Living the Dream. Sam Grow Returns from Nashville for Southern Maryland Performance. Story Page 16. Thursday, August 7, 2014

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1 Thursday, August 7, Living the Dream Sam Grow Returns from Nashville for Southern Maryland Performance Story Page 16 Archived Photo by Mike Batson

2 Thursday, August 7, Thursday August 7, Unit 2 was in a more precarious position than Unit 1. If you have more than three [unplanned shutdowns] you ll get a visit from the NRC. They were fairly close to tripping that threshold. NRC Spokesman Neil Sheehan on whether Calvert Cliffs is near greater federal scrutiny. 26 Weather Watch 4 Local News 10 Cops & Courts 11 Letters 14 Business 16 Feature Story 18 Education 20 Community 21 Sports 22 Obituaries 24 Community Calendar 26 Entertainment 27 Home Page 28 Games 28 Classifieds 29 Business Directory 30 Senior 30 History 31 Wanderings of an Aimless Mind 31 Joyce to the World 31 Book Review Free InItIal ConsultatIon The law offices of P.a. Hotchkiss & associates Accepting: Providing Excellent Service For Over 20 Years Auto Accidents Workers comp Divorce/Separation Support/Custody Domestic Violence Criminal/Traffic DWI/MVA Hearings Power of Attorney Name Change Adoption Wills Guardianship Scan this Times Code with your smart phone 99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD SERVING CHARLES ST. MARY S PG CALVERT P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: For staff listing and s, see page 11. (301) (301)

3 3 Thursday, August 7, 2014 FINAL STORE BLOWOUT SALE!!! 3 DAYS ONLY Friday - Saturday - Sunday Jully 11 - July 12 - July 13 70% OFF STOREWIDE SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 MONDAY, AUGUST 11 EVERYTHING MUST GO. 70% OFF EVERYTHING CASH ONLY STUFF THE BAG $10 Fill as much as you can fit in one of our LARGE GROCERY BAGS from the banana boxes filled with a variety of merchandise. ALL YOU CAN FIT IN ONE BAG ONLY $10 GREAT MILLS ONLY New Store Hours 10 A.M. 6 P.M. EVERYTHING MUST GO

4 Local NEWS House Fire Under Investigation By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Investigators with the state fire marshal s office are looking for the causes of a house fire that completely destroyed a single family home and a car that was in the attached garage. The fire on Enterprise Road in Lexington Park took 31 firefighters from Bay District, Valley Lee and Hollywood fire companies as well as from Patuxent River Naval Air Station 20 minutes to get under control. Fire marshals estimate the damage at $160,000 for the home and $15,000 for its contents. No one was hurt as a result of the blaze; a neighbor discovered the fire and alerted first responders. Investigators say the fire started in the garage. Fire marshals are asking anyone with information regarding the fire to contact them at their Southern Regional Office at Margaret Brent High School ALUMNI DINNER/DANCE August 23, :00-11:00 p.m. Social Time: 5:00-5:30 Dinner: 5:30 Menu includes: Baked Chicken, Fried Chicken, Ham and all the fixin's Music by: Southbound 7:00-11:00 p.m. CASH BAR Location: Mechanicsville Moose Lodge Mechanicsville Rd Mechanicsville, MD Admission by Ticket only Tickets are $30.00 per person Tables can be reserved with the purchase of a group of 8 tickets To purchase tickets please contact: Delores Cusic Make Checks Payable To: MBHS Alumni and mail to: Clarence Bowles P.O. Box 143 Clements, MD /50 Raffle Clarence Bowles LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU! By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Town leaders say that they will put out bids for the construction of a new, enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) system for their Van Wert Lane waste water treatment plant but the procedure and its $19 million price tag won t benefit the town much. Several years ago the town had planned to both go ahead with the statemandated ENR upgrade and an overall expansion of the treatment plant but the downturn in the national economy and the subsequent drying up of impact fees from home construction halted that plan. The town got a three year extension from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) but that extension has now run out and the town must move ahead with the project. The town has already received its permits to begin building from MDE. We re pretty much ready to go, said Town Administrator Laschelle McKay. The town has already put out a bid for a company to manage the project, she said, and that contract should be awarded at the town council s Aug. 11 meeting. The ENR upgrade is designed to filter out even greater amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants in the town s water supply that is eventually discharged from the plant. Both pollutants can cause environmental degradation in the watershed, according to environmental officials, because they can contribute to algae blooms that deprive waterways of critical oxygen and submerged aquatic vegetation necessary for wildlife. And though the state believes the upgrades are critical the town will not benefit from any increase in capacity at the plant. Thursday, August 7, School Site Meets Funding Problem By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A 281-acre parcel of rural land that the school system has considered as a site for perhaps two new schools may not be eligible for state construction funding because of its zoning category. The state usually provides money for school construction if the school is to be built in what is known as a priority funding area and the Sloan Farm property was in that designation until the Mechanicsville Town Center was removed from the priority funding area (PFA) by county leaders about a year ago. Jeff Jackman, a senior planner with Department of Land Use and Growth Management, said funding for the schools now was not out of the question but it would likely be more difficult. We re looking into that, Jackman said. There are allowances for schools outside of PFAs. The selection of the property has also hit opposition from property owners surrounding it. Members of the Roach family and others wrote a letter to the Board of County Commissioners asking them to halt the use of the property because it resides in the Rural Legacy Area, which