Subscribe
Community
They said it in 2009
The year in quotes: A look back at St. Mary's top newsmakers on the record
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by REID SILVERMAN
Holy Angels-Sacred Heart School teacher Kasie Croson sits with kindergarten graduate Julie Hutson at an end-of-school-year Mass in June. The Catholic school in Avenue closed after 83 years.
|
E-Mail This Article
Law and order
"It wasn't him. It was like nobody was there. It was very strange."
Leonard Wayne Johnson in January upon seeing Nicholas Thomas Potts the night in 2006 when Potts stabbed James "Gus" Choporis to death at the former Bay District firehouse in Lexington Park.
"You couldn't even get near these cattle. They were very uncontrollable."
Tony Malaspina, animal control supervisor, in February on lawmen having to shoot cows on Route 235 in Hermanville.
"It appears it was done simply because she didn't like her job there."
Capt. Rick Burris on multiple bomb threats called into Walmart by Chantel Denise Cook. She was later sentenced to six years in prison.
"What you've done is horrific."
Judge Michael J. Stamm to Cook in July at her sentencing.
"I'd like to be able to get out so I can go back to work."
Vincent Tayman, a Charles County utilities supervisor, after charges of sexual abuse in April.
"The police did everything they could to make this guy give up peaceably."
Richard Fritz, St. Mary's County state's attorney, on the police's shootout with Daniel Decker in late April, ending in his suicide.
"When you look at things in hindsight, there's always different ways a scenario could have played out."
Lt. Michael Thompson of the Maryland State Police on an incident between a state trooper and Navy master chief over a dog bite.
"Obviously, he was not aware of this particular regulation."
Attorney Walter Sawyer, on behalf of his client, California Wine and Spirits, fined $200 for making deliveries of alcohol to a residence.
"We did an inquiry to ensure it was consensual, that [the injury] was an accident."
Burris on a March injury to a woman involving an erotic novelty item placed over the blade of a power saw.
"There was fire coming down the hallway. I got down on my knees and started feeling around. I had kind of an idea what it was."
Chris Mattingly, 7th District fire captain, on discovering the body of a man in a house that caught fire in Hollywood in May.
"It would have to be fired with some type of cannon."
Joseph G. Zurlolo, deputy state fire marshal, on destroying Civil War-era ordnance that was found at the county landfill.
"I hope they're prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D) on the arrest of suspects alleged to have destroyed Elms Beach Park in February.
"They can do whatever they want. That's why they do the things they do, because they can get away with it."
Muriel Dean in March after a lawsuit was dismissed against police from the Christmas Day 2006 shooting of James Dean.
"The officer… showed a tremendous amount of restraint. That could have been disastrous for her and her family."
Attorney Shane Mattingly about his client, Nancy Martha Ahearn, accused of pointing and dry-firing a gun at a deputy in March.
"He literally walked out of the detention center on probation and committed this offense. Mr. Wentz is just an anti-social criminal."
Theodore Weiner, deputy state's attorney for St. Mary's County, on Scott Wentz in May about vandalism charges at Elms Beach.
"We're seeing a lot more of a firearms presence involved in the trade."
Capt. Daniel Alioto of the sheriff's office on drug deals in May.
"We have an idea how she's doing it. She's been seen around the neighborhood with a stroller."
Sgt. Jeff Jones of the St. Mary's County Bureau of Criminal Investigations of Anita Shriver, charged with stealing thousands of dollars worth of coins.
"It's history here. Why can't I have a little bit?"
Peter Antonovich after an August raid on his Valley Lee home for moonshine.
"I didn't take it apparently seriously enough."
Robert Lumpkins, owner of Golden Eye Seafood in Tall Timbers, after being sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, plus $164,040 in restitution for pleading guilty to conspiring to falsely report rockfish catches.
"It's not every day that some car drives through your yard and ends up in the river."
Frankie Beghardt of Golden Beach after a police chase came to her home.
