Nottingham Driver Arrested in I-95 Police Crash


Maryland State Police arrested and charged a suspected impaired driver who hit a state police vehicle and fled the scene on May 5 on I-95 in Baltimore County.

The accused is identified as Gasper Botteon, 45 of Nottingham. Botteon is charged with driving under the influence, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and other traffic charges related to the hit and run.

Botteon was driving a white box truck and was the sole occupant of the vehicle. He was uninjured in the incident.

Shortly after 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, a Maryland State Trooper from the JFK Memorial Highway Barrack in his marked patrol vehicle at the 64.4-mile marker on I-95, was conducting a crash investigation. While he was working inside of his vehicle, a white box truck struck the driver’s side of his vehicle and ripped off the door. The box truck continued traveling northbound on I-95 in Rosedale. The trooper was not injured.

A lookout for the box truck was immediately broadcast to all law enforcement in the area. Troopers from the Bel Air Barrack located the vehicle and the driver shortly after 6:15 p.m. northbound on Route 24 at Bel Air S. Parkway in Belair.

The driver, later identified as Botteon, showed signs of suspected impairment. He was subsequently arrested on scene without incident and transported to the JFK Memorial Highway Barrack for processing.

The investigation is continuing.

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BCPS Teacher Honored for Stock Market Game


Gerri Otto, a social studies resource teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools, was honored with the Elementary School Teacher Award during the eighth annual Maryland Financial Education and Capability Awards ceremony, held virtually on May 5.

The awards program is presented by the CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Campaign of Maryland, Maryland Council on Economic Education, and Maryland State Department of Education.

Otto, who is a resident of eastern Baltimore County. was recognized for bringing the Stock Market Game to many BCPS schools and for co-writing K-3 curriculum for personal finance to be implemented countywide. Seventeen elementary, middle, and high schools are participating in the Stock Market Game this school year. The personal finance curriculum was used during the 2020-2021 school year for Grade 3. BCPS intends to pilot the curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 2 during the 2021-2022 school year. Topics covered by the curriculum include economic wants and needs, goods and services, savings and spending, resources, decision making, markets, income, jobs, opportunity cost, spending plans, and charitable donations.

For her honor, Otto receives a $1,000 financial award made possible by the Maryland Society of Accounting and Tax Professionals and the Woodside Foundation. CSX was the title sponsor of the virtual event with SECU as the presenting sponsor.

Because no ceremony was held last year (due to COVID-19), the 2020 winners who were announced last year also were honored during this year’s virtual event. Among them was 2020 Elementary School Teacher Award winner Florence Falatko of Cromwell Valley Elementary Magnet School.

“As an organization focused on supporting the education community, the Maryland Council on Economic Education is proud to celebrate the educators who are being recognized this year for their excellence and innovation in teaching critical personal finance skills,” said Julie Weaver, executive director of the Maryland Council on Economic Education. “This has been a year like no other, and the economic impact of the pandemic has shown us the importance of financial preparedness for families and communities. We applaud these teachers for impacting not only their students, but in many cases their students’ families as well.”

Selected BCPS High Schools to Offer COVID Vaccines


Baltimore County Public Schools and the Baltimore County Department of Health will offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics for BCPS high school students aged 16 and above, their family members, and interested school staff. Vaccines will be offered as early as Monday, May 10, at high schools with school-based wellness centers, and as early as Wednesday, May 19, at other selected BCPS high schools.

Online registration will be required, and the vaccine offered will be the two-dose Pfizer BioNTech. There is no charge for the COVID-19 vaccine. Schools will provide their registration link, and families and staff can reach out to the school nurse with any questions.

“We are so pleased that, through our ongoing partnership with the Baltimore County Department of Health, we are able to offer convenient access to vaccines for our older students, their families, and school staff,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “Getting the vaccine is a free and easy way to help protect your own health and the health of the community.”

Clinic schedule for BCPS high schools with school-based wellness centers
Please note that each clinic location will only serve students, their families, and staff affiliated with the school unless otherwise noted. These vaccine clinics will be open from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Chesapeake High/ first doses: May 10, 13 / second doses: June 1, 3
Dundalk High/ first doses: May 11, 12, 14 / second doses: June 1, 2, 4
Kenwood High/ first doses: May 10, 12, 13 / second doses: June 2, 4
Owings Mills High/ first doses: May 17, 19, 20 / second doses: June 7, 9, 10
Parkville High (also serving students from Loch Raven High for first doses on May 19 & second doses on June 9)/ first doses: May 18, 19, 21 / second doses: June 8, 9, 11
Lansdowne High/ first doses: May 24, 26, 28 / second doses: June 14, 16, 17
Woodlawn High/ first doses: May 25, 26, 28 / second doses: June 15, 16, 18

Clinic schedule for other selected BCPS high schools
Please note that each clinic location will only serve students and their families affiliated with the school unless otherwise noted. (For example, the Towson High School location will also serve Loch Raven High School.) Students who attend Catonsville Alternative School, Eastern Technical High School, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Rosedale Center, and Western School of Technology will receive links to sign up for vaccines at their home/zone school.
School (other schools served)/first and second vaccine dates/clinic hours
Catonsville High/ May 26 & June 16/ from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Dulaney High/ May 26 & June 16/ from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Franklin High/ May 19 & June 9/ from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Hereford High/ May 19 & June 9/ from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Milford Mill Academy (also serving students from Randallstown High) /May 26 & June 16/ from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
New Town (also serving students from Randallstown High)/ May 26 & June 16/ from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Overlea High/ May 26 & June 16/ from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Patapsco High/ May 19 & June 9/ from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Perry Hall High/ May 26 & June 16/ from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Pikesville High/ May 19 & June 9/ from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sparrows Point High/ May 19 & June 9/ from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Towson High (also serving students from Loch Raven High)/ May 19 & June 9/ from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.