seeks to preserve such land against most development. Construction of schools on that kind of land is not prohibited by state law. The landowners who have participated in the Rural Legacy Program did so with confidence that the county was committed to preserving farmland and watershed in this area, the letter reads. Allowing this parcel to be developed ignores that commitment and breeches the trust of surrounding landowners. In summary everyone supports the Board of Education. Their job is of the utmost importance to all the members of the community. None the less, we must also show a true commitment to the preservation of farmland and watershed. This is necessary if the county truly desires to manage growth and maintain its rural character. School system officials did not return phone calls for comment as of press time. Leonardtown Treatment Plant Project Won t Increase Capacity By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Five years ago a federal sting operation that struck at a local conspiracy to underreport the weight of rockfish harvested led to the indictment and conviction of several local watermen including Piney Point business owner Robert M. Lumpkins. Lumpkins name has again resurfaced in a state Department of Natural Resources operation that has cracked down on illegal crabbing statewide. Natural Resources Police inspected two bushels of No. 2 crabs at a seafood restaurant in Hagerstown Sunday and found 59 undersized crabs between the two the bill of sale showed that the undersized crabs had been caught in Maryland and purchased from Lumpkins Golden Eye Seafood, according to law officers. Candy Thompson, spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Police, said Lumpkins is not the focus of a full investigation but his name has none the less caught the attention of law officers. No charges have been filed against Lumpkins. Our officers are certainly looking into it, Thompson said of the case. I wouldn t call it a full blown investigation. Because of Lumpkins involvment in the rockfish scheme, in which he used his business to underreport the weight of rockfish caught but also inflated the number of fish actually caught, NRP police are looking deeper into any possible connections. It certainly raised our awareness, Thompson said. MDE is paying for 40 percent of the project, McKay said, which means the town is responsible for $11.5 million of the price tag. McKay said there should be no interruptions in service as a result of the upgrades and water and sewer rates should not increase. The town has secured a loan from the Maryland Water Quality Funding Agency to pay for the project and impact fees from steadily increasing housing construction will be used to pay off that loan, McKay said. Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris said the expense was necessary but not popular with the town. It s not something we re choosing to do, Burris said. guyleonard@countytimes.net State Cracks Down on Illegal Crabbing Several calls made to Golden Eye Seafood seeking comment were unsuccessful. According to the U.S. Attorney s office Lumpkins 2009 plea showed that by underreporting the weight of rockfish and inflating the number actually caught it appeared to regulators that watermen had not met their poundage quotas for the season but had run out of tags for harvesting them. Prosecutors said the scheme ran from at least 2003 to 2007 and involved about a dozen watermen.

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6 Local NEWS Teachers Look To Cut Frills In Coming School Year By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Thursday, August 7, Athletes Hit the Water During Special Olympics Sailing Regatta The leadership of the Education Association of St. Mary s County (EASMC) said that about 60 percent of its members are willing to go to work and fulfill their classroom duties this coming school year but that is all they are willing to do. That means they won t be chaperoning dances, coaching extra-curricular activities for free or hosting any tutoring sessions after school, said EASMC President Anna Laughlin. We re going to be doing something called Back To Basics, she said. Hopefully people will not be doing anything extra or spending their own money. Laughlin said the teachers union would make their announcement officially on Monday at a press conference at their office in Leonardtown. While teachers have received cost of living increases in recent years teachers still found themselves with less take home pay because of new fees and rising health insurance costs. We have not had a salary increase in years, Laughlin said. We still have new teachers being subsidized by their parents. There are other pet peeves teachers hold, too, she said, such as when children are told to bring their own school supplies but still come unprepared. Teachers are often the ones who pay for those supplies out of their own pockets, Laughlin said. Students come to school with no paper, no pencils and no notebooks, she said of some cases. School system officials did not return phone calls for comment as of press time. guyleonard@countyimes.net Commissioners Vote to Honor Purple Heart Veterans Resolution authorizes designated parking spaces for veterans wounded in combat At their weekly business meeting the Commissioners of St. Mary s County approved a resolution which provides special recognition to Purple Heart veterans. By a 4-0 margin the commissioners authorized the designation of one parking space (at each county owned facility) immediately adjacent to an existing handicapped parking space as Purple Heart Parking. The spaces will be appropriately marked with a Purple Heart Parking sign. Approximately 50 signs will be installed at a cost of $2,000. Purple Heart Parking will donate the signs. SSGT Justin Skotnicki (ret.) came before the commissioners on July 22 to formally present the plan. Skotnicki said the idea was a way to recognize Purple Heart recipients. He believed designated parking spots for those injured in the course of serving their country was the ideal way of honoring them. Commissioner Dan Morris (2nd District), a Vietnam Veteran, applauded the plan. I wholeheartedly support the concept. It s a great idea and I want to thank Purple Heart Parking