Enforcement

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Some property owners who skipped clearing off their sidewalks after last Friday's winter storm will not be able to avoid a warning or citation for future weekend snows. Councilman Allen Coffman said at Monday's Chambersburg Borough Council meeting that he saw properties on Saturday and Sunday "where people made no attempt to clear off their sidewalks. " "We've got a snow policy," Coffman said. "We need some way to enforce it. " Assistant Borough Manager David Finch said the snow came at the beginning of a weekend, when the meter readers who post warnings and issue citations for not clearing sidewalks are off work.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Four area law enforcement agencies received top honors from AAA for their community safety efforts and enforcement activities, according to a press release from the East Central Region branch of the automobile association. The recipients of Platinum Awards at a luncheon Friday in Berkeley Springs were the Berkeley Springs Police Department, Harpers Ferry Police Department, Martinsburg Police Department and West Virginia State Police Troop 2 command based in Jefferson County.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Some property owners who skipped clearing off their sidewalks after last Friday's winter storm will not be able to avoid a warning or citation for future weekend snows. Councilman Allen Coffman said at Monday's Chambersburg Borough Council meeting that he saw properties on Saturday and Sunday "where people made no attempt to clear off their sidewalks. " "We've got a snow policy," Coffman said. "We need some way to enforce it. " Assistant Borough Manager David Finch said the snow came at the beginning of a weekend, when the meter readers who post warnings and issue citations for not clearing sidewalks are off work.

scottb@herald-mail.com The Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance that would make the curfew law easier for Hagerstown City Police to enforce. The council is scheduled to vote Oct. 28 on adoption of the ordinance, which applies to those younger than 16. The changes would go into effect Nov. 28. At its Sept. 2 work session, the city gave general support to modifying the ordinance, which was written in 1985. The curfew for juveniles is 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays until 6 a.m. the following morning.

Melissa Moreland's father died not knowing what happened to his 21-year-old daughter who left his home Oct. 23, 1987, and disappeared. Moreland, who today would be 46 years old, was last seen late that night at the former High's gas station in Paw Paw. Her parents believed she would be spending the night with a friend. Over the years, several law enforcement agencies working on the case have investigated a variety of tips. Some of those tips claimed the woman is alive, while others pointed to possible places her remains could be found.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Spring Mill Farm subdivision this week became the 30th residential community in Berkeley County to ask for enforcement of the county's all-terrain vehicle ordinance in their community. As written, the four-year-old ordinance prohibits ATV use on county roads and county-owned property, but subdivision homeowners associations have to petition the Berkeley County Commission if they want their privately maintained streets and avenues included in enforcement efforts.

The Washington County Sheriff's Department and the Hagerstown Police Department will split a $39,568 crime control grant. Each department will receive $19,784 through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The Hagerstown Police Department will use the JAG money to pay for overtime for law enforcement efforts in CSAFE areas of Hagerstown, according to information provided by the county. The Sheriff's Department will use the money to support traffic enforcement initiatives, crime prevention patrols (in response to specific crimes, threats or holiday events)

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Four businesses accused of selling alcohol to minors went before the Board of License Commissioners Wednesday morning. The commissioners voted to review testimony and render decisions in each of the cases within 30 days. Businesses usually are fined for selling alcohol to minors, although certain factors, such as whether it was a first offense, are considered, board chairman Robert Everhart said. Washington County Sheriff's deputies employed an 18-year-old girl to conduct alcohol sales enforcement checks May 25. The girl purchased alcohol from each of the businesses while deputies monitored the transactions, Sgt. Chris Howard testified before the commissioners.

Fire, rescue and police agencies in Washington County have been awarded $1.14 million in grants as of Tuesday, Director of Emergency Services Joe Kroboth told the County Commissioners. The commissioners approved Memorandum of Understandings with various agencies who distributed the grants, making the awards final. The $1.14 million consists of 11 separate awards and includes a $668,038 weapons of mass destruction grant and a $212,578 law enforcement terrorism grant, both distributed by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

FUNKSTOWN - All municipalities have been invited to a meeting on a proposed uniform skateboarding ordinance Wednesday, June 11, at 1 p.m. at the Washington County Sheriff's Department. The idea of a uniform ordinance came from the law enforcement community which wants uniform rules so enforcement will be the same from community to community, according to Town Clerk Brenda Haynes. The questions to be answered will include where skateboarding will and won't be allowed, time restrictions and penalty amounts for violations.

