Published: June 03, 2007 10:54 am         

Lack of backseat cage put trooper at risk

Maryland State Police higher-ups surely already have thought of this, but after a trooper was nearly shot and killed by an unruly passenger last Sunday, all police cruisers should be equipped with caged rear seats.

Tpr. Christopher Toey sustained contusions and abrasions to his head and face after being attacked by a pedestrian. He found the man walking on Interstate 68 near Exit 62 (Fifteen Mile Creek Road) and gave him a ride. By the time they reached the Flintstone area, the man began striking the policeman in the face and then reached for Toey’s pistol. The weapon discharged, firing through the seat right next to Toey’s leg.

While Toey followed protocol and had the man seated beside him, the procedures should be changed so that passengers are behind a cage and troopers are out of harm’s way.

In fact, cages would be a good idea for all police cruisers — not just the state police....

Although traffic backups over the Memorial Day holiday weren’t as bad as feared, it still makes you wonder why the State Highway Administration decided to start Interstate 68 repairs just before the holiday. To make matters worse, an alternative road for I-68, the old National Highway through LaVale, was also torn up for water and sewer line work, causing delays there.....

With Sam Perlozzo being beaten up in the Baltimore Sun and on Baltimore-area blog sites, maybe it is time for Allegany County and City of Cumberland officials to pass a resolution of support for Sam. It won’t change anything, of course, but at least it shows a display of confidence from Perlozzo’s home town.

Perlozzo, manager of the Baltimore Orioles, has been roundly criticized following some rough times this season. The blame, though, should lay at the feet of the million-dollar players who are letting the Orioles down....

One of the country’s largest yard sales took place yesterday in communities from Baltimore to St. Louis. It was billed the National Road Yard Sale, in commemoration of the National Road that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson envisioned as a road to link east and west, from Cumberland to the Illinois banks of the Mississippi River.

The yard sales have been going on for some years, but, curiously, have never caught on in Cumberland. Maybe next year....

If you think automobiles cause pollution, consider the push-power lawn mower — or worse yet, the riding mower.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, push-power mowers expel as much pollution per hour as 11 cars do. And riding mowers spew as much as 34 autos.

The EPA is proposing a 35 percent reduction in emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide not only from mowers but also leaf blowers, Weed Whackers and chain saws....

Have you noticed how many insensitive people abandon their shopping cart in the parking lot? Worse yet, how about the ones who just leave the cart in a handicapped spot?....

Gov. Ed Rendell wants state legislators to privatize the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He said leasing the turnpike would raise nearly $1 billion a year for the state’s crumbling highway network.

The idea, though, is getting a cool reception. Two-thirds of those responding to a poll in the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat turn a thumbs down to the idea. The newspaper also surveyed truck drivers and found resistance there, too....

While many Maryland residents fume over paying the flush-tax to combat Chesapeake Bay pollution, keeping the Bay clean even affects areas like Bedford, Pa. Bedford Borough has one of 62 treatment plants notified that they must reduce nitrogen and phosphorous flowing downstream to the bay.

The upshot is that Bedford taxpayers may see sewer bills increase 50 percent in the coming years....

Seen on the Internet — More mostly useless facts:

* There are more plastic flamingos in the U.S. than there are real ones.

* The three most recognized Western names in China are Jesus Christ, Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley.

* 5,840 people with pillow-related injuries checked into U.S. emergency rooms in 1992.

* The average woman consumes 6 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime.

* CBS’ “60 Minutes” is the only TV show without a theme song/music.

* Porcupines can float in water.

Jan Alderton is managing editor of the Cumberland Times-News. His email address is jpalderton@times-news.com.