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Saturday, nov 16

Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

zfailla@dailyvoice.com

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Equal parts Lois Lane, J. Jonah Jameson and Vicki Vale, Zak! has traveled from coast-to-coast covering small and big town community news in both in print and online for nearly a decade since his graduation from the award-winning Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in 2010.

Before settling into the Hudson Valley, Zak! previously spent time in the New York Daily News newsroom and worked for hyperlocal digital news outlets on Long Island. He wrote sports for The Ithacan and The Ithaca Journal before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he served as the sports editor at the Shoshone News-Press until heading back east to work with Daily Voice.

Zak Failla's Contributions

Schools

Student’s Threatening Post Prompts Urgent Action At Charles County Middle School Authorities in Charles County are investigating a threat made against a teacher at General Smallwood Middle School after a disturbing social media post circulated, officials said. Earlier this week, alarm bells sounded for some students and parents who saw a social media post threatening to kill a teacher, prompting a call to the sheriff's office and school district. An investigation was launched by patrol officers, who were able to identify the person who shared the post, according to the Charles County Sheriff's Office. They then went to the student's house to speak with the parents; how…

11/14/2024

Obituaries

'Loving Spirit:' Community Honors Young Mother's Legacy Following Tragic Golf Cart Crash In MD More than $250,000 has been raised on behalf of a young family in Maryland that was suffered a tragic loss just as they were beginning to start their lives with a new house and baby in Anne Arundel County. Crownsville resident Mary Beth Blasetti had to be airlifted to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center on Saturday night after being involved in a golf cart crash, where she died two days later, officials confirmed. The 32-year-old woman leaves behind her husband, Nick, and their 2-month-old daughter, Mary Katharine Blasetti. According to organizers of a GoFundMe - …

11/14/2024

Police & Fire

Man Packing Explosive Devices Broke Into Estranged GF's Home: Maryland Fire Marshal A man who was found with a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) after breaking into his ex-girlfriends home is behind bars and facing serious charges, according to the Office of the Maryland Fire Marshal. Andrew Ervin Romack, 62, was arrested following a joint investigation by the fire marshal and Maryland State Police following a reported burglary earlier this week at an Allegany County home. Investigators say that shortly after 1 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, troopers were called to the 20300 block of Lower Georges Creek Road, where it is alleged Romack forced his way into his estranged…

11/13/2024

Obituaries

Family Calls For Community To 'Storm Heaven With Prayers' Following Double Fatal Virginia Crash Friends and well-wishers are coming together to support the family of a father of three who was killed in a double fatal Virginia crash over the weekend. Herndon native Shawn "Blazay" Ballard, 35, was driving early on Sunday, Nov. 10 with 48-year-old Nicole Hamm in the area of North Shore Drive and Charter Oak Court in Reston when their 2016 Ford Explorer veered off the roadway and struck the tree, according to police. Both were rushed to an area hospital, where they later died from their injuries, leaving loved ones reeling. Following the fatal crash, support has been swelling for Ba…

11/13/2024

Police & Fire

Crime Spree Spanning From Spotsy To Stafford Ends With Serial Robber In Custody, Sheriff Says A serial robber who hit up multiple convenience stores in Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg was busted at a Stafford County 7-Eleven overnight, according to the sheriff's office. Marquis Harrell is behind bars after being connected to a series of robberies overnight that were reported back-to-back while detectives were still investigating. The long night for law enforcement in Northern Virginia began at around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, when a clerk at 7-Eleven in the 10300 block of Patriot Highway was targeted by an armed man who demanded money and made off with an undisclosed amount of…

11/13/2024

Police & Fire

Walkersville Predator Preying On Maryland Teens While Out On Bail Learns Prison Fate: Feds The Maryland man who used multiple phones and online apps to target teens - even while he was out on bail and charges were pending - will spend years in prison for coercing and enticing minors, federal authorities announced. Michael Vance Culpepper, 56, of Walkersville, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being busted by an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl online, and then doubling down after being released by a judge. He had faced life in prison. According to his guilty plea, in April and May 2023, Culpepper used cellphones and online applications to "persuade…

11/13/2024

News

Chickens Rescued From Illegal Cockfighting Ring Operating Out Of Virginia Yard: Sheriff Dozens of chickens were rescued and a suspect arrested following the investigation into an illegal cockfighting ring that was uncovered earlier this month in Virginia, officials say Members of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office were tipped off last week about a home in the area that was hosting cockfighting events, the same home that was related to a previous stolen property report. At approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, deputies responded to a home on Norman Road, where they found several large chickens in the area, leading to them obtain a second warrant in connection to the alle…

11/13/2024

Police & Fire

Police ID 77-Year-Old La Plata Man Killed In Single-Vehicle Charles County Crash An investigation has been launched by the Charles County Sheriff's Office following a fatal midday single-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternoon. La Plata resident James Stewart, 77, has been identified by investigators as the driver found dead inside a vehicle that struck a telephone pole. According to the sheriff's office, shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 12, officers responded to the 5900 block of Bicknell Road in Indian Head to investigate the reported crash. Investigators determined that Stewart was driving on Bicknell Road when he lost control, went off the roadway, and struck the t…

11/13/2024

Business

Jackpot-Winning 'FAST Play' Lottery Ticket Worth $287K Sold At Abingdon BJ's Lottery officials are encouraging players to check their Wild Bonus X10 tickets after the final jackpot-winning 'FAST PLAY' ticket was sold at an area big-box retailer. A customer at BJ's Wholesale Club on Constant Friendship Boulevard in Abingdon purchased the gold on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and is worth a $287,056 prize that remains unclaimed a day later. According to officials, "FAST PLAY games are like scratch-offs, without the scratching." Tickets can be purchased at any lottery retailer or Maryland Lottery vending machine. The latest winner has been advised to sign the back o…

11/13/2024

Traffic

Gaithersburg Man Dies After Being Struck By Lexus Last Month In Maryland: Police A Gaithersburg man struck by a car while crossing Veirs Mill Road in Rockville on Oct. 30 has died from his injuries, Montgomery County police said. Luis Rios Chirinos, 28, was hit around 5:24 a.m. by a black Lexus GS near the intersection with Robindale Drive as he attempted to cross from the median, police said. The driver remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police. Chirinos was transported to a nearby hospital but died on Monday, Nov. 11, according to authorities. The Montgomery County Collision Reconst…

11/13/2024

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