Upset at Doug Taylor Selection Comment

What an absolute embarassment to the citizens of Somerset County. Perhaps the commissioners should be well versed on the definition of "ethics". It plays out like this: 1. Rex Simpkins, County Commissioner President, is the cousin of Doug Tyalor. 2. Kirk Simpkins, County Attorney, is the brother of Rex Simpkins and the cousin of Doug Taylor. 3. Charles Fisher, County Commissioner, owns property with Somerset County Circuit Judge Lloyd "Hotdog" Simpkins who is the uncle of Rex Simpkins, Kirk Simpkins & Doug Taylor. The lack of common sense and ethics in Somerset County Government smacks of pure arrogance with no regard for equal opportunity for any of its citizens. This type of government will only continue to exist until the citizens finally realize the error of their ways by electing such self serving selfish poiticians. What a shame Somerset County has become.....so many talented citizens with no hope of breaking the political straglehold engulfing their county...pathetic.

Question sent in About Fire Department Issues

"How much longer is the mayer and council going to keep this non qualified fire chief here?

Letter To The Editor

The orchestration of the overthrow of Salisbury is so transparent, it's actually laughable. Ironic, how Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen and Tim Pees, I mean Spies, used the blame game, common enemy tactic, hatred of renters and landlords to get themselves and Jim Ireton elected. Then the triumvirate turns on the mayor because they want to fundamentally take control of the whole city. The diabolical threesome started their quest for city domination by changing the components of all the city boards, so no taxpaying citizen can win against the council's will on appeal. Then, like conjoined triplets, they systematically dismantle the role of the Mayor. Nice touch, forcing poor Paul Wilbur to read his own death sentence.

So, Salisbury, you thought you were safe when the evil trio only had landlords and tenants as their targets. Now, the list of fall out includes: PAC 14, Urban Salisbury, the Towing Industry, Downtown, and now the very fabric of Salisbury government's checks and balances. Hmmmm. Who will be next on the trio's chopping block? Actually, there is no real need to fear, Salisbury, as we have Kay Gibson, blowhard gigante, to speak for us. Kay is sharpening her nails to be the next council candidate. And, don't forget as of the council meeting Debbie's best friend who owns 300 West Main Street is going to single handily revitalize downtown now that Urban Salisbury has been run out. Where would Salisbury be without that gentlemen, whose expertise in the manipulation of half truths and factless commentary is the stuff of legends? Indeed, the perpetuation of unfounded gossip at the behest of his Fuhrer Debbie is a curse our city has grown to expect.

Until Salisbury' citizens both inside and outside the city limits unite to overthrow this thirsty threesome
nasty shenanigans will abound and there will be no peace or positive evolution in our old hometown.

Delmarvacade October 15th

Lights. Music. Marching. One of the most exciting and uplifting nights of the marching band season is coming up Saturday, Oct. 15, when Parkside High School and the Parkside Band Boosters present the 2011 Delmarvacade of Bands at Wicomico County Stadium. High school marching bands from throughout the region – including the top three bands in Chapter IX, the chapter in which Wicomico County bands compete -- will fill Wicomico County Stadium that night. Spectators will enjoy the exciting sights and sounds of the field shows as bands tune up for the impending championship events. Between bands, parents, and spectators, the Delmarvacade is expected to draw thousands of people to the stadium on Oct. 15 (rain date is Oct. 16 at 2 p.m.). Bands will compete on Oct. 15 starting at 6:30 p.m., with each band performing the kind of field show people are accustomed to seeing at halftime of football games. Each performance will last seven to 12 minutes, and a new band will take the field about every 15 minutes.

 The event is sponsored by Parkside High School and its Band Boosters. It will be adjudicated by professional judges of the National Judges Association. Bands will be judged on every aspect of their field show, including both musical and visual elements, individual and group elements, as well as the overall general effect of the show. Each band will receive a score based on a 100-point scale, and a trophy. Bands will compete in four categories, depending on the number of instrumentalists in the band. Parkside High and Bennett are in Group 3 and Wicomico is in Group 2. Parkside, as host, will perform in exhibition. There will be an awards ceremony at the end of the night. Marching bands often stay all evening, even after they have competed. "They support each other, even though they are rivals," says Gary Beauchamp, supervisor of fine and performing arts for Wicomico schools and the founder of the event in 1977. Students know they are competing not just against each other, but against their own previous performances, trying to make this one just a little bit better. Admission to Delmarvacade of Bands is $5. A program detailing the participants, with a score sheet to keep track of how the bands are doing, is $5. The Parkside Band Boosters will donate $1 from each program sold to Women Supporting Women of Salisbury. For information call Kevin Zaczkiewicz, Parkside High School band director, at 410-677-5161.

To support this issue there is a candlelight vigil for victims of domestic violence tonight at 6:30 at the riverwalk near the Holiday Inn

October 12, 2011 -- What’s the best way to protect your family from fire? Be ahead of the game, of course. With more than 360,000 home fires reported in the United States in 2009, according to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), your best defense is a good offense. That’s why Wicomico’s Department of Public Works - Fire Protection Section - is teaming up with NFPA to let our community know: “It’s Fire Prevention Week. Protect your Family from Fire!” This year’s campaign focuses on preventing the leading causes of home fires -- cooking, heating and electrical equipment, as well as candles and smoking materials. Additionally, it urges people to protect their homes and families with life-saving technology and planning. “In 2009, 2,565 people died in home fires. Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan, keeping things that can burn away from the stove and always turning off space heaters before going to bed,” says Kevin Wright, Fire Inspector for the Wicomico County Department of Public Works - Fire Protection Section. “Fire is a dangerous opponent, but by anticipating the hazards, you are much less likely to be one of the nearly 13,000 people injured in home fires each year.” Wicomico County offers the following tips for protecting your home and family from fire: • Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. • Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters. • Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords. • If you smoke, smoke outside. • Use deep, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table. • Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep. “While preventing home fires in Wicomico County is always our number one priority, it is not always possible,” Wright continued. Wicomico County’s residents need to provide the best protection to keep their homes and families safe in the event of a fire. This can be achieved by developing an escape plan which you practice regularly and equipping homes with life-saving technologies like smoke alarms and home fire sprinklers.” The following tips will help keep your family safe if there is a fire in your home: • Install smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home (including the basement). • Interconnect all smoke alarms in the home so when one sounds, they all sound. • Test smoke alarms at least monthly and replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond when tested. • Make sure everyone in your home knows how to respond if the smoke alarm sounds. • Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible ways out. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. • If you are building or remodeling your home, consider installing home fire sprinklers. To learn more about “It’s Fire Prevention Week. Protect your Family from Fire!” visit NFPA’s Web site at www. firepreventionweek.org .