Arundel Digest

Two charged with converter thefts

GLEN BURNIE - Two men were arrested early yesterday after they allegedly stole catalytic converters from cars parked in front of a closed business, county police said.

Officers on patrol in the 200 block of Holsum Way at about 2:30 a.m. said they noticed two men leaving the parking lot of a closed business.

Police interviewed the men and said they determined they had cut off and removed catalytic converters from several vehicles parked on nearby tow lots. Officers said the men were responsible for damage and theft from 14 vehicles in the area, police said.

Steven D. Berry Jr., 21, and Kenneth E. Turner, 22, both of Baltimore, were each charged with multiple counts of burglary, theft and malicious destruction of property, police said.

All the stolen property was returned.

Health Dept. fee increase to start

Starting tomorrow, the fees for well-construction permits and re-inspections for food-service facilities will increase.

The new fees are part of a series of price increases the Anne Arundel County Department of Health established in a bill that was passed in May. The cost for well permits will range from $160 to $630 and food-service facility operating permits will range from $195 to $590, officials said.

Structural-plan reviews for food-service facilities will start at $500 and re-inspection fees will cost $175.

The health department's price increases - along with others in county departments - are expected to generate more than $3 million in revenue for the county over the next year, officials said.

Meeting set for BRAC funding

Odenton - The county is hosting a meeting tomorrow that could help pay for roads and utilities needed to build the Odenton Town Center.

The meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Western District Police Station in Odenton. It is being led by officials from the county Office of Planning and Zoning and the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corp.

BRAC revitalization zones are a part of a program created during the last General Assembly session. The intent is for local jurisdictions to pay for infrastructure and utilities near military installations that will see a wave of new jobs from the Base Realignment and Closure Process.

Fort George G. Meade is slated to receive about 5,700 jobs from BRAC and an estimated 16,000 from expansions at other parts of the Army post.

Tomorrow's meeting is required for areas near Fort Meade to receive a BRAC-zone designation. Supporters of the Odenton Town Center said they think it could help clear the way for the center.

Melendez named to state ed board

The president of the county Board of Education was elected to the board of directors of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, according to a news release from the school system.

Enrique M. Melendez was elected during the association's annual meeting, held recently in Ocean City.

The association is private, nonprofit organization that helps school boards with policy issues and training. Ned Carey, vice president of the county school board, also serves on the board of directors as treasurer, according to the association's Web site.

Mr. Melendez was appointed to a five-year term on the county school board in 2005 and elected president by the other board members in July. He is vice president of information systems for Jacobs, a global architecture and engineering firm.

- From staff reports