Office Manager

By JULIE E. GREENE Staff Writer The Maryland Theatre won't be hiring an office manager this year after all. The historic South Potomac Street theater also won't be scheduling any more nonrental performances for the 1997-1998 season after losing $22,447 this month in two shows, the theater's acting executive director said Friday. Patricia Wolford, who also is the theater board's president, said the decision whether to hire an office manager will be revisited in the spring.

Shortly after being hired as an office manager for a Mount Airy businessman, Chris Marshall Shifflett began helping himself to the more than $37,000 worth of assets. Shifflett Monday pleaded guilty to felony theft/scheme in Washington County Circuit Court and agreed to pay restitution. Shifflett first will have to serve 18 months in the Washington County Detention Center for the crime, which Judge Kennedy Boone described as an outrage. "You're a thief ... you violated these people's trust," Boone said.

Office manager says sweet talk is key to customer service MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - As office manager for the Martinsburg Mall, Karen Armbrester doesn't spend as much time behind the customer service counter as she used to, but shoppers and mall walkers still stop by. They knock on the glass window to the mall office as they walk by or pop their head in the door to say hello, said Armbrester, 47, of Hedgesville, W.Va. "I love people. I'm a people person," said Armbrester, who worked at Jane's House of Hair in Hedgesville for 24 years.

gregs@herald-mail.com A Greencastle, Pa., woman was indicted in Washington County Circuit Court on theft charges last week in connection with an investigation that began in early 2000 after multiple customer complaints about a Hagerstown travel agency. Rebecca Price, 30, of 32 E. Baltimore St., Apt. A, Greencastle, allegedly stole thousands of dollars in 1999 and 2000 from Washington County residents who were customers of CW Travel Inc., according to papers filed Dec. 2 in Washington County Circuit Court.

Crabtree-Leach Heather Elaine Leach and James Frederick Crabtree were married Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999, at St. Ann Catholic Church. The bride is the daughter of Connie and Brian Leach of Hagerstown. The bridegroom is the son of Shary and Rick Crabtree of Leesburg, Va. The bride is a 1991 graduate of North Hagerstown High School and a 1995 graduate of George Mason University with a bachelor of science degree in accounting. She is employed as a certified public accountant with Amdahl Federal Service Corp.

A woman convicted of embezzling more than $200,000 from her former employer returned Tuesday to Washington County Circuit Court for a restitution hearing. Krista Sue Hudson, 39, was fired from Robinwood Orthopaedic Specialists on Oct. 18, 2004, after the office manager noticed that bank deposit slips, which Hudson was authorized to fill out, were altered, according to court documents. Hudson was charged with stealing close to $230,000 over the course of about four years. Washington County Circuit Judge W. Kennedy Boone III ordered Tuesday that Hudson pay back $203,021.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - The First National Bank of Greencastle recently hosted a group from Otterbein United Brethren Church in Greencastle for a tour. More than 20 church members visited the bank to see the functions and activities that support the operation each day. Sara Hollinshead, the bank's office manager, led the group through several bank departments, educating the visitors on security, the coin machine, safe deposit boxes, drive-up functions, mailroom activities, proof operations, information technology, and trust and investment services.

An armed bank robber remained on the loose Monday evening after a police search of a Virginia Avenue residence in Hagerstown did not turn up a suspect. Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies - looking for a white male armed with a handgun who robbed the Bulldog Federal Credit Union bank branch at 17555 York Road - surrounded two buildings between 17620 and 17628 Virginia Ave., shortly after the 3:05 p.m. robbery, according to Det. Dave Sanders of the sheriff's office. Sanders said the man, who was wearing dark clothing and a ski mask, got away with an undisclosed amount of money and fled on Piper Lane toward St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church.

Breast Cancer Awareness-Cumberland Valley Inc. (BCA-CV) recently received checks totaling $11,480 from two local organizations. Office Suppliers Inc. recently presented a check for $7,600 to BCA-CV with money raised through Office Suppliers Inc.'s "Think Pink" Steelcase Think Chair sale. Treva Ghattas, furniture sales manager for Officer Suppliers, said a portion of the sale from each Think Chair sold went to help BCA-CV to provide support for those dealing with breast cancer.

