The Lockout is Lifted, Fort Meade Says Goodbye and Tragedy at Arundel Mills

It's a sad truth that the most memorable news is usually the most tragic. 

JFK, MLK, Marilyn Monroe, the Space Shuttle Challenger, September 11, each event has branded the memories of those who were around to witness them.

In a smiliar way, the news showed its ugly side on Friday after an accident at the Maryland Live! construction site at Arundel Mills  and sent another to shock trauma with life-threatening injuries. 

According to emergency personnel, a 25-ton concrete wall fell while the pre-cast structure was being moved. What caused the wall to fall is still being investigated, according to Chief Michael Cox of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. 

When I arrived at the construction site Friday morning, I was the first reporter on scene. No media areas had been established and everyone seemed to be in a haze. The construction workers stood motionless and close to one another. Firefighters rushed about with purpose, yet at the time, I had no idea why.

The heat belted down on the emergency personnel as they worked to retrieve the deceased worker.It wasn't until yesterday that we learned it took them nearly three hours to retrieve the body. 

In our , we learned that the man who survived the accident is in "serious but stable condition" after being rushed to shock trauma on Friday. It's always pleasant to provide good news after a horrible tragedy.

Fort Meade Says Goodbye

Col. Daniel Thomas said farewell to Fort Meade last week after serving the installment for three years. At the base's official ceremony, , Thomas handed over command and expressed his gratitude to have served the base with "extraordinary men." 

The weather turned out to be quite nice and nothing like last month's change-of-command ceremony that had  due to the extreme heat. 

The Lockout is Lifted

One of Severn Patch's original sportswriters, Jamie Harrison, gave us his thoughts on the end of the NFL lockout and why the news really wasn't that exciting.

Jamie argued an interesting point that I couldn't help but agree with:

"Did you really think the owners were going to pass up on $9 billion for the sake of some paperwork?"

Good point Jamie, good point. 

In Other News...

We started a new feature where we allow readers to submit to our local expert, a Severn man started mocking Howard County's "Choose Civility" campaign and a at Severn Danza Park was sent to shock trauma. 

In addition, a 7-Eleven off of Dorsey Road was robbed, making it the third such incident involving a 7-Eleven last month.

I mean, I love a Slurpee and all, but .