for stepping forward and doing the right thing. I wish we could do more. Commissioner Cindy Jones (1st District) noted that Southern Maryland has among the highest percentage of veterans than anywhere in the state of Maryland. This is a great place to kick off this initiative and we hope that other jurisdictions will also join. Purple Heart Parking signs will be placed at designated locations on the Governmental Campus in Leonardtown as well as other county-owned facilities, such as museums and parks. In the back of picture is Josh Fondren (athlete) and Curtis Aaron (partner), #11 is Russell Bucci (athlete) and Brenda Clark (partner) Tom Bayne (athlete) and Christian Montes de Oca (partner). The 2014 Special Olympics Sailing Regatta at St. Mary s College of Maryland has come and gone for this year. Our local SOSMCO coach, athletes and partners certainly held their own during this funfilled weekend. This year s regatta warranted us with the Gold Medal winners in Division 1 of the monohulls. They are partner, Hana Zwick and athlete, Isaac Weiser. This is the third year for this team to be sailing together. Hana Zwick graduated from Leonardtown High this year and is headed to Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and of course, she will be sailing! Athlete, Isaac Weiser can now be called an experienced sailor after this great win with Hana. Additional star performing teams were Russell Bucci and Brenda Clark who finished second in Division 3. Brenda and Russell have both been sailing with SOSMCO for many years. Brenda is the head coach and has been with St. Mary s County Special Olympics since the nineties. Brenda and Russell were members of the SO USA World Games USA Sailing Team in 1999, held in North Carolina. A very unusual thing happened that year; the North Carolina location did not have a sailing venue and we ended up with the sailing at St. Mary s College of Maryland. This was the very first year of the outstanding partnership with St. Mary s County Special Olympics and SMCM. This partnership has continued through today; we are so thankful to have the outstanding venue to host our sailing events. Tom Bayne from Ridge, Md. and Christian Montes de Oca made up the third team from our program. This was Christian s first year as a unified partner! All went well for this team as they won the gold in Division 4. Tom is a long time veteran in this sport and he has traveled to Ireland and the Netherlands to show off his sailing skills. Our last team consisted of a new athlete from Hollywood, Joshua Fondren. He partnered up with Curtis Aaron and the dynamic duo made a name for themselves with another gold. They were in Div. 5. Joshua tells us that he is hooked and will be back next year. Our thanks to our St. Mary s head coach, Brenda Clark, all the partner skippers, volunteers who made our practices happen, the KC Council #2065 for their hall to host our dinner and dance, the Expressions Catering (Debbie Hammon) for a great meal, to the Flanigan (extended Family of sons and daughter) for making it all happen, Capt. Bruce Scheible for bringing his boat so our families can go out on the water and watch the skills of their athletes, St. Mary s College of Maryland who are the stem of this great, worthwhile sport of sailing. Finally thanks to all the athletes for blessing all of us with your spirit, determination, courage and skill! For Information, visit or or somdsmc@md.metrocast.net.

7 7 Thursday, August 7, 2014 Local NEWS A Fun Day for the Family, All for a Good Cause Solomons Island, Md. Patuxent Habitat for Humanity is proudly hosting their second Warrior Fun Run & Sail event. A Warrior 5K Fun Run/Walk, Warrior Boat Parade and Fouled Anchor Regatta event will be held on Solomons Island, Aug. 23. All proceeds will go to Patuxent Habitat s Veteran Critical Home Repair programs. The Warrior Fun Run will begin at 8 a.m. at the gazebo on the Solomons boardwalk. This year s route heads north to the Calvert Marine Museum before returning south for a scenic run through beautiful Solomons Island and finishing at the gazebo. At 10 a.m. runner/walker registrants and spectators alike will be able to watch the Warrior Boat Parade from the Solomons boardwalk. Sailboats in the Regatta, powerboats, along with the Solomons Fire Department and Coastguard will be showcasing their boats for the public. At 11 a.m. the Fouled Anchor Regatta will begin. If you ve never seen a sailboat race from land or experienced one on the water, this is a great opportunity for you to do just that! Sailboats of all sizes and experience are welcome to come out for a fun day on the water filled with exciting sailboat racing. The Organizing Authority of the Fouled Anchor Regatta is the Southern Maryland Sailing Foundation (SMSF), in cooperation with Southern Maryland Sailing Association, Inc. (SMSA). With their involvement, this Regatta proves to be a fun and professionally run race! The cost of the Fun Run registration is $30. The registration cost for the Regatta is $50 for boats 21 ft and over, and $30 for boats 20 ft and under. Each paid registrant will receive a Warrior T-Shirt. Packet pick up for both events will take place on Friday, Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. at the Southern Maryland Sailing Association located at Solomons Island Rd, Solomons Island, Md In addition to all that Solomons has to offer, Bear Creek BBQ will be onsite. Bruster s Ice Cream truck will be at the event offering free ice cream for veterans! The Patuxent High School cheerleaders will be leading the pre race warm up and cheering the race. Come out for a community oriented, fun-filled day! It s not too late to become a sponsor for this event! Please contact Patuxent Habitat for Humanity at Patuxent Habitat welcomes all donations as they go to help our local active duty, veteran and wounded warrior community. Please see for all registration and information details. HUGE ESTATE AUCTION SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 TH 9 A.M. ST. MARY'S COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 2 AUCTIONEERS ALL DAY VEHICLES TOOLS ANTIQUES FOOD BY BEAR CREEK A.J.'s Auction Service, LLC AUCTIONZIP.COM Auctioneer #6203 Budd s Creek, MD FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 WORLD OF OUTLAW LATE MODELS 50 LAP GUNTERS HONEY PAYING $10,000 TO THE WINNER ON COORS LIGHT NIGHT ALSO STREET STOCKS, HOBBYSTOCKS AND U-CARS GATES OPEN 4 :00 P.M. WARM-UPS 7:30 P.M. PIT ENTRANCE $40 GENERAL ADMISSION $25 CHILDREN 6-12 $5.00 (301) Budds Creek Rd, Mechanicsville, MD For more information visit

