MD (WBFF) — Fallston High School in Harford County is closed on Monday due to a water outage in the building Harford County Public School officials say the building is closed to students — The former chief of the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company has been indicted for allegedly stealing tens-of-thousands of dollars from the department faces five counts of felony theft and a single count of embezzlement A warrant for his arrest was served Wednesday McKinney was later released on a $25,000 unsecured personal bond Court records allege McKinney began stealing in July 2019 and continued doing so until at least January 31 Fallston Volunteer Fire Company President Christopher Gibbons issued a statement offering more background on the allegations "The Board of Directors discovered some irregular purchases on an issued company credit card Further investigation revealed possible criminal activity which led to the incident being turned over to the Criminal Investigation Division of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office." McKinney released a letter detailing financial challenges within the department "The Board of Directors determined within the first several months of 2024 that we as elected leadership must take an in-depth look at how we can navigate change that would steer FVFAC to a better path to resolve financial concerns," McKinney wrote at the time It's unclear if those financial woes had anything to do with the "irregular" purchases he allegedly made with the fire company's credit card Past Chief McKinney is no longer a member of Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co He was separated from membership on February 2 The former chief of a Maryland fire department who last year addressed the public about the bleak financial situation is now charged for allegedly stealing tens-of-thousands of dollars was indicted by a Harford County Grand Jury and charged with five counts of felony theft and a one count of embezzlement He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail, WMAR reported He is accused of stealing anywhere between $31,000 and $200,000 from July 2019 through  January 2025, according to WBFF.  McKinney released a letter detailing cost-saving measures and cuts that the fire department would be making due to financial challenges "The Board of Directors determined within the first several months of 2024 that we as elected leadership must take an in-depth look at how we can navigate change that would steer FVFAC to a better path to resolve financial concerns," McKinney wrote When other Fallston officers noted unusual purchases on the department's credit card earlier this year they contacted the Harford County Sheriff's Office to investigate Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976 Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post (WBFF) — The former chief of The Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company Inc is facing charges for the alleged misuse of a company credit card Fire officials have issued a statement regarding an investigation into the past chief ALSO READ | Maryland State Police ramp up DUI patrols for Cinco de Mayo weekend The fire company has directed any further inquiries to the State’s Attorney’s Office Award-winning chef Zack Trabbold wants to make an evening in Fallston feel like a trip to the beach known for its catering company and for opening The Local On The Avenue in White Marsh and The Local in Fallston is expanding its Harford County reach with a new seafood concept Natalie’s Seafood Kitchen will seek to break up the dominance over diners’ wallets held by the area’s local chains by focusing on modern takes on classic Maryland seafood “People there are hungry for independently owned restaurants,” he said Trabbold is eyeing a May 1 grand opening for the business named for his wife Its on-the-nose ambience will include a blue color scheme and stuffed fish and live fish tanks adorning the dining area A tiki bar inside called Nat’s Hut will have a thatched roof with bar rails in the shape of anchors to help further set the nautical tone The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one. It’s different from what Trabbold — named Baltimore Magazine’s best chef in 2022, 2023 and 2024 readers’ polls and Restaurant Association of Maryland’s chef of the year in 2023 — is used to He’ll be trading in the tomahawk steak cuts served at The Local for steamer pots and a focus on old-fashioneds for tiki drinks and Trabbold’s been waiting to throw his ideas in the ring “We’re promising the perfect gluten-free crab cake,” he said but Trabbold says you don’t need breadcrumbs for the dish; his cakes are bound by a sauce of eggs and seasonings He also laments the use of filler or crabmeat sourced from outside the state calling his own creation distinctly Maryland and celiac-safe which consists of a breaded and fried catfish filet served atop local vegetables and a rosemary “We’re looking to help out the bay in anyway we can,” Trabbold said He hopes the business will give people the feel of a comfortable sports bar It will be priced lower than The Local and feel unlike any of his group’s other concepts The idea for the new spot has been in the works for the last eight years When Uncle’s Hawaiian Grindz closed in the Fallston Shopping Mall at 2315 Belair Road Trabbold jumped at the chance to bring his family’s seafood venture to life Trabbold knew he’d have to make some changes to the space The chef invested in new equipment and furniture and tore down the previous luau space to create a larger dining area The venue will have live music and keep the kitchen open with a limited menu until 1 a.m on weekends and a limited menu until midnight on weekdays “It’s a big step for us as a business,” he said Matti Gellman matti.gellman@thebaltimorebanner.com Matti Gellman is a Food Reporter for The Baltimore Banner Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. 