Cecil County

Keith Church left the Navy in 1974 after a two-year stint, worked for years as a maintenance mechanic and never considered asking for veterans benefits. But in December, Church, 54, was jobless, coping with health problems and on the brink of homelessness - "couch surfing" with friends, he says - when he turned to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for help. Within a few months, he moved into an apartment, thanks to a VA program that started in Maryland this year to help homeless veterans.

Man guilty of false advertising A Cecil County man pleaded guilty in Harford District Court on Tuesday to charges of false advertising and soliciting for an unlicensed tree expert business. Charles David Blanford, 26, of Colora was sentenced to the maximum $1,000 fine and one year in jail. His sentence was suspended and he was placed on three years' probation. Blanford circulated business cards for Blanford's Tree Removal, Blanford's Tree Specialist and Blanford's Tree & Landscape at a restaurant in Bel Air, Maryland Natural Resources Police said.

Elkton man sought in fatal shooting RISING SUN -- The Cecil County Sheriff's Office has issued an arrest warrant charging an Elkton man with the robbery and fatal shooting of a Rising Sun man outside the victim's home Saturday night, a sheriff's office investigator said. About 10:45 p.m., Rising Sun police and county sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a man shot outside his home in the first block of Sun Valley Circle, said Detective Sgt. Bernard Chiominto, a sheriff's office investigator.

Morris Wolfe Rannels, the former Cecil County superintendent of schools who was later a state safety and school bus official, died in his sleep Sept. 25 at his home in Clearwater, Fla. The former Columbia resident was 92. Born in Rowenna, Pa., he earned a teaching degree from Millersville University in Lancaster County, Pa., and had a master's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. He taught math at Annapolis High School before serving in the Navy as a lieutenant during World War II aboard the minesweeper USS Constant in the South Pacific.

A federal jury in Baltimore convicted a 45-year-old Delaware man yesterday of distributing a large amount of cocaine in Cecil County. Nigel Humphrey John Baptiste of New Castle, Del., was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the Winding Brook community of Elkton from 2004 through 2006 and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Co-defendant Andre Lamar Ricks, 27, who used to live in Winding Brook, pleaded guilty during the trial to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

ANNAPOLIS -- Sen. Barack Obama's campaign released the names of 100 prominent Maryland supporters yesterday as the state activists from both parties ramp up for the Feb. 12 Democratic presidential primary. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign already boasts the support of some of the marquee names in Maryland politics, including Gov. Martin O'Malley and Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski. But the Obama campaign is claiming that the Illinois senator's list is longer. His state campaign is headed by Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings and boasts dozens of supporters in the General Assembly and local governments.

ST. MICHAELS -- The Dibbs family was on a mission. The car was packed with snacks. The route was mapped out. The goal was clear: nine Maryland lighthouses - and one lightship - in two days. But while most of the hundreds of people aiming to complete the entire annual Maryland Lighthouse Challenge bunked in area hotels and inns during the weekend, Mike and Monica Dibbs layered one more obstacle onto their family's undertaking. They drove home to Lancaster, Pa., on Saturday night between the two legs of their tour.

A federal judge sentenced a 27-year-old Cecil County man yesterday to serve 14 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the Winding Brook community of Elkton. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Dequan Sibhe Copeland, who earlier pleaded guilty to the charge. According to court documents filed by prosecutors, Copeland and several others were videotaped between January 2004 and April 2006 as they sold illegal drugs. Agents also listened in on telephone calls during which Copeland arranged for the purchase, distribution or payment of up to 15 kilograms of cocaine and 1.5 kilograms or more of crack cocaine, prosecutors said.

Theatreworks...Live! Inc. will offer fall musical theater classes at County Ballet Dance Studio, 2232 Old Emmorton Road, Bel Air. Available programs include: Theatreworks Jr.: "Pretending" for ages 4-7 from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays Sept. 22 to Nov. 10. Students will listen to short stories, poems and plays, and act them out, ending in a presentation. The cost is $50. Musical Theatreworks: "Broadway Comes Alive" for ages 8-17 from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. Saturdays Sept. 22 to Nov. 10. Youths will focus on acting skills, vocal presentation, stage movement and dance, and give a presentation.

Maryland State Police arrested a Cecil County man yesterday and charged him with the fatal stabbing of a female neighbor in May.Christopher L. Thomas, 28, of the 700 block of Bethel Church Road in North East, was arrested in Pennsylvania, where he was doing construction work, said 1st Sgt. Laura Lu Herman of the Maryland State Police. She said Thomas was taken to the North East barracks yesterday afternoon.State police at the barracks said Thomas waived his right to an extradition hearing shortly after his arrest.