8 Local NEWS Thursday, August 7, Eat the Right Way with Cristo Rey By Emily Charles Contributing Writer St. Mary s County has a long history of farming, and Cristo Rey Farm is adding to that history in a new, healthy way as owners Ed and KC Schnitker continue to develop their large spread of Leonardtown land. Purchased by the couple in December 2013, the farm is steadily progressing into an organic, environmentally friendly business. Business is growing! We have regular customers that buy our eggs and chicken and some that want to buy our pork and turkey in the fall, said KC Schnitker. The former California residents moved to Calvert County to be closer to family, and then onto the St. Mary s County farm when KC Schnitker took an interest in growing healthier foods to create a healthier environment, said Schnitker. While the farm currently raises chickens and pigs as sources of food, more is to be added in the coming year. We are in the process of transforming previously crop-farmed land to pastures for grass-fed livestock and next year, produce. We plan to offer tomatoes, lettuce, onions, garlic, cucumbers, melons, kale, broccoli, green beans, etc. The everyday veggies and fruits, said KC Schnitker. She and her husband also intend to purchase turkeys, cows and goats for the farm, Schnitker said. The fields at Cristo Rey Farm will be almost entirely cared for by the animals that roam them, said Schnitker. Usually people leave chickens in one area, and they defoliate the area, everything is dirt. You can tell the chickens need to move when you can start to smell it. I can smell the manure a little bit, but that s the thing about this kind of farming, is that it doesn t smell bad, because everything keeps moving all the time. It really makes for fertile ground. We re going to get cattle, and the chickens will go after the cattle, about four days after the cattle go through an area and graze it, and they ll pick through all the cow pies and eat out all the fly larva and spread all the manure around. The idea is that you look and see what the animal does naturally, and then you harvest its talents, said Schnitker. A large focus of the farm is to help the local economy, both by providing healthier foods to Southern Maryland citizens and by educating the public. We re really focused on selling local, keeping it local. Even our mentor won t do business outside of 400 miles. The farthest we ve gone is 50 miles, said Schnitker, We want to educate future farmers, we want to inspire farmers, and we want to give them an opportunity to have their own enterprise here. I mean, we have all this land, we can t possibly use all this land, so if they re interested, they can start their own enterprise. One of the things we want to do is a Christmas tree stand, you know, seasonal fun things, maybe a hayride. We want to invite people to really get into farming. People don t know much about where their food comes from. Like, children love to come here and pick eggs and take them home to their families. We invite people into the production of their food. It lowers our labor costs and it lowers their food cost, said Schnitker. The apprenticeship program is paying off, as young adults such as Jack Krall are already volunteering their services. Krall, who worked there over the summer, said the experience was definitely a character builder. The apprenticeship enabled me to be creative in solving problems and gaining the experience in applying those ideas so they ll last. It took a lot of determination and perseverance for the ideas to work well (often many afternoons sweating until the project is finished the right way), said Krall. The apprenticeship also teaches valuable real world applications, said Krall, who was given the opportunity to tour other farms and learn about the specialties of organic farming in addition to the hard work he put in at Cristo Rey Farm. Cristo Rey Farm also works closely with charities, donating food to local food pantries, local elderly families and two different religious orders that cater to the elderly and families: Little Sisters of the Poor and the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, said Schnitker. We choose ones [charities] that we know well and that make good use of their resources and that can benefit from donations of nutrient dense foods. The Schnitkers are very enthusiastic about their work and the farm s future. It s totally exciting and it s great to make food that makes people healthy and helps the environment, said KC Schnitker. To learn more about Cristo Rey Farm, call or visit their Facebook page. news@countytimes.net

9 9 Thursday, August 7, 2014 Stanley Martin Homes MOVE-IN-READY Come Home to Wildewood! Single Family Homes and Townhomes, with Amazing Amenities, Unmatched in St. Mary s County! EVERGREEN PARK TOWNHOMES NO W SELLING At Wildewood you will find the perfect blend of beautiful single family homes and townhomes, in a wonderful living environment close to sought-after schools and amazing new amenities. All within an energetic community where good friends, growing families and lifestyle thrive! Find Your New Home at Wildewood Today! EVERGREEN PARK New Townhomes 1,684-1,926 Sq. Ft. 3 Bedrooms 2.5 Bathrooms From the $200 s! WOODLAND PARK Spacious Single Family Homes 2,148-6,083 Sq. Ft. 3-4 Bedrooms Bathrooms From the upper $200 s! MAGNOLIA PARK Beautiful Townhomes 1,553-1,976 Sq. Ft. 2-3 Bedrooms Bathrooms From the $100 s! MAGNOLIA PARK Luxury Single Family Homes 2,407-6,083 Sq. Ft. 4-5 Bedrooms Bathrooms From the $300 s! Call For More Information On Our Move-In-Ready Homes! Stanley Martin Green Living Homes WildewoodCommunity.com Azalea Court, California, MD Sales Center Hours: Mon 1-6: Tues-Sun 11-6 MHBR No Stanley Martin Homes Prices, financing, and offers are all subject to change without notice. Photos used are for illustrative purposes only. Photos are of similar homes. Please see a Neighborhood Sales Manager for complete details.

