20060905 KDDC 76 PA Ave Fire in Westminster

Press release for the fire at 76 PA Ave. apartment Fire in Westminster

Press release for the Tuesday, September 5, 2006 76 Pennsylvania Avenue apartment fire from Doug Alexander, Public Information Officer for the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association

I took some pictures which I will put up on the blog tomorrow. WJZ Channel 13 carried the story: "Two alarm Fire Burns Westminster Complex."

Caroline, me and two other Red Cross volunteers and went out to the fire scene later and assisted 6 displaced families with clothes and lodging issues. We were out very late.

It was a great show of mutual aid and cooperation as Tuesday was certainly a busy day for the fire service in Carroll County.

The four-alarm fire in Finksburg had equipment and fire fighters filling-in at other stations and approaching the fire it was unique to see Baltimore County pieces of equipment from Glyndon, Owings Mills, Hereford, Boring on the fireground – in the middle of Westminster.

The press release reads:

Press Release: Carroll County Vol. Emergency Services Assn.
For Immediate Release to all media outlets

Apartment Fire – Second Alarm

76 Pennsylvania Avenue Apt.309, Westminster, Md. 21157

No injuries to civilians or firefighters

1 apartment unit gutted, minor smoke damage to one additional unit

Alarm dispatched at 1720 hours (5:20 pm)

First unit on the scene at 1723 hours (5:23 pm)

Fire under control at 1742 hours (5:42 pm)

Units responded from Taneytown, Pleasant Valley, New Windsor, Reese, Hampstead, Westminster, Mt. Airy, Glyndon, Owings Mills, Hereford, Boring, and Manchester

18 pieces of apparatus responded with approximately 50 personnel

Origin and cause of the fire are being investigated by the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office

Damage estimate not yet available

Box 3-31 was sounded at 1720 hours, for an apartment fire at the Shaw apartments, 76 Pennsylvania Ave. in downtown Westminster.

Ladder 5 from Taneytown was filling in at the Westminster station while their units were on a 4 alarm fire in Finksburg. Ladder 5 and Utility 6 were first on the scene with fire showing from the front door of an apartment on the third floor. Duty 3, Lt.
Pinner, arrived shortly thereafter and established Command and requested a
second alarm.

A very aggressive attack was made by Ladder 5, supported by Special Unit 3 and Medic 38. The fire was controlled quickly, but many areas had to be checked for extension, and all personnel living in adjacent units accounted for.

The fire was contained to one apartment with very little damage elsewhere. Smoke Alarms did sound in the burning apartment along with one in an adjacent unit. There were no sprinklers in the apartments.

Investigators from the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office are working to determine the cause of the fire. Building Inspectors and Electrical inspectors from Westminster were on the scene also. Most occupants will be able to return to their apartments this evening.

For further information or details, contact Doug Alexander, Public Information
Officer for the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association at
410-795-8055 VM16, or page me at 410-890-2918 (P).

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20060902 KDDC BBC dispatches 200 crack reporters to southern Lebanon

BBC dispatches 200 crack reporters to southern Lebanon

Last Updated: Saturday, 02 September 2006, (10:30 GMT) (11:30 UK) (The Big Hand is on the six and the little hand is on the eleven Rhoiders)

http://news.rhoiders/2/hi/middle_east/20060902

By Kant BeTrue – Staff Reporter
Rhoiders Sept. 2, 2006

(Bint Jbeil, Southern Lebanon) As the dust continues to settle in southern Lebanon from the destruction brought on the tiny country in response to the reckless and dangerous actions of Hezbollah, the BBC flag has been spotted in solidarity with the UN and Hezbollah flags at a BBC sponsored outpost just minutes away from an Israeli position.

Blogger Michelle Malkin has not weighed-in on this latest development, however, she was one of the first to call to the world’s attention the collaboration between Hezbollah, led by Kofi Annan and the UN lead by Sheik Hassan Nasrallah. No, that’s not right – oh yeah it is…

As the story unfurls, various news agencies point to a recent August 26, 2006 post by Scott Ott of Scrappleface, in which he revealed, “Unnamed agency sends other half of UN force.”

It can now be confirmed that the BBC is the organization to which Mr. Scott referred when he said, “The organization that will complete our U.N. force has a long history of dealing with armed conflict in the region,” said Mr. Annan. “They know Hezbollah better than anyone else.”

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the BBC contingent will be lead by BBC bomb expert Martin Asser. “We can hide behind little children with the best of them,” said Asser.

