Wilmington – In his weekly message, the Governor offers well wishes for the New Year.

“May you have a year of health and happiness,” said Governor Markell. “And may we all continue to work together to make Delaware all that it can be.”

Every Friday, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form.  The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/o6_cfu3UG7U
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/information/podcast_video.shtml
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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Working Together in the New Year

NEW CASTLE (Dec. 27, 2012) – In tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service and as part of the Governor’s Week of Service, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, https://volunteer.delaware.gov and the Blood Bank of Delmarva are collaborating on a statewide hero blood drive beginning Jan. 11 and ending on the national holiday in Dr. King’s name, Jan. 21.

Delaware residents are urged to make an appointment now to donate blood as a way to honor Dr. King and to lend a hand during the Governor’s Week of Service. The blood drive is a call to action based on these words from Dr. King, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Because one pint of blood can save up to three lives, one of the answers clearly is: Donating blood.

“Inspired by Dr. King’s commitment to service, Carla and I encourage eligible Delawareans to make an appointment to donate blood to honor his legacy,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “Taking an hour out of your day to give blood is a simple act that can save someone’s life. For Delawareans committed to serving others, donating blood is one of the most profound ways to demonstrate the power of service.”

First lady Carla Markell, who has made volunteerism one of her cornerstone issues, works closely with https://volunteer.delaware.gov.

“As part of the Governor’s Week of Service, we look forward to working with the Blood Bank to encourage more donors to come forward,” Carla Markell said. “As Dr. King said, ‘Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.’ Donating blood is a wonderful way to serve others in need.”

The statewide call for donors is going out to private companies, nonprofits, state agencies and individuals.

DHSS will host a community mobile blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Springer Building on the Herman Holloway Campus on U.S. 13 near New Castle. On that day, Gov. Markell and first lady Carla Markell will stop by the blood drive to thank donors. DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf looks forward to welcoming the community to the DHSS campus.

“We are happy to serve the community in a new way by hosting a mobile blood drive.” Landgraf said. “We encourage DHSS employees, along with people who live or work near our Holloway Campus, to make an online appointment to donate on Jan. 18. With someone in our country needing blood every two seconds, the MLK Day Blood Drive speaks to our agency’s mission to improve the quality of life for Delaware’s citizens and to protect vulnerable populations.”

To make an appointment today during the MLK Day Hero Blood Drive, including the Jan. 18 mobile blood drive at DHSS’ Holloway Campus, call (888) 8-BLOOD-8 or visit www.delmarvablood.org.

Roy Roper, president and CEO of the Blood Bank of Delmarva, said the reach of the MLK Day Blood Drive is expected to be great.

“Blood Bank of Delmarva is happy to once again participate in this service opportunity for the citizens of Delaware,” Roper said. “We can all learn from the inspiring words and acts of Dr. King. Service to our community, whether it is providing food for those who need it or donating blood, is something that is the right thing to do. Our organization sees this every day. Giving blood is a simple act, yet it has far-reaching implications. It provides peace of mind for the hospitals in our community who are charged with ensuring that their patients have what they need to recover from debilitating illnesses and/or severe trauma. We hope that the lessons learned from Dr. King will inspire those who are able, to give blood, the gift of life.”

Donors who complete a Hero Card will receive a free MLK Day Hero Blood Drive T-shirt. Donors must be between the ages of 17 and 79, with no tattoos or body-piercings within the last 12 months, and have no cold or flu symptoms or recent major surgery. A photo ID (or two other forms of identification) is required. Walk-in donors will be taken as time allows.

For more information about the MLK Day Blood Drive or about additional volunteer opportunities in Delaware, go to www.https://volunteer.delaware.gov
For more information about Blood Bank of Delmarva or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, go to www.delmarvablood.org or call (888) 8-BLOOD-8..

(Smyrna) – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is proud to acknowledge special recognition given to Delaware Citizen Corps.  Citizen Corps is a volunteer-centered organization that conducts public education and outreach about emergency preparedness, and conducts training to help volunteers play important roles during disasters.

The Honorable Mention Individual and Community Preparedness award to Delaware Citizen Corps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cites the local group’s innovative practices and achievements that help make communities stronger, safer, and better prepared to manage emergencies.

