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Conococheague Elementary School held its geography bee Dec. 8. The winner was fourth-grader Carl Bowers. Mason Nemes, a fifth-grader, was runner-up. Other finalists included fourth-graders Logan Ritchey, Kyrstin Smith, Teddy Bowers and Andrew Weaver; and fifth-graders Brayden Karn, Jacob Blickenstaff and Alex Pensinger.

Pangborn Elementary School fifth-grader Tyler Shubert, right, emerged from a field of 10 finalists to win the school's Geography Bee. Fourth-grader Josh Whipp, left, was runner-up. The other finalists were Khaliah Frost, Jessica Snowden, Adam Spigler, Aryan Shirani, Austen Dietrich, Austin Pogue, Jordon Edlund and Jennifer Harvey.

In one day, Susan Woda gave up one crown in exchange for another and will compete for the second time in the Miss Maryland contest in June. Woda, 22, of Crofton, Md., was crowned Miss Potomac Valley on Saturday night at the Ramada Inn in Hagerstown. She received a $200 scholarship. Earlier that day, she crowned Hagerstown resident Amanda Hartman as the next Miss Central Valley, a title Woda won last year. Woda sang "I Still Believe," from the musical "Miss Saigon" in the talent portion of the scholarship pageant which she'll also perform as a contestant in the Miss Maryland competition at the Maryland Theater in June.

katec@herald-mail.com Stacy Miller was crowned Miss Washington County and Danielle McGarvey was crowned Miss Western Maryland on Saturday night at Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Theater. Miller, 21, of Hagerstown, a graduate of Hagerstown Community College, sang "God Bless America. " She is the daughter of John and Carol Miller. She said she felt wonderful. "Can't you tell?" she said immediately after the crowning. Miller received a $2,000 scholarship, the $200 David Guessford Memorial Scholarship for leadership, gifts from local merchants and the chance to participate in the Miss Maryland Scholarship Pageant June 26-28 at The Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown.

Danielle McGarvey was crowned Miss Washington County and Nikki Gouker was crowned Miss Western Maryland on Saturday night at Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Theater. McGarvey, 18, of Hagerstown, a freshman at the College of Charleston (S.C.), performed ballet en pointe to "Kitrie Variations" from "Don Quixote. " She is the daughter of Brenda and Jim Dalton and Anthony and Martina McGarvey. "I'm very honored to have this position," she said immediately after the crowning.

The sport is often just called “track.” But don’t forget about “field.” Anthony Winter will remember both forever. After winning the Class 2A title in the 55-meter dash last month at the Maryland State Indoor Track & Field Championships in Landover, the North Hagerstown senior completed a very rare double by also prevailing in the shot put. Winter is The Herald-Mail’s 2010-11 Washington County Boys Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

The City of Hagerstown recently initiated an award program known as "Highlight Hagerstown," aimed at encouraging residents and business owners to improve the curb appeal of their properties. The Hagerstown Beautification Advisory Committee, promoting the new program, asked individuals in the community to help find neighbors who deserve recognition by nominating homeowners and business owners who have beautified their residential or commercial property in various ways, ranging from landscaping to facade improvements.

McAbee becomes HCC's next distance star By DAN KAUFFMAN / Staff Writer When Alex McAbee arrived at Hagerstown Community College in 1999 after graduating from North Hagerstown, he didn't have to look far to find someone to pattern his track career after - Tim Mason, the Hawks' all-everything distance runner from 1998 until 2000, a multitime NJCAA All-American and a national champion in the 5,000-meter run outdoors last year....

EASTLAKE, Ohio - Lake County's Tom Cowley and Matt Loberg combined for a one-hitter Sunday in a 4-0 victory over the Hagerstown Suns, who've lost nine straight games. Cowley (3-4) worked the first seven innings, allowing only a bunt single by Jose Castro leading off the fourth. The only other runner to reach base for the Suns was Nick Evans, who was walked twice by Cowley. No Suns runner reached second base. Loberg entered the game in the eighth and retired all six hitters he faced to complete the shutout.

The Maryland State Senior Idol competition is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at The Chesapeake Theatre in Brooklyn Park, Md. Washington County winner Edward G. Harne and runner-up Rebecca A. Mills will compete against winners and runner-ups from eight other counties. Harne will perform “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” while Mills will sing “From Heaven’s Point of View.” Tickets cost $6 and available at the Washington County Commission on Aging Inc., 140 W. Franklin St., 4th Floor, Hagerstown, MD 21740 and the Senior Center at Girls Inc., 626 Washington Ave., Hagerstown, MD 21740.