The athletes.

Last night at Baywood Greens was The 27th Annual WGMD Sports Boosters Scholarship Awards where outstanding local high school athletes are honored and given $250 in scholarship money, with two, a boy and a girl, receiving the big award of $1,000 each.

WGMD’s Jared Morris and Dan Gaffney. Jared was broadcasting live from the event and Dan was the Master of Ceremonies.

WGMD’s David Schoumacher and $1,000 scholarship winner Max Coveleski from Cape Henlopen High School

Max Coveleski from Cape Henlopen High School took the big prize for the boys. Max will be heading off to Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he’ll be studying Physics and Engineering. AUDIO

Ellen Rowe, $1,000 Scholarship winner from Sussex Tech and WGMD’s David Schoumacher.

Ellen Rowe from Sussex Tech won the $1,000 award for the girls. Ellen will be off to St. Joe’s in Philadelphia. AUDIO

The Hockers from Hocker’s G&E and Hocker’s Supercenter, and the Coveleskis, Max’s parents.

Pastor Gary Knapp from the East Gate Presbyterian Church and his wife Alisa. Pastor Gary opened and closed the event.

The Lawson’s from DryZone are our newest Sports Boosters.

Our sales team. Athletic? Maybe….

Larry Bauer, the keynote speaker, and Jack Renault, WGMD’s General Manager.

Lesley Rogan from Peninsula Rehab and Sports Medicine and Linda Wilson from WGMD.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR OUTSTANDING LOCAL ATHLETES!

The Athletes:

Cape Henlopen High School:
Christine MacDonald
*Max Coveleski

Delmarva Christian:
Rachel Lins

Lake Forest:
Abigail Hill
Leland Hobbs

Milford:
Rhonda Thomas
Joel Sullivan

Stephen Decatur:
Allison Justice
Logan West

Sussex Tech:
*Ellen Rowe
Zachary Rickards

Delmar:
Alison Bloodsworth

Indian River:
Brittany Steele
Luke Wingate

Laurel:
Kelsy Ann Gordy
David Bartee

Seaford:
Kelsey Riggleman
Andrew Halter

Sussex Central:
Christin Headley
Ronald Lee Tyndall

Woodbridge:
Sarah Judy
Reuss Idler

 

SUBTITLE: Sorry, Mike, No TV For You

Dissed by public television.

WHYY’s Delaware Tonight gave alleged gubernatorial candidate Mike Protack the boot from their Friday night line up because he hasn’t filed the papers or paid the fee to run for the office yet:

“Mr. Protack had assured WHYY he would file the papers before tonight’s interview. However, according to the department of elections, and confirmed by the candidate Mr. Protack has not filed papers making his candidacy bonafide.” ~ WHYY’s Nancy Karibjanian

You can watch the smackdown HERE.

I went to the Delaware Republican Party’s Convention this weekend at the Baycenter in Dewey Beach and it was quite a treat. I think the best way to give you the feeling of the Convention is with pictures and audio, and maybe a story or two…(if you see someone’s name highlighted, click on it and you’ll get their audio)….

Priscilla Rakestraw (left) and Michele Rollins.I had to put this picture on the top of the page, because it’s my favorite picture from the entire event. It’s Priscilla Rakestraw, the State’s Republican National Committeewoman, and Michele Rollins, who I would love to see run for office someday soon. (I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t see Michele Rollins turning the State’s serious pollution problems into a joke by wading out into the bay and staring at her Keds, and she’d kick butt on healthcare.)


From left to right this is Clerk of the Peace George Parish and his wife Bunny, Charlotte Hastings and her husband, 41st District Representative Greg Hastings.

Friday night I sat with a table of fine Sussex Countians, right in between Judson Bennett and Representative Ben Ewing. The picture above was the good looking side of the table. I kind of noticed that there were a lot of people wearing “Tim Smith” stickers where I was sitting. Tim Smith won the vote in Sussex County over Christine O’Donnell 44-35, but it was the Northern part of the State that gave her the endorsement to run for the Senate against Joe Biden. Pretty interesting considering O’Donnell got the majority of her write-in votes in 2006 from Sussex. O’Donnell needed 60% of the vote and she got 60.7%. Smith said he would stick to his promise to not primary O’Donnell.


41st District Representative Greg Hastings and US Senate Candidate Christine O’Donnell.

The “Draft Bill Lee” movement was successful, with Judge William Lee receiving over 80% of the vote to win the endorsement from the Delaware State Republican Party to run for Governor over Mike Protack. Judge Lee was in Orlando on vacation with members of his family, and was expected to happily accept the honor.


“Brud” Lee, speaking to the Convention after his father was endorsed by the Party to run for Governor.   

“I’m sure he’ll be as honored as I feel, personally, that his ideals and his name is thought of in such high regard by republicans.” ~ Brud Lee, son of Judge Bill Lee 

 

State Senator Charlie Copeland accepting the Party’s endorsement for Lt. Governor.

