20070417 Monday April 16 Virginia Tech Timeline of Events

Monday April 16 Virginia Tech Timeline of Events

http://www.vt.edu/tragedy/timeline.php

Tragedy at Virginia Tech - Timeline of Events

Where is Blacksburg, Virginia, USA: (This is an AP graphic… some folks are unaware as to where the Virginia Tech campus is located.)

See additional images

For one of the initial Associated Press reports from 10:12 am PDT Monday, April 16, 2007 By SUE LINDSEY -- Associated Press Writer

Click here: http://dwb.sacbee.com/24hour/front/story/3600198p-12876407c.html

7:15 a.m.

Virginia Tech Police Department (VT PD) receives a 911 call to respond to a dormitory room at West Ambler Johnston Residence Hall.

Within minutes, Virginia Tech Police and Virginia Tech Rescue Squad respond to find two gunshot victims, a male and a female, inside a dormitory room within the Hall. The residence hall was immediately secured by VT PD, and students within the hall were notified and asked to remain in their rooms for their safety. VT PD immediately secured the room for evidence collection and began questioning dorm residents and identifying potential witnesses. In the preliminary stages of the investigation, it was believed the deaths were an isolated incident, domestic in nature.

Blacksburg Police Department was also on scene assisting VT PD with establishing a safety perimeter around the residence hall and securing Washington Street.

7:30 a.m.

Investigators were following up on leads concerning a person of interest in relation to the double homicide. Investigators from VT PD and Blacksburg PD were actively following up on various leads.

8:25 a.m.

Virginia Tech Leadership Team, which includes the university president, executive vice president, and provost, assembled to begin assessing the developing situation at the residence hall and determining a means of notifying students of the homicide.

9:00 a.m.

Leadership Team was briefed on the situation by VT PD Chief W.R. Flinchum on the latest developments in the ongoing investigation at the residence hall.

9:26 a.m.

The Virginia Tech community – all faculty and students – were notified by e-mail of the homicide investigation and scene at West Ambler Johnston Residence Hall, and asked to report any suspicious activity. The Virginia Tech Emergency/Weather Line recordings were also transmitted and a broadcast telephone message was made to campus phones. A press release was drafted and posted on the Virginia Tech website.

9:45 a.m.

The VT PD received a 911 call of a shooting at Norris Hall, which contains faculty offices, classrooms, and laboratories. VT PD and Blacksburg PD immediately responded to Norris Hall. Notice in leadership command center via our police rep of a shooting in Norris.

Upon arrival to Norris Hall, the officers found the front doors barricaded. Within a minute, the officers breached the doors, which had been chained shut from the inside.

Once inside the building, the officers heard gunshots. They followed the succession of gunshots to the second floor. Just as the officers reached the second floor, the gunshots stopped.

The officers discovered the gunman, who had taken his own life. There was never any engagement between the responding officers and the gunman.

9:55 a.m.

By the same means as prior notice, Virginia Tech notified campus community of the second murder scene. Other notifications followed via other means.

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20070416 Virginia Tech update from 445 PM

Campus remains closed; convocation Tuesday at Cassell

04/16/2007, Updated 4:45 p.m.

http://198.82.160.236/

Two shootings on campus today have left 33 dead. Thirty-one, including the gunman, died at Norris Hall; two died at West Ambler Johnston Hall.

Counseling assistance for students is available at West Ambler Johnston and McComas halls until 9 p.m. tonight. Students are encouraged to utilize these services.

Counseling for faculty and staff is available in the Bowman Room on the fourth floor of Jamerson Athletic Center, accessible from Jamerson or the Merryman Athletic Facility.

The university will remain closed Tuesday. Essential personnel are to report for work. Classes are canceled.

A public gathering will be held Tuesday at Cassell Coliseum at 2 p.m.

All students are urged to contact their parents as soon as possible to let them know individuals are safe.

Students, faculty, and staff who have any information related to the incidents are encouraged to go to the Blacksburg Police Department to make statements, or call 540-231-TIPP (8477), or 231-6411.

More information will be released during a news conference at 4:30 p.m.

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Campus remains closed; convocation Tuesday

http://198.82.160.236/tragedy/

UPDATE: 3:45 p.m., April 16, 2007

Virginia Tech remains closed on Monday, April 16, 2007. Vehicular entrances to campus are severely restricted to essential personnel only. Additional security remains on campus as the investigation continues.

Counseling assistance for students is available at West Ambler Johnston and McComas Hall until 9 p.m. Monday night. Students are encouraged to utilize these services. Counseling for faculty and staff is available in the Bowman Room on the fourth floor of Jamerson Athletic Center, accessible from Jamerson or the Merryman Athletic Facility. Students may also gather at the Old Dominion Ballroom in Squires Student Center.

