Substitute Teacher

CLEAR SPRING -- A team of Santa's helpers has been busy working behind the scenes since fall, shopping, planning and checking their lists twice. The helpers -- parent volunteers at Clear Spring Elementary School -- are led by Beth Sullivan Weber. Weber is hesitant to take much credit. "There's a great group of people who help. No one could do this by themselves," said Weber, 46. Weber grew up in Halfway and graduated from St. Maria Goretti High School in 1981. She and her husband, Tom, moved from Allentown, Pa., to Clear Spring in 2001 with their young children.

Hagerstown native Andrew P. Thomas has launched a bid for the Republican nomination for Washington County Commissioner, promising that if elected, he would increase support for the public schools. Thomas, 34, a sales manager at Bankers Life and Casualty, said he learned firsthand the challenges facing education when he spent three years as a math teacher in North Carolina. Low pay and classes that averaged as many as 28 students forced him to leave the profession, he said. Work as a substitute teacher in Washington County convinced him that the problems he faced in North Carolina aren't isolated, Thomas said.

I have heard people say, "I wouldn't have THAT job for all the money in the world. " Wow, THAT must be some lousy job! What job could be so bad that even the offer of trillions and trillions of dollars couldn't get us to take it? Is it President of the United States? Nope. I have had many people tell me not only what is wrong with this country, but also how they would fix the problems if they were in charge. Substitute teacher? Despite the obvious pitfalls to this vocation, we do have substitute teachers.

Spealler-Danner Sarah Elizabeth Danner and Christopher Todd Spealler were married Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005, at Guardsman's Pass near Park City, Utah. The bride is the daughter of Sam and Deb Danner of Hagerstown. The bridegroom is the son of Dave and Jill Spealler of Park City. The bride is a 1998 graduate of Smithsburg High School, a 2003 graduate of Shippensburg University, and received a master's degree from University of Phoenix in 2005. She is employed as a substitute teacher with Park City School District and also is employed as a part-time nanny.

A retired General Motors worker and a Berkeley County school teacher are vying in May 8 primary election to be the Democratic Party's nominee for a seat on Berkeley County Council. Larry Lam, 65, of Appian Way in Martinsburg, and Mark T. Barney, 33, of Nimitz Lane in Hedgesville, W.Va.,are running in the Potomac District. The winner will face Republican Edward “Ed” Wilson, who is not opposed for his party's nomination in the district. The winners of two Berkeley County Council seats in the November general election are expected to serve six-year terms.

Former teacher volunteers at Clear Spring Elementary By ANDREW SCHOTZ andrews@herald-mail.com CLEAR SPRING - Dorothy Truax's 37-year teaching career ended 10 years ago. But she's back at it, unpaid. For the last four years, Truax has been a fixture at Clear Spring Elementary School, where she volunteers 15 to 20 hours a week. "I knew when I left the classroom that I wouldn't be too far from kids," she said. Truax, 79, who lives in Big Pool, sits with first- and second-graders, listening and coaching them as they read.

Andrews-Long Teresa Andrews and Darren Long wish to announce their engagement. Ms. Andrews is the daughter of Michael and Eileen Andrews of Hagerstown. She is a 1993 graduate of North Hagerstown High School. She is employed by Hagerstown Trust Co. as a customer service representative. Mr. Long is the son of Archie and Patricia Long of Hagerstown. He is a 1986 graduate of Clear Spring High School. He is employed by Myers Trucking as a truck driver. A Sept. 23, 2000, wedding is being planned.

Katie Deuell Katie Deuell, 24, of Martinsburg, W.Va., is a recent graduate of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va. She majored in elementary education, and will teach first grade at Williamsport Elementary School. This will be Deuell's first year teaching, and she said she has been busy setting up her classroom and getting ready for her students. She will have 20, she said. "I love kids, and the feeling you be a bigger part of their whole picture," Deuell said.

"Beware people when driving at the mall. A panhandler saw us coming and he turned his back and walked out in front of us. He did it on purpose. We went into the other lane to stop from hitting him. Thank God nobody was in that lane. They should not be allowed to panhandle in the heavy traffic area. Police should do something about this dangerous situation. " "I am tired of these taxi services who think they own the road. I was at Wal-Mart the other day and was pulling out of a parking space, just as a taxi came into the parking area.

Letters to the editor Mushroom folks: Now keep quiet A new city government has been elected and only about 20 percent of the eligible voters had the gumption to get off their collective duffs and go to the polls. Disgraceful! Deplorable! Almost 80 percent of the population voluntarily surrendered their God-given status as human beings and elected to become mushrooms, living in the dark and buried to the eyeballs in dung. These pitiful fungi should be very silent for the next four years, for they no longer have a legitimate right to complain.