Silver

SMITHSBURG -- Still savoring his victories at the Dwarf Athletic Association of America National Games in New York City, 12-year-old Evan Eckenrode needed little encouragement to show off the gold medal, three silver medals and one bronze medal he won during the competition earlier this month. "Last year, I just won a silver medal in volleyball," said Evan, of Smithsburg. This year, the boy earned gold in soccer, silver in volleyball, basketball and softball throw, and bronze in the 40-meter dash.

Homewood at Williamsport WILLIAMSPORT - Marlene J. Gay has been named director of nursing for the Health Care Center at Homewood at Williamsport. Gay has degrees or certificates from Hagerstown Community College, James Rumsey Techical Institute and Shenandoah University. She has worked as a certified nursing assistant, certified medical assistant, licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, director of staff development, director of nurses and corporate clinical services director.

BEIJING (AP) -- The Chinese men stood on the podium biting their medals. Yes, guys, they are real. And yes, they are Olympic gold. The bronzes around the Americans' necks must have been just as tasty. China's triumph Tuesday was as much a vindication as a coronation. It ended a four-year journey built on the failures of Athens, and carried through a crucible of unfathomable expectations. The Chinese arrived at the Beijing Games as such overwhelming favorites that anything less than a spectacular gold-medal performance would not have been enough.

BEIJING (AP) -- Michael Phelps got what he came for, capping the greatest Olympics for an individual athlete by winning his eighth gold medal in Beijing and 14th of his career. Matt Emmons? Well, he probably prefers we talk more about Phelps. The swimmer from Baltimore and the shooter who went to college in Alaska demonstrated Sunday how the Olympic experience can bring out the best and worst in people. Phelps was the joyous part, of course, a big reason the U.S. team closed out a meet full of world records with yet another in the Olympic 400-meter relay.

andrewm@herald-mail.com PARKTON, Md. - Williamsport's Devin Hewitt could put most runners on their backs in a minute, and he could beat most wrestlers in a distance run by at least a minute. If the two sports merged into one, the gold would surely be Hewitt's. For now, though, the Wildcats senior will have to settle for another silver. Hewitt placed second Saturday in the Class 1A boys race at the Maryland State Cross Country Championships at Hereford High School, adding another state silver medal to the one he won last winter in wrestling.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - When Autumn Phillips began figure skating in third grade, the 17-year-old had no idea she one day would win a medal in the 2007 State Games of America. "I don't really know why (my brother, Kyle, and I) started ice skating - my mom just asked us if we wanted to skate," said Phillips, who is the daughter of Niles and Dawn Phillips of Waynesboro. When Phillips first began figure skating, she said she quickly moved up the skill levels. "You start to learn in skate levels whenever you are younger," she said.

When people think of harps, they picture either a lyre-type instrument in the hands of a cupid or an enormous 47-stringed Baroque style harp. Others think of the harps of the ancient Celtic bards. So what's the difference? I've always been interested in Celtic music, particularly in Celtic harping. Because I take classical harp lessons, I'd never had a chance to learn much about playing in the Celtic style. However, I recently participated in a workshop on Celtic harping. Those who play the Celtic harp are called harpers, while those who play classical music are known as harpists.

ST. JOHNS, Ariz. (AP) -- A forest ranger who alertly spotted a pair of fugitives at a remote Arizona campsite was hailed Friday as "a true hero" after his tip allowed a heavily armed law enforcement contingent to capture the couple. The efforts by the ranger came at great risk. Fugitive John McCluskey had a gun in his possession said he wished he would have shot the forest ranger and arresting officers when he had the chance, authorities said. "He is a true hero," Apache County Sheriff Joseph Dedman said of the ranger.

Jason Smith, an employee of Tri State Fence & Lawn, paints the chain link fence silver outside the Surrey Child Care Center on Virginia Avenue Wednesday.

The following individuals were indicted last week by a Berkeley County grand jury. An indictment merely indicates that an individual is believed to have committed a crime. Robert H. Phipps II, 40, of 673 Mount Olive Road, Martinsburg, on counts of fleeing in a vehicle while DUI from a law enforcement officer and fleeing in a vehicle from a law enforcement officer with bodily injury. Ricardo J. Pleasant, 26, incarcerated at Eastern Regional Jail, on counts of felony possession of a stolen vehicle, possession with intent to deliver oxycodone, misdemeanor aiding in concealing stolen goods, two counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and two counts of conspiracy.