Tax Collector

Tax collector Oldham looks for second term By RICHARD F. BELISLE / Staff Writer, Waynesboro WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Delmos E. Oldham Sr., the Borough of Waynesboro's tax collector since 1997, wants the job for another four years, he said Monday. Oldham said he enjoys meeting and talking to people, even if his job is separating them from their money. "Most people who come into the office are friendly. They're nice and I like talking with them," he said. Oldham, 55, took over as the borough's tax collector after unseating William Elden, the incumbent, in the GOP primary the previous May. He had no opponent in the November 1996 election.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com WAYNESBORO, Pa. - A former Mercersburg, Pa., tax collector charged with more than 300 counts of theft, tax and bad check charges in a case involving more than $220,000, waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Franklin County Central Court Tuesday. Sharon Lee Selser, 45, whose address in court records is listed as 245 N. Main St., Mercersburg, had her case sent up to the county's Court of Common Pleas, District Justice Shirley Shatzer said.

By LISA GRAYBEAL Staff Writer, Waynesboro WAYNESBORO, Pa. - The race for Waynesboro's tax collector is the only contested seat in borough government in the May 20 primary election. Incumbent William D. Elden, a Republican, who has held the tax collector's post for 20 years, is running for his sixth term. He is being challenged in the primary by Republican Delmos E. Oldham Sr., a Waynesboro Council member. Because no Democrat is running for the tax collector's job, the winner of the primary election will run unopposed in the November general election unless someone mounts a write-in campaign.

chambersburg@herald-mail.com CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The former tax collector for Mercersburg, Pa., could face jail time after she pleaded guilty Monday in Franklin County Court to bad check and theft charges relating to a business she operated. Sharon Lee Selser, 46, of 245 N. Main St., pleaded guilty before Judge John R. Walker to three counts of writing bad checks and two counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, according to Assistant District Attorney David Rahauser.

By LISA GRAYBEAL Staff Writer, Waynesboro MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Two candidates are running for tax collector in Mercersburg, the only contested race in Tuesday's primary election. Republicans Allan D. "Jack" Smith and Sharon "Sherry" Selser, are seeking election to the position that will be left vacant by outgoing tax collector Lynn Stepler. A retired insurance agent, Smith said he's running for the post because he has the time and business experience to do the job. "I'm handy for the job," he said.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com Donald L. Ambrose will replace his father, Richard "Dick" Ambrose, as tax collector in Washington Township, Township Manager Michael Christopher said Thursday. The senior Ambrose, who held the job since 1990, died in office earlier this month. Donald Ambrose worked with his father for the last 14 years, Christopher said, a factor that put him ahead of the other candidates who applied for the job. The supervisors interviewed 10 other applicants.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com MERCERSBURG - Pennsylvania State Police, acting on complaints from 109 area businesses and residents in a case involving more than $220,000, charged a former Mercersburg tax collector with more than 300 theft, tax and bad check counts, according to District Court records Monday. Police said Sharon Lee Selser, 45, of 245 N. Main St., has been under investigation for more than a year. Selser, a notary public, processed vehicle registrations, titles and taxes for residents and businesses as Selser's Business Services at 307 N. Main St. There was no connection in any of the charges on file in District Justice David E. Hawbaker's office to her former job as Mercersburg's tax collector.

SHARPSBURG - Sharpsburg tax collector Maxine Campbell was honored Monday night for 20 years of service to the community. Campbell retired as tax collector on Jan. 1, she said. She started the job in 1976. Mayor George Kesler presented her with a plaque. She also received a large plant from town officials.

Two Guilford Township Republicans recently announced their candidacies for office in the primary election that will be held May 21. Theodore J. “Ted” Bittinger is running for township supervisor while Carol R. Wagaman is seeking re-election as the township tax collector. Wagaman has served as tax collector since 2001 and said the high regard she holds for the position, the skills she has demonstrated in the job, her availability and her prompt service “exemplifies her dedication to the 7,000 constituents of Guilford Township.” The township includes residents of the Waynesboro Area and Chambersburg Area school districts.

