It’s been a wild ride this week for Sussex Central High School Principal Dana Goodman.

First, Principal Goodman was caught making off color sexual innuendo jokes at a school assembly in front of the students, (cracks about the vice principal’s wife staying home pregnant with Goodman’s baby, and remarks about whether the Principal or Vice Principal would escort the “homely” girls to prom) Principal Goodman issue a formal apology for those jokes, and then told staffers  to avoid contacting “Dan Gaffney at WGMD”

Second, this week I broke the story about how on April 21st a pool of blood, a bloody handprint and a condom wrapper was discovered in a classroom at the start of the school day. A concerned teacher alerted the office, and Principal Goodman quickly ordered the blood cleaned up before the school police officer could be notified. State Police Crpl. Bratz, the school resource officer told me didn’t understand why the principal wouldn’t have let the police see the bloody scene before clean up. Why did the principal act in such an irresponsible way?  This time he ORDERED staffers not to call the Dan Gaffney Show. Read on….

Now at this hour, we hear that Principal Goodman has been arrested by the Delaware State Police. Sources tell me “it’s about 40 counts of rape”. We hear the victim was a student at the school. Officially the police have not released the charges; I’ll update you when that happens.

He has been suspended from his employment in the Indian River School District.

Eww.

UPDATE AT 6:33 PM FROM WGMD NEWS:

The charges are 30 counts of 4th degree rape, endangering the welfare f a child and continual sexual abuse of a child. 38 year old Dana Goodman, the principal at Sussex Central High School in Georgetown was arrested around noon today at school for the alleged rape of a 17-year-old female high school student. State Police say the investigation was launched when an anonymous tip was sent to the school district via a letter. State Police detectives understand the contact was consensual and began in the early part of January of this year and ended about a week ago. Police say Goodman and the student met at various locations in Sussex and Kent counties. Goodman is being held at SCI in default of $331,000 cash only bail and has been ordered to have no contact with children under the age of 18 and no contact with the Indian River School District or its employees. Anyone else who may have been victimized, should call State Police at 302-856-5850 ext 219.

If you have a cell phone, or any phone, you may have noticed that lately you’ve been getting an enormous number of phone calls from a company warning you that “this is the last call you’ll” get regarding your auto warranty which is about to expire.

If only. If only that were the “last call” on the topic of my auto warranty it would be a great day in Sunnydale! But NOOOOO! You may receive that “last call” warning two to three times a day, every day as I did. Well, finally someone has decided to act aggressively to prevent this type of illegal telemarketing.

This information was retrieved from www.verizon.com, I’ll highlight the key parts since it is rather long:

03/26/2008

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless said today it has filed a lawsuit to stop unknown telemarketers from calling its customers and employees with an offer of an extended car warranty. The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court, alleges the telemarketers illegally used an autodialer to reach Verizon Wireless customers and used “spoofing” techniques to mask the origin of the calls.

The lawsuit alleges that Caller ID showed calls were made from a variety of numbers with 281, 614, 801, and 562 area codes. But, when Verizon Wireless customers and employees attempted to call the numbers found on Caller ID, they generally heard a fast busy signal, indicating a non-working number.

“Telemarketers are using increasingly sophisticated methods, such as illegal autodialing, to harass our customers,” said Steven E. Zipperstein, vice president and general counsel of Verizon Wireless. “Whatever the method, these unlawful telemarketing calls are an annoyance to our customers and invade their privacy, and we will continue to use every weapon in our legal arsenal to stop this activity and protect our customers.”

In the lawsuit, Verizon Wireless says that, beginning in January 2008, more than 2 million of its customers and employees received calls on their wireless telephones with a pre-recorded voice message indicating that the recipient’s car warranty was about to expire, and encouraging them to press “1” for more information. When a recipient presses “1”, he or she is connected to a person who asks for the make and model of the car. However, if the recipient asks for information about the company offering the policy, the representative simply hangs up and ends the call.

The lawsuit alleges violations of the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which makes it illegal to use an autodialer to make calls to wireless phones, as well as state fraud and privacy laws. By filing the lawsuit, Verizon Wireless will be able to use the discovery process to help identify the currently unknown telemarketers, and to get them to halt their practices.

Verizon Wireless’ record of protecting customer privacy puts the company at the forefront of the U.S. wireless industry. Over the past several years, Verizon Wireless has won permanent injunctions against individuals and companies that have engaged in illegal telemarketing and text message spamming to Verizon Wireless customers, and against those who have attempted to obtain information about Verizon Wireless customers to sell to third parties.

Finally, someone else has raised a fuss about these annoying calls! Hopefully with the power of Verizon behind it, this suit will put an end to the problem… until they figure out a legal loophole and start back up again.

One of the topics that infiltrates our airwaves, at least during my program, is that of drug abuse. Lately, particularly vicodin, oxy, perkocet, etc… Heck, we’ve even done topics on Poppy Seed Tea. One plauge that we rarely discuss, however, I hear it’s huge in Western Sussex and all across the country for that matter is the scourge of Crystal Meth.

