Stories from March 2004
-Local news
--- Free Rent for O'Brien Realty Over
--- Man Charged with Rape of Child
- Spring Wildfire Season Gets Off to Early Start Over Weekend
--- Man Killed in Fire Caused by Smoking in Bed
--- School Bus Pulled in Front of Car, 2 Hurt
-- Deputies Shot at in Drug Infested Project
-- Woman Slashed to Death by Sister-in-Law in Front of 3 Kids
--- Stabbing at OCI Bar, 2 Arrested
--- State Investigates Illegal Dumping from Veterans Home
--- Interview with St. Mary's Commissioner Larry Jarboe
--- Planning Commission hears presentation on St. Jerome's homes
--- Businesses Support Ferry Boat Service with Virginia
--- Jarboe Asks Why Lighthousekeeper's House at Piney Point Isn't Used as Museum
--- Potomac River Cleanup on April 3
--- Driver of Truck Did It All Wrong...and Paid for Boozing and Speeding with His Life
--- Reform at Reform School
--- Charles  Sheriff Signs Collective Bargaining with FOP
--- 21 Feared Dead in Tanker Explosion
     What would happen if a LNG tanker blew up at Cove Point?
--- Avenue: Crash Fatal for Waldorf Man
--- Bohanan Decries GOP Property Tax Hike for Rescue Services
--- Ben Bradlee Era Ends at
Historic St. Mary's City
--- Cell Phone Costs for County Government Soars in St. Mary's
--- Sheriff's Department Makes Up Half of St. Mary's Top Paid Employees
--- St. Mary's Finances in Great Shape Under GOP Board;
Raley Plays Doubting Thomas
Commuter Rail
-- Dyson Bill Sets Up Blue Ribbon Panel on Commuter Rail

Crime, Schools & Violence
-- Schools Gone Mad?
-- State Police Offer Cash Reward for Information on News Stand Raid
-- Bandit Breaks Gun Case with Hatchet, Grabs Gun, Robs Wal-Mart
-- Firefighter Critically Hurt in PG-- St. Mary's Takeover of Flood Property Stalls Widow, Tortures Traffic in Great Mills
Relocation cost of each tenant at Great Mills apartment building soars to as much as $30,000 each
--- St. Mary's Schools Turned Down Free Site at Wildewood; Now Face No Toad School at Indian Bridge
Story
--- Speaker of the House Mike Busch Proposes Hike in Maryland Sales Tax

Busch Hereby Wins the new monthly
Sir Thomas Crapper Award for
Creativity in Government!
Maryland is being Buschcrapped!

--- Maryland Soldier Buried at Arlington
----Drunk Driver Attempts to Run Over Trooper Then Unsuccessfully Tries to Elude Police

--- Tobacco Auction Now Open
Last tobacco auction left in America now underway in Hughesville.
--- Farmers Still Struggle for Replacement Crop, After Buyout Sharply Cut Tobacco
--- Nursery Stock Auction dates set
--- Blacks Not Even with Whites ! 
Big newsflash from National Urban League.
--- Charles Sheriff Fred Davis Offers Tips on Safe Internet Use
--- Upper Marlboro Condo Fire
--- Car Stolen from Silver Spring, Torched in Ridge
--- Del. George Owings Selected by Governor for New Secretary of Veterans Affairs
--- What did Founding Fathers have to say about the separation of Church and State?  See this letter to the editor:
--- Potomac River Association Votes to Support Ferryboat Service to Virginia
--- Gay Marriages? Not in Calvert or St. Mary's
Circuit Court Clerks Kathy Smith and Evelyn Arnold say they will follow state law and issue marriage licenses only to men and women marrying each other, not same sex... see full story
--- Disgruntled Seafarers Union member will file request for court sanctions against Seafarer's Union President Michael Sacco
--- Injured Mechanicsville firefighter's family requests blood donations
--- Ferryboat won't be Garbage Barge, Says Jarboe
Around Maryland
--- Osama's Navy: Bin Laden reportedly has bought 15 ships
-- Lt. Gov. Steele calls for funding CSX bridge over Rt. 450
--- DNR Seeks Public's Help In Identifying Body of Woman Found in Bay
--- Longshoremen worry that homeland security rules will cause those with criminal records to be fired
--- Popular Ocean City Hotel May Have Legionnaire's Disease Outbreak
--- Bill to tax flushes may come unhinged due to inclusion of tax on rural septic systems
--- Hutchins Tapped by Governor to Straighten Out State Police

Around Southern Maryland
Police Beat: Roundup of local State Police and Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles police activities...
Influential Bar Owner Continues to Run Hell-Hole Bar

Just three months from beginning of next hurricane season, do you have flood insurance yet?
--- Hurricane Hunters Spread the Word of Danger of Atlantic Hurricanes
--- What date did the earliest hurricane on record hit the US?
--- Coast Guard Revamps Haiti Port Navigational Aides
--- Three Sailors Rescued from Atlantic by Coast Guard
--- Train and Car Collide in Riverdale Park
--- Murder, Hostage Scene Ended with Final Shot,
--- Gunman Killed When He Aimed Gun at Police
---- Burglars Unload True Value
--- Fire displaces 6 families in Pax River Navy housing (photo)

News Briefs
Heinz Ketchup Company Disavows Connection with Kerry Campaign
Story

Calvert Hospital Wins Award from Delmarva Foundation
Story
Fish Report from Atlantic Ocean Courtesy of Captain Monty
Story

Ducks Unlimited Announce Conservation Awards
Story

Maryland Horse Industry Honor's Maryland's Best
Story

Maryland Chickens Get Clean Bill of Health
Story
Hoyer Hopes High School Artists Will Compete
Story