September 24, 2009
Baltimore County police identify man fatally struck by car
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Baltimore County police have identified a pedestrian who was killed early Monday when a car struck him on Eastern Avenue near North Point Boulevard. Paul Andrew Thompson, 63, of the 7100 block of Gough St., near the city-county line, was walking east about 3:20 a.m. when he was struck, police said. Thompson was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, William Ramsey, 31, was not charged because police determined that pedestrian error caused the accident.
- Liz F. Kay
Balto. Co. issues reminder on handling fall leaves
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Baltimore County officials are reminding residents that raking or blowing leaves into the gutter or street is unsafe, potentially damaging to the Chesapeake Bay and illegal. Leaves in the gutter can cause fires and clog drains. The county suggests composting leaves to produce an environmentally friendly soil additive for use in gardens or mulching them with a lawn mower and leaving them on the ground to decompose as a natural fertilizer. Residents who bag their yard waste should rely on their normal trash schedules for pickup. Information: www.baltimorecountymd.gov/go/collectionconnection or 410-887-2000.
Small loans to be available for E. Baltimore residents
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The Baltimore Alliance for Economic Inclusion, a partnership including financial institutions and the Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore Inc., plans to announce this morning a pilot program to provide short-term small loans to residents in East Baltimore. The goal of the "Borrow and Save" program is to prevent residents from taking out check advances that charge rates as high as 26 percent for a brief loan. Neighborhood Housing received $70,000 in grants for the pilot. The loans, which will range from $300 to $1,000, will charge an annual interest rate of 7.99 percent and must be repaid within a year. To qualify, borrowers must live in East Baltimore, have a job, undergo financial counseling and save at least $5 per month at a participating bank branch. Neighborhood Housing will match the first $5 of savings. As borrowers repay loans, that money will become available to lend to others, said Alicia Schuller, marketing coordinator for Neighborhood Housing Services. For more information, call 410-327-1200.
- Eileen Ambrose
