Thursday, May 16, 2019 The County Times 1 FREE St. Mary’s THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2019 CountyWWW.COUNTYTIMES.SOMD.COM Times INSIDE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR COUNTY NATIVE COMMISSIONERS HIKE INCOME TAX TIKI BAR RE-OPENS Nurses Are The Backbone of Care 2 The County Times Thursday, May 16, 2019 ON THE COVER 17 Sherry Wolfe, an oncology nurse at MedStar St. Mary’s, was nominated by fellow oncology nurse CONTENTS Theresa Gould for excellence in delivering care. LOCAL NEWS 3 COPS & COURTS 8 COMMUNITY 10 LOCAL 5 ON THE COVER 17 The Tiki Bar is Opening This Weekend EDUCATION 18 SPORTS 21 PAX RIVER 22 ENTERTAINMENT 23 EDUCAITON 18 ENTERTAINMENT 23 MedStar Awards Scholarships A medley of Broadway hits FUN & GAMES 23 OBITUARIES 24 “THIS IS THE BEST UGLY SENIOR CALENDAR 27 BUDGET WE COULD GET.” LIBRARY CALENDAR 27 COMMISSIONER ERIC COLVIN ON THE STATE OF THE PROPOSED COUNTY BUDGET COMMUNITY CALENDAR 28 WEEKLY FORECAST BUSINESS DIRECTORY 30 CLASSIFIEDS 31 DO YOU FEEL CRABBY WHEN YOU GET YOUR P.O. 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MARY’S • PG • CALVERT (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111 Thursday, May 16, 2019 The County Times Local News 3 St. Mary’s Native Missing in Hawaii RUN WITH A 1025R COMPACT UTILITY TRACTOR % FOR 60 • 23.9-hp (17.8-kW) Tier 4 diesel engine 1 • Quik-ParkTM Loader and AutoConnectTM 0 APR MONTHS Drive-Over Deck compatible PLUS UP TO $800 OFF 1,2 • 6-year powertrain warranty* WITH THE PURCHASE OF TWO OR MORE IMPLEMENTS • 37.3-hp (27.4-kW) liquid-cooled RUN WITH A 2038R diesel engine COMPACT UTILITY TRACTOR • Quik-ParkTM Loader and AutoConnectTM % FOR 60 Drive-Over Deck compatible 0 APRMONTHS1 • 6-year powertrain warranty* PLUS UP TO $1500 OFF 1,2 WITH THE PURCHASE OF TWO OR MORE IMPLEMENTS • 24.7-hp (18.4-kW) Tier 4 diesel engine Amanda Eller RUN WITH A 3025E • Hydrostatic, 2-range transmission COMPACT UTILITY TRACTOR • 6-year powertrain warranty* By Guy Leonard has asked for experienced rapellers and % FOR 60 Staff Writer hunters to aid in the search for her. 0 APR MONTHS1 Jessica Eller, Amanda Eller’s sister- PLUS UP TO $ 1,2 Last week Amanda Eller, a former in-law, said the family is trying to en- 1500 OFF WITH THE PURCHASE OF TWO OR MORE IMPLEMENTS Mechanicsville resident and local courage the rescue effort to continue. physical therapist, went missing while “We’re trying to raise awareness to hiking in the Makawao Forest in Maui, complete the search and bring her home Hawaii, her new home. safely,” Jessica Eller said. “The family She has yet to be found, though is very positive; Amanda is very strong CARROLLSEQUIPMENT.COM | 301-872-5553 county residents who call her friend are and capable of taking care of herself 17723 Three Notch Rd, Dameron, MD 20628 continuing to search for the 35-year-old out there. 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CAR4X60516CCT-4C unteers; more than 100 volunteers are searching for Eller. “She grew up in Mechanicsville and went to Chopticon High School,” said Theresa Schlotterbeck, a long-time friend. “After completing her physical therapy training she wanted to travel, she wanted to see the world. “She found an opportunity in Hawaii and she made it her home.” Eller went missing May 8; her white Toyota RAV-4 sport utility vehicle was discovered in the parking lot of the Kahakapao trail, which she frequently hiked, according to those who knew her. She was not reported missing to po- lice until May 9. Her personal belongings, including her cell phone and wallet, were found in her vehicle, with her keys placed un- der the driver side tire. Since the search began her parents, received a package from her and a note containing Mother’s Day gifts; the package was sent the same day Eller went missing. The family has posted a $10,000 re- ward for information leading to Eller or for her safe return. The search has included police drones and tracker dogs and the family 4 Local News The County Times Thursday, May 16, 2019 Commissioners Approve Commissioners Propose Apartment Tax Deal Income Tax Hike Renovations continue at Lex Wood apartments in Lexingotn Park By Guy Leonard Aud said the entire complex of apart- By Guy Leonard Commissioner Mike Hewitt was crit- Staff Writer ments was compliant with the Ameri- Staff Writer ical of Morgan’s proposal, claiming that cans with Disabilities Act, though only the county could only rely on its current The Commissioners of St. Mary’s fi ve percent of the actual apartments met The Commissioners of St. Mary’s 2.2 percent projection for growth. County approved this week a payment those standards. County voted at Tuesday’s fi nal budget He was equally critical of funding in lieu of taxes program (PILOT) that “What I would like to see in this PI- work session to increase the income tax the school board’s negotiated agree- would reduce the property tax require- LOT is a larger percentage of ADA ac- rate to 3.17 percent after last week’s ment since the county was not a party ment for a developer renovating the Lex cessible units,” said Commissioner Eric vote to place it at 3.1 percent. to those negotiations, only the school Woods apartments in Lexington Park. Colvin. “Would something like 25 per- They stood fi rm on last week’s vote system and the system employees. The program would reduce the overall cent be possible?” to remove the property tax increase that “We don’t have an obligation to pay property taxes owed to the county over Aud said increasing the number was would have driven the rate to 90 cents for a negotiated agreement we had noth- the next 20 years by $312,000. not possible but his company had al- per $100 of assessed value. ing to do with,” Hewitt said. “The point The Lex Wood project is one of three ready committed to offering 20 percent Commissioner Todd Morgan made is they [the school system] have plenty such renovation projects in St. Mary’s, of the apartments to those with disabili- the proposal as a way to restore some of money.” the fi rst is Queen Anne Park apartments ties as a preference. funding to the sheriff’s offi ce and Board Morgan said he was acting on the as- and the third is Patuxent Cove which Commissioner Todd Morgan said he of Education that had been removed last sumptions that Hewitt had long held, would be a new construction project. approved of the value of having such week. that the county overestimated expenses The three projects represent about $64 projects in St. Mary’s County where af- Last week the commissioners re- and underestimated revenues. million in investments in low income fordable housing stock is diffi cult to fi nd moved $4.4 million for a negotiated A four-percent increase in revenue, and work force housing stock. but he chided the local housing authority agreement to fund school system sala- Morgan said Wednesday, was a com- Tom Aud, representing Lex Wood for not being able to get local contrac- ries as well as about $900,000 from the promise between Hewitt’s 2.2 percent Preservation LLC, which is overseeing tors to participate in the work.