Morgan Run

If Carroll County gets a public shooting range, it won't be at Morgan Run, Richard J. Soisson, director of recreation and parks, told the county commissioners yesterday.State officials, in response to a letter from the Carroll County Sportsmen's Association, said that public outcry during the Morgan Run master plan hearings in July 1992 convinced them not to open a shooting range there, Mr. Soisson said.Torrey C. Brown, the Maryland secretary of natural resources, said in a letter to the sportsmen's association that noise, safety, cost and access concerns also influenced the decision.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Morgan State had one game to play, but not the legs to play it effectively. Bidding for its first berth in the NCAA women's tournament, fourth-seeded Morgan had that mission denied yesterday in a 55-42 loss to second-seed Delaware State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship game at the RBC Center. Playing in their fifth game in 10 days and one day removed from the program's biggest upset, the Bears lost, and it was simple to understand. "We did all we could.

A grinder with diamond teeth has made the crossing smoother for the 10,000 motorists who use the Route 32 bridge over Morgan Run every day.For two days last week, State Highway Administration crews used the milling machine to plane the concrete surface of the 450-foot span. The machine ground down bumps and eliminated dips, which had been the subject of motorists' complaints for several months."The machine can be controlled without degrading the concrete deck of the bridge," said Robert L. Fisher, SHA assistant district engineer for construction.

During the previous two seasons, Morgan State's football team gave up more than 36 points a game and the team's fortunes sank as a result. This fall, that number is down to 18.2 and in the past three games, the Bears have blanked high-scoring Bethune-Cookman for more than three quarters, shut out North Carolina A&T and held Howard to 12 points (two on a safety). Over that span, the opposition is averaging slightly more than eight points and Morgan has won three straight after a 1-3 start.

IF CARROLL County wants to expand and improve its tax base, it needs more land zoned for industrial development. The existing supply is minimal -- less than 3,000 acres -- and some parcels have no realistic hope of attracting industry.So the county's effort to rezone more than 1,000 acres for industrial use is welcome. But endangering a prime environmental asset in the process is folly. County planners' proposal to rezone for industry 75 acres of woods and farmland near the state's Morgan Run Natural Environment area in South Carroll is the wrong approach.

Although Morgan Run Park, a 1,336-acre natural environmental area bordering Morgan Run Stream, is one of Carroll County's unique assets, the state has closed the park for the next six months in an attempt to cut expenses.This is bad news for the thousands of hikers and nature-lovers who enjoy the park each year.As recently as last July, then-state Sen. Sharon Hornberger urgednewcomers to familiarize themselves with the park and its facilities. "This is what you came to Carroll County for," she said.

An effort to determine community interest in opening Morgan Run Parkencountered a scheduling snag that frustrated both Department of Natural Resources officials and local residents.Don Gaver, DNR's Northern Regional Parks Manager, apologized for the mix-up in dates which resulted in limited attendance at a meeting conducted at SykesvilleMiddle School Feb. 26. The meeting had been set for Feb. 28, a date published in several newspapers. The late switch made it almost impossible to alert the public.

When the weather warms and grass overtakes trails at Morgan Run Natural Environmental Area, Allan Taylor looks to spend up to eight hours a day mowing, using his tractor and gas.The 1,500-acre state park along Route 97 in South Carroll depends a lot on volunteers like Taylor, a Westminster resident. With dwindling staff because of budget cuts, volunteers like Taylor will become even more valuable.About 50 people attended a community meeting last week at Gamber Fire Hall to discuss the park's needs and its future.

After more than two years of debate, the state Department of Natural Resources has finally developed a draft master plan for the Morgan Run Natural Environment Area.The plan calls for development to be restricted to adding parking near trails for fishing, hiking, bird-watching and horseback riding, said park Ranger Frank Ryan, who lives at Morgan Run. That's because the park is designated among the most environmentally sensitive of state parks."The purpose for Morgan Run is the protection of the Liberty Reservoir watershed," he said.

ANNAPOLIS -- After two years and many tries, open-space advocates got state approval to buy a critical piece of Carroll County land yesterday for Morgan Run State Park.The state Board of Public Works voted yesterday to exercise its option to buy 27 acres along Morgan Run from Zeeger and Dorothy Lee "Dottie" De Wilde for $450,000."I'm absolutely delighted," said Torrey C. Brown, secretary of natural resources, in the State House after the vote. "I think it's a wise decision by the board, and it caps a long effort."