The leadership dynamic of the BBC is further exacerbated by pre-emptive digital fallibility which requires an integrated third-generational triangulated refinement of indefinite managerial potential – the New York Times sending a contingent would do just fine.

It has rumored that Bill Keller, the New York Times executive editor has whispered that the New York Times is more of a state-within-a-state than the BBC and is therefore more qualified to help Hezbollah in the next go-round than the Beeb.

But there are no reports yet as to whether or not the New York Times will also send reporters, yet it would appear that Judith Miller may still be looking for work and no-one can manufacture a story line better than Ms. Miller. It has also been suggested that James Risen and Eric Lichtblau may want a leadership role. They have proven their ability to aid and abet the terrorists.

With the BBC in place, what we really need in order to navigate the treacherous waters that lie ahead is a list of specific unknown problems we will encounter.

Joe Wilson immediately said that he would get to the bottom of that and send his wife to Beirut immediately in operation, “The Girl Next Door,” but don’t repeat that as it is a top-secret covert operation.

Meanwhile the French are still haggling over the details of the deployment of their peacekeeping troops and are now insisting that Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee also be deployed alongside the French contingent.

When asked why, the French responded that “with the DNC co-deployed, in the face of the enemy, we won’t have to outrun the Israelis; all we will have to do is outrun Howard Dean.”

A point of which, Dr. Dean angrily denied, “Yeeowh, Democrats can cut-and-run better than the French any day of the week!”

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Kant Betrue, a Carthaginian whose family settled in Westminster after the Third Punic War, has been with the Rhoiders Phoenix Hill Daily Herald Bugle since the 1960s (he can’t remember exactly when in the 1960s…). A Pulverized Prize winner for journalism, he writes about issues ranging from the international syntactic semiotic economics to avatars of hyper-theoretical exploding toilets. Kant BeTrue’s column routinely appears in The Tentacle on Wednesdays. Reach him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com

Back to News Index

Copyright © 2006 Rhoiders Phoenix Hill Daily Herald Bugle All Rights Reserved. On the essay evolutionary scale, this essay is a monkey on roller skates. The monkey may or may not be wearing a pink tutu - this is for you to decide. Never-the-less, this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Hat Tips: Posts such as this are always inspired by the work of Uncle R2. Of course, the base photograph from southern Lebanon came from Michelle Malkin – thank you. The medication for my infected root canal came from Dr. Y. Crablaw gets an honorable mention for kindness and keeping me up on current issues while I attended to some family matters in the last several weeks. And, last but not least – my Rhoidershopping is always inspired by the Pillage Idiot.

20060902 KDDC The questionable media priorities of the Ramsey murder

The JonBenet Ramsey murder news coverage – A question of questionable priorities.

September 2nd, 2006

I liked Carroll County Times writer Jordan Bartel’s September 1st, 2006 post on Jordan Bartel, Plugged In Friday: “Morals of journalists come into question with sensitive stories.”

The whole JonBenet Ramsey media phenomenon is quite an enigma for me. At a minimum it was sordid, salacious, manipulative, gratuitous and unnecessary.

Apparently Mr. Bartel and I are not the only ones who feel this way. See David Wissing’s very brief post on August 18th, 2006…

In 2003, there were 318 infant deaths in the United States attributed to homicide, according to Child Trends DataBank. Why is the media so morbidly obsessed with the death of a youngster from ten years ago?

Every senseless preventable death due to violence is to be mourned. I only wish as much attention were given to the tragic deaths of poor urban children played out across our TV screens all too often on the local television news. Their deaths are no less a tragedy, especially since many of them did not have a meaningful chance at a productive life due to circumstances out of their control.

The Ramsey child death is certainly terrible, however, no more, no less than the other 300 or so child deaths that should not occur in our country.

Mr. Bartel’s post began:

You've probably heard the phrase, "If it bleeds, it
leads."

It's a disgusting, but somewhat of an unavoidable rule for
media and is one that I never really got behind.

But apparently
media today are so stuck on that rule that it should be amended to, "If it bled
10 years ago, it still leads."

You see, I've been very troubled
lately by the media coverage of the newest "revelations" of the JonBenet Ramsey
case.

Read the rest of his post here.

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Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org
www.thetentacle.com
Westminster Eagle Opinion and
Winchester Report
www.thewestminstereagle.com
www.kevindayhoff.com

20060902 KDDC Info concerning election races throughout the country

Information concerning election races throughout the country

If you have not had a chance to graze David Wissing’s Hedgehog Report for information concerning election races throughout the country, you need to go here now. Well, maybe grab a cup of coffee first and plan to spend some quality time on the site.