I want you to check out a documentary I caught on Youtube called “Crystal Darkness” — I’m contemplating playing segments of the program on the air in a series. Here’s some information on the documentary from Al Tompkins:

“Originally produced for Reno TV stations in January 2007, “Crystal Darkness” used interviews with addicts from all walks of life, graphic images of the damage done and sobering violent-crime statistics. It also provided a toll-free number for people to get help.

The program that ran on all Reno stations proved so popular, says producer Mike Reynolds, a Reno advertising executive, that other communities sought localized versions of the documentary.

In May in Las Vegas, 50 percent of the households tuned in to the documentary, according Nielsen ratings. In August, 25 stations in five Oregon cities broadcast the documentary, and newspaper reports say the toll-free number was flooded with calls. And in December, San Diego stations blanketed the airwaves.”

Here are the parts of the Documentary from youtube.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five

I took some time to enjoy the wonderful sunshine and take a lunchtime walk around Milford Delaware.  With my trusty camera in hand I snapped these photo gems:

 This is the back of a local doctors office.  It started first as “SSV”  (South Side Vatos), then the other groups sought to mark the territory with the “18″ and the “crown” plus all the other garbage on top.

ESA appears around town usually near or over top of SSV.  Here is a blurb from Yahoo Answers:

When a gang member calls another gang member an “Esa” or “SA” What does it mean?
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
It is written ESE because it is the sound of the letter S in Spanish. S for sureano meaning southerner! It is often used by gang members(Mexican American/Chicanos) mostly in California to refer to their fellow members or friends. It is not, however, used by Mexicans in Mexico nor is it typically used by Mexicans that move to the US. They will be very offended by the term! The word can also be offensive if you are not Hispanic. (It is like using the N word for a friend and you are not black!) Do not assume all Hispanics are Mexican or that all Mexican use this word so my advice is not to use it!

My husband and both brother in laws HATE this word and they are from Mexico!

Can you translate any of this?

No it’s not the movie from the 80’s called “Goonies”.  More gang stuff.  Not sure if it’s a Crip subset or a Blood subset.  I find different meanings on the net. 

“F Crips” “Goonies” “Blood For Life”  So, maybe these are Bloods, saying “F” the Crips?

This is a large sized spray paint area, maybe 15′ X 20′.  Near the library and behind an arcade.

Large on side of a house.  South Side Vatos

It’s nice to see the city with so much “art on display”. 

Good ol’ East Coast Mafia

I have more…but you get the picture.  I hope Milford gets the picture too, and starts a clean up campaign. 

 

 

 

It’s been over one year since she was shot in broad daylight, in her home just outside of Rehoboth Beach.  The two witnesses, Paula’s son and his female friend have not talked to the press.  Last week Paula’s father pulled the $100,000 reward. 

Today he gives us this statement:  (bold is my emphasis)

Press Release Statement:
Mr. Fran J. Grossi
19606 Coastal Highway, suite 102
Rehoboth Beach, De.  19971
Date:  February 11, 2008
Re:  Paula Grossi Murder, January 26, 2007
I have chosen to withdraw the $100,000.00 reward offer for the murderers of my daughter, Paula F. Grossi, murdered January 26, 2007.
It has been over a year since her horrific murder without an arrest.  I never had any confidence in the accuracy of the composite sketch of one of the murderers released to the public in February 2007.  It is very difficult to get an exact sketch of a person in the manner it is done, so I am told.
From February 2007 to February 2008 there has been over 50 leads documented and a number of these leads are presently under investigation.
We have hired a highly professional private investigation company consisting of ex-F.B.I. agents.  These agents will have the flexibility of unethical actions verses the Delaware State Police’s ethical actions and the freedom to travel, etc, plus feeding each other information, a helping hand could go a long way.
This hiring has no reflection on the Delaware State Police what so ever.  At this time we need all the help we can get to apprehend these murderers.
I know there are many doubts and questions out there about my grandson being involved in his Mother’s murder and/or why two-(2) witnesses were left unharmed.  My grandson is innocent of any involvement, but the question of the unharmed witnesses still remains.
 

Sincerely,
Fran J. Grossi

 

Many people have asked about the fate of the children left behind when Christine Sheddy vanished in the Pokomoke City area Nov 13, 2007.  Christine has three children; two of them, (the young boys who were with her in Maryland) are now staying with their father Levi Hall, and his mother Joyce Hall in Milford, Delaware. 

I was surprised to learn this detail after Friday’s Dan Gaffney Show broadcast; surprised because Joyce Hall is an employee of WGMD radio.  She placed a note in my mailbox at work explaining she is Levi’s mother, and she and Levi are caring for the children.  Talk about hitting close to home!

I feel so sad for all the players involved in this story.  My heart breaks for Christine’s mother Lynn Dodenhoff of Bowers Beach who explained on the air Saturday, “I know, I know she is dead”.  Christine’s sister tells me via e-mail that she has just about lost all hope that Christine will be found alive.  Friends and family continue to ask for more news and co-operation from the police in Maryland. It is my wish you will somehow be able to find at least a moment of peace this Christmas to free you from the turmoil you are facing. 