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If the problem persists, please contact customer service at 443-843-0043 or customercare@thebaltimorebanner.com jumping out to an 18-4 first-quarter lead and never looked back displaying sharp shooting and aggressive defense that overwhelmed Rising Sun (13-10) Senior Aiden Robinson and junior Oliver Schamburg led the way for the Cougars each scoring 22 points in the wire-to-wire victory Robinson knocked down four 3-pointers and controlled the glass with 10 rebounds while Schamburg provided a deep-range attack burying six 3-pointers to keep Fallston in control The Cougars built on their early momentum with a 30-13 halftime lead but Rising Sun mounted a fightback in the third quarter outscoring Fallston 23-19 behind a late scoring surge Fallston quickly regained control in the final frame closing out the game with an 18-9 fourth-quarter run helping Fallston secure a second-round matchup against local rival C which advanced with a 73-31 rout of North East. The Cougars will look to continue their dominant form against C a team they split games with during the regular season With Robinson and Schamburg firing on all cylinders Fallston has its sights set on a deep Maryland 2A state tournament run GARY ADORNATOGary Adornato began covering high school sports with the Baltimore Sun in 1982 while still a mass communications major at Towson University and in 2003 became one of the first journalists to cover high school sports online while operating MIAASports.com the official website of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Adornato pioneered market-wide coverage of high school sports with DigitalSports.com introducing video highlights and player interviews while assembling an award-winning editorial staff he launched VarsitySportsNetwork.com which became the premier source of high school media coverage in the state of Maryland he sold VSN to The Baltimore Banner and joined SBLive Sports as the company's East Coast Managing Editor © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Helen was born and raised in Harford County She used to tell the story of her father being a very devoted Helen was allowed to ride on the running board but not get inside the vehicle This ethical example characterized Helen’s approach to life After graduating from Bel Air high school at the tender age of 16 Helen found a job with the government working at Edgewood Arsenal in support of the war effort All employees were required to carry a gas mask in case there was a leak one day she was working just outside of the gate and there was a gas leak that required evacuating the building and escaping up wind and heels (as was the dress of the day) and walk to the designated pickup point for her ride to the arsenal she had had enough of that walk and bought her own car everyone could drive a manual transmission Although Jack McCann played piano for the high school sock hops and as lunchtime entertainment she was never really enamored with him when they knew each other in school he was not tall enough to meet her requirements After the war when he returned from the Army he must have grown to an acceptable height She and Jack were married in August of 1948 Jackie arrived in August of 1949 and Howdy in August of 1951 Helen was a universal blood donor; her O negative blood was in constant demand She literally donated hundreds of pints of blood during her lifetime and for many years it was not unusual for a hospital to call and ask if there was sufficient time since the last donation for her to come in again The McCann family operated a highly successful construction business Helen’s Edgewood Arsenal experience helped her jump in with both feet and become the company’s bookkeeper and secretary -- a position she meticulously maintained for over 50 years and an insatiable work ethic while providing moral and ethical values through her teachings and example Those same values can now be found in her 6 great grandchildren To the Fallston United Methodist Church (FUMC) she gave freely of her contagious enthusiasm Helen devoted hundreds if not thousands of hours to FUMC by serving on the Admin and candy making to name just a few of her contributions As “Sunshine Chairperson” for a local AARP chapter and her TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) group printed and mailed about 20 personalized cards every month As head of the Old Bel Air High School Reunion Program (Classes from 1931 to 1955) she organized reunions and reunited former students for over 50 years For many years she delivered “Meals on Wheels” to others often much younger than she Among her few personal flaws was the inability to turn down most any charitable request for personnel deployed overseas she would find unit designations and addresses from Aberdeen Proving Grounds the MD Army National Guard and the MD Air National Guard Helen sent hundreds of “CARE” packages to the troops overseas she was recognized as one of “Harford’s Most Beautiful People.” For her 100th birthday Helen received over 150 cards notes and calls from the people whose lives she had touched In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Indian Lake Christian Camp, 3915 River Rd, Darlington, MD 21034 https://indianlakecamp.org/ or Fallston United Methodist Church Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors 2025 at 5:05 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Chef Zack Trabbold