Mother Nature speaks, in tornadoes, hurricane and even an earthquake
“We were very, very lucky.”
Gerald Gardiner, emergency manager with the St. Mary’s County Department of Public Safety, on a tornado that hit 17 properties in Leonardtown in April but caused no injuries.
“We’re being flooded. It was such an unusual instance ... this was every place all at once.”
John Savich, St. Mary’s County government administrator, on the number of calls that came into the 911 center after a 5.8 earthquake struck the East Coast on Aug. 23. There were no reported injuries or property damage.
“I could have been killed.”
Liz Garcia, a resident of Dameron, who had a tree come down on her home during Hurricane Irene on Aug. 27.
“So many of those trees are full of leaves, the ground is saturated, sustained winds in some places 40, 50, up to 60 mph. It’s a devastating situation. Substation after substation was off.”
Thomas Dennison, public affairs manager for the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, on Hurricane Irene’s damage.
“We took a right smart of a beating, but luckily around the shore we didn’t have much storm surge.”
St. Mary’s County Commission President Jack Russell (D) about the hurricane.
“This is quite exciting. I think I’m ready to go back to Texas.”
Rose Roddwick, who was visiting family on Adkins Road in Great Mills during Hurricane Irene.
“As a result of enhancements implemented after Sept. 11, our sites have additional capabilities to handle beyond design basis events, including the capability to provide cooling to the spent fuel pool in the absence of electrical power.”
Mark Sullivan, director of communications for the Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, on the safety at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant after a devastating earthquake in Japan in March.
Law and order
“Every waking moment, it’s on my mind. I lost a real, real good friend, … who’s closer than a brother. I loved him.”
Tyrone Darnell Butler on the death of his passenger, Francis Xavier Chase Jr., in 2010. Butler was sentenced to six years for vehicular manslaughter after he eluded police.
“I will pay anyone 2 million dollars for the assassination of Judge [C. Clarke] Raley and [St. Mary’s State’s Attorney] Richard Fritz.”
Antonio Warren Gantt in February. Gantt was later found guilty of robbing a Lexington Park bank twice.
“Just remember whatever happens outside the courtroom, the blood is on your hands. You drew blood first. Do I have to kill to get a lawyer?”
Gantt in July to Circuit Judge Karen H. Abrams.
“Mr. Gantt is mouthing obscenities at me, which is fine.”
Abrams in court in October, before she sentenced Gantt to life in prison.
“Your pension for retirement will be in my pocket.”
Cornelius Leroy Chase to Raley in April after being sentenced to life in prison for robbing a Leonardtown credit union in 2004.
“The defendant was stopped by [bailiff Kenneth] Yekstat, who asked the defendant what fell out of his pocket. The defendant stated it was ‘cocaine.’”
Deputy Patrick Bowen on the circuit courthouse arrest of Roger Anthony Awkward of California.
“I truly think it was a knee-jerk reaction. I made the wrong decision and I’ve regretted it ever since.”
Terry Anthony Clarke in February after a two-year sentence was imposed from a 2007 shooting case. His newspaper and website, Southern Maryland Today, which used to be St. Mary’s Today, went out of business this year.
“This board better be ready for some ramifications from the public when we, as a board, don’t treat people fairly. We should be fair and consistent.”
Thomas Sacks, vice chairman of the St. Mary’s liquor board, in March. He quit the board in July.
“The direction the board was going in [was] not holding the businesses responsible for the violations. It is just not being strict enough. The penalty doesn’t fit the violation.”
Sacks, upon quitting in July.
“He also had to wait because he had to make sure [his wife] was dead. He said that he was lucky. He’s not lucky. He’s guilty.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kwame J. Manley on Ryan Holness, a former sailor found guilty of killing his wife on the Eastern Shore in 2009.
“The whole reason I did it was because I didn’t have money.”
Davevon Lee Price in circuit court in response to having to pay restitution after his release from prison for armed robbery.
“I was not flashing. I was not streaking. I’m not there to bother anybody.”
