Crowd control credentials are now the law at big events

THIS ‘N' THAT

Friday, May 22, 2009

St. Mary's sheriff's deputy James Stone, the county's new alcohol enforcement coordinator, told members of the local alcohol beverage board last week that he learned from deputy state fire marshals at a recent conference in Ocean City about the crowd control management certification.

Someone with that certification is required at indoor events where more than 50 people are assembled, Stone said, and the fire marshal's office reports that a second person with the certification is required at events attended by 250 people or more. For each additional 250 people, add another crowd manager who's taken the course.

"They're trying to go from place to place to educate everybody," Stone said of the awareness campaign being carried out by deputy fire marshals.

The online course linked from the fire marshal's office Web site at www.firemarshal.state.md.us includes accounts of fatal theater and nightclub fires in the United States, and instructions on how to ensure safety codes are met and to handle potentially dangerous situations in an establishment — from small taverns to stadiums.

The fire marshal's office thus far has only shut down one event for not being in compliance with the crowd manager requirement, Stone said, and that was because things got out of hand.

"Anything can cause an emergency or a panic," Stone said. "They just don't want people getting trampled."

Deputy state fire marshal Joseph G. Zurolo said Wednesday that the online crowd manager training is designed to encourage people to acquire the necessary skills. "They take a test and they get a certificate, and then they can deal with the crowds," Zurolo said. "It's not hard at all for anyone to take it."

Law enforcement torch run scheduled

The St. Mary's sheriff's office 2009 Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Maryland will kick off with breakfast and warm-ups at 8 a.m. next Friday, May 29, at the Wildewood shopping center in California.

The run-walk will begin at 8:30 a.m., and be followed with a light lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise. The entry fee of $10 also will get the participant or an event supporter a T-shirt or ball cap commemorating the event. Call detective Cpl. David Alexander at 301-475-4200, ext. 1954, correctional officer Sgt. Brian Hartz at ext. 3201 or Kathy Kreps of the St. Mary's Bureau of Criminal Investigations at ext. 1950.

Motorcycle on display in Leonardtown

A customized motorcycle made especially for the Navy Chief Petty Officers' Fund will be on display today, Friday, starting at about 4 p.m. in Leonardtown's town square to promote the second "Chiefs Run for the Wall" to take place on Sunday.

Jeff Hobrath, owner of Naval Tees, will have a booth set up to sell "Chief Bike" T-shirts. Naval Tees and Compass Systems have been instrumental in the funding of the specialized motorcycle to be raffled off in September, and all proceeds from the raffle tickets costing $25 each will go to the Chief Petty Officers' Scholarship Fund. For more information, call 301-475-0437.

Park Hall man wins $250,000 in lottery

Maryland Lottery officials report that a Park Hall man's "Mega Millions" number-picking strategy recently won him a quarter-million dollars. Donald Ocker was shocked, lottery officials report, when he found out on Monday that the Mega Millions ticket he had purchased last Friday was a $250,000 winner. "It still feels like a dream," he reportedly told the gaming authorities.

The 60-year-old man told them that he usually checks his tickets on Saturday, but that he forgot to do so this time, until two days later.

Two years ago, Ocker, a professional land surveyor, reportedly sat at his computer and compiled a list of previous Mega Millions winning numbers. He randomly selected six numbers, and has been playing them twice a week ever since.

Lottery officials say the winner plans to use the money to pay off bills and also hopes to buy his daughter a car. The winning ticket was purchased at Cook's Liquors in Park Hall.

Sheriff's office foresees traffic from air show, concert

The sheriff's office is gearing up for heavy traffic from Air Expo '09 this weekend at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, to be followed Saturday evening by a concert in Solomons.

Travelers coming through the Solomons, California and Lexington Park areas should expect and plan for significant traffic congestion and delays, and are encouraged to plan accordingly and allow for travel time to and from the event, as most congestion and delays are expected to occur between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. both days.

The sheriff's office and other local law enforcement agencies expect Saturday's traffic volume will be even heavier because the Air Expo ends about the same time that gates open for a Hank Williams Jr. concert at the Calvert Marine Museum.

The main congestion areas will include northbound Route 4 approaching the Gov. Thomas Johnson Memorial Bridge, eastbound Chancellor's Run Road approaching Route 235 and Route 235 running north and south toward Route 4.

When leaving the air show, motorists traveling north on Route 235 toward Charles and Calvert counties should exit Gate 1 out of the base. Local traffic going toward southern St. Mary's or northbound Route 5 toward Leonardtown should take Gate 3 out of the air station to travel across Great Mills Road, and then on to north or south Route 5.

The sheriff's office encourages all motorists to exercise tolerance and patience when confronted with the expected traffic congestion and delays, as law officers pursue their goal to ensure all participants travel and arrive safely to and from the events.

California boy takes part in triathlon

Eleven-year-old Sam Long of California participated on May 3 in the 19th Annual Make-A-Wish Kids' Triathlon, joining more than 100 other children competing in the event intended to raise funds and awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic Inc.

The St. Mary's resident finished in second place in the 11-12-year-old age group, and following the race, he and his family enjoyed a post-race picnic and awards ceremony complete with music, face-painting and games.

The event took place in Silver Spring at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Park to support the foundation's work to fulfill the wishes of children battling life-threatening medical conditions. Participants ages 5 to 16 collected pledges and competed in the race.

For more information, go online to www.midatlantic.wish.org.

jwharton@somdnews.com