Slowing down the rain runoff Sports, Page B-1 Community, Page B-3 Established 1883 Wednesday, November 12, 2014 n 75¢ WE DNE SDA Y Raiders top Hornets for county title St. Mary’s County, Maryland With parade, Leonardtown tips its cap to veterans Burglar gets 20 years and warning nn Judge tells Charlotte Hall man to kick drugs, help recover jewelry By JOHN WHARTON Staff writer A Charlotte Hall man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison from his guilty plea to six burglary offenses from a series of home break-ins that a judge said resulted in a restitution tab of more than $32,000. Christopher Blair French, now 24, sat in a courtroom last week as one of the victims of his crimes lamented the continuing course of misconduct. “This wasn’t his first offense. Every time he gets out, he gets right back into this mess,” Deborah Demarr of Mechanicsville said to the presiding judge. “It’s drugs. It’s in the area, and it’s real bad.” Some of the woman’s missing collector coins have been recovered, she said, but she expressed her wish that French “would let me know where my jewelry is, if there’s any of it left.” “We’ll tie that into any break he gets on the 20 years,” St. Mary’s Circuit Judge David W. Densford responded. See BURGLARY, Page A-6 Townhouses OK’d; erosion concerns persist nn Woods at Myrtle Point may add 79 homes By JASON BABCOCK Staff writer The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission voted to approve new townhouses Monday night in the Woods at Myrtle Point development in California, after much discussion and debate among the board and testimony from area neighbors. Homes have already been built there by a previous developer, and neighbors along Patuxent Boulevard said they are still worried about runoff into area streams and into Mill Creek. More detailed stormwater management plans and sediments and control plans will be drawn up now that the new developer, Curtis Development Co., has concept site plan approval for 79 townhouses, in addition to the single-family homes already See HOMES, Page A-6 Staff photo by GRETCHEN PHILLIPS At top, Gov.-elect Larry Hogan (R) shakes hands Tuesday with Lisa Baba of Lexington Park at the Veterans Day parade in Leonardtown. St. Mary’s was Hogan’s first stop on his thank-you tour of Maryland after his victory in last week’s election. Above, Gavin Phelan, 3, of Hollywood waves an American flag as he watches the parade pass by. nn Community celebrates those who served By NICOLE CLARK Staff writer Patriots placed small American flags Tuesday into the outstretched hands of onlookers along the square in Leonardtown during the town’s Veterans Day parade. Spectators waved hundreds of the miniature Old Glories back at them and toward a clear sky of blue. TJ Youhn of Hollywood sat back and smiled. “Everybody owes the country something,” he said Tuesday. He’s a former Patuxent River Naval Air Station test pilot, who during his 23-year career flew EC-130 and E-6 aircraft used for communications, including in air and with submarines. “The squadron is still here, and so am I,” Youhn said of VX-1. “They’ve done a lot for our country,” said Tara King, a Mechanicsville mom who brought her three children to the parade honoring those who served in the military. Her son, Andrew Downs, 6, marched with the Royal Rangers, a At Spring Ridge, the beat goes on nn Rhythm Club helps students keep pace in class By GRETCHEN PHILLIPS Staff writer Staff photo by REID SILVERMAN River Lumpkins, front center, begins the beat recently as Shaekwon Jackson, front left, Matthew Cox and Quinton Perry await their turn to jump in during Rhythm Club practice at Spring Ridge Middle School. There are more than just “pa rum pum pum pums” coming from the Rhythm Club at Spring Ridge Middle School. Started eight years ago by former teacher Ryan Gravelle, the club consists of a group of students who create percussion music out of plastic buckets and tubs. “They do complex routines with splitSee RHYTHM, Page A-9 church group similar to the Boy Scouts. She wants her kids to know what military service means. “Some have given the ultimate sacrifice. I’d like to remember them and thank them.” “Get your flag off the ground,” Michelle Whitaker, of Lusby, urged her son, Mason. Although he’s only 3, she said, it’s not too soon for him to know “it’s disrespectful.” Whitaker said she wants him “just to be proud to be an American.” Gov.-elect Larry Hogan (R), fresh See PARADE, Page A-9 Singing their praises Elementary school students put on programs to honor St. Mary’s veterans A-7 Inside CommunityB-3 Editorial A-8 Letters A-8 ObituariesA-4 Police briefs A-5 Sports B-1 Celebrating her legacy Artist Candy Cummings recalled for her spirit, talent A-2 Vol. 116, No. 91 3 sections Copyright 2014 Southern Maryland Newspapers