Man Buys Winning Scratch-off in Fullerton


The Maryland Lottery announced that a winning $20,200 scratch-off ticket was sold in Fullerton last week. The unidentified man came forward to claim his prize.

“I’ve been looking for this ticket for a long time,” a 39-year-old restaurant employee said while sitting in the Maryland Lottery Winner’s Circle.

While the specific game that produced the biggest win of his life was a 2020 Cash scratch-off, the Nottingham resident was speaking about the prize he just claimed. “I really felt that I would hit a big one some day and here it is!”

The Baltimore County resident said he discovered his top-prize win as his fiancée bathed their daughter in the next room.

“I was talking with her when I saw the matching numbers and then the prize. I just froze, I couldn’t catch my breath.” She called to him, alarmed that he had stopped the conversation mid-sentence. “She couldn’t come in the room because she had the baby in the tub, but she kept calling my name.” The shocked player found his voice a few moments later. “I told her, ‘This might be big.’ ”

The couple plans to add the winnings to the family’s house down-payment fund. They will soon begin the search for their first new home.

The 2020 Cash scratch-off game, a $20 instant ticket, debuted in November 2019 and has five more $20,200 top prizes to offer players. They can also search for 14 second-tier prizes worth $2,020. The Lottery awarded a $202 bonus to the owners of Belair Liquors at 7631 Belair Road in Fullerton for selling the lucky top-prize winning scratch-off.

Man Convicted in 2019 Perry Hall Murder


Baltimore County States Attorney Scott Shellenberger announced that Christopher James Engles, 21, was convicted today by a jury of First Degree Premeditated Murder, Robbery with a Dangerous or Deadly Weapon and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime of Violence in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

At 11:13 p.m. on February 26, 2019, the Baltimore County Police were called to the intersection of Hickory Falls Way and Hickory Hurst Drive in Perry Hall on the report of shots fired. When they responded, they found Taylor Webb, 20, in a car suffering from gunshot wounds. She had been shot once in the face and another time behind her right ear into her head. She was killed as a result of the gunshots.

The police conducted an investigation into the killing and discovered that Ms. Webb had been in what family and friends would describe as a dysfunctional relationship with Christopher Engles. Evidence was presented at trial to show that Engles had lured Ms. Webb to the area she was killed by cellphone. Engles then confronted Ms. Webb, took her cellphone and shot her twice. The evidence showed that Ms. Webb was killed with a .38 caliber revolver.

The police were able to discover a photograph, taken eleven days prior to the murder, of Engles holding a revolver which matches that description.

“This case involves the combination of two extremely serious, and sometimes tragically fatal, issues today in our society- gun violence and domestic violence,” said State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

“We must continue to aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who choose violence in these situations.”

The case was presided over by Judge Paul Hanley. No sentencing date has been set at this time. The State will be seeking a sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole. The case was prosecuted by Deputy State’s Attorney Robin Coffin and Assistant State’s Attorney Natalie Scurto.

Pedestrian Killed Near Pulaski & Campbell


A driver struck and killed a pedestrian along Pulaski Highway over the weekend.
It occurred Saturday, Sept. 18 before 9 p.m.

Investigators determined the driver had just made a U-turn at the intersection of Pulaski Highway and Campbell Boulevard when a 68-year-old man was hit.

Stanley Vingsen Jr., who was attempting to cross Pulaski Highway without utilizing a crosswalk, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver had just turned westbound when the crash occurred; Vingsen was walking southbound.

At the time of the accident, Vingsen did not identification on him.

Two-Way Traffic in Harbor Tunnel Next Week


The Maryland Transportation Authority [MDTA] announced that the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel [Interstate 895] will have overnight closures for Monday, Sept. 20 to Thursday, Sept. 23.

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, Sept. 20, through Thursday, Sept. 23, 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.

MDTA reminds motorists to obey speed limits and stay in one lane.

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

Essex Day 2021 Set to Return This Saturday


Essex Day returns for 2021 on this Saturday in the 400 & 500 block of Eastern Boulevard in Essex and runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is after the 2020 event was canceled as a result of COVID-19.

Starlight Entertainment announced their Main Stage Lineup for Essex Day and it appears to be an all Rock lineup for the 46th Annual Event:

Noon to 1 p.m.: In Tension
1:30-2:30 p.m.: Sugar Jack
3 to 4 p.m: Glamour Kitty
4:30-5:30 p.m: AWAKEN

There will be a Circle of Faith stage this year at Margaret Avenue. Three Bridges will start performing at noon with special guest Randoll Rivers.

