From The Aegis dated Feb. 19, 1987:
The Harford County public school system 25 years ago was asking for a $10.1 million (11.8 percent) increase in funding from the year before, including a 6 percent across-the-board pay raise for its 3,000 employees.
The budget would also add 125 new positions to the school system, including 79 new teachers.
The budget request for fiscal 1988 far surpassed other budgets, including an additional $2.7 million provided by the previous county executive and the $4 million from a year earlier.
The request didn't sit well with all the school board members, including Ron Eaton, who questioned the superintendent for more than an hour.
"I know we have a few more employees, but we're not talking about a minor increase, we're talking about a quantum leap," Eaton said.
Parents of kids at Edgewood Child Care Center associated with Presbury Methodist Church were left in the lurch 25 years ago, when the day care abruptly closed when its license to operate a day care expired.
The pastor of the church said the health department, which issues such licenses, had "unreasonable demands" and because unusually large amounts of day care payments were not being made. He said the center lost $4,000 in 45 days late in 1986 and he couldn't "let our church go bankrupt to keep it open."
A group of Harford County law enforcement officers and private citizens came up with a plan 25 years ago this week they hoped to launch soon so the public could leave anonymous tips about crimes they have information on.
Harford County Crime Solvers would allow police to receive tips that could help them solve cases ranging from murder to shoplifting. The program in other Maryland jurisdictions provided rewards of $50 to $1,000. Organizers hoped to have Harford's program running by June or July.
A year after a January 1986 stabbing in Edgewood that left a man near death, a possible motive was finally disclosed – a woman scorned by an ex-boyfriend.
The woman, who police said lived with the victim for some time, allegedly hired four men to attack her ex. She was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of another to commit a felony, among other crimes, and was scheduled to go on trial in May.
A bill was introduced 25 years ago in the state Senate to require that people younger than 21 convicted of drug or alcohol offenses to surrender their driver's licenses. Sen. Catherine Riley was a co-sponsor of the bill that would suspend the person's license until he or she is 21 years old.
A working smoke detector saved the lives of five people in an Edgewood townhouse 25 years ago this week. The family in the home in Edgewater Village was awakened around 7 a.m. by the blasting of a smoke detector and escaped the home unharmed. The fire started in the kitchen as a result of an electrical malfunction.
The 1987 Miss Fire Prevention, Cynthia Boultz, was crowned 25 years ago this week by outgoing Fire Prevention Queen Patty Polk during a ceremony at Abingdon Volunteer Fire Company. Boultz was a senior at Edgewood High School, where the honor roll student was editor-in-chief of the yearbook and a member of the school newspaper staff.