Military matters
"In other wars, we sent soldiers and sailors to war in ships. They had about 30 days to think and process where they were going and what they were going to be doing. Today, you can have someone serving in Fallujah one day and home making cookies the next day."
Mary Neal Vieten, licensed clinical psychologist.
"They hear about battles, but the war doesn't really touch them."
Constance Walker, president of the Southern Maryland chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, of the general public.
"These young kids buy a machine, have no training and go out there and kill themselves. They need to take the course."
Dan Moore, motorcycle instructor for Naval District Washington, in January, about motorcycle safety on bases.
"Because of the training I got here as a young Navy officer, learning to be a test pilot, I was well prepared to go on to NASA."
Retired Navy Capt. James Lovell, a U.S. Test Pilot School grad and Apollo 13 astronaut, speaking in April at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.
"We do testing which helps decide what kind of antenna should be used, where it should go on the plane and what the expectations are for that antenna. Basically, we are testing what the Navy wants that antenna to do."
Dennis DeCarlo, chief antenna systems engineer at Facilities for Antenna and RCS Measurement.
"We are very lucky that we get a lot of support from people here at the base. Pilots come in and talk to them about flying and the kids love to see the pilots."
Julie Guy, director of an educational program at Pax River.
"The Navy's goal is to get steam catapults off the ships. We settled on steam for the last 50 years and now it is time to go to the next level."
Capt. Randy Mahr, program manager for PMA 251, a Navy aircraft launch program.
"St. Mary's is in the fight."
Rear Adm. Bill Shannon of Webster Field's work with unmanned aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"This is the first time we have seen a major contract at the base canceled."
Todd Morgan, president of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, on the cancellation of the VH-71 presidential helicopter program.
"There is no question in my mind that the Joint Strike Fighter is going to be a louder plane than an F-18."
Keith Fairfax, senior vice president of the Navy Alliance.
"We've done this to ourselves with this aircraft. We've taken the chance on buying an airplane before we've really wrung them out."
Charlie Wagner, leader of the F-35 Air Vehicle Deputy and Weapons integrated project team, in September noting the Pentagon ordered the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter into production before testing was complete in order to boost the project's lagging schedule.
State of the state
"There is no doubt that it is going to be tougher. We're going to be looking more people in the eye and saying, ‘I'm sorry, but this is what we have to do.'"
Del. John Bohanan (D-St. Mary's), on pending state cuts looming in January.
"It's not one major employer, it's just everyone is tightening their belts and trying to streamline because of the economy."
Cynthia DellaGatta, economic development coordinator, on unemployment rates in the region for early 2009.
"If folks are really concerned about the measure, they just have to go the speed limit and they need not worry about it."
Del. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) on approving speed cameras in April that can result in traffic tickets.
"It's a hell of a time to put into effect right now. I don't think it's a good thing to have strapped us with right now."
St. Mary's County Commission President Francis Jack Russell (D) on the passing of new septic tank requirements in the tidal Critical Areas in April.
"When the sun shines, they do very well, but in down times, they've got to take the proportion of cuts just like everybody else in state government."
Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert, Prince George's), president of the Maryland Senate, speaking in April about how counties may have to take their share of budget cuts.
"He's given enough spin to make a horse on a merry-go-round get dizzy."
House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (R- Calvert, St. Mary's), responding to Gov. Martin O'Malley's efforts to couch his state budget management in a positive light in September.
"This decision was a hard one."
Dr. William Icenhower, director of the St. Mary's County Health Department, speaking about the layoff of 12 employees because of state cuts in September.
Leonardtown and beyond
"If you let the cat out of the bag on these negotiations, you'll never get a lot of them done. Once a piece of land is sold — it's not coming back. I think it was a good move for the county."
Commission President Francis Jack Russell (D) in January on the purchase of 172 acres in Leonardtown for $5.3 million at a Dec. 24, 2008, meeting.
"This doesn't make me go to bed tonight with a warm and fuzzy feeling."
Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D) on the proposed fiscal 2010 budget in March.
