Natural Gas Leak

Burglars took jewelry, shotguns and a video camera, valued at more than $4,700, after breaking into a home in the 1900 block of Carrollton Road near Reese on Wednesday.State police answered a call to the home of Jerry Howard and discovered someone had shattered a sliding glass door to gain entry to the house while the residents were away.Among the items reported stolen were gold chains, rings, pendants, earrings, a jewelry box and a wristwatch. Mr. Howard told police an antique 12-gauge shotgun, a double-barreled shotgun and another camera were missing.

A Brooklyn Park woman ran out of her burning house just before it exploded early today, Anne Arundel County fire officials said.The 1 a.m. blast in the 5800 block of Redmond St. was heard by police officers several blocks away.Marjorie Russo, whose age was not available, was not injured; however, her two dogs were killed.Mrs. Russo told authorities that she had detected an onion-like odor in her home yesterday and that last night she felt nauseous and had a headache. Lt. Robert H. Kornmann, a Fire Department spokesman, said her symptoms could have been caused by a natural gas leak.

POLICE* Westminster: A resident of Union Street reported that someone broke into her auto while it was parked on East Main Street onSunday and stole property valued at $220.A Finksburg resident told police that someone broke into his auto while it was parked on West Main Street on Saturday and stole property worth $700.A Union Street resident reported that someone punctured the tires on her auto Saturday. She estimated the damage at $200.A resident of Carroll Street told police that someone broke the front window of her home Saturday.

FireNew Windsor: Firefighters responded at 1: 50 p.m. Friday to a wash detail on Kaufman Road. Units were out 30 minutes.Taneytown: Firefighters responded at 2: 53 p.m. Friday to a utility pole fire on Trevanion Road. Units were out one hour.Union Bridge: Firefighters responded at 6: 15 p.m. Saturday to a house fire in the 11000 block of Houck Road, Frederick County. Units were out 53 minutes.Taneytown: Firefighters from Harney, Union Bridge, Littlestown and Kingsdale, Pa. assisted Taneytown at 9: 47 p.m. Saturday, responding to a natural gas leak in the first block of E. Baltimore Street.

County officials issued 25 warnings over the weekend to residents who violated a ban on outdoor water use in South Carroll.Nearly 75 residents have received warnings in the past five days. Continued violations will lead to a water shut-off.The Freedom Water Treatment Plant, which serves about 6,000 homes in the county's most populous area, has been stressed by the drought and has approached its 3 million gallon capacity on several occasions.The ban remains in effect through September. Lawn sprinkling and carwashing are limited to alternate days, depending on street address.

FireWestminster: Firefighters from Reese, Pleasant Valley and Manchester assisted Westminster at 10: 10 a.m. Monday, responding to a natural gas leak in the 500 block of Baltimore Blvd. Units were out 40 minutes.PoliceWestminster: A resident of Cypress Point Court told police Sunday that someone damaged bushes and Christmas lights in the front yard. Damage was estimated at $260.Westminster: A resident of Collier Court told police Sunday that someone damaged a pine tree outside a home. Damage was estimated at $200.

The Howard County Courthouse was evacuated for about 45 minutes yesterday morning after officials noticed a strong gas odor coming from one corner of the building. Deputies interrupted Circuit Court proceedings, which had just started, about 9 a.m. to say the fire department was on its way to look for the source of the odor. Employees and spectators were allowed inside after fire officials who inspected the building and took meter readings said they could find no evidence of a natural gas leak and the smell dissipated, according to a fire department spokesman.

Colleen Brown, a second-semester junior at Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y., was named to the dean's list for the fall 1996 semester.She is the daughter of Elizabeth Brown of Fieldcrest and a 1994 graduate of South Carroll High School, where she performed with the Stagelighters.Brown has a 3.7-grade-point average at Wagner and has been inducted into Alethea, the senior women's honor society. The theater major has performed with several acting companies and is vice president of the Wagner Music Society.

Eileen O'Donnell has been appointed director of human resources at Villa Julie College in Baltimore.She has a bachelor's degree from Western Maryland College and master's from Towson State University.Her responsibilities will include administering employee benefit plans, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, and maintaining personnel financial records for the college.O'Donnell lives in Hampstead with her husband and baby daughter.FireManchester: Firefighters from Hampstead and Lineboro assisted Manchester at 2: 25 a.m. yesterday, responding to a refrigerator fire in the 3000 block of Michael Drive.