10 Thursday, August 7, NAVY Great Mills Native Serves Aboard USS Nitze SENIOR NIGHT WEDNESDAYS FROM 12-9 P.M. 50% OFF For Our Guests 55 And Older. Dine-In Only KIDS EAT FREE TUESDAYS FROM 4-9 P.M. Purchase One Item Off The Regular Adult Menu, Receive Up To 2 KIDS MEALS FREE. Kids 12 And Under Only Three Notch Rd Lexington Park, Md A 2009 Great Mills High School graduate, 2013 University of Kanas graduate and Great Mills, Md., native is serving aboard USS Nitze (DDG 94), one of the world s most versatile multi-mission combat ships. Ensign Garrett Smith is a gunnery officer aboard the Norfolk-based ship, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, that is longer than 1.5 football fields long at nearly 510 feet long. The ship is 66 feet wide and weighs more than 9,200 tons. Twin gas turbine engines can push the ship through the water at more than 30 mph. USS Nitze is the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Paul Nitze, who served as Secretary of the Navy under President Lyndon B. Johnson and as chief arms control adviser in the administration of President Ronald Reagan. As a 23 year-old with numerous responsibilities, Smith said he is learning about himself as a leader, sailor and a person. We serve together as a diverse group of people with no two alike, said Smith. We all have good days and bad days and learn from each other. He also said he is proud of the work he is doing as part of the Nitze s 315-member crew, protecting America on the world s oceans. I m doing work that has an effect on the world, Smith said. Sailors jobs are highly varied aboard USS Nitze. Approximately 31 officers and 284 enlisted men and women make up the ship s company, which keeps all parts of the destroyer running smoothly this includes everything from washing dishes and preparing meals to handling weaponry and maintaining the engines. I am proud and amazed by the knowledge they display and the work my Sailors do every day, said Cmdr. Michelle Nakamura, the ship s commanding officer. Many very young people, some with only months of experience in the Navy, stood ready to sail and fight our ship in any situation. They performed exceptionally each and every day of our 7-plus month deployment and they continue to excel here at home. Their professionalism, motivation and commitment to the Navy are genuinely inspiring. Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced, destroyers provide the required warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute multi-mission evolutions such as surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-air warfare. USS Nitze can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups. As a member of one of the U.S. Navy s most versatile combat ships, Smith and other USS Nitze sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes. By Lieutenant Chad Murphy, Navy Office Of Community Outreach

11 11 Thursday, August 7, 2014 NAVY Drones To Become Part of Life in St. Mary s FALL IS THE TIME TO RENOVATE & ESTABLISH A NEW LAWN Stop in today: Talk to your local lawn experts & pick up a complete do-it-yourself schedule. We can help calculate everything you need, and of course, delivery is available. LeafGro Totes NEW LOW PRICE! Only $ Wentworth White House Grass Seed NEW LOW PRICE! 50 lb. Only $ Greenview Starter Fertilizer NEW LOW PRICE! 5000 sq. ft sq. ft. 88 $ $ 29 Dethatching Rake NEW LOW PRICE! Only $ CELEBRATE AUGUST: Pond-emonium All Fish, Pond, Fountains & Supplies % Off See Our Closeout Specials Up to 70 % Off Officials from state, county and federal government as well as the University of Maryland officially open the new unmanned air system test site at the St. Mary s County Airport. By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Touting the rise of unmanned air systems as the next big thing in the national economy, St. Mary s County now has a chance to cash in after elected officials, technology partners and University of Maryland leaders cut the ribbon for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site at the county s airport. This is mega business for us, said County Commissioner President Francis Jack Russell. This has the potential for us to reach Silicon Valley status. The aim of the test site is to partner with the upcoming new technology center that is to be built at the Southern Maryland Education Center, also under the auspices of the University of Maryland, to become a leader in advancing not only unmanned aerial systems but autonomous robotics as a whole. Another aim is to bring in unmanned and robotics companies to take advantage of the higher education incubator there to ensure there are jobs for high skilled technology workers outside of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, leveraging their knowledge to bolster economic development. Speakers at the ceremony, held in an airport hangar, spoke often of the day when drones could be used in civilian capacities such as parcel delivery. But none of that would likely be possible without the military first investing in the initial technology. The military continues to lead the way in technological advancement, said Del. John Bohanan. The missing ingredient [in St. Mary s County] is that university research element other communities had that we didn t. The University of Maryland s commitment would help cement that move towards economic diversity from the military to civilian markets, he said. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md-5th) said the growing partnership would help the county take advantage of the burgeoning demand for the technology. Drones are poised to launch a $90 billion economy in the next decade, Hoyer said, emphasizing testing and manufacturing of drones locally. Making things is a critical part of our country. Naval Air Systems Command s commanding officer Vice Admiral David Dunaway said the navy was ready to help with the venture because it would make the unmanned air industry better in the longrun. We want to let everyone know what we know because that collaborative environment helps us do it better, Dunaway said. We have miles and miles to go and we haven t even scratched the surface of our potential. guyleonard@countytimes.net Now is the time to add water to any garden! NOW SCHEDULING FALL LANDSCAPING New Lawns Lawn Renovation Landscapes Hardscapes Don t Wait! Schedule an Appointment With a Designer Today. FALL IS FOR PLANTING Panicum, Zebra Grass & Variegated Miscanthus NEW LOW PRICE! Only $ or Blueberries NEW LOW PRICE! Only $ Kaleidoscope Abelia NEW LOW PRICE! Only $ Knockout Rose NEW LOW PRICE! Only $ PATIOS, WALKWAYS & BED EDGING Bradstone Steppers 10 or more $ ea. Edge Stone Only $ 1 98 ea. Flagstone Path $ /pallet Covers sq. ft. Tumbled Design Patio Kit 10 x 11 Patio Kit. $ FALL FINANCING: 0% INTEREST FOR 15 MONTHS, OR 0% INTEREST WITH 36 EQUAL MONTLY PAYMENTS See store for complete details on financing options. The Centaur is just one of the unmanned aerial drones that will be tested at the new site. Charlotte Hall Three Notch Rd, Charlotte Hall Wentworth Nursery Prince Frederick 1700 Solomon s Island Rd, Prince Frederick HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8-7, Sat. 8-6, Sun. 9-6 Sales good thru September 9th, 2014 Oakville 5 minutes North of Hollywood Oakville Road Mechanicsville Hours: Mon.-Sat. 7:30-5, Closed Sunday