"I definitely have big shoes to fill. Steve King has definitely demonstrated his huge commitment to the commission. I look forward to the challenge and the opportunity."
Jacquelyn Meiser, new director of MetCom, in January. King was director for 11 years.
"I'm tired of messing with the town. It was fine at the beginning, the first 10 years. The last five years were just horrible."
Developer Ron Russo in February on dealing with the administrators of Leonardtown.
"The taxpayers are going to pay for the jail. I'm pretty adamant about getting it done right."
Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron (R) on a seminar in Colorado for five St. Mary's County officials about building new jails.
"They are, I'll say, busting at the seams. It's a pretty heavily used facility."
George Erichsen, St. Mary's director of public works and transportation, speaking in May on the need for a new Leonardtown library, and at a cost of $15.9 million. Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R) voted against the project.
"You simply cannot make $10 million worth of adjustments to the operating budget without cutting education, public safety and firing county employees. I am just not prepared to do that. ... I would just hope in the next few weeks… that you put your political campaign aside … Let's get off constant yield because the numbers just do not allow us to do that."
Raley on cuts proposed by Jarboe to use the constant yield property tax rate this spring.
"This is a new and novel way of approaching this problem."
Dennis Gordge, president of the Advanced Life Support unit, on bringing on paid help during the day.
"I'm a lot smarter than I was before and I look forward to bringing that experience and smarts to St. Mary's County."
Derick Berlage, new director of land use and growth management, on his experiences in Montgomery County, where he was formerly planning commission chairman.
"Some of them went a little overboard. You can disagree with my politics, you can disagree with my philosophy, you can disagree with the way I vote … but don't get personal and imply that I'm a racist or if the county would be better off if I was dead."
Raley on some of the comments heard at the budget public hearing.
"That surprised me. Obviously I didn't appreciate being singled out on one end or the other. It was a little frustrating to hear that."
Commissioner Jarboe on being excluded from Glenn Weder's wish to see the commissioners in the obituaries at the budget public hearing.
"I don't know if people would want a 4-by-8 sign left in their front yard forever."
Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D) in September on a zoning revision that would remove time limits on political signs.
"In an ideal world, we'd be able to find a spot downtown for the library — that would be the best for the town."
Leonardtown Mayor J. Harry Norris III (D) in October of the new Leonardtown library project.
"For us not to do it today would be a tragic mistake."
Raley on the purchase of Rose's Place II, the county's last strip bar, to make way to connect FDR Boulevard.
School days
"We've had so many years of prosperity and now we are facing an economy that is poor … The reality, ladies and gentlemen, has hit home and will have an effect on St. Mary's County public schools."
Superintendent Michael Martirano in January.
"There's always hope, but we don't have the funds that we were asked to raise."
Janice Walthour, principal of Holy Angels-Sacred Heart School, before the school closed in 2009 at the end of the school year.
"We feel very confident that there won't be any seniors who fail to graduate due to not making their HSA requirements."
Scott Smith, director of secondary instruction, administration and school improvement for public schools, in March.
"We've been living with this [pod setup] since 1970, what I viewed as a flawed design in education history."
Martirano on the renovation of classrooms at Leonardtown Middle School.
"I think it's been wonderful. The students have had opportunities I never would have imagined possible."
Cindy Baden, lead teacher for the finance academy at Chopticon High School.
"These four years have been very exciting for St. Mary's County public schools. We truly have gone from a very good school system to an excellent school system."
Martirano in April on his new $213,779 annual contract.
"We're very pleased with what he has done for us and our children."
School board chairman Bill Mattingly on Martirano's new contract.
"It's almost like these rumors are like a virus. They spread and take on a life of their own."
Garth Bowling, principal of Chopticon High School, on rumors of escalated violence there in April after a hallway fight.
"At Fairlead, I wasn't able to get away with it. They wouldn't let me fail. I realize now graduating from high school is something I have to do."
Student Kyle Harmon at the Fairlead Academy for freshmen.
"We know they don't have a money tree in the backyard, even though we wished they did."
