La Plata

GIRLS SOCCER Jefferson 2, St. James 1 ST. JAMES - Amy Warnick and Elaine Arabatzis scored as the Cougars won their season opener. Jessica Greenburg scored for the Saints (1-1), whilw Lisa Kmonicek and Kristen DiGirolamo combined for 10 saves. JV: Jefferson, 3-0. COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL Shepherd 1-1 in tourney SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Shepherd College lost to Nebraska-Kearney, the 14th-ranked team in NCAA Division II, 30-21, 30-15, 30-14, before defeating Lynn University 30-27, 31-33, 19-30, 30-27, 15-10 in the final round of the Ram Rumble Tournament on Sunday.

marlob@herald-mail.com With flood and tornado watches in effect in Washington County through 9 p.m. Thursday, school and utility company officials were taking no chances. By late Thursday, however, it appeared the storm had skirted Washington County. Washington County Public Schools decided at 3 p.m. to cancel all Thursday evening activities in case the bad weather that had been forecast hit the area, said Carol Mowen, public information officer for the school system.

Peddling pedal power Officials from Washington County and the city of Hagerstown were in Annapolis recently to think about bicycles. Washington County Commissioner Ruth Anne Callaham wrote in an email that the group attended the 15th annual Bike Maryland Symposium on Feb. 22. “The symposium is a good opportunity to hear what other communities are doing, and keep cycling issues on the radar of state elected officials, as well as hear what legislative changes are being proposed by Bike Maryland,” Callaham wrote.

Federal Little League's postseason run has brought back some great memories from my youth. I was part of the National Little League All-Star team in 1982 (back when there was only one all-star team per league and only one tournament). If I may say so (and I will), we had a heck of a team. It was the first year Little League tournaments went to double-elimination format. We didn't need it to win the district title, beating Halfway, Conococheague and Oakland twice. We were grateful for double elimination in the sectional tournament after blowing a lead and losing to Northeast in the winners' bracket final.

Radiography students at Hagerstown Community College recently attended the Maryland Society of Radiologic Technologists annual meeting in Baltimore. Six students won awards in the professional paper competition. Doug Eddy of Union Bridge, Md., won first place for his paper, "Radiography 2006-2011, The Profession in Five Years;" Vickie Brunner of Hagerstown won third place for her paper, "The Therapeutic Value of Effective Communication in Medical Imaging;" Bethany Hixon of Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

Edgar Leon Howell, 91, of Huyetts Crossroads near Hagerstown, Md., died Monday, March 5, 2012, at Meritus Medical Center after a long illness. A son of the late Lee Hampton Howell and Neva Goen Howell, he was born at the family home, Natural Well Farm, in Downsville, Md., on Aug. 18, 1920. He was the 11th of their 12 children. He attended local schools, and was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Hagerstown. A veteran of World War II, he was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., and mustering out at the war's end. Returning home, he was employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and then for many years by Sinclair Oil Co. In 1955, he and his wife, Mary, opened The Old Trail Steak House at Huyetts, which they owned and operated for 50 years.

Four years ago, when Sarah Dice and Amanda Jenkins first teamed up as freshmen in girls doubles for Clear Spring, it would have been unfathomable to think they would end their careers with a third-place finish at the state tournament. "Back then, it was just something fun," Jenkins said. "I had volleyball, she had soccer and tennis was just for fun. We went to counties and lost our first match, but we were just thrilled to be there. " "When we first started our freshman year, we had no tennis experience at all," Dice said.

A fine and honorable American soldier, Col. Patrick Joseph Montgomery, died in Durango, Colo., on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 4. Col. Montgomery was one of a set of twins born to Phil and Catherine (Hogansen) Montgomery on July 18, 1938, in Sioux City, Iowa. He grew up and attended schools in Sioux City and joined the Army National Guard in 1955 prior to his graduating from Bishop Heelan High School in 1956. After high school, Col. Montgomery attended San Diego State University in California and then, in 1962, enlisted for active duty in the United States Army.