Walkersville

WALKERSVILLE -- The Board of Zoning Appeals of this Frederick County town turned down last night a request by a Muslim group to put a mosque and retreat center on 224 acres of farmland. Though the request has raised issues of religious freedom and tolerance, the board mentioned much more mundane reasons -- problems with traffic and water and the details of the town's master plan and wording of its zoning regulations. The decision came on the third night of the board's public deliberation on the second floor of Walkerville's Town Hall, an event that attracted about 100 residents each night.

WALKERSVILLE -- The zoning board of this Frederick County town adjourned without reaching a decision last night on a controversial proposal by a Muslim group to use a 224-acre tract of farmland as a religious retreat. Although it was clear the board was leaning toward rejection of the request by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community when deliberations resume tonight, officials of the group remained publicly optimistic. "I am hoping for the best," said Ahsanullah Zafar, president of the community, which has its headquarters in Silver Spring.

WALKERSVILLE -- A Walkersville town commissioner denied Tuesday that he gave $500 to a citizens group that opposes plans for a Muslim worship and conference center in the rural Frederick County community. Commissioner Chad Weddle also denied having advised the Citizens for Walkersville on how to defeat the project proposed by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. The allegations surfaced in a sworn affidavit hours before the planning commission in the town of 5,600 voted on a zoning amendment proposed by Weddle that could block the project by prohibiting places of worship, schools and private clubs on agricultural land.

WALKERSVILLE -- This small town of shady porches and green fields saw its last murder in 1929. The mayor runs a feed and seed store, where on Monday nights he presides over a long-running dominoes game. Many people live here because their parents and grandparents lived here before them. And they like things the way they are. So, a Muslim group's plan to purchase 224 acres of farmland to use for an annual convention and other activities has created a stir - one of the biggest in decades.

A 15-year-old Walkersville boy has been arrested and charged as a juvenile in connection with the shooting of three other youths late Saturday outside a community center, the Frederick County Sheriff's Office said yesterday. The victims - all from Frederick - included a 16-year-old found lying outside the Discovery Community Center in Walkersville with a head wound. He remained under treatment yesterday at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Another 16-year-old, wounded in the forearm, was treated and released at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

Going into yesterday's Class 2A state semifinal game, the Atholton girls basketball team didn't look at itself as being decisively smaller than Walkersville, the West region champion. Just decisively quicker. The No. 9 Raiders hassled their previously unbeaten Frederick County opponent with a relentless press and made a determined effort to get to the basket on offense, also leaning on last year's state semifinal loss as experience. Junior guard Brittany Coughlan led four starters in double figures with 17 points, and the united front on defense caused 27 turnovers, sending Atholton to its first state championship game with a convincing 68-56 win over the Lions at UMBC's RAC Arena.

The Atholton boys basketball team likes a quick tempo and can pile up points with three standout players averaging 14 points per game or better. River Hill counts on stingy defense and prefers a slower pace in its methodical, Princeton-style half-court offense. The two teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack - both entered the week with 12-2 overall records and 9-1 league marks - and something has to give Friday night when the Atholton Raiders host the Hawks of River Hill at 7 o'clock.

Ronald Lee Butler, a certified public accountant, died Wednesday of lung cancer at his retirement home in Pawleys Island, S.C. The former Columbia resident was 67. Born in Poolesville, Mr. Butler was a 1957 graduate of Poolesville High School and a 1959 graduate of what is now Strayer University in Rockville. After he earned his degrees, he spent two years in the Army. In 1975, Mr. Butler moved his family from Rockville to Columbia, where he started a CPA practice. In his last decade, he started a new CPA practice, now known as Butler, Lavanceau & Sober LLC. He became an avid golfer and also adopted a dog named Duke.

On March 12, 2006 DENNIS LLOYD PRUITT of Walkersville; son of Harold and Eleanor Pruitt of New Smyrna Beach, FL; beloved husband of Marlene E. Pruitt; devoted father of Michael D. and Elizabeth A.; brother of twin Donald L. Pruitt, Hagerstown and Jennifer Beemer of Deland, FL. Visitation 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 11802 Liberty Road, Libertytown. Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Parish Center of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Libertytown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship fund for daughter, c/o Marlene Pruitt, 117 Polaris Dr., Walkersville, MD 21793.

COLLEGE PARK -- Devon Gillett (112 pounds), Jose Maldonado (135), two-time state champion Vince Taweel (140) and Steve Sessa (189) moved forward for Hammond, which had a half-point lead over Howard County rival Glenelg and Walkersville of Frederick County entering today's semifinals of the Class 2A-1A state tournament at Cole Field House. Brothers Dan (119) and Matt Bichner (160), as well as teammates Brian Macoux (112) and Chris Stinnett (125) advanced for Glenelg, whose 40 points were tied with Walkersville behind Hammond's 40.5.