Fort Detrick

FORT DETRICK, Md. - Fort Detrick is increasing security levels as a result of Thursday's strikes against suspected terrorist facilities in Sudan and Afghanistan, according to Eileen Mitchell, public affairs spokesperson. The O'possumtown gate closed at 6 p.m. Thursday and will not reopen until further notice. Anyone entering the installation must use the 7th Street or Rosemont Avenue gates. "We will increase random searches of vehicles and personnel entering the installation.

Beginning Monday, Fort Detrick will redirect all traffic to the Rosemont and Old Farm gates in an effort to save operating costs, according to a news release from the city of Frederick. With this change, Opossumtown Gate will be closed, according to a news release. Veteran's Gate will be open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for those with proper Department of Defense identification. It will be closed on weekends and holidays. Rosemont Gate will remain open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on weekends and holidays.

A free program is available to help business owners win government contracts at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. Christine Demas, director of the Fort Detrick Business Development Office, said Wednesday during a Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce breakfast that part of her job is to help business owners complete the complex paperwork needed to compete for federal contracts.   "I help everybody — large businesses and small businesses," Demas told an audience of about 55 people.

FORT DETRICK, Md. (AP) -- The commander of Fort Detrick and the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command is retiring. Maj. Gen. George Weightman has served in the Army for 36 years and plans to retire to Winston-Salem, N.C., with his wife Joan. Originally from Vermont, Weightman says he's grateful to the Army for letting him serve and the chances it gave his family to grow. A change of command ceremony is planned for March 31 on the Blue and Gray Field at Fort Detrick.

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- Fort Detrick's new garrison commander is embarking on trail blazed by her predecessor. At a ceremony Friday in Frederick, Colonel Judith Robinson succeeded Colonel Mary Deutsch, the first woman to hold the top administrative job at the Army installation. Deutsch is retiring from the post she assumed about three years ago. As garrison commander, Robinson will effectively act as mayor of Fort Detrick during the installation's continuing growth spurt. Employment is expected to rise from about 7,900 to 9,300 by 2010.

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- The Army is ordering workers at its biodefense laboratories to get additional security training in the wake of revelations about the 2001 anthrax attacks. The effort began Monday at Fort Detrick in Frederick, where the FBI says Army scientist Bruce Ivins obtained the anthrax he used in the mailings that killed five people. Spokeswoman Caree Vander Linden tells The Associated Press that workers who handle deadly agents at the Fort Detrick lab will get additional training in security, accounting and reporting procedures this week.

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- The National Academy of Sciences says a safety review of Army plans for a new biodefense laboratory at Fort Detrick could be delayed by congressional foot-dragging. An academy official told the Frederick County Commissioners at a meeting Tuesday in Frederick that some congressional members want to postpone budget decisions until after a new president takes office next year. Such a delay could affect funding for the study, which could cost $250,000 to $400,000.

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has formally proposed adding a Fort Detrick dump site in Frederick to its list of the nation's most polluted places. The site called Area B is among 11 proposed additions to the EPA's National Priorities List, commonly known as the Superfund list. The public now has 60 days to comment on the proposed listing. The Maryland Department of the Environment sought the listing in hopes that EPA oversight would accelerate the cleanup of toxic industrial solvents in groundwater beneath the post.

Educational alliance formed FREDERICK, Md. - Officials from Hood College, Fort Detrick, the National Cancer Institute's Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Disease-Weed Research Unit signed the Hood College and Fort Detrick Educational Alliance Wednesday at Fort Detrick. The agreement establishes a partnership that will help ensure a well-educated work force for the 21st century while allowing the sharing of expertise in the fields of technology and research, according to a press release from the college.

Earl E. Shank Jr. and Norma Jean (Goodwin) Shank recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends at Beaver Creek Christian Church in Hagerstown. The Shanks were married April 1, 1953, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Connellsville, Pa., and honeymooned in Hershey, Pa. Mr. Shank is a retired pharmacist, having owned stores in Emmitsburg, Md., and Confluence, Pa. He also worked at various pharmacies including People's and Whitsell Pharmacy in Frederick, Md., and Chatkins Pharmacy in Hagerstown.

