Wicomico County

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.

A University of Maryland, College Park freshman was arrested this week on charges of distributing child pornography and crossing state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, according to a criminal complaint. The student, Akshay Rajshekar, 18, of Salisbury, was arrested Monday after he responded to a Craigslist "casual encounters" advertisement placed by an undercover Washington, D.C., police officer, according to the complaint filed Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington.

An unidentified man died late Saturday in a fire that began on the second floor of a wood-frame house in Tyaskin, Wicomico County, the state fire marshal's office said.A passing motorist discovered the one-alarm fire about 11 p.m. in the 22000 block of Nanticoke Road. No one else was in the dwelling, according to the fire marshal's office, which estimated damage at $50,000.The identity and age of the victim, who was discovered on the second floor, was withheld pending an autopsy by the state medical examiner in Baltimore.

Eileen H. "Pat" van Breemen, an advocate for children suffering from learning disabilities and a Wicomico County political activist, died Tuesday, from multiple organ failures, at her Salisbury home. She had recently celebrated her 88th birthday. The former Eileen Barbara Hines was born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa, where she graduated in 1942 from Iowa City High School. Her father was a college professor, and her mother was a Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad telegrapher and a silent movie pianist.

AN OPEN LETTER to the residents of Salisbury and surrounding Wicomico County: I write this not as a lecture, but an appeal, less in anger than sadness, as one whose job allows living anywhere a computer plugs in, but who chooses to stay on the lower Eastern Shore, where I was born. In a nutshell, your county officials are on the verge of gutting already weak zoning that would remove any semblance of protection for rural and agricultural land. It will make a mockery of the county's comprehensive land-use plan, which calls for conserving "the rural legacy that is Wicomico County's special offering to its residents."

A Howard County toddler was critically injured and three people drowned in St. Mary's and Wicomico counties in swimming and boating accidents over the weekend, authorities said. At Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary's County, a 39-year-old man drowned while swimming in an unprotected area of the park shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday. The man, who was not immediately identified, was pulled from the water by friends, said Heather Lynch, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Natural Resources.

SALISBURY - All summer and into the fall, there's been only one story in Wicomico County - taxes. Three weeks before the Nov. 7 election, the debate over the county's first real estate transfer tax and a whopping 46-cent increase in the property tax rate approved June 1 is dividing public opinion like nothing else in the Eastern Shore's most-populous county. First came VOICE (Voters Opposing Increased County/City Expenditures), a furious and effective band of tax rebels. Led by the local real estate industry, volunteers gathered nearly 18,000 petition signatures (in a county with about 41,000 registered voters)

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.

TYASKIN - The Wetipquin Bridge is a throwback, a shaky wooden span over a small creek that just about everyone agrees needs to be replaced. But how tall should it be? That question has prompted dueling petitions, accusations and general confusion in this marshy community outside Salisbury. And the answer could help determine whether the town of about 300 remains a quiet haven for kayakers or becomes a more developed destination for power boaters and others. Wicomico County officials set out to replace the bridge at its current height of about six feet above the creek.

A University of Maryland, College Park freshman was arrested this week on charges of distributing child pornography and crossing state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, according to a criminal complaint. The student, Akshay Rajshekar, 18, of Salisbury, was arrested Monday after he responded to a Craigslist "casual encounters" advertisement placed by an undercover Washington, D.C., police officer, according to the complaint filed Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington.

Howard County residents have tried four times in the past nine years to challenge local government decisions on taxes and land use by referendum and failed each time to get the questions on the ballot. They've been rebuffed by opinions of the county's law department and by the courts, getting hung up on legal technicalities and the details of how signatures are validated. As difficult as it is to put a question on the local ballot, the bar would rise a bit higher if voters on Election Day approve one particular county charter revision, one of five changes proposed this year.

According to Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt Jr. ("So what if O'Malley emails with Perdue lawyer," May 13), "[n]ot only is our entire region and state helped by the economics of the chicken industry, but so is our environment. " How could he possibly arrive at that conclusion? The data tells quite a different story. Maryland crop and livestock production combined has constituted about 0.35 percent of the state's Gross Domestic Product for the past decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis at the Commerce Department.

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.

Making their first state tournament appearance and facing an undefeated team didn't faze Southern-AA, which got a goal from senior forward Shiloh McKenzie in the 10th minute and protected the lead for the duration to defeat Parkside 1-0 Friday and advance to next week's Class 2A state final. Southern (12-5-1) will meet the winner of Saturday's Glenelg-Middletown semifinal next week at UMBC. The state finals will take place Nov. 17-19, with specific dates and times to be determined.

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.

Del. D. Page Elmore, the Republican chairman of the Eastern Shore delegation, died from cancer Saturday after a brief hospitalization, according to his family. He was 71. Mr. Elmore had been a member of the House of Delegates since 2003 for District 38, which includes Somerset County and part of Wicomico County. He served on the Ways and Means Committee and was chair of the Maryland Rural Caucus in 2005 and 2008. His family said the area has "lost a remarkable man" who was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

SALISBURY -- A man who worked recently at a private school in Wicomico County is accused of sexually abusing a student. Julian "Jay" Shelburne is charged with third- and fourth-degree sex offense, perverted practice, sex abuse against a minor and second-degree assault, the county sheriff's office said. Salisbury School headmaster James Landi said Shelburne was a part-time employee at the school. Landi would not say if Shelburne was working there at the time of his arrest. But sources said he was an employee there up to a month ago. The sheriff's office said the alleged incidents happened between January and April.

Wicomico : Drug raids 17 are arrested in crackdown Wicomico County law enforcement officials made 17 arrests in five locations around the county during a two-day operation targeting drug activity. The operation involving the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office and Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force took place Friday and Saturday and was sparked by residents' complaints about drug transactions. Lt. Babe Wilson of the sheriff's office said that the increased visibility of drug transactions does not necessarily indicate a spike in drug use. Montgomery : Wheaton Wayward deer disrupts subway line A deer that wandered onto the Metro's underground tracks in the Wheaton area caused delays yesterday on the Red Line.

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.

Salisbury University plans to offer a scholarship in memory of an 11-year-old girl who was abducted and killed just before Christmas. The Sarah Foxwell Memorial Scholarship Foundation recently signed an agreement on the scholarship with the SU Foundation. The scholarship will be awarded to students studying social work and priority will be given to Wicomico County residents who show financial need. The first scholarship is expected to be given next fall. Thomas Leggs Jr. is charged with murder, kidnapping and sex offenses in Sarah's death.