Herald Mail

Chances are most people won't ever have the chance to hold an Oscar statue, but one Herald-Mail reader will want to get his or her acceptance speech ready on Sunday, Feb. 24. That's when he or she correctly identifies the most winners in the 10 selected categories as part of The Herald-Mail's Oscar Picks Contest. Enter The Herald-Mail's 10th Oscar Picks Contest for a chance to win $100. The contestant with the most correct picks in the 10 selected categories will win. If there is a tie, a drawing will be held to decide the winner.

A crane installing new windows at The Herald-Mail and a school bus collided Wednesday afternoon on Summit Avenue in Hagerstown, city police said. It is unclear how the bus and the crane hit each other about 3 p.m., because there were differing accounts of the accident, according to a spokesman for the Hagerstown Police Department. According to one account, the crane pivoted and hit the bus, while another said the crane was stationary when the bus tried to squeeze by and hit it, the spokesman said.

OK, so maybe your invitation to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences got lost in the mail this year. But you've paid your money, watched the films, then later picked them apart scene by scene with family and friends. So what if you don't get a chance to vote for the actual prizes? But you get something they don't - a chance to walk away with $50 for picking the winners. The Herald-Mail is sponsoring its ninth Oscar Picks Contest, where movie fans get a chance to select who will walk away with the top prize in 10 categories.

The Herald-Mail will hold a pair of candidate forums this week at Kepler Theater on the campus of Hagerstown Community College. The first forum, on Wednesday, will include candidates for Hagerstown Mayor and City Council. The second forum, on Thursday, will include candidates for the 6th District seat in Congress and the Washington County Board of Education. Both forums are from 7 to 9 p.m. Attendees will be invited to write questions to be asked of the candidates. The general election is Nov. 6.

Thomas C. Newcomer is the 14h person to be named The Herald-Mail's Person of the Year, which is awarded each year to someone who makes a positive contribution to the community. Candidates for Person of the Year are nominated by people in the community, then chosen by a combination of local residents and Herald-Mail employees. The 13 previous recipients are John Waltersdorf, Mike Callas, Norman Shea, Art Callaham, James G. Pierné, John F. Barr, John R. Hershey Jr., Lois Smith Harrison, Elizabeth Morgan,  Frederick C. Wright III, Dr. Dan McDougal, Merle Elliott and Howard S. Kaylor.

There is a new outlet for local news, weather and other information as The Herald-MailCo. expands into a new format with HMTV6 on Antietam Cable. In addition to reading the newspaper or logging on to The Herald-Mail's website at www.herald-mail.com , area residents can turn to HMTV6 on Antietam Cable Channel 6 to watch regularly updated news, weather, sports and features of local interest, said Andy Bruns, president of The Herald-Mail Co. The channel launched at 1 a.m. Monday.

Cindy, Treya and Gloria Bitner took The Herald-Mail along during a family vacation to Ocean City, Md.

Headlee named executive editor of Herald-Mail Terry Headlee has been appointed executive editor of The Herald-Mail. As executive editor, Headlee is the chief news editor of The Morning Herald, The Daily Mail and the weekend Herald-Mail newspapers. "From reporter to city editor, Terry has done a splendid job with every assignment he's been given," said John League, editor and publisher of The Herald-Mail Co. "He inherits a great staff, and I look forward to great things under his leadership.

Brian Tedrick has been promoted to the position of circulation director at The Herald-Mail Co. Originally hired in 1992 as a district manager, Tedrick has an extensive background in all facets of print circulation. During his career with the company, he has also served as single-copy manager and operations manager. "I'm excited about this new challenge," he said. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we have a great staff in place to make it happen. I look forward to this new role and working to serve our customers throughout the Tri-State area.

Found - White cat. Where - The cat was found at The Herald-Mail Co., on the Summit Avenue side of the building. When - The cat was found Monday. Description - The female cat is mostly white, but has some black flecks in its hair. The cat, which has short hair, was not wearing a collar. Phone number - If this is your cat, call 301-730-2436.

