Burtonsville Archives - Page 25 of 35

MoCo Native Fredricka Whitfield Has Been With CNN For Over 20 Years

Published April 5, 2023 at 5:10PM

Montgomery County native Fredricka Whitfield anchors the weekend edition of CNN Newsroom from CNN’s world headquarters in Atlanta, and is also a fill-in/substitute anchor for CNN’s At This Hour With Kate Bolduan. She has been with CNN for over two decades, starting with the news agency in 2002.

Whitfield grew up in Burtonsville and attended/graduated from Paint Branch High School in 1983. She went on to Howard University in DC, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Howard’s School of Communications in 1987. While at Howard, she was a news anchor for campus radio station WHUR. Whitfield worked for News Channel 8 after college, as well as television stations in Miami, Dallas, New Haven, and Charleston prior to serving as the Atlanta-based correspondents for NBC Nightly News from 1995-2001.

Montgomery County Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for the Armed Robberies of an Armored Truck, Two Banks and a Convenience Store

By MCS Staff

Published April 1, 2023 at 8:23AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has sentenced Israel Ramirez, age 29, of Burtonsville, Maryland, to 17 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for an armed robbery of an armored truck, two armed bank robberies and the armed robbery of a convenience store. In each of the armed robberies, Ramirez discharged his weapon. Ramirez discharged his handgun multiple times in the bank robberies.

According to his guilty plea, on July 4, 2021 Ramirez committed the armed robbery of convenience store in Laurel, Maryland. During the robbery, Ramirez brandished a firearm, which he fired into a cigarette display behind the register when the employees had trouble opening the register. Ultimately, the employees were able to open the register and provided Ramirez with cash. On July 12^th, Ramirez robbed the same store. An employee recognized Ramirez as the person that had robbed the store and discharged his weapon the week before. Ramirez kept his hand in his pocket and demanded that the employee open the register. The employee provided Ramirez with cash from the register and Ramirez left the store.

Detectives Investigating Burglary of Tobacco Hut; Surveillance Video of Suspects Released

By Patrick Herron

Published March 31, 2023 at 10:45AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are investigating a commercial burglary that occurred on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the Tobacco Hut & Cigar store in the 15600 block of Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. Detectives have released video of the four suspects and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying them. At approximately 6:16 a.m., 3rd District officers responded to the location for the report of a commercial burglary.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the four suspects arrived at the store in a white sedan. The suspects then forced entry into the store by breaking a glass panel with a stone. The suspects then entered the store, stole merchandise, damaged property and left the scene. Detectives reviewed the surveillance footage of the store and obtained a description of the four suspects.

Police and Family Concerned for Missing 17-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published March 29, 2023 at 2:17PM | Updated March 29, 2023 at 2:57PM

Per MCPD: Detectives form the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Gabriella Zamora, a missing 17-year-old from Burtonsville. Zamora was last seen on Saturday, March 25, 2023 in the 3900 block of Blackburn Lane.

Zamora is approximately 5-feet, 4-inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes. She has tattoos on her left wrist and forearm, upper/middle back and on her left calf. Zamora was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants. Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

Jersey Mike’s to Donate 100% of Sales to Charity This Wednesday, March 29

By Patrick Herron

Published March 28, 2023 at 4:49PM

Jersey Mike’s, which has eight locations in Montgomery County, will be donating 100% of their sales nationwide to charity on Wednesday, March 29th. The promotion is a part of Jersey Mike’s “Month of Giving” and sales are expected to be over $20 million for the day. According to Jersey Mike’s, “Day of Giving is Jersey Mike’s busiest day of the year. Each location prepares by staffing up and ordering extra food, ensuring there is plenty of meat, cheese, bread, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon to meet the high demand. The more you order, the more Jersey Mike’s gives. Whether in-store, through Jersey Mike’s app or through third-party delivery partners, proceeds from every single sale this Wednesday — including subs, chips, drinks, and catering orders — will go to local charities.”

Paint Branch Alumna Eun Yang is Moving to Evenings After 12 Years Anchoring News 4 Today

By MCS Staff

Published March 26, 2023 at 11:28AM

Eun Yang, who grew up in MoCo and celebrated 20 years with NBC4 last year, has announced that she will be moving to evenings after spending the last 12 years anchoring News 4 Today. Yang was born in Seoul, Korea and grew up in the right here in Montgomery County. She graduated from Paint Branch High School (1991) in Burtonsville and then earned a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Maryland in 1995.

