to a biographical sketch written by former Maryland State Delegate Carmen Amedori, Mr. Barnes joined a number of draftees from Carroll County “on a school bus at the (Westminster) Post Office downtown,” and headed to Fort Holabird in Baltimore – and then promptly to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

There Mr. Barnes opted to eschew being drafted for two years and enlisted for three years.  At first he wanted to be a helicopter pilot, but after a series of events, he signed up for Special Forces - the Green Berets.

Mr. Barnes’ Vietnam experience was one of a number of sketches by Ms. Amedori which appears in a new publication from the Historical Society of Carroll County, “Tours of Duty – Carroll County and the Vietnam War,” by Gary D. Jestes and Jay A. Graybeal.

In a recent phone interview Mr. Barnes talked about his service in Vietnam from September 16, 1969 to September 16, 1970.  Mr. Barnes began his Special Forces – Green Beret training in January 1969. 

Soon after arriving at Cam Ranh Bay he assigned to the first of three “A-Camps” in Kon Tum Province which is located in the Central Tay Nguyen Highlands.  The “A-Camp” counterinsurgency concept is still being used to this day in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In Kon Tum province he served at A-241 Polei Kleng; A-244 Ben Het; A-245 Dak Seang – about 20 miles from the Laotian border as one of approximately 10 American “advisors” serving with several hundred Montagnard tribesmen in the “Civilian Irregular Defense Group” counterinsurgency program.

In Vietnam, Sgt. Barnes served with the 5th Special Forces Group and a “typical” assignment was to go out on 8 to 10-day operations as (more often than not) the lone American with a contingent of South Vietnamese Special Forces counterparts – or Montagnards, to monitor and patrol the Ho Chi Minh trail.  “Our objective was to interdict and disrupt the supply activities of the trail.”

“It was while out on one of these patrols that Barnes’ heroic actions earned him the first of two Bronze Stars for valor,” according to Ms. Amedori.

Mr. Barnes explained that he was with 20 Montagnards 18 miles from the Laotian border “manning a radio relay station for a larger operation farther out when we were attacked as dusk by a (contingent) of the North Vietnamese regular Army.” 

The ensuing firefight lasted throughout the night.  “We took some casualties and before it was all over, it took calling in an artillery attack, then Cobra helicopter gunships followed by suppression fire from C-130’s, known as “Puff the Magic Dragons,” and finally two fighter jets to save them.

Before returning home he was awarded a second Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge among a number of recognitions.  He turned down a number of Army re-enlistment offers and served the remainder of his enlistment stateside with the 10th Special Forces with the famed 10th Mountain Division in New England.

After his honorable discharge in June 1971, he utilized the GI Bill and graduated first from the University of Baltimore and went on to graduate from the University of Baltimore Law School in June 1977.

“I actually started as an intern with the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office in 1976,” said Mr. Barnes.  With the exception of four years with the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s office he has been with Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office ever since.  He served as an Assistant State’s Attorney until he was first elected to the office of Carroll County State's Attorney in November 1994.

Mr. Barnes has “tried as best I can to attend all the Veterans Day ceremonies...  It is important to remember individuals who have dedicated their lives for the establishment and preservation of our freedoms.”

It is important that this Veterans Day, we remember the service of Sgt. Barnes and countless other veterans.  God bless them all for their dedication and commitment.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kevindayhoff at gmail.com

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Brian DeLeonardo for Carroll County State’s Attorney campaign to hold fundraiser at Rafael’s in Westminster on May 30th, 2013


Brian DeLeonardo for Carroll County State’s Attorney campaign to hold fundraiser at Rafael’s in Westminster on May 30th, 2013

Support Brian May 30th!
Thu May 30 2013 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

An Evening with Brian DeLeonardo at Rafael's

Come have dinner with Brian, and help support his campaign for State's Attorney for Carroll County.
Food to be served will include Crab Dip, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Sliced Beef Brisket in Savory Au Jus, Chicken Marsala, Redskin Parmesan Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Vegetables, Caesar Salad, Rolls & delicious mini-desserts from Snickerdoodles.
$100 per person. Tables of four can be purchased for $350.   DEADLINE TO REGISTER MAY 20TH!

Limited seating - reserve your place today by paying online below now or emailingstaff@votedeleonardo.com.

Rafael's is located at:

32 West Main Street
Westminster, MD 21157

Learn all about Brian and his campaign atwww.votedeleonardo.com.
Pay Online
Like and Follow

Facebook & Twitter

Help us keep you informed on the latest news from the Campaign Trail. Please "like" ourFacebook page and follow us on Twitter.
*****

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Eagle Archive: In 1923, sheriff busted the Hampstead fireman's carnival for gambling



On Wednesday, Aug. 1, 1923, the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company carnival was accused of running a gambling operation and was shut down by Carroll County Sheriff William Phillips.

Phillips appeared on the carnival grounds with Carroll County State's Attorney Theodore F. Brown, and arrested the person in charge of the carnival's amusements, Thomas Zepp, and hauled him off to jail.

