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HALFWAY - Compared to most collectors, Alan Comins got a head start pursuing his hobby. He became interested in toy helicopters at the age of 10 - the time most boys' notions of collecting went no further than baseball cards. "I'm not sure what the initial fascination was," the Boonsboro resident said. "I guess I just thought they were kind of neat. " Thirty years later, Comins has a small room in his house filled with helicopters of all sizes. "I've lost count as to how many I actually have," he said.

HALFWAY-Compared to most collectors, Alan Comins got a head start pursuing his hobby. He became interested in toy helicopters at the age of 10 - the time most boys' notions of collecting went no further than baseball cards. "I'm not sure what the initial fascination was," the Boonsboro resident said. "I guess I just thought they were kind of neat. " Thirty years later, Comins has a small room in his house filled with helicopters of all sizes. "I've lost count as to how many I actually have," he said.

WILLIAMSPORT - If the Williamsport girls basketball team is doing it with mirrors, they would be of the rear-view variety. That would make the Wildcats smaller than they seem, if that's possible. Ask anyone - especially coach Curtis Graff - and they'll tell you the Wildcats are as small as they come. But they are quick. So quick, they ran rings around Brunswick on Friday, pressing the Railroaders into submission with a 62-48 win in the Monocacy Valley Athletic League. "The press took time, but it took its toll," Graff said.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - With just under two minutes left in the game at Shepherd College Friday night, Rams forward Brianne Hamilton threw a pass intended for Ashley van Norden that sailed two feet over her head and landed in the third row of the seats behind the media table. Shepherd coach Jodie Runner took a deep breath and let it out. If she had done that every time the Rams turned the ball over, she may have hyperventilated. Shepherd gave the ball away 25 times, but shot an uncanny 55 percent from the floor to finally pull away from a stubborn University of the District of Columbia team, 72-55.

MAUGANSVILLE -- Dave King puts a whole new spin on volunteering. The former Mack Trucks worker shows up at Maugansville Elementary School before 7 a.m. every weekday and doesn't leave until the last bus does in the afternoon. "It makes my day," King said. "I look forward to it because I love being around kids. " When King ended a 31-year career at Mack in 2003, he had the idea to pursue his photography hobby. While he still takes pictures, it wasn't enough for him. "Then this opportunity came along," King said.

His snow-white beard and twinkling eyes might remind some of a more familiar child-loving presenter of gifts, but Ray Barger Sr. makes all of his deliveries on four wheels. And the packages come in computer boxes and shopping bags. A 43-year veteran of Fairchild Corp. in Frederick, Md., where he worked as an electronics engineer, Barger has spent retirement playing Santa Claus, fixing up and delivering dozens of computers to elementary-school children and their families in the Hagerstown area.

Lethargic Shepherd women win by 43 By DAN KAUFFMAN kauffman@herald-mail.com OHIO VALLEY (39) Cecil 2-6 0-0 5, Busch 0-0 2-2 2, Hamilton 2-9 0-2 5, Isby 4-6 3-5 11, Lallathin 1-6 0-0 2, Raines 0-1 0-0 0, Baker 0-3 0-0, Wilson 1-3 5-6 7, Pittman 1-6 0-0 3, Mielecki 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 13-43 10-15 39. SHEPHERD (82) Oller 3-6 2-2 9, C. Murray 4-11 2-2 10, Hamilton 1-4 0-0 2, Cowans 4-9 0-0 8, Staves 2-7 2-6 6, van Norden 3-7 0-0 6, Siemer 8-11 3-4 19, Kunkel 7-14 1-3 18, Reese 0-1 2-2 2, Stewart 0-2 0-0 0, D. Murray 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 33-74 12-19 82. Halftime - Ohio Valley 15, Shepherd 31. Three-point goals - Ohio Valley 3-11 (Cecil 1-4, Hamilton 1-4, Pittman 1-3)

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - According to sports lore, teams are an extension of a coach's personality. If it's true, please welcome the new Shepherd College women's basketball team with the new Betsy Blose. The Blose reclamation project made its debut on Monday as the Rams adopted a more light-hearted approach to their floor game and celebrated with a 102-75 decimation of Bluefield State in the first round of the West Virginia Conference tournament at the Butcher Center. Blose scrapped her "nose to the grindstone" style to more of a "Girls just want to have fun" emphasis.

MEN'S BASKETBALL COLUMBIA, Md. - Brandon Jeffries scored a game-high 30 points and Eric Breland added 29 as Howard downed visiting Hagerstown Community College 104-97 Tuesday night. Six players scored in double figures for the Hawks (3-3), led by Gebront Gaddy's 16 points and Nagee Johnson's 15. HAGERSTOWN (97) Lee 2 1-4 5, Wingate 4 0-0 10, Kenley 4 2-2 10, Melchior 1 0-0 2, Naylor 4 4-6 13, Carey 0 0-0 0, Brooks 3 2-2 9, Green 2 0-0 5, Simic 0 0-0 0, N. Johnson 6 2-3 15, T. Johnson 3 4-4 10, Sajery 1 0-0 2, Gaddy 7 2-3 16. Totals 37 15-25 97. HOWARD (104)

chrisc@herald-mail.com HALFWAY - The 26th annual Halfway Park Days festival will take place this weekend at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park. All the usual highlights - crafts, live music, carnival food and Michael T the magician - will be there. Hopefully, the rain that also has been a tradition for most of the past half-dozen Halfway Park Days will not be there. About 100 crafters from as far away as Florida and New York will line the park's jogging path from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 28; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 29, according to Halfway Lions Club member Stan Johnson.

