Alex Mann

The Mount Airy Mayor and Town Council approved rezoning a property on Twin Arch Road from residential to industrial after a rare, court-like public hearing Monday, Aug. 6.

The Westminster Municipal Band is rooted in family and tradition. It’s existed for more than a century, bringing its music to communities across the state — and sometimes Pennsylvania. It incorporated in 1893, according to band President Gregory Wantz.

It was a night of firsts at the Carroll County 4-H & FFA Fair Wednesday. Margaret Smith, 15, Manchester Valley High School student, took home first place grand champion for her Apple Pi Pie. But it was only the third pie the teen ever made, she said.

The Town of Mount Airy’s Planning Commission convened Monday, July 30 for its monthly meeting to establish a set of rules and procedures, advise Town Council on a local petition for annexation and to vote on a concept plan. 

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said workers continue to drain water from Cascade Lake in Hampstead.The lake reached its maximum capacity of water and a recent inspection of the dam revealed damage. Workers are reducing the water level to a point where they can perform a controlled breach.

A Westminster resident raised concerns about increased drug activity in her part of the city at a Mayor and Council Meeting July 9. The city's police department appears to have responded quickly, mobilizing foot patrols and re-establishing a liaison officer for that part of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Many Carroll County roads remained closed Thursday after potentially historic levels of rain soaked the area, flooding roads, downing trees and wires, creating sinkholes and transforming  streams to fast flowing rapids. Over the past three days four to seven inches of rain fell on Carroll.

Police were alerted to a report of shots fired in Westminster at around 9 p.m. Wednesday.

They’re the faces of Carroll County’s 2018 4-H & FFA Fair. But there’s more to them than meets the eye. Westminster High School students Liam Bates, 17, and Payton Steele, 16, were named Mr. and Miss 4-H. They've embraced a leadership role leading up to the fair, and will continue to lead after.

Children and teens displayed their beloved canines at the annual 4-H & FFA Dog Show on Sunday, July 22. “The kids have been practicing for 12 weeks now, they’ve been coming every Tuesday night,” said Robin Korotki, director of the 4-H Dog Club and dog show co-superintendent.

The City of Westminster’s Mayor and Common Council met Monday, July 23 to address the Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory, vote on the purchase of police vehicles and a bid to pave city streets and to review blueprints for the new city offices.

Growing Ideas Sustainable Gardening, Mildred Rodman’s renewable and up-cycled potting mix business. Growing Ideas is one of five finalists in the 2018 Carroll Biz Challenge that will compete in the Live Finale on Thursday, Aug. 9.

Re-enactors flooded Carroll County in droves Saturday, July 21, to recreate and honor moments from the most divisive time in American history. But the Civil War Encampment & Living History event at the ancient Union Mills Homestead was anything but alienating, despite the harsh weather conditions.

The Carroll County Bureau of Utilities shut off water serving the northern part of Piney Ridge Village Thursday afternoon to repair a damaged water main. 

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration has hired a contractor to resurface a more than 2-mile stretch of Ridge Road adjacent to Mount Airy. 

It’s almost time for the annual Carroll County 4-H & FFA Fair. That means fair-goers and competitors will try new things —say, showing a Dairy Heifer— strive for excellence and have fun appreciating others hard work. 4-H ambassadors have prepared for the 2018 fair since last year's edition.

A Sykesville man was arrested Thursday afternoon after he failed multiple field sobriety tests and was caught with heroin and a loaded, stolen firearm in his possession, police said. Police charged Kristopher Bell, 26, of the 1000 Block of Courtland Drive, with six criminal charges.

Campers participating in the marine science segment of McDaniel College’s Summer Science Academy included muddy hands and scientific experiments aboard the Rachel Carson — the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s flagship research vessel. 

The Town of Hampstead Mayor and Council voted unanimously Tuesday, July 10 during their monthly meeting to appoint a new police chief. David Snyder, a 30-year veteran of the Lower Merion Police Department, will be sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Hampstead Police Department next month.

It wasn’t on the agenda when the City of Westminster’s Mayor and Common Council gathered for the first of their twice-monthly meetings on Monday, July 9. But Dr. Darcel Harris made sure that criminal activity along Pennsylvania Avenue became a key talking point as the meeting progressed.

A Taneytown man was arrested and charged with two crimes Friday, July 6 after a domestic altercation. Henry Zimmerman, 44, from the 100 Block of Carnival Drive, was charged with second-degree assault and intoxicated endangerment.

The group of Common Ground on the Hill students participating in the week-long “Having Your Way with Fire” and “Common Ground on the Grill” classes said they chose the courses to refine skills. But they left with an overwhelming sense of community earned by cooking together over open flames.

The Mount Airy Town Council and Mayor meeting on Monday was a blend of triumphant returns, bittersweet farewells and business as usual. It was Councilman Scott Strong’s final council meeting, as he accepted a job in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mayor Patrick Rockinberg returned after cancer surgery.

Amy Dolly, 38, of Westminster, was charged with first- and fourth-degree burglary, possession of a stolen firearm and six other charges.

Children and parents flocked to Locust Lane in Westminster around midday Thursday for a refreshing treat on the house.

