Shoop

Washington County Administrator Rodney M. Shoop received a vote of confidence Tuesday from the County Commissioners in response to criticism Shoop has received from Commissioner Ronald L. Bowers and Herald-Mail columnist Tim Rowland. The commissioners voted 4-1 for a motion of confidence in Shoop, with Bowers casting the dissenting vote. Wade made the motion, saying he was outraged by a Rowland opinion column critical of Shoop that ran in Sunday's Herald-Mail and wanted to stand by Shoop.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Washington County Administrator Rodney M. Shoop announced his retirement Wednesday, the latest wave of change affecting the county's leadership. Shoop's announcement comes in the midst of an election that promises new County Commissioners. Longtime Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook isn't running for re-election and Commissioner Doris J. Nipps was defeated in the Sept. 12 Republican primary. The county also is in the process of attempting to change its form of government from commissioner to charter home rule.

HAGERSTOWN - The director of the Washington County Department of Water Quality will become the county's top staff member. The County Commissioners on Tuesday chose Gregory B. Murray as county administrator during a meeting that was closed to the public. Commissioner William J. Wivell said by phone Tuesday night that the commissioners will make the selection official next Tuesday in open session. Murray, who lives in the Smithsburg area, will replace retiring County Administrator Rodney M. Shoop.

CHEWSVILLE -- The beauty of a pitch is in the eye of the beholder. For Sinjin Shoop, it doesn't matter what Conococheague manager Mike Iseminger or the Valley All-Stars think, a letter-high pitch was the most gorgeous thing he'd ever seen. Shoop connected with a slightly elevated pitch and blasted it over the fence in left-center field in the bottom of the sixth for a decisive three-run home run Thursday to lift Conococheague to a 7-4 victory in the winners' bracket second round of the Maryland District 1 11-12 Tournament.

Washington County Administrator Rodney Shoop said Thursday officials will look into whether an assistant Washington County state's attorney and a county sheriff's deputy did anything improper by going into the courthouse after hours in an attempt to get their preferred duck hunting spots. "We don't condone any county employee using their position to gain an advantage over anyone else. And we will take a look at this closely for improprieties," Shoop said. Washington County Human Resources Director Alan Davis said he probably will bring up the matter at Tuesday's meeting of the Washington County Commissioners.

Washington County Commissioner Ronald L. Bowers said Wednesday he does not want County Administrator Rodney M. Shoop and Human Resources Director Alan J. Davis to play a role in the search for a company to manage the county's $31 million pension fund. The commissioners voted on Tuesday to cancel the last two years of a three-year contract with INVESCO Capital Management Inc. and seek new proposals. INVESCO arranged for Shoop, Davis and Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook to attend the prestigious Masters golf championship last year.

County Adminstrator does not need approval Washington County Administrator Rodney Shoop will no longer need the County Commissioners' approval to hire part-time employees. The commissioners gave Shoop the authority Tuesday. Shoop will continue to inform the commissioners before hires are made and on a quarterly basis on e-mail, he said. "I wouldn't want you hiring my wife or anything like that," Commissioners President Greg Snook joked. - Steve Dennis

BROWNSVILLE - Washington County Administrator Rodney Shoop has dropped a request to delay indefinitely a volunteer fire company's annual mud bog fund-raiser. Canceling the event could interfere with the Brunswick, Md., company's ability to carry out its duties, he said. "Public safety comes first. This could interfere with their ability to provide public safety," Shoop said. He had planned to call the Brunwsick Volunteer Fire Company Friday to ask them to delay the 11th annual Pleasant Valley Frog Eye Mud Bog, which will use 20,000 gallons of quarry water.

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Administrator Rodney Shoop on Wednesday asked the Hancock Town Council to consider adopting part of a county ordinance that charges developers a fee if they build homes in areas where schools are at 85 percent capacity or higher. The county amended its Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance in December 2003 that requires developers to pay $7,353 per housing unit in those school areas. The fees will go toward the cost of increasing school capacity, such as building additional classrooms or new schools.

More top-level administrative changes are on the way for Washington County government, effective Monday. Public Works Director Gary Rohrer will become the county's director of special projects, a new position. Joseph Kroboth III will become the director of public works. He currently is the deputy director of public works. The county announced the key changes in a written statement Friday afternoon. County Administrator Rodney M. Shoop said Friday that Rohrer's salary ?