Ethel Lee Barr, 86, of Falling Waters, W.Va., passed away Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at City Hospital in Martinsburg, W.Va. Born June 8, 1925, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of the late John W. and Grace (Jackson) Ridenour. Ethel worked as an office manager at A.G. Crunkleton Electric Co. in Greencastle, Pa., for many years. She was a member of the Baptist Church in Hagerstown; lifetime member of the VFW in Greencastle, a member of the American Legion in Williamsport and the F.O.E.

Saunders Tax & Accounting This year marks Nancy Saunders' 40th year preparing tax returns. A Washington County native and part of the team at Saunders Tax & Accounting in Hagerstown, Saunders prepared her first tax return in 1973, when taxes were done the old-fashioned way - with a pencil, calculator and the U.S. Postal Service. Technological efficiencies, IRS designation as an enrolled agent and a reputation based on honesty, integrity and experience have allowed Saunders to increase her average annual number of returns from about 50 in 1973 to 400 currently.

An armed bank robber remained on the loose Monday evening after a police search of a Virginia Avenue residence in Hagerstown did not turn up a suspect. Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies - looking for a white male armed with a handgun who robbed the Bulldog Federal Credit Union bank branch at 17555 York Road - surrounded two buildings between 17620 and 17628 Virginia Ave., shortly after the 3:05 p.m. robbery, according to Det. Dave Sanders of the sheriff's office. Sanders said the man, who was wearing dark clothing and a ski mask, got away with an undisclosed amount of money and fled on Piper Lane toward St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church.

Two historic Charles Town landmarks - the Old Opera House, a community theater, and the Spirit of Jefferson and Farmer's Advocate, a weekly newspaper - crossed paths recently in a property transfer. The theater company, at 204 and 206 N. George St., bought the newspaper building at 210 N. George St. When renovations are complete in the fall, the theater will have more space for stage productions, plus dance, music and acting education programs. There will be ample room for costume, prop and scenery storage, said Steven Brewer, managing and artistic director.

Kathleen Elsie Slick, 88, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Family was the most important part of her life. She loved and was loved dearly by her family. Born Sept. 12, 1923, she was the daughter of late Frederick L. Slick Sr. and Elsie Barnhart-Slick. She was a graduate of Hagerstown High School. She retired from Maidstone as office manager in 1987. She was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church for 77 years. She was active in the Fidelity Sunday school class and served as treasurer for numerous years.

Charles "Chuck" Frederick Ford, 86, formerly of Fry Avenue in Hagerstown, passed from this life Tuesday, April 24, 2012, while in the loving care of NMS Healthcare. Born March 12, 1926 in Charles Town, W.Va., he was the son of the late Samuel R. and Zeluska Z. (Palmer) Ford. Chuck was a 1944 graduate of Hagerstown High School, after which he received an appointment to the United States Marine Cadet Corps. Following his basic training at Henderson Point in Mississippi, he was assigned aboard the SS Lacrosse for a six-month tour of duty in the Atlantic and Mediterranean war zones.

John Philip (Phil) Myerly, 79, of Hagerstown, died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Meritus Medical Center. Born Feb. 8, 1933, in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late John T. and Evelyn Jennings Myerly. He is survived by his wife of 4 years, Judith (Judy) Myerly; two sisters, Mary Kammerle of Hagerstown and Helen Ann Spessard of Forest, Va.; one brother, Richard Myerly and wife, Mary, of Hagerstown; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert S. Myerly.

Ethel Lee Barr, 86, of Falling Waters, W.Va., passed away Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at City Hospital in Martinsburg, W.Va. Born June 8, 1925, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of the late John W. and Grace (Jackson) Ridenour. Ethel worked as an office manager at A.G. Crunkleton Electric Co. in Greencastle, Pa., for many years. She was a member of the Baptist Church in Hagerstown; lifetime member of the VFW in Greencastle, a member of the American Legion in Williamsport and the F.O.E.

AUG. 13, 1917-JULY 18, 2011 J. Carl Stonebraker, 93, of Hagerstown, Md., died Monday, July 18, 2011, at the Broadmore Assisted Living Center, Hagerstown. Born Aug. 13, 1917, in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late Carl Kieffer and Helen Elizabeth (McMillen) Stonebraker. He was the husband of 64 years to the late Margaret J. "Peggy" (Ingenfritz) Stonebraker, who died Nov. 22, 2003. Carl graduated from Hagerstown High School, and in 1944 entered the U.S. Army during World War II. Carl was a manager and part owner, along with his father, for 30 years of the Southern Ribbon Co., Hagerstown.