Carroll County News

MANCHESTER, Md. - It was a big surprise for a Carroll County couple when they came across a huge bear just feet away from their car.

Looking to borrow a copy of the erotic thriller, Fifty Shades of Grey , the book at the top of the New York Times Best Seller List? Expect a long, long wait for the book at most Maryland area libraries, including Carroll County , with 368 hold requests.

Residents using county water and sewer services will see their bills increase July 1. According to Comptroller Rob Burk, the average increase for residential users will be approximately 9 percent or $7 to $10 dollars per quarter for water service and 3 percent or $4 to $5 per quarter for sewer service.

Although several citizens urged the Carroll County Board of Commissioners to make further cuts in the county budget, the board voted 3-2 to approve the budget in a regularly scheduled open meeting Tuesday.

After the Westminster Memorial Day parade was over, an extra-large crowd gathered at the historic urn on the knoll just inside the entrance of the Westminster Cemetery for the 145 th Westminster observance of Memorial Day.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office says a man has been seriously injured when the lawn tractor he was riding fell over, pinning him.

Our view: A decade after overcrowded youth detention centers were recognized as a serious problem, why hasn't DJS moved more quickly to add enough residential treatment beds to meet the need? For years, lawmakers and child advocates have been urging Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services to speed up the process of getting troubled youths out of ... (more)

Philanthropy in the Reisterstown area comes from organizations of all kinds. Churches, schools, temples, businesses, service clubs, and even from its motorcycle clubs.

Carroll County hosted its 145th Annual Memorial Day Observance in honor of fallen soldiers.

The legacy of 16-year-old girl killed in a crash last month lives on one prom dress at a time.

Carroll County Patch readers weren't shy about weighing in on the news this week.

Zach Teal is just 17, but his love for books led him to write one of his own and to volunteer more than 250 hours at the Finksburg branch of the Carroll County Public Library.

Republican Delegate Susan Krebs has asked Gov. Martin O'Malley to take "immediate steps" to tear down an empty former tuberculosis hospital in Sykesville that has been a target of vandalism and arsons, most recently last month, according to a letter obtained by Patch.

Carroll County Superintendent Steve Guthrie told Patch Thursday he is "very concerned" about the number of staff cuts the school board had to make to its operating budget , which was approved this week.

The state's juvenile services secretary says he is considering expanding the size of privately run residential facilities for young offenders as his agency grapples with a shortage of beds.

The spirit of Rita Medeiros lives on through Rita's Closet, a prom dress donation program started by the Medeiros family and DeMario Bridal and Formal to benefit young girls.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to the two-vehicle crash in the 2100 block of Sam's Creek Road in Westminster about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday.

One of the few independent book stores left in Carroll County is closing June 16, owner Frank Spruill told Patch Monday.

The Carroll County Sheriff's Office said someone stole a 2000 Peterbuilt tractor at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday from the 400 block of Hahn Road in Westminster.

Frederick County Fire and Rescue personnel were dispatched to a vacant house on fire in the 7600 block of Woodville Road in Mount Airy Saturday at about 3:26 a.m., according to a news release from the Office of the Fire Marshall of Frederick County.