South Hagerstown High School Fifth marking period Distinguished honor roll Grade nine - Adrian I. Bolton, Shabree A. Brown, Jacob A. Hardesty, Darren J. Harman, Eletria U. Herbert, Malaysha K. Kay, Savannah K. Martinez, Mariah E. McPherson, Katelyn C. Mehrling, Amy M. Metz, Alexandra L. Mourton, April K. Mugozhi, Hadassah M. Muthoka, Caroline E. O'Reilly, Mokhinur Shokhalilullo, Amy J. Smith, Jeremy M. Spikes, Elizabeth...

For the second year in a row, the Williamsport baseball team had Wheaton in the first round of the Maryland Class 2A West region tournament. And as it did last year to begin an improbable run to the state title with a 22-0 win, Williamsport blanked the Knights on Monday 17-0. The road to defending the title will be somewhat tougher for the Wildcats on Tuesday when they travel to play No. 2-seed Poolesville at 4:30 p.m. “(Poolesville) is a good team so we'll have to play very well in all phases of the game,” said coach David Warrenfeltz.

Ida Mae Shoop, 92, of Main Street in Myersville, Md., died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, at Ravenwood Lutheran Village of Hagerstown. A graveside service will be private and at the convenience of the family at Beaver Creek Cemetery. Arrangements are by J.L. Davis Funeral Home, Smithsburg.

MARCH 28, 1944-JUNE 25, 2010 Donald L. "Bill" Shoop Sr., 66, of 10710 Yvonne Lane in Williamsport, died Friday, June 25, 2010, at Washington County Hospital. Born March 28, 1944, in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Thurman Adolph Shoop Sr. and Carrie Virginia Miley Shoop. He was a retired employee of AC&T. He is survived by his wife of nine years, Betty E. Shoop; five daughters, Linda K. Smith of Winchester, Ind., Judy A. Wolff of Kearneysville, W.Va., Tammy S. Mumma of Hagerstown, Brenda D. Michael of Martinsburg, W.Va.

FEB. 28, 1943-APRIL 22, 2010 Donald (Don) Verdeen Shoop, 67, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away Thursday, April 22, 2010, after a lengthy stay at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., and a brief stay at the Western Maryland Hospital Center in Hagerstown, surrounded by his family and the Rev. Bowers. Born Feb. 28, 1943, in Hagerstown, he attended North Hagerstown High School and Hagerstown Junior College. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, and served overseas in Germany.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Little League Baseball Tournament schedule History awaits in Bristol State tournament Feast fit for kings Conococheague's LL title bid on hold Conococheague one win away from state title Young gun lifts Conococheague Conococheague dominates in first round of 11-12 state tourney One inning, one game at...

CHEWSVILLE -- The beauty of a pitch is in the eye of the beholder. For Sinjin Shoop, it doesn't matter what Conococheague manager Mike Iseminger or the Valley All-Stars think, a letter-high pitch was the most gorgeous thing he'd ever seen. Shoop connected with a slightly elevated pitch and blasted it over the fence in left-center field in the bottom of the sixth for a decisive three-run home run Thursday to lift Conococheague to a 7-4 victory in the winners' bracket second round of the Maryland District 1 11-12 Tournament.

Rhoda L. Shoop, 87 JAN. 21, 1921-NOV. 19, 2008 Rhoda L. Shoop, 87, of Southern Oak Drive in Hagerstown, and formerly of Leitersburg, died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, at her home. Born Jan. 21, 1921, in Midvale, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Harvey M. and Etta L. Pryor Davis. She was employed by Mill Mar Plastics in Leitersburg. She was a member of St. Peters Beard Lutheran Church. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, G. Calvin Shoop, whom she married May 23, 1942; two daughters, Karen S. McMann of Boonsboro and June E. Ecker of Waynesboro, Pa.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

It might be easy to lose track of Sinjin Shoop, both in the field and on the lineup card. The 11-year-old Conococheague All-Star made sure he wasn't missed Monday in the second round of the Maryland District 1 11-12 Tournament. Shoop lifted an Airin Martin pitch over the left-center field fence with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give Conococheague a 2-1 walk-off win against West End at Hellane Park. "Fastball," said Shoop of the game's final pitch. "I didn't know it was going to be gone until it went over.