Hats off to Mr. Wissing for a valuable public service…

Meanwhile, Mr. Wissing, your last post on the Hedgehog Report concerning the Alaska governor’s race was August 22nd, 2006. What’s the latest information on this race? How is Sarah Palin doing?

Check out her great bio here.

Mayor Palin’s next fundraiser: The Anchorage Republican Women's Club and The Alaska Federation of Republican Women invite you to a fundraiser for our next Republican Governor and Lt. Governor at the home of Governor Walter J. and Ermalee Hickel, 1905 Loussac Drive Anchorage on Friday, September 8, 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Contribution requested - $100 - Additional contributions gratefully accepted. RSVP – Cathy Giessel, ARWC President 242-5450

Previous Sarah Palin KDDC post here.

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20060831 KDDC Camel Parking

Camel Parking

Punchline here

Hat Tip: The Jawa Report

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20060831 KDDC The men of Mary Katharine Ham

The men of Mary Katharine Ham

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Hat Tip: Thursday fun By Michelle Malkin · August 31, 2006 05:17 PM
Mary Katharine Ham is fed up with guy bloggers having all the fun. So for all the ladies in the house: Man Candy.

Equal-Opportunity
Blog Sweeps: The 'Solidarity With Israel' Edition

Posted by: Mary Katharine
Ham at 3:33 PM

The boys have had so much fun with Blog Sweeps Week Month Year, I thought it was about time to do a little pictorial tribute to the nation of Israel for the lady readers. These pictures have been zipping around on e-mail lists between lady bloggers all month, so why not just put 'em up? Enjoy!

If you're a guy blogger, feel free to link it up for the ladies. They'll appreciate it.

Welcome Michelle Malkin and Mary Katharine Ham readers.

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20060831 KDDC USS Reagan Passing The Arizona Memorial

USS REAGAN PASSING THE ARIZONA MEMORIAL

Posted: August 31. 2006

Hat Tip: Grammy

Seeing it next to the Arizona Memorial really puts its size into perspective.

Notice the respect that they give the Arizona Memorial when passing it.

Here's what it takes to run a ship this size:

When the Bridge pipes "Man the Rail" there is a lot of rail to man on this monster. Shoulder to shoulder around 4= acres. Her displacement is about 100,000 tons with full complements.

Capability

Top speed exceeds 30 knots

Powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate for more than 20 years without refueling

Expected to operate in the fleet for about 50 years

Carries over 80 combat aircraft

Three arresting cables can stop a 28-ton aircraft going 150 miles per hour in less than 400 feet

Size

Towers 20 stories above the waterline

1092 feet long; nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall

Flight deck covers 4.5 acres

4 bronze propellers, each 21 feet across, weighing 66,200 pounds

2 rudders, each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons

4 high speed aircraft elevators, each over 4,000 square feet

Dates

Dec. 8, 1994 Contract awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding

Feb 12, 1998 Keel laid

Oct 1, 2000 Pre-commissioning Unit established

March 4, 2001 Christened by Mrs. Nancy Reagan

May 5, 2003 First underway

July 12, 2003 Commissioned

July 23, 2004 Arrived at homeport in San Diego, CA

Capacity

Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel

Carries enough food and supplies to operate for 90 days

18,150 meals served daily

Distillation plants provide 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water daily, enough for 2000 homes

Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and wiring 1,400 telephones, 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets

Costs the Navy approximately $250,000 per day for pier side operation

Costs the Navy approximately $2.5 million per day for underway operations (Sailor's salaries included).

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20060831 KDDC Why go negative?

Why go negative?

The Carroll County primary election is less than two weeks away and it could not come too soon for many of us.

Reading the letters to the editor has especially become painful for us who follow government and politics closely – and know better. To read letters in which misinformation, misleading information, personal attacks, puffed-up naiveté and a total lack of understanding for how government works for the particular office in which this or that challenger seeks, has been disillusioning.

And the specter of good people with good ideas and thoughtful approaches – going negative is just bewildering. It is as if they have lost their minds for the duration of the campaign?

My column in The Tentacle for this week is called, “Why go negative?” It just scratches at the surface of how this primary election has been so painful.

I, for one, have heard very little in the way of a substantive discussion of the issues or new ideas. I have heard much about how much certain folks are clueless and don’t like this or that candidate.

And perhaps competing for the worse affront is how folks demonize opponents personally simply because they disagree with them on certain issues.

Most of the time, the folks who are demonizing are the very ones who plead for respect for their ideas and approaches.