The university will also be closed on Tuesday, April 17. Essential personnel are to report for work. Classes are canceled.

A public gathering will be held on Tuesday, April 17 at Cassell Coliseum at 2 p.m. (a time change from the originally scheduled gathering).

All students are urged to contact their parents as soon as possible to let them know they are safe.

Students, faculty, and staff who may have any information related to the incident at West Ambler Johnston Hall and Norris Hall are encouraged to go to the Blacksburg Police Department to make statements, or call 540-231-TIPP (8477), or 231-6411

Parents with concerns are asked to call the Dean of Students Office at 540-231-3787.

Individuals injured in the two shootings have been taken to area hospitals.

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Statement by President Charles W. Steger

http://198.82.160.236/tragedy/

12:10 p.m., April 16, 2007

The university was struck today with a tragedy of monumental proportions. There were two shootings on campus. In each case, there were fatalities. The university is shocked and horrified that this would befall our campus. I want to extend my deepest, sincerest and most profound sympathies to the families of these victims which include students There are 22 confirmed deaths.

We currently are in the process of notifying families of victims. The Virginia Tech Police are being assisted by numerous other jurisdictions. Crime scenes are being investigated by the FBI, University Police, and State Police. We continue to work to identify the victims impacted by this tragedy. I cannot begin to covey my own personal sense of loss over this senselessness of such an incomprehensible and heinous act The university will immediately set up counseling centers. So far centers have been identified in Ambler Johnston and the Cook Counseling Center to work with our campus community and families.

Here are some of the facts we know:

At about 7:15 a.m. this morning a 911 call came to the University Police Department concerning an event in West Ambler Johnston Hall. There were multiple shooting victims. While in the process of investigating, about two hours later the university received reports of a shooting in Norris Hall. The police immediately responded. Victims have been transported to various hospitals in the immediate area in the region to receive emergency treatment.

We will proceed to contact the families of victims as identities are available.

All classes are cancelled and the university is closed for the remainder of today. The university will open Tuesday at 8 a.m. but classes are cancelled. The police are currently staging the release of people from campus buildings.

Families wishing to reunite with the students are suggested to meet at the Inn at Virginia Tech. We are making plans for a convocation tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon at Cassell Coliseum for the university community to come together to begin to deal with the tragedy.

20070417 In memoriam

In memoriam

April 17^th, 2007

Flag image hat tip: The Hedgehog Report.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Virginia Tech – and our nation - in the wake of the senseless and horrific tragedy committed Monday, April 16, 2007.

Perhaps everyone should put the flag image on his or her web site as a silent tribute.

20070416 Extreme Days

Extreme Days

April 16, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4uGPOM0a_0

A military music video done with tobyMac’s “Extreme Days” off the “Momentum” album released on November 6^th, 2001.

“Jesus Freak Hideout” has a pretty good review here of the entire album: tobyMac.

This was the first album released by Toby McKeehan who many will know from the alternative Christian rap - hip hop band “dc Talk.”

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20070416 Remember Me

Remember Me by Lizzie Palmer

April 16^th, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervaMPt4Ha0

A very compelling video about our U. S. Armed Forces in harms way.

The video information indicates that it was posted November 12, 2006. It was just called to my attention by R2 in an e-mail this evening…

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20070416 Press Releases for Baltimore Gas and Electric

Press Releases for: Baltimore Gas & Electric

April 16th, 2007

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company Mobilizes Storm Center In Response to Power Outages Caused by Heavy Rain and High Wind

More than 55,000 customers have been restored Ongoing wind is likely to cause new outages throughout the day and evening

BALTIMORE, April 16, 2007 - Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), a subsidiary of Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG), today announced that it is aggressively working to restore service to customers interrupted as a result of heavy rain and high wind which began over the weekend. Because the wind is expected to continue into tonight, it is likely that new outages will occur throughout today and this evening. As a result, it is too early to determine when service to all customers will be restored. As of this afternoon, service had been restored to approximately 55,000 of the 110,000 customers who have experienced outages thus far.

"BGE began monitoring this storm late last week in anticipation of significant rainfall followed by intense wind, causing service interruptions for our customers," said Stephen J. Woerner, vice president of electric transmission and distribution for BGE. "Unlike isolated or fast moving storms, this ongoing event has the potential to create new power outages throughout the day and could cause some customers to experience multiple outages. BGE crews are working and will continue to work to restore service as safely and as quickly as possible, but it is simply too early to provide an estimated time of full restoration. We thank our customers for their patience in advance."

