Salvation

FLINTSTONE - At the verdant Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort outside Cumberland, a retired nurse from Pennsylvania strolls the banks of man-made Lake Habeeb, relishing a vacation of spa treatments and boutique shopping while her husband plays the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. Eleven miles away, just across the West Virginia border, a part-time factory worker and a retiree cheerfully drain money into a bank of five slot machines lining a cramped, windowless room near the regional airport, along with three other Cumberland women.

On July 29, 2008, JAMES J., SR.; beloved husband of Alice Dodson Kidwell; loving father of five children and their spouses. Also survived by 16 loving grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at the Lassahn Funeral Home, Inc., 7401 Belair Road, on Friday at 11 A.M. The family will receive friends on Thursday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Interment Parkwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Arnolia United Methodist Church, 1776 Joppa Road or the Salvation Army.

On June 14, 2008 Ralph S. Wolf Funeral Services and Interment are private. In lieu of flowers, Salvation Army, 814 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. Arrangements by Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc.

Irene R. Eaton, a retired elementary school teacher who set up a financially successful store at her retirement community, died of old age June 7 at Oak Crest Village. She was 93. Sometimes called the "Queen of Oak Crest," she raised nearly $900,000 for projects and charity work at the Parkville retirement village. Born Irene Rollins in Rutherford County, N.C., she earned a bachelor's degree at Appalachian University in Boone, N.C. She moved to Carroll County, and while living and teaching in Sykesville met her future husband, Warren Eaton, an auto mechanic.

On March 29, 2008, RITA L. GEMMILL, beloved wife of Robert M. Gemmill. A memorial service will be held at a later date to be determined. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Salvation Army, Division Headquarters, 814 Light St., Balt., MD 21230. Arrangements by the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 13312 Cain Road, Tampa, at 11 am on Saturday, April 5. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Community Concern for Animals, 7701 Gardener Road, Tampa, FL 33625; The Humane Society of Tampa Bay; and The Salvation Army.

March 10 1629 England's King Charles I dissolved Parliament; he did not call it back for 11 years. 1880 The Salvation Army arrived in the United States from England.

Former state Sen. J. Robert Hooper, who resigned Dec. 31 because of health problems, died last night at his Harford County home of colon cancer. The Republican was 71. Two months ago, Mr. Hooper, of Street, took part in the legislature's special session, but he announced Nov. 14 that he would resign because his declining health was an obstacle to meeting the demands of the office. "It would be unjust to the people of the 35th District to expect less than a 100 percent effort from their representative," he said at a news conference.

Joe Moffett wishes the spit test was available four years ago, before the tumor near the base of his tongue put him through months of radiation treatments, chemotherapy and surgery -- plus the hassle of taking nourishment through a feeding tube inserted at Johns Hopkins Hospital. "Having a test out there, I could have avoided a whole lot. But still, I thank the good Lord I'm alive, and I'm excited about this test. It could help a lot of people," said Moffett, 69, a retired Army pilot from Dillon, S.C. Researchers at Hopkins published findings this month showing they are close to developing a mouth rinse that can detect head and neck cancer such as Moffett's.

UPPER MARLBORO -- The bad news is that the Patuxent River is in deep trouble, struggling against a tide of pollution and sediment that has turned this once-fertile river into a mucky brown mess. The good news: Scientists, legislators and local activists have a better understanding of what ails the river and what they can do to fix it. The Patuxent Riverkeeper, an advocacy group, released a report yesterday outlining a dozen major problems that are causing the river to slowly die and recommending a plan of action to stem the decline.