The 53-year-old plans to pay off bills. He described the experience of the big win as “exciting”. When he started to scratch his ticket, he instantly saw he was a winner. The first number in his “Your Numbers” was 03 and the $50,000 prize was underneath that number. Then he looked over and saw 03 in his “Winning Numbers”. That resulted in the top prize of $50,000. “I couldn’t believe it. I then checked it in the store, and it was true,” said the maintenance worker.

The lucky ticket was purchased at the Germantown BP on 19911 Aircraft Drive in Montgomery County. The Germantown retailer will receive a bonus of $500. The $20 $50,000 Cash started back on Dec. 29 with 160 prizes. The Germantown man is the 74th winner, but 86 still remain along with prizes ranging from $20 to $5,000.” Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.


Kayla DiCello, a 2022 graduate of Northwest High School in Germantown, won the all-around gold on Monday at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. According to USA Gymnastics, “DiCello won the women’s all-around with a 54.699, thanks to posting the highest scores of the evening on uneven bars (13.633) and floor exercise (13.733) and scoring a 13.200 on balance beam and 14.133 on vault.” She is the first U.S. woman to win all-around gold at the Pan American games since 2011.

DiCello is a six-time USA National Team Member and currently attends the University of Florida. In 2021, DiCello made the Olympic team as an alternate and participated in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.


The investigation by detectives has revealed that at approximately 9:35 p.m., an adult male victim arrived at his home in a 2015 silver BMW and parked it on the driveway. At that point, four suspects parked their unknown vehicle behind the victim, blocking the driveway. Three armed suspects exited the vehicle, pointed their guns at the victim and ordered the victim to get out of the BMW. The victim complied with the suspects’ demands. One of the suspects got in the BMW and left the scene, and the other three suspects drove away in their vehicle.


Montgomery County Police responded to an armed carjacking on Monday, October 23, in Germantown. According to police, “At approximately 10 p.m., MCPD responded to the 19400 block of St. Johnsbury Lane for the report of an armed carjacking that just occurred.  No injuries were reported. There are no suspects in custody at this time. This is an active and ongoing investigation. More information will be released as is becomes available.”


Per the Rockville City Police Department: “On October 22, 2023, at approximately 4:30 p.m. Rockville City Police Officers responded to the 200 block Elizabeth Avenue for a residential robbery. The victim reported that he was accosted at his front door by two masked men armed with handguns. The men fled from the location after police were alerted to the incident in a silver Dodge Charger.

Officers observed the suspect vehicle in the area while responding to the call and pursued it. However, the suspect vehicle became disabled in the area of E. Argyle Street and W. Lynfield Drive. Police established a perimeter, and the driver was apprehended near the 600 block of Harrington Road; two handguns were recovered. The passenger remains outstanding.


Barbara Escobar, principal at Neelsville Middle School, received the Hispanic Educator of the Year award at the Hispanic Leadership Awards Gala. The award was presented by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County (HCCMC). Escobar was appointed as principal of Neelsville in June 2022.

Last month, during Hispanic Heritage Month, MCPS recognized Escobar with the following tweet, “Barbara Escobar is the Principal of Neelsville Middle School. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She believes education is important because it serves as the instrument that ignites curiosity, reinforces determination and unlocks limitless opportunities.” which shared the following quote from Escobar, “I take immense pride in my role of serving the wonderful Neelsville Middle School “comunidad” and setting an example of Latina leadership for my students“.


Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigation Division has determined the report of a kidnapping involving a 13-year-old girl to be unfounded. On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the girl reported that she was kidnapped by two suspects, described as Hispanic and Black males, between 3 – 3:15 p.m. She alleged that the suspects approached her in a dark sedan in Germantown, and forced her into the car. The girl reported that at some point, she was able to get out of the vehicle, where she was located by a resident and transported to an area hospital by Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel for evaluation.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that the report was unfounded and there is no threat to the community or to the safety of children.


Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) is actively investigating a reported kidnapping incident involving a 13-year-old girl.

Preliminarily, the girl reported that between 3 – 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, she was approached by two male suspects in a dark grey sedan near the intersection of Waring Station Road and Stoney Bottom Road in Germantown. The suspects allegedly got out of the vehicle and forced the girl into the car.


Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Ziaera Janae Russel, a missing 15-year-old from Germantown. Russell was last seen on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at approximately 11:30 p.m. in the 20200 block of Shipley Terrace in Germantown. She is 5’4″, 205 lbs., with dyed reddish brown hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing black pants and a black zip-up hooded sweatshirt.  Russell may be driving a silver 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander bearing VA registration TRY8582.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ziaera Janae Russell is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).


Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire on the 10800 block of Brink Rd., near Leaman Ln. in Germantown at approximately 1:30am. Crews were dispatched for a house/vehicle fire, but instead encountered an arcing power line down with the fire not extending to the home.

We are told the power line went down after a vehicle was rear ended. That person alerted the homeowners and called 911. There were no injuries. The homeowner has provided us with the video below:


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