Gaithersburg

Suspect Shot and Killed by Police After Stabbing Multiple People Identified as 19-Year-Old From Gaithersburg

By Patrick Herron

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and involved officer in the fatal shooting that occurred on July 22, 2023, in Montgomery County. The decedent has been identified as 19-year-old Franklin Castro Ordonez of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The involved Montgomery County Police Officer has been identified as Officer Justin Lee. Officer Lee has been with the department for one-and-a-half years and is assigned to the Patrol Services Bureau. Per MCPD:

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Charges Announced Against Gal Luft, Co-Director of Gaithersburg Think Tank, For Acting As An Unregistered Foreign Agent, Trafficking In Arms, Violating U.S. Sanctions Against Iran, And Making False Statements To Federal Agents

By MCS Staff

Gal Luft, a Dual U.S.-Israeli Citizen and the Co-Director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) in Gaithersburg, has been charged for violating U.S. sanctions, arms trafficking, making false statements to U.S. federal agents and acting as an unregistered foreign agent to China, according to a federal indictment that was unsealed earlier this month on July 10th.

He is now a fugitive. If you have any information about LUFT’s whereabouts, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.  Tips can be reported anonymously and can also be reported online at tips.fbi.gov.

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Real Progress at Montgomery County’s First Wawa

By MCS Staff

Coming soon signage for Wawa went up at 405 S Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg earlier this summer and some much anticipated progress has been made as the frame of the convenience store and gas pumps are now up. if progress continues at the current pace, we would not be surprised to see Wawa open by the end of 2023.

The convenience store/gas station will be located at the site of the old Becraft Antiques on 355, across from Gaithersburg High School. Wawa began in 1803 as an iron foundry in New Jersey. Toward the end of the 19th Century, owner George Wood took an interest in dairy farming and the family began a small processing plant in Wawa, Pa, in 1902. The milk business was a huge success, due to its quality, cleanliness and “certified” process. As home delivery of milk declined in the early 1960s, Grahame Wood, George’s grandson, opened the first Wawa Food Market in 1964 as an outlet for dairy products.

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Maryland Department of the Environment Encourages Water Conservation with Drought Watch for Portions of the State

By MCS Staff

Per The Maryland Department of the Environment: The Maryland Department of the Environment is urging citizens and businesses in a large part of the state to voluntarily reduce their water usage as a drought watch has been issued. “Water conservation is a good practice year-round, but we are asking residents and businesses to pay particular attention during the summer months when the State can experience hot and dry conditions,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain.

“You can do your part by limiting the use and duration of sprinklers for lawns, taking short showers as opposed to baths, and not leaving the faucet running while brushing your teeth. These things sound simple, but it all adds up.” A drought watch has been issued for Western Maryland and portions of Central Maryland based on lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels for this time of year. During a drought watch, MDE increases oversight of water supply conditions and encourages voluntary water conservation practices. No mandatory water use restrictions have been issued.

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$31,714 Winning Lottery Prize Won at Giant

By Patrick Herron

Lottery officials encourage the winner to sign the back of the ticket immediately and put it in a safe location. Winners have 182 days from the date of their win to claim their prize. Instructions on claiming prizes in person or by mail are available HERE. Players must redeem prizes larger than $25,000 by mail or at Lottery headquarters in the Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330 in Baltimore. The Lottery’s Claims Center in Baltimore is open by appointment only (no walk-ins). Click HERE to schedule an appointment.

The FAST PLAY Gold Fish game has a progressive jackpot that starts at $2,500 and increases with the sale of each ticket until a winning ticket is purchased. There are 15 progressive jackpots remaining in the game along with prizes ranging from $2 to $1,000. Giant #192 receives a $317 bonus from the Lottery for selling a top-prize winning FAST PLAY ticket.

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Several Gaithersburg Neighborhoods To Participate in ‘National Night Out’ Campaign Against Crime

By MCS Staff

Per the City of Gaithersburg: Several Gaithersburg neighborhoods are joining communities across the country to participate in the National Night Out (NNO) Against Crime campaign.

On Tuesday, August 1, these neighborhoods will hold events to increase drug prevention awareness, generate support for anti-crime programs, encourage residents to be involved in their communities, and send a message that neighborhoods and businesses are organized to fight back against crime. The NNO programs help bring together residents, law enforcement agencies, local officials, civic groups, and neighborhood organizations. Participating neighborhoods will be posted closer to event. Participating neighborhoods include:

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$4 Million and $1 Million Winning Lottery Tickets Sold Tuesday in Maryland, Two $10,000 Winning Tickets Sold in Gaithersburg

By Patrick Herron

According to a representative from the Maryland lottery, a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket with the Megaplier option worth $4 million was sold at the Lobby Shop at 1 North Charles Street in Baltimore. The base prize amount for a second-tier win in Mega Millions is $1 million, and the person who bought that ticket paid an additional $1 to add the Megaplier option to the ticket, which multiplies any prizes won except the jackpot. The multiplier for last night was 4X, so it quadrupled the $1 million prize to $4 million. There was also a $1 million second-tier winning ticket (without the Megaplier) sold at National Pike Fuel at 5931 Baltimore National Pike in Catonsville.

Locally, there were two third-tier winning tickets worth $10,000 each sold in Gaithersburg: one at Watkins Mill Beer & Wine at 857 Russell Avenue; and the other at the 7-Eleven at 8946 North Westland Drive.

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Dog Haus Offering Free Hot Dogs Today (Wednesday, July 19) For National Hot Dog Day

By MCS Staff

Dog Haus Biergarten, which has three Montgomery County locations (Gaithersburg, Bethesda, and Silver Spring), is offering a free hot dog to those who text FREE DOG to 833.440.1110. “We can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Hot Dog Day than offering a free Haus Dog to all our fans,” says Dog Haus Co-Founder André Vener. “We have the best hot dogs and sausages in the business – the industry’s gold standard. We hope to get a Haus Dog into the hands of hot dog lovers far and wide as we celebrate our favorite day of the year!”

The restaurant recent announced that all three of its Montgomery County locations will be offering delivery service 24 hours a day, making it one of the only non-fast food restaurants offering 24-7 delivery service in the area.  Dog Haus’ virtual brands, including Bad Ass Breakfast Burritos, Plant B (All plant base food) Impossible Shop, Bad Mutha Cluka and Jail Bird (all chicken options), are also available 24-7.

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Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber Honors 39 Public Safety Officials its 29th Annual Public Safety Awards Ceremony

By MCS Staff

The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) has hosted its 29th Annual Public Safety Awards Breakfast honoring men and women who provide public safety in the Upcounty. A total of 39 public safety officials from several jurisdictions were recognized and awarded a citation from the Maryland State Senate and Congressman David Trone.

The awards ceremony took place on Friday, June 14 at 7:30am at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center in Gaithersburg.The program with details on each award winner can be seen in the links above. A link to the photo album from the event is available here.

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