There will be food and drink, a beer garden, over 120 vendors, car show, pony rides, pie eating contest, strolling entertainers, and the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River will give museum Tours.

Parade and opening ceremonies start at 11:30 a.m.

It was also announced this week that Wendi Townsend from 98 Rock Baltimore will be hosting opening ceremonies at 11:30 a.m. on the main stage.

Cause of Edgemere Apartment Fire Revealed


Baltimore County officials reported that a 65-year-old woman is expected to survive critical injuries suffered yesterday in a fire at an Edgemere senior living complex.

Three other patients suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the fire at St. Luke’s Place, 2800 block of Lodge Farm Road in Edgemere.

Residents from nine apartment units were displaced.

Baltimore County Police fire investigators have determined that the fire was accidental. The fire began when the victim — the patient who suffered critical injuries — had been smoking on the sofa while using oxygen.

A fire ignited and trailed along the oxygen tubing, burning the patient and igniting the couch where she was sitting. 

Medical oxygen is enriched, leading to a greatly increased fire hazard because oxygen makes fires burn hotter and spread faster.

Smoking should not occur in homes with patients on medical oxygen.

The St. Luke’s Place fire was dispatched at 10:25 a.m. for a report of a fire alarm.

Fire crews found the victim on the fourth floor of the complex, in critical condition.

She was treated by EMS personnel, who transported her to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

The complex’s sprinkler system quickly extinguished the fire. 

Overlea Shooting Reported on Raspe Avenue


Detectives with the Baltimore County Violent Crimes Unit continue to investigate a shooting that occurred Wednesday. Shortly before 10 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 4600 block of Raspe Avenue in Overlea.

The victims told police two suspects approached them and fired shots. The suspects then fled the scene. Both victims were transported to a local hospital for their injuries. One victim has been treated and released.

As this investigation continues, VCU detectives are asking anyone who may have been in the area of Raspe Avenue Wednesday evening to contact them by calling 410-307-2020.

Lottery Winners in Perry Hall, Dundalk & Parkville


In all, 23 Maryland Lottery players across the state won or claimed prizes of $10,000 or more, and the Lottery paid more than $35 million in prizes in the seven days ending Sept. 12.

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 cash tickets up to and including $600. More information is available on the How To Claim page of mdlottery.com.

Here is the weekly roundup of big winners from eastern Baltimore County over last week:

Scratch-off Prizes Claimed From Sept. 6 through Sept. 12:

$50,000 Prizes

· Ca$h Bonus, Royal Farms #017, 8207 Harford Road, Parkville

$10,000 Prizes

· Ca$h Bonus, J Convenience, 8765 Satyr Hill Road, Parkville

· Money Explosion, Merritt Shell, 1521 Merritt Boulevard, Dundalk

Fast Play and Draw Game Tickets Sold for Drawings From Sept. 6 through Sept. 12:

RACETRAX

· $17,144 ticket sold Sept. 7 at Perry Hall BP, 8809 Belair Road, Perry Hall (unclaimed as of Sept. 13)

Perry Hall High Student Semifinalists for National Merit Scholarship


Three Baltimore County Public Schools students from two high schools have been named semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program coordinated by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

One of those students is Tiffany T. Shum, Perry Hall High School.
She was honored along with Towson High students Jacob B. Fey and Yousse Tewala.

“Congratulations to Jacob Fey, Tiffany Shum, and Yousse Tewala for their academic achievement and to the teachers, families, and administrators who taught, challenged, and supported them,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams. “These students represent the potential we see every day in all of our students, in all of our schools. Recognitions such as this inspire all members of the BCPS family to set and reach higher goals.”

High school juniors entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program by participating in the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NSMQT®). The highest scoring entrants in each state create the national pool of 16,000 semifinalists, which represents less than 1 percent of high school seniors in the nation. Most semifinalists advance to the finalist level (based on their academic records, recommendations, and SAT scores) and compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million.

Through its longstanding partnership with the College Board, which administers the PSAT/NSMQT, BCPS provides funding so that all students in Grade 9 can take the PSAT 8/9, all students in Grades 10 and 11 can take the PSAT/NSMQT, and all Grade 11 students can take the SAT – all at no charge to the students or their families. The PSAT test provides practice for the SAT and provides BCPS educators with important assessments of student strengths and challenges.