Delaware Republican State Chairman, Terry Strine, stepped down as party head after losing his National Committeeman seat the previous night to Laird Stabler by a 40-35 vote. Tom Ross, a New Castle County Republican, will be taking Strine’s place in the top spot.


The new Delaware Republican Party Chairman, Tom Ross

I asked the new Party Chair if he was the fighter the Delaware Republican Party needed right now:   

“I have no problem fighting. Anyone that knows me would be glad to let you know that I’m not afraid to mix it up. But we’re going to run a very aggressive, vigorous campaign because quite frankly, in a nutshell, we’re right on the issues and the other side has broken this state.” ~ New Delaware State GOP Chair, Tom Ross 

 

4th Senatorial District Candidate Michael Fleming

And how could I not mention Michael Fleming, (aka “Michael Flemming”), who’s running for Charlie Copeland’s seat in the 4th Senatorial District? I went to college with Michael, and thankfully, people thought he was older than me. That’s really why I’m mentioning him, and he knows it.

“‘Cause I love Sussex Countians.” ~ Clerk of the Peace George Parish 

That was the quote that made the entire Convention totally worth it. 

Heard this morning on the WGMD Dan Gaffney morning show - “Dover” by John Flynn of Hockessin

Hear it again - John Flynn - MySpace

John Flynn website

Here are the lyrics -

Dover                                    By John Flynn

 Elijah was a sergeant, 42 years old
from Mesa Arizona, Elijah won’t grow old
Patrick was with C Troop, Second Armored Cav
His buddies all remember how Patrick loved to laugh
Seth was from East Brunswick, just a newly wed
Somewhere in New Jersey a young widow bows her head
Daniel was from Boston shipped out from Fort Bragg
His mother got back Daniel with a folded flag  

Chorus:
Oh big airplane bring’em down easy
Out of the Delaware skies
Oh big airplane Dover is waiting
to welcome the  heroes you fly… home

William was in Anbar, combat engineer
1^st Marine Division, William isn’t here
Alan rebuilt bridges for Battalion B
Next to cause of death they wrote the letters I E D
Gussie was a scrub nurse hailing from Fort Bliss
Gussie had a spirit this world’s gonna miss
Jeremiah’s son cries on his mamma’s knee
There was no armor plating on his dad’s humvee

Chorus 

Scrubbed wooden pallets with white straps cinched over
Long boxes of flag draped aluminum
The C-5 is crowded when it lands in Dover
The honor guard boards and makes room again

Making straight for Nineveh, just like Jonah’s whale
Holy truth you swallow, overseas you sail
Precious is the cargo sacred was the gift
offered in the sandstorm from which your wings lift
Those who would pay homage can’t watch you set down
Behind barbed wire sentries miles from their town
No one breathes to question this silent parade
Except for the anguished loved ones left to say

© 2005 Flying Stone Music

That’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Protack in the back of the crowd and to the left with the moustache. He was the only candidate for governor who bothered to show up at a wind power rally in Rehoboth Beach last November, though all of the candidates claim to support it.

With all of the hoopla today surrounding the GOP candidate for Governor, I asked Mike Protack, the Republican who’s sure that he’s running for the job, to give me his thoughts on the day:

” I wish Alan Levin the best in his personal and business endeavors. Leaving a race or getting in a race is a difficult decision which requires 100% focus and personal dedication. Since I entered this race I have demonstrated the perseverance and results it takes to run and win and I believe the future of Delaware will be better if we address the premiere issues of health care, education and economic growth. Those issues and my proposals are resounding very well within the Republican party and voters all over the state because both want a leader with a voice for the future . I look forward to the campaign within the Republican Party and in the fall with the eventual Democratic victor.”

You can check out Mike Protack’s blog, A Better Deal For Delaware HERE, and you can listen to my interview with Mike HERE. And if you need to see a little more, you can check out his 2008 campaign website HERE.

Steve Forbes won the Delaware Republican Primary in 1996. .

“You know the old joke, when Bill Gates goes into a bar, the average net worth of a patron goes up 2 billion dollars,” quipped Steve Forbes in a speech he delivered to the Delaware Republican Party Saturday night at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner. And while other sites may have flashy video of his speech, all I have is AUDIO of it, and my own interview with Steve Forbes. (And yeah, I ask him if Rudy is broke).

Forbes spoke about his relationship to Rudy Guiliani’s presidential campaign, “I’m one of the co-chairs of his campaign and senior policy advisor and saw first hand what he did in New York City and was very impressed with the major things he did there.” AUDIO

I asked Forbes if Giuliani supported his idea of a flat tax for Americans and he told me a little about where Giuliani stands on taxation. “He’s a backer of radical simplification of the tax codes,” according to Forbes and he went on to say that Giuliani is “proposing the biggest tax cut in American history.” AUDIO

We talked about the race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and Forbes said the race would be a “fierce one,” but predicted that Obama would win South Carolina. AUDIO

And finally, is the Guiliani presidential campaign in financial trouble? Well, not according to Forbes, “No, they’re focusing resources on Florida…They have over $7 million on hand.” AUDIO

Congresman Mike Castle introduces 1996 and 2000 Republican Presidential candidate Steve Forbes.

