Dundalk Man Buys $1 Million Lottery Ticket in Essex

Ticket was sold at Weis Markets in Essex


A 60-year-old Dundalk man, who only plays Lottery jackpot games and Bonus Match 5, can thank a scratch-off for his new millionaire status. On a whim, he played the $20 Money Explosion instant ticket and won $1 million!

The Baltimore County school bus driver was taking care of business through Western Union at Weis Market in Essex when Lottery luck arrived. “While I was waiting for my transaction, I kept gazing at the display of scratch-offs,” he said. “Then, I just got the feeling that I should buy one.”

The fortunate player used change from his transaction to purchase a Money Explosion instant ticket and scratched it off in the store. “I saw the money stack and that $1 million prize,” he said. “I really couldn’t believe it. I had to look at it closer with my bifocals.”

The married father of five grown children and grandfather of eight then handed the instant ticket to the cashier to confirm his amazing prize. The new millionaire immediately called and shared the news with his wife and other family members.

“She didn’t believe me,” he said. “She kept telling me to ‘Stop messing around.’”

The lucky player took the winning instant ticket home and went on the Maryland Lottery’s website to see what to do next. After setting up an appointment, he claimed the $1 million prize and celebrated in the Winner’s Circle. He told Lottery officials that he plans to use some of the winnings to pay off his home mortgage, will share the prize with his wife and give some funds to his children as holiday gifts.

Weis Markets located at 165 Orville Road in Baltimore, also benefits. For selling the top-prize winning scratch-off in the Money Explosion game, the store will receive a $1,000 bonus from the Lottery.

The big winner found the second $1 million top prize of seven in the game, which went on sale in July. Still unclaimed are six $50,000 prizes, 89 $10,000 prizes plus more than 860,000 others ranging from $20 to $5,000.

Police Investigating Fatal Shooting in Hawthorne


Baltimore County homicide detectives are investigating an Essex fatal shooting that occurred on Oct. 16, just before 1:30 p.m.

Officers responded to the area of Midthorn Road and Whitethorn Way in Hawthorne for a report of a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers discovered 22-year-old Dimarco Johnson suffering from at least one gunshot wound to the upper body.

Medics transported Johnson to a local hospital where he later died. Although this may have been a targeted attack, the circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation. No one has been charged in connection to this case.

Baltimore County Detectives are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact them by calling 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous.

Heritage Museum to Hold Paranormal Night


The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River will hold for a FREE Paranormal Preview Night!

The Baltimore Paranormal Society will be on hand to discuss how they conduct paranormal investigations, demonstrate their equipment, and tell stories about recent ghostly activity in the building.

Visitors will also get a paranormal tour of the museum, showing all of the spirits’ favorite hotspots! This event is FREE and open to the public. The museum will be decorated for Halloween and the gift shop will be open!

For questions or to RSVP, email essexmuseum@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page

Harbor Tunnel Lane Closures This Week


The Maryland Transportation Authority announced lane closures at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel during next week’s evening hours.

During tunnel closures at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, drivers may experience 15-20 minute delays while two-way operations (during which one lane of southbound and northbound traffic is directed into the tunnel that remains open) are implemented. Closure times are dependent on traffic volumes.

The Southbound Tunnel is scheduled to be closed at 8:30 p.m. on the evenings of Monday, October 18, through Thursday, October 21, for contractor operations.

Two-way operations will be in the northbound tunnel.

Re-opening is scheduled to take place at 4:30 a.m. the following morning.

Motorists are reminded to obey speed limits and stay in your lane.

This is a tentative schedule that is subject to change at any time due to weather, traffic conditions, emergency incidents, or priority closures.

Garage Fire Reported in Edgemere


-photo courtesy of North Point Edgemere Volunteer Fire Department-

The North Point Edgemere Volunteer Fire Company reported fire crews responded to a garage fire in Edgemere on Thursday, Oct. 14 around 4 p.m.

Units arrived to the scene in the 7300 block of Waldman Avenue to find a two- car garage fully involved.

There was no reported injuries.

Fuel Leak Reported in Middle River


Baltimore County Hazmat crews are on the scene of a large fuel spill in Middle River on Wednesday night.

It was reported a tanker truck leaked 350 to 500 gallons of diesel fuel at the corner of Pulaski Highway and Middle River Road after 6 p.m.

