In Baltimore County
Body of woman found in woods near railroad tracks
DUNDALK - The nude body of an unidentified woman was found yesterday afternoon in a wooded area near railroad tracks off the 2800 block of Sollers Point Road, and county police were awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine whether the death was a homicide.
Police Lt. Craig Bowers of the homicide squad said two homeless men were drinking in the woods near the CSX tracks shortly after noon when they discovered the body and called 911.
The woman was described as white, about 30 and with blond hair, and she appeared to have been dead several hours, he said. No obvious sign of foul play was found, but clothing believed to be the woman's was found several feet away, Bowers added.
Detectives were checking missing persons reports in an effort to identity the woman, and anyone with information is urged to call the homicide squad at 410-887-3943.
Man killed, 2 women hurt in 2-vehicle Beltway crash
WOODLAWN - A Baltimore County man was killed and two women were injured yesterday evening when the pickup truck he was driving collided with a car on the Beltway's outer loop between Liberty Road and Security Boulevard, state police said.
Kevin R. Connor, 42, of Mary Ridge Drive in Randallstown was driving the Ford F-250 truck in the fast lane about 6:40 p.m. when it collided with an Oldsmobile Achieva whose driver was trying to change lanes, said Trooper Carl Kess of the Golden Ring barracks.
The Oldsmobile driver, Sharon Lewis, 21, and her passenger, Shavon Gholson, 20, both of Baltimore were treated at Sinai Hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.
The crash disrupted traffic on the Beltway and alternate routes for about four hours.
School unions endorse council candidate Oliver
TOWSON - Kenneth N. Oliver, one of six candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the County Council's newly created District 4, has been endorsed by two school unions - the Teachers Association of Baltimore County and Baltimore County Instructional Assistants and Clerical Employees.
The groups, which represent 7,000 teachers and support staff in Baltimore County schools, also endorsed the incumbents seeking re-election in the other six districts. The west-side District 4 - including Woodlawn, Randallstown and parts of Owings Mills - was drawn to encourage election of the county's first African-American council member. Oliver is one of four black candidates in the race.
TABCO President Mark Beytin said Oliver, who resigned recently as chairman of the county planning board, gained the endorsements "by demonstrating a strong commitment to improving public education" in the county.
Police Capt. Mel Blizzard named Officer of the Year
TOWSON - Capt. Mel Blizzard has been named Baltimore County Police Officer of the Year by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - Metro Baltimore Inc.
Blizzard was honored for his role creating the Baltimore County Mobile Crisis Team, which pairs police officers with mental health clinicians who respond to mentally ill people in crisis.
Blizzard will receive his award at the alliance's annual dinner Wednesday at NAMI's office, 5210 York Road.
Summit Park wins Program of Year Award
PIKESVILLE - For the third consecutive year, Summit Park Elementary School has been named recipient of the School Program of the Year Award by the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce for its community outreach and charity work.
During the past year, pupils at the school sponsored a paper drive for a nearby women's shelter, held a fund-raiser for the American Heart Association and collected books for the library at Shady Spring Elementary School.
The school was presented with a plaque in recognition of pupils' efforts.
In Baltimore City
City native named deputy of housing operations
Anita Alexander has been named associate deputy executive director for housing operations at the Housing Authority of Baltimore City.
Alexander, a native of Baltimore, was general manager and chief operating officer for West Bank Mutual Management Co., a property management company specializing in low-income housing developments. She was based in Minneapolis.
Alexander began her career in housing as a housing specialist with the Metropolitan Council Housing and Redevelopment Authority in St. Paul, Minn., in 1982. She will begin her new job July 1. Information about her salary was not immediately available.
Civilian Review Board to meet Thursday night
Baltimore's Civilian Review Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at 10 N. Calvert St. in Suite 915.
The board, created by the General Assembly two years ago to ease community fears, investigates complaints about police.