Arundel Digest

Woman gets jail in death of trucker

FINDLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa - The driver convicted of killing a Glen Burnie trucker in October 2007 while high on anti-anxiety drugs was sentenced last week to less than two years in jail.

Heidi May Wise, 33, of Harrisville, Pa., had five times the correct dosage of Xanax in her system when she hit Charles H. Payton Sr. as he stood by his disabled rig on Interstate 79. He was thrown 100 feet and died at the scene.

Lou Ellen Payton tearfully told Mercer County Common Pleas Judge Thomas R. Dobson on Friday that her husband was an average working guy just trying to do his job, according to the Sharon Herald.

"I love him every day, I miss him every day," she said.

Payton's son, Richard E. Walters, urged that Wise never be allowed to drive again.

Dobson said Wise will probably lose her license for good because of her many prior accidents. He sentenced her to 10 to 23 months in jail with 116 days' credit for time served. She also will spend two years on probation.

Wise, who pleaded guilty Oct. 6 to homicide by vehicle and drugged driving, apologized, saying she wished she could take back what she did that day.

Dec. 7 looms larger for slots decision

ANNAPOLIS - The fate of a proposed casino at the Arundel Mills mall could be decided on a single day.

The state commission tasked with approving the plan has scheduled a vote for Dec. 7 - only hours before the County Council will hold hearings on zoning changes required to build any casino.

The two panels have been in a stalemate over who should act first, but the commission signalled two weeks ago it would approve the proposal by The Cordish Cos. to put 4,750 slot machines in a 200,000-square-foot "entertainment destination" at the Hanover mall. The commission this week scheduled the meeting for its final vote, according to the official hearing schedule posted online.

Meanwhile, the council is divided on whether to grant zoning approval for the casino. It is contemplating two bills, one that would allow a casino at the mall and another that would not.

Public hearings on those measures are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St. in Annapolis.

Arundel Mills giving away a car tomorrow

HANOVER - One lucky shopper at Arundel Mills will win a 2010 Toyota Prius.

The mall will hand out 25,000 scratch-off tickets at each entrance from 11 tonight to 2 a.m. tomorrow. Fifteen finalists will bring their scratch-offs to the food court by 2:30 a.m.

"The 15 finalists will draw a key chain out of a jar and hit the panic button," said Wendy Ellis, spokeswoman for the mall. "Whoever's works wins the car."

Other prize winners have until 3 a.m. to claim gifts that include a $500 FYE gift card, a holiday party for 25 guests at Remomo Cafe Italia, an authentic Baltimore Ravens jersey and helmet, a necklace from Jewelry Service Center and a cell phone from Cyberion.

"We have lots of cool stuff," Ellis said. "Those who don't win a prize will get some sort of promotional offer from a retailer in the mall."

Official rules and a list of prizes are available at www.arundelmills.com.

- From staff and wire reports