Top 5 Stories: Jazz Musician Dies, Walker Withdraws

Local residents got their fair share of heavy-hitting news this week. Headlines covered a variety of topics, from the most recent update at Edgewater Elementary to a renowned jazz musician’s passing from an accident on Maryland Route 2.

Here’s a brief review of the top five stories of the week.

No. 1—

The latest update in the Edgewater Elementary saga, Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) released the findings Friday afternoon from the indoor air quality study at , telling parents the school’s “environmental conditions do not present a general health hazard.”

The 31-page report, conducted by Building Dynamics and its president Ed Light, said  centered primarily on maintenance issues and equipment upgrades. 

No. 2—

A union of sergeants and lieutenants is calling for the resignation of County Executive John R. Leopold and police Chief James Teare Sr. 

Leopold is charged with four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary.

No. 3—

District 7 Councilman Jerry Walker (R-Gambrills) withdrew his  from the agenda in Monday night’s County Council meeting because of “certain racially-charged rhetoric.”

" because of racially charged comments made by some of my council colleagues," Walker told Patch in a text message.

No. 4—

Local jazz bassist Gene “Joe” Byrd was identified as the man who died after firefighters pulled him from the wreckage in the Maryland Tuesday, according to Anne Arundel County police.

Byrd, 78, of Edgewater was turning left from Lee Airpark Drive in his Volvo when a GMC Yukon struck his car in the driver’s door area, police said.

No. 5—

Maryland State Police are charging two family members of a teen killed in the  last month with serving alcohol to minors, according to WJZ 13 in Baltimore.

On Jan. 28, four people died after a teenager who was found to be drunk drove  on Route 50 and then struck another driver, who was also drunk, state police said.

Now, police say Franco’s mother and brother served alcohol to minors during a house party—a factor that may have contributed to the deadly accident, according to WJZ 13.