John C. Buitrago, charged for indecent exposure after sunbathing in April at Leonardtown Wharf. The case was put on an inactive docket.
“This officer believed he was in a struggle for his life, without question.”
Fritz, commenting on Deputy 1st Class Robert Gill’s shooting and killing of Kotrell Omar Newsome during a struggle at the River Bay neighborhood in Lexington Park.
“This is a murder trial. This is not a child pornography trial.”
Fritz on the murder trial against Joanna Joyce Findlay, accused of killing Gary Alan Trogdon. Findlay was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder.
School days
“It appears as if we’re going to be at a tremendous shortfall with our education budget.”
Superintendent Michael Martirano in January.
“People may be losing jobs next year.”
Martirano in February, foreshadowing job cuts to come later in the school year.
“We can’t say definitively that people are going to be protected this time.”
Martirano in February on furlough days for teachers.
“I do not ever remember facing such a challenging time as this.”
School board member Cathy Allen in February on the schools’ budget.
“St. Mary’s County, I was embarrassed to say, has now taken the mantle.”
Martirano on the state’s lowest per-pupil spending at an event to “mourn the loss of public education” in March.
“Revenues are down. We’re not going to raise taxes.”
St. Mary’s County Commission President Jack Russell (D) in reply.
“The bottom line is this: To avoid laying off teachers we’d have to lay off other folks.”
County Administrator John Savich on calls for more school funding in the spring.
“Shame on us as a community if we keep our schools down and allow mediocrity to replace top-notch achievement.”
Sal Raspa, chairman of the school board.
“Anyone who didn’t realize the budget was going to be difficult this year wasn’t paying attention much.”
St. Mary’s County Commissioner Todd Morgan (R).
“We haven’t cut anything to education. We just haven’t given them as much as they wanted.”
Russell on school funding.
“We do not hire or fire teachers.”
Morgan.
“This budget has more holes than Swiss cheese. It has more smoke and mirrors than Harry Potter.”
Morgan on the school’s submitted budget in April.
“You step up for these children or I’m going to stand down [as a teacher], and I doubt I’ll be the only one.”
Anna Laughlin, a teacher, speaking to the county commissioners at the public hearing on the county budget in April.
“In 11 years on the board I have never heard anything as ridiculous as we didn’t submit it.”
Allen on communication with the commissioners about the school budget.
“Maybe we ought to buy dictionaries and send them over.”
Raspa in reference to the county commissioners.
“I need a dictionary? They need a thesaurus. I like teachers. Teachers educate our children. Overhead staff? Whole ’nother story. If it were a business, it’d be broke.”
Morgan, in reaction.
“I have watched Dr. Martirano carefully shift, move, save, consider and reconsider every job, textbook and bus stop. He’s as focused as a one-armed chain saw juggler.”
Billy Breslin, Leonardtown High School teacher, at the commissioners budget hearing in April.
“At this point, we are thankful to the county commissioners for adding $750,000. It should have been $1.3 million.”
Raspa on the level of school funding, in June.
“It is virtually impossible, if not impossible, for all schools to be at 100 percent.”
Martirano on the results in the Maryland School Assessments.
“No school in this county should feel any concern, regardless of what the identifier is in AYP.”
Martirano on half of St. Mary’s schools missing state goals set for adequate yearly progress.
“These are the very best pass rates we’ve ever had as a system.”
Scott Smith, director of secondary education for St. Mary’s public schools, on fewer students receiving failing grades.
“I just want to move in, get settled and go back to focusing on school work.”
Charlotte Mecklenburg, student of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, on moving into the Sea Voyager cruise ship in November. The ship was brought in after two dormitories were closed because of mold infestation. Students were being bused from hotels in the area. The ship left at the end of the semester in December.
Running the county
“Her simple campaign pledge of ‘fiscal conservative’ has been virtually obliterated. No fiscal conservative would vote to give up their time-tested vote controlling the weekly distribution of checks.”
Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R) on Cindy Jones (R) in January.
“Whatever’s necessary I’m willing to do — specifically for a library, [that’s] something I feel strong about.”
