Westminster

This weekend, he'll be brushed in his Davidsonville home to remove loose strands. He'll get a special bath with custom-blended shampoo, then a blow-dry in Annapolis. Then he'll down a little motion-sickness medicine for his ride to New York. Come Tuesday, Blanket Rocketship - named by preschool twins - will face the judges. The 110-ish pound Bernese mountain dog is slated to compete in the 137th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show. By 6 a.m., when the doors open, he'll have gotten a trim around the ears and good fluffing.

On Jan. 24, 1790, a gentleman in our community by the name of Christian Yingling died. His name and his passing are significant, because Yingling's is believed to be the first burial in the historic Westminster Cemetery on Church Street. It is accepted that the Westminster community started the Westminster Cemetery by utilizing the 1.5-acre grounds surrounding the Union Meeting House in 1790. In 1864, "the company purchased twelve-and-a-half surrounding acres from the estate of John Fisher (the first Burgess of the City of Westminster)

A homeless woman died in a fire outside a Westminster thrift store early Tuesday morning, according to the office of Maryland state fire marshal. The woman, who has not been identified, was found by firefighters behind The Spare Room at 28 West Main St. in Westminster, officials said. The thrift store is operated by the Westminster Rescue Mission. The Westminster Fire Department was called to the one-alarm fire at 1:49 a.m. when they located the remains of a body and clothing effects burning.

The Social Security office in Westminster will open at a new location Monday. The new office is in 125 Airport Drive, Unit 10, not far from the old location at 115 Airport Drive. The old office will take its last customer at 3 p.m. Friday. Partial service will start at noon Monday at the 125 Airport Drive location. Beginning Tuesday, the new office will provide full services. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The office is open from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday.

Maryland State police have charged David M. Montgomery with murder after a Westminster man was found dead early Saturday morning. Montgomery, 28, of no fixed address, was charged with first- and second-degree murder, and taken to the Carroll County Central Booking Center to await an appearance before a court commissioner. Edward C. Zepp, 61, was found dead on the back porch of his residence on the 100 block of West Main Street shortly after 4 a.m. with trauma to his neck. He was pronounced dead.

State police said Saturday that David M. Montgomery, 28, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man in Westminster this morning. Edward C. Zepp, 61, of the 100 block of West Main Street, Westminster, was found dead on the back porch of his residence early Saturday morning. Shortly after 4 a.m. Jan. 5, Westminster Police responded to a 911 call reporting an assault at the address. Police said they found Zepp on the back porch of his residence with trauma to his neck.  Medics pronounced him dead.

It's easy to understand why Westminster senior guard Mackenzie Murray is savoring her time on the basketball court more than many others this season. In each of the past two seasons, Murray suffered torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, requiring two surgeries (one to each knee) 13 months apart. Murray, also a standout forward on the Owls soccer team, spent 4 to 5 months in physical therapy after each procedure to be able to continue her athletic career. After finishing as one of Westminster's leading scorers on the soccer field this past fall, her third year on varsity, Murray is now doing whatever she can to help the basketball team to a winning season.

Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Guthrie will be the featured speaker at a Family Forum hosted by the CCPS Parent Guides group on Monday, Jan. 7, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Board of Education offices, 125 N. Court St., Westminster. The topic will be "The Future of Carroll County Public Schools. " Light refreshments will be served, and child care and activities for children will be provided. Those attending are asked to RSVP before Jan. 3 by calling Pat Levroney at 410-386-1680, or email ptlevro@carrollk12.org .        

Two juveniles were arrested in the burning of a wooden cross in the driveway of a Westminster home late Sunday night, according to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. Detectives and representatives of the Fire Marshall's Office responded to the 500 block of Ravenshead Run Road just after 11 p.m., when the burned religious symbol was found, the sheriff's office said. Meanwhile, sheriff's deputies were conducting an investigation in the area for a separate call and were able to identify and locate two juvenile suspects in the cross burning, the sheriff's office said.