Because of the high wind it may be unsafe for employees to work in bucket trucks. As a result, some restoration activity may be delayed until the wind subsides. Approximately 400 BGE and contract personnel are actively involved in the restoration effort and the company has requested assistance from out-of-town utilities and other external personnel. At this time, BGE is awaiting a response to that request.

The safety of BGE's customers and employees is always a top priority. Customers should avoid downed power lines and report them immediately by calling 1-877-778-2222. Customers also should call this number to report power outages where downed wires are not apparent. Only qualified BGE personnel or contractors are authorized to remove debris from power lines. Customers should never approach downed wires for any reason.

Customers should always be prepared for weather related power outages and can do so in part, by keeping the following items readily available:

Flashlights - not candles

Fresh batteries

Battery operated clock radio

Corded telephone

Fully charged cell phone

Non-perishable foods

Blankets

Customers also should consider filling the fuel tanks of their vehicles in the event a power outage affects service to neighborhood gas stations. For our customers who rely on well water, filling a bathtub with water in advance of severe weather is strongly encouraged.

Additionally, customers with special needs such as those who may be elderly, handicapped or dependent on electricity for medical equipment, should have alternate arrangements in place should they experience an extended power outage. Once service restoration begins, BGE's priorities are public safety issues and critical facilities, such as 911 centers, hospitals and pumping stations. Then restoration is generally scheduled so that the greatest number of customers can be restored as quickly and as safely as possible. However, in cases of extended power outages, consideration is also given to customers who have been without service for the longest. For more information about BGE storm preparation and how customers can protect their families and property, go to http://www.bge.com/.

In addition to monitoring current and approaching weather conditions which could result in service interruptions, BGE regularly conducts emergency training drills during which all aspects of storm related service restoration are tested. BGE also reviews its Electric Delivery Emergency Response Plan to ensure that storm response procedures are up-to-date and in line with industry standards.

BGE is a member of Constellation Energy, (www.constellation.com), a FORTUNE 200 company with 2006 revenues of $19.2 billion. Constellation Energy is the nation's largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation's largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of 78 generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 8,700 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.

Contact: Rob Gould
Linda Foy
410 470-7433

20070416 Burglar strikes South Carroll Restaurant Store

Burglar strikes South Carroll Restaurant, Store

Sykesville, Carroll County, Maryland, April 16, 2007

Early Sunday Morning, Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported burglary at the Moonlight Café located in the 1400 BLK of Liberty Road.

The owner, who had left the business intact late Saturday evening, discovered the burglary while opening the restaurant. Once inside the intruder(s) entered a second business, “Two Busy Beads,” which is located above the restaurant.

The Sheriff’s Office initial investigation revealed that intruders “forced” an exhaust fan leading into the restaurant, and then entered the business through an adjoining interior door; removing cash from both businesses.

The Sheriff’s Office investigation continues… Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit at 410-386-2900, or the toll free anonymous TIPS Hotline at 1-888-399-TIPP (8477).

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20070412 Local Bloggers Post Generates National Firestorm

Local Blogger's Post Generates National Firestorm

April 15th, 2007

Submitted by MBA News on Thu, 2007-04-12 23:00:

MBANews [Media Bloggers Association]

WKRN Nashville Tennessee reported Local Blogger's Post Generates National Firestorm

Coble has now decided to retain a lawyer with the counsel for the Media Bloggers' Association. They are taking on her case for free. Regardless of the outcome of the threatened lawsuit, many bloggers

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“Local Blogger’s Post Generates National Firestorm”

[April 13, 2007, 4:31 pm]

A firestorm has started in Nashville after JL Kirk Associates, a Brentwood-based employment agency, threatened to sue local blogger Katherine Coble.

Coble shared her observations about the job placement company, most of which were negative, on her blog, Just another Pretty Farce .

[…]

A little over a month after her blog post, Coble received a certified letter on behalf of JL Kirk Associates.

The letter stated that unless Coble removes the blog postings about the agency on or before April 13, 2007, Friday, JL Kirk Associates intends to sue for damages due to "false and defamatory statements."

Coble posted about the lawsuit threat on her blog. Her readers became outraged and began posting about the threat on their own sites.

Bloggers said they thought Coble was being bullied.

The world according to Tiff Sniff blogger said, "Writing about your personal experience and opinion in a public forum can't possibly translate into tortuous interference… that's a hell of a lot to prove."

Soon after, popular Web site[s] like [http://www.instapundit.com/] began posting in support of the threatened blogger, causing the story to be seen by thousands.

