Ruland

Illegally dumped chemical waste, including the hazardous substance "methyl ethyl death," leaks where children play in the gunk. Monk Agricultural Chemical Co. (MACC), a global leader in the agricultural chemicals industry with an excellent record of corporate citizenship, has been charged with violating state environmental laws, and the case has gone to trial. One of many twists and turns in the case is that MACC had contracted out its waste disposal to the lowest bidder, now in bankruptcy, and had donated the land in question to an environmental group.

LANDOVER -- Working in his varied front-office positions in college and pro basketball, hockey and horse racing, John Nash has fulfilled a number of strange requests. None, however, quite matched the assignment he received in 1969 from then-Philadelphia 76ers business manager Pat Williams."I was Pat's assistant," said Nash, now the Washington Bullets general manager. "Between us, we handled everything concerning the business end of the team."Williams [now general manager of the Orlando Magic]

LANDOVER -- As his name was announced and the sellout crowd roared, Earl Monroe, for a brief moment, felt like he was back in the old days when the Baltimore Bullets were firmly established as one of the top teams in the league."

The Lake Shore Athletic Council and the county Department of Recreation and Parks are in a heated debate pitting Little League baseball against adult softball.The department wants to use one of the council's seven baseball diamonds for adult softball six nights a week next spring. Council members say the fields should be used for children.The two groups met at the Lake Shore Athletic Complex last night but didn't reach a decision. The council did propose that the adults use two fields at Downs Memorial Park or use the complex's lighted field in the evening, after the children finish.

State Comptroller William Donald Schaefer and Treasurer Richard N. Dixon joined forces yesterday to delay the long-planned demolition of Memorial Stadium - a move that angered neighborhood residents anxious to see it torn down. The two officials, a majority of the state's three-member Board of Public Works, forced the Maryland Stadium Authority to withdraw a $2.6 million demolition contract from the board agenda rather than see it go down to defeat. Schaefer and Dixon would have voted against it. The failure to approve the contract yesterday morning puts a hold on demolition work that was to have begun as early as Sunday.

Housing and Community Development Commissioner Daniel P. Henson III delayed his decision on the Memorial Stadium property yesterday, making no promises to follow a community consensus. At a news conference, Henson praised "three outstanding proposals" for redevelopment of the 30-acre North Baltimore parcel: one for a senior citizen community and YMCA, another for a combination commercial/housing use, and a third for a technology research office park. "It's a good process; there's nothing wrong with the process," said Henson.

No. 3 Maryland (24-9) vs. No. 14 Iona (20-10) What: First round, NCAA tournament Midwest Regional Where: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis When: Tonight, 7: 55 TV/Radio: Chs. 13, 9/WBAL (1090 AM) How they got here: The Terps advanced to their first Atlantic Coast Conference tournament final in 16 years, where they lost to Duke, to earn a top-four seeding for the third straight season. Iona started 1-3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference before winning 14 of its past 15 games.

Facing two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion Iona last night, host Loyola College again showed off the vast potential of its young lineup. Once again, however, it wasn't quite enough. After leading the conference favorites for much of the first half, and pulling to within two with just over a minute left, the Greyhounds faded down the stretch in a 68-63 loss. Coming off Thursday's triple-overtime loss to Siena and a five-point loss to conference power Manhattan earlier this month, the latest setback - Loyola's seventh straight and 10th in 11 games - left coach Scott Hicks scratching his head.

A.J. Smith wasn't exactly on familiar ground. The Hammond High junior was the only finalist from the only state public school at the Maryland Catholic Invitational Tournament yesterday at Archbishop Curley. But Smith made his presence known, pinning John Carroll's Joe Hudson at 1:48 to capture the title at 135 pounds and improve to 12-0. Smith, the only area champion, acknowledged a sense of satisfaction that he was able to pin a private school wrestler in the final. "When I dropped to 135 for this tournament," he said.

As he wrestled in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association heavyweight consolation final yesterday, McDonogh sophomore Doug Schenk had no idea his team's championship hopes rested solely on his shoulders. But as Schenk (27-11) pinned Rob Mutschler of Spalding, he vaulted McDonogh to an insurmountable total of 249.5 points -- 3.5 ahead of host Mount St. Joseph -- and its first MIAA tournament title in four years. Curley (204.5) finished third. "It feels awesome," Schenk said. "I didn't know it all came down to me, but I'm glad I could win it for the team."