Kosovo

Declaring that he wants to continue changing the "cultural mindset" of criminals, Franklin County (Pa.) District Attorney Matthew Fogal announced Thursday he is seeking election in 2011. Fogal, 38, took office Oct. 23, 2009, following the sudden death of his predecessor and former boss, John "Jack" Nelson, at age 58. On Thursday, Fogal called the time of Nelson's death a "dark, tough time" for the Franklin County District Attorney's Office and law enforcement community. Fogal, a Republican, said victims are "first and foremost" in his mind every day. He described stacks of files from the 3,000 cases handled each year by the office.

Thomas D. "Tom" Keckler, 64, of Great Cacapon, W.Va., and formerly of Williamsport, Md., passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, in Morgan County, W.Va. Born Oct. 30, 1946, in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of the late John Richard and Doris Lorraine Athey Keckler. He was of the Baptist faith. Tom was a 1964 graduate of Boonsboro High School, a 1968 graduate of Shepherd College and a 1973 graduate of the Maryland State Police Academy. After college, Tom taught mathematics at Smithsburg Middle School and at South Hagerstown High School.

"I would like to congratulate the South Hagerstown High School jazz band on their successful trip to New York on April 17 and 18. Also, congratulations to the Williamsport jazz band. " "State law prohibits anyone from riding a bike on the sidewalk in Williamsport. For everyone's safety, please do not ride a bicycle or anything else with wheels on the sidewalk. According to this you can't take a baby in a stroller, or a disabled person with wheels on a motorized chair. " "This is directed to all parents of Western Heights Middle School students.

To Charles Stroh, who's stepping down after 11 years of guiding young men and women through the training program called Leadership Hagerstown. His help was invaluable. To Jordan Kisiel, Michael Wagner, Eric Watts, Jason O'Neal, Melvin Osborne and Lindsey Hayes, six Washington County students whose hard work won them the chance to compete in the Maryland State Georgraphy Bee. To Maryland's House Appropriations Committee, for refusing any compensation to a man who spent nearly eight years in prison for a murder he didn't commit.

SMITHSBURG - Nearly three months after the Smithsburg Town Council voted to hire Ralf Berger conditionally as the town's new police chief, a background report detailing his work history has not been completed. Mayor Tommy Bowers commissioned the report from the Washington County Sheriff's Department. He expected it to be finished last month. The previous Town Council agreed to hire a police chief before a background check was completed because the job had been vacant for about five months after former Chief Vincent duCellier left to accept a training position in Kosovo.

MONT ALTO, Pa. - In two years, engravings of kings, queens and national heroes will be gone from the currency of 11 European countries, to be replaced by a common currency that a European Union official said will benefit trade and tourism with the United States. "The Euro is currently an electronic currency," William Burros told a group of students and faculty Tuesday at the Penn State Mont Alto campus. The currency was introduced on Jan. 1 but can only be used for electronic transactions, such as credit card purchases, he said.

By JULIE E. GREENE / Staff Writer Photo by RICHARD T. MEAGHER / Staff Photographer MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The logistics group commander for the West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing faces mandatory retirement next month after more than 19 years at the base. Col. James M. Reuss, 57, of Meadow Spring Farm, will end a career of 38 years in the military. The Ohio native said he wants to continue working in civil service with the government or in private industry.