Adoption

The number of iPads being used in Washington County Public Schools could significantly increase in the next school year, according to Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox. A request for the Washington County Board of Education to approve the purchase of new French and German textbooks during a June 5 meeting led to a discussion about the future of textbooks. School board member Donna Brightman asked Wilcox during the board meeting if he thought the move toward fewer textbooks and more online instruction was gaining traction.

Barbados is available for adoption at the Humane Society of Washington County. Name: Barbados Age: 8 months Color: gray and black Breed: Ferret ID: A16176603 This young man is full of fun and game. Barbados loves to run, jump and is just bursting of adventure. Barbados enjoys toys, loves to cuddle in his hammock and is litter trained. If you have the time and commitment for an entertaining friend, he would be a great companion.

April, May and June are Adopt-A-Cat months at the Berkeley County Humane Society, where there are many spayed and neutered adult cats waiting for a home. The adoption fee for the cats is $20. Shelter hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Berkeley County Humane Society is at 554 Charles Town Road, Martinsburg. For more information, call 304-267-8389.

Levy rates unanimously adopted Tuesday by the Berkeley County Council could offer homeowners a slight decline in their tax bills, according to County Administrator Deborah Hammond. However, commercial property owners might see a slight increase, Hammond said. Council members Bill Stubblefield, Elaine Mauck and Jim Whitacre voted unanimously to adopt the new rates for the 2012-13 fiscal year. Council members Tony Petrucci and Doug Copenhaver were absent. The levy rate for Class II property, which includes owner-occupied homes, will be 27.80 cents per $100 of assessed property value, according to county budget documents.

Levy rates unanimously adopted Tuesday by the Berkeley County Council could offer homeowners a slight decline in their tax bills, according to County Administrator Deborah Hammond. However, commercial property owners might see a slight increase, Hammond said. Council members Bill Stubblefield, Elaine Mauck and Jim Whitacre voted unanimously to adopt the new rates for the 2012-13 fiscal year. Council members Tony Petrucci and Doug Copenhaver were absent. The levy rate for Class II property, which includes owner-occupied homes, will be 27.80 cents per $100 of assessed property value, according to county budget documents.

It took Stephanie Harrison five trips to the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles office to do what before Jan. 3 was a simple task - renew her driver's license. She said every time she went to the office, she was told she needed another form. Blame it on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, DMV officials said. “The new Secure Driver's License and Identification Card Program is a nationwide effort to improve the integrity and security of all driver's licenses and ID cards in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks,” according to a brochure on the new changes published by the DMV. West Virginia is one of the first states to meet the new regulations.

County Republican group opposes gas tax increase To the editor: The Herald-Mail recently published several stories about a secret meeting between local business and political leaders on a strategy to gain support for a 15-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase. The main concern of this group should have been the impact on Washington County voters of increasing the gas tax rather than on how to fund “pork projects.” Many Washington County workers commute outside the county and are affected by the already-high price of gasoline.

Property owners in the Borough of Waynesboro will see a 2.7-mill increase in their taxes in 2012 to support $6.3 million in upgrades to the municipality's stormwater system. The Waynesboro Borough Council adopted next year's proposed spending plan by a 4-2 vote during a meeting Wednesday night. Councilmen Ronnie Martin and Ben Greenawalt voted against the measure, which will go into effect when the next fiscal year begins on Jan. 1 "Now is not the time to raise taxes," Martin said before the vote.

When Jeff and Janice Walker of Greencastle, Pa., adopted their dog, Alvin, they made a commitment to him. They promised they would always give him a good home and wouldn't forget where he came from, the Humane Society of Washington County. On Dec. 5, the Walkers made a donation to the shelter in honor of Alvin. Jeff Walker, accompanied by Alvin, unloaded a cartload of food, toys and goodies for the dogs and cats at the shelter. "We just love Alvin, and we are so grateful that he is in our lives," Jeff Walker said.