Fuel was leaking into storm drain. MDE has been called to the location.

Storm drain has been secured. Two lanes on Route 40 are still closed.

Local Athletes Help CCBC Essex in Cross Country


Article by Emily Vetri of CCBC Essex

Knights cross country traveled Oct. 2 to its fourth meet of the season, the Don Cathcart Invitational, hosted by Salisbury University, as both teams featured runners shattering their personal best times.

“Both the men and women had big personal bests today and ran great races on the super flat and fast course” said head coach Noah Hutton.

Freshman Madison Magaha (Patapsco) led the ladies with a time of 27:49 in the women’s 6K, finishing #7 overall. This moved her into the seventh fastest time at Essex for the women’s side.

Natalia Johnson (Sparrows Point) ran a swift 31:04 in the women’s 6K, moving her to the 14th fastest time at Essex.

Both Magaha and Johnson ran the first 5K of the race faster than any other 5K time this year, with Johnson (Sparrows Point) cutting almost two minutes off her 5K best.

On the men’s side, freshman Braden Berkey (Loch Raven) led the men with the third fastest freshman time and the sixth fastest 8K time in school history, finishing at 29:30.

Berkey now sits within 25 seconds of the third fastest 8K time at Essex.

Sam Smith (Eastern Tech) ran a 30:53 in the 8K, shattering his personal best by nearly two and a half minutes. He has moved up to the 13th fastest 8K in school history.

Patrick Bennett (Patapsco) ran a 35:04 and knocked eight seconds off his personal best. With this time Bennett moved up to the 20th in school history.

Isaiah Halley (Overlea) dropped 40 seconds off his personal best with 35:09 in the 8K.

“Hopefully the fast times will help to build confidence and provide extra energy to finish the season strong” Hutton said.

Both men’s and women’s cross country will finish out the regular season at the Hood Invitational on October 16th, before heading to the Region 20 and Maryland JUCO Championships at the end of the month.

Police Investigating Double Murder in Rosedale


Baltimore County Police are investigating a double murder that occurred in Rosedale.

Officers from the White Marsh precinct responded to the 7400 block of Plainview Road to investigate a shooting on Monday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 p.m. Upon arrival, officers located two adult males inside the location suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

55 year-old Christopher Walker and his son, 24 year-old Justin Walker were both pronounced deceased on scene.

Detectives with the Baltimore County Police Department’s Homicide Unit request anyone with information to contact 410-307-2020.

Parkville Middle Student & Father Win Writing Contest


A Parkville Middle student and her father were both winners in Baltimore County Public Library’s Tales of the Dead Short Horror Story Contest.

Polly Sloan, a Grade 7 student at Parkville Middle School, won first place for “The Letters from No One,” in the under 21 category about a man receiving mysterious and terrifying letters predicting his imminent death.

The contest began in August when Baltimore County Public Library challenged writers of all ages to
write original horror stories with a “Ghosts in the Graveyard” theme.

The contest was split into two categories: “over 21” and “under 21.” First-, second-, and third-place
winners in both categories were selected by a panel of judges including Baltimore County Public Library’s Director Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, librarians and published authors.

Criteria for judging included originality, fear factor, and quality of writing.

As the panel of judges calculated scores and began to notify winners, they quickly realized something unprecedented in the history of the contest: the first-place winners in each category are father and daughter.

Polly Sloan’s father, David Sloan, took first place in the “over 21” category for “A Hole at the Edge of the Woods,” a story about a young fox whose curiosity gets the better of him on Halloween night.

“My daughter and I really enjoyed this challenge and had fun trying our best to out-write and out-scare each other,” said winner David Sloan.

“Storytelling is an important part of our family identity, so we look
forward to more challenges like this to inspire our creativity.”

The Tales of the Dead Short Horror Story Contest started in 2016, inspired by a 1816 ghost story challenge that led to the creation of Frankenstein’s monster and the first modern vampire story.

The contest is held in conjunction with A Toast Among Ghosts.

The young winners will receive a prize package including a 2021 “A Toast Among Ghosts” T-shirt and gift card.

“Over 21” winners received VIP tickets to A Toast Among Ghosts, the Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library’s annual Poe-themed outdoor festival.

They are invited to read their winning stories next to the fire pit at the October 16 festival, which will take place at the Reisterstown Branch.

All winning stories will be published on the Foundation for Baltimore County
Public Library’s website.