Sykesville residents will see more of their Sykesville Police Department officers walking the town's streets.

Police Chief John Williams Jr. has requested that his officers park their patrol cars and walk the streets to reduce energy and fuel costs, according to a news release issued by the department.

Officers were instructed last year to reduce idling times of their cars and conduct foot patrols.

In the past, officers have conducted foot patrols on Main Street and in the Warfield Complex, but are now told to dedicate more time to patroling the town's neighborhoods.

Williams said it's a "win-win situation" that saves fuel, enhances community relations and improves the officers' endurance by walking.

-- Charles Schelle

Applicants sought for capital budget panel

Sykesville's mayor and Town Council are seeking a town resident to sit on the Capital Improvement Programs committee.

The committee discusses and drafts a budget plan for the town's capital and construction purchases for fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2010-2014, and makes a recommendation to the mayor and Town Council.

The committee will meet about two times at dates to be determine in December. All meetings are open to the public.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume to Matt Candland, Town Manager, Town of Sykesville, 7547 Main St., Sykesville, MD 21784 or e-mail mcandland@sykesville.net by Friday, Nov. 7.

For more information, call 410-795-6390.

McCAIN WINS! ... in school's mock election

Linton Springs Elementary School students had a lesson in civics last week thanks to a mock presidential election held at the school.

"It was a clear victory for Mr. McCain," said Kay Hayes, assistant principal.

Sen. John McCain received 447 votes while Sen. Barack Obama received 198 votes, she said.

Fourth- and fifth-grade math students along with Patriot Club students registered all students in the school as voters and provided them with a registration card, Hayes said.

Students worked the polls as clerks and made sure all voters were registered and all votes counted, she added. Math students and Patriot Club also helped tabulate results.

-- Charles Schelle

Seminar asks: What are teens thinking?

"What Are They Thinking?" a substance abuse awareness program for all ages, will be held Thursday, Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m., at the Portico at St. John's Church, Monroe Street, Westminster.

Keynote speaker for the evening is David McDuff, MD, an adolescent, addiction and sports psychiatrist. Also speaking is former Baltimore Colts running back and NFL Hall of Fame member Lenny Moore.

Youth-serving agencies in Carroll County will also be on hand at information booths. The event is free and open to the public.

Doors open at 6 p.m. The summit is sponsored by the Board of County Commissioners and hosted by Junction Inc. Call 410-848-6400.

Two withdraw from police work group

Two members of Carroll County's Unified Law Enforcement Work Group, an advisory group recently created by the Board of Commissioners, have announced their departure from the group.

Meanwhile, a new member of the panel has been added.

State Police Lt. Andrew Winner, commander of the Westminster barrack, and Bowie Police Chief Katherine Perez, of the recently created Bowie Police Department, have withdrawn from the group.

According to Cindy Parr, Carroll County's chief of administrative services and chair of the study group, Perez left because she felt she could be more useful at a later stage of the process. Winner said he needed to devote more time to his duties at the Westminster barrack, Parr said.

The new member is Maj. Scott Yinger, Maryland State Police assistant bureau chief of field operations and former commander of the Westminster barrack.

-- Bob Allen

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