and Evolved Hospitality Group are behind the new restaurant called Natalie's Seafood Kitchen​ MD — A seafood restaurant will open in Fallston in May Trabbold has earned several culinary accolades, including the 2023 Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Maryland. Trabbold trained at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia and worked his way through the ranks to eventually open his own restaurant, The Local, which celebrates its second anniversary in August 2023, Patch reported previously "Natalie's Seafood Kitchen celebrates Chesapeake fare while honoring Maryland’s rich inviting atmosphere—perfect for date nights game day gatherings and more," according to its website The new seafood restaurant will boast a nautical themed decor with buoys hanging from the ceiling and stuffed fish in the dining area will sport a thatched roof with bar rails in the shape of anchors “People there are hungry for independently owned restaurants,” Trabbold told The Baltimore Banner We’re promising the perfect gluten-free crab cake Also on the menu will be fusion foods like a soft-shell crab bao bun Trabbold hopes to hold a grand opening May 1 with celebrations running through May 4 The eatery will offer live music and the kitchen will be open with a limited menu until 1 a.m Natalie's Seafood Kitchen is located at 2315 Belair Road Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. — Uncle's Hawaiian Grindz announced on Facebook it's closing its Fallston restaurant on December 31 They've been in business for 8 years in the Fallston Shopping Center next to the Horizon Cinemas "It has been our privilege to share Hawaiian food and culture with Harford County and beyond over the last 8 years We have met so many amazing people along the way… kind and supportive clientele talented local farmers and hard-working vendors and above all else our restaurant family of staff that have contributed their time and efforts to making Uncle’s an Ohana," the team said in a Facebook post "Thank you to the Harford County community for all your support during our time as Uncle’s They will continue on as a catering company in the new year The town of Fallston is working on a new park which will eventually include pickleball courts and a splashpad the town began seeking statements of qualifications for engineering and design services according to a post on the town's Facebook page Fallston Mayor Doris Weaver said the town had previously completed the engineering phase but had to start over after receiving funds from NCDOT which required following certain specifications She said they recently had the property resurveyed and it is once again in the engineering phase She said the town received $300,000 contingency funds from DOT and another $500,000 grant from another source that will have to be partially paid back Destination by Design is in charge of the project the Fallston Park project will be completed in three phases engineering and initial park construction and is anticipated to cost over $1 million," wrote Mary Boggs "The entire project has an anticipated total cost of well over $2.5 million." The park design reflects input from the community The first phase includes the walking track playground and picnic areas and construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2025 The second and third phases are pending because the town does not yet have funding Those two phases would add pickleball courts If people want to contribute to the project financially or suggest names, they can email townoffallstonnc@bellsouth.net or send donations to P.O — The very popular Annie's Playground in Harford County was shut down indefinitely today due to safety issues Harford County government posted on social media: The playground in Fallston, built to honor a 6-year-old killed by a drunk driver, was substantially renovated in 2023 The state's Department of Natural Resources paid $1.5 million to remodel the playground just a few years ago — Following the shooting death of 15-year-old Warren Grant at Joppatowne High School Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler says he expected a heightened awareness surrounding student safety to result in more reports of potential threats “We’ve investigated roughly 20 now within the past week and a half or so,” said Gahler “including another arrest last night for a second juvenile.” A school resource officer at Fallston High School investigated the latest threat which led to a student from an undisclosed school who also was charged with possessing ammunition This arrest came on the heels of another two days earlier after a student allegedly posted a threat on Snapchat about shooting up a school Harford County already has a school resource officer assigned to every middle and high school The question now is what additional measures may be needed to help protect the students If we want our children to go to schools in prison I hate to see our country devolve that much,” said Gahler “Our deputies did go down with the school system the other day to Dorchester County and looked at technology which has to have a security person or two there 600 children into a school through metal detectors.” It is an expensive option following a targeted shooting in a school bathroom that Gahler says could have just as easily played out in the community or when the school was closed the sheriff is putting those who would make threats against school on notice we’re going to make an arrest,” said Gahler “Somebody’s going to be charged and if there’s other people tied those people are going to be charged as well so we’re not going to play with this." social media is more than a tool for amassing a following of numerous “friends,” followers and “likes.” He uses his media skills – which are many – to help young people know they are not alone and that God loves them.  “We live in times of wonder and in times of struggle,” said DeVack a sophomore at Loyola Blakefield in Towson and a parishioner of St Teens need to understand that “God is not a mean God who wants us to fail is “El Camino/The Way,” and DeVack did a unique and innovative job of showing the need for accompaniment and walking on the journey of life according to NFCYM Communication Manager Natalie Ibarra DeVack used footage from his own experience of NCYC 2023 in Indianapolis not just clips cobbled together by trolling through YouTube “You had a young person speaking from their point of view DeVack said he’s discerning his own vocation It all began with a trip to the emergency room Then this guy came up to me and asked what I wanted to be when I got older ‘An actor.’ He said he saw me as a priest.” he still brought me to Christ and his church and that’s still a key factor,” DeVack said This past summer DeVack attended Quo Vadis a four-day vocations camp hosted by seminarians of the archdiocese for young men of high school age and recent high school graduates The aim is to help each participant to grow in prayer fraternity and a deeper relationship with Christ and over time to discover his vocation “I do believe I’m being called by God to do something in the Catholic Church,” he said but I’m looking at many vocations.” Those include the priesthood DeVack has a “very pronounced entrepreneurial streak,” said Father Michael Foppiano “The Catholic podcast he hosts – and he’s always looking for a new thing, a new avenue to communicate with folks – it’s very well done,” Father Foppiano said. He also has his own website and YouTube channel DeVack is very involved in his parish and school he is a high school sacristan and he also mentors younger altar servers He’s involved in peer ministry and helps with confirmation preparation Loyola Blakefield’s director of Ignatian mission and identity said his first impression of DeVack came during a student body panel that interviewed him DeVack was a member of the panel and wanted to make sure the new director would be a solid steward of the school’s Catholic faith and identity “And he was only a freshman!” Charest said Copyright © 2024 Catholic Review Media  Print Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media Catholic Media Assocation Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association The Associated Church Press 2025 at 12:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}According to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal the restaurant sustained an estimated $150,000 in damage and loss The fire was discovered by a passerby and battled by 30 firefighters with the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company (Photo courtesy of the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company)FOREST HILL a fixture in Forest Hill for more than 40 years sustained damage after a fire broke out Saturday around 8:12 a.m According to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal damage to the restaurant was estimated at $150,000 in damage and loss which has been attributed to a kitchen hood system Wargo’s Restaurant & Tavern opened Sept and offers traditional Maryland menu items like pit beef Owned and operated for more than 40 years by husband and wife Wargo’s also features soups made from scratch by the Wargos' son-in-law Marco and a longtime cook passed away after a long fight with AML on February 7 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air he was the beloved son of the late George and June (Burton) Shaver Dave shared 33 wonderful years of marriage with his wife Their love story was as adventurous as his spirit—he proposed mid-air while piloting a plane sealing the moment with a thrilling barrel roll Dave’s passion for aviation began early; at just 16 and was honored with the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for his dedication to aviation safety His love for flying extended beyond personal achievement—he gave back to the community by participating in Angel Flights providing free air transportation for medical patients and inspiring young aviators through Young Eagles flights sharing his enthusiasm with countless spectators Dave found joy in duck hunting and had a deep appreciation for John Deere tractors owning and caring for several over the years and a sense of adventure that touched everyone who knew him Dave was an avid member of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church and knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior Contributions may be made to: Forest Hill Presbyterian Church 2501 Rocks Rd The Glen L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum P.O 2024 at 11:36 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Harford County Modular Railroad group has partnered with the Fallston Volunteer Fire Company for this year's train garden created at House 2 there will be a mailbox ready to receive letters to Santa MD — The highly anticipated holiday train garden in Fallston will be ready for viewing starting Nov The Harford County Modular Railroad group has partnered with the Fallston Volunteer Fire Company for this year's train garden created at House 2 HO scale model trains will be running using the latest digitally controlled models Graduates of the Harford Community College model train class helped create the scene The train garden can be seen from Nov. 30 through Jan. 5 at the Cross Roads Station, 3108 Fallston Road, on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m., Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free