Sykesville * Eldersburg * Gamber

Council opposes juvenile facility

The Sykesville Town Council voted unanimously Monday to oppose the location of a juvenile detention facility on the grounds of Springfield Hospital Center.

Members also will push for a public hearing before the state Department of Juvenile Services makes a final decision on where to house juveniles awaiting trial.

In a meeting with state legislators last week, Mary Ann Saar, state secretary of juvenile services, proposed renovating the center's Lane Building into a 74-bed detention center at a cost of $5,525,000.

"As long as the state has land at Springfield, it will continue to think of ways to use it," said Mayor Lloyd R. Helt Jr. "We have to go on record with our opposition."

POLICE

* Sykesville: 500 block of Route 32: Someone kicked in a door between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Thursday, ransacked the house and stole a VCR.