Garbage Collection

Clear Spring is accepting bids for its garbage collection contract through Feb. 10. The town council agreed Monday to bid its next three-year garbage contract early. Town Clerk Juanita Grimm said the contract will not take effect until the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Bidding early allows the council more time to consider potential contractors and allows it more time to consider recycling. Mayor Paul D. Hose Jr. said the bid package asks companies to include a line item in their bid for recycling services.

Garbage collection schedules in Hagerstown will change because of the May 31 Memorial Day holiday. Collection will be as follows:n North End collection: Set out Monday evening for Tuesday collection. South End collection: Set out Tuesday evening, June 1, for Wednesday collection. Citywide yard waste: Set out Wednesday evening, June 2, for Thursday collection. There will be no paper recycling pickup that week. Garbage may be placed at the curb after 4 p.m. For information, call the Engineering Department at 301-739-8577, ext. 126.

SHARPSBURG - Trash collection in Sharpsburg will shift to Wednesday mornings beginning Dec. 1, when a new company takes over the town's garbage collection contract, Sharpsburg Mayor Hal R. Spielman said. The Sharpsburg Town Council voted Monday to rebid the contract to Williamsport-based Greenscape Trash Service, provided the company submits additional necessary paperwork. Greenscape submitted a bid of $44,898 per year for garbage collection and Dumpster pickup, which was about $20,000 less than the other bid the town received, town attorney Charles Wagaman said.

Fire department begins safety survey The Hagerstown Fire Department will begin its annual community safety survey this month. Uniformed fire department staff will visit homes in the downtown and eastern portions of the city between 6 and 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Fire department staff will offer free smoke alarm checks and provide information about the leading causes of fire in Hagerstown. For information, call 301-790-2476. Garbage collection changes announced The city of Hagerstown will change the garbage collection schedule during the Memorial Day holiday.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- The Martinsburg City Council on Thursday adopted an ordinance to increase garbage collection fees, which officials have said will help pay for new sanitation and recycling trucks, and cover the cost of increased dumping fees charged by the operators of the North Mountain landfill. None of the four residents who attended Thursday's council meeting offered any comment in a public hearing concerning the rate increase ordinance. Beginning July 1, residents who receive a discounted rate for paying their garbage collection bills within 20 days of the billing date will be charged $5.74 more per month, or an additional $68.88 per year, according to ordinance.

Three underdoing rabies shots in W.Va. LEETOWN, W.Va. - A child, her mother and a neighbor are undergoing rabies shots after being exposed to a cat that tested positive for rabies, the Jefferson County Health Department said in a news release. Rosemarie Cannarella, health officer for Jefferson County, said a stray cat from the Leetown area tested positive for rabies on July 24. The cat attacked and bit a child on the arms, legs and hand near her home, Cannarella said in the release.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Effective immediately, garbage collection rates will go up for residents and businesses in the town limits. On Monday, the Town of Bath Council voted unanimously in favor of the new rates, which affect the October through December billing quarter. Council member Dave Duncan did not attend the meeting. The new rates are as follows: · Residences will be charged $36 per quarter for one pickup a week. The previous rate was $27.50 a quarter. · Businesses with one pickup a week will be charged $60 per quarter.

Keedysville has become the fifth community in the county to offer curbside recycling, changing its weekly trash collection service to do so, according to Mayor Matt Hull. The town has gone from garbage collection twice a week to garbage collection once a week and curbside recycling once a week, at no additional cost to town residents, Hull said. Garbage is collected on Mondays and recycled materials are picked up on Thursdays, Hull said. The town's trash hauler, Apple Valley Waste, offered residents the choice of two recycling containers: a bin or a larger container with wheels, Hull said.

Keedysville has become the fifth community in the county to offer curbside recycling, changing its weekly trash collection service to do so, according to Mayor Matt Hull. The town has gone from garbage collection twice a week to garbage collection once a week and curbside recycling once a week, at no additional cost to town residents, Hull said. Garbage is collected on Mondays and recycled materials are picked up on Thursdays, Hull said. The town's trash hauler, Apple Valley Waste, offered residents the choice of two recycling containers: a bin or a larger container with wheels, Hull said.

Clear Spring is accepting bids for its garbage collection contract through Feb. 10. The town council agreed Monday to put its next three-year garbage contract up for bid early. Town Clerk Juanita Grimm said the contract will not take effect until the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Obtaining bids early allows the council more time to consider potential contractors and recycling. Mayor Paul D. Hose Jr. said the package asks companies to include a line item in their bids for recycling services.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- The Martinsburg City Council on Thursday adopted an ordinance to increase garbage collection fees, which officials have said will help pay for new sanitation and recycling trucks, and cover the cost of increased dumping fees charged by the operators of the North Mountain landfill. None of the four residents who attended Thursday's council meeting offered any comment in a public hearing concerning the rate increase ordinance. Beginning July 1, residents who receive a discounted rate for paying their garbage collection bills within 20 days of the billing date will be charged $5.74 more per month, or an additional $68.88 per year, according to ordinance.

Church tour celebrates season The Christmas decorations and celebrations in the local church sanctuaries were amazing at the first Christmas church tour Sunday. It was especially interesting to see Father Steve's tree in the side entrance hall at St. Augustine's Catholic Church. It was decorated in purple and gold and the tree topper, a Baltimore Ravens hat, and the garland, an official Ravens scarf. Go Ravens! Historian honors area war veterans Local World War II veterans were interviewed by historian Charles T. Harrell at the WWII/USO event at the Town Museum in September.

SHARPSBURG - Trash collection in Sharpsburg will shift to Wednesday mornings beginning Dec. 1, when a new company takes over the town's garbage collection contract, Sharpsburg Mayor Hal R. Spielman said. The Sharpsburg Town Council voted Monday to rebid the contract to Williamsport-based Greenscape Trash Service, provided the company submits additional necessary paperwork. Greenscape submitted a bid of $44,898 per year for garbage collection and Dumpster pickup, which was about $20,000 less than the other bid the town received, town attorney Charles Wagaman said.

Lions Club to host basket bingo FUNKSTOWN - The Funkstown Lions Club is hosting a Longaberger basket bingo Sept. 23 at the Funkstown Fire Hall. Doors open at 1 p.m. with the first game starting at 2 p.m. Admission is $20. There will be 25 games. In addition, there will be food sales, tip jars, raffles and door prizes. Streets to become one-way in 13 days FUNKSTOWN - The big experiment begins in 13 days, and town officials and residents will be watching.

FUNKSTOWN - Funkstown's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year calls for an increase in the garbage collection fee charged to residents, but holds the line on the property tax rate. The proposed budget lists total revenue for the coming year - from taxes, water and sewer, grants, interest, licenses and permits - at $753,424. That would be an increase over revenue of $720,529 in fiscal year 2007. Expenditures in the proposed budget total $638,138, an increase from the fiscal 2007 figure of $599,107.

Funkstown's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year calls for an increase in the garbage collection fee charged to residents, but holds the line on the property tax rate. The proposed budget lists total revenue for the coming year - from taxes, water and sewer, grants, interest, licenses and permits - at $753,424. That would be an increase over revenue of $720,529 in fiscal year 2007. Expenditures in the proposed budget total $638,138, an increase from the fiscal 2007 figure of $599,107.