Pandemonium broke loose in Hampstead as a result. This was especially true because of the significance the Hampstead fireman's carnival has played in the history of the town…

*****

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The front page above the fold of today's Carroll County Times.


The front page above the fold  of today's Carroll County Times.

Newspapers Carroll County Times, Journalists Lake Brett, Carroll Co States Attorney, OMG, 

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Westminster Police receives “2009 Lethality Assessment Award”

Westminster Police recognized for combating Domestic Violence

October 30, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff for the Carroll Eagle

Posted November 5, 2009

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/nub9t

Recently the Westminster Police Department received a statewide recognition from the Maryland Networks Against Domestic Violence.

The “2009 Lethality Assessment Award” was presented to Chief Jeff Spaulding and Lieutenant Misty Budzinski on October 23 at a ceremony in which Governor Martin O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown also participated.

The award recognizes the work of “individuals and organizations from around the State who excelled in their contributions to the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence across the State,” according to information provided by the Westminster Police Department.

The web site for the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) says the advocacy organization “has been working since 1980 to eliminate domestic violence in Maryland through education, training, and advocacy.

“As Maryland's state coalition, the Network works together with local domestic violence programs as well as criminal justice and law enforcement personnel, legal advocates, health care and social service providers, clergy, educators, businesses, community groups, and concerned individuals to promote a coordinated community response to end domestic violence.”

The Westminster Police Department “was selected for the award because they successfully screened 93% of the domestic violence victims that they encountered during the previous year – 56% of these victims subsequently participating in follow-up services with local domestic violence counselors provided through a partnership with Family and Children Services of Central Maryland,” according to information from a media release from the department.

“The Department’s success rates were the highest in the State for the past year. This was the third year for the Lethality Assessment Award Program in Maryland. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Anne Arundel County Police Department were the two previous recipients of the award.”

Maria L. Oesterreicher, the senior assistant state's attorney and domestic violence unit Supervisor for the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office noted that Carroll County “also unanimously won a quarterly award this year that was voted on by the Lethality Advisory Board for having the highest percentage of high-risk clients coming in for services, 56%, with the next closest County being Montgomery with 34%.

“Basically that means that 56% of all victims who completed a Lethality Assessment at the scene of a domestic violence call in Carroll County followed up by seeking services from Family & Children’s Services,” said Oesterreicher.

In a recent interview with Spaulding he noted that in addition to the Westminster department’s care and concern for the welfare of victims of domestic violence; calls for such incidences are a major cause of harm for the responding officers as well as members of the family involved.

Anything that we can reduce those calls is a good thing for everyone involved, said Spaulding.

“Lethality assessment is a quick and accurate way for police officers and domestic violence counselors to determine with a high degree of accuracy the potential for future serious violence or death in a relationship,” Spaulding explained.

“Officers handling domestic violence incidents are required to screen victims utilizing a lethality assessment tool – a survey of 11 validated questions,” according to information from Westminster Police Department.

“Those victims screened as being at “high risk” of future violence, based upon their answers to the questions, are immediately placed in phone contact with a domestic violence counselor who speaks with them about their circumstances and discusses safety planning and the resources available to the victim. The assessment process is being used around the country with excellent results.”

“Having this information while they are still at the scene of a domestic dispute better prepares them to respond to the immediate safety needs of that victim and his or her family,” said Spaulding.

“A critical element of the lethality assessment process is the immediate phone contact with a domestic violence counselor. This takes place on the spot regardless of the time of day. The counselor can speak to the victim in the midst of the crisis and provide them with critical safety information.

“They can also help them understand the full array of services that are immediately available to the victim and their family. This immediate contact greatly enhances the potential that the victim will participate in follow-up services with the domestic violence service provider.”

Oesterreicher said in an e-mail and phone interview: “I think it’s wonderful that the Westminster City Police Department was recognized for their excellent results in completing Lethality Assessments…

“The institution of the Lethality Assessment could very well prove to be one of the most effective tools for victim safety in recent years. Being able to immediately link up victims with counselors is invaluable.

“When I train police officers on domestic violence investigation procedures, I often explain to them that there is a very small window of time in which a domestic violence victim may be cooperative with a police investigation. In certain instances that window may even be closed by the time the police arrive at the scene of the call.

“The Lethality Assessment provides an avenue for the officers to provide immediate intervention for a victim who can talk to a counselor on the scene and learn about cycle of violence, resources and help them develop safety plans before that window of cooperation is closed,” advised Oesterreicher.

Spaulding, Oesterreicher and other officials interviewed on background praised the interagency coordinated multi-jurisdictional approach to domestic violence in Carroll County.

“The citizens of Carroll County are very fortunate that the elected officials in this county recognize domestic violence and see it for what it is – a crime and support all the agencies efforts to hold abusers accountable and maximize the safety of victims through education, safety planning and sheltering,” said Oesterreicher.

“The agencies in this county work very well and very closely together. From the state’s attorney’s office to police agencies, to the counseling agencies, such as Family & Children’s Services, to the Family Law Administration of the Circuit Court, and the Women’s Law Center, who with grant funds, provide attorneys to Petitioner’s seeking protection by way of protective orders. Carroll County is fortunate to truly employ a Coordinated Community Response.”