We had some news that the FBI may be getting involved after our broadcast on Friday, but we are still waiting on “official” news of this from the police.  I must say I am also surprised the Delaware Sate Police are not talking about assisting in this case that remains officially just a “missing person” story.

This story has “foul play” written all over it.

Here is a link to the first blog post on the story.

Here is a link to a missing flyer that contains several pictures of Christine.

 

Christine Sheddy has been missing from our area since November 13, 2007.

WGMD Report:

A reward is being offered for information that leads to finding Christine Marie Sheddy, who has been missing since last month. Sheddy is 27 years old, about 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. She went missing on Nov. 13, and at that time Sheddy had blond, shoulder-length hair. Sheddy and her two young sons were staying with her mother at her Bowers Beach home. Sheddy told her mother she was going to Pocomoke to visit a couple she met through her boyfriend, who is the father of her children. Anyone with information about Sheddy should contact the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation or the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Those numbers – 410-352-3476 or 410-632-1111.

The Maryland Coast Dispatch gives us this detail

Sheddy left her Bowers Beach, Del. home on Nov. 13 with her two sons, ages two and four, in tow to visit a couple in Pocomoke she had met earlier through her boyfriend. Sheddy remained behind with her two sons at the Pocomoke residence while the couple went to pick up their own children at school.
When the couple returned, Sheddy was gone and her two boys were left home alone. Sheddy was supposed to have returned to her Bowers Beach residence on Nov. 17. She was reported missing, touching off a search throughout the county and beyond. According to reports, Sheddy’s two sons are now staying with their father.

The couple is only known to me as “Tia and Junior”.  Family and friends tell me Christine had only recently met “Tia and Junior”.  I have also learned the couple has left the property where the disappearance happened and are living elsewhere in the area.

The girls mother Lynn Dodenhoff tells me her missing daughter will turn 27 years old Saturday.  I have interviewed friends, and family and other acquaintances of Christine; no on has heard from her.
 

Christine’s Myspace page.

Boyfriend and children’s father Levi’s Myspace page.

Tia’s Myspace page?

from WGMD News:

The man known as the Bi-state shooter, Allison Lamont Norman, has been sentenced to death. Sussex County Superior Court Judge T. Henley Graves took the jury’s recommendation that Norman should die by lethal injection. Norman went on a shooting spree that began in Laurel with the death of 24 year old Jamell Weston and ended in Salisbury – with a total of two dead and 4 injured. Lethal injection in Delaware is currently on hold until a class-action lawsuit on behalf of death row inmates

A juror for the trial called my radio show yesterday to give her reaction to the verdict. Although, I felt a little uncomfortable announcing the news on the air of the verdict as she was on the phone with me, we heard her reaction live. This juror, I believe her name was Marianne, called the program a few months ago as well. You know, after her original call, I think a lot about that experience. I guess you could say, her story kind of haunted me a little bit. The idea of sitting on a jury in a case that horrible, I know that it would stay with me. Heck, I can’t even watch too many episodes of CSI without feeling it. Here’s the audio from her most recent call in… listen to her story… at times it’s hard to listen to, but, it’ll stay with you.

Juror Call-In

Delaware blogger Hube at The Colossus of Rhodey, does a great job dissecting the News Journal’s ridiculous policy of withholding race descriptions of wanted criminals.  One of my favorite soap box topics.  Read it here. 

There’s a cadre of evil operating in Sussex County… Cronyism… Good Ole Fellas… Liars, Hypocrites, Backstabbers…. People who are making, under the seams, life a very ugly thing in Sussex County. If you look deep enough below the surface, these people will present themselves…. They’re the ones that have little secret meetings, gossips, whiners…and are just generally unpleasant…. Could the current sheriff and his minions be amongst this select group? According to former sheriff deputy and candidate for State Representative, Kirk Pope, Yes.

The Neuberger Firm sent a letter out today claiming that Kirk Pope was fired from his post as sheriff for running for office against Pete Schwartzkopf, for being a republican, and for supporting former Sheriff Reed.

They claim Schwartzkopf blackballed and “put the word out” against Pope. They claim Sheriff Swanson belittled Pope’s military service and told him that there were going to be some changes because “I know you were loyal” to Sheriff Reed. They claim Sheriff Swanson told other Sheriff’s Office employees that they should vote “better,” meaning vote democrat.

Attorney Thomas Neuberger says that Swanson “believes he is above the law.” Attorney Stephan Neuberger calls Swanson a “renegade public official.”

So why does this apply, you thought Delaware was a hire-at-will state… Apparently, that doesn’t apply to elected officials… According to the Neuberger Firm:

Thirty-one years ago, the Supreme Court held that the First Amendment barred the newly elected Democratic Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois from firing his Deputy sheriff’s because of their political affiliations and activities.

Stephan Neuberger says that if it applied to Cook County, it applies to Sussex County.

I talked to Stephen Neuberger today to explain the details around this potential lawsuit… For everyone interested in the future of Sussex County, I urge you to listen to the below interview.

ATTORNEY S. NEUBERGER DISCUSSES POPE AND SWANSON (08-15-07 10:35am)

READ the Press Release and Complaint HERE.