Medal

The Environmental Business Journal has recognized Sovereign Consulting Inc., an environmental consulting and remediation firm with an office in Edgewood, as one of the top medium-sized environmental businesses in the United States. Sovereign received a Bronze Medal for Business Achievement in 2011. The Environmental Business Journal honored Sovereign Consulting for its business successes over the last five years. Sovereign's 2011 revenue was approximately $48 million in 2011, up from $26.6 million in 2007.

Baltimore Running Festival organizers draped a finisher's medal on Bob Pohl's neck Thursday, nearly four weeks after he collapsed at the finish line of the half marathon and was saved by bystanders and medical personnel. Just before the end of the 13.1-mile race, Pohl, 55, suffered cardiac arrest, an uncommon condition among racers but one that is often deadly. Two runners have died in the 11-year history of the festival. "We had a lot of luck on our side," said Lee Corrigan, president of race organizers Corrigan Sport Enterprises, before handing over a medal for the half-marathon and another one for a race Pohl completed in Frederick.

I think the editors of The Sun have finally suffered a mental breakdown. Please explain to me why Berger Cookies and their drippy containers ("After flood, Berger Cookies back in boxes, on shelves," Sept. 16) would be on the front page while the article regarding Dakota Meyer saving the lives of 36 fellow soldiers ("Medal of Honor recipient braved 'kill zone' to save pals") is relegated to Page 6? Please, I need to know why. Don't tell me it's because Berger is a Baltimore company.

Starting when he was six years old, Dorian Claggett would beg anybody in his house to play Monopoly with him. His persistence would eventually pay off, as somebody would reluctantly volunteer, and then Claggett would methodically go about winning the game. Even at that young age, he always had a game plan and a competitive fire. "I like to go around [the Monopoly board] one time and then make sure to get the properties I want," Claggett said. "You have to wait it out, get some houses up and then some hotels and then you're set. " Set to be a junior at Poly this fall, Claggett, 15, takes the same approach to his blossoming track career.

Competing in their last tournament as a U14 team, H20 pink, went undefeated in capturing the Gold Medal at the ESPN Rise/ Disney Junior Showcase held July 16-19 in Orlando. The Harford County based field hockey club has added this prestigious championship to their gold medal victory at the National Indoor Championship (NIT) in February. This event featured teams from all over the country including traditional powerhouse states New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Unlike the NIT tournament where multiple teams are crowned "Gold Medalist" after pool play, the Junior Showcase has pool winners compete to determine an ultimate champion.

From Syd Lea's home in Taneytown, the Pennsylvania line is less than two miles away. When the accomplished cyclist ventures outside from his home gymnasium, he often crosses the Mason-Dixon Line as part of his training regimen. That's not the only boundary that he has crossed during his cycling career. The 26-year old from northwestern Carroll County has traversed the world several times on the way to becoming the premier cyclist among American Special Olympians. Lea was a top winner for Team USA in the recent Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, earning three of the team's 10 gold medals in the international competition.

Basketball Tucker's 7 steals help U.S. to U-16 women's gold medal New Town guard Jannah Tucker broke a U.S. record with seven steals as the Americans won the FIBA Americas U-16 women's gold medal late Saturday night with a 73-40 rout of Brazil in Merida, Mexico. "It is surreal," Tucker, a rising junior, said of winning gold. "It's a great accomplishment, and I'm just proud to represent the USA. " Tucker finished with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.

On Christmas Day during the Battle of the Bulge, Paul J. Wiedorfer charged 150 yards across a snow- and ice-covered field under intense enemy fire, single-handedly knocked out two German machine gun nests and took 24 prisoners. His spectacular feat earned him the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor. "Suddenly something popped into my mind. Something had to be done, and someone had to do it. And I just did it. I can't tell you why," Mr. Wiedorfer recalled in a 2008 interview with The Baltimore Sun. Mr. Wiedorfer died Wednesday of heart failure at Loch Raven Community Living and Rehabilitation Center.