Wicomico

Patrick McGlinchey heard “great things” about Derrick Hayward before the young linebacker/defensive end ever set foot in the Wicomico weight room as a freshman.  Just minutes into the first meeting between player and coach, McGlinchey could sense that reports of Hayward's potential were not exaggerated. “I could tell he was going to be a great athlete with his work ethic in the weight room,” said McGlinchey, who has served as a varsity assistant and JV head coach at Wicomico.

Darnell Dantzler Edmondson The Red Storm suffered several heartbreaking losses this season, particularly a buzzer-beating defeat in overtime against No. 1 Dunbar in the Baltimore City Division I championship game. But those setbacks served an important purpose when it mattered most for No. 5 Edmondson (22-5). Finally reaching the state tournament at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center after four straight losses in the Class 2A North regional championship game, Edmondson showed poise to close out a double-overtime win, 60-56, over Oakdale in the semifinals and a 54-52 victory over Wicomico for the program's first state title.

Should Salisbury and Wicomico County merge? It is being discussed on the Eastern Shore. In recent years several cities have re-chartered themselves to become one with their surrounding counties. There is no longer an Athens, Ga., or Butte, Mont., government. In their place are Athens-Clarke County and Butte-Silver Bow County. Clarke is more populous ** than Wicomico (87,594 to 74,339), and Silver Bow is much less (33,941).The advantages of city-county mergers apply to all sizes. Lafayette City, La., and Lafayette County (total population 164,762)

Maryland combo guard commitment Melo Trimble ended his junior season with a championship. Trimble, who earlier this year led Bishop O'Connell to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title, scored 34 points in guiding the Knights to an 85-75 win over Benedictine (Va.) for the Alhambra Catholic Invitational tournament crown last weekend. Trimble spoke to The Washington Post about O'Connell's win and Maryland's season. “It was an up-and-down season for them and they didn't have a lot of consistency, but every time I watch them play, it makes me want to play there more,” the junior guard said.

SALISBURY -- Merging the governments of Salisbury, which is the Eastern Shore's largest town and has independently governed itself 263 years, and surrounding Wicomico County is likely to receive serious consideration beginning this month.Such a merger, which is subject to voters' approval and almost certainly faces months of debate and analysis, could mean that Maryland's 11th largest town would abandon its charter.If that were to happen, Salisbury, with a population of 21,000, would become the state's largest municipality to voluntarily give up its incorporation since Ellicott City in Howard County repealed its charter for financial reasons during the Depression.

Overlea's 20-0 victory over Wicomico in the Class 2A state quarterfinals last night at Dundalk Community College puts the eighth-ranked Falcons where their season ended a year ago -- in the semifinals.If Overlea running back Tyrese Barmer and quarterback Bernar nTC Fitchette have their way -- as they did against seventh seed Wicomico (7-3) -- the season won't end with next week's game against the winner of last night's matchup between third seed Damascus (9-1) and sixth seed Glenelg (8-2)

Charles Elmer Hearne Jr., a retired Wicomico County lawyer whose career spanned more than six decades, died Friday of complications from emphysema at his home in Salisbury. He was 85.Mr. Hearne specialized in estate planning and probate law. He retired in 1979 from Hearne & Bailey P.A., but continued to do legal work, providing counsel to the firm until his death. He established the firm in 1954 as Hearne, Fox & Bailey after the death of his previous partner, Ernest Clark.He formed his first partnership, Duer, Hearne & Duer, in the 1930s.

Edmondson guard Darius Walker learned from something that happened earlier this season, and that lesson helped the Red Storm win its first state title Saturday night. Walker snaked through traffic and made a driving left-handed bank shot as time expired to give No. 5 Edmondson a 56-54 victory over Wicomico in the Class 2A state title game at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center, the school's first championship in basketball. Fresh in Walker's mind was his choice at the end of regulation in the Baltimore City title game against No. 1 Dunbar last month.

State police said excessive speed was a factor in two single-car accidents early yesterday in Wicomico County that claimed three lives. Jason Elmer Williams, 27, of Tyaskin was driving north about 1:30 a.m. when his 1997 Ford pickup truck ran off rural Clara Road and struck a telephone pole. Williams, who was not wearing his seat belt, suffered head injuries and died en route to Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. About 2:30 a.m., Stephanie Lynn Horne, 31, of Willards was driving north on Green Branch Road when she lost control of her 1974 Mercedes.

The driver of a motorcycle was seriously injured and his passenger killed in Wicomico County yesterday when the bike hit loose gravel, toppled over and threw both helmetless riders to the ground.The passenger, Richard D. Bounds, 21, of Fruitland, was amonthree people who died in accidents on state roadways yesterday.State police said Jerry Ronald Hill, 22, of Fruitland, was heading south on Camden Avenue at 12:30 a.m. when he lost control of the motorcycle on gravel. He was in serious condition last night at Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury.