DEMA Director Jamie Turner joined with FEMA in congratulating the year-long Citizen Corps preparedness efforts: “Citizen Corps is an important component in preparing Delaware for potential disasters of all kinds.  It is one of our organizations that works with the City of Wilmington, as well as New Castle, Kent and Sussex Counties.  Through continued work with Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), and events such as the Family Preparedness Day, Citizen Corps provides a valuable service to the entire state.  I am pleased to see their efforts recognized by FEMA.”  

Delaware Citizen Corps works under the umbrella of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA).

2 killed in impaired driving crashes over Christmas

Dover – Many will be celebrating New Year’s Eve at various social gatherings, dancing, eating, and drinking to ring in the new year.  Highway safety officials are asking everyone to drive sober or have a designated driver before the celebrations start.

According to police reports, there were 2 impaired driving crashes over Christmas that resulted in 2 people killed and 3 injured.   Since Thanksgiving of this year Delaware has seen fifty-seven (57) persons injured and five (5) killed in impaired driving crashes.  Last year the holiday season ended with 2 persons killed and 24 persons injured in impaired-driving crashes.

“Impaired driving crashes kill too many innocent lives on our roadways every year and the unfortunate part is that they are all preventable crashes,” said Jana Simpler, Director of the Office of Highway Safety. “This tragic loss of life can be reduced if we continue to remove impaired drivers off our roadways with checkpoints and patrols, and if everyone designates a sober driver before the party starts or calls a taxi cab for a safe ride home.”

Last weekend 10 people were arrested for DUI as part of Checkpoint Strikeforce.  This brings the total campaign DUI arrests to 328, however there have been 4,795 DUI arrests made in Delaware since January 1^st.

There are four checkpoints scheduled to occur this weekend as follows:

Friday December 28th                        New Castle- (DSP) – checkpoint

Longneck- (DSP) – checkpoint

Saturday December 29th                    Smyrna- (multi-jurisdictional effort) – checkpoint

Monday December 31st                       Wilmington- (New Castle County DUI Task Force) – checkpoint

Preventing impaired driving crashes is a shared responsibility; everyone can do their part to save a life:

• Always plan ahead to designate a non-drinking driver before any party or celebration begins.
• Never get behind the wheel of a car when you’ve been drinking alcohol and never ride with someone who has been drinking – even after just one drink.
• Do not hesitate to take the keys from friends or family members who may be impaired or call a taxi for a friend in need.
• Be a responsible host by always offering alcohol-free beverages and protein rich snacks.
• If you encounter an impaired driver on the road, keep a safe distance and ask a passenger to call 911 (or pull over to a safe location to make the call yourself).
• Remember: prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and illegal drugs also can impair your ability to drive safely.
• Always buckle up, avoid distractions, and practice patience behind the wheel this holiday season.

OHS provides suggestions and recipes for non-alcoholic drinks and smart party snacks online at http://www.ohs.delaware.gov/pdfs/2009/safe_family_holiday/OHS_Mocktail_Recipe_Book_v2.pdf

For more information on these or any of our other campaign efforts follow us on Twitter @DEHighwaySafe, visit our website for updates at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com/Safe-Holidays or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

Dover – A defendant charged with the July, 2011 killing of a father and son in their Dover home has been sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, the Attorney General’s Office announced today.

Jason T. O’Neil, age 28, of Dover was arrested by Dover police on July 25, 2011 and charged with two counts of First degree murder in the killing of Howard A. Sheppard, 91, and Howard R. Sheppard, 60, who were discovered earlier that morning at their home by a family member.  The senior Sheppard died from blunt force trauma to the head while his son died of multiple stab wound and lacerations.  O’Neil was a neighbor of the victims at the time.

O’Neil was indicted on October 3, 2011 on First Degree Murder, Burglary and other charges by the Kent County Grand Jury.  On Thursday, December 20, 2012, O’Neil pled Guilty But Mentally Ill to two counts of First Degree Murder.  He was immediately sentenced by President Judge James T. Vaughn, Jr. to two life terms in prison without the possibility of parole.

“The senseless act of violence that took these two wholly innocent victims has caused deep pain to their family and traumatized the community,” Attorney General Biden stated.  “The defendant received a sentence that protects the community by ensuring he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.  We also hope it provides some closure for the victims’ family at this difficult time.”

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Dennis Kelleher and Deborah Weaver

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