Per the Montgomery County Commission for Women, Yang began her broadcast journalism career while at the University of Maryland. She worked as a reporter for “Maryland Update,” a program on the University’s cable channel, and then moved to TV- 58 where she freelanced as a special projects reporter for Asian- Pacific American affairs. In 1995, she worked full-time as a WUSA-TV production assistant while finishing her last year at the University of Maryland. She was a “reporter trainee” for a year when the station started its weekend-morning newscast. She remained at WUSA-TV for six years, working her way up to a substitute anchor.

Clarksburg, Paint Branch Athletic Directors Win State Honors

By MCS Staff

Published March 26, 2023 at 8:38AM | Updated April 1, 2023 at 7:18AM

Two Montgomery County Athletic Specialist/Directors, Ed Dalton (Clarksburg) and Heather Podosek (Paint Branch) have earned state honors through the Maryland State Athletic Director Association (MSADA).

Per MCPS: Ed Dalton, athletics specialist/athletic director at Clarksburg High School, has been named the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association’s (MSADA’s) 2023 District 2B Athletic Director of the Year. He was selected by all 25 MCPS athletics specialists for the recognition. Heather Podosek, athletics specialist/athletic director at Paint Branch High School, was selected the 2023 MSADA Co-Athletic Director of the Year. They will receive their awards at the state conference banquet on Saturday, April 29.

Burtonsville Elementary School Supports Wellness with Natural Beauty, Community, and Composting

By MCS Staff

Published March 22, 2023 at 10:34PM

At Burtonsville Elementary School of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), MD, nutrition and food access, family and community engagement, and staff well-being are inseparable. School staff and families have come together in leading campus beautification projects, food waste reduction initiatives, and stigma-free nutrition access for all. And the result? “Oh, they love it!” says Vice Principal Terry Gobourne, who leads the beautification initiatives.

Community-driven programs have set Burtonsville apart as one of America’s Healthiest Schools. In October 2022, they received recognition in six topic areas, including Increasing Family & Community Engagement, sponsored by Kohl’s, and Cultivating Staff Well-Being, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and Harmony SEL at National University. Burtonsville also received the 2022 MCPS Healthy Schools Award.

Montgomery County Man Identified As One of Three Victims in Crash Involving Vehicle Reportedly Fleeing From Police

By MCS Staff

Published March 19, 2023 at 9:21AM

United States Park Police (USPP) officers have identified the victims of the crash that occurred on March 15 on Rock Creek Parkway involving a Honda sedan and a Lexus SUV that was reportedly fleeing from police.

Per Park Police, On Wednesday, March 15 at 1:43 a.m., USPP officers were dispatched to a crash on the Rock Creek Parkway near P Street NW. The three occupants in the Honda were pronounced dead on the scene. The deceased were later identified as Mohamed Kamara, 42, of Burtonsville, MD, Jonathan Cabrera Mendez, 23, of Arlington, VA, and Olvin Torres Velasquez, 22, of Arlington, VA.

Construction Update at Burtonsville Crossing

By MCS Staff

Published March 18, 2023 at 6:39PM

Construction has begun on the redevelopment of the Burtonsville Shopping Center. Approximately 7,600 square feet of existing retail is in the process of being demolished with that retail square footage being turned into two new pad sites with drive- thrus. There will also be improvements to open space, landscaping, lighting, and pedestrian circulation. Video of the current state of construction is available below, by Larry Jones of the Burtonsville, MD Facebook group. Pepino’s and Burger King remain open during construction.

In June it was announced that a lease has been signed by the Phoenix-based company Sprouts Farmers Market in what is seen as the first critical step to kick start the revitalization of a once thriving retail area. It will also be the grocery chain’s first store in Montgomery County. “We are excited to partner with Sprouts on bringing a unique grocery experience to Burtonsville,” said David Germakian, Managing Director, EDENS. Additional information below, courtesy of Montgomery Planning:

Police Asking for Public’s Assistance in Locating Suspect Wanted for Larceny and Burglaries Across Montgomery County

By Patrick Herron

Published March 8, 2023 at 7:52PM | Updated March 9, 2023 at 9:46AM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Wheaton Patrol Investigation Unit are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a 55-year-old man wanted for a number of crimes committed in Montgomery County. Jonah Ammiel Carter of Gaithersburg is alleged to have committed larceny and burglaries in Burtonsville, Silver Spring, and Kensington. Carter is reported to have stolen large quantities of items from a Giant Food in the 1200 block of East West Highway, on Monday, January 16 and a Giant Food in the 15000 block of Old Columbia Pike on Monday, February 6, 2023. He is also accused of stealing a large amount of items from a Safeway in the 10000 block of Connecticut Avenue in Kensington on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jonah Ammiel Carter is asked to call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect. Callers may remain anonymous.