Mikulski release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
16-Oct-2009
CONTACT: Press Office
202-228-1122
Mikulski Announces More Than $15 Million for U.S. Army Corps Eastern Shore Projects, Bay Priorities in Appropriations Bill
WASINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced Senate passage of the 2010 Energy and Water Development Conference Report. The bill includes more than $15 million for Eastern Shore priorities. It now heads to the President to be signed into law.

“The Chesapeake Bay is part of who we are as Marylanders – it is part of our heritage and part of our culture – and it’s our greatest natural resource. This funding is a federal investment in the lives and livelihoods that depend on the Bay,” Senator Mikulski said. “I will continue to fight to keep the Bay and Eastern Shore communities priorities in the federal checkbook.”

The bill includes:

• $8 million for the continuation of the Poplar Island environmental restoration project, which involves taking clean dredged materials from the shipping lanes leading to the Port of Baltimore and using it to stabilize the shoreline, create habitat areas, and restore the wetlands of one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most valuable island ecosystems in Talbot County.

• $2.9 million for storm protection on Maryland’s Atlantic Coast to safeguard Ocean City and Worcester County from hurricanes, coastal flooding and erosion. This project protects the residents of the County as well as billions of dollars in public and private infrastructure and jobs.

• $2 million for the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration program to continue efforts to increase the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay by restoring oyster habitat, creating new reefs, and planting disease-free oysters on the reefs.

• $656,000 to dredge the Ocean City Harbor and Inlet in Worcester County. The Ocean City Harbor and Inlet serves several packing houses, offshore commercial fishing fleets, marinas and recreational vessels. It also is port for a U.S. Coast Guard station that dispatches search and rescues missions to the Atlantic.

• $1 million for dredging of Somerset County Channels to maintain the proper depth and width required in waterways to support the livelihood of the local watermen and the seafood industry.

• $800,000 for Assateague Island in Worcester County for restoration efforts that will protect the northern end of the island and its fragile habitat from erosion.

• $314,000 for the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Study, which is examining the potential beneficial use of placing clean dredged material from the Port of Baltimore’s shipping channels to restore the habitat and protect the shoreline of James and Barren Islands in Dorchester County.

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MSP release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2009

STATE POLICE HELICOPTER BASE TO MOVE FROM CENTREVILLE TO EASTON

(Easton, MD) – Citing an increase in safety as the number one reason, officials at the Maryland State Police today announced the helicopter based in Centreville will be moving to a hangar at the Easton Airport.

With a call-sign of “Trooper 6,” the Maryland State Police medevac helicopter assigned to the Upper Shore will now be based in a hangar at the Easton Airport. The helicopter has been housed in a hangar beside the Centreville Barracks on Rt. 301 in Queen Anne’s County since 1985. The move is expected to be completed by December 2009.

“Since 1985, we have had great relationships with and cooperation from fire and EMS personnel, as well as elected officials in Queen Anne’s County and I appreciate all they have done to support us,” Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police said. “This move is being made only in the interest of safety. The Easton hangar provides a location and airport support that will greatly increase the safety of our helicopter crews as they initiate and return from their lifesaving missions on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”

“The Maryland State Police Aviation Command is an essential component of the Statewide Trauma and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system,” said Robert R. Bass, M.D., Executive Director of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). “MIEMSS supports the Aviation Command’s efforts to ensure that the MSP medevac operations are conducted in the safest and most effective manner possible.”

The Maryland State Police helicopter will be housed in a hangar at the Easton Airport previously used by the Natural Resources Police. That department is no longer in need of the hangar and it was made available to the Maryland State Police Aviation Command.

All six of the other active State Police hangars are located at airports. The Easton Airport facility has several runways that could be used for emergency landings if needed and has airport tower controllers on duty 16 hours each day. The airport has a precision guidance instrument landing system and will soon have radar for air traffic control. None of these safety features are available at the Centreville hangar.

The Easton hangar is less than 14 nautical miles south of the former Centreville hangar, which is a helicopter flight time of six minutes and ten seconds. Major A.J. McAndrew, Commander of the Aviation Command, is assuring residents on the Upper Shore that they will continue to receive outstanding helicopter coverage.

“Relocating Trooper 6 to the Easton Airport will significantly increase the safety of our operations without negatively impacting the services we provide to the citizens of the Upper Shore,” Major McAndrew said. “Trooper 6 will continue to have a prompt response to calls for service on the Upper Shore and will be supported by Trooper 1 in Baltimore and Trooper 4 in Salisbury.”

The move of the hangar for Trooper 6 has been supported by the Maryland State Firemen’s Association and the State EMS Board. The Maryland State Police Aviation Command works closely with the members of these organizations as part of the state’s world renowned integrated emergency medical services system.

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CONTACT: Greg Shipley
Office of Media Communications & Marketing
410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)

MSP release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2009

TROOPERS, ALLIED POLICE SEARCHING FOR JUVENILE ESCAPEE

(White Marsh, MD) The Maryland State Police and allied law enforcement are searching for a juvenile who escaped from custody.

The escapee is identified as Jordan Stephan Dupont, 17, who was being held at the Chesapeake Treatment Center, located on the grounds of the Charles H. Hickey School in Parkville, Maryland. He is an African American male, 5’11” and weighs approximately 197 pounds.

Dupont was last seen running towards I-95 last night in the White Marsh area. He was wearing a white Polo tee shirt and blue jeans. Police believe he could possibly be headed towards the Eastern Shore.

Maryland State Police were contacted at 9:30 p.m. last night by staff members of the Chesapeake Treatment Center who reported Dupont had escaped from custody. Baltimore County Police were also notified and an immediate search of the area was conducted. Maryland State Police K-9 Unit also assisted. The search for the juvenile escapee is ongoing.

Anyone who may have seen Dupont is urged to contact the Maryland State Police at Golden Ring Barrack at 410-780-2700. A photograph is available electronically to all media.

Questions about the circumstances of the escape should be directed to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

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CONTACT: Ms. Elena Russo
Office of Media Communications & Marketing
410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)