Developer Don Pleasants on donating land for a new library near downtown Leonardtown. The library board of trustees voted against that site, and then the county commissioners agreed in November to table any new Leonardtown library, opting for renovations to the existing building instead.
“It’ll be a statistic we’ll live with for a while. This will shine a light down here.”
Bob Schaller, director of the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic and Community Development, on the county growing the fastest in the state in population from 2000 to 2010. The population grew by 22 percent to 101,151 people.
“Every new restaurant here is just totally packed.”
Harry Knight, permits coordinator for the St. Mary’s County Department of Land Use and Growth Management. This year Texas Roadhouse and Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants opened in California, and a LongHorn steakhouse was proposed.
“I’m outraged more than I can convey.”
Christy Henderson, co-owner of Buzz’s Marina in Ridge, on an early morning inspection of campers by the department of land use and growth management.
“We regret the fact that it occurred that late.”
Then-director of the department, Derick Berlage, in response.
“Initially it’s a shock. I felt like I did a good job here in public safety.”
David Zylak on being fired as the director of St. Mary’s County Department of Public Safety in March. Later in the year he was hired as director of public safety at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
“I wasn’t going to join the fray, beating the bully pulpit about the budget.”
Sheriff Tim Cameron (R) on his non-participation during the April budget public hearing.
“Sometimes you have to stretch out a little from your comfort zone.”
School board member Cathy Allen on the $30.1 million county government fund balance left over from fiscal 2011.
“If we did everything everyone would want, that $30 million would be a zero a month from now.”
John Savich, county administrator, on the surplus.
“Revitalization is long-term, deep-in-the trenches work.”
Robin Finnacom, director of the Community Development Corp., on the Lexington Park Development District Master Plan.
“I just don’t think Lexington Park is where you want to be in business anymore. It’s had its issues for 20 years, and I don’t see an end in sight any time soon.”
Bill Adams, owner of Car Pros Automotive.
“If you’re going to spend a billion dollars-plus, why shortchange yourself?”
Commission President Jack Russell (D) on the height of the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge. The current span is 140 feet. The commissioners said any new span should be just as tall.
“There doesn’t seem to be any traction in this recovery. We are firing on half-cylinders here.”
Schaller on the state of the local and national economy.
“This may not be politically correct. This is America and we speak English here.”
Commissioner Dan Morris (R) in response to a suggestion to add signs in Spanish to some county parks.
Politics is never out of season
“I’m convinced more than ever that Steny Hoyer is part of the problem in Washington right now. He’s not helping to solve the most intractable issues of the day.”
Del. Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Calvert, St. Mary’s), announcing in December his run for Congress in 2012 against the 5th District’s Democratic incumbent.
“Mr. Hoyer remains focused on working with his constituents throughout the Fifth District on the issues that are most important to them.”
Maureen Beach, spokeswoman for Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th), in response to O’Donnell’s announcement.
“I think the election spoke loud and clear that people expect us to restrain spending.”
Del. John Bohanan (D-St. Mary’s) in January.
“Don’t be surprised if liberal members of the legislature try to increase some taxes.”
O’Donnell in January.
“At a time when families are having a hard time paying their heating and electric bills, putting gas in their car and keeping their small businesses afloat, we’re giving state employees about $40 million worth of bonus money and I’m very concerned about that.”
O’Donnell on the governor’s budget in January, which got rid of furlough days.
“I think many of us held our nose and voted for it.”
Sen. Roy Dyson (D-St. Mary’s, Calvert, Charles) on voting for the state budget in April.
“What the governor is saying is we’re not going to invest in bad decisions.”
Andrew Ratner, communications director of the Maryland Department of Planning, on the crafting of PlanMaryland. The county commissioners have concerns over losing control of land-use decisions.
“You’re inexcusable, highly inexcusable. You’re making a [ton] of money off of us. You ought to be ashamed of yourself and yes, I am upset.”