Edmondson guard Darius Walker learned from something that happened earlier this season, and that lesson helped the Red Storm win its first state title Saturday night. Walker snaked through traffic and made a driving left-handed bank shot as time expired to give No. 5 Edmondson a 56-54 victory over Wicomico in the Class 2A state title game at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center, the school's first championship in basketball. Fresh in Walker's mind was his choice at the end of regulation in the Baltimore City title game against No. 1 Dunbar last month.

The No. 10 Arundel boys basketball team knew the Class 4A East regional final at North Point was going to be a tough, physical game and it was. Both teams had a player foul out in a game that featured 68 fouls, but the one-two scoring combination of Matt Bonds (26 points) and Anthony Williams (21) was too much for the Wildcats, who fell, 89-64, Friday night. "Their pressure tired our guys out," Arundel coach Jeff Starr said. "We eventually broke the press, but our shots weren't falling.

Patrick McGlinchey heard “great things” about Derrick Hayward before the young linebacker/defensive end ever set foot in the Wicomico weight room as a freshman.  Just minutes into the first meeting between player and coach, McGlinchey could sense that reports of Hayward's potential were not exaggerated. “I could tell he was going to be a great athlete with his work ethic in the weight room,” said McGlinchey, who has served as a varsity assistant and JV head coach at Wicomico.

The Daily Times and The Baltimore Sun published an article in their May 9th editions reporting criticism by a Washington-based environmental extremist group of a so-called "cozy relationship" between Governor O'Malley and an attorney for our own Perdue, Inc. ("O'Malley ties to Perdue lawyer queried"). To them, I say, "And your problem is what?" From our perspective, we are deeply appreciative that we have a governor who understands from whence our life-blood flows and is willing to step up and fight hard to help us maintain the special place we call home.

As the state Board of Public Works approved $264 million for school construction Wednesday, two counties asked to delay new buildings because they aren't certain they can come up with the money to finish or operate them — an unprecedented sign, officials said, of the continuing financial challenges confronting local governments. "We've never dealt with anything like this before, where we've come to this sort of crisis point," David G. Lever, director of the state's Public School Construction Program, said of the requests by Charles and Wicomico counties.

The Maryland Stadium Authority approved a $70,000 feasibility study of Salisbury's Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, which will host the Harlem Globetrotters and a rodeo competition, among other events, in 2011. The stadium authority voted Tuesday in favor of the state-funded study that will evaluate costs of expanding the more-than-30-year-old complex, which proponents say need to be expanded in order to remain competitive. The county's Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism operates the civic center, and requested the study of possible projects, including renovating the existing structure and adding another on top of a parking lot across the street.

CUMBERLAND -- Steve Milburn rushed for 159 yards on 16 carries and scored four touchdowns, as second-seeded Allegany rolled over third-seeded Wicomico (11-1) yesterday, 46-6, in the Class 2A state semifinals at Greenway Avenue Stadium.

Members of the Eastern Shore's African-American community returned from Monday's Million Man March filled with a spirit of exhilaration.But that emotional high was dampened with the news the next day that a Maryland state trooper had been shot and killed in their community, and two black men were charged in the crime.Troubled by the violent act and its repercussions, the Wicomico County NAACP is calling on members of the African-American community, particularly those who attended the march in Washington, to assemble on the steps of Salisbury's city hall today before the funeral for the trooper, Tfc. Edward A. Plank, as a sign of respect for his family and to stand against drugs and violence.

Marriotts Ridge senior forward Michael Glazer has been a goal-scoring machine all season, and that didn't change Friday night. This time, his fine finishing ability helped send the No. 2 Mustangs to defend their Class 2A state title. In the 2A semifinal against Eastern Tech, Glazer scored three goals -- giving him 25 on the season -- to lift the Mustangs to a 5-0 win over the Mavericks. Marriotts Ridge improves to 17-1 and will take on Liberty, a 4-0 winner over Wicomico, in next week's state championship at UMBC (date and time to be determined)

A Wicomico County deputy state's attorney died Friday in a two-car collision on the Eastern Shore that left two others injured, according to the Maryland State Police. The crash happened about 12:15 p.m. on Route 50 in Pittsville, about 11 miles east of Salisbury. Sampson G. "Sam" Vincent, 52, of Salisbury was pronounced dead at Peninsula Regional Medical Center. His passenger, James L. "Lee" Britt, an assistant state's attorney for Wicomico County, was injured in the crash and is being treated at Pensinsula, state police said.