Author: Patrick Herron

Maryland

Maryland State Police To Increase Patrols As Motorists Take To The Road Ahead Of Thanksgiving

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland State Police: With more than 1 million Marylanders expected to travel 50 or more miles over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Maryland State Police will be increasing patrols to ensure motorists arrive safely at their destination.

Maryland State Police will be conducting saturation patrols at each of the 23 barracks with a focus on impaired, aggressive and distracted driving. The State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort team, otherwise known as the SPIDRE team, will also be patrolling this weekend. The goal of the SPIDRE team is to focus on removing these dangerous drivers from Maryland highways who endanger the lives of other motorists. Enforcement will be bolstered by impaired driving saturation patrol funds from the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s Highway Safety Office.

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News

NBC 4’s Doreen Gentzler to Retire After Tonight’s 6PM Newscast

By Patrick Herron

Tonight’s 6pm broadcast will be the last for longtime NBC4 newscaster Doreen Gentzler.  Gentzler, who joined NBC4 in 1989, following the departure of Dave Marash, has been with the station for 33 years. She announced her plans to retire back in October. Gentzler co-anchored the weekday 6pm and 11pm editions of News4 on WRC-TV (NBC4) and was also the station’s health reporter.  She has also made appearances as herself on NBC shows The Event and The Blacklist. Gentzler anchored WRC’s 6pm news alongside veteran anchor Jim Vance for 28 years – a partnership that lasted until Vance’s death in July 2017.

Per NBC4, Gentzler shared the following, “I have some personal news to share this evening. It may cause me to get a little emotional, so I’ll just say it outright. I’ve decided to retire. Not an easy choice, but something I’ve been considering for a while … I’ve been working here for more than half my life. The babies that I had during the ’90s have grown up and moved out.” Gentzler, a native of Arlington, Virginia, returned home to the Washington area in 1989 to join Jim Vance, Bob Ryan and George Michael on the WRC anchor desk. On her first newscast, Gentzler’s longtime co-anchor and close friend Jim Vance welcomed her by saying, “This is Doreen, folks. Doreen Gentzler. She’s going to be with us for quite a while.” Thirty-three years later, it’s safe to say Vance was right.

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Sponsored

Winter is Almost Here! Blackburn Chimney is Here to Make Sure Your Chimney Is Safe (Sponsored)

By Patrick Herron

As Winter is approaching, many Montgomery County residents are getting ready to use their fireplaces for the first time this season. Many people don’t realize but chimneys and fireplaces need regular maintenance. Chimneys are constantly exposed to the harsh environment resulting in cracks. Additionally, smoke going through the chimney can result in a build up of creosote over time. This black, flaky residue builds up along the inner surfaces of the chimney, and is highly flammable and combustible, meaning that it greatly increases your fire hazard risk in your home. Failure to clean a dirty chimney is one of the leading factors contributing to home heating fires.

Founded in 2020 by Eddie Blackburn, Blackburn Chimney is the premier chimney company in the Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland area. Eddie worked as the Lead Chimney Technician for two large chimney companies. After learning the ins-and-outs of the business, Eddie ventured out to start his own company, Blackburn Chimney. Blackburn Chimney is owned and operated in Silver Spring and prides itself on excellent customer service.

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County Commits Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund Loan to Support Leeland Tenants Association in Purchasing Their Apartment Building

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County today announced financial support for efforts by the Leeland Tenants Association in Takoma Park to purchase their building, helping facilitate homeownership for the longtime tenants.  The County committed $281,250 over three years using funds from the recently created Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund (AHOF).

Leeland Apartments is a 15-unit, garden-style apartment building located at 112 Lee Ave. in Takoma Park. The tenant association plans to convert it into a limited equity co-op structure.

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MoCo Government

Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection Unveils ‘Gift Outside the Box’ Campaign Encouraging Greener Gifting for Holiday Season

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched its annual Gift Outside the Box campaign and encouraging people to “gift-greener” this holiday season. Ceremonies in Rockville starting the campaign today included County Executive Marc Elrich.

