Statement

Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Brien Poffenberger on Monday signed, on behalf of the chamber, a statement of support for National Guard and Reserve troops. “This is an important component of supporting our military,” Poffenberger said during the signing at the chamber offices at 28 W. Washington St. in Hagerstown. “It's a statement of how we can support the people defending our community.” The statement is an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)

JB girls make statement By DAN KAUFFMAN / Staff Writer WAYNESBORO, Pa. - James Buchanan's Lori Stauder knows only a Mid Penn Conference championship will make this season a success for her and her Rockets teammates. She also knew her team had to set the tone not only in its first conference game - on the road at Waynesboro - but for the entire season. "We needed to beat them on their court," Stauder said. "We're going for the league championship, and we needed to make a statement.

Hagerstown Mayor William M. Breichner released the following statement Friday afternoon clarifying his position about the possibility of a gay pageant coming to Hagerstown: "My position on a gay pageant does not mean that I am against any certain life style. My concern is not regarding the gay pageant, but the individuals who may come and demonstrate against the pageant and disrupt the peace and tranquility of our citizens. "My reference to hobos and the Klan was simply to reference that such events can cause controversy and we are working hard on improving our community image.

The following statement was issued Friday and signed by Washington County Health Officer William Christoffel and his lawyer, Arthur Schneider of Hagerstown. "Mr. Christoffel is a dedicated Public Health Officer with a distinguished career in Public Health Service. He has aggressively promoted Public Health and Education throughout the County. He has established and actively promoted programs to educate our Community about significant problems with teen pregnancies and use of contraceptives as well as numerous other serious issues that confront our community.

The father of Miana Stewart, a 14-year-old girl found slain inside her Gerrardstown, W.Va., home on Thursday, released a statement about the incident on Saturday. Randy Stewart praised both his wife, who also was attacked, and the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department. See Sunday's Herald-Mail for the full story.

HAGERSTOWN - A Hagerstown man charged with killing his girlfriend's baby in January appeared Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court for a motions hearing to suppress a statement he made about the death. Floyd Edward Bingaman III, 21, of 17308 Amber Drive, faces a charge of first-degree murder, among other charges, in the Jan. 6 death of 4-month-old Justice Calvin Stotler. Bingaman is being represented by former Frederick County State's Attorney Scott L. Rolle. The Washington County Sheriff's Department alleges in charging documents that Bingaman, who was Ashley Stotler's boyfriend at the time, shook the baby and banged his head while his mother took a shower earlier that evening.

pepperb@herald-mail.com The younger of two men charged with the November 2004 beating death of Curtis Eugene Hill Sr. was not coerced into making a statement to police nor did police improperly search his grandparents' house, a Washington County Circuit judge ruled Friday. Assistant Public Defender Eric Reed and Deputy Public Defender Mary Riley, attorneys for Justin Kyle Marshall, 18, argued during an October hearing that Marshall's taped statement to police should not be offered as evidence during his January trial because, they asserted, it was improperly induced.

Washington County District Judge Mark D. Thomas said Monday during a hearing that he believed Antonio Gardner, 26, of Washington, D.C., was too much of a flight risk to be granted bond. “I believe it is appropriate given ... his lack of ties to this community,” Thomas said. Gardner is charged in the death of Shakur Thornton, who was stabbed in the chest late Friday near a tavern in the first block of West Franklin Street, according to the statement of probable cause obtained Monday from Washington County District Court.

The Washington County State's Attorney's Office has filed paperwork with Washington County Circuit Court to try a Clear Spring man charged with receiving methamphetamine through the mail. Washington County Assistant State's Attorney Elizabeth A. Camuti-Carranza said Wednesday that the paperwork filed Tuesday formally transferred the case of Danny Lee Spears Sr., 49, of 13645 Dry Run Road in Clear Spring, from Washington County District Court to the Circuit Court. Spears was arrested on Feb. 22, the Washington County Narcotics Task Force said in court documents.

A New York man charged with illegally transporting 166 cartons of cigarettes pleaded guilty to the charge Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court and was fined $8,000. Circuit Judge Daniel P. Dwyer sentenced Chandrakant Petigara, 70, of Queens Village, N.Y., to three days in jail, giving him credit for the three days he spent in jail after his arrest in March. In exchange for Petigara's plea, a charge of possessing untaxed cigarettes was dismissed, Assistant State's Attorney Arthur Rozes said.