Mr. Irvin F. Stride, 97, of Frederick, Md., died Thursday, April 4, 2013, at Frederick Memorial Hospital.  Born Dec. 2, 1915, in Frederick, he was the son of the late Irvin G. and Grace E. Stottlemyer Stride. He was the loving husband of Eva M. Young Stride. Mr. Stride enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he is survived by children, Sharon Stride Poole of Boonsboro, Md., Marty Stride of Thurmont, Md., and Kenneth Stride of New York; stepdaughter, Jean Boone of Libertytown, Md.; grandchildren, Donald Dick, Jeffrey Dick and John Stride; great-grandchildren, Jacob Dick and Elizabeth Dick; and five stepgrandchildren.  He was preceded in death by daughter, Eileen Stride Vetiello; one stepgrandchild; as well as two brothers, Richard N. Stride and Robert M. Stride.

Beginning Monday, Fort Detrick will redirect all traffic to the Rosemont and Old Farm gates in an effort to save operating costs, according to a news release from the city of Frederick. With this change, Opossumtown Gate will be closed, according to a news release. Veteran's Gate will be open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for those with proper Department of Defense identification. It will be closed on weekends and holidays. Rosemont Gate will remain open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on weekends and holidays.

Rick Socks, 58, of Middletown, Md., passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013. Rick was an active member of the Valley known for his amazing woodworking talent, and coaching numerous youth organizations. From the infamous “hammer holder ref” to the motivated security guard at Fort Detrick, Rick touched many people's lives. Outside of his many responsibilities, Rick loved the outdoors. In his free time, he would most likely be found wandering the local mountains in search of a trophy buck, fishing “hidden” farm ponds or simply enjoying nature.

John Francis Brewer, 85, of Braddock Heights, died Friday, Dec. 14, 2012. He was the husband of the late Barbara Huff Brewer, who died March 8, 2003. Born Oct. 1, 1927, in West Orange, N.J., he was the son of the late Allen F. and Ayame Brewer. John served in the U.S. Navy during  World War II. He was a graduate of University of Kentucky. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service and was a microbiologist at Fort Detrick, Frederick. He was a member of the Lions Club, American Legion Funkstown and the VFW Frederick.

Mr. Jeffery "Jeff" Gordon Linebaugh, 54, of Brunswick, Md., passed away Friday, July 13, 2012, at Frederick (Md.) Memorial Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Kathy Linebaugh for 35 years. Born July 28, 1957, in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of I. Gordon Linebaugh of Hagerstown and the late E. Grace Robinson Linebaugh. Jeff worked as an animal toxicology lab manager for Bio Reliance in Rockville, Md., before his retirement. He also worked at Covance Lab in Vienna, Va., for 20 years, and at Fort Detrick for 15 years.

Charles D. Beachley Jr., 88, of Falling Waters, W.Va., passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at City Hospital in Martinsburg, W.Va. Born Jan. 2, 1924, in Middletown, Md., Charlie was the son of the late Charles D. Beachley Sr. and Minnie (Nash) Beachley.   Charlie was a 1941 graduate of Middletown High School. Charlie retired as assistant comptroller of the U.S. Treasury at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md., where he worked for 37 years. He was a member of the Martinsburg Moose Lodge, Improved Order of Red Men in Williamsport, Md., and Potomac Fish & Game Club.

William (Bill) Hunter Reams, of Keedysville, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at Meritus Medical Center. He was a longtime resident of Washington County, Md. Bill graduated from South Hagerstown High School in 1957. He was the husband of Gail Lynn Cowell Reams, his wife of 44 years. Born in West Palm Beach, Fla., he was the son of the late Bernadine Agnes Green Reams and the late Samuel Hunter Reams. Bill attended Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, College Park, where he graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in 1962.

Carroll Guy “Jerry” Strailman, 84, of Boonsboro, Md., passed away Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., surrounded by his loving family. Born June 18, 1927, in Brunswick, Md., he was the son of the late Charles Guy and Helen (Allen) Strailman Moberly. He was a 1945 graduate of Frederick High School in Frederick, Md. After high school, Jerry furthered his education at the University of California and North Carolina State University. Jerry was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in World War II in Reims, France, and Darnstadt, Germany.

Two scientists say they've written a research paper questioning the government conclusion that an Army microbiologist at Fort Detrick was the sole perpetrator of the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people and sickened others. Epidemiologist Martin Hugh-Jones at Louisiana State University said the article will be published in the Journal of Bioterrorism & Biodefense. Journal editors didn't respond to queries about a publication date. The article, co-written by Dallas chemist Stuart Jacobsen, maintains anthrax spores were coated with chemicals indicating a higher degree of manufacturing skill than Bruce E. Ivins possessed.