Big Pool

Authorities are investigating an attempted arson Monday at a home in the 11200 block of Gehr Road in Big Pool, the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office said Tuesday. The incident occurred at about 3:15 p.m. Monday, when someone allegedly burglarized a home at 11212 Gehr Road and put a flammable liquid in the kitchen in an attempt to ignite the vapors with the stove, according to a fire marshal¿s office press release. No one was injured, the release said.

Maryland State Police were investigating an armed robbery Tuesday morning at a convenience store in Big Pool. The robbery at the Big Pool AC&T at 11079 Big Pool Road, off Exit 12 of Interstate 70, was reported at 12:34 a.m., state police said in a news release. A man wearing a yellow T-shirt and gray sweat pants, and who hid his face with a blue shirt or piece of cloth, entered the store, pointed a hunting rifle at the clerk and demanded money, according to the release. The robber took approximately $300, then fled the store on foot.

Boxer dog found in Big Pool area Found - Boxer dog Where - Big Pool When - Thursday evening, April 21 Description - The black, adult dog is well-behaved, but was undernourished when it appeared at a home in Big Pool. It was not wearing a collar. Phone number - 301-491-5092.

An accident on eastbound Interstate 70 near the near the Big Pool/Indian Springs exit (Exit 12) affected traffic for nearly an hour Tuesday morning. Police responded to the accident at 6:52 a.m., a supervisor for Washington County Emergency Services said.. The scene was cleared by 7:45 a.m.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has filed additional charges against a man in connection with a burglary earlier this month at a home in Big Pool. Temal David Stevenson, 30, address unknown, is charged with first-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, malicious destruction of property, felony theft, possession of a controlled dangerous substance-marijuana, possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and five counts of drug paraphernalia, according to a sheriff’s office press release.

Police responded to two accidents between 11:30 a.m. and noon Wednesday on Interstate 70 in Washington County, a supervisor for Washington County Emergency Services said. Nobody was injured and traffic was not affected in either accident, according to authorities. The first accident was reported at 11:34 a.m., according to the supervisor. A vehicle hit a deer on eastbound I-70 eastbound at Hancock. Maryland State Police handled the incident, and the scene was cleared at 1:07 p.m. Two tractor-trailers collided on westbound I-70 near the Md. 56 exit (Exit 12)

BIG POOL Editor's note: This is the fourth story in a summer series examining the histories of local communities in Washington County. Next week: Cascade. adamb@herald-mail.com Helen "Dolly" Weaver remembers the day in 1923 when the C&O Canal closed. Her father, a boat driver, had his mules hooked up, ready to take his barge to Cumberland, Md. Their neighbor, one of the few who had a telephone at the time, told him the bad news just as he was about to depart.

Birthdays Tuesday, Oct. 25 - Terry Harbaugh, Smithsburg, turns 51; Kelli Mills, Big Pool, turns 43; Logen Wilt, Greenbriar Road, Boonsboro, turns 15

Bradly Mills and Quinn Rhodes of Big Pool are shown with wild mushshrooms, sometimes called puffballs, which are the size of soccer balls.

Carrie Belle Shoemaker, 73, of Big Pool, passed away April 30, 2013. Carrie was born June 16, 1939, in Hancock, Md. She moved to Orlando, Fla., in 1986, where she worked at Dobbs International. In 2004, she returned to Big Pool. She was an animal lover, and during her retirement, she enjoyed bird-watching, gardening and traveling to visit family. She is survived by her husband, Donald E. Shoemaker; five sisters, Irene Hull, Alice Shoemaker, Bessie Culler, Patsy Weller and Nell Mills; two brothers, Richard Wagner and Quinten Wagner; three children, Sandra Ruchlewicz, Robin Porter and Donald Shoemaker Jr.; and seven grandchildren, Michelle Thomason, Jacob Cherry, Alli Porter, Randy Shoemaker, Taylor Porter, Ashley Cherry and Brandi Helman.

Edward L. Henson, 66, of Hancock, died Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his family. Born April 17, 1946, in Pole Cat Hollow, Big Pool, Md., he was the son of the late Woodrow W. and Ruth Louisa Mills Henson. He retired as assistant manager of Richards-Wilbert Vault Service in Hagerstown, Md. He was a member of Fulton County Sportsman League, Hancock Volunteer Fire Company, Hancock Lions Club and National Rifle Association. He was a member of Mount Calvary Church of God. He is survived by his wife, Betty L. Younker Henson, whom he married June 19, 1966, at Mount Calvary Church of God in Clear Spring, Md.; one daughter, Christina L. Flowers and husband, Rick; grandson, Jessey Flowers of Clear Spring; five sisters, Janet Poffenberger, Donna McIntire and Fannie Shinham, all of Hagerstown, and Virginia Yeakle and Cindy Wilkinson, both of Clear Spring; and two brothers, Theodore Henson Sr. of Big Pool and Woodrow "Bud" Henson Jr. of Martinsburg, W.Va.

