In the 05/06 school year Cape Henlopen had 401 cases of crime and other offenses ranging from fighting and criminal mischief, to drug offenses and assault.   However, the most shocking statistic from the Delaware Department of Education School Conduct Report is the 14 “violent felonies” reported at Cape.  It sounds terrible just saying “violent felonies” and school in the same breath.  The number 14 is far more than any other downstate school.  Appoquinimink had four, but zero and one were the numbers reported for the other Sussex and Kent schools.   I decided to look into this report of 14 violent felonies and found that a shocking 12 happened at just one school in the district; HOB Elementary!  This had to be a mistake, I thought, 12 violent felonies at an elementary school in Milton Delaware?  I asked Superintendent Dr. George Stone about this and here is his sad reply:

The statistic is correct as reported. The issue is in the way the SRO chooses to report the offense.  All of these “violent felonies” involved inappropriate sexual contact or offensive touching.  If the SRO feels it is unlawful sexual contact, it is reported as a “violent felony” If it is  reported as “offensive touching” it doesnt show up on that report.  Our SRO  in that prior year took a very strict stand on offensive touching, and part of the reason was that the court would order mandatory counsling the offender’s family could not afford.  Of these twelve incidents, most could have been reported as “offensive touching” by a different SRO. I’m not saying that woud be right or wrong, its just how they view it. Bottom line, HOB has similar offensive touching situations as do other elementaries, and anyone touching another inappropriately was dealt with according to the legal interpretation. Often with severe consequences.

GS

So we’re to believe that a cop is trumping up charges on six and seven year olds in order to get free counseling?  Charging kids with felonies, flooding family court for a welfare program?  This doesn’t smell right.  Remember, we’re taliking ”violent felonies” as in Del. Code title 11, s. 4201 (c).  Either we have an out of control cop, or something very wrong is happening at HOB.  Stay tuned, we’ll attempt to find out.  

 

41st District Special Election Coverage Audio: MP3 (appox. one hour)

Join Dan Gaffney, WGMD News’ Mari Lou and Jared Morris for exclusive 41st district special election coverage. With Randy Nelson reporting at Democratic HQ and WGMD News’ Maria Evans reporting live from Millsboro Republican HQ.

Complete Broadcast also featuring interviews with winner (R) Greg Hastings, (D) Lynn Bullock and (Ind Party of DE) John Burton. Plus analysis by: Matthew Opaliski, Jud Bennett and John Brady.

For more information on this exciting election visit WGMD.com or tune in live to WGMD 92.7FM.

Well, there has been some recent controversy at Cape High regarding a “fight” that occurred on Wednesday. According to reports as many as 3 police cars had to show up and at least one student was taken away in hand cuffs.

On the Thursday Morning Gaffney Morning Show.. Dan attempted to address this situation with School Board Member Camilla C.

She… let’s say… sidestepped the question. 
(AUDIO CUT)

Later in the morning during my show.. 14th District Rep Pete Schwartzkopf had the official answer.. it was a disturbance caused by one unruly student. (AUDIO CUT)

However.. More details have arisen via a letter sent home to parents from school board member Camilla C.:

May 3, 2007

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Yesterday, we had a series of events which were disturbing to all of us. I would like to take this opportunity to make sure that everyone received information. In the morning, two students had a fight over a personal matter. Disciplinary action was immediately taken.

At the beginning of lunch, a student was very agitated and was yelling at another student in the cafeteria. I, and another staff member, immediately intervened. The student was very loud and attempted to continue to pursue another student. Other staff members assisted. Our School Resource Officer (SRO) intervened regarding the disorderly conduct. Disciplinary action has been taken including the action of our SRO. Through a rapid investigation, we were able to determine additional peripheral involvement of other students and have taken appropriate action.

We were able to be proactive and resolve other issues so they did not escalate into other serious incidents. The students and staff were very responsive.

I believe our students are excellent and that they are in a safe place; however, the most important factor is that they feel that way. I regret that the actions of a few individuals make this difficult for all. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I will be meeting with the Parent Boosters on Monday evening from 7 - 8 PM. After that meeting, I will plan to meet with parents, students, and staff to discuss any concerns. We can meet from 8 - 9 PM.

If you would like to be included on the parent E-mail list, please contact Ms. Ursula Norwood at the high school or through E-mail at unorwood@cape.k12.de.us.

Thank you.

Well… why no straight answer? And to quote an anonymous post show caller.. “isn’t it a shame that the first person we heard details from was Rep. Schwartzkopf and not the school or the police?” Indeed.

 

 

 

 

Well, it all got very complicated this afternoon on my show. It started calmly enough when Jim Lanard, Director of Strategic Planning for Bluewater Wind, joined me to discuss the wind project.

But later in the day, Delmarva Power threatened to litigate to stop the Public Service Commission staff preliminary recommendations. Seems they would lose market share in this deal and would not be able to control profits as easily if there were more than one game in town. Word, too, that Delmarva Power and NRG, the dirty little plant in our backyard and the big loser in this recommendation, are putting pressure on the Comptroller General Russ Larson, to abstain from voting which would derail the process.

Do you wonder what the real problem is here? NRG bought that plant from Delmarva Power. There would be no problem if NRG got the bid over wind and there would be no litigation. But this recommendation is the beginning of the end to the incestuous relationship between NRG and Delmarva Power. Then, consider that Conectiv owns Delmarva Power. These three companies are, and always have been, in bed together. They wield enormous political power. The good ole boys need to make sure that the only outsider in this process, Bluewater wind, doesn’t provide clean, renewable energy that saves billions of dollars in health and environmental costs not picked up by fossil fuel energy providers. Wind would take money out of their pockets. It’s big energy controlling big money at the public expense. And there’s a lot at stake. After all, what does this mean for their buddy NRG? What’s NRG’s future now? Cleaning up?

I hear legislators are scurrying about up at Leg Hall worried about their money supply from NRG and Delmarva Power. All you need to do is look at the campaign finance reports of every elected official in Delaware and you will find substantial “contributions” from the officers, directors and key employees of NRG and Delmarva Power. Think about it, other than developers, what other source of campaign money is there? So don’t expect your elected officials to act in your interests. There’s no cash in that.

They say 92% of incumbents get reelected in Delaware. Want to see that number drop? Just watch what happens if wind doesn’t come to Delaware.

Now the politicians in the pass-the-buck state are good at finding ways to keep their hands clean…but not this time. This could get ugly. And expensive. Maybe Governor Minner should follow the example of the governor of Rhode Island and bypass the process and just put the wind farm in. Oh wait, that would require guts and action. That won’t happen. So we may be looking at the possibility of a major overhaul of our political leaders…even right here in Sussex County. Now that’s real democracy.

Listen to Jim Lanard from Blue Water Wind, Merrie Street from Delmarva Power & Light, and Bill Yingling from Conectiv HERE.