but donations will be accepted. For more information, visit www.fvfac.org Richard Temple Briggs passed away peacefully on Saturday One of his proudest accomplishments was becoming an Eagle Scout Dick attended Lehigh University where he developed a number of lifetime passions These included meeting his wife of 65 years Louise Briggs at a fraternity social event They also included a love of Lehigh wrestling lifetime bonds of Brotherhood through the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and a long involvement with the 1958 class reunion The majority of Dick's professional career was spent in commercial banking Dick became active in his son's (Todd and Brian) activities A highlight was his involvement in the creation of the Athletic Service Building at Fallston High School In retirement Dick was passionate in his support of his four grandchildren: Tim His presence and positive encouragement as their number one supporter was always evident His sister Judy predeceased him and his brother John reside is Pocono Pines He was proud to welcome both Ellen and Jennie into the family bonds A service of remembrance will be held during the upcoming Holiday season (WBFF) — The Hazmat Team responded to a crash that shut down part of Fallston Rd three Harford County EMS Units and a Maryland State Police medevac responded to a vehicle crash on Fallston Rd ALSO READ | Police investigation underway on North Calhoun Street in West Baltimore The Hazmat Team responded to clean up leaking diesel Patrick Mull and Maddie Palko attended the same church growing up They both played lacrosse at Fallston High School where they now coach the sport on the varsity level and teach social studies in classrooms that are right next to each other The ties that bind them personally extend to the programs they lead “I think the fact that he and I are friends and have grown up with very similar values is a big part of why our programs have been pretty intertwined,” Palko said Fallston won state titles in both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse marking the second time the programs have done so in the same season When the final horn sounded on Fallston’s 14-7 victory against Southern-Anne Arundel in the Class 1A girls championship game last May at Stevenson University the boys’ team had another reason to celebrate The boys had won their second straight 1A title and third in the last four years earlier in the day with a 15-2 win against Liberty It was the program’s eighth championship overall this was the major breakthrough they had been working diligently toward after finishing as the 1A state runner-up the three prior seasons It was the program’s third state title after wins in 2009 and 2012 “Seeing those girls finally bring it home was nice,” said Owen King who will be a senior defenseman and team leader for the Fallston boys this spring “It was almost as good as winning it ourselves.” Fallston lacrosse’s motto is One Program Successes and failures and all of the work that goes into them are shared experiences for the boys’ and girls’ teams As the boys were cruising to their state title last spring the girls were infused with a sense of purpose and confidence as they warmed up for their game against Southern We are going to bring it home for both of us,'” said Sydney Grafton ‘We’ve got this.’ We have been here before We just have to put our minds to it.” both teams are active with Fallston’s recreational lacrosse program allowing players to give back to the program that many of them came through and creating a smoother transition for younger players when they get into high school It’s the type of community atmosphere Mull hoped to foster when he returned to his alma mater after seven years as the boys’ lacrosse coach at Aberdeen High School and when he took over as Fallston’s athletic director two years ago “I am a way bigger believer in the Jimmys and the Joes than the X’s and the O’s,” Mull said “If you establish an environment that players can be successful in whatever scheme you are running or whatever you are doing will work as long as the kids are bought in and giving their maximum effort.” The Fallston boys’ and girls’ teams will look much different this spring as last season’s championship teams leaned heavily on strong senior casts the Cougars will rely on a bunch of new starters in prominent positions “We get to start fresh with something completely new it was almost kind of like roll the balls out each day,” Mull said It’s a different challenge this year Issue 291: February / March 2025 See all posts by Greg Swatek. Follow Greg Swatek on Twitter at @greg_swatek Click here to sign up for PressBox’s free weekly email newsletter A well-known and beloved Fallston man was killed in an early morning wreck Monday in Vale according to North Carolina Highway Patrol highway patrol responded to a fatal collision on N.C 10 failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by a 1997 Dodge van traveling south on N.C 18," said a news release from Highway Patrol "This collision caused the van to overturn." Moreno was arrested and charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle no operator's license and failure to yield The initial investigation does not indicate impairment or speed to be contributing factors in the collision the roadway was closed in the area for several hours was a smiling bearded man known for wearing suspenders and for his generous spirit a former horticulture teacher at East Lincoln High School and currently sold plants and produce in Fallston His Facebook page was filled with condolences Former students wrote he was the best teacher they ever had said McKee was much more