Liz Purcell Leskinen, UniServ director for board of education union employees, on their one-year contract signed in May.
"It is more than I could imagine … It's been quite a journey."
Sarah Patterson in July on retiring as administrator of The King's Christian Academy.
"This administrative function is certainly not an attempt to keep anything behind people's backs."
Bill Mattingly on discussions of "administrative function" behind closed doors.
"I would like to apologize to the superintendent and all the victims involved and affected by this … It is my duty to control myself and I did not do that."
Brian Still, former public school administrator, after being found guilty of sending fake e-mails to a school board member.
"I never want to put our students in any type of realm … at a disadvantage."
Martirano on exploring the purchase and installation of artificial turf at the county's three public high schools.
"These next two years are going to be one hell of a ride."
Greg Nourse, St. Mary's public schools director of finance, in September.
"I think they're fabulous."
Molly Mahoney, St. Mary's College of Maryland trustee on the four finalists to interview for the job of the school's new president. One candidate dropped out and the other three were later rejected. A second search is under way.
"This is not to end in a tragedy — it's a drama."
The Rev. Lee Fangmeyer on the fundraising drive for St. Michael's School in Ridge to collect $575,000 to keep the Catholic school running.
"I've been catching a lot of heat, if you will, that they didn't feel the front of the school is finished."
Mattingly said in November of a $30,000 improvement for the face of Margaret Brent Middle School.
Nature's way
"The promises that have been made haven't been kept. The bay is really suffering."
Bernie Fowler, former state senator, in January on filing a lawsuit against the EPA.
"I don't like the idea of the overpass. The college has just bought all this land on Route 5 to preserve the view and now they're talking about this."
Barbara Dinsenbacher of Callaway, on St. Mary's College of Maryland's plan for a pedestrian bridge over Route 5. The idea was later scrapped.
"After many years of study the agencies involved … have all finally reached agreement to go forward with a purely native restoration effort."
Tom O'Connell, director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service, on the decision in April to ban Asian oysters from the Chesapeake and its tributaries.
"She's on death row. We put her there. But we're making strong appeals. She's not going to die. We're going to bring her back. We will save this river, trust me."
Fowler in April on restoring the quality of the Patuxent River.
"I think that courage was fortified by the fact that we actually have a president that cares now. We have a federal government that's engaged."
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on President Barack Obama's Federal Leadership Committee on the Bay in May.
"An oyster in the water today is worth far more to the public than an oyster in stew."
Raymond "Chip" Dudderar in November.
The season that never ends
"There are a lot of thing that need fixing over there. Criminal charges are being bought and sold for donations to pet projects."
Attorney John Mattingly on the state's attorney's office. He filed for election to the office in October.
"If John Mattingly wants to be state's attorney, he should probably handle more than two criminal [trials] in this court his entire career."
Richard Fritz, state's attorney for St. Mary's County, in February.
"I'm hoping some file against me. The more the better."
Commissioner Kenny Dement (R) in July.
"Put it on me that I'd like to have additional votes at the table."
Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R) on the creation of the Town Hall Alliance slate for county commissioner.
"I like to think for myself, on my own two feet."
Kenneth F. Boothe (R), candidate for president of the commissioners, after being replaced on the Town Hall Alliance slate by Randy Guy (R).
"Their comments were uninformed. They're basically telling the community they're against expanding library opportunities in one of our development districts."
Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D) about the Town Hall Alliance Slate in November.
"There is nobody that loves libraries more than I do. I'm saying maybe we need to step back and not spend the $25 million."
Jarboe in reaction to Mattingly.
Slices of life
"I think that the number of requests is definitely a measure of the amount of excitement that people have for this new president coming into office."
Stephanie Lundberg, spokeswoman for Rep. Steny Hoyer, on the number of tickets requested from his office for the inauguration of Barack Obama.
"I wish my mom and dad were alive to see this."
Louise Davis of Obama's inauguration, watching it at the J.T. Daugherty Conference Center.
"Barack Obama — first African-American president — how marvelous!"
