Thursday, May 9, 2019 The County Times 1 FREE St. Mary’s THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019 CountyWWW.COUNTYTIMES.SOMD.COM Times On Call in the 7th 2 The County Times Thursday, May 9, 2019 ON THE COVER 16 The 7th District Volunteer Rescue Squad continues to serve their community, despite their need for CONTENTS more members. LOCAL NEWS 3 COPS & COURTS 12 COMMUNITY 13 LOCAL 4 ON THE COVER 16 A 5-year-old autistic boy was found after running away in Loveville PAX RIVER 20 ENTERTAINMENT 20 SPORTS 21 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 22 COMMUNITY 15 PAX RIVER 20 The Spring Festival in Leonardtown was a barrel UAS symposium talks about high tech future FUN & GAMES 22 of monkeys OBITUARIES 23 “IT’S A FIERCELY SENIOR CALENDAR 27 PROUD COMMUNITY.” LIBRARY CALENDAR 27 7TH DISTRICT VRS CHIEF TJ FAUNCE ON THE VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY THEY SERVE. COMMUNITY CALENDAR 28 WEEKLY FORECAST BUSINESS DIRECTORY 30 CLASSIFIEDS 31 DO YOU FEEL CRABBY WHEN YOU GET YOUR P.O. Box 250 • Hollywood, Maryland 20636 301-373-4125 www.countytimes.net INSURANCE BILL CountySt. Times Mary’s County ● Calvert County For staff listing and emails, see page 30 IN THE MAIL? FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION GIVE US A CALL.BRYANS ROAD The law offices of P.A. Hotchkiss & Associates YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU DID. Providing Excellent Service For Over 20 Years LEONARDTOWN AUTO ACCIDENTS Workers’ comp • Divorce/Separation Burris’ Olde Towne Insurance • Support/Custody Auto • Home • Business • LIFE • Domestic Violence • Criminal/Traffic LEONARDTOWN BRYANS ROAD • DWI/MVA Hearings 301-475-3151 301-743-9000 Scan this “Times Code” Power of Attorney with your smart phone • Name Change • Adoption WWW.DANBURRIS.COM • Wills • Guardianship Accepting: AN INDEPENDENT AGENT REPRESENTING ERIE INSURANCE GROUP 99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD • 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD SERVING CHARLES • ST. MARY’S • PG • CALVERT (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111 Thursday, May 9, 2019 The County Times Local News 3 Crash Involving Horse and Buggy Under Investigation On May 7, 2019, at approximately 8:08 p.m. deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 28100 block of Thompson Corner Road in Mechanicsville, for the report- ed motor vehicle collision involving a horse-drawn buggy. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Collision Re- construction Unit responded and con- tinued the investigation. Preliminary investigation deter- mined a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, oper- ated by David Harrison Morton, age 18 of Mechanicsville, was traveling south on Thompson Corner Road in the area of Millburn Lane. A horse-drawn Photo credit Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire buggy operated by Fannie Hertzler, age Department 21 of Mechanicsville, entered the road- way from Millburn Lane and collided At this time, neither speed or alco- THE LEONARDTOWN SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL with the Hyundai. The passengers in hol appear to be contributing factors in the buggy were Anna Hertzler age 19, the collision. Anyone who may have Kicks o with the U.S. Navy Band Country Current Allen Hertzler age 13, Rhoda Hertzler witnessed the collision or any events age 10, Lavina Hertzler age 9, and Bena leading up to the collision is asked to in concert In Leonardtown Square on Hertzler age 7, all of Mechanicsville. contact Corporal Brandon Foor at (301) Saturday, May 18th in honor of Armed Forces Day All six occupants of the horse-drawn 475-4200 extension *2265 or by email buggy were flown to area trauma cen- at [email protected]. ters with incapacitating injuries. Mor- For official news and information, For More Info and the Full Music Festival Schedule Visit: ton was evaluated at the scene for non- follow the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s www.LeonardtownMusicFest.com incapacitating injuries. Office on Twitter @firstsheriff. Ridgell Remebered as Entrepreneur, Friend reat Mom th By Guy Leonard T is Staff Writer r’s D Daniel Ridgell, the owner and found- othe a er of Ridgell Oil, is being mourned af- y a ter losing his battle with cancer. M t He was 74. Luvina Lacey, one of Ridgell’s daughters, said he started working for other companies before starting his own burner service business in about 1974. “He was running that business out of his home while he was working on other jobs,” Lacey said of her father. “He started the oil company in 1982.” She said her father’s entrepreneurial spirit was matched only by his work ethic; even in his older years he would still make deliveries of oil to custom- ers via delivery trucks. “He worked up until he got sick,” Daniel Ridgell Lacey told The County Times. “He