Funkstown

U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., will hold a Town Hall meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Funkstown Volunteer Fire Co.'s social hall, according to an emailed news release from his office. Funkstown's fire hall is at 2 S. Westside Ave.

Most racers train. They adopt a strict workout regimen, monitor nutrition and take pains to stay on top of their mental game. Not so for the competitors Saturday in the Funkstown Volunteer Fire Co.'s duck race. These orange-billed contenders just chilled on the bridge until, at last, they were dumped into the water. Then, they floated with blank-eyed stares down Antietam Creek, occasionally bumping mindlessly into rocks or getting hung up on sticks. Though they were sponsored for five bucks a pop, they exhibited no sense of urgency or pressure.

The acquisition of a few properties is holding up the start of work on the first phase of the Funkstown bypass, Washington County Administrator Greg Murray said. The issue came up at the county commissioners meeting held Tuesday night at Funkstown Town Hall. Town resident Barry Warrenfeltz presented a picture to the commissioners of traffic backed up along Edgewood Drive heading into town. Warrenfeltz said it took him three light changes to get through the intersection at Baltimore Street, a frequent occurrence on weekdays.

Funkstown Post 211 snapped a 7-7 tie with Woodsboro Post 282 by scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, then held on to pull out an 11-8 win Thursday night in a Western Maryland District American Legion baseball game. “It was a hard-fought victory against a good ballclub,” Funkstown Post 211 manager Jeff Williams said. “It was a team effort throughout the whole game. Our hitting was clutch today. We had pretty good pitching today against a strong-hitting ballclub.” Funkstown (21-8, 12-6)

The Funkstown Legion Post 211 baseball team earned its 20th victory of the season on Wednesday, a 2-0 triumph over Mount Airy Gold Star Post 191 in a Western Maryland District American Legion game. Funkstown improved to 20-8 overall and 11-6 in the Western Maryland District. Aaron Roby came out on top of a pitcher's duel against Mount Airy starter Nick Peifer. Roby hurled a three-hit shutout to get the win for Funkstown. Peifer gave up two runs on five hits for Mount Airy. “Tonight, it was phenomenal pitching by Aaron,” Funkstown manager Jeff Williams said.

Smoke and the smell of gunpowder wafted over the field at Funkstown's Community Park Saturday afternoon as re-enactors in blue and gray fatigues fired rifles and booming cannons back and forth. Hundreds of people from around the area stood witness to the re-enactment of the historic Battle of Funkstown, which originally place in the small town on July 10, 1863, when Confederate forces withstood a Union attack while retreating toward Williamsport. “I think there was at total of approximately 600 casualties here on this field,” Funkstown Town Councilman John Phillips said.

A man told authorities that two men robbed him of $380 early Friday as he was walking down Edgewood Drive near Funkstown, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said. The man said he was walking on Edgewood Drive in the area of Haywood Circle at about 3:30 a.m. when two men approached him on foot and stole his money, according to a sheriff's office news release. Deputies said the men fled toward Haywood Circle and possibly drove away in a red, older-style truck. One of the robbers was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall with a slender build.

Adjusting to life in a new conference is an arduous task for most teams. Dealing with different teams, playing fields and umpires can sometimes deter a team from having a successful first year in its new conference. Some teams struggle. Yet other teams thrive. The Funkstown Skunks 17U team falls into the latter category. The Skunks' first year in the Baltimore Metro League has certainly been a success. Funkstown played 32 games in the 16-team conference made up primarily of 19U teams and finishing 17-15 - good for second in the conference and, with it, a berth to the National Amateur Baseball Federation 17U World Series in Knoxville, Tenn., beginning Wednesday.

Funkstown Post 211 won its own Sweep-Stakes this weekend. Funkstown made sure it had the winning ticket as it swept Severna Park Post 175 3-2, 11-5 in a Sunday American Legion doubleheader to complete a four-win weekend. Post 211 swept a pair games from Brunswick on Saturday. “Overall, I am pleased with the effort of the whole team,” Funkstown manager Jeff Williams said. “Our team is starting to come around.” In the opener, Severna Park broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the fourth inning.

After losing their last two district games, Funkstown Post 211 swept a Western Maryland District American Legion doubleheader from Brunswick Post 96 on Saturday, winning 4-3 and 27-5. The second game was stopped after 4 1/2 innings because of the 10-run rule. “It was a good turnaround,” Funkstown manager Jeff Williams said. “This puts a spark in the team, which is what we need in order to do well in the second half of the season.” In the first game, Brunswick (3-8 overall, 2-8 district)