The Delaware Republican Party held it’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday night in Dover and I was lucky enough to go, and to get a few interviews. Let’s start with Congressman Mike Castle. I asked him about the event that brought him and his wife to Dover.

“I wouldn’t miss this dinner, it’s become the biggest Republican dinner of the year. AUDIO

We also talked about the upcoming Presidential election. Castle has endorsed Senator John McCain from Arizona, who like Castle, is considered a “moderate.”

I’ve endorsed Senator McCain. I felt going into it that he was the person most qualified to lead the country…He is the absolute right person to lead the country. AUDIO

I also asked him about Senator Joe Biden’s run for president, and Castle said that a lack of media coverage may have contributed to the end of Biden’s bid. AUDIO

And he had this to say about Biden’s experience compared to the rest of the democratic field:

His campaign achieved a lot more than showed in the results…I give Joe credit for running a good campaign. At least he has some achievements in the United States Senate, too. AUDIO

Was that a shot at Senators Obama, Clinton and Edwards? Well, yes.

I think the Republican candidates are a collection of individuals who are good leaders, as opposed to the Democrats who essentially are members of the United States Senate, none of whom have much in the way of achievement. AUDIO

Ouch.

Every December media outlets recap their favorite and/or biggest stories for the year. In that same tradition, I’ve decided to put up some of my favorite blog pictures of the year and 10 posts I’ve made that I feel changed the course of world history and, of course, saved all of humanity.

My Favorite Pictures of 2007

A beautiful day at Tower Road.

A Civil War Reenactment during Milton’s 200th Anniversary.

Governor Ruth Ann Minner running away from me and out of the Georgia House in Millsboro the night of the 41st District special election.

Even after his resignation from the State House for ethics issues, John Atkins’ supporters launched a failed write in campaign to send him back to Dover. His campaign signs cropped up all over the 41st.

The table where Laura Bush ate breakfast at the Royal Treat on Wilmington Avenue in Rehoboth Beach.

The Cohen brothers, they found the ill fated Rissos dolphin washed up at Tower Road.

The Rissos dolphin dying on the beach at Tower Road.

The SINKING South Side approach of the “new” Indian River Inlet bridge and the road it tried to pull down with it.

John Andretti, I met him. How cool.

The “Dic Dang” sandwich at the Corner Market Bistro in Milton.

Lighting the balloons up like lanterns during Milton’s 200th Anniversary celebration.

Joe Biden talking about Iraq at Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue.

Jared Morris and Dan Gaffney having fun at the Best of Delaware celebration in Dover. (And yes, Dan always has that light shining above him, it’s the most amazing thing…).

The French invade Rehoboth Beach.

Disheveled Barbies from Washington DC spotted loitering on Columbia Avenue after their Dream House furniture was recalled.

Dr Wray and Stell Parker Selby changing seats at the Cape Henlopen School Board meeting in December after Wray resigned the Presidency.

My Favorite Posts of 2007

# Ten: Your Sussex County Council

# Neuf: The French visit Rehoboth

# Eight: The Atkins Scandal

# Seven: The Indian River Inlet Bridge

# Six: Biden at Browseabout Books

# Five: European Football

# Four: Laura Bush visits Rehoboth Beach

# Three: My interview with John Andretti

# Two: Toy Recalls

# One: The Global Warming

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden seen during an August 2007 press conference in West Rehoboth.

We covered the press conference in West Rehoboth when Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden announced he would “aggressively pursue” the “newly enhanced Drug Nuisance and Social Vices Abatement Act,” and now we’re seeing the results.

A property in West Rehoboth is the “first residential property in Delaware to be judicially declared a nuisance under the Nuisance Abatement Act.” According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office:

In his ruling Judge T. Henley Graves ordered that several conditions must be met within 15 days, including:

- Any tenant on the property besides the property owners must be evicted

- Two apartments on the property must be vacated and shuttered

- Only the property owners and a limited number of specific family members are permitted on the property at any time

- Signs must be posted stating that loitering, trespassing, and illegal drug sales are prohibited

Biden’s DOJ also filed another lawsuit against a neighboring house. The Act allows the State to take action against properties declared a “nuisance.” Actions can include “closing” or even bulldozing a property.

Back from a few days off, and running to a live broadcast at Browseabout Books, I wanted to quickly post this shocking information found in our comments section.  More to come…

1. BCCI Says:
   December 5th, 2007 at 9:15 pm e 

   Scott A. Quillen age 36 passed away Dec 2 from surgery complications. He was a frequent poster on the WGMD forums known as “Carnifex”.

   Scott worked in IT for Delaware State Police and was owner of DelmarvaMotorcycling.com. As motorcyclist he was Ride Captain for
   Patriot Guard Mission to honor Marine Cpl. Corey Palmer

   Visitation is 5 DEC from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. where anyone that wants to pay their respects can do so.

   The funeral services will be held on 6 DEC starting at 12:00pm.

   The Hastings Funeral Home
   19 S. Main Street
   Selbyville, DE 19975