President Trump taken to Walter Reed less than 24 hours after testing positive for coronavirus (Video+Photos)

President Donald Trump was taken by helicopter to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda tonight, less than twenty-four hours after he tested positive for the coronavirus. White House representatives had maintained through the day Friday that Trump's Covid-19 symptoms were mild. 

Many observed on social media that Trump was not posting on Twitter on Friday since his virus announcement tweets. Trump did enter the hospital under his own power upon arriving from the White House. Curious observers joined a rapid media deployment across MD 355 from Walter Reed. 

Some Trump supporters - including a pickup truck flying a Trump flag - tried to be visible to the president as he disembarked from Marine One. Traffic was stopped in both directions on 355 throughout the president's arrival, and while Marine One took off again.

Trump supporters drive past
Walter Reed as president disembarks
from Marine One

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump will be admitted to Walter Reed for at least several days. No medical details about why the president is being moved there have been released, but McEnany said it was under the advice of White House physicians that Trump would transfer his work to offices available for presidential use at the hospital.

Water service restored at Walter Reed after 2-hour outage

A 2-hour base-wide loss of water service temporarily stymied some medical care and services at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda this morning. The outage was reported around 6:00 AM. WRNMMC officials now report full operating status and water service have been restored. Some medical appointments were canceled, but scheduled surgeries were allowed to proceed.

State proposes third left-turn lane on Jones Bridge Road at Connecticut Avenue

Traffic jam on Jones Bridge Road
at Connecticut Avenue

The Maryland Department of Transportation is proposing another BRAC-related traffic project for the troubled intersection of Jones Bridge Road and Connecticut Avenue. MDOT plans to add a third left-turn lane on Jones Bridge for eastbound drivers turning onto Connecticut.

A public meeting to provide information on the plans is scheduled for Thursday, December 6, 2018 from 7:00-9:00 PM in the cafeteria at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, located at 4301 East-West Highway. There will be no public testimony, and no formal presentation will be delivered. Instead, there will be displays set up around the room and state officials standing by to answer questions.

The proposed project plans indicate MDOT will also add improved stormwater drainage and a shared-use path. MDOT says it plans to begin relocating affected utilities at the intersection as early as this fall, even though the project design is not yet complete.

Despite previous expensive projects to add turning lanes at this spot, traffic remains jammed during rush hour, and whenever there is a large exodus of employees from the base trying to reach the Beltway. The real solution is to force the Pentagon to use the direct Beltway access points into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that were planned and provided long ago, which would take Walter Reed-Beltway-related traffic entirely off of local streets and avoid all signal timing problems at the busy Jones Bridge-Connecticut intersection.

Blasting scheduled for Medical Center Metro/Walter Reed tunnel project this morning

An underground controlled blast is scheduled for this morning, February 27, between 11:00 AM and noon along Rockville Pike, in front of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Medical Center Metro station, according to Phil Alperson, BRAC coordinator for Montgomery County. The blasting is related to a BRAC pedestrian tunnel project that runs beneath the road (see diagram above for exact location). Another blast is scheduled for this Friday, March 2, between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

Rockville Pike lane closures Tuesday by NIH/Walter Reed in Bethesda

Expect single lane closures in both directions on Rockville Pike (MD 355) in Bethesda on Tuesday, January 24, between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The closures will be in the block between Jones Bridge Road and Cedar Lane, in front of NIH and Walter Reed.

This is related to the project that will build a tunnel underneath the Pike, and high-speed elevators down to the Medical Center Metro station on the east side of the state highway.

BRAC MD 355 tunnel project scheduled to begin Tuesday in Bethesda

Construction of a pedestrian tunnel under Rockville Pike (MD 355) to create a safer pedestrian connection between the Medical Center Metro station and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was expected to begin in mid-2017. But contractor Clark Construction has already requested a noise waiver from Montgomery County, and the County states that the preliminary work will begin Tuesday, December 13.

The project, on which the Montgomery County Department of Transportation is the lead agency, is being fully funded by the federal government (a.k.a. you, the federal taxpayer) to the tune of $110 million. In addition to the tunnel, high-speed elevators open to the public on the Walter Reed side of the Pike will give access to the Metro underground.

Once excavation of the tunnel gets underway (they are going to use cut-and-cover rather than a boring machine to dig the tunnel), there will be lane closures on Rockville Pike. That will pile-on to the existing traffic nightmare.

Completed projects on Jones Bridge Road and Connecticut Avenue, which promised to move cars between Walter Reed and NIH and the Beltway, turned out to be a complete failure and waste of taxpayer dollars. Residents gave up big chunks of their front yards for nothing. The line to turn left onto Connecticut during the afternoon rush is, if anything, longer than it was before. Jones Bridge is a nightmare, as is 355. And traffic now backs up from the on-ramp to the Inner Loop, jamming traffic on Connecticut. 

