Bonus

Washington County's 538 full-time employees would each get a $1,000 bonus under a plan considered by the County Commissioners Tuesday. The $538,00 cost for the one-time bonus would come from a portion of the $1 million designated as the fiscal 1999 grant to the employee pension plan, Human Resources Director Alan J. Davis said. The remaining money would go to the pension plan. Commissioner Paul L. Swartz suggested a $1,250 bonus, which would cost more than $600,000. The bonus will not go to Board of Education employees.

By JULIE E. GREENE Staff Writer To maintain credibility with their employees, Hagerstown Council members approved on Tuesday night giving about 360 city employees a one-time $350 bonus in their paychecks. The only employees who won't receive the bonus are city police who are members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3373, said City Administrator Bruce Zimmerman. City officials negotiated several union contracts in recent years based on future financial projections that the city would be tight on funds, Zimmerman said.

State employees’ bonuses to be swallowed by agency fees To the editor: With freedom on our minds as we celebrate the Fourth of July, our state employees will be experiencing a diminishing of their freedom. Beginning with the July 1, 2011, pay period, the State of Maryland will be withholding an “agency fee” from all state employees, including the two-thirds of state employees who do not want to join the union (higher-education employees are specifically excluded)

Waynesboro, Pa., native Matt White, who received the largest signing bonus in Major League Baseball history, announced his retirement on Sunday. White, a right-handed pitcher from Waynesboro Area Senior High School, was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the seventh overall pick in the 1996 draft, but he became a free agent when the Giants did not tender a contract in the time allotted by Major League Baseball. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and received a $10.2 million bonus.

Reaching playoff pinnacle One Washington County high school football team is already assured a spot in next week's Maryland Class 1A West playoffs. Three others are battling for the one remaining postseason berth -- and it could turn out that none of those teams gets it. Here's what we know: Fort Hill (9-0) is the No. 1 seed and Allegany (7-2) is the No. 2 seed, regardless of how their rivalry game turns out Saturday. They will host region semifinal games next Friday and Saturday in Cumberland.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Employees of Berkeley County Schools will find themselves with a few extra hundred dollars on Dec. 1, thanks to a salary supplement that is a bonus in everything but name. At their meeting Monday night, members of the Berkeley County Board of Education unanimously approved giving employees a "housing allowance" that will be based on experience. Professional employees, such as teachers and principals, will receive $400 for zero to nine years of experience; $450 for 10 to 19 years of experience; and $500 for 20 or more years of experience.

The best things in life? Free-throw struggles dominate west county duel By BILL STERNER / Staff Correspondent photo: JOE CROCETTA / staff photographer CLEAR SPRING - Excuse Clear Spring girls basketball coach Ron Baker if he sounded slightly like Groucho Marx after his Blazers' game with backyard rival Hancock Tuesday night. Although Baker didn't ask the famous question, "Who is buried in Grant's tomb?," he was asking, "When is a bonus not a bonus?"

CLEAR SPRING -- The Clear Spring boys basketball team was glacial to start Friday night. It was cold and very slow moving. But in the second half, the Blazers were Glazer. Point guard Brandon Glazer moved the Blazers in a quicker tempo to beat Catoctin's sticky 1-3-1 defense to take control of the second half and the game in a 73-53 win over the Cougars in an MVAL Antietam matchup. "Glazer's emotion and leadership was something," said Clear Spring coach Mark Shives.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Two Jefferson County women will face each other in a race for the Jefferson County Assessor position on Tuesday. The incumbent, Democrat M.R. "Ginger" Bordier, will face Republican Jaimie C. Somers in the general election. Bordier, of 711 Jefferson Ave., Charles Town, has been the tax assessor since 1978. Somers, of 33 Torrey Pines Court, Charles Town, has worked as an interior designer and also has about 15 years experience in management and administration in the high tech industry.

By KERRY LYNN FRALEY Staff Writer WILLIAMSPORT - Debbie and Rodney Boward Jr. always let the computer pick the numbers they play in the Powerball lottery. They way they figure it, if they're meant to win, they'll win. The fact that they were one number away from winning a $5 million jackpot in the June 25 drawing hasn't changed their philosophy, said the Williamsport couple. The bonus Powerball number on their winning ticket was 17 instead of the number 16 that was drawn.