REMEMBER THE guy who robbed a woman in front of her rowhouse on a Sunday night in January - "Don't make me do it," he said, suggesting a weapon that was never seen - then turned up the next morning at a job fair in a Catholic school where, by stunning coincidence, he unknowingly came face to face with his victim? (She was a volunteer at the job fair and recognized the man who took her purse as soon as he approached the registration table.) Police were summoned and arrested the guy. This week, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault.

MORE THAN 100 volunteers of all ages recently planted 500 trees at Morgan Run Environmental Area as part of an effort to restore streams in the county. The volunteers also moved 20 cubic yards of mulch. By the end of the long day, they were tired and sore, but proud. The venture was organized by Friends of Carroll County Streams, a nonprofit group consisting of resident volunteers who work to protect and restore Carroll County's many miles of streams through education, advocacy and restoration activities.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Morgan State had five eligible players at the end of last night's semifinal game against Norfolk State, and none was named Shakira Smith or Monique Liddell. Those two standouts had missed most of what was the second overtime, which just about dismissed any chances for depleted, exhausted Morgan State in a 90-84 loss to the Spartans last night in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament. The Bears had only eight players dressed, with the biggest loss being forward Tamara Parham, who missed the game due to illness.

HAMPTON, Va. -- First-year Morgan State football coach Stanley Mitchell said he took the job at his alma mater for the challenge, but he may have gotten more than he bargained for.The Bears' season came to a disappointing end yesterday, as they fell, 34-14, at the hands of the Hampton University at Armstrong Field. Morgan State finished the season 2-8 overall, 0-7 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference."The biggest challenge this season has been trying to find the right people to match up with our opponents and trying to put together the right system," Mitchell said after the game.

IF CARROLL County wants to expand and improve its tax base, it needs more land zoned for industrial development. The existing supply is minimal -- less than 3,000 acres -- and some parcels have no realistic hope of attracting industry.So the county's effort to rezone more than 1,000 acres for industrial use is welcome. But endangering a prime environmental asset in the process is folly. County planners' proposal to rezone for industry 75 acres of woods and farmland near the state's Morgan Run Natural Environment area in South Carroll is the wrong approach.

The proposed expansion of an Eldersburg industrial park could muddy the waters of Little Morgan Run, a major tributary that flows through Carroll County to Liberty Reservoir, the drinking water supply for 1.5 million people in metropolitan Baltimore.Carroll County planners have proposed rezoning 75 privately owned acres of farmland and woods in the Liberty watershed near the stream and adding the land to the Central Maryland Distribution Center, an industrial park near routes 26 and 97.But plans for expanding the center -- a top economic development priority for county officials -- are drawing fire from environmentalists.

A fox races swiftly across the fields. Bluebirds flit in and out of rows of nest boxes. Deer peek out from new greenery blooming everywhere."This is just a taste of what you can see here," said Carolyn A. Garber, vice president of the county Equestrian Council and a volunteer at Morgan Run Natural Environment Area for four years.She visits the 1,300-acre park along Route 97 in South Carroll several times a week from her home in Winfield and calls those visits an escape into a quieter world.

Morgan Run volunteers clean up: Sue Ballus, chairwoman of the committee to re-open Morgan Run Natural Environment Area, said her group has presented Gov. William Donald Schaefer with two proposals -- one for re-opening Morgan Run and another for an Adopt-A-Park program similar to the Adopt-A-Highway program.At a meeting with Walter Brown,manager of Patapsco Valley State Park, and Frank Ryan, the park ranger formerly assigned to Morgan Run between Westminster and Eldersburg, the committee devised a schedule of tasks necessary for the re-opening.

If Morgan State's Jay Hinton sticks around long enough, he might just learn how to run. For now, the running back's 4.4 speed has been enough.Despite limited carries in the first two games, the Phoenix native has rushed for 649 yards this season, including a 127-yard effort in a win over Delaware State last weekend, the team's first homecoming victory since 1980.This is Hinton's fifth locale in five seasons (after Maryvale (Ariz.) High School, Arizona State University, Glendale (Ariz.) JC and Arizona)

Freedom area should oppose greater densityThe planning commission of Carroll County wants to hear from citizens of the Freedom area. The commission is considering rezoning 295 acres of agricultural land that is within Linton Springs Elementary School district from conservation to R-20, or half-acre lots.The land lies between Linton Springs Elementary, Linton and Klee Mill roads and Little Morgan Run. Allowing acreage for infrastructure such as roads and open space and areas that are not suitable for construction, 400 homes is not a low estimate.