County ranks third in IT services
County Executive Ken Ulman has announced that Howard County has been ranked third in the nation among counties using information technology creatively to improve service to residents.
The ranking is based on the 2007 Digital Counties survey, conducted by the Center for Digital Government, a division of e.Republic Inc., and the National Association of Counties.
Counties of similar size, with populations between 250,000 and 499,999, were rated for online service delivery, infrastructure, architecture and governance models.
Howard County's Web site, established in 1995, offers residents a chance to see job opportunities, see news releases, give budget testimony, register for Recreation and Parks classes, pay bills and use interactive maps.
The Web site, www.howard countymd.gov, is maintained by the Department of Technology and Communication Services working in cooperation with the Office of Public Information.
Howard and other counties will be honored at a national awards ceremony this month during the national conference of the National Association of Counties in Richmond, Va.
Sports Hall of Fame announces inductees
The Howard County Community Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks, has announced its 2007 inductees: Marie Curry, Paul Donovan, Jim McCauley, Bill McCormack, Joe Wall and Jim Yedlicka.
The inductees include sports promoters, coaches and league administrators.
Curry and other community leaders helped to form the Jackie Robinson Baseball League in Guilford, Simpsonville, Jessup, Cooksville and Elkridge.
Donovan is founder of the Columbia Reds baseball team.
McCauley developed the Columbia Basketball Association instructional clinic to encourage young children to participate in the sport.
McCormack coached for the Soccer Association of Columbia for 33 years and for the Columbia Basketball Association for 23 years.
Wall helped to start the Columbia Optimist Boys Recreation Association's wrestling program and has coached for many years.
As director of recreation for the Columbia Association from 1969 to 1977, Yedlicka established a youth soccer program that grew into the Soccer Association of Columbia. He served as a volunteer coach and commissioner for the Maryland Commission for Physical Fitness.
Induction ceremonies will be held Oct. 22 at the fifth Celebration of Sports at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville.
Tickets: 410-313-7275.
County executive to hold forum
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman will hold a public forum for county residents from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. July 25 in the Oakland Mills High School cafeteria. The school is at 9410 Kilimanjaro Road in Columbia.
The event will offer residents the opportunity to speak with the county executive and the heads of county government departments.
Those who wish to speak will be asked to sign up when they arrive in the cafeteria. Speakers will be asked to limit their questions or comments to two minutes.