Jonathan Tasker, 29, of Westminster, was charged with first-degree burglary and misdemeanor theft. Bond was set at $3,500, which Tasker posted Monday, according to electronic court records

The Carroll County Board of County Commissioners has vouched to have a summer free for of plastic drinking straws, as part of wider-reaching campaign aiming to reduce plastic pollution — the Strawless Summer Pledge.

As week two of the 24th edition of Common Ground kicks off Monday, July 2, two keynote lecturers will discuss how to institute change. The two speakers, Paulo Gregory Harris and Genard “Shadow” Barr, will talk about how they’ve worked to inspire change in underserved communities in Baltimore. 

JoAnn Ferrare and Jennifer Farrow didn’t think twice about taking a group of children from their daycares to the park in Taneytown on Wednesday, June 20. But then they noticed white splotches on the kids' clothes. The investigated further and were overwhelmed by the sharp smell of bleach.

The town of Hampstead’s Planning and Zoning Commission met Wednesday to discuss a new development and the drawn-out Main Street revitalization project. Florida Rock Properties Inc. is slated to create a suburban development complete with a pool, club and townhouses with garages.

Maryland Legislative District 9, which covers Howard County, also includes a small part of Southern Carroll County. Incumbent Republicans representing this district in the House of Delegates run unopposed, while incumbent state Sen. Gail Bates has a challenger in primary election Tuesday, June 26.

Maryland’s fourth legislative district primarily covers Frederick County but includes a small portion of the Carroll County. Incumbent Republican Sen. Michael Hough ran uncontested in his party's primary and will now face Jessica Douglass, who narrowly won the Democratic primary.

The race to represent Maryland’s fifth legislative district — which encapsulates most of Carroll County — is on.  Four Republican candidates are running for three District 5 seats in the Maryland House of Delegates. Three of those candidates are incumbents, with a lone newcomer. 

The City of Westminster’s Mayor and Common Council met Monday, June 25 for one of their regular, bi-monthly meetings to discuss sewage sludge, medical cannabis and more.

Team New Forest, comprised of British cyclists and a mostly British crew, reached Mount Airy on Friday, June 22, after enduring more than 3,000 miles of America's toughest terrain during extreme-endurance cycling event Race Across America.

A multiple truck and car accident involving a FedEx truck on Md. 140 early Friday, June 22, wiped out the massive Full Moon Pub & Grill sign, and slowed traffic in both directions.

As early voting for the 2018 Maryland gubernatorial primary wound to a halt in Carroll County on Thursday, election volunteers maintained their posts, making sure the last voters were able to cast their ballots.

Maryland State Police responded to a call Wednesday evening for an apparent sinkhole in the parking lot of the Aldi supermarket in Eldersburg. The area is underlain by a type of rock that does not usually produce sinkholes, meaning the cause was likely human induced.

The University of Maryland Extension Carroll County Office is hosting Pick for a one-time genetics literacy course July 18. The course will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Eldersburg branch of the Carroll County Public Library.

Joan Orem worked at Baugher's Restaurant in Westminster for more than 50 years. She was beloved by her customers for her exceptional service and because she took the time to get to know them well. Orem died at her home in Westminster on Sunday, June 17.

A trailer in Westminster caught fire and was mostly scorched early Tuesday morning.  The trailer, which was located in the 1900 Block of Tyrone Road in Westminster, was owned by Charles Walker, according to a notice of investigation prepared by the Office of the State Fire Marshall. 

A Westminster man was arrested Friday, June 15 after an alleged fight.  Anthony Doler, 45, of Bond Street in Westminster, was charged with one count of disorderly conduct and two counts of second-degree assault.

Registered voters in Carroll County have trickled into the polls since early voting for the 2018 Maryland gubernatorial primary election began. Almost 1,900 Carroll residents have cast ballots since Thursday, June 14 at 10 a.m., according to the County Board of Elections.

Friday, June 15, was the last day of the school year for Carroll County Public Schools. At South Carroll High School, students talked about summer plans over lunch, but wasted no time exiting the building.

Early voting for Maryland's gubernatorial primary election began Thursday, June 14, and for the first time, Carroll County has two early voting centers where ballots can be cast.

Two candidates in the 2017 Taneytown City Council election failed to report accurately disclose their finances to the city. The city ethics board, charged with regulating the campaign finance ordinance, is "fed up," as they can't fine or penalize candidates who fail to follow the rules.

Taneytown is really “mixing it up” for the seventh edition of the city’s annual Wine, Arts and Music Fest.  From food trucks to an upbeat jazz band, event organizers took no shortcut in gathering an eclectic mix of food and alcohol vendors, musical acts and art displays. 

Westminster Department of Recreation and Parks Director Abby Gruber was recognized as Municipal Employee of the Year by the Maryland Municipal League. Two of Gruber's Westminster colleagues have won the award before.

A Germantown man was arrested Sunday June 10 after allegedly instigating a fight and striking a woman in the face. Brandon Rosen, 21, of the 10000 Block of Quailwoods Drive, was charged with four misdemeanors, including failure to obey, obstructing a police officer and second degree assault.

A Westminster man was arrested June 8 after allegedly forcing his way into an apartment before beating and shooting another man with a BB gun. Police said Harris fired the BB gun repeatedly, striking the victim in the face at least eight times.