Leroy Francis Henson, 54, of Big Pool, passed away Monday, March 11, 2013. Born Nov. 18, 1958, in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late Leo Francis and Martha (Crampton) Henson. Leroy had worked as a machine operator at PSI in Williamsport for 25 years. He loved to fish, to mushroom hunt and woodworking. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lee Ann Henson, who died on May 22, 2011. Leroy is survived by his two daughters, Angie Parker and Kelly Henson; two brothers, Donald and Ricky Henson; three sisters, Delores Henson, Charlotte Tracey, Rose Lushbaugh; and five grandchildren.

Brenda Kay Speilman, 64, of Clear Spring, Md., and a resident of Star Community Inc., passed away Thursday, March 7, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown, Md. Born July 21, 1948, in Clear Spring, she was the daughter of Arlene M. Trumpower Speilman Clopper of Clear Spring and the late John D. Speilman Sr. Brenda was a member of Mount Carmel United Methodist Church of Big Pool, and United Cerebral Palsy of Hagerstown. She attended Marshall Street School. In addition to her mother, she is survived by a brother, John Speilman Jr. of Mercersburg, Pa.; a stepsister, Dottie Brown of Keedysville, Md.; and two nieces, Cheryl Deal and Jennifer Gregg.

Norman Philip Grimes, 80, of Reading, Pa., died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, at Reading Hospital and Medical Center in West Reading, Pa. Born Sept. 11, 1932, in Washington County, Md., he was the son of the late Cecil Leroy Grimes and Sarah Jane Herr Grimes Ambrose. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Grimes. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He retired from Polymer Corporation in Reading. He is survived by one sister, Annabelle Sword of Hagerstown; and three nieces and five nephews.

Ray John "Little Ray" Leavelle, 62, of Hagerstown, Md., passed suddenly on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center following a long illness. Born Sept. 21, 1950, in Big Pool, Md., he was the son of the late John G. and Marguerite A. Leavelle. He is survived by his wife, Susan; son, Bryan J. Erickson and his fiancee, April Schleigh, of Hagerstown; daughter, Luvie A. Leavelle; brother, Charles Gehr of Lakeland, Fla.; sister, Dolly Reed and brother-in-law, Raymond Reed, of Falling Waters, W.Va.; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Shirley and Robert Weirich; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Julie and John Weirich; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kathleen and Paul Trinkle; and several nieces and nephews.

Eva Elizabeth Holland, 90, of Williamsport, Md., passed away Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, at her home. Born Sept. 25, 1922, in Cumberland, Md., she was the daughter of the late William A. and Nellie (Barncord) Grove. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Daniel Holland, on April 12, 1999. She was a homemaker who loved to cook, bake and give away. She was a caregiver to many of her neighbors. She is survived by three daughters, S. Regina Yohe and husband, Glen, of Williamsport, Sharon L. Weaver and husband, Sonn, of Big Pool and Myra S. Holland of Williamsport; one son, Merle D. Holland of Venice, Fla.; one brother, Earl D. Grove of Hagerstown; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Wesley Lewis “Wes” Graham, 63, of Big Pool, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, at his home. Born Oct. 26, 1949, in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of the late Carl Owen and Orpah Agnes Keefer Graham. He retired in 2007 as a lifelong, self-employed auto painter and body restoration technician for many years, and took pride in his eye for detail. He was a member of Rehobeth United Methodist Church. Wesley loved being outdoors and spent many years developing his river lot into a beautiful campground.

Emma Marie Reger, 65, of Big Pool, Md., died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at Harrisburg Hospital in Harrisburg, Pa. Born Jan. 9, 1948, in Washington County, Md., she was the daughter of the late Harold J. and Helen M. Carbaugh Mills. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles C. Reger Sr. She was employed by the Washington County Commission on Aging for 36 years. She is survived by two sons, Richard “Buck” Stitely II of Williamsport, Md., and Kenneth Stitely Jr. of Big Pool; two sisters, Frances E. Hart of Clear Spring, Md., and Patricia A. Henson of Big Pool; three brothers, Amos Mills and Henry A. Mills, both of Hagerstown, Md., and Edgar T. Mills of Clear Spring; two stepdaughters, Shawn Reger and Rhonda Reger, both of Big Pool; and one grandson, Kenneth Stitely II of Big Pool.

Hazel Thelma Fritz, 75, of Big Pool, Md., passed away Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown, Md., surrounded by her family. Born Sept. 28, 1937, in Big Pool, she was the daughter of the late Alvey and Goldie Reed of Big Pool. She was a graduate of Clear Spring (Md.) High School and attended Blairs Valley Church of God. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband and friend of nearly 56 years, Gayle Fritz Sr. of Big Pool. She was the loving mother to her children, Gale Fritz Jr. and wife, Gina, of Big Pool, Charles Fritz of Clear Spring, daughter, Rebecca Madison and husband, Norman, of Big Pool, and adopted daughter, Jenny Baker.