What is newsworthy for mainline media must be a puzzle for those who depend on the media for vital information about public affairs. How is it possible for so many trained and equipped analysts and reporters to give such minimal attention to the serious flaws of a candidate for the presidency, while emphasizing his youthful pranks that took place over 40 years ago? All candidates for our highest political office need to be fairly and critically examined to assess their qualifications for office.

Maryland Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot held a press conference Monday at Hagerstown Premium Outlets, encouraging the public to make their holiday gift purchases in the community, in person. "The most patriotic way during the holiday season to help the state of Maryland and help the United States of America is to come down and shop local," he said. Instead of "sitting at home at 11 o'clock at night by yourself doing your shopping," Franchot said, people should patronize "real, social, warm, friendly, welcoming shop owners ... " The comptroller makes the same public message about keeping shopping dollars in Maryland a few times a year, including when the state has its tax-free week as families buy back-to-school items.

SHARPSBURG -- A veteran schoolteacher known for her passion for history and a no-nonsense classroom, Marjorie Ann Jamison also was dedicated to serving the Town of Sharpsburg as a councilwoman since 2001. Jamison, 63, died Thursday. She had been ailing since the first of the year, Sharpsburg Mayor Hal Spielman said. "I'm glad to have worked with her," Spielman said. With her passing, the Sharpsburg Town Council is down two members, Spielman said. Councilman Russell Weaver resigned in December.

Editor's note: Each Sunday, The Herald-Mail publishes "A Life Remembered. " This continuing series takes a look back - through the eyes of family, friends, co-workers and others - at a member of the community who died recently. Today's "A Life Remembered" is about Helen "Maxine" Campbell, who died Oct. 3 at the age of 87. Her obituary was published in the Oct. 6 edition of The Herald-Mail. Many who knew Helen "Maxine" Campbell over the years shared a common description of her as a woman of quiet strength - but not too quiet.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - School tax bills being mailed in Pennsylvania now allow some recipients to pay in three installments, courtesy of a state law that failed to produce the property tax cuts it promised. Those eligible for the installment plan are property owners who have an approved homestead/farmstead exclusion on file in their county assessor's office. But bills mailed in the Waynesboro Area School District show the installment plan as an option for every property owner, not just the ones who completed exclusion forms, returned them to the assessor's office and were approved.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - About a dozen residents attended an informational presentation Thursday about Pennsylvania's Act 1 of 2006 that generated plenty of questions. "Who in the world came up with that?" one woman asked as the presenter discussed the factors by which the state plans to allocate gaming revenue. In other cases, the dozen people in attendance seemingly formed strong opinions about Act 1's caveats, with one man renaming it the "Philadelphia Salvage Act" in criticism to its special provisions to the city.

No new property taxes for Funkstown FUNKSTOWN - With just a little more than a month to go before the Internal Revenue Service's tax day, Funkstown residents got a little good news - no new property taxes. The town council voted unanimously Monday to maintain the town's current tax rate. Clerk/treasurer/tax collector Brenda L. Haynes said the town's tax rate is 22 cents on every $100 worth of valuation. Councilman Jerry Walker was absent for the vote. State study on streets expected in April FUNKSTOWN - A long-awaited traffic study sat on the desk of a State of Maryland employee for months as the woman was on maternity leave, but the Town of Funkstown can expect the report next month, according to clerk/treasurer/tax collector Brenda L. Haynes.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Property taxes in the borough of Waynesboro will not increase in 2007 if borough council passes its preliminary $4 million spending plan approved on Tuesday. The council adopted the preliminary budget in a unanimous vote with councilmen Jason Stains and Craig Newcomer absent. While the preliminary plan adopted on Tuesday does not include a property tax increase, people working in the municipality will be subject to a $40 emergency and municipal services (EMS)