howard county

An Angel Flight with local pilot Derward Brooks

18 photos, 1 Video

Budget eight hours for the mission, Derward Brooks told me. We were going to need a whole day for this.

Our mission was a three-leg flight: from Baltimore to Philadelphia to Lynchburg, Va., and back to Baltimore. A retired accountant, general aviation pilot and North Laurel resident, Brooks had volunteered to help fly a cancer patient home.

My mission was to film and photograph, despite being generally afraid of heights and flights.

Brooks met his co-pilot, Larry Esser, of Glen Burnie, at a small airfield behind BWI at 9 a.m. on June 10. Esser was already prepping the single-engine Cessna — the Skylane II — when we arrived.

The inside of the cabin was about the size of a compact sedan, fitting the pilot and co-pilot up front and two snug passengers in the back. Brooks had to confirm the combined weight of my body and my equipment before agreeing to take me, which didn’t help with my fears.

With three camera bodies, some audio equipment, lenses and spare batteries, I easily made weight. He also warned me that the ride was going to be a bit bumpier than what one might experience on a commercial jet.

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River Hill wrestling, all-access

River Hill wrestling, all-access

1 Video

In the past year, Howard County Times Sports has profiled four high school teams in an all-access documentary series. And this winter, River Hill’s wrestling team — helmed by alumnus coach Brandon Lauer, who was undefeated through 111 matches and three state championships in high school — was the focus of the latest piece.

We followed the team through a practice and preparations for one of their biggest matches of the year, a rivalry dual bout with Glenelg. More on the production below.

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Remembering The Mall in Columbia shooting a year later

Remembering The Mall in Columbia shooting a year later

42 Photos

It’s been one year since the shooting at Zumiez at The Mall in Columbia that left three people dead —- two store employees and the shooter. Follow the events on the day of the shooting and the days following, and read more about how the community has coped since here.
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