Minimum Wage

Editor's note: On March 17, The Herald-Mail asked area teens to tell us why the Washington County teen pregnancy rate is so high. We were puzzled because it seems that although teens have access to a lot of birth-control information, many of them fail to use it to avoid become parents. Below are some of the responses we received, with the help of the Washington County school system, the Washington County Family Center and Girls Inc. Previous teens' letters were printed in this section on Sunday, April 30. For more information on this topic, please visit www.teenpregnancy.

Relax it's just fiction To the editor: Regarding the Friday, April 14, letter about the new movie "The Da Vinci Code" which was written by Pastor John Miller of the Faith Christian Fellowship: Pastor Miller, the book and movie "The Da Vinci Code" are fiction. While many real locations and organizations are mentioned to provide a "realistic" background, the story line itself is a novel of fiction. The book is on sale with other "thriller" and "adventure-fiction" novels.

Here are some of the calls we have received lately: "Following 9/11, President Bush and his administration continually told us that it was very important that we couldn't let the terrorists disrupt our way of life. We had to continue as before. Guess who is doing his best to destroy our old way of life. Huge amounts of borrowed money being thrown away, another Vietnam mess, FEMA, and on and on. Did you believe him? What a mess. " "Now that we have a new mayor, I hope he can stop the City Council from wasteful spending of our tax money.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. As much as $600,000 in federal money could be targeted for affordable housing programs in the Eastern Panhandle annually starting in July, following a decision by several area jurisdictions to form a regional consortium. The decision by representatives from Jefferson, Morgan and Berkeley counties, as well as several area cities, to band together will help the region qualify for federal HOME Investment Partnership program grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Martinsburg Community Development Director Pat McMillan said.

candiceb@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - It likely is not going to significantly fatten anyone's wallet, but starting next month, those making minimum wage will see an increase in their paychecks. A few local business owners had differing opinions on how increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15 an hour will affect them. With dishes rattling in the background, Jamie Burtner said the increase could negatively affect operations at his two businesses, Red Byrd Restaurant and Keedysville Country Store.

Here is how local members of the Washington County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly voted in their respective chambers to override Gov. Robert Ehrlich's veto on a minimum wage increase. For Del. John P. Donoghue, D-Washington Against Sen. John J. Hafer, R-Washington Sen. Alex X. Mooney, R-Washington Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington Del. Robert A. McKee, R-Washington Del. LeRoy Myers Jr., R-Washington, Allegany Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington Del. Richard B. Weldon Jr., R-Washington, Frederick, was absent during the House vote.

So much for bipartisanship. That's our reaction after reading the comments Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller made on Tuesday. Miller, speaking about the 2006 session that opens today, said that the first order of business will be to declare "Independence Day" and override the governor's vetoes of the so-called Wal-Mart bill and a bill to increase the state's minimum wage. OK, then. On both those bills, there are arguments for the overrides that can be made by people of good faith.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A Waynesboro School Board member formally announced his candidacy Thursday for the 90th District seat held for 17 years by state Rep. Pat Fleagle. Todd Rock, a teacher at the Franklin County Career and Technology Center, and Fleagle will square off in the 2006 Republican primary next spring. Rock, 42, of Mont Alto, Pa., made his announcement on the front steps of Waynesboro Borough Hall before about 60 people. In the crowd were his wife, Nancy, daughters Christina and Jenelle, and Leland Lemley, Rock's conservative school board colleague.