12 Cops & COURTS By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The trial of John Otha Dickens, Jr. the man accused of beating his girlfriend repeatedly over the course of several days after being let out of jail several times has been postponed due to the prosecution s main witness not showing up for the trial on Tuesday. Tyneesha Johnson, Dickens alleged victim, appeared before Judge Michael J. Stamm Tuesday afternoon after she was detained on a body attachment when she did not show up in court Tuesday morning. Johnson claimed that she was in the court clerk s office while the trial was to begin but Stamm said they were not responsible to tell the court she was there. They can t give legal advice, Stamm said. The system doesn t work if someone is not where the summons needs you to be. I m sorry this happened to you. Dickens trial was rescheduled for Aug. 26 and 27. He faces three separate Circuit Court cases with charges ranging from firstdegree assault to witness tampering. The trial that was to begin Tuesday was for the third set of charges in which Dickens was alleged to have threatened the victim with a knife and for which he was shot by sheriff s Philip H. Dorsey III Attorney at Law - SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY - Personal Injury Wrongful Death Auto/Truck Crashes Pharmacy & Drug Injuries Workers Compensation Medical Malpractice LEONARDTOWN: TOLL FREE: phild@dorseylaw.net Dickens Assault Trial Postponed office deputies who believed the victim s life was in danger. Court papers filed against Dickens for the Oct. 21 incident allege that Dickens returned to the home of his girlfriend after having been released from jail on charges that he had assaulted her just the previous day. When he returned to see her he tried to persuade her to drop the assault charges against him from the alleged Oct. 20 attack but soon began making threats which caused the victim to lock herself and her children in their bedroom, police alleged in charging documents. Dickens then kicked in the door, armed with a knife and pulled her from the room. During the assault he cut both Johnson s 5-year-old daughter and friend Shanasha Jordon who tried to stop him, police alleged. While he was assaulting Johnson he threatened to kill her if anyone called for the police, police alleged. Assistant State s Attorney Buffy Giddens said Johnson has only reluctantly been a witness in the defendant s trial. She hasn t been a cooperative victim, Giddens said. She doesn t keep in contact with us. guyleonard@countytimes.net Thursday, August 7, SHERIFF S BLOTTER The following information is compiled directly from publicly released police reports. DOMESTIC ASSAULT On July 28, 2014, Deputy Manns responded to a residence on Indian Bridge Road for a reported assault. The victim alleged suspect Michael Wayne Purks, 38, of Lexington Park, suffocated the victim with a pillow. Purks then allegedly threatened the victim with a handgun. Purks was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center. He was charged with 1 st Degree Assault. THEFT/FRAUD On July 27, 2014, a victim reported he was shopping at Target in California, when he believed his wallet fell out of his pocket. A short time later, he received information on his smart phone indicating his bank card had just been used at the California Taco Bell. The victim and a friend responded to the Taco Bell and called police. Taco Bell employees were able to provide a description of the suspect who used the victim s card. A suspect matching the description was subsequently located in the parking lot of the CVS on Three Notch Road. The suspect was identified as Thomas Daniel Chayka, 39, of Lexington Park. Additional evidence was obtained from Chayka and he was placed under arrest. He was transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center and charged with Theft Under $100, Credit Card Theft, Receiving/Retaining Lost Credit Card, and Credit Card/Another Charge Under $ THEFT On July 30, 2014, Deputy Wesner responded to the Giant Food store in California, for a reported theft. A store employee reported a black male suspect stole several packages of chicken before fleeing the area in a green Dodge Avenger. Additional police units responded and located a vehicle matching the description. The vehicle was stopped and the stolen chicken was observed in the back seat. The vehicle s passenger, identified as suspect Joseph Dale Thomas, 55, of Lexington Park, was charged with Theft Under $100 by Criminal Citation. FALSE STATEMENT TO POLICE OFFICER On July 31, 2014, Deputy S. Cameron responded to a residence located on North Poteat Court in California, for a reported burglary. The homeowner reported unknown suspect(s) entered his residence earlier in the day and stole an XBOX 360 and an XBOX 1. Later the same day, Deputy Cameron received information the report was false. He returned to the homeowner, identified as suspect Malik Isaiah Thompson, 24, of California, and was able to obtain additional evidence supporting the burglary report was false. Thompson was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center and charged with False Statement to Police Officer. DRUG POSSESSION On July 31, 2014, Deputy Krum assigned to the Lexington Park COPs UNIT, observed suspect Demetri Paul Brooks, 19, of Lexington Park, walking in the area of Eric Road in Lexington Park. Deputy Krum knew Brooks had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and attempted to stop him. As Deputy Krum exited his patrol vehicle, he observed Brooks drop 3 pieces of white paper on the ground and walk away. Brooks was taken into custody by Deputy Krum without incident. The 3 pieces of white paper contained suspected marijuana. Brooks was transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center and charged with Possession Controlled Dangerous Substance: Marijuana Less Than 10 Grams and Possession CDS Paraphernalia. Purks Chayka Thomas Thompson Brooks BURGLARY On August 2, 2014, Deputy Lance responded to a residence on Irvings Way in Callaway, for a reported burglary. The victim reported his ex-girlfriend suspect Katrina Marquez Corpuz-Post, 35, of Great Mills, began pounding on the front door of his residence and he told her to leave. Corpuz-Post then broke into the back door gaining entry into the home and struck the victim in the face. Corpuz-Post was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary s County Detention Center. She was charged with 1st Degree Burglary, 2nd Degree Assault, and Property Destruction. Corpuz-Post