Spaulding agreed: “one of this would be possible without the support and collaboration we have received from our partners which include our local Domestic Violence Advocate, Cheryl Powers of Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office and the David Sergeant of Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.”

Oesterreicher cites that Jerry Barnes, the state’s attorney for Carroll County “recognized the gravity of domestic violence cases immediately when he was elected. In 1997 the State’s Attorney’s Office received the first of many Violence Against Women grants. The grant was originally intended to be for three years only, but we were recently awarded funds for the 13th straight year.

“To date we have received $870,811 from the Department of Justice by way of pass through grants from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Those awards are based on best practices and results. The fact that we continue to receive funding means we are doing something right.

“The grant funds help support the State’s Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence Unit that consists of a prosecutor, an investigator, and a victim coordinator. We are also very fortunate to have always had the support of the Board of Commissioners,” noted Oesterreicher.

Spaulding said: “I also want to publically acknowledge and thank the dedicated men and women of the Westminster Police Department who have embraced this process and worked very hard to ensure that all of our domestic violence victims are afforded the benefits of this potentially life-saving program.

“I am very pleased that the Westminster Police Department has taken a leadership role in ensuring the safety of domestic violence victims in our community.”

####

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/11/westminster-police-receives-2009.html http://tinyurl.com/yzo8jzc

Carroll Co States Attorney, Law Order, Non-profits Family Children’s Services, Public Safety Domestic Violence, Westminster Police Chief Spaulding-Jeff, Westminster Police Dept

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/nub9t

Westminster MD Police recognized for combating Domestic Violence http://tinyurl.com/yzo8jzc http://twitpic.com/nub9t

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Westminster Police receives “2009 Lethality Assessment Award”

Westminster Police recognized for combating Domestic Violence
November 5, 2009 Update: For the full version of this story please see: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/11/westminster-police-receives-2009_05.html

October 30, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff
Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/nub9t
Photo caption: The “2009 Lethality Assessment Award” was presented to the Westminster Police Department on October 23, 2009 from Maryland Networks Against Domestic Violence [http://www.mnadv.org/.] Receiving the award are Chief Jeff Spaulding and Lieutenant Misty Budzinski. Submitted photo.


Recently the Westminster Police Department received a statewide recognition from the Maryland Networks Against Domestic Violence.

The “2009 Lethality Assessment Award” was presented to Chief Jeff Spaulding and Lieutenant Misty Budzinski on October 23 at a ceremony in which Governor Martin O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown also participated.

The award recognizes the work of “individuals and organizations from around the State who excelled in their contributions to the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence across the State,” according to information provided by the Westminster Police Department.

The web site for the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) [http://www.mnadv.org/]says the advocacy organization “has been working since 1980 to eliminate domestic violence in Maryland through education, training, and advocacy.

“As Maryland's state coalition, the Network works together with local domestic violence programs as well as criminal justice and law enforcement personnel, legal advocates, health care and social service providers, clergy, educators, businesses, community groups, and concerned individuals to promote a coordinated community response to end domestic violence.”

The Westminster Police Department “was selected for the award because they successfully screened 93% of the domestic violence victims that they encountered during the previous year – 56% of these victims subsequently participating in follow-up services with local domestic violence counselors provided through a partnership with Family and Children Services of Central Maryland, [http://www.fcsmd.org/.]” according to information from a media release from the department.

“The Department’s success rates were the highest in the State for the past year. This was the third year for the Lethality Assessment Award Program in Maryland. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Anne Arundel County Police Department were the two previous recipients of the award.”

Maria L. Oesterreicher, the senior assistant state's attorney and domestic violence unit Supervisor for the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office noted that Carroll County “also unanimously won a quarterly award this year that was voted on by the Lethality Advisory Board for having the highest percentage of high-risk clients coming in for services, 56%, with the next closest County being Montgomery with 34%.

“Basically that means that 56% of all victims who completed a Lethality Assessment at the scene of a domestic violence call in Carroll County followed up by seeking services from Family & Children’s Services,” said Oesterreicher.

In a recent interview with Spaulding he noted that in addition to the Westminster department’s care and concern for the welfare of victims of domestic violence; calls for such incidences are a major cause of harm for the responding officers as well as members of the family involved.

Anything that we can reduce those calls is a good thing for everyone involved, said Spaulding.

“Lethality assessment is a quick and accurate way for police officers and domestic violence counselors to determine with a high degree of accuracy the potential for future serious violence or death in a relationship,” Spaulding explained.

“Officers handling domestic violence incidents are required to screen victims utilizing a lethality assessment tool – a survey of 11 validated questions,” according to information from Westminster Police Department.

“Those victims screened as being at “high risk” of future violence, based upon their answers to the questions, are immediately placed in phone contact with a domestic violence counselor who speaks with them about their circumstances and discusses safety planning and the resources available to the victim. The assessment process is being used around the country with excellent results.”

Check back here and - or http://www.explorecarroll.com/ for more information and the rest of this article which I just filed with Explore Carroll…

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/