than a horticulture teacher he was a mentor and a voice of reason when they acted out He was a man who taught us right from wrong when we didn't know the difference Barry McKee was a man who I looked to when I had no one else in my days of high school," he wrote I respected this man before I knew the definition of the word cleaning the horticulture building or mowing grass I am truly thankful for the life lessons and the education he taught us I am so blessed to have known such an honorable man." famous for his entrepreneurship and who always willing to go out of his way to help others McKee was married with a wife and two children A Fallston family is in mourning after their July Fourth took a tragic turn when their toddler fell into a pool died Sunday after several days on life support The little boy with the bright blond hair and charming smile was the son of Anne Marie and Zach Gordon He was the grandson of County Commissioner Kevin Gordon who was also a past president of the North Carolina Firefighters' Association "It is with a heavy heart that we bring the news of the passing of Wyatt Gordon grandson of NCSFA & NCAFC Past President Kevin Gordon and his wife Sherry and son of Zach and Anne Marie Gordon," a Facebook post by the NCFA said "The Gordon family is immensely thankful for the outpouring of support and continued prayers from everyone during this difficult time." The community came together over the weekend to support the family a crowd of people gathered on the court square to pray for the toddler "We have no words for today for this heartache but we cling to a rock and a God that has a great big plan and lean on his strength to help us live in a world without our Wyatt," Anne Marie Gordon wrote on Facebook "We can not express thank you enough for how this community and beyond has supported us during this time and continue to do so as we navigate something new." "He brought a light to the world that made everyone who saw him smile "Strangers would come up and tell him how beautiful he was from his bright blonde hair cheeks and a smile that could brighten any day He made a lasting impression on everyone he met and had a passion for fire trucks and trains "He never missed a moment to point them out," said his obituary Wyatt lived his life to the fullest every single day Wyatt gave us a lifetime of love and memories and reminds us everyday to find the sunshine even through the storm." The online tribute book from the funeral home was signed by dozens of friends There will be a BBQ benefit held for the family from noon to 8 p.m Waco Volunteer and Fallston Volunteer fire departments The benefit will be held at the Waco Fire Department The to-go plates and drive-thru pick-up will be $15 per plate Several fundraisers have since been launched for the family, including a Gofundme to raise money to help cover medical bills with a goal of $25,000 “He has suffered a tragic brain injury after falling into a pool on July 4th This accident has affected a lot of lives and families." Texas — Those who know Chase Kalisz best figure the Olympic champion is going to have as much success in sales as he has had in international swimming applying the affability and assuredness first seen during breaks with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club “I remember him finding shiny rocks and selling them to the other little kids at the pool,” said his mother “He’d go to the Whole Foods [on Smith Avenue] and sell what he called ‘magic beans.’ He’s always been a salesman.” Kalisz used those powers of persuasion on himself after the Tokyo Olympics where he became the second-oldest man to win the 400-meter individual medley Kalisz had vowed it would be his last foray in the sport’s most demanding test as his preparation for Tokyo included a series of injuries and a COVID-disrupted schedule “There was so much stress and pressure involved in the last Olympic cycle,” he said “It’s like all the weight’s been lifted off your shoulders Everybody goes through their ‘love’ period in swimming and then they go through their ‘hate’ period of swimming but I’ve been around long enough to make it through but Kalisz still trains with the world’s best his former NBAC coach who’s now based at the University of Texas Kalisz isn’t favored to defend his gold medal but he’s in position to create Olympic history of his own Kalisz was never supposed to be the best all-around swimmer in the world experienced the heartbreak of losing a baby girl ‘The only thing that is going to get me through this is another pregnancy.’ " to parents who had relocated from their native Massachusetts to Harford County in 1985 with a stroke length and power that evince solid genes and chromosomes Cathy Kalisz was a cheerleader and dabbled in gymnastics Mike Kalisz had the makings of a track and field decathlete as he broke 2 minutes in the half-mile and cleared 6-7 in the high jump before a knee injury derailed his basketball aspirations after 30 years as the athletic director at Hereford High The Bulls won 58 state titles during his tenure in which all four of their children reached the Olympic Trials was the last thing he expected them to pursue “Three of the four failed the Red Cross’ introduction to swimming,” Mike Kalisz said “Chase would not put his face in the water and his first coach took to dropping coins in the pool to make him go under.” Courtney Kalisz reached the Trials as a 14-year-old They moved from a fledgling swim club in Bel Air to the NBAC but their routine was jolted in the winter of 2002-03 when Chase was literally knocked to his knees by Guillain-Barré syndrome the rare neurological disorder causes muscle weakness and paralysis Kalisz spent a week