[…]

Read more: “Local Blogger’s Post Generates National Firestorm”

20070416 MAN SHOT AFTER STRIKING STATE TROOPER WITH HIS TRUCK

Man Shot After Striking State Trooper With His Truck

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2007

(Elkton, MD) – A Delaware man was shot by a Maryland state trooper last night as he tried to run down the trooper who was attempting to stop him for a traffic violation in Cecil County.

The trooper is identified as Trooper First Class Robert S. Nitz, 26, a six-year veteran of the Maryland State Police. TFC Nitz is assigned to road patrol duties at the North East Barracks.

The accused has not been positively identified and family members have not been notified of his condition. He is believed to be a 49-year-old Delaware man. He is listed in critical condition at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Charges against him are pending.

At about 6:45 p.m. yesterday, Trooper Nitz radioed the North East Barracks and said he was attempting to stop a 1990 GMC pickup that was displaying Delaware tags registered to another vehicle. Trooper Nitz said he was in the area of Middle Road approaching Blue Ball Road near Elkton and the driver was refusing to stop, even though the emergency lights and siren on his unmarked Ford Crown Victoria patrol car were activated. The trooper reported speeds up to 85 mph during the pursuit.

The pickup driver continued north on Blue Ball Road until about one mile north of Warburton Road, where the road was closed due to the bridge being out. At the point the road was closed, he drove his truck into a yard in front of a house in the 2800-block of Blue Ball Road. Trooper Nitz exited his patrol car and began to wave and shout to the driver to stop.

Residents in the area who witnessed the incident said they saw the uniformed trooper waving at the driver and heard him shouting at him to stop. As the trooper stood between the right side of his patrol car and the yard, witnesses said the pickup driver drove back up through the yard and accelerated directly at the trooper. While still shouting at the driver to stop, the trooper drew his Department issued .40 caliber Beretta pistol.

Witnesses told investigators the truck struck the trooper and knocked him onto the hood of the pickup. In fear for his life, the trooper fired his pistol at the driver. Witnesses said the trooper slid off the hood onto the ground, but got back to his feet as the truck passed and fired his pistol again.

The pickup then ran through a fence and came to rest in a pasture about 200 feet from the road. Trooper Nitz and a witness approached the truck and removed the driver who had wounds to his head and torso. They applied emergency care until fire and ambulance units arrived. No one else was in the pickup.

Due to their injuries, the pickup driver and Trooper Nitz were flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore by Maryland State Police helicopters. Trooper Nitz’s injuries were found to be non-life threatening and he was treated and released around midnight. The pickup driver remains at Shock Trauma undergoing treatment for life-threatening injuries.

The pickup truck was not reported stolen, but was unregistered. Troopers saw an empty vodka bottle inside the truck, but it is unknown at this time if the driver had been drinking. The truck was towed to the North East Barracks where it will be processed.

Trooper Nitz will be on medical leave due to his injuries and then on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into this incident. Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, North East Barracks Criminal Investigation Section and the Internal Affairs Unit are conducting continuing investigations.

CONTACT:

Program Manager Gregory Shipley Office of Media Communications & Marketing 410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)

20070415 Me and my Prius

Bin Laden Hates This Car

I love my Prius

April 15^th, 2007

I love my Prius. But I keep reading that the fact that I own a Prius communicates an awkward message… Or see below: “The problem is what people think of you if you drive one. Everyone assumes you're a pious, self-righteous eco-puritan Democrat…”

Yes, I bought my Prius for environmental reasons. And yes one of the more over-riding reasons I bought the Prius is for “foreign policy reasons” - - in that I hate to give money to folks who want to kill me and fellow Americans… or just as bad – Hugo Chavez of Venezuela (Say NO to Citgo.)

And yes I would rather give my money to the Japanese than the Arabs. And yes – yes, I would buy an American car if it had the reliability of a Japanese car. Been there, done that, and got the t-shirt.

But I bought my Prius even more for the fact that we have a failed domestic policy that facilitates no national mobilization towards energy independence.

And also in the top-ten list as to why I bought my Prius is that I am an “‘early adopter’ gadget freaks”

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Hat tip: Glenn Reynolds’ “Instapundit” - - HOW TO DRIVE A HYBRID without looking P.C. I should try that! - posted at 05:19 PM by Glenn Reynolds: http://instapundit.com/archives2/004171.php

http://littleurbanity.blogspot.com/2007/04/solving-prius-problem.html

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Solving the Prius Problem

“A Little Urbanity”

http://littleurbanity.blogspot.com/2007/04/solving-prius-problem.html

There's a problem with our Prius, but not with its performance. It gives us just what we expected in that department: great gas mileage, good fit and finish, Toyota reliability.

