Cecil County

A lightning strike injured a Cecil County zookeeper, half-dollar-sized hail fell in several counties and tornado sightings sent people scurrying for shelter from Rockville to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Yet the worst fears of weather forecasters didn't materialize Thursday. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center called the first of two systems that darkened skies and dumped rain Thursday a "low-end" derecho, known for powerful winds that travel in a straight line over hundreds of miles.

A lightning strike injured a Cecil County zookeeper, half-dollar-sized hail fell in several counties and tornado sightings sent people scurrying for shelter from Rockville to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Yet the worst fears of weather forecasters didn't materialize Thursday. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center called the first of two systems that darkened skies and dumped rain Thursday a "low-end" derecho, known for powerful winds that travel in a straight line over hundreds of miles.

Table games at Maryland Live Casino generated $8.4 million in revenue in their first month at the Anne Arundel County facility, on top of $38.2 million from its slot machines, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported Monday. While overall revenue at Maryland Live was up $1.95 million in April from March, revenue from slots fell about $6.45 million in April from the month before. By far the largest of Maryland's casinos, Maryland Live operates 4,217 slot machines and 122 table games.

Maryland State Police homicide detectives investigating the death of a missing 10-year-old Cecil County girl, whose body was found in a Port Deposit field Monday evening, said they have a person of interest in custody. Elena Russo, a State Police spokesperson on the scene, said Tuesday afternoon the person in custody is one of several people they've been questioning. The victim has been identified as Kami Ring, of the 600 block of Bladen Street in Charlestown, according to a State Police news release.

The Maryland Lottery has just completed the process for obtaining slot machines for the Hollywood Casino in Cecil County, slated to open this fall. While much has been written about this complicated endeavor, there has been a considerable amount of confusion and misinformation with respect to the amounts paid per slot machine by the state. I would like to correct the record and explain just how much was spent to procure the slot machines for Hollywood Casino. Despite what has been written, the Lottery did not pay $46,542 per slot machine.

EARLEVILLE -- As eager as he is to sell his 707-acre waterfront estate in Cecil County, William J. Crocker said he won't be too upset if no one bids high enough when his McGill Creek Farm is put up for auction Sept. 24."We'll just stay here," said the third-generation developer, who also owns a winter home in Boca Raton, Fla. "There's worse fates."Worse fates, for sure, than staying in a Georgian-style mansion with 12 bedrooms, 10 full baths, a heated swimming pool, a tennis court and a wet bar with gold-plated faucet foot pedals.

NORTH EAST -- Charles "Bud" Shivery won't light one sparkler today. He's already had his fill of sparklers for this July Fourth.Mr. Shivery heads the Elkton Sparkler Co., the family-owned and -operated company near this Cecil County town that until the mid-1980s was the world's largest maker of sparklers.Mr. Shivery, his two sons and their 50 to 60 employees have worked since September producing the sparklers that millions of Americans will wave in celebration of this most patriotic of holidays.

While we're already in a battle to stop in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, the politicians and the Maryland Transportation Authority are trying to increase tolls and abolish the decal system. The decal system lets locals in places like Cecil County pay a small annual fee for unlimited access to enter the county where they live. Many of you have voiced your outrage at the proposed toll increases. I have one thing to say to the elected politicians and the MdTA leadership who want to put their hand in our pockets again: Our money belongs to us and you do not have a right to it. Cecil County is the only county the citizens have to pay to enter.

A Cecil County zoo that got its start as a personal hobby for its owner, survived political controversies and delighted children and other visitors for 24 years has closed its doors. Ed Plumstead, 82, of Rising Sun, the founder and owner of Plumpton Park Zoo, could not be reached for comment, but the county's tourism director, Sandy Turner, said Plumstead had contacted her last week to tell her he would close the zoo because tending its more than 300 animals had become too hard for him. He shut the business down sometime last week, she said.

A Cecil County woman was killed early Wednesday in Arbutus when her car was broadsided by another vehicle as she tried to make a turn, Baltimore County police said. Gail Gwiazdowski, 58, of North East was driving north on Southwestern Boulevard near Interstate 695 in a Subaru Outback station wagon about 6:25 a.m. when she changed lanes in preparation for a U-turn, police said. As she did so, a Dodge van, also traveling northbound, struck the Subaru in the driver's door. Gwiazdowski was killed upon impact, according to Cpl. Michael Hill, a department spokesman.