Larry Bowling of La Plata to Maryland State Highway Administration officials at an October meeting about the washed-out bridge on Budds Creek Road in Charles County, which caused lengthy detours. The bridge reopened in late November.
Military matters
“We’re working with the Navy and the contractor community outside the base to find a way that works for both, and it’s tough.”
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) on the Enhanced Use Lease process to bring office space to Patuxent River Naval Air Station.
“EUL is now free to move forward.”
Del. John Bohanan (D-St. Mary’s) in June.
“I don’t think it will bother us one bit.”
St. Mary’s County Commissioner Todd Morgan (R) on an engine cancellation in the Joint Strike Fighter development program.
“Don’t be focused on BRAC 2015; they can take your mission today.”
John Simmons, senior adviser with a Washington, D.C., consulting group, to a group of banking and development leaders.
“We’ve already got a disaster on Great Mills Road because of all the contractors moving north on [Route] 235.”
Developer John Parlett on the Enhanced Use Lease proposed by the Navy to open up more workspace inside Patuxent River Naval Air Station.
“I am not as robust and confident about the JSF as a lot of people are.”
Bohanan on the Joint Strike Fighter.
“Over this past Fourth of July weekend, we accomplished a significant milestone in the Unmanned Combat Air System program. We’ve digitized the aircraft carrier.”
Adm. William Shannon, program executive officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons at Naval Air Systems Command.
“I mean, I didn’t run into work with a rainbow feather boa on or anything, but it was interesting because people at work didn’t bring it up at all.”
Justin Cartrette, aviation electrician’s mate and petty officer second class, on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military in September.
“I mean, we’re still in Afghanistan today, still fighting, and you make advances, but I don’t see an end in sight.”
Army National Guard Col. Edward Morgan in November.
“It just about crushed me. I can see why someone would blow their head off.”
Army veteran Cassidy Bean on the lack of mental health services for veterans.
It happened this year
“We had to tell him that his friend was all right, and to stay put. The more he moved, the more danger he would be in.”
Charles Hare, a witness to a glider crash in Hollywood in July, in recounting what he told a man still in the perched glider. The other occupant of the aircraft died.
“All of us hate to see it go, but you have to be practical as well.”
Leonardtown Administrator Laschelle McKay on the vote to demolish the town’s water tower that dates back to 1925. The tower is still standing.
“They were caught in that fenced area, and they couldn’t get out. [With] all the radiant heat, they couldn’t get far enough away from it.”
Joe Gould, fire chief of Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, on a kennel fire in February that killed four dogs.
“I just gave him a hug, and he gave me a hug back like he always does.”
Kimberly Fullerton speaking about her horse, Morgan, who was shot in January in Charlotte Hall. The horse had to be put down.
“It only takes one bad apple to make the whole basket look rotten.”
Tommy Zinn, president of the Calvert Watermen’s Association, on poaching rockfish using gill nets.
“It’s an indicator that the Chesapeake is not totally dead yet.”
St. Mary’s County Commission President Jack Russell (D) on a higher number of oyster spats found in the fall of 2010.
“I just wish I knew what she’d been doing for three weeks.”
Ben McKay of Great Mills on his duck, Peanut, picked up by a hawk and found at a relative’s home a few miles away.
“People say, ‘Why are you closing?’ Sales have gone down. I’m not selling as many books.”
Chuck O’Brien, co-owner of Bay Books, on closing the store after 23 years.
“It’s a really bad idea in my mind.”
St. Mary’s County Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R) on the proposal to close the Charlotte Hall Post Office. The idea was quickly dropped.
“It’s a swamp fire.”
Gerald Gardiner, St. Mary’s emergency management manager, explaining a persistent layer of smoke over St. Mary’s in August. A fire in the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia was the cause of the smoke.
“I didn’t even think about it. I just went in and did it.”
James Fazio, who ran into the burning home of Robert Andrews, 80, to get him out in August.
“It’s one of those things you don’t see every day.”
Thomas Dennison of Wicomico Shores on spotting an emu on the loose in November. After its owner reclaimed the bird, it was seen again unattended in Charles County.