The problem is what people think of you if you drive one. Everyone assumes you're a pious, self-righteous eco-puritan Democrat, which I am not (even though Al Gore can kiss my carbon footprint). We bought our Prius more for foreign policy reasons than environmental ones. […]

Go read the comments at: Solving the Prius Problem

Yes, you will have to wade through some mindless drivel – but it worth it to read some of the comments that are fun, like: “I've got that problem too. Used to drive by the smelly hippies protesting in front of the WAR memorial building in my little electric GEM car and they thought I was one of them collectivists. But the BUSH 04, NRA and PEACE THROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER stickers usually set them straight…”

Or:

“Look at the demographics of Prius buyers. About half "early adopter" gadget freaks-who are largely Republican…”

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20070415 A Darn good article about Hillary Clinton

A Darn good article about Hillary Clinton

Wellesley Class Sees One of Us Bearing Standard

Posted April 15, 2007

Hat tip: Yikes! April 14th, 2007 by donsurber

http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/2007/04/14/caption-this/ “In case you missed it at the Drudge Report”

As I can only be sure that it is no surprise for anyone who has read my columns and blogs for the last number of years, I have never been an avid fan of New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

I doubt very seriously that I can, at this point, gather any information that would or could put me in a different direction as my thoughts have hardened over the years – and I’m convinced that she will say anything to get elected. Not to mention her palpable disdain for the military and law enforcement… and her love of big intrusive government, an expanded social-welfare state, and class warfare.

But the New York Times campaign piece from April 14^th, 2007 is a compelling read: “Wellesley Class Sees ‘One of Us’ Bearing Standard” By TAMAR LEWIN

Yes, I understand that the article appears in what many of us consider to be the national web site for liberals and the national Democratic Party (– just as the Baltimore Sun is the web site for the Maryland Democratic Party.)

But reading this piece gives any fair minded arbiter of national politics insight into the phenomena we know as “Hillary.”

For her Wellesley classmates, Hillary Clinton’s quest to become the first female president is a generational mirror. Some like what they see; others are less certain.

They were there for her fiery commencement speech, delivered at the height of the Vietnam War, when she described her class’s search for a “more immediate, ecstatic and penetrating mode of living” and said that every protest was “unabashedly an attempt to forge an identity in this particular age.” The speech landed Hillary Rodham in the spotlight as a celebrated archetype of a new generation of women.

“We were very proud of her: she was a feminist; she was outspoken,” said Jane Moss, a classmate who now teaches French at Colby College. “Hillary was speaking for all of us, for a generation that felt we weren’t being heard.”

From their days at Wellesley, where they attended Wednesday teas and fought to end parietal hours and curfews, to their pioneering careers in law, academia and science, the 400 members of that Class of 1969 have been marked by the profound shift in women’s roles that accompanied their coming of age.

Throughout their journey, Hillary Rodham Clinton has been both a standard-bearer and a touchstone to measure themselves against.

[…]

Read the rest here: “Wellesley Class Sees ‘One of Us’ Bearing Standard”

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20070411 This week in the Westminster Eagle

This week in the Westminster Eagle

Posted Sunday, April 15^th, 2007

Local News

Resident hosts Climate Action Day
As an activist for a number of causes who says she's always looking for a petition to sign, Eldersburg resident Katie Sirk was excited about Step It Up 2007, a "Climate Awareness Day" being held this weekend at locations across the country.

But she was disappointed to find that the closest Step I...
[Read full story]

Sports Hall of Fame this Friday
The Rotary Club of Westminster has announced the inductees for the class of 2007 Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame.

This year's members of the hall will be honored at the annual Sports Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, April 13, at Carroll Community College, beginning at 6 p.m.

There are currentl...
[Read full story]

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Carroll County News Briefs 04/11/07

Deadline next week for city council candidates

Next Monday, April 16, is the deadline for candidates to file if they want to run for the Westminster Common Council in the May 14 election……[…]

Man who held woman faces slew of charges

A Reisterstown man has been charged with beating, burning and forcibly tattooing a woman while holding her prisoner inside a Finksburg house for more than a month. […]

County Chamber honors Teachers of the Year

The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce last week hosted its 19th annual Outstanding Teacher Awards ceremony.

