Eldersburg

FIRE*Eldersburg: A tractor-trailer fire on Progress Way, just off Route 32, required fire units from Sykesville, Winfield, Gamber and Glyndon to extinguish at 1:14 a.m. Wednesday.

Weeks ago, when 5th District County Commissioner Doug Howard scheduled his April 30 meeting with Eldersburg residents, he assumed it would be the usual "get-together" where the commissioner gives updates on ongoing issues such as the county budget, funding for schools and the future of the beleaguered Carrolltown Center mall. But by the time this past week's meeting rolled around, a more pressing matter steam rolled other issues aside - namely the controversial proposal to build a 235-unit retirement facility on the 16-acre Ely property near the Oklahoma and Bennett roads in Eldersburg.