Phelps Luck

Phelps Luck man, 26, killed in fiery car crashA 26-year-old Phelps Luck man was killed early yesterday when his car struck an embankment, overturned and caught fire at Tamar Drive and Snowden River Parkway, police said.Police said Jeffrey Robert Jones of the 5500 block of Phelps Luck Drive was driving north on Snowden River Parkway at 2:16 a.m. when he failed to halt at a stop sign. The car continued across the intersection and into the embankment, police said.Mr. Jones, who was alone in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The State Board of Education has ruled that the Howard County school district's most recent boundary-line revisions will stand unaffected this fall. Barry Budish, parent of a Waterloo Elementary pupil, appealed a decision in March to redistrict a Columbia neighborhood from one elementary school to two others in an effort to relieve crowding. Budish said the school district did not follow proper procedures when it decided to move 94 children from Waterloo to Jeffers Hill Elementary and 50 to Phelps Luck Elementary.

The State Board of Education has ruled that the Howard County school district's most recent boundary-line revisions will stand unaffected this fall. Barry Budish, parent of a Waterloo Elementary School pupil, had appealed a decision in March to redistrict a Columbia neighborhood from one elementary school to two others in an effort to relieve crowding. Budish said the district did not follow proper procedures when it decided to move 94 children from Waterloo to Jeffers Hill Elementary and 50 to Phelps Luck.

The Howard County school board denied last week a request to provide bus transportation for two Phelps Luck Elementary School students whose parents were concerned that the walking path between their house and the school was unsafe.Scott Jacoby was concerned about his second- and third-grade children walking along a bicycle path between his home in the 8900 block of Blue Pool and the school. The children also must cross Phelps Luck Drive at an intersection with four stop signs.School officials denied the request for bus transportation, saying the route was safe.

Two 15-year-old Columbia males have been arrested and each charged with 27 counts of destruction of property as a result of several houses and cars being spray-painted in east Columbia's Phelps Luck neighborhood last month, Howard County police said yesterday.Their arrest Friday came after a police investigation involving surveillance, interviews and execution of a search-and-seizure warrant, a police report said.During the search of the boys' homes, evidence was found linking them to the crimes, police said.

A new feasibility study evaluating the Howard County school system's long-term redistricting and capital needs is calling for several construction projects to meet enrollment increases. The Board of Education learned last week that the school system might need to build a replacement for West Friendship Elementary School in 2010 and additions at Centennial Lane, Bryant Woods, Running Brook and Elkridge elementary schools. The feasibility study is the first step in the school system's revamped process to link future capital needs with redistricting proposals.

Everyone hates Howard County's nearly annual school redistricting. County officials hate it, students hate it, administrators hate it. But parents hate it most of all. They don't want to move their children from the schools they attend. They say redistricting will break up communities, cause kids to lose friends, be nothing but a big hassle. But the root of their frustration - the problem no one wants to talk about - is Howard County's skeleton in the closet: Not all schools are equal.

The Phelps Luck pool resembled a state of controlled chaos. Parents and volunteers scurried around the 25-yard pool to help instruct, score and do administrative tasks. Several manned the concession stand, and others helped inform the children when their races would take place. Some just played the role of nervous parents. But the children, well, they were having a blast. "The kids just have a great time," said Columbia resident Mary Nakagama, whose son, Matthew, is a member of the Phelps Luck Snappers.

Individuals, Scout troops, civic groups and others are invited to join the Columbia Wildlife and Habitat Advisory Committee to clean up around Lake Elkhorn from 10 a.m. to noon April 2. Bring rakes and gloves, and wear old clothes and boots. The rain date is April 9. Information: Owen Brown Community Center, 410-381-0202, Lilly Zuberi, 410-730-2045, or Helen Bahr, 410-381-7425. Kindergarten sign-ups to begin at two schools Kindergarten registration for the 2005-2006 school year begins this week at Thunder Hill and Phelps Luck elementary schools.

Phelps Luck Elementary School Principal James Weisner stepped out of his office Friday afternoon and caused a scene: He rode a large red and white fire engine through the Long Reach community, waving and smiling to strangers."