In Baltimore City
Catholic Charities caseworker gets 2 years for stealing
A former Associated Catholic Charities caseworker -- convicted of stealing more than $73,000 from disabled and vulnerable clients -- was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison by Baltimore Circuit Judge Joseph McCurdy, the attorney general's office announced.
Dorothy Moore Williams, 52, of Southall Road in Randallstown stole the money between 1998 and 2000 from the bank accounts of three clients whose finances she was appointed to manage. She was ordered by the judge to pay restitution of $54,000 to the two who are still living, according to the office, which prosecuted the case.
The victims included a 76-year-old woman with advanced dementia, who came under Williams' care after social workers found she was being exploited by unscrupulous neighbors who had gained access to her checkbook.
Williams took $41,000 of the woman's money, for such things as car payments, credit card debt and catalog shopping. She also added herself to the victim's credit cards and ran up an unpaid $14,000 in personal expenditures, the state said.
Dixon event to honor those who help community
City Council President Sheila Dixon's annual prayer breakfast, including recognition of people whose efforts have helped improve the community, will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday at Pennsylvania Avenue AME Zion Church, 1128 Pennsylvania Ave.
Those to be honored include Bertha Hill, of the Arlington Community Association; Gwendolyn A. Johnson, who volunteers with seniors; Debra Hickman, who works with female drug addicts; Jerene DeShields, who performs in a senior citizen dance troupe; Myrtle "Mama Myrt" Howerton, a neighborhood activist; City Council members Bernard C. "Jack" Young and Catherine E. Pugh; Del. Salima S. Marriott; and Phillip Dixon, the councilwoman's nephew, who volunteers at city recreation centers.
Tickets to the nonprofit event are $35 and may be purchased at the door.
In Baltimore County
National Guard unit called to active duty
PIKESVILLE -- The Maryland Army National Guard's 29th Joint Task Force Augmentation Team, based in Pikesville, is being called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, America's war on terrorism.
The unit will be mobilized today and tomorrow. The 20-member unit will be on active duty for at least one year, a period that could be extended up to two years.
The 29th JTFAT, which helps synchronize military operations, will leave Maryland for Fort Dix, N.J., where members will prepare for a mission outside U.S. borders.
Bulldozer rams into bar in robbery try, police say
ESSEX -- Would-be robbers commandeered a bulldozer from a construction site early yesterday and rammed it into the back of a bar on Homberg Avenue, causing an estimated $50,000 in damage, Baltimore County police said.
Police responded to an alarm at the Good Times Lounge, in the 1200 block of Homberg Ave., at 2:37 a.m. and found two bottles of vodka on the ground outside the bar. Police found no indication that anything else was taken in what they said was an attempted robbery.
Diana Nicholas, a bartender at the lounge, arrived for work yesterday and found a hole in the back of the building. "I had been off for two days," she said. "I was shocked."
Restrictions lifted on contact with water in Bear Creek
DUNDALK -- Baltimore County's Department of Environmental Protection and Resources lifted restrictions yesterday on contact with water in the Bear Creek area.
More than 18,000 gallons of sewage overflowed into the creek, which abuts Turners Station, after power at two pumping stations was knocked out by storms June 6.
Restrictions remain at nearby Peach Orchard Creek, where residents should avoid contact with the water, county officials said.
Open house, picnic to mark dedication of Towson park
TOWSON -- Bykota Senior Center and West Towson Community Center will sponsor an open house and picnic celebrating the dedication of West Towson Park from noon to 4 p.m. June 22 at the center and park, 611 Central Ave.
The festivities will include an antique car display, children's activities including face painting and pony rides, music and a raffle.
In addition, representatives from Maryland General Hospital will provide health screenings and an official from Maryland Transit Administration will issue or renew senior bus passes.
Recycling agency honored for program in schools
TOWSON -- Baltimore County's Bureau of Solid Waste Management was presented with the 2002 Outstanding Government Leadership Award at the recent Maryland Recyclers Conference.
The county was praised for its efforts to educate elementary school pupils about recycling. This is the second consecutive year the county has won the award, which is presented by the Maryland Recyclers Coalition.
The county's campaign involved interactive programs at 45 elementary schools during this school year.