Briefly

Amusement park asks for tax help

The owners of the carousel and arcade along the Ocean City boardwalk is increasing pressure to have its tax bill reduced.

Trimper Rides created a Web site yesterday asking fans of the park to write to local officials to ask for a reduction to Trimper’s $914,000 property-tax bill. Three years ago, the tax bill was $387,000.

Owners of the amusement park have said the park may close because they cannot afford to pay the property taxes on the waterfront parcel.

The Web site, www.savetrimpers.com, asks visitors to share memories of the amusement park and its 1902 Herschel-Spellman antique carousel.

ELKTON

ACLU challenges anti-loitering law

The ACLU is challenging Elkton’s anti-loitering law after it was used last year to destroy items belonging to homeless people living in the woods.

A lawsuit filed yesterday accuses the town of harassment, intimidation and property destruction for the raid last August, during which property belonging to homeless people was cleared away. The lawsuit states that the raid was unconstitutional and seeks to invalidate the town’s anti-loitering law.

“The town’s senseless seizure and destruction of the clothing, blankets, medications and irreplaceable personal mementos of its poorest residents was cruel and indefensible,” said Deborah Jeon, legal director for the ACLU of Maryland.

Town attorney Norman Wilson could not be reached for comment.

BOWIE

Murder suspect dies in gunfight

A man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of his mother and wounding of his father Sunday night during a domestic dispute in their Dunwood Valley Drive home in Bowie was killed last night in Wilmington, Del.

Police identified the man as Christopher Wayne Gary, 27, of Georgetown, Md.

Story Continues →