Long stretch of Beltway
that runs alongside
Walter Reed campus would
have been the logical place
to use $110M to construct
ramps and flyovers to keep
base traffic off local roads

Hopefully this project won't deliver such disastrous results, but the money $11 million spent on that, the $110 million going to the tunnel, and the "Herculean efforts of Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin and Congressman Chris Van Hollen," - to quote County Executive Ike Leggett - would have been better spent on forcing the feds to require direct access ramps into and out of Walter Reed from the Beltway. 

We are led by very stupid people, folks. Montgomery County needs to be smart to move forward, and we clearly don't have that leadership now. What good is all of the "deep intellect" and "experience," if you don't know what the hell you're doing?

Update 12/12/16: The project is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, December 13 and end in May 2020.

Walter Reed Wendy's to open December 28 in Bethesda

If you work at, or otherwise have authorization to be at, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, you will have a new dining option as of December 28. And I envy you, because that new option is a Wendy's restaurant, which will celebrate its grand opening that day. The rest of us will have to continue to pollute the environment with auto emissions, to drive all the way out to the Wendy's in Rockville to get a Baconator.

The de facto ban on new fast food restaurants in Bethesda? That's Montgomery County "planning" for you. The Montgomery County Council saves you a bit of time deciding what you will eat, by already predetermining your dining options. How Orwellian of them.

Wendy's now under construction at Naval Support Activity Bethesda

The new Wendy's that is replacing the McDonald's at Naval Support Activity Bethesda on the Walter Reed campus is now under construction. Workers are converting the Golden Arches restaurant into a Wendy's. Unfortunately, the finished restaurant will only be accessible to those who have the credentials to get onto the base.

Photo courtesy Wendy's

Theft at Walter Reed, car broken into on Oakmont Ave. + more - Bethesda crime update

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on June 2, according to crime data:

Theft. 7700 block Woodmont Avenue.

Theft. 7600 block Old Georgetown Road.

Theft. 7300 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Theft. 5100 block River Road.

Vehicle burglary. 5500 block Oakmont Avenue.

Theft. 5400 block Wisconsin Avenue.

Theft. 100 block Quincy Street (Martin's Additions).

Theft from vehicle. 7100 block Whittier Boulevard.

Theft. Westfield Montgomery Mall.

CHRISTMAS DECORATION DONATIONS NEEDED AT FISHER HOUSE IN BETHESDA

The Fisher House Foundation operates a network of homes nationwide where military spouses and families can stay free of charge, while family members are being treated at medical facilities. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda has 5 Fisher House homes.

Two of the smallest homes still need to be decorated for the holidays, and that's where you can help.

Donations of Christmas decorations are greatly needed to accomplish this task, and bring the holiday spirit to families staying there this month. Help families far from home who are enduring an often-stressful situation here in Bethesda have some semblance of a normal Christmas, by giving extra decorations you have, or purchasing some to donate.

Items that would be most helpful include tree ornaments/tinsel/holly berries (they already have the trees to put them on), small wreaths so they can put one on every door (8) in each house, reindeer, stockings for the fireplaces, and Santa hats and scarves.

If you have items to contribute, please email Megan Jones A.S.A.P. They are hoping to have all of the supplies by December 15. 

Share this article on Twitter and Facebook if you can, to help spread the word. For more information about the Fisher House Foundation, visit their website.

BETHESDA CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on May 3, according to crime data:

Drug arrest. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike.

Disorderly conduct. 5500 block Wisconsin Avenue (Friendship Heights).

Theft. 4400 block Willard Avenue (Friendship Heights).

Vehicle burglary. 3200 block Pauline Drive (Dunlops Hills).

Vehicle burglary. 6400 block Goldleaf Drive (Merrimack Park).

2 LANES OF NB 355 CLOSED BY WALTER REED IN BETHESDA, UTILITY WORK IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The same right lane closures on northbound Wisconsin Avenue, and Montgomery Avenue, are in effect tonight.

But it gets worse just north of town, where 2 lanes of NB 355 are closed for road work between Jones Bridge Road and Cedar Lane.

HOW DID A CAR GOING 93 MPH ON I-66/I-495 MANAGE TO REACH THE GATE OF WALTER REED IN BETHESDA?

DO WE HAVE THE

RIGHT POLICIES

IN PLACE FOR

TODAY'S THREATS?

While most attention was understandably focused on the shot fired by a guard at a threatening vehicle yesterday at Walter Reed, I was perplexed by what happened long before the car reached the medical center gate.

According to the police statement, the suspect's vehicle was traveling 93 MPH in Virginia, and was being pursued by the Virginia State Police.  But the report went on to say that the state troopers ended the pursuit at the Maryland state line, on the Beltway.

I had always thought that rule had been updated.  The old getaway over the state line trick from TV, right?  The Duke boys are being pursued by Sheriff Little in Chickasaw County.  They elude capture, and cross the county line.  The sheriff dutifully, if not willingly, screeches to a halt at the border.  Throws his hat.  Kicks his cruiser for good measure.  "Dagnabbit!"