The event, held April 4 at Winters Mill High School, serves as a prelude for the Carroll County Teacher of the Year award, to be determined in May. The chamber's honorees become the eight finalists for that title. The following teachers received the chamber's Outstanding Teacher Awards:

*Antonina Wallace of Carrolltowne Elementary School;

*M. Lynn Earp of Winters Mill High School;

*Rebecca A. Miller of Cranberry Station Elementary School;

*Lori A. Hayman of Sandymount Elementary School;

*Timothy J. Durkin of Liberty High School;

*Richard W. Thompson of West Middle School;

*Ruth A. Mason of Freedom Elementary School; and

*Hanna S. McNett of North Carroll High School.

[…]

The Literacy Council of Carroll County Inc. will hold its fund-raising event, the "SPELIN BE," on Thursday, April 26, 6 p.m. at the Career & Technology Center in Westminster.

Teams of three adult spellers (plus an alternate), sponsored by a business or community group, compete against each other in a spelling contest.

Joe Cimino will be master of ceremonies, District Court Judge Ellinghouse-Jones will be the pronouncer and Carroll County Public Library director, Lynn Wheeler, will be the judge……[…]

Teens encouraged to 'Speak Out' on alcohol

An alcohol awareness program for teens and adults, "Speak Out", will be held Saturday, April 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Community Media Center, 1301 Washington Road, Westminster. […]

Roads cited as Carroll's 'high collision' routes

Carroll County Sheriff's Office said this week that according to 2006 traffic fatality statistics, the county experienced a 41 percent increase in fatal traffic collisions compared to 2005.

Finishing the year with 24 fatalities, Carroll experienced the ninth highest rate of fatal traffic collisions among Maryland's 23 counties, according to the data.

A release from the Sheriff's Office stated that patrol deputies are directing traffic enforcement efforts toward roadways identified by citizen complaints and through traffic collision and enforcement analysis.

The office has identified several of the county roadways as "High Collision Routes," including:

*Route 97 between Route 140 and Airport Drive/Magna Way;

*Route 26 (Liberty Road) between Route 32 and White Rock Road;

*Route 26 at Route 27;

*Route 140 from Tyrone Road to Market Street;

*Route 27 from Route 140 to Route 482;

*Buckhorn Road;

*Middleburg Road;

*Salem Bottom Road;

*Union Bridge Road;

*Uniontown Road; and

*Woodbine Road.

[…]

Carroll Lutheran touts humor as good medicine

Lois S. Walden, RN, will speak on "Humor & Health: A Lesson in Laughter," on April 16, 2 p.m., in the Krug Chapel Auditorium at Carroll Lutheran Village.

Research shows that laughter can raise pain thresholds, reduce stress and even boost immune-system function.

Participants sought to help fill 'Art in the Park'

The Carroll County Arts Council, 91 W. Main St., is inviting artists to submit their work for display and sale at this year's "Art in the Park" event, to be held at the Westminster City Hall Park on Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m……

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Cedarhurst puts faith in community

After acts of vandalism, church embraces 'rebirth'

Speaking publicly about a series of vandalism incidents last year was a difficult decision for the congregation at Cederhurst Unitarian Universalist Church in Finksburg.

But the decision to celebrate the congregation's renewal and rebirth was no...
[Read full story]

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Gym focuses on mobility for disabled
Last Saturday, Mandy Kent raised her hands above her head and waved them.

For most people that would seem an effortless feat, but for Kent, it was affirmation that she can hope for a better future.

Kent, 30, was born with spina bifida, and was in a wheelchair by the time she was 15. She has been...
[Read full story]

Recreation

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South Carroll defeats weather and Westminster

Westminster and South Carroll have been baseball rivals for nearly 40 years.

Since the two oldest schools in the county began playing in 1968, it's doubtful that they had to compete in weather conditions as brutal as last Thursday's game at South Carroll.

With game-time temperatures in the high 30s and a strong wind making it feel much colder, the teams had to battle the elements as well as each other.

The pitching of South Carroll's Garrett Harrison and timely hitting were the difference, as the Cavaliers rolled to a 7-2 victory over the Owls in the teams' only meeting of ...
[Read full story]

Wolf at the Door

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Before calling all cars, Sheriff's Office should take to the air

I've answered all e-mail from readers Schlitzer, Partenope, O'Sullivan and Brougham. For you rail fans, Allen Brougham has a great Web site, www.bullsheet.com, which not only has the greatest address ever, but has great reading material for those of us who miss the golden age of rail travel.

Meanw...
[Read full story]

The Passing Parade

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Dropping a hot potato in the commissioner's laps

That's how I'd describe the dilemma the commissioners find themselves in, having to choose between expanding the airport's runway for the county's financial gain -- by being able to handle larger corporate jets and serve as a "reliever airport" for BWI (general aviation planes only) -- or adopting t...
[Read full story]

Kevin E. Dayhoff

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This 'Candy drive' benefits the East Middle School Bulldogs ... and the three Rs

Westminster East Middle School PTA president Candy Arnold is on a mission.