MAUGANSVILLE -- Dave King puts a whole new spin on volunteering. The former Mack Trucks worker shows up at Maugansville Elementary School before 7 a.m. every weekday and doesn't leave until the last bus does in the afternoon. "It makes my day," King said. "I look forward to it because I love being around kids. " When King ended a 31-year career at Mack in 2003, he had the idea to pursue his photography hobby. While he still takes pictures, it wasn't enough for him. "Then this opportunity came along," King said.

HALFWAY-Compared to most collectors, Alan Comins got a head start pursuing his hobby. He became interested in toy helicopters at the age of 10 - the time most boys' notions of collecting went no further than baseball cards. "I'm not sure what the initial fascination was," the Boonsboro resident said. "I guess I just thought they were kind of neat. " Thirty years later, Comins has a small room in his house filled with helicopters of all sizes. "I've lost count as to how many I actually have," he said.

HALFWAY - Compared to most collectors, Alan Comins got a head start pursuing his hobby. He became interested in toy helicopters at the age of 10 - the time most boys' notions of collecting went no further than baseball cards. "I'm not sure what the initial fascination was," the Boonsboro resident said. "I guess I just thought they were kind of neat. " Thirty years later, Comins has a small room in his house filled with helicopters of all sizes. "I've lost count as to how many I actually have," he said.

His snow-white beard and twinkling eyes might remind some of a more familiar child-loving presenter of gifts, but Ray Barger Sr. makes all of his deliveries on four wheels. And the packages come in computer boxes and shopping bags. A 43-year veteran of Fairchild Corp. in Frederick, Md., where he worked as an electronics engineer, Barger has spent retirement playing Santa Claus, fixing up and delivering dozens of computers to elementary-school children and their families in the Hagerstown area.

Antietam Academy Ike Williams, 301-766-8447 Bester Elementary School Kathy Stiles, 301-766-8001 Boonsboro Elementary School J. Scott Woods, 301-766-8013 Boonsboro Middle School Renee Foose, 301-766-8038 Boonsboro High School Martin Green, 301-766-8022 Cascade Elementary School Rose Pellegrino, 301-766-8066 Clear Spring Elementary School Amy...

chrisc@herald-mail.com HALFWAY - The 26th annual Halfway Park Days festival will take place this weekend at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park. All the usual highlights - crafts, live music, carnival food and Michael T the magician - will be there. Hopefully, the rain that also has been a tradition for most of the past half-dozen Halfway Park Days will not be there. About 100 crafters from as far away as Florida and New York will line the park's jogging path from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 28; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 29, according to Halfway Lions Club member Stan Johnson.

WOMEN'S HOOPS VIENNA, W.Va. - Cassie Murray scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Shepherd College past Ohio Valley College 88-84 in double overtime in WVIAC action on Thursday. Lindsay Stewart added a career-high 21 points, while Lena Moore had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Rams (9-11, 6-6). Gaynell Reese tallied 11 points in the win. SHEPHERD COLLEGE (88) van Norden 0-1 0-0 0, Malachi 0-5 0-0 0, Kunkel 0-0 0-0 0, C. Murray 8-18 6-9 23, Reese 5-10 0-0 11, Stewart 6-14 7-11 21, Hamilton 4-6 1-3 9, Cowans 3-16 2-2 9, Fisher 1-2 0-0 2, Moore 3-15 5-6 11, D. Murray 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 31-89 21-31 88. OHIO VALLEY COLLEGE (84)

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Think it's cold outside? Check out Shepherd's temperature in the Butcher Athletic Center Saturday afternoon. The Rams women shot a frigid 28 percent from the floor against Wheeling Jesuit, helping the hot-handed Cardinals to an 80-63 West Virginia Conference victory. Wheeling, behind Alisha McCune's 19 points, opened up a first-half lead using a combination of fast-break basketball and a size advantage inside. Nicole Gratton and Amber Ellison gave the Cardinals several second-chance shots, although Wheeling (7-4, 2-1)

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - With just under two minutes left in the game at Shepherd College Friday night, Rams forward Brianne Hamilton threw a pass intended for Ashley van Norden that sailed two feet over her head and landed in the third row of the seats behind the media table. Shepherd coach Jodie Runner took a deep breath and let it out. If she had done that every time the Rams turned the ball over, she may have hyperventilated. Shepherd gave the ball away 25 times, but shot an uncanny 55 percent from the floor to finally pull away from a stubborn University of the District of Columbia team, 72-55.

MEN'S BASKETBALL COLUMBIA, Md. - Brandon Jeffries scored a game-high 30 points and Eric Breland added 29 as Howard downed visiting Hagerstown Community College 104-97 Tuesday night. Six players scored in double figures for the Hawks (3-3), led by Gebront Gaddy's 16 points and Nagee Johnson's 15. HAGERSTOWN (97) Lee 2 1-4 5, Wingate 4 0-0 10, Kenley 4 2-2 10, Melchior 1 0-0 2, Naylor 4 4-6 13, Carey 0 0-0 0, Brooks 3 2-2 9, Green 2 0-0 5, Simic 0 0-0 0, N. Johnson 6 2-3 15, T. Johnson 3 4-4 10, Sajery 1 0-0 2, Gaddy 7 2-3 16. Totals 37 15-25 97. HOWARD (104)