The Herald-Mail on Friday received 20 awards, including one Best In Show distinction, from the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association. The newspaper's awards included six first-place and 14 second-place honors in its division. The Herald-Mail is in Division B, for newspapers with daily circulation between 30,000 and 75,000. Tri-State Editor Bill Kohler earned the Best In Show award in the Local Column: Critical Thinking category. HM Media Publisher Andy Bruns said he was proud of his staff's “stellar” commitment to continued print success in 2012, especially while adapting to the growing realms of digital media and video reporting.

“Many thanks to The Herald-Mail, for finally publishing, as seen on April 13, a front page without a robbery, murder, arson, or other low-life activity. I have never understood why pictures and stories such as these would be on the front page of a newspaper. The front page should be used for good news and recognizing good deeds.” - Hagerstown “I hope a lot of people who are pushing for new gun laws realize that your politicians, your celebrities, the rich and the elite, they have police protection any time they want.

Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series about missing persons in the Tri-State. The Herald-Mail contacted law enforcement agencies to obtain information about area residents who have been reported missing. Those profiled include Revell Jeeter of Harrisonville, Pa., whose story was published Sunday; Arthur Murray of Williamsport, whose story appears today; and Mary Jean Olshefski-Beatty of Bunker Hill, W.Va., and Melissa Moreland, who lived with her parents near Paw Paw, W.Va., whose stories will be published Tuesday.

Leaders' choices will affect future downtown development To the editor: We as a city and community are at a crossroads as we currently sit squarely on the cusp of letting what we so desperately need in regard to revitalization go the other way. We have two golden opportunities to rejuvenate our downtown; however, the progression or demise of these projects will alter the course of our town's development for years to come. The proposed stadium has been discussed for more than a year, with the latest conception having it built on the east end of town.

Runners-up in the adult division: “Sitting With My Daddy” Sitting with my daddy Beside the fishing hole, Sometimes talking, sometimes listening, Side by side, pole to pole. Sitting with my daddy Riding in the car, Sometimes talking, sometimes listening, Side by side, near and far. Sitting with my daddy Watching flowers grow, Sometimes talking, sometimes listening, Side by side, how to hoe. Sitting with my daddy Watching birds take flight, Sometimes talking, sometimes listening, Side by side, morn and night.

Chances are most people won't ever have the chance to hold an Oscar statue, but one Herald-Mail reader will want to get his or her acceptance speech ready on Sunday, Feb. 24. That's when he or she correctly identifies the most winners in the 10 selected categories as part of The Herald-Mail's Oscar Picks Contest. Enter The Herald-Mail's 10th Oscar Picks Contest for a chance to win $100. The contestant with the most correct picks in the 10 selected categories will win. If there is a tie, a drawing will be held to decide the winner.

Why is it that people captivated by love or another strong emotion so often turn to poetry to express their feelings? With its condensed form and layers of emotion, poetry is a great way to convey love in all its forms - romance, love of parents or children, brotherly love, patriotism, love for a pet or friend. The Herald-Mail invites readers to compose and enter love poetry in our first poetry contest. Our topic is love. Entries may be about any aspect of love - love lost, love found, love spurned, sexual attraction, love fulfilled, even a broken heart.

Thomas C. Newcomer is the 14h person to be named The Herald-Mail's Person of the Year, which is awarded each year to someone who makes a positive contribution to the community. Candidates for Person of the Year are nominated by people in the community, then chosen by a combination of local residents and Herald-Mail employees. The 13 previous recipients are John Waltersdorf, Mike Callas, Norman Shea, Art Callaham, James G. Pierné, John F. Barr, John R. Hershey Jr., Lois Smith Harrison, Elizabeth Morgan,  Frederick C. Wright III, Dr. Dan McDougal, Merle Elliott and Howard S. Kaylor.

When he was a kid, just 12 or 13 years old, Thomas C. Newcomer spent time working in the orchards of his hometown of Smithsburg. A few years before that, Newcomer, now 51, caught the giving bug. While working with his grandfather on the family farm, Newcomer had a conversation with his grandfather that still resonates in his life, and the lives of others. “What do you want to do when you grow up?” his grandfather asked. “I want to travel. I want to see the world,” Newcomer recalled replying.