Mount Hebron High

An 18-year old Mt. Hebron High School student was indicted on sex offense charges Wednesday for allegedly sexually touching two female students in the school nurse's office in separate incidents June 14. A Howard County grand jury also indicted a 50-year-old handyman on charges that he tried to rape a female client, and a 34-year-old man accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the county detention center in a body cavity during a weekend stay....

Counselors and psychologists will be on hand at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City on Monday as students return for the first school day since two classmates were charged with killing well-known Howard County blogger Dennis Lane. The county school system will provide the support for students and staff who may be upset over the slaying Friday and the first-degree murder and conspiracy charges against Jason Anthony Bulmer, 19, and Morgan Lane Arnold, Lane's 14-year-old daughter.

Mount Hebron High School will hold its Winter Holiday Concerts at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21 in the school's newly renovated auditorium, 9440 Route 99, Ellicott City. The Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds and the Dixieland Jazz Combo will perform Dec. 20. The Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble will perform Dec. 21. The snow date is 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Information: 410-313-2880. Book club to meet twice a month The Elkridge library, 6540 Washington Blvd., will offer its book club, "Elk Excellent Reads," twice a month to accommodate as many people as possible.

While many teenagers were eagerly anticipating what gifts they will receive this holiday season, students at Mount Hebron High School in Ellicott City were making sure that soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center don't go empty-handed. Mount Hebron High staged its fourth annual Operation Remembering Our Troops for soldiers recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda. During the drive, which was launched by office secretary Maura Dribben, the school collected such items as gift cards of $5 or $10 that soldiers can use at department stores and grocery stores, as well as phone cards.

The Mount Hebron High School boys lacrosse team will hold its traditional lasagna dinner fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the school cafeteria. "I've lived here 14 years, and it was going on when we moved here," said parent Greg Birmingham, publicity chairperson for the dinner. His two children participate in the lacrosse program. Tickets are $8; $5 for students, staff members and senior citizens. Information: 410-418-4688. St. Augustine School plans fundraiser St. Augustine School, 5990 Old Washington Road, Elkridge, will hold an "Evening of Chance Extravaganza" from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. April 29. Food, raffles, a silent auction, electronic horseracing, wheels of chance, beer, wine and dancing are planned.

The Mount Hebron High School choirs will present their Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 in the school auditorium. The Madrigal Singers, Girls' Chorus, the Chorale, the Concert Choir, BarberShop and BeautyShop groups will perform. On the program is Vivaldi's Gloria, performed with orchestra. The school's bands will present concerts at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. The Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble will be featured. The Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds and Dixie Jazz Combo will perform Dec. 20. Admission is free.

Howard County police and school officials are investigating thefts involving Hammond High School track athletes, who have been implicated in an incident in a Mount Hebron High School locker room during a meet there Wednesday, authorities said yesterday. About 120 to 200 male and female athletes from Hammond, Mount Hebron and Howard high schools participated in the competition that ended with police asking students to return stolen goods. No arrests were made. Police are looking into charges, said Pfc. Jennifer Reidy.

Oops corrected Oops! Mount Hebron High, I'll get it right this time. In last week's column, I left out Johanna Bell from the cast of "Flowers for Algernon" and misspelled a few others: Andrew Cruttenden, Alex Wissel, Jennie Flatter and Lauren Davis. Kudos to Johanna Bell for her keen eye.

A former wrestling champion from Columbia was charged yesterday with murder, accused of beating another teen to death with an aluminum baseball bat during a melee at an Ellicott City high school that attracted dozens of youths to an apparently pre-arranged meeting in the middle of the night. Kevin Francis Klink, 18, who graduated from Oakland Mills High School last year, faces a bail hearing today in the death of Robert Brazell, 18, of Ellicott City. They were among about two dozen youths from several Howard County high schools involved in a fight on a Mount Hebron High School athletic field about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, said Sherry Llewellyn, a Howard County police spokeswoman.

Library programs to focus on evolution of technology The Howard County Library will hold a free six-part series of films, readings and discussions for "Fast Forward: Science, Technology and the Communications Revolution," a project organized by National Video Resources and the American Library Association. The programs are funded by the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The first program, at 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Miller branch library in Ellicott City, will focus on the invention of nylon, the Model T, radio, the airplane and television, and includes the film, "Bigger, Better, Faster."

An 18-year old Mt. Hebron High School student was indicted on sex offense charges Wednesday for allegedly sexually touching two female students in the school nurse's office in separate incidents June 14. A Howard County grand jury also indicted a 50-year-old handyman on charges that he tried to rape a female client, and a 34-year-old man accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the county detention center in a body cavity during a weekend stay....

Larry Walker, a pastor who was the winner of the inaugural Comcast Parent Involvement Award last year, has filed paperwork with the Howard County Board of Elections to run for one of four available school board seats in 2010. Walker, 51, who graduated from Wilde Lake High School in 1976 and is the parent of two Mount Hebron High School graduates, said he wants to take his longtime involvement in the school system to the next level. "I've been involved in public education for 20 years," Walker said.

Musical 'Dreamcoat' at Mount Hebron High Mount Hebron High School will present its spring musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, at 2 p.m. today and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the school's auditorium, 9440 Route 99, Ellicott City. The production includes 70 high school students and 55 elementary and middle school children, who make up the chorus. Tickets are $10. To reserve tickets, call 410-313-2880. Tickets can also be purchased in the school cafeteria between 10 a.m. and noon weekdays.

Loss of educators a blow to Howard These past couple of weeks have been difficult ones for those who care about education in Howard County. Two of the finest educators to serve this county are now gone, and their losses will be felt by former students as well as their peers and colleagues. Sam Leishure and Jim (Jr.) McCrumb offered the very best for so long, and they both will be sorely missed. I was fortunate enough to have spent most of my career working with these men. And their impact on me and others like me as well as so many of Howard County's students will be everlasting.

Faced with a difficult revenue picture, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman yesterday proposed a capital budget funded with slightly less county taxpayers' money than last year. The total request to the county council is for $421 million, up from $353.7 million requested last year. But county officials said $220 million is for general county projects funded by bonds and cash, about $8 million less than last year. The rest -- $200.6 million -- is for utility projects paid for by separate water and sewer taxes.

The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks will sponsor a camp during the county school system's spring break at Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park in Historic Ellicott City. "Victorian Dreams Living History Half-Day Camp" will be held March 17-20 from 9 a.m. to noon for students in grades four, five and six. The cost is $95 per camper. Participants will travel in time to the 1850s and will dress in camp-adapted pinafores as they make authentic crafts, play games and sports of the time period and learn Victorian dancing.

Editor's note: Occasionally, we will highlight something that you had no idea was happening in Howard County. Submit "Who Knew?" nominations via e-mail (janetgilbertsun@verizon.net) or by phone (410-313-8276). This week's "Who Knew?" goes to Mount Hebron High School students Divya Nithianandam and Andrew Gruenberger. "Close to a year ago," says Gruenberger, 16, "Divya and I were talking about how so many kids come to school talking about parties, and how they got drunk at parties, and how they had `so much fun' getting drunk."