Bowers

By STEVEN T. DENNIS Staff Writer Washington County Commissioner James R. Wade says a plan to spend at least $3 million to build a bridge and access road across the Conococheague Creek to the future Lund landfill is a mistake that will cost the county taxpayers money for the benefit of a few residents. Wade said he thought it would be wiser and less costly to upgrade Independence Road to access the landfill, which wouldn't require a bridge. But a 1990 agreement to appease residents who opposed the landfill, signed by then-Washington County Commissioners President Ronald L. Bowers on behalf of the commissioners, specifically forbids trash-hauling vehicles from using Independence Road.

HAGERSTOWN Police were searching Wednesday for a Maryland Correctional Training Center inmate who drove off from a work detail earlier this week. Raymous Little, 43, was last seen Monday at a Washington County Roads Department shop on National Pike at 1:35 p.m., according to Sgt. Dave Bowers of the Maryland State Police. Police believe Little escaped in a Chevrolet truck that was parked in the shop's lot, Bowers said. A retake warrant has been issued for Little, who has family in the Baltimore area, Bowers said.

By DAVE McMILLION Staff Writer SMITHSBURG - Smithsburg Police Chief Tommy Bowers was a "law and order" cop who didn't tolerate drugs in town and was liable to show up anywhere, day or night, walking the streets to keep the peace, residents said. He loved children too, and went to great lengths to keep them out of trouble. When he saw a kid on the street, he often pulled a tiny stuffed lion out of the trunk of his car and handed it to them, or gave them a baseball, kids said.

By MARLO BARNHART Staff Writer Smithsburg Police Chief Tom Bowers acted appropriately last November when he fired his gun at a suspect who was barreling down on him with his vehicle during a police pursuit. That was the ruling of Sgt. Vincent Maas of the Maryland State Police internal affairs division, who conducted an investigation of the Nov. 10, 1996, incident. The suspect, Richard A. Sheffler, 29, of Waynesboro, Pa., was struck in the leg by one of the shots fired by Bowers, police said.

By BRENDAN KIRBY Staff Writer SMITHSBURG - Supporters of ousted Police Chief Tommy Bowers Friday launched an effort to amend the Smithsburg Town Charter to allow citizens to recall the mayor and Town Council members. Residents collected petition signatures from 30 people to demand the mayor and council call a special election in 30 days to allow citizens to vote on the recall measure. The charter does not allow officials to be recalled between elections. Sherry Owen, one of the leaders of the pro-Bowers group, said she plans to go door-to-door this weekend to collect signatures from at least 20 percent of the town's registered voters.

A trash collection worker was taken to Meritus Medical Center on Wednesday morning after he was struck by an automobile at 8039 Sharpsburg Pike (Md. 65), according to Maryland State Police. At about 7:55 a.m., the employee of Apple Valley Waste was struck by a Toyota which was attempting to pass another vehicle, according to Trooper James A. Bowers. The man was taken to Meritus Medical Center with minor injuries at about 8:25 a.m., Bowers said. State police, the Washington County Sheriff's Office and an ambulance from Sharpsburg Emergency Services responded to the accident.

The economic development goals accepted by Washington County officials Tuesday have been well-received and provide a workable framework for future growth, according to some community leaders reached for comment Wednesday. “We're grateful for the economic development commission for reaching out to us and other stakeholders in the community,” said Brien Poffenberger, president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. The Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission's top priorities include an assessment of current infrastructure needs, workforce development, Hagerstown's City Center, a countywide marketing plan and leaving the EDC as the lead agency for economic development efforts within the county.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - When Ann Bowers signed up almost 17 acres of her Broadfording-area farm in 1997 for inclusion in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), she didn't realize she was a pioneer. It turns out Bowers' enrollment was the first such contract written for the national program in the country. Bowers was assisted in the process by Colleen Cashell, executive director of the Washington County Farm Service Agency. A decade later, acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner announced the enrollment of the 1 millionth acre at a Jan. 17 ceremony at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Bowers attended with Cashell and was honored for signing up the first acre.

Charles Shifflett was watching football in his house on Jefferson Boulevard Sunday afternoon when a sport utility vehicle slammed into the front of his home. "It was just a big bang. The Christmas tree fell on the floor, balls went everywhere and I went out the door," Shifflett said. Trooper 1st Class J.R. Bowers of the Maryland State Police estimated the 1997 Toyota 4Runner was traveling between 60 mph and 70 mph when it went through Shifflet's front yard, struck a tree, went airborne and struck the house.