Dam

ANNAPOLIS -- An amendment to the state's capital budget bill strikes a $550,000 grant that would fund repairs to the dam at Devil's Backbone Park. The amendment, which was approved by the House Appropriations Committee, removes a matching grant to the Washington County Commissioners for dam repairs and reroutes the money to the Maryland Intercounty Connector, Del. Gail Bates, R-Howard, said Tuesday. Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, who worked with the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee to secure the funding in the capital budget bill, learned of the cut Tuesday morning.

ANNAPOLIS -- The House of Delegates voted Wednesday to pass a capital budget bill that includes an amendment that strikes a $550,000 grant to fund repairs to the dam at Devil's Backbone Park. The bill passed, 108-33. Dels. Charles A. Jenkins, R-Washington/Frederick; Del. LeRoy E. Myers Jr., R-Washington/Allegany; Del. Andrew A. Serafini, R-Washington; and Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, voted against the bill. Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington, voted for it. Some local lawmakers had speculated an amendment restoring the funding would be offered Wednesday on the House floor, but no such amendment was offered.

Editor's note: This is the 178th in a series of articles about the historical and architectural treasures of Washington County. Dam No. 5 Road travels between Clear Spring Road and the C&O Canal. As it nears the canal, the road descends from farm fields to woodlands along Little Conococheague Creek, crossing the creek near its confluence with the Potomac River. At this juncture stands a stately brick home facing east toward a meadow in front of a rim of trees that conceals the C&O Canal and the Potomac River.

Cats Adult DSH, black and white, found on Linwood Road Adult DMH, gray and cream, found on East Potomac Street in Williamsport. Adult DSH, white and gray, found on Hollow Road. Adult DSH, yellow and brown, found on Keener Road. Young DMH, orange and white, found at Lakeside Mobile Home Park. Young DSH, gray and black, found on Avon Road. Young DSH, gray and white, found on Dam 4 Road in Sharpsburg. Dogs Adult Chihuahua/Min Pin mix, red, found on Washington Street.

Birthdays Nov. 7 - Corey Kitchen of Hagerstown turned 4. Nov. 8 - Jimmy Souders, Coneflower Drive, turned 71; Christopher and Joseph Pike, Rock Hill Road, Hagerstown, turned 13; Cheryl Cook McGowan, Boonsboro, turned 49; Kylie Grimsley, Hagerstown, turned 7; Jada Frisby, Hagerstown, turned 8. Today - Perry Reeder, Dam 5 Road, Clear Spring, turns 10. Anniversary Today - Ralph and Pam Dodson, West...

The Charlton School held its 30th reunion Sept. 26. The school was across the road from what is now Ernst Country Market on Dam No. 5 Road in Clear Spring. Former students have been holding annual reunions since 1979.

David Gigeous holds a couple of butternut squash he found in his garden on Dam 5 Road in Clear Spring. The squash weighed approximately 9.2 pounds apiece. One was 15 1/2 inches long and the other was 16 3/4 inches long.

HAGERSTOWN -- City of Hagerstown and state officials say they would like the owner of a dam on Antietam Creek where a 15-year-old girl almost drowned last month to breach or dismantle the structure. Maryland Department of the Environment spokeswoman Dawn Stoltzfus said Wednesday the dam, which is near Mount Aetna Road and behind the former Municipal Electric Light Plant, poses a safety hazard. Officials with MDE and Maryland's Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday they believe removing the dam, or breaching it to return the water flow to a more natural state, would improve public safety.

HAGERSTOWN -- Keiana Hardman was stuck in a current Monday, losing strength as she struggled to keep her head above water and to avoid being drawn into the churning water near a dam on Antietam Creek. Then, she saw Hagerstown Fire Department Capt. Mark Cleck swimming toward her. "I knew that I would be alive," when she saw Cleck heading for her, Keiana said Thursday morning as she stood on the bank near the spot where she struggled in the turbulent water below the dam off Memorial Boulevard where it meets Eastern Boulevard.