Maryland

Ron Ballard named Senior Poet Laureate for Maryland

In the 1950 comedy “Kill the Umpire,” Bill “Two Call” Johnson (played by William Bendix) is chased by a vengeance-seeking mob of fans after he made what they believed to be a bad call in a minor league baseball game. Calling balls, strikes and checked swings could be a thing of the past in amateur ball if the Eagle Eye Electronic Home Plate is all that inventor Jerry Spessard claims. He has enough faith in the product to begin construction of a plant in Hancock this June, with production expected to begin by fall.

A legal wrangle over where Maryland ends and Virginia begins is continuing, despite a Washington County circuit judge's recent ruling that Maryland's border ends at the water's edge on the south side of the Potomac River. Judge M. Kenneth Long Jr. granted a motion by river-ride operators River & Trail Outfitters Inc. of Knoxville, Md., and River Riders Inc. of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., to dismiss a lawsuit by Potomac Shores Inc., which owns a section of the river bottom. In its suit, Potomac Shores claimed that river-rafting operators were using land on the Virginia shore that was within the boundary of Maryland, due to changes in the river's level and course over the years.

"Rediscover America 1976 Bicentennial Celebration, United States of America-Washington County, Maryland, 1776-1976" was the full name of an event that would involve most of the members of the Washington County Historical Society and the community, as a whole, for most of 1976. An executive committee and large sub-committees were established to manage the events and coordinate with the state and other area venues. On the executive committee were Robert and Marianne Zeigler and Paul and Ruth Horst, as general co-chairmen; Edward O'Brien, treasurer; Robert Statton, secretary; Robert Hill, assistant secretary; Franklin Miller, headquarters chair; Robert M. Hedges, Rediscover America Shoppe manager; John and Betty Seburn, student activities coordinators; Jim Wilson, decorations; Howard Kaylor, operating capital; Al Twiss, insurance; and Ted and Janice Reeder, revenue division.

Joining the Arbor Day Foundation is an ideal way to get in the mood for spring planting. Anyone in Maryland who joins the foundation in February will receive 10 free Colorado blue spruce trees to plant when the weather turns warm.  The free trees are part of the nonprofit foundation's Trees for America campaign. The Tree City USA program has supported community forestry throughout the country for more than 35 years. The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting, between March 1 and May 31, with enclosed planting instructions.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - David Philistin is hoping it was a bad dream. "They kept running that play and we couldn't stop it," the University of Maryland linebacker said. "I kept seeing it over and over and there was nothing we could do. " If it was a nightmare, Philistin dreamt it with his eyes open. It was Wake Forest marching down the field last year, using a speedy misdirection sweep to score against Maryland in the Demon Deacons' 38-24 victory over the Terps. The loss came in the last game of the regular season and was the difference between the Terps heading to Jacksonville, Fla., for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game and just waiting around for a bowl bid. Wake got that chance, won the conference title and finished it off by playing in the Orange Bowl.

Emergency crews responded to the scene of a multiple-vehicle crash on the Potomac River Bridge on U.S. Route 340 shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Washington County 911 supervisor. The crash occurred on the Potomac River Bridge at the southern tip of Washington County near the Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia borders. Emergency crews were dispatched at 5:34 p.m., the supervisor said.

Officers of Hagerstown Masonic Lodge 217 were installed Jan. 11 by the Grand Line of Maryland.

The Maryland State Grange has announced the availability of a deaf scholarship for the 2013-14 school year.  Individuals who are  hearing impaired or preparing to work with the hearing impaired are  urged to apply. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: be a Maryland resident; a Maryland high school graduate; or attend a  college in Maryland.  Applications must be received by June 1. Scholarship  recipients will be notified by July 1. To receive an application, call Donna Rowland at 301-582-3268.

The Maryland State Grange has announced the availability of a scholarship for the deaf for the 2012-13 school year.  Individuals who are hearing-impaired or preparing to work with the hearing-impaired are urged to apply. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: be a Maryland resident, a Maryland high school graduate, or attend college in Maryland.  Complete applications must be received by June 1. Scholarship recipients will be notified by July 1. To request an application, call Donna Rowland at 301-582-3268.