Top Severn Stories from 2011

The New Year is finally here, so let’s take a look back at some of the most interesting events of 2011. Listed below in chronological order are the 10 biggest stories from Severn Patch.

January

Two incidents involving suspicious packages at two different government buildings occurred in Hanover and Annapolis back in January. , during which no one was seriously hurt, resulted in the evacuation of about 300 state employees after a piece of mail released a puff of smoke in both locations when opened.

Ice-covered roads were still treacherous in mid-January as a Severn woman in labor and her husband attempted to take I-97 south to . When it became apparent that their baby wasn't going to wait to get to the hospital, an Anne Arundel County Fire Department spokesman said they pulled over around 5 a.m. to call 911. 

April

Several hundred people rallied at the intersection of Disney Road and Maryland Route 175 Thursday morning to counter the presence of five Westboro Baptist Church demonstrators near Meade High and Meade Middle schools. The counter-demonstration featuring local students and community members gathered well before sunrise to rally against the message of the Kansas-based church, which is known for its anti-gay views.

May

In 2001, Severn resident  stood in Camp Lejeune, NC, as he watched the twin towers fall. Sunday night, on the same military base, the U.S. Marine witnessed President Barack Obama announce the death of the man responsible for the attack he witnessed 10 years ago. Citizens throughout the country sat in front of their televisions awaiting the official announcement regarding Osama Bin Laden’s death, but for Smith, the news carried an additional weight since his military service during those 10 years has revolved around the hunt for al-Qaida's leader. It also happened to be Peter Smith’s birthday.

July

Patch learned that a county firefighter was struck by a vehicle while helping put out a fire on Telegraph Road. The firefighter, who was not identified by Rostek other than being from Fire Station 26, was struck by a passing motor vehicle at the scene. The firefighter was not transported for medical attention from the scene but went to Baltimore Washington Medical Center for minor injuries the next day. Any investigation into the motorist involved in the incident is being handled by Anne Arundel County Police.

August

Severn residents were shaken to their core for about 30 seconds after a category 5.9 earthquake rumbled through Maryland, Virginia and other East Coast states. The 30-second earthquake was felt as far as Toronto and centered near Richmond.

Even before 9:30 p.m. the night of Aug 27, more than 30,000 Anne Arundel County residents were without power. Many in Severn saw their power turn back the next morning, but BGE released a statement that said more than 93,000 were still without electricity as of 8 a.m. the Sunday after the storm in the greater Baltimore area. 

November

A man and a woman were shot dead in the parking lot near Dave & Buster’s at Arundel Mills on Nov. 12 around midnight. Police later identified a vehicle possibly linked with the gunman and followed it to a home in Prince George’s County. Later, the gunman burst out of the home with a shotgun and AK-47. After shooting one officer, the gunman was killed in what a spokesman called “a shootout.”

November/December

Old Mill High won its second Class 4A football state championship in three years after star running back Rob Chesson converted a two-point conversion to beat Quince Orchard 36-35. Chesson, who set a state record for touchdowns in a season with 49, found the end zone when it mattered most, to give the Patriots and their first-year head coach Chad McCormick, the victory.

December

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Allen gave his sons an early Christmas present when he surprised them by returning home from Iraq in the form of a Medieval Times knight. Allen and his wife Jennifer planned the surprise, making it a very special way for the Army man to return home after a seven-month deployment in Baghdad. Benjamin "Hunter" Allen, 8, and his 6-year-old brother, Nathaniel "Cooper" Allen, were chosen to be "knighted" in a pre-event ceremony. Little did they know what was about to happen.