Sam S Club

YOUTH BASEBALL Clear Spring Minor League Yankees 11, Nationals 8 Yankees: Tyler Hill 3 hits, Jaret Lazich, Hunter Harshman, 2 hits each. Nationals: Chase Gallihugh, Joe Micco 2 hits each. Conococheague Senior League Bowman Sales 15, Maugansville Ruritan 4 Bowman: Tyson Cline 2 hits HR; Tyler Jones 2 hits. Ruritan: Alan Bowers 2 hits. Hagerstown PONY League UAW 9, Firefighters 7 UAW: Aaron Miranda 3 hits; Colin Linton 2 RBIs.

ryant@herald-mail.com HALFWAY - Joel Merrbaugh sat in his Caterpillar 977L track loader Tuesday morning and stared at his target. Finding a spot he liked, he shifted into gear and thrust the bucket into the back wall of the 2.5-acre former Wal-Mart building off Wesel Boulevard. Merrbaugh was contracted by eciConstruction to begin demolition Tuesday on the former Wal-Mart building that has remained empty since the company left its location between Sam's Club and the Dollar Tree in June 2000.

julieg@herald-mail.com Brady Strite isn't old enough to comprehend last year's terrorist attacks. Brady, who will turn 3 in October, just knows that a building fell and people died, said his great-grandmother Marilyn Pettner, 65, of State Line, Pa. With dozens of remembrance events being held in the Tri-State area on Wednesday, Pettner and Brady's aunt, Michelle Donaldson, decided to take him to the formation of a human chain along Wesel...

The Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Hagerstown has selected Debbie Banister as its Teacher of the Year. Banister, a first-grade teacher at Clear Spring Elementary School, was given the award as part of Wal-Mart's 12th annual Teacher of the Year program on May 8, which was National Teacher's Day. She received a $1,000 grant for Clear Spring Elementary, a $100 gift card to buy classroom supplies, a Teacher of the Year polo shirt and a personalized...

HAGERSTOWN - A man charged with stealing a paraplegic's wheelchair from the Wal-Mart Supercenter in December pleaded guilty Wednesday in Washington County District Court. District Court Judge Ralph H. France II gave John Raymond Huntzberry, 18, probation before judgment for the crime. Huntzberry was charged with one count of theft for stealing a custom-built wheelchair from the Wal-Mart on Garland Groh Boulevard on Dec. 14, 2007. Tony Faison, 23, of Hagerstown, who has spastic paraplegia, had left the wheelchair with the store's greeter while he used a motorized cart to do some shopping.

Antietam Chapter 312 of the Korean War Veterans Association has set up a scholarship fund to benefit Washington County students. The fund was made possible by an initial grant from Sam's Club, as part of its community involvement program. Antietam Chapter 312 is planning several fundraising events throughout the year to build up the scholarship fund to the point where it can offer an award to a Washington County senior in the future. Other companies or individuals interested in contributing to the scholarship fund may contact chapter Commander Wayne Winebrenner at 301-797-1030 or Les Bishop, chapter secretary, at 240-420-3755.

Wal-Mart's Supercenter at 17850 Garland Groh Blvd. will open today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. Jeff Gordon's race car will be at the site, and the Energizer Bunny, Pillsbury Dough Boy and Keebler Elf will be in attendance. A barbershop quartet will sing. "We're thrilled to death it's ready to open," said Lisa Coleman, Hagerstown's Wal-Mart community involvement coordinator. "The store's really come together. We expect thousands of people to be here, waiting at the door.

The sixth annual St. Patrick's Day Gala, a fundraiser for Washington County charities, took place at the Knights of Columbus Pangborn Council on March 13. Funds from the Tootsie Roll drive were donated to Maria Villa, United Cerebral Palsy and Star Community. Contributions for the Tootsie Roll drive were provided by patrons of Sam's Club and from members of the six Catholic churches in Washington County. Door prizes were provided by Bob Evans, Martin's food store on Dual Highway and Sam's Club.

Beattie-Sizemore Jeff and Chris Beattie of Williamsport, and Cristy Myers of Hagerstown announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley Renee Beattie, to Bryan Keith Sizemore, son of Janie Williams of Hagerstown. Miss Beattie is a 2006 graduate of Williamsport High School. She is attending McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., where she is majoring in psychology. Mr. Sizemore is a 2006 graduate of South Hagerstown High School and an airman first class with the U.S. Air Force.