Tarpley

Two Mount Hebron High School students were arrested yesterday and charged after police said a group of about 10 teen-agers attacked a former Mount Hebron student, who withdrew from the school last month. The victim, a 17-year-old from Ellicott City, was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, suffering from a puncture wound on the back of his head and "multiple trauma wounds" on his body, according to a Howard County Police Department news release. He was in fair and stable condition, police said.

Every month, sometimes two or three times a month, Michelle Hill strolls over to Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.'s headquarters on Lexington Street and hands a window teller $5 or $10 and asks that it be credited to her utility bill. Every little bit helps, said Hill, who for years has been going there to pay her bill, as did her parents and grandparents. "After I pay my bill, I usually buy some peanuts at the Peanut Shoppe and go shopping across the street," said Hill, a 24-year-old sales associate.

Sanchez advances in Virginia SlimsArantxa Sanchez Vicario, displaying the form that took her to the French Open title in 1989, crushed mistake-prone Natalia Zvereva, 6-2, 7-5, and Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere shook off a sluggish start to defeat Judith Wiesner, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0, last night in the opening matches of the Virginia Slims Championships in New York's Madison Square Garden.Using her quickness and hustle, Sanchez was quick to take advantage of Zvereva's errors, especially a wayward backhand, while returning ground strokes to the far corners of the court.

Drugs and track and moneyDrug abuse is still rife in track and field despite attempts to crack down, world mile record-holder Steve Cram of Britain says."

VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS* WHEN: Tonight, 8:30.* WHERE: Reunion Arena, Dallas.% * RADIO: WTOP-AM 1500.VS. CLEVELAND CAVS* WHEN: Sunday, 1 p.m.* WHERE: Baltimore Arena.* RADIO: WBAL-AM 1090, WTOP-AM 1500.* OUTLOOK: The Bullets (21-29) have won only once in six triethis month and their potential playoff spot is in jeopardy. A loss tonight would drop the Bullets behind the Indiana Pacers (20-28) in the "race" for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Bernard King, who had 29 points in last night's loss in Houston, continues to lead the Bullets, who badly miss the leadership of injured point guard Darrell Walker.

Good morning --Kyle Boller -- Watch David Carr run for his life today. That's you if Jonathan Ogden doesn't come back next season. Question of the day Do you expect the Orioles to make any moves during the winter meetings? Selected responses to today's question will be printed tomorrow on The Kickoff page. Please e-mail your answer (about 25 words) to sports@baltsun.com by 3 p.m. today. Include your name, address and a daytime telephone number for verification purposes. THEY SAID IT "Random thought while watching the Steelers and Colts on Monday night: Troy Polamalu hits everything but the barber shop."

On Wednesday, April 20, 2005, ROBERT "Buck" VERNON BARNES, JR., 87, of New Castle, formerly of Baltimore, MD, passed away at home. He was preceded in death by his father Robert V. Barnes, Sr.; mother Katherine A. Barnes and sister Ruth Thompson. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Jane Looney Barnes and daughter Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Lettshek and husband Daniel; nephews Billy Simpson, King Thompson and Bobby Thompson. He served as a US Marine and participated in action against the enemy on Gilbert Island and Okinawa.

BASEBALL American League * Texas Rangers -- Waived Jamie Moyer (pitcher).Toronto Blue Jays -- Added Denis Boucher and Mike Timlin (pitchers) and William Suero (second baseman) to the 40-man roster. Assigned the contract of Jimmy Rogers (pitcher) outright to Syracuse of the International League.National League * Atlanta Braves -- Placed Marty Clary and Dwayne Henry pitcher) on waivers for the purpose of giving them their unconditional release.* New York Mets -- Added Anthony Young and John Johnstone (pitchers)

MEMBERS OF the Chinese Language School of Columbia brought in the Chinese New Year with a bang at the central branch of the Howard County Public Library on Saturday. The celebration began with the sounds of a ceremonial drum and a performance of the traditional Lion Dance. Yesterday marked the year 4699 on the Chinese calendar, the year of the horse. In China, the New Year's celebration is also called the Spring Festival. "A person born in this year will be very outgoing, active, faithful and energetic," said Emily Lee, executive director of extracurricular activities for the Columbia school.