13 13 Thursday, August 7, 2014 Country Stars & Hot Cars benefit concert & car show Presented by friends of cedar Lane tickets: $40 ReseRved seating $30 general admission parking $10 GEnEral admission is StandinG Only Rain or Shine! love and theft 2014 acm nominated vocal duo Of the year Friday August 15 show starts At 7pm at maryland international raceway BUddS creek H maryland GatES OpEn at 5pm danielle Bradbery 2013 winner Of the voice tv ShOw sam grow SOUthErn maryland S favorite local Band EvEnt info: H info@mirdrag.com SpOnSOrShipS, GrOUp SalES & media: friends@cedar-lane.org with Special Guest Emcee wmzq s aly Jacobs purchase tickets online! or call

14 Business Profile Thursday, August 7, Crazy for Yarn at Crazy for Ewe By Emily Charles Contributing Writer Do you love yarn? How about knitting? If you answered yes to one or both, check out Crazy for Ewe in Leonardtown Square! Established in 2004 by Ellen Lewis, the store specializes in bringing only the best yarns to Southern Maryland, said Lewis. Lewis works hard to...keep a mix of price points based on quality and value, in the store, and to ensure the quality and value of her inventory, she and her employees carry out a process called...swatching, said Lewis. We swatch it, and wash it and dry it even if it says superwash, states the business website, com. We swatch it using different needles and gauges, so depending on the yarn, the process can take anywhere from three to 30 minutes, said Lewis. Lewis, a dedicated yarn lover, has worked hard to create a store where people can come and see that knitting isn t only about making your grandchildren sweaters. The items we make at Crazy for Ewe are sexy and appropriate, said Lewis. Lewis claims that Crazy for Ewe is the fun yarn store, and spends a lot of time maintaining the store s friendly atmosphere, said Lewis. To encourage a good relationship with her clients, Lewis offers both one-on-one and group knitting lessons, for those who need help starting off their knitting career or would prefer a community to advance it in, Lewis said. I do one-on-one lessons particularly with my Beginning Knitting class. Some people need more attention, because everyone has a different learning pace, and I don t want any of the participants to feel like they re wasting their time, said Lewis. The mission to encourage friendliness and a resulting wide fan base has paid off, as in 2007, a second branch of Crazy for Ewe was opened in La Plata, said Lewis, who is also working on opening an online store thanks to demand by her loving followers. In addition, a weekly newsletter is released on the store s website, something to amuse clientele, said Lewis. I try to make the newsletters amusing. Like last week was all about clearing things out, said Lewis. When clearing things out, Lewis donates yarn to people with disabilities who want to learn to knit. She does this through Southern Maryland Twisted Stitchers, a charity organization partnered with Crazy for Ewe, said Lewis. Whether looking for lessons or simply an excellent yarn, Crazy for Ewe is the place to go. For more information about Crazy for Ewe, visit or drop by one of the store s two locations at Washington Street, Leonardtown or 6 St. Marys Avenue #102, La Plata. To learn more about SOMD Twisted Stitchers, visit com or call news@countytimes.net Photos by Emily Charles Over 250,000 Southern Marylanders can t be wrong! Your Online Community for Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary s Counties New to the area? Lifelong resident? Stay abreast of local happenings Check our highly popular classifieds Speak your mind in the forums Enter our contests and win terrific prizes Stop by and see what Southern Maryland Online has to offer!

15 15 Thursday, August 7, 2014 Students Recognized for Citizenship The Major William Thomas Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is proud to present 38 Good Citizenship Awards to students who demonstrated qualities of Honesty (high principles, trustworthiness, loyalty, truthfulness, punctuality, moral strength and stability, cleanliness in mind and body), Service (cooperation, meritorious behavior bringing honor to school or community, kindliness, unselfishness, true Americanism individual responsibility to Home, to Country, to God), Courage (mental and physical, determination to overcome obstacles), Leadership (personality, originality, ability to lead and hold others, good sportsmanship responsibility), Patriotism (fundamental Americanism). We are proud to present three ROTC Medals to students who demonstrated the above qualities along with adherence to military discipline, leadership ability and a fundamental patriotic understanding of the importance of ROTC training. The recipients of the ROTC awards were: Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Shelby Benton, Chopticon High School; and Olivia Ainsley Flynn, Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy. As of this printing, no recipient s name was received from the Navy Jr. ROTC at Great Mills High School. The students who exhibited the five qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism which are necessary to receive the Good Citizenship Medal are: Erin Campbell, Benjamin Banneker Elementary School; Peter Widmayer, Chopticon High School; Hayley Joel, Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center; Emily Leanne Carter, Dynard Elementary School; Lilly Brink, Evergreen Elementary School; Shelby Johnson, Fairlead Academy; Shirley Goldsborough, Farilead Academy II; Emily Roell, Father Andrew White; Paige Marino, Esperanza Middle School; Mark Britos, George Washington Carver Elementary School; Kiley Beall, Great Mills High School; Destin Oritz, Green Holly Elementary School; Timothy Moser, Greenview Knolls Elementary School; Grace Masiello, Leonardtown Elementary School; Lindsay