Construction Site

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Construction of the long-planned Raleigh Street "extension" is expected to begin this fall, Mayor George Karos announced Thursday evening. "To me, that's about the best news we've had for years," Karos said of the Martinsburg road construction project that has been talked about for many years. The Hagerstown/Eastern Panhandle Metropolitan Planning Organization notified the city Thursday that $15.5 million had been "programmed" for building about a half-mile section of the highway from the intersection of U.S. 11 and W.Va.

Sheriff's department responds to calls The Washington County Sheriff's Department responded to the following calls, according to Lt. Mark Knight: Monday: · At 10:30 a.m., destruction of property was reported at the Lookout Tower in Pen Mar Park. The tower was spray painted. · At 6 p.m., theft was reported in the 13700 block of Village Mill Drive. A scooter was stolen. Sunday: · At 4:30 p.m., theft was reported at the corner of Rohrersville Road and Reno Monument Road.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Two men remained in critical condition Monday afternoon at Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa., as a result of a two-car accident on Pa. 30 on Sunday, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The 7:50 a.m. accident occurred just west of St. Thomas, Pa., police said. Haven L. Hull, 18, address unavailable, of Mercersburg, Pa., was traveling east on Pa. 30 when his Chrysler Lebaron sedan was hit in front by a 1987 Nissan Maxima driven by Daniel L. Johnson, 36, address unknown, of Philadelphia, Pa., police said.

South Hagerstown High School opened without disruption Monday, despite the ongoing construction, which is part of a $15-million renovation. No major problems marred the first day of school for Washington County's approximately 19,800 students, according to school officials. "Overall, things went great," said Director of Secondary Education Boyd Michael II. "Everything I'm hearing went smoothly. " Sixteen school systems in Maryland resumed classes Monday, according to the Maryland State Department of Education.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.VA. -- As the cold wind swirled Saturday at the construction site of the new Morgan County Courthouse on Fairfax Street, more than 200 people watched a cornerstone-laying ceremony provided by the local Masonic Delford A.F.&A.M. Lodge 88. On Aug. 8, 2006, the courthouse was destroyed by fire. Soon after, the Masons received permission from the Morgan County Commission to perform the ceremony to commemorate the new building. Wearing aprons, some with gold fringe, about 100 Masons participated in the procession to the site.

HAGERSTOWN - Washington County residents turned out Monday night to oppose a Hagerstown man's request to rezone his property to allow the possible construction of a strip mall between I-70 and U.S. 40 east of Hagerstown. About 25 of the 100 people who attended a joint meeting of the Washington County Commissioners and Washington County Planning Commission expressed their disapproval. None of the speakers supported Kent N. Oliver's proposal to rezone 60 acres near Beaver Creek and White Hall roads from agricultural to highway-interchange usage.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Building contractors and other companies who have been helping the Martinsburg Union Rescue Mission keep the cost of the organization's new 78-bed mission building down are being publicly thanked as work continues on the project. A sign unveiled Wednesday at the construction site in the 600 block of West King Street in Martinsburg thanks Essroc, Gantt's Excavating & Contracting, Jones Masonry, Manor Concrete Enterprises, Martinsburg Mountaineer Glass and Door Service, Hagerstown Block Company, Potomac Construction Industries, Virginia Contractors Supply, and Appalachian Heating and Air Conditioning.