Blue Ridge Summit

SEPT. 21, 1949-FEB. 23, 2011 WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Gregory Albright, 61, of Old Route 16, Waynesboro, Pa., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at his home after succumbing to his fight with cancer. Born Sept. 21, 1949, in Dearborn, Mich., he was the third son of the late Aaron and Helen (Janik) Albright. He was a 1968 graduate of Fordson High School in Dearborn, Mich. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving for 18 months in communications as part of the Korean Conflict from 1969 to 1970.

AUG. 25, 1924-FEB. 22, 2011 SMITHSBURG, Md. — Basil H. Kuhn, 86, of Wolfsville Road, Smithsburg, Md., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, at the VA Medical Center Martinsburg, W.Va. Born Aug. 25, 1924, in Garfield, Md., he was the son of the late Chester and Bessie (Draper) Kuhn. He attended Wolfsville Schools. He retired from the U. S. Navy and was a veteran of W.W.II. He was a member of South Mountain Rod and Gun Club Smithsburg, Funkstown American Legion Post 211, VFW Post 1936 and Amvets Post 10, both of Hagerstown and life member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Closing arguments have wrapped up in the Franklin County, Pa., trial of Michael Harrigan, who is charged with shooting his neighbor in the early morning hours of May 27, 2010. Harrigan, 30, was charged with criminal homicide after police found Steven Wetzel lying dead in the street near Harrigan’s home on Blue Ridge Avenue near Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. Harrigan' attorneys argued it was self-defense. The jury received the case around noon Thursday. Harrigan took the stand in Franklin County (Pa.)

Author John Howard McClellan of Blue Ridge Summit recently released a book on the history of the area movements of Robert E. Lee and his staff following the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg through Pennsylvania and Maryland, including some overlooked landmarks and details of the Battle of Monterey Pass. After the Battle of Monterey Pass, Lee and his army crossed the mountain at Blue Ridge Summit and crossed the Potomac River en route to Virginia, according to a news release. The book, "A River To Cross," is documented by interviews, legend and historical research gathered during the course of McClellan's life.

Mary Louise Benchoff, 79, of Waynesboro, Pa., died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at home. The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at The Church of the Transfiguration, Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro, at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are by Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro.

James M. Dean Sr., 75, of 11975 Green Ridge Drive, Waynesboro, Pa., died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. The family will receive friends Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, Pa. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Rita's Catholic Church, Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. Burial will follow in Burns Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plans to install flashing lights on signs at a busy Pa. 16 intersection in Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., Washington Township (Pa.) Manager Mike Christopher said Wednesday. The lights would be on top of signs on either side of Monterey Lane alerting motorists to an intersection ahead and a 35 mph speed advisory. PennDOT also will be reviewing the 55 mph speed limit in that area, he said. In late July, a Blue Ridge Summit resident asked the supervisors to address problems with speeding, parked vehicles obstructing the line of sight, passing and cross traffic at the intersection of Pa. 16 and Monterey Lane.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- A Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., man reaffirmed his not-guilty plea Wednesday to a charge of criminal homicide in the shooting death of his neighbor. Michael Harrigan, 29, appeared for formal arraignment on the charge in Franklin County (Pa.) Court. Harrigan answered "yes" when asked by Judge Douglas Herman if he wanted to continue with the not-guilty plea entered in writing by his attorneys. Harrigan is charged in the May 27 shooting death of Steven Wetzel, 47, on Blue Ridge Avenue.

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, Pa. -- With empty boxes, bags and totes in hand, area bookworms squirmed as they waited for the opening of the Blue Ridge Summit Free Library's 37th annual book sale Saturday. "People were in line at 9 a.m. salivating," library board member Duke Martin of Fairfield, Pa., said. "We tell them not to slobber on the books," he added with a laugh. The book sale, held in conjunction with an ice cream social, is one of two fundraisers held by the library's board each year to benefit the free library, which serves patrons in four counties in two states.

Kathryn V. Nicodemus of Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., died Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at her home. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro. The service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Rita's Catholic Church, Blue Ridge Summit.