Webb, Leonardtown High School; Brielle Morgan, Leonardtown Middle School; Abigail Dolinar, Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School; Alexander Toti, Lexington Park Elementary School; Kevin Grace, Little Flower School; Jody Keen, Margaret Brent Middle School; James Tripp, Mechanicsville Elementary School; Sarah Jean Kirby, Mother Catherine Spalding; Faith E. Beall, Oakville Elementary School; Sasiton Karasat, Park Hall Elementary School; Mariel Peabody, Piney Point Elementary School; Lilian M. Walker, Ridge Elementary School; Lelia Covington, Ridge Middle School; Lindsay Anne Remetz, St. John s School; Joan Zimmerman, St. Mary s Ryken High School; Sydney Vietan, St. Michael s School; David Green, Town Creek Elementary School; Zachary and Jeffrey Wedding, White Marsh Elementary School. At this printing, we did not receive the names of the recipients from the following schools: Bay Montessori School, Chesapeake Public Charter School, Hollywood Elementary School, The Kings Christian Academy, Starmaker Learning Center, and Victory Baptist Academy. LEGAL NOTICE Letters to the EDITOR Is This Truly The Best We Can Hope For? Finally, after weeks of blustering and excuses, one of our elected representatives has finally listened to our concerns and taken the initiative to protect the mission of Pax River and help ensure the health of our local economy. Despite broad bipartisan support, so rare in today s politics, Governor O Malley s veto seemed to be the final word on the issue. Now, thanks to Sen. Mikulski, an amendment has been added to the latest defense bill that would delay the Somerset wind turbines until the MIT study on their impact on the Atlantic Test Range is complete. It is strange that someone chosen by the same electorate that gave us Gov. O Malley has decided to protect a part of Maryland so often ignored. After all, the same proposal was abandoned by those who represent the base itself in Annapolis. At the end of the latest session, a veto-proof majority of both houses, ostensibly led by John Bohanan, passed HB1168 to at least let the Navy figure out what this new boondoggle meant for them. That strong voice vanished a few weeks later when Mr. Bohanan declined to call for a special session to override the governor, as the Maryland Constitution empowers him to. This would not necessarily be a major effort; for many delegates, the longest part of the session would be travelling to and from Annapolis. However, something crucial has intervened: re-election. Apparently, taking a week (at most) to protect the engine of St. Mary s County s economy would cause lost ground in the race and irreparably damage the delegate s career. Instead, another career politician not up for reelection is attempting to push this provision through a deeply divided Congress. Is this truly the best we can hope for? I understand that a recent study has found Pax to be in no serious danger in the foreseeable future. The same was probably said forty years ago about NAS Alameda as San Francisco antagonized the Navy. Most of Pax River s personnel work in offices, which can easily be moved anywhere; many of them were moved from other seemingly stable bases. An empty shell of an airfield may be left behind as the local economy slowly withers. I also understand that some delegates and senators, perhaps upset and scared about having to oppose the party line, might switch their votes and allow the veto to stand. However, in that case, it would at least be apparent that Mr. Bohanan had done all in his power to protect his constituents and expose the others as frauds. That is all we ask: a delegate who will truly be our voice and fight to the end on our behalf. Justin Thompson Lexington Park, MD Mileage Tax Will Bust My Budget The Vehicle Miles Travelled Tax is very real and headed for Maryland. Don t let the Maryland Democrats fool you. It has already been implemented in Oregon and a pilot program is planned in California. Can you imagine having a GPS tracker installed in your car that would monitor every mile you drive so that Maryland can charge you a mileage tax? How many of you commute over an hour to work each day? We already pay more than 27 cents per gallon in gas tax to the State with another 3.5 cent increase in January By 2020, the Maryland Democrats want to track, monitor, and charge us for the miles we drive in addition to this ridiculously high gas tax! The Maryland Democrats who support the VMT tax say it would help cut emissions and discourage driving. How many of us need to drive over an hour to work each day to support our families? If you work in Washington, DC, driving from the southern part of the county is approximately 65 miles. Let s say the VMT tax is 5 cents per mile. That s $6.50 a day / $32.50 per week / $ per month / $1,560 per year in addition to the gas taxes you re already paying. Can you afford $ per month of your hard earned money going to the state of Maryland? In 2014, Maryland Republicans supported House Bill 277, which prohibits a mileage tax. Maryland Democrats wouldn t even let it out of committee so nobody could vote on it! The Democrats want to tax hard working Marylanders for the miles we drive. This VMT tax is no good for Maryland. Stephanie Coddington Prince Frederick 2013 Consumer Confident Report (CCR) Commissioners of Leonardtown The 2013 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is available to Town residents and the public at the town office, Courthouse Drive. Leonardtown, MD between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and at the Leonardtown Post Office, Washington Street and is also available online at under Town Government, Water Quality Reports. 7/17/2014 LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD To Submit a Letter to the Editor, your letter to news@countytimes.net or mail to P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, MD P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: James Manning McKay - Founder Eric McKay - Associate Publisher...ericmckay@countytimes.net Angie Stalcup - Editorial Production Manager...angiestalcup@countytimes.net Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager...tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Reporter - Government, Crime...guyleonard@countytimes.net Sarah Miller- Reporter - Kasey Russell - Graphic Designer...kaseyrussell@countytimes.net Sales Representatives...sales@countytimes.net Contributing Writers: Emily Charles Kaitlin Davis Madeleine Buckley Ron Guy Laura Joyce Debra Meszaros Shelby Oppermann Linda Reno Terri Schlichenmeyer Doug Watson