in a medically induced coma and two weeks on a ventilator “There was a lot that I don’t remember,” he said “There’s a lot of just laying in a hospital bed Phelps was known for his rapid recovery between events as he halved the prescribed times in intensive care and a pediatric hospital and Kalisz is piling up laps at the Eddie Reese Outdoor Pool adjacent to the arena inside the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center he was maintaining his fitness and form in Tempe Days after guiding the Sun Devils to their first NCAA title succeeding the retiring Reese and sending a seismic jolt through the sport Multiple Olympic medal favorites followed Bowman from Tempe to Austin a 22-year-old Frenchman who last summer obliterated the longest-standing world record in the history of the sport Phelps went 4:03.84 in the 400 IM at the 2008 Olympics Marchand dipped to 4:02.50 at the 2023 world championships “This is probably the most medal production I’ve seen [at practice] but I’ve always trained in supergroups,” Kalisz said I got thrown in the fire with the greatest Olympian of all time.” when Phelps and Bowman returned to Baltimore after an Olympic training cycle at the University of Michigan that produced eight gold medals but his focus narrowed once he entered Fallston High School and began “shipping off to Meadowbrook for morning workouts before school.” “It was pretty hard to not embrace that,” Kalisz said Getting to learn from the greatest of all Olympians “I ran into roadblocks early and was able to bust right through them because I had the guidance from Bob and Michael made his Olympic Trials debut and headed to the University of Georgia where coach Jack Bauerle was among Bowman’s closest colleagues Their collaboration helped Allison Schmitt win three gold medals at the 2012 Olympics and provided a template for Kalisz who spent most of May at Bowman’s altitude camp in Colorado Springs “My crazy ADHD mind is all over the place,” Kalisz said and Kalisz has always had a soft spot for the capital city Kalisz defended his 400 IM title and broke the American short-course record that performance remains on the banner displaying pool records Kalisz took a redshirt year to train with Phelps and Bowman at Arizona State before the 2016 Olympics “Nothing could go wrong in 2017,” Kalisz said but the Olympics were still three years off Kalisz fought through injuries to get to Tokyo — an asterisk-laden Games officially known as the 2020 Olympics even though they were held in 2021 — where he won the gold medal in 4:09.42 thanks to mileage that would crush others his age “He’s willing to do the work and knows he needs to do it,” Bowman said The only way to do that is go up and down that pool Before he was on a first-name basis with Phelps Kalisz was getting fan mail from the American voice of the sport Keepsakes from that ordeal with Guillain-Barré — of which there have been no recurrences — include an autographed photo from Rowdy Gaines the NBC analyst who was in his early 30s when he had his own bout with the syndrome “I was just some little kid who had the same disease that he had I’ll always be appreciative of what he did for me.” as Gaines has witnessed Kalisz’s uncommon longevity which includes a streak of U.S teams at international meets second only to Katie Ledecky “It’s why I most admire Chase,” Gaines said “Leon Marchand is not going to be swimming the 400 IM at age 30 there comes a point where it has to be taken out of the repertoire For Chase to have that still be your best event at 30 Kalisz’s awareness of his body’s need and his craft have helped him go under 4:10 at least 17 times when a 4:08.22 got him a spot in the 2023 world championships when the last of his 23 gold medals included one in the 200 IM the shorter version of the event that involves shifting gears from the butterfly to backstroke to breaststroke to freestyle but a wavering focus kept him off the medal podium in that event in 2012 No man has ever medaled three times in the event The 2016 Olympics were the only Games since 1992 in which the U.S history that Kalisz referenced after his Tokyo gold because pandemic precautions meant no spectators in Tokyo His mom was among the American parents who took up NBC’s invitation to attend a viewing party in Orlando mindful of the prohibitive cost of Paris and the fact this might be the last chance to see Chase compete in person The Trials will be held in a temporary pool at Lucas Oil Stadium and the biggest crowds in swim history are anticipated “It will be nice to return to a normal situation,” said Kalisz Swimming World magazine has Kalisz among the favorites to grab one of the two Olympic berths in the 400 IM behind Carson Foster who was second to Marchand at each of the last two world championships Foster led the Trials until being passed by Kalisz and Jay Litherland Whoever comes out of the Trials will be in position to medal in Paris His status is such that Bowman will be on the France coaching staff know “we’re prepared for these types of situations.” Kalisz earned a sports management degree at Georgia He has endorsement deals with Delta Airlines a pet food company that’s featured Kalisz and Floyd Kalisz’s own appetite is whetted by one more U.S Trials and the prospect of an Olympics in Paris Bob will tell you I act like I’m 22,” Kalisz said “I still wake up every single day wanting to be the best that I possibly can An earlier version of this article gave the wrong name Kalisz’s dog Paul McMullen’s 40 years in Baltimore media included covering Michael Phelps for The Sun at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics Something went wrong. 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