The Daily Times from Salisbury, Maryland • 19

ui Sunday, December 30, 2007 THt DAILY TIMES B5 www.DelmarvaNow.com Worcester Events thrast county into national spotlight Fetal remains discovery, business concerns dominate year's news By Earl Holland tall Writer The Ocean City Council voted to place a moratorium on Issuing business licenses to sexually oriented stores. In June, Worcester County Commissioners passed a bill imposing zoning restrictions on adult entertainment businesses and placed a moratorium on permits for the businesses until the end of the year. Snow Hill followed by unanimously passing a nine-month moratorium In September. Trimper Ride Amusements For more than "115 years, Trimpers has been a fixture on the Ocean City Boardwalk. As a result of escalating property values and rising overhead costs, 2007 looked like it was going to be the last time many would get to enjoy the rides.

velopmental Center in Newark. The center provided develop-mentally challenged adults with employment training, job placement and enrichment programs. Shortly after the fire, area agencies and organizations came to the aid of the WCDC to raise money to help the center resume operations. In October, the center announced It was able to find a temporary location in Snow Hill's Market Street area in order to serve its more than 90 clients. This feat was accomplished in part by the efforts of several civic groups that raised more than $130,000 in donations.

On Dec. 10, the 8000-square-foot substitute facility equipped with four work areas and a kitchen opened. Aba Plnoa fht photo Matt Adams of Master Systems walks around what is left of the Worcester County Developmental Center in September after firefighters had to demolish the building in order to put out a blaze. Adams was there to try to recover the building's computers. In October, the center announced it was able to find a temporary location in Snow Hill's Market Street area in order to serve its more than 90 clients.

SALISBURY Worcester County had Its share of events, some thrusting it into the national spotlight in 2007. From the disturbing discovery of four dead fetuses in Ocean City to the ongoing saga involving Trimper Rides Amusements and the curbing of adult-themed businesses, as well as the heartbreaking story of the destruction and rebuilding of the Worcester County Developmental Center, 2007 was a year to remember In the county. The county was also visited by federal agents who raided businesses and residences in connection with alleged money laundering and immigration violations. It was also during this year that a Baltimore man was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison after murdering his girlfriend in West Ocean City. West OC murder Worcester County's year started out in a way no one expected with the January murder of Pamela Balk at her parent's West Ocean City home by her boyfriend, Gregory Stokes, 30, of Baltimore.

Initially, the murder was discovered after Stokes was involved in a motor vehicle crash while allegedly drunken driving. After police had stopped Stokes, they were informed of the murder by a tip from a former classmate of Stokes who said he had confessed to killing Balk. Stokes shot Balk to death while she slept, after a night of partying with drugs and alcohol, brutally beat Balk's dog and stole and wrecked Balk's father's car in Salisbury, police said. After originally pleading not criminally responsible by reason of insanity in June, Stokes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated cruelty to animals and was sentenced to 33 years in prison. Federal Agent Raids Nearly a dozen people were taken into federal custody after immigration agents performed raids on county businesses and residences.

In the early morning hours of Sept. 20, five men Mohammad Riaz Gujjar, Mohammad Ijaz, Javid Iqbal Aqeel Khalid and Zakir Mahmood, all of Snow Hill were arrested as part of the culmination of a four-year undercover investigation into illegal activities, including charges of money laundering, bribing public officials and operating unlicensed money transmission businesses. A week later, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents performed an early morning raid at the Miyako Sushi Seafood Buffet and Panda China Buffet Restaurants in West Ocean City and apprehended six suspected illegal immigrants. Adult-themed businesses Adult-oriented businesses became a major issue after the March opening of the Ocean City store SexStyle. Shortly after the store opened, a domino effect was triggered throughout the county and the Lower Shore to prevent more openings of similar businesses.

Since 2004, the amusement park's value has increased from $24 million to nearly $80 million, causing property taxes for the venue to jump by more than $520,000. Seeking help, Trimpers wrote letters to all levels of government asking for a tax assessment appeal, before receiving a promise by Gov. Martin O'Malley that he would look into finding ways to help the park continue to flourish. In October, the park announced It would be open for the summer of 2008. Earlier this month, the Town Council voted to support Trimpers as the business seeks legislation to include its three-block complex in a Historic Amusement Tax District, which would result in significant tax savings.

Christy Freeman Worcester County made national headlines after FBI agents were called in to investigate why four dead fetuses were found at the Ocean City home of Christy Freeman, a local taxi driver. Police searched Freeman's house after the Department of Social Services had been alerted. Freeman, who was pregnant, was examined at a hospital but had no child in her womb. She was arrested after the discovery of the first fetus in her apartment, but the biggest revelation was the uncovering of another fetus, this one estimated to be about three years old. Freeman was then said to have confessed to police that she gave birth to twins in 2004 and had allegedly drowned one of the babies.

In August, Worcester County State's Attorney Joel Todd announced a dismissal of the first- and second-degree murder and manslaughter charges stemming from the 2004 incident. In doing so, he reintroduced a single first-degree murder charge. On Sept. 19, Todd had the charge against Freeman dropped after the state Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the children were believed to be stillborn and not murdered. After the charges were dropped, Freeman said she was deliberating whether to file a lawsuit against the Ocean City Police Department and the Worcester County State's Attorney's Office.

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A1 Sees- and at see marts renamed herein are trademarks of Wetetual Property araVor ATM afhuated companies. Mm Ptooa IHa photo Since 2004, rising property values led property taxes for Trimper Rides and Amusements to jump by more than $520,000, causing the company to raise concerns about its future. In October, the park announced it would be open next summer. Earlier this month, the Town Council voted to support Trimpers as the business seeks legislation to include its three-block complex in a Historic Amusement Tax District, which would result in significant tax savings. 1 ft A ma tri -Ti ft a iwn.