Ever since she took over the reins of the Parent Teacher Association, she has dreamed of having "an Art Deco-style marquee in front of our beautiful school."

East Middle School, which is located in the same building which...
[Read full story]

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This "image" of Helen Thomas and Ari Fleischer at a happy time is from About Political Humor.com. To see it larger, go to http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-fleischerhelenthomas.htm

Helen Thomas to speak at McDaniel College

Like the ever-ready bunny, at age 86, the "The First Lady of the Press," Helen Thomas soldiers-on in what many understand to be her single-minded mission to save the nation, even if she needs to do it all by herself.

A celebrated author, member of the White House Pres Corps, former United Press International reporter, and currently a Hearst newspaper columnist, Helen Thomas is slated to lecture at McDaniel College in Westminster Thursday evening, April 12.

In an era when the challenges faced by our nation are debated 24 hours a day by partisan talking heads well tra...
[Read full story]

For Better or Worse

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Many happy returns, thanks to a few bags of M&Ms
With four days to go until tax returns are due, most Americans fall into one of four basic groups:

1) Those who have already received their refunds;

2) Those who can't find their W-2s (but know they put them somewhere safe);

3) Those who are almost finished filling out their tax forms (they st...
[Read full story]

Business Briefs

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Main Street Minute
Main Street celebrates local Latino culture

Main Street remains a reflection of the taste, culture and ever-changing preferences of our community.

From the restaurants offering international cuisine to the boutiques offering unique and interesting finds, downtown offers diversity in all five sen...
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Community Calendar

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Community Calendar
ARTS

> A free guitar clinic, featuring Will Ray of the Hellecasters, will be held Thursday, April 12, 7 p.m. at Coffey Music, 31 E. Main St., Westminster. Free and open to all; sponsored by Coffey Music and G&L Guitars. Call 410-876-1045 or 410-848-5003.

> Francis Scott Key High School will pr...
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Education Notes
East Middle is finalist in a test of character

The Character Education Partnership has selected East Middle School as a national finalist in its National Schools of Character awards program, and representatives will make a site visit to the school next Tuesday, April 17.

The National Schools of ...
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More Headlines

Consent order triggers new round of water review, planning

Cedarhurst puts faith in community

Annapolis session closes

[Local news archives]

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20070415 Drug court is a good alternative

Drug court is a good alternative

Carroll County Times editorial for Sunday April 15, 2007

The Carroll County Times editorial for Sunday, April 15^th, 2007 is quite a worthy read and I certainly wish that I had written it: “Drug court is a good alternative.”

More people facing drug charges have a better opportunity to turn their lives around with the start Friday of Carroll County's Adult Drug Treatment Court.

Drugs courts cost more up front because they are more intensive in tracking, monitoring and supervising offenders, but they are more cost-effective in the long run if they are successful in reducing the number of repeat offenders.

[…]

Warden George Hardinger said last month that he is convinced incarceration is not the answer for drug offenders. Eighty to 85 percent of the people in the detention center are there for drug offenses, Hardinger said.

Simply put, throwing people in jail for drug offenses and then, after a period of time, allowing them to return to the same neighborhoods and engage in the same destructive behaviors only increases the chance that they will be back in jail before too long.

[...]

Read the rest of the editorial here: “Drug court is a good alternative.”

The Carroll County Times does not use permalinks. If you accessing this post after the link has gone dead, e-mail me at kevindayhoff AT gmail DOT com and I’ll post the entire editorial.

And just so ya know… Yes there is quite a bit of information in the Carroll County Times that is worth calling to your attention. The reason that I don’t post items from the Carroll County Times more often than I do is because posting articles and columns that do not have a permalink is a hassle. Inevitably, I will have to double-back at a later date and place the entire article on the blog for folks frustrated at not being able to access it when they come across the post through a search engine…

20070415 Al Sharpton on FOX News Sunday

Transcript: Al Sharpton on 'FOX News Sunday'

Sunday , April 15, 2007

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,266213,00.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266213,00.html

WASHINGTON —

The following is a partial transcript of the April 15, 2007, edition of "FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace":

"FOX NEWS SUNDAY" HOST CHRIS WALLACE: Joining us now from New York to discuss the fallout from the Don Imus controversy is the Reverend Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist who was among the first to call for the radio host to be fired.

Reverend Sharpton, now that Don Imus is off the air, will you go after the rappers who say a lot worse things than Imus ever has, as well as the radio companies, the music record companies and the broadcast companies that make so much money off this kind of language?

