FBI Investigating Racist Graffiti

Created in 1998, the network has grown to encompass more than 150 gateways in six states and the District. It includes more than 1,500 miles of developed trails. It is a major driver of tourism, drawing an estimated 10 million visitors a year to its exhibits and sites.

The Smith trail would be the first national water trail in the nation, commemorating the exploratory voyages of Smith on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries from 1607 to 1609.

"The Chesapeake Bay is part of who we are as Marylanders -- our heritage and our culture. I am proud to support the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program and Watertrails Network and the creation of the John Smith Trail so that visitors can enjoy and appreciate this national treasure and Maryland's greatest natural resource," Mikulski, a member of a key appropriations subcommittee, said in a statement.

Task Force to Meet

The first meeting of the St. Mary's County Form of Government Task Force is from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Governmental Center, 23115 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown.

County commissioners created the task force recently to evaluate the possible forms of government for St. Mary's County and make recommendations to commissioners. The options are no change (maintain the commissioner form), proceed with the process for a referendum on adoption of a code for home rule and proceed with the process for development of a charter and a referendum on adoption of a charter government.

These St. Mary's residents were appointed to the task force: Anne Bell, Elmer Brown, Francine Dove-Hawkins, Richard Gass, John L. Madel Jr., John Mattingly, Patrick Murphy, Kathleen O'Brien, John K. Parlett Jr., Dan Rebarchick, Doug Ritchie, Patty Robrecht, Judith A. Spalding, Clare Whitbeck and Patricia A. Woodburn.

Cardin Pleads for Funding

Cardin is seeking full funding of the Resource Conservation and Development program in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's budget for fiscal 2008, his office announced.

President Bush has called for funding of the program to be cut by 74 percent, which could eliminate 325 federal coordinator positions, according to Cardin's office.

Agriculture is among Maryland's largest industries, with more than 12,000 farms in the state. The state has three federal coordinators, in Southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland.

Cardin said budget cuts to the program would "severely affect economic development in agricultural communities."

The Resource Conservation and Development program "has been in existence since 1962 and it provides an important way for communities to address their natural resource and development concerns," Cardin said in a statement.

Cardin wrote a letter March 30 to Sens. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah), top appropriators for agricultural issues, asking them to provide full funding of $56 million for the program.