Waterways face bacterial pollution in Frederick County

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
By Mary Milligan Several waterways in Frederick are polluted with potentially harmful bacteria that become especially elevated after rainfall. This bacteria, enterococcus, can cause a stomach ache and similar ailments according to Sara Eckard, a biology major and water researcher. In Frederick, it has been found in Carroll Creek, Culler Lake, Rock Creek, Owens Creek in Thurmont, Glade Run in Walkersville, and a tributary that runs in front of Frederick High and into Carroll Creek. Professor of Biology and Director of Coastal Studies Program Dr. Drew Ferrier said that the summer project began with a feeling that people had a hard time understanding the status of the environment. He said that they wanted to do the research to produce a “clearer way of expressing to the public an indication of the pollution in the water.” Eckard and Dr. Drew Ferrier began to look at the enterococcus levels of different waterways over the summer in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The levels they found...
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Frederick County Council struggles to bring medical marijuana to the area

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
By Katie Misuraca Frederick County Council has a tough battle ahead with the legalization of medical marijuana without the support of some members in the Frederick area. Frederick County Council Vice President M.C. Keegan-Ayer has been trying to propose a bill that would have permitted medical marijuana to be grown in facilities in county agricultural zones. “It is a good industry for Frederick County,” Keegan-Ayer said. “It gives our farmers an option for an economically viable crop to be growing in a small segment of their property.” Keegan-Ayer stated she thinks that the medical marijuana industry would be huge economic boost for farmers during drought seasons or during slower growing season throughout the year. “It would allow them [farmers] to continue to do the more traditional forms of farming with the rest of their property even in times where it may not be as economically profitable,” Keegan-Ayer said. For example, if the farmer was a dairy farmer, or having a down year where the prices are...
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Funds for Community Colleges depend on the “C”

by CMA 303 Comment Closed
By Samantha Helmold Delegates introduce a bill to get community colleges to start thinking about having to pay for students who don’t receive a “C” grade or better in developmental education courses. This bill required that local community colleges, including Baltimore City Community College, to receive only half of the State funding through their funding formulas for the contact hours of students who do not receive a grade of “C” or better in the developmental education courses. Developmental education courses are defined as a noncredit course that must be completed successfully before or concurrent with a student enrolling in a credit-bearing course. (more…)...
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