No right to speed through school zones To the editor: I am surprised at how many people think they have a constitutional right to speed through school zones. In the few last weeks, several writers have voiced their displeasure at having to pay speeding fines for this previously “routine” behavior.  Mostly, they justify their careless and unsafe actions on the grounds that a heartless mechanical Robocop has caught them (on camera and red handed) and is completely uninterested in their flimsy excuses.

One of three men accused of passing counterfeit currency Monday has been charged with assaulting Maryland State Police troopers as they attempted to take him into custody in the parking lot of Premium Outlets, according to Washington County District Court records. Tyreik L. Gibson, 28, of Lansdowne, Pa., was charged by state police with three counts each of first- and second-degree assault, and one count each of second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and malicious destruction of property of more than $500, court records said.

Melissa Moreland's father died not knowing what happened to his 21-year-old daughter who left his home Oct. 23, 1987, and disappeared. Moreland, who today would be 46 years old, was last seen late that night at the former High's gas station in Paw Paw. Her parents believed she would be spending the night with a friend. Over the years, several law enforcement agencies working on the case have investigated a variety of tips. Some of those tips claimed the woman is alive, while others pointed to possible places her remains could be found.

Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series about missing persons in the Tri-State. The Herald-Mail contacted law enforcement agencies to obtain information about area residents who have been reported missing. Those profiled include Revell Jeeter of Harrisonville, Pa., whose story was published Sunday; Arthur Murray of Williamsport, whose story appears today; and Mary Jean Olshefski-Beatty of Bunker Hill, W.Va., and Melissa Moreland, who lived with her parents near Paw Paw, W.Va., whose stories will be published Tuesday.

Editor's note: This is the first of three days of coverage regarding missing persons in the Tri-State area. The Herald-Mail reached out to law enforcement agencies to obtain information about individuals reported missing. They include Revell Jeeter of Harrisonville, Pa.; Arthur Murray of Williamsport; Mary Jean Olshefski-Beatty of Bunker Hill, W.Va.; and Melissa Moreland, who lived with her parents near Paw Paw, W.Va. Their stories will be told Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Two weeks ago, Dean Reeder stood outside the charred remains of his barn near Boonsboro, wondering if authorities would ever bring the people who set the fire to justice. At the time, his Lappans Road barn and nearly 20 other properties were among fires that were intentionally set across Washington County over a one-week span that began on March 17. On Wednesday, however, he and several other people whose property was burned praised law enforcement officials, particularly the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office, for charging four people with the crimes.

When you see Hammerhead, Ox, Hardcore and the rest of the Defenders rumbling through your town, just remember this: They aren't looking to make trouble. Because most of them are police officers and first responders, their day jobs usually involve putting an end to trouble. Seven members and an associate of the Defenders Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club's 56th and newest chapter, the Mason-Dixon Chapter, donned their colors and mounted their Harleys on Saturday for a ride through the county.

Standing in front of a newly modified Hawker Beechcraft surveillance plane, U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski on Tuesday announced $43 million in federal funding recently approved by Congress devoted to outfitting two additional multirole enforcement aircraft to protect U.S. borders. Mikulski, an advocate for border patrol and protecting American jobs, told about 100 attendees inside the manufacturing facility of Sierra Nevada Corp. at Hagerstown Regional Airport that the money serves to preserve the “passport of the middle class,” helping to protect about 200 jobs in Maryland, including many of the company's 500-plus workforce locally.

An operation by Maryland State Police near Sharpsburg last year prompted two Washington County legislators to introduce a bill during the current session of the Maryland General Assembly requiring the chief of the primary law enforcement agency in a county to be notified before an officer from another agency serves a warrant in areas within a county's jurisdiction. That bill died in committee, but the two legislators behind that bill - Del. Neil C. Parrott, R-Washington, and Sen. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington - are supporting another bill with amendments they say would achieve some of the same objectives.

Law enforcement agencies said they intend to step up patrols to keep the roadways safe over the St. Patrick's Day weekend. Maryland State Police, the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Hagerstown Police Department said the patrols will focus on heavily traveled areas and spots where alcohol-related accidents are common. “We are having additional people out this weekend, but particularly on St. Patrick's Day,” state police Lt. Tom Woodward said. “We have an obligation to be out there.