Maryland's slots commission on Wednesday approved expanding a proposed Cecil County gaming facility from 500 to 1,500 machines and is poised to award the state's second license there later this month. Penn National Gaming, which would build and run a facility in Perryville, is financially sound and "clearly satisfies the standards" for a Maryland slots parlor operator, said Buddy Roogow, director of the state lottery, which regulates gambling and is conducting background checks on the licensing applicants.

Police shoot Lochearn man after confrontation at home A 27-year-old Lochearn man was shot Thursday afternoon inside his home during an altercation with Baltimore County police and was undergoing surgery at an area hospital last night, said a police spokesman. His condition was not available and his name was withheld pending notification of family. Bill Toohey, the spokesman, said the man called 911 about 4:30 p.m., told a dispatcher there was an emergency at his home in the 3600 block of Forest Grove Ave., then hung up. Toohey said after officers arrived, the man became "confrontational."

Donald M. Thomey, a retired construction materials supply firm executive, died of heart failure Tuesday at his Oak Crest Village home. The former Forest Hill resident was 82. Born in Oella, he attended St. Mark's Parochial School and was a 1942 graduate of Catonsville High School. He studied engineering at the Johns Hopkins University. He enlisted in the Navy and attended the Naval Communications School and Naval Cryptology School. He served in Hawaii and monitored Japanese code. After his service, Mr. Thomey became a land surveyor for the Baltimore County Metropolitan District and held a similar position, as well as serving as resident engineer, for Whitman Requardt & Associates.

The Eastern Shore shelter being investigated by state officials for alleged animal abuse could be given a new contract to provide animal-control services to Cecil County effective July 1, according to a county commissioner. A task force created to explore the rural community's options after allegations surfaced last fall against the Cecil County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals near Chesapeake City has received no applications from other agencies interested in taking over the animal-control duties, Commissioner Robert Hodge said.

Keith Church left the Navy in 1974 after a two-year stint, worked for years as a maintenance mechanic and never considered asking for veterans benefits. But in December, Church, 54, was jobless, coping with health problems and on the brink of homelessness - "couch surfing" with friends, he says - when he turned to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for help. Within a few months, he moved into an apartment, thanks to a VA program that started in Maryland this year to help homeless veterans.

George Mitchell Griffith Jr., a retired salesman and Maryland history buff, died Feb. 27 of pneumonia at ManorCare Woodbridge Valley in Catonsville. He was 85. Mr. Griffith was born in Baltimore and raised on Hollins Avenue near Lake Roland. He attended Boys' Latin School and graduated in 1941 from Towson High School. He attended the University of Maryland and graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. During World War II, he served as an officer aboard oil tankers and survived two torpedo attacks in the Caribbean, family said.

Truck overturns on I-95; man dies A Cecil County man was killed when his pickup truck overturned near Havre de Grace yesterday morning, closing an Interstate 95 on-ramp for about three hours, state police said. Matthew S. Markle, 38, of Conowingo lost control of his truck about 7 a.m. on the ramp from Route 155 to southbound I-95 at Exit 89, police said. The truck left the roadway, went into a ditch and overturned, trapping Markle, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Jonathan Pitts Fire damages APG storage building A fire damaged a records-storage building at Aberdeen Proving Ground on Wednesday night, authorities said yesterday.

Two state agencies have begun investigating allegations of animal cruelty against the Cecil County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the state comptroller's office said it might investigate the facility's finances. The State Board of Veterinary Examiners said its investigation is under way, and several witnesses, including ex-employees of the animal shelter in Chesapeake City, said they have been contacted by state police to set up interviews. State police, who recently said they planned to start an investigation, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

The Maryland State Police said yesterday that it will investigate allegations of misconduct by the Cecil County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, making it the third state agency to look into charges against the Chesapeake City animal shelter. More than 20 witnesses, including four former employees and four ex-volunteers, have submitted written accusations against the CCSPCA, ranging from animal cruelty and neglect to financial malfeasance. The state police are to investigate, along with the Maryland attorney general's office, which has assigned an attorney to look into the case, and the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, a division of the state Department of Agriculture, officials said.

Patients in long-term care at Perry Point Veterans Affairs Hospital in Cecil County frequently receive gifts from organizations this time of year, but yesterday's presents from a Harford County fitness center were personalized. Gary Perry, 52, unwrapped a Dallas Cowboys jersey with his favorite player's number. Louis Francis, 88, could not wait to return to his room and turn on his new clock radio. Moses Moore, 82, beamed when he opened a carton filled with 36 Butterfingers candy bars.