Firms

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Berkeley County Commission is expected to make a decision by Sept. 18 on which architect will help remodel the county courthouse. Representatives from three firms were interviewed in a closed session Thursday, according to County Administrator Deborah Sheetenhelm. She said the county had allocated $150,000 last year and another $150,000 this year toward the remodeling. Once an architect is hired, Sheetenhelm said the firm would conduct a space allocation study of the building.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - At a joint meeting Thursday, the Greencastle Borough Council and the Antrim Township Board of Supervisors agreed to pursue hiring a full-time engineer to serve both municipalities. Neither municipality has an engineer on staff, rather both contract with local and regional firms for design, review and consulting on projects. Antrim Township Manager Ben Thomas suggested that his staff and borough staff research how much Greencastle spent in engineering fees in 2007 to determine if there would be a financial benefit to hiring a joint engineer.

Geeks On Call Carlos Soto has opened a Geeks On Call franchise in Hagerstown. Geeks On Call provides on-site computer support. Serving Hagerstown and surrounding areas, Soto's Geeks On Call franchise delivers a comprehensive collection of mobile, on-site computer services for homes, home-based businesses and small-to-medium-sized businesses. Geeks On Call's certified, trained and tested technicians drive blue Chrysler PT Cruisers featuring the Geeks On Call logo and toll-free phone number.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- At a joint meeting Thursday, the Greencastle Borough Council and the Antrim Township Board of Supervisors agreed to pursue hiring a full-time engineer to serve both municipalities. Neither municipality has an engineer on staff, rather both contract with local and regional firms for design, review and consulting on projects. Antrim Township Manager Ben Thomas suggested that his staff and borough staff research how much Greencastle spent in engineering fees in 2007 to determine if there would be a financial benefit to hiring a joint engineer.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A committee trying to raise $190,000 to buy an old B&O Roundhouse off Martin Street here will not have the money by a July 1 deadline, a member of the group told the Berkeley County Commissioners on Thursday. [cont. from front page ] The roundhouse owners, CSX Corp. and local developer Moncure Chatfield-Taylor, have agreed to work with the Roundhouse Committee on extending the deadline, said committee Vice President Gordon Claucherty. They have agreed to at least a two-month extension, said committee member Jim Smith.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Chambersburg Recreation Department wants to move forward this spring with a comprehensive study of the borough's recreation needs. The borough received a $22,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources, which it will match with funds from the Recreation Department's budget. Of that, $40,000 will go toward the study to map out future recreation needs. Recreation Superintendent Herb Dolaway said he is developing a request for proposals and is aware of at least eight agencies interested in receiving it. He expects to interview the firms in March or April and select a consultant by May. From there, Dolaway said, it would take about six months to complete the study.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Greater Chambersburg (Pa.) Chamber of Commerce has named as its 2008 Business Person of the Year a local engineer who took his business from five to 31 employees in 21 years. Dennis E. Black, a Chambersburg native, acquired several businesses over the years to expand Dennis E. Black Engineering Inc. Black said he was extremely surprised by the announcement made at the Chamber's annual business breakfast Thursday at Wilson College. "I just love this community," he said.

When Asia's economy caught the flu, some Tri-State area businesses got a cold. Although some area companies with dealings overseas have been hurt by Asia's continuing woes, economic development officials and business owners said the damage has not been critical in most cases. [cont. from front page ] "Really, this area does not do as much exporting as other areas might do, which has its pluses and minuses," said Robert T. Crawford, executive director of the Berkeley County (W.Va.