Enjoy all your favorites worked all the time, it’s what he loved at the Brinsfield Funeral Home for to do. prayers at 7p.m. Friday with visitation “Work wasn’t work for him, it was from 5p.m. to 8p.m. including Southern Maryland pure joy; he enjoyed his customers.” Church services for Ridgell will be As much as he worked and found held Saturday, 10a.m. at St. Joseph’s Stuffed Ham success in St. Mary’s County he also Church in Morganza with a grave side loved to vacation in Maine, said Lac- service following at Charles Memorial Gardens in Leonardtown. ey, so much so that he bought a farm LOCATED IN OLD DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON PARK • OUTSIDE BASE GATE 2 there and built a house. MON. - FRI. 6 A.M. - 8 P.M. • SAT. 7 A.M. - 2 P.M. • SUN. 8 A.M. - 2 P.M. The family will receive friends [email protected] 4 Local News The County Times Thursday, May 9, 2019 Searchers Find 5-Year- Former Teacher Charged in 40-Year-Old Sex Offense Case Old Autistic Boy By Guy Leonard Once alert- Staff Writer ed, Yingling said, the school A Glen Burnie man who taught at system con- White Marsh Elementary School back tacted the in the early 1970’s has been charged with sheriff’s office sexually abusing a young victim during which imme- his time living in St. Mary’s County, diately began though sheriff’s officials say there is no investigating. evidence that any incidents occurred on Bell, who school grounds. taught here for Theodore Bell Cpl. Julie Yingling, sheriff’s office three years and continued as a school spokesperson, told The County Times teacher in Anne Arundel County for an that Theodore Bell, now 73, has already unspecified period, remains free on his Emergency responders found a 5-year-old boy who had run away from Benjamin Banneker been interviewed by sheriff’s office in- own recognizance, according to Circuit Elementary School Tuesday. vestigators and has been charged with Court records. second-degree sex offense, second-de- Yingling said Bell was charged via By Guy Leonard from an employee at the school at about gree assault and perverted practice. a criminal summons and was never Staff Writer 1p.m. The acts are alleged to have taken arrested. The rescue response was heavy with place between September 1and Decem- Police, fire and rescue personnel “We can’t talk about the investiga- tracker dogs on site looking for the miss- ber 31, 1974. found an autistic boy who ran away tion because we believed there could be ing boy and a Maryland State Police he- The indictment, handed down April from Benjamin Banneker Elementary other victims out there,” Yingling said. licopter flying a circuit overhead. 16 in county Circuit Court, names just School Tuesday afternoon. “We’re asking others to come forward.” Police were also setting out remote- one victim. The recovered boy is Liam Harper, 5. Thomas Pavilic, defense attorney for controlled drones to join in the search. This victim came forward in Septem- The police, fire and rescue and other Bell, declined to comment on his client’s Police said the boy was recovered ber of last year to the St. Mary’s County search personnel were able to recover case moving forward. unharmed. Public School System, Yingling said, the boy after about a four hour search. “I haven’t received discovery yet,” Pa- and claimed to have been victimized by According to Mike Wyant, public vilic told The County Times. [email protected] Bell. school security chief, Harper ran away [email protected] THE KING’S CHRISTIAN ACADEMY PRE-K - 12th grade Enjoy a private campus tour on May 14 STEM Safe, Christian Campus OPEN HOUSE EVENT Robotics Dual College Enrollment Fine Arts Before/After Care May 14, 2019 Athletics Financial Aid Available 4 - 6 p.m. Learn why KCA is one of the fastest growing Excellence in Education. Christ-like in character. Christian schools in Southern Maryland! www.KCAEAGLES.org 301-994-3080 Thursday, May 9, 2019 The County Times Local News 5 Wentworth Nursery Remember Mom on Mothers Day, Sunday May 12th St. Mary’s Wins Grant for We Have GREAT Garden Gifts For MOM! Regional Agriculture Center Proven Winners® Geranium Tubs & Baskets Proven Winners® Shrub Hanging Baskets Great for patios and porches 3 gal. Pot Best Selection. Mix or Match STARTING AT $ 00 $ 99 $ 99 SAVE 5 OFF STARTING AT 19 EA. 19 and Up Garden Bowls Knockout Roses Rhododendron & Dish Gardens All Pink, Red & 3 gal % Many styles to choose Double Knockout Roses SAVE 20 OFF EA. % form or we will custom make SAVE 20 OFF EA. When You Buy 3 or More them to order. When You Buy 4 or More NOW SCHEDULING FOR SPRING INSTALLATION CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE AN ESTIMATE 800-451-1427 By Guy Leonard There are about 55 such livestock pro- Staff Writer ducers here in St. Mary’s, Raley said, who in turn are part of about 2,700 in Competing amongst the four other the five-county region.