Janice Walthour at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
"I think the case is closed. They apologized. I don't want to talk about it anymore."
Kenza Shelley in March after being asked to be served in a back room of Navy Federal Credit Union because of her head scarf. The bank reversed its policy and allowed customers to wear hats and sunglasses in line.
"This is the place where secular government was first tried out in the English-speaking world."
Retired U.S. District Court judge Thomas Penfield Jackson in March on the founding of Maryland in 1634.
"For some people it's an ego thing."
Retired circuit judge John Hanson Briscoe on people claiming to have descendants aboard the Ark and Dove.
"I enjoy the work … plus the camaraderie and meeting with people, and catching up on all the local information."
John Gatton Sr. of his years at Gatton's Barber Shop in Hollywood.
"My goal was just to get to ESPN and I'm glad I got that far."
Jackie Smedley, a seventh-grader at St. John's, about the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May, which was broadcast on one of ESPN's Web sites.
"I took a shot with him of what he brought. I think it was some kind of ale. It was definitely nasty, whatever it was."
Randy Plummer, 21, of a chance encounter with Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) at St. Inigoes Landing after a Maryland Day celebration at St. Mary's City in March.
"You would have thought he was a politician, the way he worked the room."
Rick Meatyard on a March visit by actor Val Kilmer to Tall Timbers.
"I think she woke up one day and realized this was no longer fun."
John Parlett Jr. in July of his mother's involvement in the Southern Maryland Farm-Life Festival, the 12th and final one held in October.
"Certainly we need health care — everyone should have health care — but this is not the way we need to do it."
Mike Syders of Mechanicsville on the president's proposed health care reforms.
"People are outraged and this is the opportunity they have to speak out against it."
Matthew Morton of Ridge at a town hall meeting on health care reform in September hosted by Hoyer.
"I think watermen are pushing the envelope as hard as we could to keep on existing."
Robert Lumpkins, owner of Golden Eye Seafood, on the economy of living off the water.
"It's like farming; you plant and you don't really know how much you are going to harvest."
Waterman Bert Hayden on catching crabs.
"They've ordered it and the manufacturer doesn't have it to send."
Karen Everett, St. Mary's County government public information officer, on the lack of seasonal flu vaccine for the general population in October.
"I'm miserable, miserable, miserable."
Betty Currie, who took care of Socks, the former first cat, when he died in February in Hollywood.
Saying goodbye
"What he did to get the park system established really started from nothing. He did an incredible job."
Phil Rollins, director of St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks, on the Jan. 30 passing of John Baggett, former department director.
"He was active in community affairs, hospice in particular, … and many charitable contributions I'll never know about, because he never told anybody."
J. Ernest Bell II on J. Abell Longmore Jr. who died in March.
"He lived a long and fruitful life. He showed us how to live and he showed us how to die with dignity."
George Forrest on the death of his father, James Forrest, in March, an advocate for education and civil rights.
"She was ready to go about a week ago. She was just tired, wore out, she was ready to go."
Commissioner Kenny Dement (R) on the passing of his wife, Shirley, on April 1.
"He used to say, ‘Every night's Saturday night and every Saturday night's New Year's Eve.'"
J. Scott Ridgell, about his father, Clarence "Buzzy" Ridgell, who ran a store in Ridge and died in June.
"He always did weather the storm. It did not in any way interfere with his ability to help the people of his county. He just kept on working at it."
Former governor Marvin Mandel (D) on the death of George R. Aud, former county commissioner, who died in July.
"He knew everybody, and I never ran across anything he didn't know about that base. He was the institutional memory of the place."
Rick Thompson, co-worker of John Romer, public information officer for Patuxent River Naval Air Station, who died in August.
"I couldn't be more proud to be his dad. He has embraced the moment and utilized every day he had."
Cmdr. John Paganelli on the death of his son, Jordan, at age 17 from cancer in November.
"I consider Walter Dorsey a person who taught me much about criminal prosecution. More than that, he taught me about compassion."
