Make A Decision

Anne Arundel County police have submitted the results of their investigation into the FBI's shooting of a Pasadena man mistaken for a bank robber to county prosecutors, who are to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against the agent who fired the shot, officials said yesterday. Police Chief P. Thomas Shanahan said the case will remain under investigation until State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee decides whether charges are warranted. Until then, county police will not release details of their investigation or records relating to the March 1 shooting, police officials said.

Terence Morris could make a decision soon on whether he will play a fourth season at Maryland. After the Terps' season was ended in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the junior forward from Frederick's Thomas Johnson said he would weigh his stock in the NBA draft. A 6-foot-9 forward, Morris could enter his name in the draft, or return to College Park for his senior season. Morris and his mother, Roxanne Bright, met last Tuesday to discuss his development and future with Tom Dickman, his high school coach.

Quote: "Right now, they're the best team on the planet. No one will argue that." -- Devil Rays right fielder Mike Kelly about the Yankees.It's a fact: The Rangers are 43-16 this season when they score four runs or more. They're 6-23 when they score fewer than four runs.Who's hot: Twins pitcher Bob Tewksbury. He has only 12 walks this season, an average of 1.03 per nine innings.Who's not: Tampa Bay, which has lost seven straight, has scored just four runs over 57 innings and has been shut out four of the last 10 games.

"They say opposites attract, and I suppose they do," says Stephanie, 41, a tall blonde in an ankle-skimming skirt who works part-time at a community arts center. "But maybe they can't live together."Stephanie and John, an industrial engineer, have been married for 10 years. When they first met, she found his gentle, logical and stoic nature unbelievably attractive. But now, she says, they're slowly driving each other crazy. The fact that his company might be moving to Northern California, causing her to move far from friends and family, makes her wonder if she really wants to spend the rest of her life with him."

A consultant is evaluating potential environmental problems at the former Telemecanique manufacturing plant for Carroll's commissioners, who want to acquire the building to house Board of Education administrative offices.Commissioner Donald I. Dell said yesterday that the possibility of losing the building to another buyer puts pressure on the county's governing board to make a decision soon.Commissioner Elmer Lippy said he remains interested in the building, but wants to know more about possible pollution before saying yes to a lease or lease-purchase agreement.

Carroll County commissioners will not be pushed into making a decision to change the way trash is collected in the county before the November election, Commissioner Donald I. Dell said yesterday.Westminster Mayor W. Benjamin Brown said that if the commissioners don't decide soon, officials from five towns may decide to dump trash in a Pennsylvania landfill with a lower tipping fee than the county landfill.Mr. Brown, who is running for commissioner in Tuesday's primary, asked the officials to make a decision before the election.

CUMBERLAND -- Maryland Republican leaders at their fall convention this weekend put Rep. Helen Delich Bentley on notice that they want to know by next month what her political plans are for 1994.Mrs. Bentley, one of the party's most popular and formidable figures, responded by promising a decision in the "very near future."Mrs. Bentley has said she is considering running for governor, for the Senate seat held by Democrat Paul S. Sarbanes or for re-election to Congress.Party leaders for months have been privately urging the 2nd District congresswoman to say what she plans to do, but for the first time this weekend the message was delivered in a public forum -- an indication that patience is wearing thin.

The owner of a growing public relations business based in a Baltimore suburb talked about decision-making as an essential tool for driving a business -- or career -- to success. A woman in her 50s who started young and at the bottom, she spoke on a Saturday morning to young women who expect to match her success."I don't know anything that hampers a person more than the inability to make a decision," she said. "Even people who know they've done careful research and given a project their best let themselves get bogged down in indecisiveness.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Bob Milacki took another step toward an Opening Day assignment and possible redemption here yesterday.The right-hander hung up four more scoreless innings in his third exhibition appearance, as the Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-3, to improve their preseason record to 6-3.Milacki was the starting pitcher in the last major-league game played at Memorial Stadium, last Oct. 6 -- a performance he'd just as soon forget."

DESPITE good intentions, careful planning and firm decisions, parents may still have a tough time with the holidays, especially this year. Here are some strategies for handling difficult Christmas situations at home:* Give Santa a social conscience. If Santa will be bringing fewer or smaller presents than he has in Christmases past, you can prepare youngsters by telling them that there is less for everyone this year. Advise youngsters to make a short wish list because Santa just won't be able to deal with a long one.* If an older child really wants an item that the family cannot afford, let him figure out ways to get it. Offer to contribute however much you would spend on his gifts toward the item and let him make up the difference.