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The Baltimore Sun

Playground on 33rd St., rid of rats, is reopened

A large playground at the site of the former Memorial Stadium that was closed this month because of a rodent infestation reopened over the weekend, a spokeswoman for the YMCA of Central Maryland said yesterday.

The rat problem has been dealt with, but officials are still debating whether to change from wood mulch - which rodents like for burrowing - to plastic mulch as ground cover. The spokeswoman, Sara I. Milstein, said plastic is expensive and that cost estimates have varied widely.

She said crews have worked for weeks to clean the 14,000- square-foot playground next to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg YMCA on East 33rd Street in Waverly. It had been closed since July 1.

"We feel it is safe," Milstein said.

The playground was built in 2005 by more than 2,000 volunteers for about $400,000. The money was donated by private businesses and corporations. The YMCA is responsible for maintaining the playground.

Baltimore

: Recreation

Druid Hill Park pool reopens after repair

The Druid Hill Park pool has reopened after the pool's motor was replaced, Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks officials announced yesterday. The pool had been closed for three days because of a motor that broke during a power outage. The motor was replaced Friday, and residents were permitted back in Saturday.

Carroll County

: Westminster

Boy, 7, is charged in malicious burning

State fire marshals have charged a 7-year-old Westminster boy with second-degree malicious burning after he set fire to a window air-conditioning unit in the first block of Pennsylvania Ave., authorities said.

The fire, reported at 11 a.m. Friday, caused an estimated $150 in damage to the air conditioner.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Joseph Zurolo Jr. said the homeowner where the fire was set apparently spoke with the boy's parents but got no satisfactory response. She then called the fire marshal's office, authorities said.

Zurolo said the child, who has a history of setting fires, was released to his parents and referred to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

Ellie Baublitz

Westminster

Trooper injured en route to accident

A state trooper from the Westminster barracks was injured in an accident while on the way to the scene of an accident, authorities said.

Trooper J. Greer was driving a marked 2000 Ford Crown Victoria on Route 27 at Martin Drive about 5:30 p.m. Friday when his patrol car was hit on the driver's side by a 1997 Dodge pickup, said a Maryland State Police spokesman at the Westminster barracks.

Greer was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center with head and shoulder injuries. He is recuperating at home, the spokesman said.

A passenger riding with Greer was taken to Carroll Hospital Center with minor injuries, the spokesman said.

The driver of the Dodge, Dana Kryker III, also was taken to Carroll Hospital Center with injuries that were not life-threatening. A passenger in the Dodge refused treatment, the spokesman said.

State police are investigating the accident.

Ellie Baublitz

Lineboro

Train hits truck crossing tracks

Lineboro Road and the CSX railroad tracks in northeastern Carroll County were closed from lunchtime into the early evening yesterday after a tractor-trailer was hit while crossing the tracks in front of an oncoming train, authorities said.

No one was injured in the accident, but Maryland State Police said that the truck driver, Rodney Charon Ballard of Snow Hill, has been charged with several traffic violations.

Ballard was southbound on Lineboro Road approaching the tracks about 12:30 p.m. in a 1997 Peterbilt truck and was unable to stop at the crossing before being hit by the train, which was headed for Baltimore, police said.

Michael Buckley, public information officer for the Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department, said the rear of the trailer, which was loaded with stone, was hit.

Ballard and the train operator, Lawrence Eugene Ordway of Manchester, and two others on the train, all refused treatment, Buckley said.

The state police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division also responded to the accident, along with the Maryland State Highway Administration and BGE. Buckley said the trailer was resting against a BGE pole, and workers were called to check on it.

The initial investigation determined that all lights and horns were working properly at the train crossing, police said.

Ellie Baublitz

Baltimore County

: Cockeysville

Public's help sought to find missing man

Baltimore County police asked yesterday for the public's help in finding a missing Cockeysville man who suffers from dementia.

Jimmie Clintwood Sergent, 66, of the first block of Harlow Court was reported missing Sunday night, police said yesterday. He was last seen at a Bible study group at his church on Pot Spring Road. The meeting ended at 9 p.m., but Sergent did not return home.

Sergent suffers from dementia, high blood pressure and dizzy spells, and it was believed he had none of his medicines with him.

He was driving a blue, 2003 Mercury Mountaineer, and his family fears he might have gotten lost, police said. He bought gas at 9:45 p.m. Sunday at a gas station in the 4700 block of York Road, near Cold Spring Lane in Baltimore City, according to bank records.

An auto-dialer system was used to alert residents in the area to be on the lookout for Sergent. A man believes he saw Sergent driving south on Dulaney Valley Road about 11 p.m. yesterday.

Sergent is white, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 240 pounds, with gray eyes, gray hair and a fair complexion. When last seen he was wearing a blue plaid sweat shirt.

Anyone with information about Sergent's whereabouts is asked to call Baltimore County police at 410-307-2020.

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