Around The Region

One of 2 prison escapees recaptured on Shore

Authorities yesterday captured one of two inmates who walked away from an Eastern Shore correctional facility Wednesday evening. The second escapee was still at large yesterday evening. James Allen Cramer, 52, was arrested about 3 p.m. by the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office at an undisclosed location. Authorities said an anonymous tipster aided police in Cramer's apprehension. Police were still searching for Billy Gene Dolly, 41. He was described as a white male, 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds. He is bald with blue eyes and a blond mustache, last seen wearing blue jeans and a yellow shirt. State police were called to the Eastern Pre-Release Unit in Church Hill, Queen Anne's County, after Cramer and Dolly left facility grounds without permission about 7:30 p.m., authorities said. Dolly's last known address was in Sparks, Baltimore County, and police said he was serving time for theft. Cramer was serving time for drugs and robbery with a deadly weapon. Corrections staff members immediately notified residents and businesses of the escapees, officials said. Dolly had a scheduled release date of August 2010 and Cramer's was July 2009, according to correctional officials. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or state police at the Centreville barracks at 410-758-1101.

Gadi Dechter

Hot weather forces closing of city schools

Baltimore public schools - many of which do not have air conditioning - closed early yesterday because of the hot weather. Schools operated on a half-day schedule, and evening classes were canceled, school system officials said. System regulations indicate that schools may be closed early if the temperature outside reaches 85 degrees by 9 a.m., and it was just shy of that at 9 yesterday morning. With high humidity and the mercury continuing to rise, officials decided about 10:30 a.m. to close early, said school system spokesman Michael Sarbanes. Students were served lunch before dismissal, and teachers were expected to stay for the entire day.

Man dies in crash on Liberty Road

A man was killed early yesterday when his car overturned on Liberty Road near the Beltway after striking a traffic island and a light pole and going airborne, Baltimore County police said. The man, identified as Zachary Alan Harrison, 50, of the 6000 block of Prince George St. in Woodlawn, was driving a 2005 Volkswagen east on Liberty Road near Abbie Place when the crash occurred about 2:10 a.m., police said. Harrison, who was alone in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.