Platform

Summit Avenue will close for a short time this morning so a large platform can be removed from The Herald-Mail. Mark Kelly, the newspaper's operations director, said the road briefly will close around 6:30 a.m. Before and after that time, a crane will block part of the road, but traffic will be able to pass because certain parking spaces will become no-parking areas, Kelly said. On Aug. 16, The Herald-Mail used the platform to install an addition to the press, which will allow the newspaper to increase its production of color pages.

charlestown@herald-mail.com HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Samantha Hess of Hedgesville and Rebecca Grove of Bunker Hill, W.Va., were the winners Saturday night in the Berkeley County Fire and Rescue Association Queen Scholarship Pageant. The pageant began in 1993 and four girls from past pageants have gone on to compete in the Miss West Virginia competition, said pageant director Marilyn Blaylock. During Saturday's pageant at Tomahawk Elementary School, Samantha was named Berkeley County Fire and Rescue Association queen and Rebecca was crowned Berkeley County Fire and Rescue Association princess, Blaylock said.

It could be considered impractical as well as downright impertinent to launch a two-seat open-top sports car these days. In a world run by the "bottom line," most don't fit any high-volume, high-profit business plan simply because they're seldom used as primary transportation: a two-seat roadster is a discretionary purchase for folks who already have one or more sets of four-season wheels. But, if you're Pontiac, it would appear that you can make the bottom line work, keep the bean counters happy and still let your imagination run truly wild.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Rachel E. Carr was crowned Miss Jefferson County 2005 Saturday night at Wright Denny Intermediate School. Carr, the daughter of Dan and Vicky Carr, received her crown from Jessica Lorraine Morrison, Miss Jefferson County 2004. For winning the title of Miss Jefferson County, Carr received a $3,000 scholarship and the chance to participate in the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageant. Carr is a senior at Georgia State University, where she is pursuing a degree in physical therapy.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Miss Shenandoah/Miss Jefferson County Scholarship competition will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Wright Denny Intermediate School, 209 W. Congress St. Eight young women will compete for $8,200 in scholarships, the Miss Shenadoah and Miss Jefferson County crowns and a chance to compete in the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageant in June in Morgantown, W.Va. Mike Martin will be the master of ceremonies for the evening of "Celebration. " Guests will include Miss West Virginia 2003 Allison Williams and Miss Shenandoah and Miss Jefferson County alumnae.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Five young women will compete for a crown, scholarships and other prizes at the Miss Berkeley County pageant at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Apollo Civic Theatre, 128 E. Martin St. Each contestant, young women from Martinsburg, Charles Town, and Glengary, W.Va., will showcase a talent during competition. The winner will receive the crown, scholarship money, flowers, gift certificates and a place in the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageant later in the year, which is preliminary to the nationally televised Miss America pageant.

katec@herald-mail.com Nikki Gouker, Miss Monocacy 2003, started dancing when she was 3 - about the same time she first heard "There She Is ... Miss America," the national pageant's trademark theme song. As a little girl, she watched the annually televised pageants with her family and decided she would one day be Miss America. "I wanted the glamour, I wanted to dance, I wanted that crown," Gouker says. As she makes her fifth bid for the Miss Maryland title, Gouker's perspective has changed.

Richard B. Weldon Jr. - Education. Taking steps to fully fund the Thornton Commission recommendations in five to seven years. - Transportation. Making needed improvements to Interstate 270, Md. 85 and U.S. 15. Ensuring MARC train service remains reliable. - Rebuilding our rural communities. Age: 44 Address: 231 Wintergreen Lane, Brunswick Republican Lisa Baugher - Promoting good, sustainable land-use policies and transportation solutions that protect the region's character and environment.

Tommy Bowers Age: 52 Address: 18 W. Water St., Smithsburg Republican Platform: Be a "working sheriff" and lead by example by occasionally getting into the trenches with the deputies. Address a serious morale problem in the sheriff's department that has led to other problems that affect services rendered to the public. He wants to improve morale and interdepartmental understanding, respect and cooperation within the entire department.