From: W. Ray Huff
Delegate, District 31
My office has received numerous phone calls concerning the cuts that have been proposed in the area of education. However, there seemsto be a lot of confusion about what actually may be cut.
In the legislation that was passed, there was also an amendment to House Bill20 which states: "Any reduction to appropriations for a county boardas defined in Section 1-101 of the Education Article authorized by subsection (a) of this section may not eliminate any position responsible for classroom instruction or reduce funds supporting related instructional materials and equipment."
I hope this helps clarify the fact that no position responsible for classroom instruction may eliminated; neither may funds used for instructional materials and equipment be reduced. Thank you for your assistance on this important issue.
GLORIFYING SATAN
From: Julie Jabaay
Pasadena
I found the article, "All Hallow's is a spellbinding Eve for practicing witches," by Angela Gambill in the Oct. 31 issue (Anne Arundel County Sun) disgusting. Ms. Gambill obviously intended to glorify Satan, his witches, his demons and his message.
God warns us, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour," in Peter 5:8.
I pray that God have mercy on you and Ms. Gambill. Readers, I pray that you will not bedeceived or "devoured." "For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds" (II Corinthians 14-15).
NO WIDESPREAD CHEATING
From: Richard Novotny
Executive Director
Maryland Saltwater Fishermen's Association
The Maryland Saltwater Fishermen's Association (MSSA) is the largest sportfishing organization in Maryland. The MSSA has been recognized by Maryland's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as well as the Department of the Environment as the official voice of the recreational angler in our fair state. Our organization has also testified as an expert witness at many hearings in Annapolisbefore the General Assembly, the Department of Natural Resources andalso before congressional hearings. Several of our members representthe MSSA on many of the advisory boards in the DNR such as the Sportfish Advisory Board, Striped Bass Advisory Board, Boating Safety Advisory Board, Potomac River Finfish Advisory Board and the Living Resources Subcommittee, to name just a few.
The MSSA felt compelled to bring to your attention a matter of importance to our organization and Maryland sportfishermen. We have received numerous phone calls fromour membership, which is over 7,000, referencing your (Anne Arundel County Sun) "Outdoors" column written by Capt. Bob Spore.
On Friday, November 1, 1991, and Sunday, November 3, 1991, in your "Outdoors"column, Capt. Bob Spore made some serious innuendos and statements concerning wide-scale cheating by recreational fishermen during the striped bass fishing season. The MSSA would like to go on record with the Maryland Marine Police, who stated at the Matapeake meeting that avery small percentage of cheating was conducted during the striped bass fishery.
I have enclosed a copy of their report with this letter. As you can see, the marine police checked over 26,000 fishermen and only issued 91 citations and 249 warnings. How can Capt. Spore make a statement of widespread cheating when this material was furnishedto him at the Matapeake meeting? Why didn't Capt. Spore print the results of the Enforcement Summary of the marine police?
The StripedBass Advisory Board members did not whitewash any complaints about cheating by recreational fishermen, as Capt. Spore alludes to. This issue was addressed by the board, and after hearing and seeing hard evidence presented by the marine police, the board concluded that cheating was not widespread or rampant.
Capt. Spore mentions in his Sunday column that one of the recreational representatives of the Advisory Board took five trips during the season with 20 different people. Out of the dozens of boats that your good captain saw, how many of them had the exact same crews each day? How could Capt. Spore recognize each boat and that each member of the boat was the same day after day? Capt. Buddy Harrison, a charter boat captain at the Matapeake meeting, and a representative of the Advisory Board, admitted to the boardthat he may have seen the same boat fishing on several occasions during the season, but did not know if the same crew was on board each day! Why didn't Capt. Spore print Capt. Harrison's comments in his column?
The MSSA feels that Capt. Spore is out of control and out of touch with the recreational fishermen of Maryland. His column is to inform recreational fishermen instead of chastising them. Capt. Spore,as a reporter, should cover a story objectively instead of representing his own interest as a charter boat captain, which we feel is verybiased.
We feel that Maryland anglers are more interested in learning how to fish or where to fish rather that to hear how much money Bob lost as a charter boat captain because the Department of Natural Resources cut the season short due to the charter boat quota being obtained.
We further feel that Capt. Spore has a personal vendetta toward the MSSA, which stems form our Annual Bluefish Tournament, which is only open to professional fishermen. Charter boat captains and professional mates are not allowed to enter this tournament.
Over the past two years, Capt. Spore has taken the MSSA's name and slung itinto the mud on many occasions. I have enclosed three of many articles that Capt. Spore has written that were detrimental to the MSSA without just cause. I have also enclosed a rebuttal that appeared in Tidelines, our monthly newsletter, which was sent to our members.
TheMSSA is getting very tired of having to defend ourselves because of Capt. Spore's rhetoric. We would hope that in the future, Capt. Sporewill print factual statements for the recreational fishermen in Maryland and use his column as an outdoor column rather than a personal editorial column.