Banquet

By CLYDE FORD Staff Writer, Charles Town MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The tears started streaming down Debbie Keesecker's face as she walked to a podium Sunday night to accept a plaque honoring her husband's service as a volunteer fire chief. Ed Keesecker, 42, was a quiet, unassuming man who helped raise the standards of fire protection in Berkeley County before dying of cancer on Jan. 5. On Sunday, Ed Keesecker was honored along with police officers and fire and rescue officials from across the Eastern Panhandle at the Martinsburg Elks Lodge's third annual Law and Safety Day banquet.

The Guneukitschik Lodge, Order of the Arrow, held its annual lodge banquet Dec. 27 at the Savoy Restaurant, Waynesboro, Pa. The invocation was given by Jim Hall. Lodge Chief Seth Martin reviewed the accomplishments for the 2007 year. He also announced the Lodge was a Quality Lodge. Lodge Adviser Robbie Holsinger reviewed the goals for 2008. Jeff Cordell presented the Vigil Awards to Sam Clement, and father and son combination: Bentley L. Straley and Bentley W. Straley. The Vigil Award is to recognize members who have made extra contributions of service to the Lodge.

The Williamsport High School All Sports Banquet was May 28 at the Williamsport Fire Hall. Two special awards, the Joseph K. Scott Award, named after a former WHS principal, and the Richard E. Doub Award, named after a longtime WHS coach, were awarded to a WHS male and female scholar athlete. The awards are based on grades and athletic performance. Jessica Palmer received the Richard E. Doub Outstanding Female-Scholar-Athlete Award and Greg Minnick received the Joseph K. Scott Outstanding Male Scholar-Athlete Award.

charlestown@herald-mail.com SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - The large neon arrow directing patrons to the Turf Motel along East Washington Street is a familiar landmark in Charles Town. Since 1955, the motel - with its trademark racehorse affixed to the roof - has welcomed visitors to town. On Wednesday night, the Marcus family, which operates the motel, was honored at the 46th annual Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce banquet at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherdstown.

HAGERSTOWN -- Baltimore Orioles outfielder Luke Scott points skyward every time he gets a hit. No wonder things are looking up in Baltimore this season. Scott, a born-again Christian in his first year with the upstart Orioles, is batting .281 and tied for the team lead in home runs with 11. He spent his team's night off Monday in Hagerstown, joining former Orioles pitching great Scott McGregor as the featured speakers at the Hagerstown Area Church Softball League's annual banquet at Tri-State Fellowship.

The Boonsboro High School FFA chapter held its annual banquet May 25, with a program looking back at the past year, giving awards and installing new officers. Several members received Greenhand Degrees. This is the first degree members can earn by being involved in career development events and chapter activities. Recipients include Brian Baker, Bo Butts, Sarah Dodson, Corey Downing, Katie Fisher, Whitney Furr, Alison Griffith, Jessica Hanes, Donnie Koontz, Andrew Lowery, Katie Miller, Allie Mullenix and Annie Myers.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - More than 20 years have come and gone since Blaine Sprouse ran a bow across the strings of a fiddle in a dance hall in Berkeley County, W.Va. Since that time, the Martinsburg native, who grew up in an apartment atop a general store in the tiny village north of Hedgesville called North Mountain, has played his fiddle on nearly every continent and performed with such bluegrass and country music luminaries as the Osborne Brothers, Randy Travis, Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash.

megp@herald-mail.com The "Clown Prince of Basketball" will be the king of several events next weekend. Meadowlark Lemon, the famed Harlem Globetrotter, will be the keynote speaker at the banquet and fund-raiser to celebrate Hagerstown Junior Basketball League Inc.'s 55th season the evening of Friday, Nov. 1, at Grace Academy in Hagerstown. He will then lead youth rallies Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. and noon in the food court at Valley Mall. At 7 p.m. that day, he will be the grand marshal of the 78th Annual Alsatia Mummers' Parade in downtown Hagerstown.

Grace Academy will hold its annual banquet/auction Friday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cortland Mansion. Tickets are available  by calling Mrs. Hoover at 301-733-2033. The banquet includes dinner, entertainment and hundreds of items available for the silent and live auctions.