Cause of fire laid to candles left burning; LaPlata VFD firefighters injured battling house fire – photo ABC 7 NewsChopper

The husband, wife, and two children weren’t inside. The husband was too upset to talk on camera but tells ABC7 that he was brewing coffee before going to work and doesn’t know if that may have started the fire. The cause is under investigation.

“I’m still kind of jittery myself knowing how close it was,” Watson says. “I’m glad that no one was in the house.”

Clements, Md.: Drowsy driver Jeremy Ryan Hunley causes crash – sent Tiffany Danielle Henderson, passenger of other vehicle, to her death, say police

The operator of the Chrysler attempted to take evasive maneuvers and entered the eastbound lane of MD Rt. 234 in an attempt to avoid the Chevrolet truck. The operator of the Chevrolet truck woke up and swerved back into the eastbound lane. The Chevrolet truck collided into the passenger side of the Chrysler. After the collision, the Chevrolet truck entered a ditch/culvert and overturned. The Chrysler also left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch on the eastbound side of MD Rt. 234.

The front passenger of the Chrysler was ejected from the vehicle and succumbed to her injuries on the scene.

All that glitters isn’t gold — Internet scheme only got him rich; Rondell Scott Hedrick convicted of wire fraud

After Hedrick made these representations to the informant, he solicited a $500,000 investment. When FBI agents approached Hedrick after the meeting, Hedrick maintained his ability to close such large gold transactions in Dubai, and he continued to solicit investor funds. He also contacted legitimate refineries in Dubai, claiming to have gold from Mali and Ghana that he was capable of transporting if appropriate contracts could be consummated.

Southern Md. Police Beat: BIG HEAD THE METH HEAD and others rounded up on drug charges

PINEY POINT, MD. — If drugs are so much fun, why is only one of the above folks smiling? The smile of Abigail Adams could fairly be characterized as being from the embarrassment of being arrested and having her mug shot taken. The others appear in various states of emotion showing being zoned out on drugs to simply being stoic over their situation. In the end, their faces don’t present a view of those having a good day. Especially “Big Head” Morgan. He just might be out of business, at least for a while.

Rounding up another paddy-wagon full of drug suspects recently included “Big Head” Morgan of Piney Point, according to St. Mary’s Narco Unit Commander Capt. Daniel Alioto.

HOMELESS and BANKLESS: Banks closing their branches as online banking grows; robberies traumatize rural banks; failures at much lower rate than recent years

EASTON, MD. — The well-built former branch of Capital One Bank in Easton, which bought out Chevy Chase Bank, boasts an iconic design. The closed bank building needs no sign to identify it. The building was part of the brand but today it sits empty with a ‘for lease’ sign nearby and a homeless man camped out on the front porch during what formerly was during business hours.

Now the bankless joins the homeless.

Natalie Whittaker was hell on wheels, snaring 2 DWI charges; Somerset Sheriff reports DWI arrests – what happened in court!

Natalie Whittaker of Princess Anne, arrested 5-31-14 for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving impaired by alcohol, driver giving false information to police, fleeing and eluding police, and multiple traffic infractions. Whittaker was released on signature pending court actions. The arrest was the result of an attempted traffic stop where Whittaker led deputies on a brief car chase, until she crashed her vehicle into a ditch in the area of Progress Lane, Princess Anne.

Only four days prior to the Somerset County DUI arrest, Whittaker was charged by Maryland State Trooper B. Pollmeier with DUI on Joseph Rd. at Brown Rd. in Wicomico County. In District Court on Aug. 27, 2014, Wicomico County States Attorney allowed her to pay a fine of $250 along with court costs and receive a probation before judgment.

On May 4, 2013, Whittaker was cited by Princess Anne Police Officer D. H. Adams with negligent driving and in a plea deal with the Somerset County States Attorney on March 13, 2014, she was fined $107. At the same time, a charge of DUI was dropped by Somerset States Attorney Daniel W. Powell. Whittaker was represented by the Public Defender (paid for by taxpayers).