Sergeant

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Eighteen officers in the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department have been promoted. Sheriff Ronald Jones said it is the first group of promotions in the department since 1983. According to the department, the promotions were: From sergeant to lieutenant - Kim Bohrer, Cheryl Henry-Keller and Dennis Streets. From corporal to sergeant - Samual Talley, Paul Copenhaver, Russel Shackelford, John Vanorsdale Jr. and David Scott Richmond. From deputy to corporal - William Johnson, Dennis Messick, Gary Harmison, Dan McGown, Robert Buracker, Theodore Snyder, Ronald Gardner, Richard Nelson, Rebecka Collins and W. Mark Spessert.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Several officers with the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department have been promoted. K.C. Bohrer, Cheryl Henry-Keller and Dennis Streets were promoted from lieutenant to captain. Richard Copenhaver, Scott Richmond, Russell Shackelford and Sam Talley were promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. Ron Gardner, Willie Johnson, Daniel McGown and Ted Snyder were promoted from corporal to sergeant. The Berkeley County Commission approved the promotions at its meeting Thursday, pending the arrival of all required medical paperwork.

Post 42 American Legion promoted 25-year veteran Pete Young from major to colonel. Young is a member of the honor guard. Other promotions included Charles Rowland to major, Kellar Smith to second lieutenant, Kenny Reese to second lieutenant, Ernie Brandt to sergeant major and Ed Gaylor to master sergeant. The annual picnic and a celebration of promotions for Post 42 honor guard was hosted by Dawn and Pete Young at their home on June 5. Great food and fellowship was enjoyed by all.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Karl E. Friedl has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. Friedl graduated in 2003 from Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, Frederick, Md., and received a bachelor's degree in 2007 from Frostburg State University. Rhonda Z. Hillman , daughter of Ronald and Marie Zoz of Greenwich, Ohio, and Sam, Matthew and Rachel Hillman, her cousins of Frederick, Md., has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Emergency medical personnel confirmed that a child drowned Friday, but no additional information could be obtained. A West Virginia State Police sergeant said the trooper investigating the case was with the child's family and not available. Officials with Back Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Department and the Berkeley County Emergency Ambulance Authority handled the call, but declined to comment. The call was reported to 911 around 9:30 a.m.

John Fiery, son of John and Kathleen Fiery of Clear Spring, has been promoted to the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Army. Fiery is a squad leader assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry at Fort Drum, Watertown, N.Y. His wife, Amber, is the daughter of Max and Lori Powell of Clear Spring. Fiery is a 1992 graduate of Clear Spring High School.

Four Washington County Sheriff's Department employees received promotions before the County Commissioners on Tuesday. Rodney Dale Weicht was promoted from administrative sergeant to first sergeant, chief of security, at the Washington County Detention Center. Weicht, a resident of Smithsburg, was hired as a correctional deputy at the detention center on June 20, 1983. He graduated from Williamsport High School in 1979 and is married with two children. Terri Lynn Blair was promoted from a corporal to a sergeant.

Two Hagerstown City Police officers have been promoted and another officer is expected to be promoted this week. Capt. Robert Hart, interim police chief, said he promoted Robert Frick from lieutenant to captain and Officer Curtis Wood to sergeant last Wednesday. A city police sergeant is expected to be promoted to lieutenant. Frick will replace Hart as support services commander. "I have a lot of confidence in his ability. He will continue to make the department go forward," Hart said.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - A second supervisory position has been added to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department to help the department handle its growing duties, an official with the department said Monday. On Monday, Cpl. Earl Ballenger was promoted to sergeant, creating two sergeant positions in the department, said Chief Deputy Jesse Jones. The other officer holding that position is Sgt. Sam Harmon. Jones said two sergeant positions are needed to help manage the department as its duties have increased.

Washington County Sheriff Charles F. Mades announced promotions for three of his department's deputies Wednesday. Travers Ruppert, with more than 13 years in the department, was promoted from corporal to sergeant. With his new rank, Ruppert will be in charge of a shift of approximately nine deputies, Mades said. n of file Peter Lazich, who joined the department in 1991, is now a corporal and will remain with the criminal investigation unit. Todd Kerns, who was one of 10 deputies hired in January 1994, was elevated to corporal from deputy 1st class.