Cars

Circa 1980 found me employed by a Buick dealership, where one of my duties was to try to breathe some life into these vehicles before a customer would arrive to take delivery. The cars would buck, lurch and misfire - step on the gas and nothing would happen, particularly when they were cold. So my assignment was to take them out on the interstate and “blow the carbon out of them” by exceeding posted speed limits to the point that the mills would be panting, but serviceable. Drivers of a certain age will remember the word “hesitation,” which pretty much every American vehicle did when you mashed the throttle.

Two cars collided in front of Bowman Logistics on 9935 Governor Lane Blvd. on Friday afternoon. Nobody was injured, Deputy Witmer of the Washington County Sheriff's Office said.   The cars were in the northbound shoulder of Governor Lane Boulevard, so the incident did not affect traffic. One vehicle from the sheriff's office was on the scene. Police responded to the incident at 12:50 p.m., according to a supervisor for Washington County Emergency Services. — Caleb Calhoun, Mobile Journalist

Police were responding Sunday night to a report of a motorist who struck a couple of cars on Timothy Drive and became involved in another crash on Downsville Pike. It was believed the crash on Downsville Pike might have been head-on, a Maryland State Police spokesman said. Timothy Drive is off Bower Avenue and Tamarack Drive in the Halfway area. The incident was reported at 9:55 p.m.

The Internal Revenue Service and the American Institute of Philanthropy have suggestions for people donating cars to charity. - Make sure a charity is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. Check www.irs.gov/eo or call the IRS Customer Account Services division at 877-829-5500. At the state level, try the state attorney general or secretary of state. - Take pictures of the car and save receipts for new tires or other upgrades. - Remove the license plates and notify the state motor vehicles office that the registration should not be in your name.

A storm accompanied by golfball-sized hail pummeled Hancock Thursday, damaging dozens of cars at an auto dealership. Stephen Douglas, owner of Douglas Motors, said the storm that blew through at about 5:30 p.m. damaged 80 cars on his lot, causing about $250,000 in damage. The hail storm took him by surprise, Douglas said.  He said that at first he was more concerned about wind damage, but when pea-sized hail started coming down, he took cover inside. He watched as the five- to 10-minute storm blew through, but was unable to protect the cars from damage.

For about $20,000, you can buy a Volkswagen minibus -   fire engine red and right out of the 1960s. But don't expect to sit behind the wheel and drive it home. It has no engine or brakes. And it's not much bigger than your thumb. It's an early workshop prototype of a Hot Wheels vehicle that was later made by the American toy manufacturer, Mattel. And while it might not be in Jay Doyle's collection, the number of die-cast cars he does own is impressive. The Hagerstown man estimates he currently has about 2,000 pieces - and he's always hoping to add more.

Just for fun, LIFE House Church Bethel in Hagers- town opened its parking lot Saturday to music and fancy cars. The Days of Thunder event, which continues today, was held to show the lighter side of church. "We can have fun and enjoy ourselves," said the Rev. Terry Broadwater, lead pastor at the church, which just changed its name from Bethel Assembly Church of God. The music was from the Rev. Jimmie Bratcher of Kansas City, Mo., a bluesman who said he plays at churches, prisons and clubs.

HAGERSTOWN ? It could become cheaper to stay in a hotel room than to live in your car. The Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday discussed passing an ordinance that would allow the city to fine people up to $250 for living in a vehicle if it's parked on public property, including alleys, streets and parking lots. The penalty also could carry up to a 60-day jail sentence. Police Chief Arthur Smith said several business owners in the area of the Washington County Board of Education on Commonwealth Avenue recently started to complain about people living in vehicles.

People are being urged to keep their cars locked and tool bins secured following four thefts from vehicles in the Virginia Avenue and Williamsport areas, according to a Washington County Sheriff's Department press release. The thefts have occurred this month and have involved the theft of tools such as drills, nail guns, saws and sockets, deputies said. In past months, other items stolen have included GPS units, purses and stereo faceplates, deputies said. Police are urging people to keep high value items out of sight or removed from cars.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Someone cut the catalytic converters from about six cars parked at an Antrim Township business over the weekend, according to a Pennsylvania State Police press release. The thefts happened between Friday at 5 p.m. and Monday at 7 a.m. at Foremost Industries at 2375 Buchanan Trail West, west of Greencastle, police said.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office was investigating the cause of a fire that caused $10,000 in damage to a 2008 Mercedes Benz in western Washington County on Sunday morning, according to a news release. The fire at 13700 Orchard Ridge Road was discovered by a passer-by and reported at 4:42 a.m. Sunday, the release states. That area is southeast of Hancock, north of Interstate 70. Anyone with information about the incident may call the state fire marshal's office at 301-766-3888.