The Washington County State's Attorney's Office has filed paperwork with Washington County Circuit Court to try a Clear Spring man charged with receiving methamphetamine through the mail. Washington County Assistant State's Attorney Elizabeth A. Camuti-Carranza said Wednesday that the paperwork filed Tuesday formally transferred the case of Danny Lee Spears Sr., 49, of 13645 Dry Run Road in Clear Spring, from Washington County District Court to the Circuit Court. Spears was arrested on Feb. 22, the Washington County Narcotics Task Force said in court documents.

Statements Merle Unger made to police almost four decades ago about the killing of Hagerstown Police Officer Donald Kline can be used in a new trial set for June, although the state will not be allowed to introduce evidence of two escapes he made after the shooting, according to a ruling by a Talbot County (Md.) Circuit judge. Unger, now in his early 60s, was convicted in 1976 of felony murder in the Dec. 13, 1975, shooting death of Kline, who was off duty when he came upon an armed robbery of a store on Mulberry Street in Hagerstown.

Washington County District Judge Mark D. Thomas said Monday during a hearing that he believed Antonio Gardner, 26, of Washington, D.C., was too much of a flight risk to be granted bond. “I believe it is appropriate given ... his lack of ties to this community,” Thomas said. Gardner is charged in the death of Shakur Thornton, who was stabbed in the chest late Friday near a tavern in the first block of West Franklin Street, according to the statement of probable cause obtained Monday from Washington County District Court.

Statement on behalf of Hagerstown Mayor David S. Gysberts regarding his comments made Tuesday to visiting students from Wesel, Germany, provided by city spokeswoman Erin Wolfe:    "During my recent discussion with students from our Sister City in Wesel, Germany, I allowed some comments concerning my frustration with urban renewal to come across in a way that some people may have found offensive. I first want to express my regret and apologies to anyone who was offended by my comment.

The attorney for a Virginia man charged in the March 2011 shooting death of another man at an apartment building in Berkeley County told jurors seated Wednesday for his trial that his client's gun went off amid a struggle to protect himself and a woman with him. Jonathan Frederick Bennett, 41, of Charlottesville, Va., is charged in the March 6, 2011, death of Geronimo Garcia-Cruz, 26, of Winchester, Va., whose body was found in a stairwell at...

Williamsport's volleyball team advanced to the Maryland Class 2A state final with one of the most dominating performances ever seen at the state tournament on Tuesday night. Stacey Christy had 10 of her 14 kills in the first set, and the Wildcats blew out 2A North champion Loch Raven 25-4, 25-5, 25-7 at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum. Williamsport will face Calvert (15-1) - a 25-12, 25-14, 25-13 winner over North Caroline in Tuesday's second semifinal - in the Class 2A state final on Monday night at 6. The competitive portion of Tuesday's semifinal ended when Williamsport used 10-0 and 12-0 runs for a 22-1 lead over Loch Raven (11-7)

Even though Williamsport hasn't won the Washington County girls soccer tournament in 13 years, the title seemingly is theirs to lose this year. The highly touted Wildcats got by previously unbeaten Smithsburg 2-1 in the first semifinal Saturday evening at North Hagerstown's Mike Callas Stadium. They'll face Boonsboro - which beat North 1-0 in the nightcap - in the final at a site and date to be determined. Against the Leopards (3-1-1) on Saturday, Williamsport coach Tim Salvagno wanted more than just a victory.

A Washington County Circuit Court judge on Tuesday denied a defense motion to suppress statements Eric Shaquille Baymon made to police following an April incident in which a shot was fired and Baymon sustained a concussion in a struggle for the gun. Baymon, 19, of 42 E. Washington St., Apt. 3, is charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm in the April 11 incident on East Lee Street. Baymon is a defendant and an alleged victim in the shooting, in which another man, Giancarlos Badia, is charged.

Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Brien Poffenberger on Monday signed, on behalf of the chamber, a statement of support for National Guard and Reserve troops. “This is an important component of supporting our military,” Poffenberger said during the signing at the chamber offices at 28 W. Washington St. in Hagerstown. “It's a statement of how we can support the people defending our community.” The statement is an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)

The trial of a Chambersburg man charged with killing his son two years ago began Monday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court with the defense playing 911 tapes from before and after the fatal shooting during its opening statement to the jury. Jerry D. Rowe, 57, is charged with criminal homicide in the Oct. 16, 2010, shooting of his son, 27-year-old Nathaniel Rowe, in Jerry Rowe's home at 925 Duncan Ave. Assistant District Attorney Laura Kerstetter told the jury that the charge encompasses a range of offenses from first- and third-degree murder to voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.