Arundel digest | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

ANNAPOLIS - A Baltimore County man was sentenced yesterday to life in prison for raping a woman 18 years ago in Linthicum.

A jury convicted Wendell Keys, 40, of Gwynn Oak, earlier this year of first-degree rape in connection with the July 31, 1990, rape of a 26-year-old woman he met at the Safari nightclub near BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

It was Keys' third rape conviction. He previously was convicted of second-degree rape in 1990 and 1998 in Baltimore County.

Prosecutors credited DNA with bringing Keys to justice. Police arrested Keys in August 2007 after the county's crime lab matched his DNA to semen left at the scene.

In handing down his sentence, Circuit Court Judge William C. Mulford II said Keys didn't deserve any more freedom.

"You had 18 years of freedom that was unearned," he said.

Damage to buoy angers anglers

PASADENA - The $120,000 "smart" buoy that was damaged by apparent gunfire has caught the attention of local anglers.

John Page Williams, senior naturalist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said that the buoy is the hot topic on the Chesapeake Angler discussion board on tidalfish.com.

"They're just saying 'this is ridiculous. Why would anybody have two different firearms on the boat?' " he said.

Vandals damaged the buoy's solar panels, which appeared to be from a rifle, and the damage to the weather bird on top of the buoy, which appears to be from a shotgun.

"Shooting a rifle on the water is pretty dangerous stuff," Mr. Williams said. "Whatever they were doing out there is absolutely over the line."

The question now, he said, is of the buoy's computers were damaged. The buoy does things very few other buoys can, such as showing actual wave height and wave direction. It also collects meteorological and water quality data.

"The number of real time or near real time buoys in the bay is really small," he said. "It's a really valuable buoy."

Recycler latest victim of metal scavengers

GLEN BURNIE - It seems like not even the recyclers are safe from metal thieves.

Someone stole 500 pounds of copper cable - $1,400 worth - from the Maryland Recycling Co. in the 200 block of 8th Avenue on Thursday, county police said. It's the third time in a week copper has been stolen from the business, owner Ron Vogt said.

Known to police as a stringent enforcer of rules designed to discourage sale of stolen scrap, Mr. Vogt is one of the biggest resellers of recycled metals in the region.

Police said security camera caught a man removing copper wiring from Mr. Vogt's facility. Bolt cutters were found on the scene and are thought to have been used on the front gate. The wiring was removed with a handcart, police said.

Mr. Vogt said the price of copper is hovering around $2.50 to $3.00 per pound, but he added that he doubts the price is inspiring people to steal.

"Thieves are thieves," he said. "A thief will steal no matter what the price of something is."

He said he's not planning to do anything different to increase security at the business.

County extends ban on fly ash

ANNAPOLIS - The County Council passed legislation Monday night to prohibit new fly ash dumping in the county for another year.

Approved 6-0, it extends by a year a moratorium enacted last fall that was scheduled to end on Oct. 1.

County officials said it was a prudent move because the state and federal government have not yet made their own rules to keep citizens safe.

"This is a federal problem and a state problem, but the county cannot wait upon action from the federal or state government," County Executive John R. Leopold said.

County Health Officer Frances B. Phillips said when the moratorium was first enacted a year ago, she expected the state to have new regulations in place by now.

That has not yet happened, leaving the county at a particular risk because of geography and proximity to coal burning power plants.

Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-Crownsville, whose district includes the fly ash dump, said last night's legislation is a safeguard to protect residents.

Chili contest raises funds for vets

SEVERNA PARK - A colorful tent city in Severna Park was the site of an event Saturday described as "smokin' hot."

Scents of sauteed onions, chili peppers and finely ground meat drifted on the sultry summer breeze as 22 cooks vied for the title of Maryland State Chili Champion, and eligibility points for the Terlingua International Chili Championship in Texas.

The two-pronged event, which included a chili cook-off to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project - which provides services and programs for 30,000 troops injured in recent conflicts - and a cigar fest, was held in the parking lot in front of Broadleaf Tobacco Co.

At one end, the tobacco company's big show was in full swing. The perfume of cigars drifted from the main tent as swarms of patrons lit up. And at the other, the cook-off was under way.

"This is different from other shows," said Christian Townsend, an Oliva Cigar representative from Harrisburg, Pa. "There's an energy because of the chili competition that I haven't seen before."

By day's end, Janie Bauer of Alexandria, Va., was declared Maryland State Chili Champion while Severna Park resident Tom Jenkins nailed fourth and earned enough points to qualify for Terlingua. Annapolitan Megan McGinn-Meals was fifth.

Between the two events, over $2,500 was raised for the Wounded Warrior Project and, based on its success, the Maryland State Chili Championship will team with Broadleaf Tobacco again next year at a larger location.