A 76-year-old woman died Saturday after she was struck by a car while attempting to return to her vehicle from a yard sale in Franklin County, Pennsylvania State Police said. Caroline V. Croft of Shippensburg, died at the crash scene along U.S. 11 near Pin Oak Court in Greene Township, police said. The crash occurred at 10:27 a.m., police said. Croft was struck in close proximity to her vehicle by a 1997 Buick Century driven by Georgia Davis, 64, of Orrstown, Pa., police said.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office said it was investigating a fire that caused $3,000 in damages to a car Saturday night in the 20100 block of Hogmaw Road near Keedysville. The fire started in the interior passenger compartment of a 1996 Chevrolet Beretta that was parked in the 20100 block of Hogmaw Road, according to a Fire Marshal's Office news release. The fire was reported by the owner at 10:50 p.m. Saturday. It took 14 firefighters about 10 minutes to get it under control, the release says.

A Hedgesville man was found dead Saturday morning next to a car that West Virginia State Police determined went off the road and collided with a tree, according to a news release from state police. Police identified the man as Donovan Travis, 27. State police were notified of a traffic accident with a possible fatality near the 4300 block of Allensville Road at approximately 7:14 a.m. Saturday, the release said. Police found a 2007 Toyota Corolla off the east edge of the road and saw a deceased man lying on the ground near the car's passenger door, the release said.

Dolly Parton once said “Sometimes you just have to toot your own horn. Otherwise, nobody will know you're a-comin'.” For Paul T. Woodal Jr. of Hagerstown, his horn is attached to a Barbie-pink 2008 Volkswagen Beetle adorned with photos and sayings from one of country music's most beloved artists, Dolly Parton. Woodal, 38, credits his mother, Faye Woodal, for introducing him to the star with the beautiful voice, big hair and bigger, well, assets. “(My mother) introduced me to her records, her LPs,” he said.

A 48-year-old Chambersburg man who was struck by a car while riding a bicycle in Southampton Township Friday night has died, Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release Sunday. Jeffrey I. Coons was riding a bike south on Airport Road at 11:02 p.m. when he was struck from behind by a 2004 Toyota Sequoia being driven by Mark E. Nealy, 42, of Shippensburg, according to the release. Coons, who was thrown over the hood of the vehicle, was flown to Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at about 3:45 a.m. Saturday, the release said.

Hagerstown police cited a Chambersburg, Pa., woman after her car was struck by a CSX train Friday in the 700 block of Potomac Avenue near the McComas Street intersection. Shonda M. Dosher, 34, of 4095 Ricklyn Drive in Chambersburg, was charged with failure to stop at a railroad crossing, according to Hagerstown Police Chief Mark Holtzman. One train engine pulling another engine struck the Dodge Neon that Dosher was driving as she tried to cross the tracks shortly before 9 a.m., Holtzman said.

A Frederick, Md., man who was helping to push a disabled car in the slow lane of eastbound Interstate 70 was killed Tuesday evening when the vehicle that was being pushed was struck by another car, according to Maryland State Police . The accident was reported at 6:43 p.m., and it occurred in Washington County just west of the Frederick County line where National Pike (U.S. 40) crosses the interstate. State police said that Adam C. Gammon, 37, of Bethel Road, Frederick, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

A Martinsburg woman died Tuesday morning when the vehicle she was driving struck the rear of a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81, according to the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office. Barbara J. Haarman, age and address not given, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 3 a.m. accident, the sheriff's office said in a news release. She  sustained multiple injuries, including head trauma, the release said. Haarman was driving a 2000 Ford station wagon north when it struck the rear of the tractor-trailer driven by David Bernhardt of Fayetteville, Pa., deputies said.

The Humane Society of Washington County rescued a brown and white Australian cattle dog mix Saturday. The female dog was hit by a car and was found on North Locust and West North Avenue in Hagerstown at 3:58 p.m. Anyone with information about the dog is encouraged to contact the shelter at 301-733-2060.  The dog has been treated for its injuries and is waiting to go home.  “She is a very well behaved, friendly dog. We hope to...