Long before Karoline Hurd became involved with the Great American Backyard Campout, she and her young children would pitch tents and make s'mores behind the family's suburban home. "That's not the norm anymore," said Hurd, the senior manager of special events for the National Wildlife Federation. "Most American kids spend the majority of their time indoors. " As part of the National Wildlife Federation's Great Outdoors Month, the ninth Great American Backyard Campout is scheduled for June 22. The event is also part of an initiative to get 2 million more children outdoors for at least 30 minutes per week over the next two years.

Tropical Storm Andrea dropped several inches of rain on the Baltimore area Friday and could bring several inches more, causing some flooding and road closures. The rain started Thursday night, and is forecast to continue into early Saturday. As much as 2-4 inches of rain were expected across the region from Thursday through Saturday. A flash flood watch was in effect through 10 p.m. Friday. There will be no two-way operation on the Bay Bridge on Friday because of the weather, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

Table games at Maryland Live Casino generated $8.4 million in revenue in their first month at the Anne Arundel County facility, on top of $38.2 million from its slot machines, the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency reported Monday. While overall revenue at Maryland Live was up $1.95 million in April from March, revenue from slots fell about $6.45 million in April from the month before. By far the largest of Maryland's casinos, Maryland Live operates 4,217 slot machines and 122 table games.

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative said Tuesday that it will seek approval from Maryland regulators to build an electric power plant in Cecil County. The Virginia-based Old Dominion supplies power to about 550,000 households and businesses through 11 cooperatives in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, including the 52,000-member Choptank Electric Cooperative on the Eastern Shore. The nonprofit said its proposed plant would be constructed near Rising Sun, at its Rock Springs facility.

APG Federal Credit Union (APGFCU) celebrated a membership milestone on April 1, when Michael Willis joined the credit union. Willis is the 100,000th person to open an APGFCU account and he received a $100 Visa gift card as a congratulatory award. In 2012, APGFCU membership grew by 4.3 percent over 2011. The credit union is ranked number one in deposit market share among financial institutions in Harford County with deposits of $948 million, (as of Feb. 28, 2013). APGFCU attributes its success to its long-term, loyal members, talented employees and dedicated volunteers.

Forty-one years ago, Maryland Gov. Marvin Mandel pulled off a series of staggering triumphs that The Sun compared to winning the Triple Crown: Maryland's first gun-control law; a unique, state-run auto insurance agency; and a higher gasoline tax to support Baltimore's first rapid rail line. He achieved this in the face of ferocious opposition from the National Rifle Association and the insurance and trucking industries. It took Mr. Mandel's enormous persuasive skills - including arm-twisting and deal-making - to win those monumental battles.

Two construction projects that are expected to cost more than $3.3 million will allow boaters greater access to the waterways of Harford and Cecil counties this year, creating potential boons for the regional economy, state officials say. Harford County will remove more than 20,000 cubic yards of dredge material from the Bush River and Otter Point Creek, improving navigation to two popular boat ramps and a marina. In Cecil County, the town of Perryville has hired a Maryland contractor to build a 575-foot pier, a structure that will provide 12 slips for visiting boaters.

A 62-year-old Aberdeen man died shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday after the vehicle he was operating crashed near the Hatem Bridge in Cecil County, according to Maryland Transportation Authority police. Officer Dawn Tufts identified the man who died as Raymond Rowe. She said he was driving a 2007 Dodge eastbound and it struck the jersey wall, then hit the curb in front of the toll plaza and came to rest in a grassy area by the toll plaza. No one else was in the vehicle. The crash and its cause remain under investigation, Tufts said.

APG Federal Credit Union honored Louise Oldland, operations analyst, in February with an award for 25 years of dedicated service to the credit union. In 1987, Oldland was hired as a teller at APGFCU's Aberdeen Proving Ground branch and was later promoted to support services representative. Since then, Oldland has held positions as member service representative and administrative assistant. In her current role as operations analyst, information technology, Oldland is responsible for identifying, prioritizing and resolving issues within APGFCU's technological infrastructure.

Executives from APG Federal Credit Union (APGFCU), Harford County officials and local dignitaries celebrated the opening of the new Fallston branch, at 210 Mountain Road in Fallston, March 15 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the credit union's 11th branch. In attendance were Mary Chance, director of administration; Harford County; Jim Richardson, director, Harford County Office of Economic Development; Jackie Euler, owner of Aumar Village LLC; Jeanette Lucas, director, Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce; Christine Sullivan, director, administration and finance, Harford County Chamber of Commerce; David Gilbert, APGFCU chairman; William Schultheis, APGFCU executive vice president; and representatives of Frederick Ward Associates, Paul Risk Associates and local business owners.