Pen Mar

Rescue workers responded Saturday evening to a minor hang glider accident off High Rock Road in the Pen Mar area, a Washington County Emergency Services supervisor said. The supervisor said no one was injured when the pilot tried to take off and got stuck in a clump of trees. The accident was reported at 6:58 p.m.

The Pen Mar-area water project temporarily hit a stumbling block Tuesday after one Washington County Commissioner refused to support the public water system, but it later was approved in a rare maneuver by the County Commissioners. Read the full story in Wednesday's Herald-Mail newspapers.

Pen Mar area residents forced to hook up to a Washington County water system might get a break on some of the costs. The Washington County Water Quality Advisory Committee has recommended the County Commissioners waive the $1,950 allocation fee for the 86 homes that must hook up to the system. Read the full story in Tuesday's Herald-Mail newspapers.

CASCADE, Md. -- PenMar Development Corp. Executive Director Rich Rook has resigned effective Jan. 16 to take a job with a consulting firm, Pen Mar officials said Monday. For the past six years, Rook has led the Cascade-based organization responsible for overseeing the transfer of the former Fort Ritchie property from the U.S. Army to Corporate Office Properties Trust, a Columbia, Md., company that plans to develop housing, retail and office space on the property. In late January, Rook will begin a position with Booz Allen Hamilton, a private firm based in McLean, Va., that provides consulting services for the U.S. government.

Four years ago, members of the Fort Ritchie Reuse Committee sat around brainstorming and speculated that the soon-to-be abandoned Army base could become a stock-car race track, a privately owned resort or even a gambling casino. Richard Palmer, then Washington County's economic development director, said while the state and federal governments would get first crack at the property, local folks would be first in line after that. "We're probably looking at a six-to-seven-month process," Palmer said.

It's easy to see why the Washington County Delegation might have wanted to shake up the PenMar Development Corp. at any time over the past five years or so. It's not so easy to see why they want to do it now. For the first time, the board, as it is newly construed after a spate of resignations last fall, and the Cascade residents are getting along. And master planners, developers with deep pockets, are taking a serious look at the former Army base. Cooperation and flexibility no longer seem inconceivable concepts on the mountaintop.

SEPT. 12, 1928-NOV. 18, 2009 PEN MAR, Md. - Anna Belle Campbell, 81, of Roosevelt Ave., Pen Mar, Md., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Born Sept. 12, 1928, in Elkins, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Jerry D. and Elizabeth B. (Shoemaker) Canfield. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles W. "Bill" Campbell in 1983. She was employed by the American Heart Association in Baltimore, Md., Washington County Board of Education at Cascade Elementary and Camp Louise of Pen Mar. She is survived by daughter, Kim A. Helser and husband Tim of Pen Mar; sister, Jane M. Salyers of White Water, Wis.; grandchildren, Tara Helser of Greencastle, Pa., and Timmy Helser of Pen Mar; great-grandchildren, Alexis and Camden; and several nieces and nephews.

scottb@herald-mail.com Fort Ritchie, the former U.S. Army base in Cascade, is again housing members of the military: Military police providing security at nearby Site R, an Army spokeswoman said Wednesday. Site R, known locally as the "underground Pentagon," is an alternate military command center inside a Pennsylvania mountain near the Washington County community of Pen Mar. The Army is leasing a building at Fort Ritchie from PenMar Development Corp. to provide housing for a "detachment" from Oklahoma, spokeswoman Jennifer Lafley said.

Ronald Lee Kindle Jr. 36, of Pen Mar, died Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at Waynesboro (Pa.) Hospital. There will be no viewing. The service and burial will be private. Arrangements are by J.L. Davis Funeral Home, Smithsburg.

Correction Due to a source's error, the obituary in Friday's Herald-Mail for Penny L. Smith contained incorrect information. A memorial service will be Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 2 p.m. at United Brethren Church, Pen Mar, Md.

A man was flown to Meritus Medical Center on Saturday afternoon after the sport utility vehicle he was driving struck a tree on Pen Mar Road near Cascade, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said. The accident was reported shortly after 2:30 p.m., authorities said. Sgt. James Grimm of the Washington County Sheriff's Office said at the scene that the driver of the vehicle, whose name and condition were unavailable Saturday, was “conscious and alert” when he was taken away.

Rescue workers responded Saturday evening to a minor hang glider accident off High Rock Road in the Pen Mar area, a Washington County Emergency Services supervisor said. The supervisor said no one was injured when the pilot tried to take off and got stuck in a clump of trees. The accident was reported at 6:58 p.m.

The PenMar Development Corp. plans to hire a real estate consulting firm in the near future and have a strategic redevelopment plan later this year, Executive Director Dori Nipps told the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The board held an evening meeting at the Fort Ritchie Community Center on Tuesday and Nipps told the commissioners that PenMar will meet with a consultant later this month. “We would really like to have a plan to work from in April or May,” Nipps said after the meeting.

The Josh Tindall Combo is the featured group this week as the summer concert series continues at Pen Mar Park. The concert will be Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information, call Jim or Fay Powers at 301-791-1551. TOPS 0462 Mack was the thinner winner for the week for TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Chapter 0462 in Smithsburg. He is now below his goal weight. Sallie recorded a loss and is back on track for the week. Mari, the chapter's newest and youngest member, led the chapter in chair exercises, which can be done at home.

The new owners of the former Fort Ritchie U.S. Army base squashed a few rumors Tuesday and fielded questions from some of the 200 people who rent duplexes and town houses on the base. More than 60 people, most of them base residents, packed the community center on the base to listen as Doris J. Nipps, PenMar Devlopment Corp.'s executive director, assured them that there is no danger of being evicted. Several attendees said rumors in the community were rampant, with the biggest being that PenMar is closing housing on the base.

The board of PenMar Development Corp. and Corporate Office Properties Trust emerged from an hourlong executive session on what were termed “contract negotiations” Monday morning, but took no action when the meeting reconvened. In April, Washington County Commissioner John F. Barr said PenMar and Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT) have been in discussions regarding options for the land at the former Fort Ritchie U.S. Army base that COPT bought in a $9 million agreement in 2006.

The annual Everybody's Day celebration at Pen Mar Park, scheduled for this coming Sunday, has been canceled due to the approach of Hurricane Irene. Jim Powers, who books the musical performers for the Sunday concerts at the park, made the announcement Thursday morning after conferring with Washington County parks and recreation officials. Powers said the possibility of falling trees or other damage from high winds factored into the decision. Everybody's Day is traditionally the most popular event of the year at the park, drawing thousands of people to the park near Cascade.

The Pen Mar Park summer series will feature Jay & the Jingos from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Pen Mar Park. Smithsburg Senior Site Today - Trivial Pursuit and word search, 10 a.m. Friday - Birthday luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Mega sports camp A mega sports camp for children in second through fifth grades will be held at the Ringgold Church of Christ, 14420 Barkdoll Road, Hagerstown. Contact Earleen Smith at 301-824-3240 for more information.