Family Farm

The Town and Country Garden Club recently awarded a $500 scholarship to Joshua Chester Ernst of Clear Spring. Joshua is a senior at Clear Spring High School. He will pursue a career in resource management at Potomac State College in Keyser, W.Va. He plans to have a career in agriculture and will continue to help run the family farm. He is vice president of the National Honor Society, president of his church’s youth group and enjoys playing soccer.

Clarence Upton Bittle, 85 JUNE 25, 1923-FEB. 26, 2009 MYERSVILLE, Md. - Clarence Upton Bittle, 85, of Myersville, died Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, at the Washington County Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born June 25, 1923, in the farmhouse where he grew up near Myersville and was the son of the late Silas and Daisy Grossnickle Bittle. Clarence is survived by his wife of 64 years, E. Elizabeth Rice Bittle and his four children, Patricia Mose and husband Jerry of Hagerstown; Rachel Black of Hagerstown; David Bittle and wife Susan of Hagerstown and Debbie Bittle-Wilson and husband Robert of Myersville; eight grandchildren, Seth Mose, Shalom Black Lane, Sarah Black Ickes, Jordan Bittle, Asher Bittle, Abigail Bittle Griffith, Caleb Wilson and Jacob Wilson; four great-grandhildren, Judah Ickes, Lydia Ickes, Blake Bittle and Darby Bittle.

Three small businesses in the Eastern Panhandle were recognized in June in local ceremonies as recipients of the 2012 U.S. Small Business Administration's West Virginia Small Business Week awards program. They also were honored at the annual awards celebration May 30 at the Waterfront Hotel in Morgantown, W.Va. • 2012 Entrepreneurial Success Award: Michael P. and Peter M. McKechnie, Mountain View Solar, Berkeley Springs, W.Va. Mountain View Solar is owned by Michael P. McKechnie, president, and Peter M. McKechnie, vice president.

Evensong Farm will host the Bluegrass in the Barn concert Sunday. Gates open at 3 p.m. and music begins at 4 p.m. The farm is at 18502 Burnside Bridge Road in Sharpsburg. Kenny Ray Horton, an up-and-coming bluegrass singer and songwriter, will perform. Bring a picnic dinner if you wish. Light refreshments will be sold. Seating in the barn will be on hay bales, but you're welcome to bring blankets or lawn chairs. This is a family farm and an event for all ages.

To Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening, for his commitment of $13.5 million to upgrade the Interstate 81 intercharge at Halfway Boulevard. The economic benefits will be tremendous. To Rosemary Burtner, who taught for 45 years in the Washington County schools, touching the lives of countless local youngsters with her caring nature and her exuberant attitude toward life and all that can be learned. To James Michael Borum, a 25-year-old Hagerstown man who stole more than $20,000 in jewelry from his own grandmother.

JUNE 23, 1935-JUNE 28, 2009 Ann B. Kelly of Smithsburg, Md., passed away Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Fahrney Keedy Home & Village, where she had been a resident since October 1997. Ann was born in Washington County, Md., to the late David E. and Nina Huff Bachtell, and was raised on the family farm near Smithsburg. She attended local schools, graduating with honors in June 1953. While helping on the family farm, she also worked at Landis Tool Co., in Waynesboro, Pa. She later worked for First Federal Savings and Loan in Hagerstown, Md. She married John C. Kelly of Frederick, Md., in October 1959, and while living in Myersville, Md., she was employed at Farmers and Mechanics National Bank in Frederick.

marlob@herald-mail.com Except for the last three years at Williamsport Retirement Village, Louise Rowe Schnebly has lived on a farm in Washington County. And that is a lot of years, since she now is 94. Born in Charlton, she grew up on the Rowe family farm off Md. 68 near Pinesburg. As the oldest of eight children, she was expected to help raise her siblings on the family farm - "the favorite expression was 'Louise will do it' whenever there was work to be done," she said.

Elbert Quentin Grossnickle, 93, departed this life Thursday, April 19, 2012, peacefully at his home. Quentin was born Feb. 19,1919, on the family farm near Wolfsville, Md., the son of the late Charles Elbert and Sallie Edna Leatherman Grossnickle. He was married to Pauline Ardella Kline, daughter of the late Austin L. and Mary Winfield Kline, on Aug. 8, 1940. Pauline preceded him in death Jan. 26, 2002. Quentin quit school in the seventh grade and worked on the family farm.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ryan Shank, who lives near Hagerstown, received the American FFA Degree at the 78th National FFA Convention here on Oct. 29. It is the highest degree awarded by the National FFA Organization and recognized Shank's "demonstrated leadership abilities and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing and service programs. " Fewer than one in 165 FFA members advance through their local chapter and state FFA degree programs to earn this national degree.

MARCH 3, 1923-APRIL 11, 2010 WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Mr. Richard M. "Tuck" Scott, 87, of 12437 Scott Road, Waynesboro, Pa., went to be with the Lord at 4:15 a.m. Sunday, April 11, 2010, at Waynesboro Hospital. He was born March 3, 1923, in Zullinger, Pa. He was the son of the late Omar H. and Nancy S. (Kahl) Scott. He lived all his life on the family farm. Mr. Scott graduated from Washington Township High School with the class of 1941. Tuck farmed all his life on the family farm.