What amazes me are the folks slinging the mud, who after the elections will still have to work with their opponent in some way, shape or form. No matter how professional – or religious someone is, folks have memories.

I know my motto has always been: “To forgive is divine; to forget is not my policy.”

Memo to the many folks running for office this fall: There is only one species on the planet that has a better memory than an elephant and that is a politician.

Meanwhile some of the choices we need to make in the voting booth September 12th, 2006 are difficult. I, for one, may make it easier by simply choosing only the folks who have not gone negative.

The last thing I need is an angry outraged community leader with the warmth and humanity of a water moccasin - to take challenges to in the future.

Anyway the cleaned-up version of my Tentacle column that went to press yesterday, Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 is “Why go negative?”

August 30, 2006

Why go negative?

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The election season is upon us and - like a horde of ravaging locusts - the negative campaigners are out in full force this cycle. Why?

As the public clamors to hear a discussion on the issues - growth management, infrastructure and school improvement, public safety, taxes and the scope and structure of government - some candidates and their rabid supporters instead sport t-shirts that scream "I've got issues."

Selective quotations and trivialities trumping substance in an obvious attempt to distort the facts seem to be the rule of the day.

And it is always a source of amazement to observe folks who, in the same utterance, plead for understanding and tolerance for their views and then demonize anyone who doesn't agree with them.

A rule among classier community leaders prohibits promoting oneself by personally sniping at someone who holds a different point of view. It is not only bad form but smacks of bullying and could wind up hurting your own cause, as you only look like someone with the warmth and humanity of a water moccasin.

Read the rest of it here.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at:kdayhoff@carr.org

www.thetentacle.com

Westminster Eagle Opinion and

Winchester Report

www.thewestminstereagle.com

www.kevindayhoff.com

20060831 KDDC Clueless Idiot steals purse quickly arrested

Clueless Idiot steals purse quickly arrested

On Wednesday, August 30^th, 2006, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department arrested a clueless idiot “less than twelve (12) hours after he stole a purse from a private residence in the 400 BLK of Sycamore Avenue Westminster.”

Apparently the Sheriff’s Department acted quickly and used good police work before the clueless idiot was able to further unnecessarily disrupt the life of Michelle Jefferson, a candidate for the Maryland Senate in District 5, Baltimore and Carroll Counties.

What was going through this guy’s head that he thought that he could get away with this sort of crime?

Although Carroll County has relatively low crime rate, anecdotally, these “quality of life” crimes seem to be on the upswing and they are a real drag.

I often keep a fire and police monitor on in my office while I work and listen to the radio as police officers run from one end of the county to the other, just chasing down random acts of stupidity.

All the agencies: the Westminster Police Department, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and the Maryland State Police are conscientious, diligent, thoughtful, professional – and very very busy. We should all be proud. But I sure wish they had less to do.

Now, just weeks before the primary, Ms. Jefferson has to go through all this hassle because of a down-and-out creep.

No word as to whether or not the individual will also be charged with being a clueless idiot while committing a crime.

Pasted below is the news release from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department:

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Sergeant Phil Kasten, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, 100 North Court Street, Westminster, MD 21157 410-386-2759

“Burglar uses victim’s credit card; deputies follow purchases to arrest”

Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland, August 30, 2006 ---- At approximately 7:30 pm, Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested James Louis Agans aged 26 of the 1300 BLK Redfield Drive in Sykesville after revisiting a local convenience store where he had used a stolen credit card earlier in the day.

Agans arrest came less than twelve (12) hours after he stole a purse from a private residence in the 400 BLK of Sycamore Avenue Westminster. Before his arrest, Agans used the victim’s credit cards to make nearly $1000 worth of purchases for gas, cigarettes and power tools.

The purse, which belonged to Michelle Jefferson, a Westminster resident and local political candidate for the Maryland State Senate District Five, noticed that the purse was missing from her home around noon.

Jefferson immediately notified her bank, where she learned that her personal and campaign credit cards had already been used locally several times. She then notified Police, and Corporal Carlos Bustos of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office began to work with local businesses to identify Agans, and predict his next move.

With their help, Corporal Bustos apprehended Agans as he attempted to leave a local business where he was recognized.

Consequently, Agans was transported to Carroll County Central Booking where he was charged with Burglary, Theft, Fraudulent use of a Credit Card and Possession of look-alike Crack Cocaine and associated drug paraphernalia.

Following a bail review before the District Court Commissioner, Agans was held at the Carroll County Detention Center on $50,000 Bail.

Sheriff’s Deputies recovered the victim’s purse and personal belongs.

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