A $100,000 Mega Multiplier ticket sold on June 24 at Royal Farms (690 Watkins Mill Rd) in Gaithersburg remains unclaimed as of June 26. Two additional big winners in Montgomery County last week include a $100,000 winning scratch off sold at My Dollar & More (250 North Frederick Ave) in Gaithersburg and a $170,566 winning FAST PLAY lottery ticket sold on June 22 at the Liberty Gas Station (26241 Ridge Rd) in Damascus. Additional details below about winners across the state of Maryland courtesy of MD Lottery:

Winners of prizes larger than $25,000 must redeem their tickets at the Maryland Lottery Claims Center in Baltimore, which is open by appointment only. Prizes of up to $5,000 can be claimed at any of more than 400 Expanded Cashing Authority Program (XCAP) locations. All Maryland Lottery retailers are authorized to redeem tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.


A $170,566 winning FAST PLAY lottery ticket was sold on June 22nd at the Liberty Gas Station (26241 Ridge Rd) in Damascus. Additional details below courtesy of MD Lottery: “A pair of FAST PLAY purchases turned June 22 into a memorable evening for lucky Lottery players in Riverdale Park and Damascus. Someone bought a $5 World Championship Poker ticket that won a progressive jackpot worth $107,801 at Kenilworth Liquors in Riverdale Park. Then Lottery luck struck again in the $10 Casino Royale Slots game, when a jackpot-winning ticket worth $170,566 was sold at Damascus Liberty in Damascus.

The two retailers share in the fun as well. For selling the tickets, Kenilworth Liquors, located at 5401 Kenilworth Avenue in Riverdale Park, and Damascus Liberty, located at 26421 Ridge Road in Damascus, will each receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery. Lottery officials encourage the winners to sign the backs of the ticket immediately and put them in safe locations. Winners of FAST PLAY games have 182 days from the date of their purchase to claim their prizes.


Per MCPD: A 32-year-old Damascus man was shot and killed on the evening of Sunday, June 18, 2023. At approximately 9:57 p.m., Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District officers were dispatched to the 9800 block of Bethesda Church Rd., for multiple calls for a shooting that just occurred.

Upon arrival, officers located the victim, James Joel Austin, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite lifesaving efforts by officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel, Austin was pronounced dead at the scene. There is no one in custody and no suspect information is available at this time. The victim has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.


Montgomery County Police responded to a fatal shooting in the 9800 block of Bethesda Church Road on  Sunday, June 18. According to MCPD, “at approximately 9:58 p.m., the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received a call for a shooting at the above location.

Upon arrival, 5th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel located a 32-year-old male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene.  


Montgomery County Police responded to a shooting Sunday night in Damascus. According to MCPD, “5th District officers are on scene of a shooting in the 9800 block of Bethesda Church Road in Damascus. This is an active and ongoing investigation. More information will be released when it becomes available.”

Per @cordelltraffic on Twitter: DAMASCUS CRITICAL SHOOTING: ~10PM Sunday, near the Damascus Garden Apartments at the corner of MD-124 Woodfield Road and Bethesda Church Road (Montgomery County). Man found shot, critically injured. MCP 5D Officers aided victim prior to 🚑 arrival.


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services responded to a crash that involved a pick-up truck crashing into power lines on Ridge Rd, near Gue Rd, just north of town in Damascus at approximately 11:45pm. The crash caused a large power outage in Damascus.

This morning at 5:50am, Montgomery County Police provided an update, stating that Ridge Road, between Gue and Rte 80, is closed for several hours because of fallen power lines. Drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. Featured photo sent in by Caden Higgins.


Bryan Bresee, a 6’5, 298 lb defensive tackle is projected by many as a first round pick in tonight’s NFL Draft. The Clemson Tigers lineman graduated from Damascus High School in 2019. He is the former No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2020, and played three years at Clemson, missing significant time in 2021 with an ACL tear.

Widely projected to be drafted within the first two rounds, mock drafts see Bresee going anywhere from the middle of the first round to the middle of the second round. NFL.com has a second round projection on him. Per NFL.com:


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire in the 10500blk of Tralee Ter in Damascus on Tuesday, April 18. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire originated on the exterior of the three-story townhome and spread to the 2nd fl and attic. The cause of the fire is believed to be an outdoor electrical outlet. Damage is estimated to be ~$120K and there were no injuries reported. Four adults and four children have been displaced. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update (4/18 ~7p) 10500blk Tralee Ter, Damascus; 3-sty TH; exterior fire spread to 2nd fl/attic; Origin/Cause, near floor level elevated deck, vinyl siding, *only ignition source outdoor electrical outlet; Damage ~$120K; 4 adults/4 kids displaced; no injuries; passerby called 911”


Per MCPD:

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 42-year-old from Damascus.  Jay M-Tuner was last seen on Friday, March 17, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m., leaving his residence on Showbarn Circle in Damascus.


A recent change to the recommendation on the MCPS CIP that would delay the major capital project at Damascus High School by two years has led the Damascus community to call for a meeting that will take place at the high school on Tuesday, March 21 at 7pm.

The major capital project was previously approved to address various building systems and programmatic needs for Damascus High School, located at 25921 Ridge Road. The Board of Education, in the requested FY 2021–2026 CIP, included expenditures in FY 2022 to continue the planning and design of this major capital project with a completion date of August 2025, but the County Council delayed the expenditures by one year. An FY 2023 appropriation was approved to begin the design of this Major Capital project. A FY 2024 appropriation was recommended for construction funds, but that has now changed to “not recommended”, delaying the project for two years.


Aside from the last few days, the recent weather has been a reminder that spring is around the corner. Another reminder for many who grew up in MoCo is that March 17th means Jimmie Cone opens for the season. Jimmie Cone has been serving soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt in Damascus since 1962, which make this year its 61st season.

One of the reasons Jimmie Cone’s soft serve ice cream is loved by many could be because it is made with 10 percent butterfat, which is approximately twice as much as in McDonald’s and Dairy Queen soft serve. Cars usually pack the Damascus location on warmer days with long lines that move relatively quick.


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