Executive seeks more for school construction
County Executive James T. Smith Jr. appeared yesterday before the state Board of Public Works to ask for additional state money to build and renovate schools in the county.
Smith told the board -- Gov. Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and state Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp -- that the $27.9 million in state money already committed to the county is being used to start construction of Vincent Farms Elementary, for renovations of Perry Hall and General John Stricker middle schools, and for roof replacement projects at three schools. But he asked for a "substantially larger commitment" from the state.
A request for $95 million in state money for county school projects tops Smith's list of priorities for this year's General Assembly session. That amount is nearly 2 1/2 times the amount the county received last year.
The Board of Public Works approves state contracts.
Pikesville
Four men sought in robbery of family
County police are searching for four men who robbed a Pikesville-area family Oct. 13 of tens of thousands of dollars in sports memorabilia, authorities said yesterday.
The robbery occurred after four men followed a woman into her garage in the first block of Evan Way, police said. After three months of investigation and few leads, police are appealing to the public for information.
The men, including one who was armed, pushed the woman into her home and then forced her, her husband and son to the floor and assaulted them, police said.
During the robbery, the men went through the home and took electronics, jewelry and about $20,000 in sports memorabilia, police said.
The items included: two boxing gloves autographed by Muhammad Ali; a baseball bat autographed by Ted Williams; and a baseball autographed by Hank Aaron.
The men were wearing dark clothing, gloves and masks, and were in their late 20s. One man wore a black hood with a multicolored figure on the back, police said.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call county police at 410-307-2020 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7-LOCKUP.
Nick Shields
Catonsville
Man struck by car dies of injuries
A Catonsville man died Tuesday afternoon at Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, one day after he was struck by a car while attempting to cross Baltimore National Pike less than a mile from his home, county police said.
Joseph Lawrence Grinnan, 34, of the first block of Baldwin Court was crossing the 6200 block of Baltimore National Pike near Pine Street about 10 p.m. Monday, police said.
He was not in a pedestrian crosswalk when he stepped into the path of an eastbound 1992 Ford Taurus, authorities said.
Grinnan suffered head and body injuries and was taken by ambulance to Shock Trauma, police and hospital officials said.
Authorities said pedestrian error contributed to the accident.
The name of the driver, who remained at the scene, was not released.
Richard Irwin and Nick Shields
Sparrows Point
Deadline set for LNG-plant comments
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has set a Feb. 14 deadline for public comments about an application by AES Corp., a global power supply company, proposing to build a liquefied natural gas facility at the Sparrows Point shipyard.
The agency is to determine by November whether AES can construct an LNG terminal on an 80-acre parcel in the Sparrows Point industrial complex and an 88-mile pipeline to distribute the gas.
The imported liquefied gas would arrive in overseas tankers for processing at the terminal, before being sent through the pipeline to southern Pennsylvania, where the natural gas would be distributed elsewhere on the East Coast.
The public will have an opportunity to comment on more specific issues associated with the proposal after next month, said Tamara Young-Allen, a spokeswoman for the energy commission.
It has not been determined whether there will be public meetings about the project, Young-Allen said.
Comments about the LNG terminal should reference docket numbers CP07-62-000, CP07-63-000, CP07-64-000, and CP07-65-000.
The agency requests that comments be filed electronically using the e-filing link on the commission's Web site at www.ferc.gov.
For assistance, call 866-208-3676.
White Marsh
Popsicle Plunge set for Gunpowder
Members of the Marshy Point Nature Center Council are hosting Popsicle Plunge to benefit the nature center March 3 at Gunpowder Falls State Park.
Participants are asked to solicit pledges from friends, community organizations and co-workers for taking an icy dip in the waters of the Gunpowder River at the state park's Hammerman area near White Marsh.
Money raised from the event will help fund programs for students at the center in Dundee & Saltpeter Creeks Park.
The first 150 people to register will receive hooded sweat shirts, and there will be heated tents, free food, hot drinks and games.
Teams and individuals may compete for prizes donated by local businesses and restaurants.
Registration packets are available at www.marshypoint. org or calling 410-887-2817.
Events or news items for the Baltimore County Digest may be submitted to baltco.news@baltsun.com. Information should be sent at least 10 days in advance of the event.