The annual Gift Outside the Box campaign brings together County agencies and community organizations to promote environmentally friendly gift-giving. The holiday campaign will focus on five areas:

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Silver Spring

(Located) Detectives Asking for Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing Woman

By Patrick Herron

Mukhwana is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair. It is unknown what clothing she was last seen wearing. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.  Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Christine Mukhwana is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line). Callers may remain anonymous.

 

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Aspen Hill

Mother of Three-Year-Old Killed in Fatal Collision Charged with Vehicular Manslaughter

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD – A Montgomery County grand jury has indicted 36-year-old Danshell Sade Jamillah Evon on charges stemming from a fatal collision that occurred on Thursday, May 12, 2022, on Connecticut Avenue and Atherton Drive. The investigation by the Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit revealed that Evon, of Bryans Road, MD, was driving her 2015 Kia Optima at a high rate of speed on southbound Connecticut Avenue, before colliding with a 1997 Ford F-150, towing a utility trailer. The Ford’s driver was attempting to turn left from Atherton Drive onto northbound Connecticut Avenue. Both occupants of the Ford suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the collision, as well as two 13-year-old children who were passengers in the Kia. Evon’s three-year-old daughter, Dreamie Dior Jackson, died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

Evon was indicted on several charges, including manslaughter by vehicle, child abuse, child neglect, and second-degree assault. Evon was arrested on Friday, November 18, and has been released on bond pending trial. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Danshell Sade Jamillah Evon is presumed innocent until proven guilty, pending the outcome of a trial.

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MDLottery

MoCo Couple Purchases $100,000 Winning Scratch-off at Exxon

By Patrick Herron
Courtesy Google Maps

While claiming the prize Nov. 21 at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore, the two said they had not made any plans for a celebration yet because the win still didn’t feel real. Both are regular players and have won smaller prizes before, including a few $800 hits on Pick 5, but nothing like their $100,000 top-prize scratch-off score. Even so, asked about whether they would continue playing, the husband said, “Of course. I want big money!” His wife added, “He’s looking for millions!”

On the market since Sept. 21, 2020, $100,000 Extreme Cash remains a popular game. It logs in at the No. 19 spot on the Maryland Lottery Top 40 Scratch-Offs list, despite more than 91 percent of all available tickets being sold. Even so, 12 of the game’s initial 64 top prizes at the $100,000 level remain unclaimed.

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Silver Spring

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division Ask for Assistance Locating Missing 17-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Diamond Catalan, a missing 17-year-old from Silver Spring.   Catalan was last seen on Friday, November 18, 2022, at approximately 7:30 a.m., in the 2000 block of Randolph Road in Silver Spring.

Catalan is approximately 4-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 100 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing a black tank top, black jeans, black ankle boots and carrying a black backpack.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

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MDLottery

Seven Sportsbooks Go Live in Maryland on Wednesday at 9 A.M.

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Larry Hogan today announced the formal launch of online sports betting in the State of Maryland. Beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 9 A.M., seven sportsbooks will go live across the state. The governor was joined for today’s announcement by the director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, John A. Martin.

“This process took longer than it should have, but we are excited that this launch is in time for fans to place their bets on all the Thanksgiving Day NFL action, college football rivalry weekend, this week’s slate of NBA games, the 2022 World Cup, and this Sunday’s Ravens and Commanders games,” said Governor Hogan. “In addition to allowing Marylanders to bet on the NFL, March Madness, and so much more, sports betting is helping us keep these critical dollars in the state, and is providing another critical revenue source for Maryland schools. It is anticipated to bring in up to $30 million in revenue next year, and that total is expected to reach nearly $100 million by 2027.”

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Rockville

Pedestrian Struck and Killed Near Shady Grove Hospital; Identity of Victim Released

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are investigating a pedestrian fatality that occurred the morning of Thursday, November 17, 2022, in the area of Medical Center Way and Medical Center Dr. in Rockville.   At approximately 8:29 a.m., 6th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for the report of a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian.

The investigation by detectives has determined that the pedestrian was crossing Medical Center Way in a southbound direction when he was struck by a gray 2014 Nissan Altima that was traveling westbound on Medical Center Way towards Shady Grove Hospital. The driver of the Nissan remained at the scene.

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