REV. AL SHARPTON: I think the real question is whether or not the major media will cover our already having gone after some of the rappers and record companies that they have in some cases not covered. In some cases they have.

I led a campaign against the whole song "It's Hard Out Here to be a Pimp" and said it should have never gotten an Oscar nomination. I led a campaign and had marches against the show "Boondocks" that used the "N" word. Both are blacks involved.

Read the rest here: Al Sharpton on 'FOX News Sunday'

For more information on Reverend Sharpton go here: The Saga of Big Al Sharpton

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20070415 April 15, 1949: Senator Tydings Delights Audience at Westminster High School

“Millard E. Tydings, U.S. Senator 1927-1951 and member of the University of Maryland Hall of Fame.”[1]
http://www.lib.umd.edu/univarchives/macmil/imgpg/tydings.html

UPDATE: Yes, he is the grandfather of Alexandra Tydings

Senator Tydings Delights Audience at Westminster High School

Democratic Advocate, April 15, 1949.

The invitations sent out by the Westminster Chamber of Commerce that Millard E. Tydings would make an address in the Westminster High School auditorium on Friday evening, April 8, drew an audience of over 500.

Senator Tydings spoke on many interesting subjects that was food for thought to the audience. He spoke of being in the first world war when he served as Colonel, and how dreadful the second was over the first.

But if another war comes it will be the most destructive in History and the U. S. will be involved deeply. He mentioned that the Marshall plan and the Atlantic Pact is something that will help prevent war if anything does. The binding of these nations into one pact will have a hostile country think before it strikes.

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For additional information on Senator Tydings go here:
http://www.answers.com/topic/tydings-millard-evelyn

Also:

Millard E. Tydings: A Featured Biography - - From the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Featured_Bio_Tydings.htm

Senator Millard E. Tydings (1890-1961) of Maryland used his sharp tongue and keen intelligence to battle two political giants. His first quarrel was with President Franklin Roosevelt over his New Deal programs and the president’s attempt to reorganize the federal judiciary.

Despite Roosevelt’s efforts to “purge” the Democratic Party of conservative critics such as Tydings in the 1938 mid-term elections, Maryland reelected Tydings with overwhelming support. Nearly two decades later, he battled Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin.

Appointed as chairman of a subcommittee to investigate charges of communist infiltration of the State Department, Tydings dismissed McCarthy’s claims, stating that the Senator had committed “a fraud and a hoax.”

McCarthy successfully sought retribution by helping to defeat Tydings in the 1950 election, making him one of the first high-profile victims of what would become known as McCarthyism.

TYDINGS, Millard Evelyn, (1890 - 1961)

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000446

Senate Years of Service: 1927-1951 Party: Democrat

TYDINGS, Millard Evelyn, (father of Joseph Davies Tydings), a Representative and a Senator from Maryland; born in Havre de Grace, Harford County, Md., April 6, 1890;

attended the public schools of Harford County; graduated from Maryland Agricultural College (now the University of Maryland) in 1910; engaged in civil engineering with the Baltimore Ohio Railroad in West Virginia in 1911; studied law at the University of Maryland Law School, Baltimore, Md.; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Havre de Grace in 1913;

member, State house of delegates 1916-1921; speaker of the house 1920-1922;

served as a private on the Mexican border at Eagle Pass, Tex., 1916; enlisted as a private in the First World War in 1917; promoted to lieutenant colonel and division machine-gun officer in 1918; served in Germany with the Army of Occupation; discharged from the service in 1919;

author; member, State senate 1922-1923; elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-eighth and Sixty-ninth Congresses (March 4, 1923-March 3, 1927); was not a candidate for renomination in 1926, having become a candidate for United States Senator;

elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1926, 1932, 1938 and 1944 and served from March 4, 1927, to January 3, 1951; was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1950;

chairman, Committee on Territories and Insular Possessions (Seventy-third through Seventy-ninth Congresses), Committee on Armed Services (Eighty-first Congress);

nominated in 1956 as Democratic candidate for the United States Senate but withdrew before election due to ill health; engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md.;

died at his farm, ‘Oakington,’ near Havre de Grace, Md., February 9, 1961; interment in Angel Hill Cemetery.

Bibliography
American National Biography; Dictionary of American Biography; Keith, Caroline H. For Hell and a Brown Mule: The Biography of Senator Millard E. Tydings. Lanham, MD: Madison Books, 1991; Grant, Philip, Jr. “Maryland Press Reaction to the Roosevelt-Tydings Confrontation.” Maryland Historical Magazine 68 (Winter 1973): 422-37.

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