It's one of the oldest gimmicks in TV and film.

So did Virginia State Troopers actually have to do that yesterday, albeit in less dramatic fashion?

From what we've been told, apparently so.

I had no idea someone could go 93 MPH, deliberately evade police, and put the lives of those troopers and other motorists at risk, and make a crossjurisdictional getaway.  So I had to look it up.

The DC Metropolitan Police handbook states:

"The Code of Maryland S2-305 provides that a police officer may enter Maryland in fresh pursuit in order to arrest a person on the grounds that he/she is believed to have committed a felony in the pursuing officer's state."

Surely, in a state with such harsh driver penalties like Virginia, yesterday's suspect would be eligible for arrest by Virginia police, right?

From what I can tell, the answer is no.

Virginia is unusual, in that it makes violations like reckless driving a criminal offense.  And in Virginia, if you speed over 80 MPH, you are automatically going to be charged with reckless driving.

But reckless driving is only a criminal misdemeanor in Virginia.

So it appears that the Virginia State Police correctly followed their procedures by the book, and radioed ahead to the county and state.

In fact, it sounds like everyone followed procedure yesterday, and fortunately, it was a minor incident.

But had this been a terrorist attack, there would be Monday morning, armchair quarterbacking going on today.

Should cross-border pursuit policies be changed?  Was this an example of why the county council blundered in canceling the county's police helicopter program?  Could a potential terrorist vehicle travel that many miles across our region, and reach its target on any given day at 93 MPH?

These are questions that are worthy of consideration.

WALTER REED TO STAGE MOCK MASS CASUALTY DISASTER ON OCTOBER 5

EXERCISE WILL SIMULATE

A RADIOACTIVE EXPLOSION

AT ON-CAMPUS BALL FIELD

Bethesda's Walter Reed National Military Medical Center campus will be the site of a large-scale exercise simulating a radiological terrorist attack on October 5.

The first event will be staged at the gate of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Services.  Then a mock radiological explosion event will be staged at an on-campus athletic field, with campus staff playing roles as sporting event spectators, among other "characters."

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue and the American Red Cross are among several joint participants in the exercise.

No specific traffic advisory has been issued to the public as of this hour, but plan ahead for potential delays on Route 355 and Jones Bridge Road that morning.

UPDATE ON

CPL. MILLE

Happy President's Day! George Washington and Abe Lincoln knew firsthand the horrors of war, and would be as concerned about America's troops today as they were during their own times.

About a month ago, I posted here about a wounded soldier who had just arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center here in Bethesda.

Army Cpl. Joseph Mille had just gotten out of intensive care, and I posted the address where he could receive letters and cards.

Now I have an update, and despite the tragedy that occurred in Afghanistan - directly leading to Mille's stay at Walter Reed - all of the news is good!

First, I received word from Terry Dougherty, a teacher at Roland Rogers ES in New Jersey, that her class has mailed 70 Valentines to Cpl. Mille, and is gathering more letters and cards to send from well-wishers. That is fantastic!

But it gets even better:

The Press of Atlantic City reports that Cpl. Mille has asked his high school sweetheart, Hillary Martin, to marry him.

A custom wheelchair is being ordered for him, but Cpl. Mille not only is working towards walking again, he plans to stay in the Army!

Finally, the Brigantine Sons of the American Legion are generously donating the proceeds from their annual Jimmy Buffet Night to Cpl. Mille's recovery costs.

Cpl. Mille was wounded severely when he rushed to the aid of a comrade already wounded by an IED in Kandahar.

You can still give support to Cpl. Mille by sending cards and letters to:

Cpl. Joseph Mille

Room 458

8901 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, MD 20889

FORMER WALTER REED

PATIENT PROPOSES TO

GIRLFRIEND ON

VALENTINE'S EVE

Severely-wounded Afghanistan war hero, Marine Cpl. Juan Dominguez, was honored by his new hometown of Temecula, CA, yesterday. It was officially "Juan Dominguez Day" for this former patient at Bethesda's Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

But the night before, Cpl. Dominguez proposed marriage to his girlfriend, Alexis Gomez.

And she said... "Yes!"

Now you can help Cpl. Gomez by donating to the fund to build him a new home in Temecula to meet his special needs.

Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation is leading effort to provide a "Smart Home" - to donate or for more information, call 718-987-1931.

BETHESDA'S

WOUNDED WARRIORS

ENJOY SPECIAL

SUPER BOWL PARTY

The U.S. Department of Defense has released details of a special Super Bowl party held for wounded servicemembers and their families here at Bethesda's Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Celebrity guests included Jon Voight, famed Washington Redskins Roy Jefferson and Carlton Kammerer, and the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders.

Pulled pork, chicken, Buffalo wings, pizza and nachos were among the fare served, according to the Defense Department.

Defense.gov noted this was the largest event held at Walter Reed since it moved to Bethesda's Naval Medical Center site in 2011.