Shank

For Christopher Cannon, the satisfaction of knowing the Maryland General Assembly passed a child-abuse bill in memory of his late son was tempered by his disappointment in missing the bill-signing ceremony. Cannon, 25, said he's stationed with the U.S. Air Force in Germany. Using leave time, Cannon returned to the U.S. almost three weeks ago, solely to see the bill signed into law. But Cannon and his parents, Bob and Michelle Spessard of Greencastle, Pa., said they found out the bill was signed on Wednesday through a Herald-Mail story posted online that night.

HALFWAY - If she decides to compete for Miss Maryland, Samantha Kreps said she knows she will need more than beauty. At 8 years old, Samantha is too young to participate, but as a Miss Maryland Princess, she has learned about the competition. "That it's not a beauty pageant," said Samantha, of Clear Spring. She sat with her mother, Jackie Kreps, Sunday at a table at Plaza Hotel, where supporters of the Miss Washington County/Miss Western Maryland Scholarship program turned out for Taste of Washington County.

A union representative contends that correctional officers challenged him to a fight at a local state prison last month, not the other way around, as officers have claimed. Steve Berger, a representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Maryland, wrote that when he asked correctional officers to sign "paper work that was going to be given to legislative leaders in Annapolis," none did. Instead, officers asked him about a controversial new fee the union is charging for its collective bargaining services, even from non-members.

Sen. Christopher B. Shank wants to keep the federal government from abusing its constitutional powers. Del. Neil C. Parrott is calling for Maryland to enforce federal immigration laws. Sen. George C. Edwards is hoping to get Garrett County, Md., access to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., television stations. All three Republicans have proposed state resolutions promoting their causes. Mixed in with 2,500 or so bills in Annapolis each year are a handful of proposed resolutions, which usually are nonbinding statements voicing a position.

By STEVEN T. DENNIS Staff Writer Laurie Shinham and her husband built their house on Partridge Trail near the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Robinwood Drive eight years ago because they wanted a place where their kids could play outside in a quiet neighborhood. The setting is idyllic. Surrounded by pine trees, fields and a quiet street, the sound of birds drowns out the distant roar from the major thoroughfares. But the prospect of a four-lane extension of Robinwood Drive running through her backyard could shatter this peaceful picture.

Delegates and senators hustled in and out of their offices near the Maryland State House. Maintenance workers scurried around. Television news crews set up their cameras. Prepping was in full swing Tuesday for the Maryland General Assembly 90-day session, which begins at noon Wednesday. “We live in our own world. And then you come here and find out what other legislators are thinking about,” said Andrew Serafini, R-Washington, and the chairman of the county's delegation at the assembly.

Wingerd's 30-footer lifts Chambersburg over Martinsburg By BILL STERNER / Staff Correspondent CHAMBERSBURG (66) Sleighter 5, Banks 5, Wingerd 15, Shank 16, Shoemaker 11, Hage 14. Totals 23 14-19 66. MARTINSBURG (65) Largent 6, Bassett 18, Springette 11, Johnson 3, Pittsnogle 23, Washington 4. Totals 23 18-26 65. Chambersburg1171512910-66 Martinsburg79171499-65 Three-point goals - Chambersburg 6 (Shank 2, Wingerd 2, Shoemaker, Sleighter)

Several months ago — or maybe it was last week (at this age, the mind plays tricks) — Washington County Public Schools was all abuzz about bullying. I don’t remember the particulars, obviously, but I think the school board was against it. I’m sure they tossed around words like “awareness” and “empowerment” and “stakeholders.” They’re big on stakeholders. At the time, I didn’t get all that fired up over the issue one way or another.

“If you have a pet and need a place for a dog park, it's the taxpayers, it's not just you. So when you have an animal, think about that before you pick a place to live, because it's up to you to walk it. They have bags for you to bag feces, or you can take your own. It doesn't need to be a dog park, just to be on the phone to socialize. That's why you have a pen in place to have your animals to run. You need to make provisions before you find a place to live, for your animals - not the taxpayers.” - Hagerstown “This article about dress codes is laughable.

"To the caller concerned about the campaign posters in the cemetery: Well, the dead have been known to vote now and then. " - Knoxville, Md. "To the caller who won't patronize Washington County businesses due to a Republican sign: Further reinforces my thoughts that Democrats and/or liberals cannot have a logical conversation on matters of importance, and can only attack people with views which are different from their own....