The City of Hagerstown might just have stumbled across a way to keep its employees happy without soaking the taxpayers who pay public-employee salaries. Last week the city agreed to a one-time bonus for its full-time employees of $1,000, with $200 going to part-timers. That will cost the city close to $500,000 now, but, compared with a traditional pay raise, will actually save money over time. As the council says, city employees have been good soldiers through hard times. They haven't had a raise in three years and have had no cost-of-living adjustment in four.

The City of Hagerstown's full-time employees will receive a one-time payment of $1,000 and part timers will receive $200 in June following the unanimous approval of the five-member city council Tuesday. “The employees haven't received many of the benefits they deserve, thanks to the drastic economic situation we've been through,” Councilman Donald F. Munson said at the Hagerstown City Council meeting. “I'm voting for this, supporting this, because I believe it is at least a way city government can say thank you for the efforts you have made.” The city's extension of one-time payments to 411 full timers and 39 part timers stem from frozen wages over the past few years.

Washington County Public Schools will pay almost $1 million to 148 teachers and school administrators who participated in the first year of an evaluation pilot program and were deemed to be effective or highly effective, according to Program Manager Stacy Henson. A total of $944,250 in bonuses will be paid to all participants in the program, Henson said. The average bonus for the teachers will be $6,046, she said. Most of the cost of the pilot program, which includes considering student academic growth, is covered by a $7.4 million federal Teacher Incentive Fund grant.

The North Hagerstown Lions Club members are selling Bonus Books, which will be good through Dec. 1, 2012. Call Sharon at 717-597-8316 or Carolyn at 301-223-8207 to purchase a Bonus Book for $32 each. Proceeds support community organizations and scholarships.   The Lions Club is also coordinating Coats for Kids. Drop boxes for coats will be at Valley Mall near Sears, Richards World of Travel on Potomac Avenue and Always Ron's on Burhans Boulevard through Jan. 9. Items are being accepted for all ages, newborn to adult.

The North Hagerstown Lions Club is selling $32 Bonus Books, valid through Dec. 1, 2012, with hundreds of coupons, discounts or buy one, get one free opportunities in the Tri-State area. The coupons are for casual, leisure, fast-food/carryout dining, recreation, travel, lodging and other businesses. Call Sharon at 717-597-8316 or Carolyn at 301-223-8207 to purchase copies. Proceeds will support community organizations and scholarships. Coats for children For the 25th year, the North Hagerstown Lions Club is collecting Coats for Kids.

City employees received a little bit of holiday cheer earlier this week from the Hagerstown City Council. The council Tuesday voted 5-0 to give full-time city employees $1,000 bonuses - a decision that Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II said would cost the city about $444,000. He said the bonuses were given as a way to thank the employees, who among other things, took 10 furlough days last year that decreased their average annual salaries by 3.8 percent. The employees also haven't received step increases in three years or cost-of-living allowances in four years.

State employees’ bonuses to be swallowed by agency fees To the editor: With freedom on our minds as we celebrate the Fourth of July, our state employees will be experiencing a diminishing of their freedom. Beginning with the July 1, 2011, pay period, the State of Maryland will be withholding an “agency fee” from all state employees, including the two-thirds of state employees who do not want to join the union (higher-education employees are specifically excluded)

Washington County officials Tuesday approved a plan expected to save the county anywhere from $500,000 to $1.9 million through a combination of retirement incentives and organizational restructuring. The plan, approved by a unanimous vote by the five-member Washington County Commissioners, offers $10,000 bonuses for employees who agree to retire May 1, June 1 or July 1. The bonus will be available to employees currently eligible to retire and to those who are within three years of qualifying for retirement based on years of service and who will be granted up to three years of credited service, County Administrator Gregory B. Murray said.

CLEAR SPRING -- The Clear Spring boys basketball team was glacial to start Friday night. It was cold and very slow moving. But in the second half, the Blazers were Glazer. Point guard Brandon Glazer moved the Blazers in a quicker tempo to beat Catoctin's sticky 1-3-1 defense to take control of the second half and the game in a 73-53 win over the Cougars in an MVAL Antietam matchup. "Glazer's emotion and leadership was something," said Clear Spring coach Mark Shives.

Reaching playoff pinnacle One Washington County high school football team is already assured a spot in next week's Maryland Class 1A West playoffs. Three others are battling for the one remaining postseason berth -- and it could turn out that none of those teams gets it. Here's what we know: Fort Hill (9-0) is the No. 1 seed and Allegany (7-2) is the No. 2 seed, regardless of how their rivalry game turns out Saturday. They will host region semifinal games next Friday and Saturday in Cumberland.